Chapter 739 The most original ‘red armband’ (thanks to ‘book friends’ for the reward!)

“Old Deng…”

Xu Chaoyang held Deng Xihou’s arm on the hill, and walked down the hill step by step without even riding a horse, saying: “Although the two divisions returning this time are the 101st and 106th divisions led by Okamura Ningji, plus the Hata detachment…”

“But this Hata Detachment alone, with the support of the Japanese Air Force, defeated more than a dozen miscellaneous divisions at the Madang Fortress!”

“Its combat capability cannot be underestimated.”

Xu Chaoyang led Deng Xihou down the hillside. After walking a long way, he took out a pack of Camel cigarettes from his pocket. After lighting one, he took the initiative to put it into the chest pocket of Deng Xihou’s military uniform: “We must not underestimate the enemy.”

“So, I have a favor to ask.”

“Tell me a little.”

Deng Xihou took out the cigarette box and lit another one for himself.

Xu Chaoyang then picked up the branch and started drawing a map on the spot…

“We are few in number. If we stay in our positions and fight like the Kuomintang did, waiting for the Japanese to prepare artillery, armored forces, and air force to come, we will only suffer more and more losses. Then what good is it to stay in the trenches and wait to be hit by artillery shells?”

“Our 217th Division has grown to a size of people, and the troops under our command are also expanding. By the beginning of next spring, it shouldn’t be a problem to have a -man column that has undergone simple training;”

“Your Sichuan Army didn’t suffer much loss in the last battle. If we combine our two armies, we will have about 50,000 men.”

“But Okamura Neiji has more than just the 101st and 106th divisions under his command. To be precise, he has three divisions and a brigade of troops under his command, not to mention other people, such as that old bastard Hata Shunroku in the south.”

“So we absolutely cannot fight any war of attrition this time. The death of one person is a loss that is difficult to replace for us. At least we cannot train more qualified soldiers in a short period of time. We can’t push the common people onto the battlefield, right?”

Xu Chaoyang spoke clearly and logically. After laying the groundwork, he said, “Our main strategy this time is to fight a mobile war!”

“What?” Deng Xihou raised his head and looked at Xu Chaoyang.

“Mobile warfare.”

“When facing a tough enemy attack, take the initiative to abandon the position and lead the enemy to pursue.”

“In the tug of war, we can break the connection between the troops and quickly eat up the enemy, or use the ‘oblique tactics’ to intercept the battlefield and give the rear combat troops some breathing time, thus achieving the effect of blocking and surprise attack.”

“This requires long-term training and coordination to achieve the effect, but our 217th Division has never trained with the Sichuan Army, what do you think?”

When Deng Xihou heard this, he reached out and scratched his hair.

Xu Chaoyang said quickly: “Old Deng, we have never thought of arguing with the Sichuan Army… Didn’t the National Government set up a ‘Special War Zone’ under the Second War Zone a while ago? I am the commander of the war zone.”

His scheme to sow discord in the government was directly pinned on Deng Xihou’s head, and he used the opponent’s force to defeat him smoothly: “Before Old Xizi Yan and our army come to an agreement on how to unite and fight against Japan in Shanxi…”

“You still count on him?”

“That’s not the case, but if we want to appoint you, Old Deng, as the deputy commander of the ‘Special War Zone’, we have to go through him, right?”

“When the time comes, will the Sichuan Army listen to me, Xu Chaoyang, or will I, 217, listen to you, Old Deng? Isn’t it something we have to discuss?”

Is this the key point? The key point is that as long as you, Deng, become the deputy commander-in-chief of the “Special War Zone”, you will be famous, more famous than the steamed hairy crabs!

“What do I mean…”

“We have to train and practice tactics together. Otherwise, if we start a war, won’t both armies be left with nothing but brains? This will disrupt the flow of communication. If they shoot at each other, the Japanese will be the ones who gain the upper hand.”

While Deng Xihou was thinking, Xu Chaoyang continued, “This is it.”

“During the training, I will personally be in charge. Don’t be lazy, Old Deng. We will command together. If there is a problem with your Sichuan Army, I will not say a word. I will just point out the mistakes and it is up to you to decide how to punish them. Is that ok?”

Deng Xihou looked at Xu Chaoyang and said, “If the intensity of punishment is not consistent during training, what’s the point of it?”

“Then you decide for yourself. I don’t have any other intentions anyway.”

“When the fighting really starts, I will definitely not push your Sichuan troops to the front line to be cannon fodder. We, the 217th Army, will be the main force and responsible for pulling the enemy back. Your Sichuan troops will set up ambushes and focus on annihilation. What do you think?”

Deng Xihou pointed his thumb behind him and asked: “Those tanks?” “Let’s share them, brothers!”

“What about that German machine gun?”

“This batch is out of time. We received the Soviet aid, that is, those heavy machine guns. We didn’t leave any in Yan’an. Our mines in the rear also need troops to protect us, right? The latest MG30s must be taken back to Yan’an by the 769th Regiment. Wait for the next batch. As soon as the next batch of guns comes out of the arsenal, you can take them all away. Is that appropriate?”

Deng Xihou vaguely felt that something was wrong…but what was wrong?

Do people respect you enough?

It also gives you enough autonomy, right?
They provide food, drink, weapons and ammunition, and promise to let you ambush and annihilate your enemies in battle, while they fight mobile warfare and engage in tug-of-war. It sounds like nothing wrong with that…

“I have also built fortifications on the mountains on both sides of Tuanchengkou…” Xu Chaoyang nudged Deng Xihou with his elbow: “Your men can go in and just fire their machine guns.”

“Chaoyang, I want to know the specific battle plan.”

“What else is there to say? But if you want to understand all the details of this battle plan, it’s impossible without training together. What do you think?”

Deng Xihou put the cigarette in his hand into his mouth, took two puffs and said, “It’s decided!”

“light and spacious!”

Xu Chaoyang stretched out his hand.

The moment Deng Xihou held it, he linked his thumbs together and held the base of his thumbs together, and their shoulders almost bumped into each other.

“Who smokes?”

“Don’t you know that smoking is prohibited in the training grounds?”

“There are shells everywhere here. Which one you light is yours or mine!”

A group of soldiers wearing red armbands rushed over when they smelled the cigarette. The big guy was about to swing his arms and curse, but Xu Chaoyang grabbed his arm, quickly threw the cigarette to the ground, extinguished it with his foot, and said, “What they said is right.”

Deng Xihou sighed, and he could only spit the cigarette onto the ground.

But the team of soldiers quickly lined up and ran over, saluting Xu Chaoyang: “Commander!”

The young soldier held his head high and chest out, full of energy and spirit: “You are the leader, you should lead by example!”

Deng Xihou was getting impatient, but he looked at Xu Chaoyang and said seriously, “I accept your criticism.”

The young soldier didn’t know how to do it next. He was like he had prepared a long speech but it was suddenly useless. He stayed for a moment, saluted again, and led the team to leave. What else do you want? Are you really going to tie me up? This is already enough to give you face.

This was what shocked Deng Xihou the most. He looked at Xu Chaoyang and said, “You… just let your subordinates scold you like that?”

“If I don’t let him train, won’t those battalion commanders and regiment commanders all use their authority?”

“Then why do we need the law enforcement team in 217?”

Xu Chaoyang said bluntly: “217 Guard Battalion!”

“To!”

“Follow the rules.”

The big guy tilted his head and lay on the ground, shouting: “One!”

Then, the entire guard battalion lay down, and Xu Chaoyang said, “Wait a moment.”

He also lay on the ground: “Two!”

After being scolded by the red armbands, the head of the 217th Division was lying on the ground doing push-ups, and he was accompanied by the guard battalion. All the soldiers coming and going looked over…

Deng Xihou felt very embarrassed to be watched. It was not until he finished fifty push-ups that Xu Chaoyang stood up as if nothing had happened: “Let’s continue…”

(End of this chapter)