The Iron-Blooded Army of Beacon Fire

Chapter 475 Commendation Ceremony 2
He Wei's eyes swept across the artillery battalion, and he continued to scan his troops one by one without saying a word. He was immediately attracted by the large number of mules and horses, a variety of professional equipment, as well as tank defense guns and machine guns beside the artillery battalion. That was the queue position of the assault corps' direct troops.

That is, the direct special forces company, the baggage company, the engineering company, the communications company, the tank defense artillery company, the anti-aircraft artillery company, and the search company. These direct companies have been reorganized, are all fully equipped and staffed, and all kinds of professional operating equipment have been fully replenished.

In the Battle of Banbi Mountain, the special forces company directly under Yang Biao's assault corps, under the personal command of He Wei, resisted the Japanese Army's Hata Detachment's Bansai Death Charge. This special forces company, composed almost entirely of veterans, also suffered heavy casualties, with more than two-thirds of its troops killed or wounded. It has finally been replenished and restored to its original full strength, equivalent to an infantry company.

However, He Wei was also very distressed by the heavy casualties suffered by the veterans of the Special Forces Company in the Banbi Mountain battle, so in this expansion of the Special Forces Company, He Wei ordered the Special Forces Company to stop organizing mainly veterans.

After all, the nature of the special forces company is to serve as a direct guard force under the headquarters of the corps. It is indeed a waste to concentrate a large number of veterans in the guard force. The place where the veterans can really shine should be the grassroots combat units below.

Therefore, the method adopted by the reorganized special forces company during this reorganization was to use the original veterans as the backbone and then supplement them with a large number of new recruits.

Of course, the large number of new recruits added by the Special Forces Company this time are also the best ones carefully selected by the Special Forces Company Commander Yang Biao from the more than 1,000 new recruits who joined the Assault Corps. If they are given excellent training, the newly formed Special Forces Company will certainly be able to perform the task of the Corps Command Guard, and can also become a usable reserve force for the Assault Corps in wartime.

The queues of the three companies, the Quartermaster Company, the Engineer Company and the Communications Company, were also high-spirited and in high spirits. In front of them, the professional baggage equipment of the Quartermaster Company, the recently replenished professional pontoon equipment, blasting equipment, smoke release equipment of the Engineer Company and various wired telephones, radio stations and the newly replaced large-scale field telephone exchanges of the Communications Company were neatly arranged.

These professional support companies directly under the assault corps have also been expanded in all aspects during this expansion. Relying on the large number of mules and horses seized from the Japanese army, the baggage company has been expanded into a supply company with more than 300 mules and horses and more than 150 horse-drawn carts.

In many Nationalist Army units, many middle and senior officers found it difficult to get a good-bred Japanese Oriental horse to use as a riding horse, but the mules and horses within the Assault Corps were equipped with only the best Oriental horses and big mules carefully trained by the Japanese Army's horse farms!

The same was true even for the pack horses and driving horses used by the baggage company to pull ammunition and supplies. From these details, we can see the excellent performance of the assault corps.

The expanded engineering company directly under the assault corps has a river crossing platoon, two fortification platoons, a blasting platoon and a smoke platoon. It is equipped with a large number of advanced engineering equipment including a large number of rubber boats, river crossing pontoon bridges, and air compressors for blasting. The professional engineering operation capabilities of the entire company have been greatly enhanced.

The communications company also added a large number of communications and command equipment, including a wireless communications platoon, two wired communications platoons equipped with ten German Zundap three-wheeled sidecar motorcycles, and a horse-mounted messenger platoon. Its field wired and wireless communications capabilities have been greatly improved compared to before the expansion.

Parallel to the communications company, there are eight Soviet-made M1932 45mm tank defense guns with their muzzles flattened and painted dark green, and eight Swiss Solomon ST-5 mm dual-purpose anti-aircraft and anti-static machine guns with their muzzles raised high and pointing straight to the sky.

Needless to say, the former was a tank defense artillery company that originally belonged to the artillery battalion of the assault corps. In this organizational adjustment, the company was changed to be directly under the assault corps, and the number of artillery equipment was increased to eight. The eight 20mm machine guns were equipment of the anti-aircraft artillery company directly under the assault corps.

This 20mm machine gun produced by the Swiss company Soloton (actually a shell company of German Rheinmetall) with both anti-aircraft and flat-fire combat modes is the main machine gun of the current national army. He Wei also commanded and used it during the Nanjing Defense War and was very satisfied with the performance of this machine gun. The formation of the anti-aircraft artillery company directly under the assault corps equipped with this type of artillery also means the enhancement of the assault corps' air defense firepower. At the same time, it also fits in with and meets the needs of the assault corps' current anti-airborne combat missions.

The search company at the end of the assault corps is also a newly expanded company. Its overall structure is equivalent to a reinforced infantry company of the assault corps. The infantry company of the assault corps is composed of infantry platoons, while the search company is composed of four infantry platoons. The firepower and firearms within its structure are also the same as those of the infantry company of the assault corps.

However, this company is not a traditional foot infantry company. Its three subordinate infantry platoons are mounted infantry platoons that use horses as their means of mobility, and one is a motorcycle platoon equipped with twenty German Zundap three-wheeled military motorcycles. The overall mobile forward speed is far beyond that of ordinary infantry companies, which is in line with the nature of the company's forward search and rapid reconnaissance.

Looking at the search company's formation, He Wei thought of his motorized force plan. If his plan could achieve its purpose, then this search company, as well as the tank defense artillery company and the anti-aircraft artillery company would be equipped with motorized vehicles and their mobility methods would be changed to become motorized forces.

Originally, He Wei was somewhat worried about whether this plan could be realized, but looking at the powerful lineup and equipment of the assault corps, his confidence grew.

With three infantry battalions of nearly 5,000 troops, one artillery battalion of more than 1,100 people, seven direct companies of more than 1,400 officers and soldiers, as well as a headquarters and a field hospital, the total strength of the assault corps has now reached more than 7,700 people. Its overall strength and scale are not inferior to some understaffed infantry divisions in the National Army. The assault corps is one of the best in the National Army in terms of its magnificent military appearance and complete organization and equipment.

Next to the huge square formation of the assault corps were the five new recruits battalions of the First Supplementary Soldier Training Department and all the officers and soldiers of the Third Independent Motor Vehicle Battalion. Needless to say, the First Supplementary Training Department, and the five new recruits battalions were also troops under He Wei's command.

Although the 3rd Independent Motor Vehicle Battalion was not within the combat structure of the Assault Corps and was only affiliated with it, it was stationed in the same barracks as the Assault Corps after all. It would be somewhat inappropriate for He Wei to leave out this affiliated friendly unit while holding such a grand ceremony to commend the army. In addition, He Wei also wanted to improve his relationship with this friendly unit.

Therefore, this battalion was also invited by He Wei to participate in the ceremony of the assault corps, and the battalion commander was also a man who liked pomp and circumstance. Not only did he line up all the officers and soldiers of the battalion, but in order to increase the momentum, all of their 160 German Opel Lightning military trucks were driven out from the carport and lined up in a neat square of cars.

If you look down from mid-air, the assault corps' camp is filled with square formations of more than 10,000 soldiers and officers, as well as neatly displayed arrays of guns, artillery equipment, cars, mules and horses. It looks extremely spectacular and majestic.

He Wei looked at the powerful army formation in front of him, nodded slightly, then turned around with a standard movement, ran to the command platform in the middle of the playground, and said in a loud voice, "I declare that the Army Assault Corps Inauguration and New Training Commendation Ceremony will begin now!"

The three-year military training and education of the eleventh phase of Whampoa Military Academy was not given in vain. Although there was no sound amplification equipment, He Wei's loud, heavy and standard voice of commands still spread throughout the entire playground. All the officers and soldiers stood in awe. He Wei continued: "My corps has been in the capital for more than half a year. During this half year, we have been reorganizing and replenishing for half a year. We have also welcomed new brothers from the First Supplementary Soldier Training Department and the Third Independent Motor Vehicle Battalion, as well as new cadres and new colleagues who have just graduated from Whampoa. The old brothers of my corps have made great progress and improvement in both combat skills and willpower during the construction and training in the past six months compared to when they first arrived. After more than three months of intensive training, the new recruits have also completed the transformation from civilians to qualified soldiers. At present, the outstanding new recruits and cadres selected from the five recruit camps have all been added to my assault corps. The battalions and companies of my corps have been reorganized and replenished, and the organization is complete. Now I announce that with the joint efforts of all officers and soldiers, and working together, my assault corps has been expanded according to the new organization and will be officially formed from now on!"

As soon as He Wei finished his heroic words, the assault corps formation below instantly became excited. However, what responded to He Wei was not the applause that was common in various ceremonies, but waves of shouts.

It was inconvenient for the fully armed officers and soldiers to applaud, and they did not want to disrupt the strict formation by applauding. Therefore, under the leadership of Fu Chen, the commander of the 1st Infantry Battalion, the officers and soldiers of the 1st Battalion took the lead in shouting.

"Assault Team, kill!"

Immediately afterwards, Fang Jing's Second Infantry Battalion, Hu Zhaowu's Third Infantry Battalion, Chen Xinsheng's Fourth Infantry Battalion, and the seven direct companies of the Assault Corps followed closely and, under the leadership of their chief officers, issued loud shouts that reached the sky.

"Assault Team, kill!" "Assault Team, kill!"

"Assault Team, kill!"

After the tidal shouts of the various units of the assault corps, He Wei waved his hand and continued, "Next, on behalf of the corps headquarters, I would like to commend the recruits and officers who performed well during the new training. These officers and recruits have all performed outstandingly during the new training. We hereby commend them and award each officer with an Outstanding New Training Officer Medal, a fountain pen, a notebook, and a bonus of eight yuan. We also award each recruit with an Outstanding New Recruit Medal, a fountain pen, a notebook, and a bonus of four yuan. Those whose names I call out step out: Second Lieutenant Yin Nan, Huang Xiang, Chen Yuansan, Ding Kaizong, Lin Guoxiong, Sun Baosheng, Zhang Lintao, Tong Kaiben, Gao Pengcheng, Yang Jiaao, Private Guo Dahu, Kang Baosen, Gao Youliang, Liu Xiaomao..."

He Wei pointed out a total of fifty officers and soldiers on a "list of outstanding new recruits" in his hand. These officers and recruits were all from more than one thousand new recruits and new officers who had just been selected from five new recruit replenishment camps to supplement the combat units of the assault corps.

The more than 1,000 new officers and recruits were the officers with the best performance in leading troops and the recruits with the best training results in all aspects in the five recruit camps. The new officers and recruits who received awards were the best among the more than 1,000 people, and could be called the best of the best. The officers were all second lieutenants, most of whom were graduates of the 13th and 14th classes of the Whampoa Military Academy. Some were sergeants and warrant officers directly promoted from the original assault corps. The new recruits were also new recruits who had just joined the assault corps and were given the rank of privates.

After He Wei finished his announcement, one officer and one soldier after another walked out of the assault corps' ranks. The officers who stepped out took the initiative to assume the responsibility of leading the team, shouting commands and directing the recruits to line up in neat rows. Under the gazes of tens of thousands of officers and soldiers on the playground, they walked up to the tall podium and strode towards He Wei.

"Report to the commander-in-chief! Second Lieutenant Yin Nan has been ordered to report!"

A young second lieutenant stood in front of He Wei, saluted and spoke with a slightly trembling voice. He Wei smiled and saluted back, then nodded, punched Yin Nan's shoulder with his fist and said, "Do a good job, you are a student of the 13th class of Whampoa Military Academy, don't embarrass us Whampoa students, you are also a Hunanese, there is a saying that there is no army without Hunanese, don't embarrass you Hunanese, you lead the new recruits very well, keep up the good work in the future, do a good job!"

Yin Nan did not expect that the captain He Wei would be so friendly and familiar with him in reporting his military academy education background and hometown. He was immediately excited. When Yin Nan was so excited that he was a little dazed, He Wei had already hung an excellent new training officer medal with the word "Tu" on Yin Nan's chest and handed over the prize and bonus. Yin Nan, the new second lieutenant, hung the medal in excitement and trance, and received the prize and bonus in a daze.

He Wei looked at the excited second lieutenant and patted his shoulder again: "Don't be nervous, I am not only your superior, but also your senior. You lead the soldiers very well. These are the rewards from the headquarters. Keep the things and don't spend the money carelessly. It's best to send it home. I heard that you are the only son of your parents, and there is only one sister in the family besides you. Life is not easy these days, and this money is not a small amount. Help your family more and let your parents suffer less."

He Wei had already read the information of these outstanding officers and soldiers a few days ago. He had an understanding of their appearance, qualifications, native places and families and remembered them in mind. Now he could naturally report their names, native places and family situations accurately.

The reason why he did this was naturally that he intended to talk and communicate more with the officers and soldiers when awarding medals and awards to the outstanding officers and soldiers, so as to shorten the distance and let the grassroots officers and soldiers know that he is an officer who knows the soldiers, is close to the soldiers, understands his subordinates, and cares about the grassroots. This will also be of great benefit to the cohesion of the entire corps.

"Thank you, thank you, Captain."

Yin Nan's voice was trembling with excitement. This military academy student who had recently graduated from the 13th Infantry Department of Whampoa Military Academy was very familiar with He Wei's name. In other words, in his heart, He Wei had long become an idol-like role model.

In terms of military academy academic qualifications, He Wei was only a graduate of the 1915th class of the Whampoa Military Academy, only two classes higher than him. Both of them were considered junior Whampoa students who enrolled in Nanjing after the Whampoa Military Academy moved to Nanjing. In terms of age, Yin Nan was born in the fourth year of the Republic of China (), and He Wei was also born in the same year. However, He Wei was promoted from a small second lieutenant trainee to colonel only two years after graduating from the military academy with his impressive combat record.

In the hearts of Yin Nan, or many younger Whampoa students who graduated in the past two years, He Wei is naturally a role model with a transcendent status. The idol and role model in his heart, who is also the highest-ranking officer of his unit, can accurately call out his name, hometown, and year in military school, and advises him to send the bonus back home and care about his family. Yin Nan would of course feel excited and a little touched.

He Wei continued, "A soldier's career is on the battlefield. Serving the country and making achievements is exactly what we should do. You have just been assigned to a combat unit as a platoon leader. Haha, combat units are different from recruit units. You need to learn more and do more to gain experience!"

It was not until He Wei finished speaking that Yin Nan reacted, stood at attention again, and saluted, "Thank you, Captain."

Following Yin Nan, one after another outstanding new officers and recruits received the commando corps' homemade medals, as well as prizes and bonuses personally awarded by He Wei.

Similarly, every officer and soldier received He Wei's praise, encouragement and care, and the feelings of the officers and recruits were no different from Yin Nan's thoughts. They were excited and moved to receive the care of the highest commander of their unit. They admired and loved He Wei even more in their hearts, and vowed to work hard to live up to He Wei's expectations.

On the command platform, the award-winning officers and recruits held their heads high and chests puffed out. Their heroic appearance after receiving the awards soon attracted the envy of many officers and soldiers on the playground.

Of course, the old officers and veterans of the Assault Corps had no feelings towards these award-winning new officers and recruits. In the eyes of these veterans of the Assault Corps who had fought their way through the battlefields of blood and fire, leading new recruits well and achieving excellent results in training were certainly good, but after all, they were not honors earned on the battlefield, so the "old men" were all very calm.

But the new officers and recruits were certainly not so calm. The new officers who had been added to the assault corps but did not receive the honor of outstanding new trainees secretly made up their minds to lead the troops and train hard to strive for an honor.

Those new officers in the five replenishment camps who were not recruited into the assault corps were also jealous. They all wanted to work hard and lead the new recruits well, so that they could be selected and serve in the assault corps' combat units when the assault corps needed additional officers next time.

The thoughts of the new recruits were much simpler and more plain. They had been added to the Assault Corps but had not received the honor of outstanding recruits. They did not have a deep understanding of the combat units. They were all from peasant families and did not understand any profound principles. Therefore, the new recruits did not have so many complicated thoughts. They were just envious of the medals and bonuses received by their comrades on the stage. They also realized that in the Assault Corps, only by training honestly and listening to their superiors could they do better and get rewards.

As for those recruits who were not added to the assault corps and who continued to work hard in the five recruit replenishment camps after the end of the new training, they were even more jealous. For them, not to mention the rewards received by the outstanding recruits on the command podium, even those recruits who did not go on the podium to receive rewards from their superiors in person but had already been added to the assault corps and held the rank of private, the full military pay of ten yuan per month was enough for those who were still in the recruit replenishment camps to envy!

Therefore, these new recruits who are still in the recruit supply camp are thinking about training hard, performing well, and striving to leave the recruit supply camp as soon as possible and join the assault corps.

The officers and soldiers who had been awarded medals on the command podium lined up in a row facing the officers and soldiers on the playground, each of them with their heads held high and their chests puffed out, full of vigor. The new officers and recruits on the playground were also all eager and secretly working hard, thinking about making a name for themselves and acquiring some skills!

A commendation ceremony of grand scale but simple process, unknowingly gave many officers and soldiers a shot in the arm!

(End of this chapter)