The Iron-Blooded Army of Beacon Fire

Chapter 467 Wartime Spring Festival
Winter passed and spring came, and the Spring Festival of 1939 arrived in the midst of busyness.

Before the holiday, the various rear-line industries that He Wei and Ding Lunshi had been busy with were finally finalized. After consultation between He Wei and Chief of Staff Wang Yuanling and Director of Logistics Li Youcai, the Assault Corps finally ordered a large number of machinery, equipment and supplies in Hong Kong Island through Ding Lunshi before the Spring Festival.

These machines, equipment and materials include all the production machines needed for a complete clothing factory, as well as a large number of raw materials needed for the production of cloth, dyes, etc., all the medical equipment needed for a rear-line hospital for wounded soldiers and a front-line field hospital, as well as a large number of scarce medicines. In addition, there are 5,000 imitation German steel helmets produced by the Jiehe Iron Works on Hong Kong Island, 6,000 sets of special tactical vests for the Commando Corps produced by the Hong Kong Clothing Factory, and 6,000 sets of complete single-piece military uniforms.

This move by the Assault Corps was huge. Apart from anything else, the scale of the clothing factory that He Wei set up was enough to make people gasp.

According to the estimation of Huang Shengmo, an old friend of Ding Lunshi who has been appointed by He Wei as the director of the clothing factory, once the clothing factory goes into production, its maximum daily production capacity can produce nearly a thousand sets of the current standard single military uniforms of the National Army, and at least five hundred sets of cotton military uniforms. The production quantities of single military blankets and cotton military blankets are also basically the same. The estimated output of tactical vests, leggings and other equipment is also very considerable. In fact, the factory's production capacity has far exceeded the number required by the assault corps.

In fact, once the factory entered full-speed production mode, its output would not be much different from those bedding factories directly under the Ministry of Military Affairs. Not to mention supplying a commando corps, it would be more than enough to supply bedding to several armies under maximum production conditions. And because He Wei had people purchase the most advanced production machines available in Hong Kong Island and the raw materials were also top-grade, the quality of the products would be much better than the current products issued by the Ministry of Military Affairs.

He Wei clearly remembered that in the original history, as the situation of the Anti-Japanese War became more difficult, the quality of the national army's bedding and clothing also deteriorated. Sometimes, even the quantity could not be fully met. Sometimes, the troops that lacked bedding and clothing were directly given cash in exchange for the bedding and clothing they needed. What was even worse was that due to the severe inflation, the bedding and clothing funds issued by the Ministry of Military Affairs were often not enough, which caused many troops to have a headache and even had problems with wearing clothes. (This happened to the 14th Division, an elite unit of the Central Army in history. The military uniform funds issued by the Ministry of Military Affairs could not buy enough uniforms for the entire division. The commander of the 14th Division simply asked his men to sneak into Vietnam and buy cheap white cloth to dye and make military uniforms. This was the Central Army.)

Now that the Assault Corps has this clothing factory, they don't have to worry about military uniforms in the future. Ding Lunshi, who has a sharp business mind, also reminded He Wei that this clothing factory can produce some civilian clothes for external business and use the idle production capacity for external business. In this way, the income from external business can be used to subsidize the Assault Corps. He Wei also agrees with this. His move this time is very large, but the cost is also huge.

The clothing factory was equivalent to building a large factory from scratch, and the cost was self-evident. The cost of the wounded soldier hospital in the rear and the field hospital in the front was also similar to that of a large factory. In the Battle of Banbi Mountain, He Wei felt deeply that the battlefield medical service capabilities of the Assault Corps were limited, so he made up his mind to do a good job in this area. He also handed over the construction of the hospital and the procurement of medical supplies to Ling Zhi, the major medical captain of the Assault Corps, and ordered him to take charge of the establishment of the wounded soldier hospital in the rear and the field hospital of the Assault Corps.

Lingzhi was very adept at his job and was very forthright when it came to making a purchase list. From small items like disinfection equipment, cotton wool, and various small but expensive medicines to large items like various surgical equipment, Lingzhi purchased almost everything. Medical supplies were already in short supply, and the prices of medicines were even more exorbitant.

Therefore, Lingzhi's reckless purchases were naturally very expensive. The total investment in the construction of the hospital for wounded soldiers and the field hospital was almost the same as that of the clothing factory. The 6,000 tactical vests and 6,000 military uniforms that He Wei bought to fill the gap in military uniforms for the expansion of the troops before the clothing factory went into production were even more insignificant compared to the investment in the construction of the two hospitals.
Anyway, after all this trouble, all the rear-line guarantees for the assault corps were set up, but the corps' wallet was visibly emptied. More than half of the assault corps' on-book funds were invested in it, and the cost was enormous.

Fortunately, the assault corps has a strong financial foundation, and the Ministry of Military Affairs has been issuing funds to each assault corps every month. In addition, after the clothing factory is built, it can also earn profits through external business as Ding Lunshi said, and have a certain ability to recover. Otherwise, He Wei would really have to worry about the risk of eating up all the funds. This series of industrial construction with huge investment can bring various benefits and dividends to the assault corps, as well as the positive effects in future operations, which cannot be explained in just a few words.

The old year is gone, the new year is here, hanging lanterns and decorations is so lively. Wearing new clothes and hats, setting off fireworks with joy.

I miss the soldiers at the front, guarding the trenches in the snow and ice. They are loaded with bullets, fixed with bayonets, and fight against violence together until death.

No matter how much New Year's money I have, I won't buy candy or cakes. I will buy cotton-padded clothes and gloves and send them to the front to comfort them.

The soldiers in front laughed, their spirits and courage were high. The machine guns and anti-aircraft guns killed the enemy and made them flee.

In the camp of the assault corps, a special New Year song was sung from an extra-large radio loudspeaker. The special lyrics gave us a glimpse into the uniqueness of the wartime Spring Festival. The Lunar New Year, which should have symbolized joy and reunion, became heavy due to the spread of the War of Resistance. Even the songs celebrating the Spring Festival were full of lyrics about the War of Resistance. The wartime Spring Festival was indeed of extraordinary significance.

In fact, at the beginning of the establishment of the Republic of China, celebrating the Spring Festival was not encouraged. After the provisional President Dr. Sun Yat-sen issued a telegram to change the calendar and the era name, China switched to the Gregorian calendar, with November 13, 4609 in the Yellow Emperor's era as the New Year's Day of the first year of the Republic of China. The traditional lunar calendar was renamed the old calendar and even abolished. The government hoped to replace the Lunar New Year with New Year's Day. Even many calendars produced at that time did not print the lunar calendar, let alone the Spring Festival.

In order to change people's custom of celebrating the Lunar New Year, the central government once issued an administrative order that all industries and sectors were not allowed to close for holidays during the Lunar New Year. However, despite the government's repeated orders and various measures, it still could not change people's enthusiasm for celebrating the Lunar New Year. This shows the importance of the Lunar New Year in the hearts of Chinese people, not only for ordinary people, but also for officers and soldiers who have worked hard in the army.

It is for this reason that He Wei wants to make a good Spring Festival, so that the officers and soldiers who have been fighting in the iron and blood and on the line of life and death for a long time can relax. What's more, there is a huge difference between soldiers and civilians. Civilians can still get together with their families no matter what, but the officers and soldiers of the Assault Corps are almost all away from their homes and families. If the Spring Festival of the Assault Corps is not made lively, the officers and soldiers will inevitably feel extra lonely on this day when families should be reunited. Therefore, for this Spring Festival, He Wei will of course make it as lively and joyful as possible!
As for the central government's call for frugality during wartime, He Wei naturally scoffed at it. For many officers and soldiers of the assault corps, this year's Spring Festival may be the last Spring Festival they will celebrate in their lives. The same is true for He Wei himself. Under such circumstances, if the troops still practice frugality during the New Year, it would be purely making things difficult for themselves.

On New Year's Eve of the 28th year of the Republic of China, the barracks of the Assault Corps was already bustling with activity. Red papers were posted from the camp entrance to the barracks. The air was filled with a faint smell of gunpowder and sulfur, and the playground used for training was covered with debris from exploded firecrackers.

Dozens of brass cartridges were also casually thrown in the middle of the playground. They were the "results" of the second mountain artillery company of the artillery battalion of the assault corps. In order to celebrate the festival more lively, He Wei not only ordered the setting off of firecrackers in the barracks every day during the Spring Festival, but even the mountain artillery of the artillery battalion was used to help. An entire mountain artillery company had to fire dozens of empty cartridges every day to boost momentum.

In the camp, except for the most basic guards and sentries, other military operations and training operations have been lifted. The sentries, who are usually meticulous and solemn, are still strictly performing their sentry duties, holding their guns tightly, but they also have smiles on their faces that are not usually seen. Even the sergeants in command at the sentries are not as majestic as they were when they were on guard duty in the past. The desire for festivals and excitement has made almost every sentry leader and sentry count down the time for the change of guard in their hearts, waiting for the time to go off duty. Many people glance in the direction of the canteen in the camp from time to time.

It is the most lively place in the assault corps camp. All the officers and soldiers of the assault corps except the sentries and the officers and soldiers of the Third Independent Motor Vehicle Battalion assigned to the assault corps gather in the cafeteria, eating heartily, drinking heartily, laughing and cursing, and chatting. The cafeteria of the assault corps, which is usually subject to strict military discipline and where even the slightly louder sound of bowls and chopsticks colliding is not allowed to be made during collective meals, has become livelier than a vegetable market, and the air is filled with the heroic atmosphere of eating large chunks of meat and drinking large bowls of wine.

The dining table was filled with various meat and vegetarian dishes, from stewed pork, stewed chicken, roast goose and duck, and various stir-fries made by the kitchen squads of each company of the assault corps, to various authentic Sichuan dishes ordered from restaurants in the county town, which filled the canteen's table. Steamed buns, noodles, rice, dumplings and other staple foods were also brought up one by one by the cooks of the kitchen squad, in baskets and plates.

Whether it was the Shandong soldiers who were the first to join He Wei's command and were from the original Five Provinces Allied Forces system, or the Guizhou soldiers who were later recruited by He Wei during the Wuhan period, or the soldiers from various northern provinces recruited by He Wei in Wuhan, they could all enjoy their favorite staple foods.

There was plenty of wine, soda, cigarettes, and candy. Even the prohibition on alcohol, which He Wei usually took very seriously, was lifted on New Year's Eve. The assault corps celebrated this holiday in a very extravagant way, and all the food and drink did not even cost a penny from the assault corps' account.

Before the Spring Festival, the National Comfort Association sent a special comfort team to comfort the Assault Corps, a heroic unit that became famous for the great victory in Yangxin. This comfort team brought supplies for the national army collected by relevant departments of the temporary capital, schools, agriculture, industry, commerce, women's culture and other social groups. The supplies included a large number of long towels, shorts, shirts, shoes and socks, quinine pills for the treatment of epidemics, food, books, and a comfort fund of 100,000 French francs. This can be regarded as a subsequent bonus brought about by the Assault Corps' ability to fight and win great victories.

Even the military comfort groups in the rear, when they were comforting the front-line troops, would focus on the famous troops. As the top elite force in the entire national army, the Assault Corps was naturally qualified to enjoy the gifts from the comfort groups in the rear. When the officers and soldiers enjoyed the comfort gifts from the people they protected and the people they protected for their desperate battles on the front line and bravely killing the enemies to defend their country, their morale and spirit were undoubtedly boosted.

"Come on, drink!"

In the center of the cafeteria, the main officers of the assault corps gathered together, clinking glasses and toasting each other. It was very lively. Various dishes were placed in plates and even pots. Several earthenware wine jars were laid out together. He Wei, Wang Yuanling, Fu Chen, Fang Jing, Hu Zhaowu and others were all drinking until their faces were red.

Wang Yuanling, the chief of staff of the assault corps, who no longer had any calm temperament, raised his wine bowl and said to He Wei in a loud and majestic voice: "Captain, our corps has won battle after battle on the battlefield and beat that bastard to pieces. I, Wang, admire your command! I am from the sixth class of Huangpu Military Academy, and you are from the eleventh class of Huangpu Military Academy. In theory, I am your senior, but in terms of command and fighting, I ask myself, I am not up to your level. But today is a drinking table, and I, your senior, want to compete with you in drinking to see who can win this battle at the table. Come on, let's fight for three rounds!"

As he spoke, Wang Yuanling gulped down a bowl of wine.

He Wei, who was already a little tipsy at this time, slapped his thigh proudly and shouted, "Okay! But three rounds are not enough, we have to fight for at least three hundred rounds!"

As soon as He Wei finished speaking, he gulped down a large bowl of wine. When He Wei showed the empty bowl in front of everyone, he immediately aroused loud cheers from the officers at the table.

The commander of the 3rd Infantry Battalion, Hu Zhaowu, also picked up the wine bowl, patted his chest, and said drunkenly: "In terms of the battle, our headquarters must have won a big victory, but my battalion, Hu Zhaowu, didn't get to fight in any big battles. The 1st and 2nd Battalions fought more tough battles than my 3rd Battalion. Battalion commander, I am not a regular student of Huangpu, I am from the military training class of Huangpu. Although I can't compare with you, I have half a yellow jacket anyway. You can't be partial. Next time there is a tough battle, you must give me, Hu Zhaowu, first. I heard that the Military Commission will come to our headquarters for inspection in a few months and organize joint combat exercises. You must give me, Hu Zhaowu, some opportunities in this exercise, so that my battalion can also stand out. Commander, I, Hu Zhaowu, will drink first as a respect."

Hu Zhaowu then drank it all up, and everyone cheered and laughed.

He Wei nodded to Hu Zhaowu repeatedly, then filled another bowl and continued, "Brothers, you have worked hard, but the country is in crisis and the war of resistance must be fought for a long time. After the festival, our corps will continue to expand. The expansion of the entire corps and the training of new recruits must be fully launched. The Military Commission has ordered us to personally inspect us after the expansion. This is our honor, because only elite troops will be personally inspected by the Military Commission, so we must take the lead in the inspection and strive for first place. We want to be the best among the elite troops of the Central Army! We must be the best in the national army!"

"After the expansion into an army, the Military Commission will certainly give important positions to our corps. At that time, we will certainly be asked to undertake more arduous tasks, including tough battles. I hope that our corps can win battles in succession in the future, defeat the Japanese invaders on the battlefield, serve the country, and use the blood of the Japanese invaders to commemorate the sacrificed brothers and the dead soldiers and civilians, and drive the Japanese invaders out of China as soon as possible. This is my wish, and it is absolutely true. Brothers and comrades, come, for the governor-general and for the country, let's drink a bowl!"

He Wei's words made everyone's blood boil. As soon as he finished speaking, the officers all stood up and shouted: "Come on!"

Then, the heroic officers drank up the wine in the bowls with the domineering momentum of the assault corps that had severely defeated the Japanese Hata Detachment. Streams of hot blood and warm currents also flowed into everyone's hearts.

(End of this chapter)