Bright Sword: From Northwest Shanxi to Shangganling

Chapter 295 Is the Second Regiment to be Reorganized?

After leading the team back to Hongniwan, Chen Chengxing instructed Wei Dayong to send the soldiers assigned from the artillery regiment to the artillery garrison.

Chen Chengxing still needs to consider the specific allocation of personnel.

After all, he still had four heavy cannons at his disposal.

Upon arriving at the artillery barracks, the soldiers of the artillery regiment were so astonished to see the two 105mm cannons that their eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.

They had never heard of the Eighth Route Army possessing large-caliber heavy artillery.

Seeing everyone's reaction, Wei Dayong curled his lip.

It's just two heavy cannons, no big deal.

If they saw those two anti-aircraft guns on Erlang Mountain, wouldn't their eyes widen again?
Inside the regimental headquarters, Chen Chengxing unbuckled his belt and said to Xu Wu:
"Xu Wu, send a telegram to the military region and ask Chen Dasi to help investigate whether there was a regimental commander named Zhou Weiguo in the National Revolutionary Army during the Nanjing Campaign."

"Also, have someone investigate whether there is a Zhang Chu in the Tiger Head Mountain Independent Regiment."

If this Zhou Weiguo is the Zhou Weiguo I know, then Zhang Chu should also exist.

The new Second Regiment is currently in need of a skilled mechanic.

"I'll go right now." Xu Wu nodded and walked out.

"Old Chen, what's going on?"

Luo Ping was a little confused when Chen Chengxing came in and immediately assigned tasks.

“I ran into a talented person on the road, and it reminded me of something,” Chen Chengxing said casually.

"Oh, is that what happened during the Seven Counties Campaign?" Luo Ping said.

The Second New Regiment fought in the Hutou Mountain area during the Great Battle of Northwest Shanxi.

"more or less."

Chen Chengxing casually brushed it off.

He couldn't reveal the source of his information at all.

Meanwhile, Zhou Weiguo returned to Qingfeng Mountain, weary from his journey.

"Brother, I'm back."

After returning to Qingfeng Mountain, Zhou Weiguo went directly to Chief Zhu.

"The second-in-command is back. How was it? Did it go smoothly this time?"

Zhou Weiguo's trip to Ping'an County was to gather intelligence.

Normally, the counties closest to Qingfeng Mountain are Wulong and Shuiquan.

However, Zhou Weiguo has already made both places heavily guarded.

They didn't have many good opportunities, so they could only turn their attention to Ping'an County, which was quite far away.

"It went very smoothly. When I arrived, the Japanese soldiers in the county town were out encircling and suppressing the Eighth Route Army. I took the opportunity to blow up the Japanese armory."

Zhou Weiguo sat down and poured himself a bowl of water.

He didn't stop along the way in order to get back to Qingfeng Mountain as soon as possible.

"Second-in-command, your skills are truly remarkable. If this were in the past, you would be like Zhao Zilong of Changshan, able to charge in and out of the enemy army seven times over," said Chief Zhu with a smile.

"Brother, you flatter me." Zhou Weiguo waved his hand.

"But brother, have you thought about the future development of Qingfeng Mountain?"

"What do you mean?" Zhu Ziming's expression turned serious.

He realized that Zhou Weiguo had probably encountered some trouble.

"Brother, I won't lie to you. When I left Ping'an County, I was chased by the Japanese."

"As it turned out, the people from the Second New Regiment saved my life and Hu Zi's life. Commander Chen of the Second New Regiment even invited me to join the Second New Regiment."

"Brother, why don't you bring the brothers with you? It'll be a good opportunity for them to get a better life."

“Being a bandit all the time isn’t a good thing,” Zhou Weiguo said.

Joining the new Second Regiment was the best choice for everyone in Qingfeng Mountain.

Upon hearing Zhou Weiguo's words, the people who had been chatting in the hall all stopped talking and turned their attention to him.

Zhu Ziming also looked at Zhou Weiguo in silence.

He knew that his second-in-command had an extraordinary background and was ambitious, and that he couldn't stay in Qingfeng Mountain as a bandit forever.

But he didn't expect this day to come so soon.

"Second-in-command, the Eighth Route Army is now like rats crossing the street, being chased around by the Japanese."

“If we go there now, wouldn’t we be plunging headfirst into the mud?” the third leader said from the side.

The Eighth Route Army was indeed a master at fighting the Japanese, but their military discipline was also extremely strict, and he didn't think he could handle it.

“Third Boss, you’re overthinking it. We’re going to join the New Second Regiment. I think everyone has heard of the New Second Regiment’s reputation,” Zhou Weiguo said.

Zhou Weiguo was determined to take revenge, and only the regular army could help him do so.

If we continue to stay in Qingfeng Mountain and engage in small-scale activities, we will never achieve anything significant.

This is not 30 years ago. No matter how capable he is, he could not possibly develop Qingfeng Mountain into a warlord force.

"No matter how strong the new Second Regiment is, it's impossible for them to turn the tide," the third leader said.

As the Japanese forces have grown stronger, Qingfeng Mountain no longer dares to act rashly in the vicinity.

Otherwise, Zhu Ziming would not have agreed to let Zhou Weiguo go to Ping'an County.

"Big brother, what are you thinking?"

Zhou Weiguo did not continue to explain to the third leader, but instead looked at Zhu Ziming.

"Second-in-command, I know your ambition. If you want to join the Eighth Route Army, I will never stop you."

“But I have to think of the brothers, so I can’t go with you,” Zhu Ziming said after a moment of silence.

If he had joined the Eighth Route Army guerrillas, Zhu Ziming might have accompanied Zhou Weiguo to take a look.

After all, the guerrillas are weak, so if things get really bad, the people from Qingfeng Mountain can still leave.

But if they really went to the new Second Regiment, they probably wouldn't even have any autonomy.

A unit capable of going toe-to-toe with the Japanese would not possibly yield to its two hundred or so men.

Even whether they are willing to accept it all is a question.

If the brothers of Qingfeng Mountain really scatter, then what am I worth?

"Brother."

“Brother, no need to say anything, I know everything.” Zhu Ziming interrupted Zhou Weiguo.

“Remember, Qingfeng Mountain will always be your home. You can come back anytime you want. I'll always keep the position of second-in-command for you,” Zhu Ziming assured him. “Then I thank you in advance, brother!”

Seeing that Zhu Ziming had made up his mind, Zhou Weiguo couldn't say anything more.

He also knew that a person who was used to being free and undisciplined would not easily accept military-style management.

A few days later, Chen Chengxing met Zhou Weiguo again.

"Commander Chen, I've come to join you."

"Okay, okay, welcome, welcome!" Chen Chengxing said with a smile.

"How about this, you stay at the regimental headquarters and work as my staff officer. The comrade you brought with you can join the guard company first, how about that?"

"Staff officer? Commander, it's me."

"Hey Weiguo, I know you too, right? Acting commander of the 522nd Regiment, isn't that you?"

"Commander, you already know?" Zhou Weiguo was somewhat surprised by the Eighth Route Army's intelligence capabilities.

In just a few days, he had figured out his own situation.

"I know that with your abilities, it's a bit of a waste for you to be a staff officer, but after all, you're a new member of the Second Regiment family."

"You'll be used as a temporary replacement, but you'll definitely be given more responsibility later," Chen Chengxing said.

No matter how capable Zhou Weiguo was before, it's impossible for him to be appointed as a military commander right away when he arrives at the New Second Regiment.

No one would be convinced by that.

The position of a staff officer would be just right.

This would allow Zhou Weiguo to utilize his abilities without provoking resistance from the soldiers.

"Let me introduce you to someone else," Chen Chengxing said with a smile.

"Staff Officer Zhang!"

"Here!" Someone ran over from the house next door.

“You know Zhang Chu, right?” Chen Chengxing said.

"Zhang Chu?"

"Zhou Wen?"

Zhang Chu and Zhou Weiguo both stared wide-eyed.

Zhang Chu had always thought Zhou Wen was dead, but he never expected him to be standing alive and well in front of him now.

"Zhang Chu, Zhou Weiguo will be the regimental staff officer of the new Second Regiment from now on. Why don't you show him around and let him get familiar with his work?"

"Also, arrange a room for him," Chen Chengxing said.

After learning that Zhang Chu was indeed in the Tiger Head Mountain Independent Regiment, Chen Chengxing immediately asked Chen Dasi to issue a transfer order.

For this purpose, Chen Chengxing also provided a Type 24 heavy machine gun and 3,000 rounds of ammunition.

Chen Chengxing naturally wanted to maximize Zhang Chu's workload, given that he had spent a lot of money to acquire him.

In addition to serving as a regimental staff officer, Zhang Chu also took on the additional tasks of the repair shop, as well as the production and maintenance of hand tractors.

"Yes!"

"Come on, let me introduce you to them."

As Zhang Chu spoke, he led Zhou Weiguo out of the regimental headquarters.

After everyone in the regimental headquarters had left, Luo Ping asked:
"Old Chen, what are your thoughts on the next move of the new Second Regiment?"

"Let's reconnect the north and south first," Chen Chengxing said.

Due to the large-scale mopping-up operations, many of the former base areas were transformed back into guerrilla zones.

Moreover, the various bases within the Zhongyun Mountains were also divided up by the Japanese.

The most important task facing the new Second Regiment now is to re-establish connections between the various base areas.

"My idea is to start from the mountainous areas, going north along Zhanshan and Jiaozishan, all the way to Zhongshan."

"Then, relying on the main peak of the Zhongyun Mountains, we will gradually develop westward," Chen Chengxing gestured on the map.

For each base area to develop better, a transportation line must be guaranteed between them and the Dayunshan base area.

"When do you want to make your move?" Luo Ping asked.

"Don't rush. The Eighth Route Army is currently reorganizing its various units, and I estimate that the New Second Regiment is among them."

"It's not too late to take action after the adjustments are complete," Chen Chengxing said.

Headquarters has issued multiple directives requiring the main forces of the Eighth Route Army to localize.

Many brigade and regiment-level unit designations have now been revoked.

Then they broke up into smaller units and operated within the military region under the names of guerrilla detachments and battalions.

Chen Chengxing didn't know if the new Second Regiment would be among them.

The new Second Regiment now has a total strength of over 5 men, and this is because of the continuous battles that have left no time for them to settle down and recruit new soldiers.

Once development begins, it will inevitably be able to expand again in a short period of time.

The military region cannot ignore this issue.

While Chen Chengxing and Luo Ping were discussing the next steps for the new Second Regiment, Chen Sijin was also discussing the new Second Regiment with his division commander.

The new Second Regiment has now presented them with a difficult problem.

The Second New Regiment has too many people; it wouldn't be appropriate to convert them into a detachment.

Under the current circumstances, the detachment is at the brigade level, and the subordinate battalions are at the battalion level.

But if it's changed like this, even if the new Second Regiment is promoted to a detachment, they might still have to have a dozen or so battalions under their command.

This contradicts the original intention of streamlining administration and reducing personnel.

"Sigh, let me discuss this matter with the boss again and see if we can make an exception for the Second New Regiment."

The division commander said helplessly.

Although the New Second Regiment has a fixed base and conforms to the division of the military sub-district, they are different from other units.

The purpose of the reform is to preserve our strength and enhance our combat effectiveness.

If it leads to a decline in the combat effectiveness of the troops, then it would be a case of losing more than gaining.

"Okay." Chen Sijin nodded.

The new Second Regiment is currently stuck in a limbo, which is quite a difficult situation.

Moreover, the combat effectiveness of the new Second Regiment is obvious to all, and no one can say anything even if special treatment is given.

(End of this chapter)