A storm was resolved in such a dramatic way.
That night, the bandits from the Feixi Eighteen Villages left Feicheng one after another and returned to their respective villages. Of course, these bandits also brought the gifts prepared for them by the Independent Group. It was a real gift. The Independent Group gave each village a gift. At least a platoon's worth of equipment is prepared, and most have a company's worth of equipment.
It's not like Xu Rui hasn't considered recruiting these bandits directly.
Especially the more than a thousand bandits in Qipan Village, their fighting ability is really not weak.
But after careful consideration, Xu Rui gave up the idea.
The reason is very simple. After the independent regiment fought to defend Feicheng, the loss of troops was too serious. At this time, if a guy recruits all the bandits from the Feixi Eighteen Villages, it will inevitably lead to a situation where the guest bullies the host. Then it will not be the case. The veterans of the Independent Regiment influenced the bandits in Feixi, but it was the bandits in Feixi that influenced the veterans of the Independent Regiment.
Xu Rui is committed to transforming the Independent Regiment into a real people's army instead of a bandit army full of banditry, so it is inappropriate to incorporate the bandits from Feixi at this time.
Sun Changhe was quite critical of Xu Rui's decision.
Because Xu Rui's decision shattered Sun Changhe's wishful thinking.
Sun Changhe hoped to recruit the bandits from the Feixi Eighteen Villages, and also did a lot of lobbying work for Tang Kaishan, because after recruiting the Feixi bandits, he could rely on his status as Tang Kaishan's sworn brother to "hijack the bandits" in the independent group. "Respect yourself, no matter what Xu Rui does, you must be his battalion commander.
But now, Sun Changhe couldn't bear to be a company commander.
This is what Xu Rui really thought. After sending the bandits away, Xu Rui talked to Sun Changhe.
Xu Rui said: "Adjutant Sun, the outcome will soon come to Fuyang and Mengcheng. Not to mention that the Japanese are no longer able to counterattack Feicheng in a short period of time. Since the Japanese still have strength left, there is no need to defend Feicheng anymore. In other words, the battle to defend Feicheng is over and your mission has been completed."
Sun Changhe nodded subconsciously, that was indeed the case.
With the Kumamoto Division being severely damaged and the 5th Brigade of the Independent Heavy Artillery being completely annihilated, the Japanese army's efforts to open up the Feibeng Highway have been completely in vain. Even if reinforcements were called in, it would be too late in time, and according to what he knew, According to the intelligence, the Japanese trapped in Fuyang and Mengcheng have begun to break out to the north.
Therefore, the battle to defend Feicheng is really over.
Xu Rui added: "Adjutant Sun, you are a real soldier and an upright soldier. Our brothers in the Independent Regiment are willing to fight side by side with you. If you are willing to stay, we welcome you with both hands. If you want to go back , we will never make things difficult for you, we will still be brothers from now on, and we will always remember your kindness."
Xu Rui got straight to the point and had a clear attitude, so Sun Changhe stopped being polite to Xu Rui.
Sun Changhe asked: "Xu Tuanzuo, if we choose to stay, how do you plan to arrange it?"
Xu Rui smiled and said, "I plan to use your guard platoon as the basis and expand it into a regiment security company."
"Regiment Headquarters Security Company?" Sun Changhe's eyes narrowed upon hearing this, and he said, "Regimental Leader Xu, do you plan to leave the security of the regiment headquarters and your personal safety to me and my brothers?"
"What?" Xu Rui asked with a smile, "Does Adjutant Sun think he can't protect the safety of me and the regiment?"
"Of course not." Sun Changhe said, "But the problem is, we are the National Army after all, and we are only theoretical allies with your New Fourth Army. Can you really trust us?"
Xu Rui said: "Five days ago, our independent regiment suffered heavy casualties. Feicheng was in danger. Anyone with a discerning eye could see that Feicheng would fall sooner or later, but Adjutant Sun still resolutely came to Feicheng with his guard platoon to stand side by side with us. In battle, Adjutant Sun and the brothers in the guard platoon are willing to die with us, aren't they worthy of our trust?"
Sun Changhe said with emotion: "Since Tuanzuo Xu has spoken to this point, I will not say anything more. I just want to say one sentence. From now on, as long as the premise of cooperation between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party is still there, the relationship between Beizhi and the Guards will be Brothers will defend Xu Tuanzuo just like we defended the ancient commander, even if we sacrifice our lives."
Xu Rui smiled and nodded, and suddenly shouted loudly: "Company Commander Sun!"
Sun Changhe was stunned for a moment, then stood up and said: "Yes!"
Xu Rui smiled and said, "Take the brothers from the security company and go to the logistics department to get a new pair of shoes."
Xu Rui had long discovered that Sun Changhe's guard platoon also wore cloth shoes. The uppers of many officers and soldiers had been worn out, and their toes were exposed. Three days ago, they surrounded and annihilated a Japanese heavy artillery brigade and captured a large number of soldiers. After buying 8,000 sets of Japanese military uniforms and more than 8,000 pairs of leather shoes, it was time to give the brothers in the guard platoon a new pair of leather shoes.
"Yes." Sun Changhe stood at attention, saluted Xu Rui, then turned around and trotted away.
Wang Husheng had been silent just now, just watching Xu Rui's performance quietly.
At this moment, Sun Changhe had already left, and Wang Husheng said: "Old Xu, do you really plan to keep Sun Changhe's guard platoon and expand it into a regimental security company based on the guard platoon?"
Xu Rui didn't answer and asked: "What, you don't agree?"
Wang Husheng shook his head and said: "I know what you are thinking. You just want to treat people with sincerity, educate people through facts, and tell Sun Changhe and the officers and soldiers of the guard platoon that the Kuomintang and the National Government are rotten to the core. Only the Communist Party can Save the current China, but I want to remind you that not everyone can distinguish right from wrong, or even if some people can distinguish right from wrong, they have to act against their will due to the morality of kindness, and Sun Changhe is Gu Shutong’s adjutant, do you think their relationship can be simple?”
Xu Rui said: "I believe in one sentence."
Wang Husheng said: "What are you talking about?"
Xu Rui said: "Where there is sincerity, gold and stone will be opened."
Wang Husheng said: "I think you are determined not to die until you reach the Yellow River."
Xu Rui said: "I will not give up even if Huang He dies. Lao Wang, you must have confidence in our party."
Wang Husheng said: "Nonsense, do I have confidence in the party? Don't forget that I am still your introducer to join the party."
Xu Rui's expression became serious and he added: "Then let us tell Sun Changhe and the officers and soldiers of the guard platoon with hard facts, why can we get the support of the people, and why will the Kuomintang be abandoned? We are more We must tell them with hard facts that the People’s Army serves the people and is by no means just words.”
Wang Husheng was infected by Xu Rui, his expression also became serious, and he nodded heavily.
What Xu Rui and Wang Husheng did not expect was that the opportunity for on-site education would soon appear.
However, this opportunity for on-site education is a bit heavy and the price is too high.
(Dividing line)
Xu Rui rarely had a good sleep, but was shaken awake from his sleep.
When he opened it, he saw Xiao Taohong standing in front of the bed with a solemn expression.
Tonight, it was Xiao Taohong's turn to be on duty at the Communications Department.
"Xiao Taohong?" Xu Rui opened his sleepy eyes and asked drowsily, "What's wrong?"
"Uncle, something happened." Under the dim light, Xiao Taohong's face looked more solemn than ever before. This also made Xu Rui stop the Lushan claws that were reaching for Xiao Taohong's chest, and Sai Hongfu was also woken up. , when he looked up, he saw Xu Rui's claws resting on Xiao Taohongsu's chest, and immediately gave him a fierce look.
Xu Rui's face was thicker than the city wall. He took back his hand as if nothing had happened and asked, "What's the matter?"
Xiao Taohong said: "The military headquarters has just forwarded an urgent notice. Because Long Muhan, the commander of the 88th Division, was afraid of the enemy and was too timid to fight, he abandoned his army and fled. As a result, the entire defense line of the 28th Army collapsed. Bozhou has been lost, and the Japanese army's northbound cluster in Central China has It successfully merged with the Doihara Division of the Japanese Army in North China in Bozhou."
"What did you say?" Xu Rui turned over and sat up, asking anxiously, "When did this happen?"
"Just now," Xiao Taohong said, "The Communications Department just received an urgent telegram from the military headquarters."
"No, I mean when did Bozhou fall?" Xu Rui asked anxiously, "When did Bozhou fall?"
Xiao Taohong said, "Bozhou was lost two days ago. The commander of the 28th Army, Gui Yongqing, was afraid of taking responsibility and did not report it to the National Army Headquarters until recently."
"It fell two days ago?" Xu Rui became anxious when he heard this.
This Gui Yongqing was still so fucked up that he only dared to report it to the headquarters two days after Bozhou fell!
Judging from the time, the National Army Headquarters may have issued an order to blow up the Yellow River embankment at this moment. Maybe the embankment has burst at Huayuankou and the Yellow River water has already surged down!
Xu Rui didn't even bother to put on his pants, so he rushed out of the room and shouted outside: "Leizi, immediately notify the chief officers of each battalion and company to come to the regiment headquarters for a meeting. Hurry, go!"
Lei Xiang got up sleepily, put on his trousers, and ran to deliver the order without even bothering to put on his shirt.
Not long after Xu Rui put on his military uniform and walked into the conference room, Leng Tiefeng arrived first, with a terrifyingly gloomy face.
Long Muhan abandoned his army and fled, and the 28th Army collapsed overnight. This result was completely beyond Leng Tiefeng's expectation. Now that Bozhou has been lost, the Japanese Army in Central China's Northbound Group has merged with the Doihara Division of the Japanese Army in North China. It can be said that the Battle of Xuzhou It has actually failed. What the National Army Headquarters now needs to consider is no longer to encircle and annihilate the Japanese army, but how to completely withdraw the more than fifty main divisions gathered on the front lines of Fuyang and Mengcheng!
And with the fall of Bozhou, Xu Rui's most worried thing is becoming more and more likely to become a reality.
Before tonight, Leng Tiefeng still did not believe that the Nationalist Government would choose to blow up the Yellow River embankment, but now, Leng Tiefeng's confidence began to waver. If the military could not prevent the Japanese troops from the north and the south from joining together, and if the fifty soldiers gathered in Huainan Several main divisions are in danger of being surrounded and annihilated, and digging up the Yellow River embankment will be a high probability event.
Xu Rui once said that due to geographical conditions, once the Yellow River bursts its banks, it is a high probability event that it will seize the Huai River and flow into the sea.
The surging Yellow River water will not only flood the Longhai Railway and block the Japanese army in North China's westward attack on Zhengzhou along the Longhai Railway. The Yellow River water will also rush down and submerge the entire Huaihe River Basin, blocking the Japanese army from the north and the south from attacking the people of Huainan. With this, the more than fifty main divisions of the National Army gathered in Huainan could calmly retreat over the Dabie Mountains to Wuhan. (To be continued.)