Bright Sword: From Northwest Shanxi to Shangganling

Chapter 314 If we let the political commissar know, wouldn't that make him make a mistake?
"Old Chen, the base area is now thriving, and many small base areas have been integrated."

"I heard that other units have already started to reorganize their structures. Shouldn't we do the same?"

Luo Ping walked in and spoke at the headquarters of the new Second Brigade.

“It’s time to readjust.” Chen Chengxing put down the pencil in his hand.

With the consolidation of numerous fragmented strongholds, it would no longer be appropriate for them to operate independently.

"What are your thoughts?" Luo Ping asked.

"The main organization of the main regiment remains unchanged. The infantry and artillery companies are changed into artillery battalions, and the heavy mortar battalions of the brigade headquarters are split up and distributed, with 6 mortars in each regiment."

In the past two years, the arsenal has already processed all the previously captured wheel axles into mortars.

These mortars were not enough for Chen Chengxing to deploy, but they were sufficient for the main force regiment.

Moreover, the arsenal had accumulated a considerable fortune.

"As for the local troops, each independent regiment consists of 1500 men, three infantry battalions, and one artillery company."

"Light and heavy machine guns and mortars, fire as needed."

As Chen Chengxing spoke, he handed the paper he had just written to Luo Ping.

Due to limitations in productivity, Chen Chengxing was unable to equip all his troops with the necessary gear.

The independent regiment could only set up the basic structure of the unit first.

Currently, the force is mainly light infantry, equipped with only a small number of heavy weapons, which will be gradually supplemented later.

However, even at full strength, the heavy firepower of an independent regiment is no match for that of a battalion in a main force regiment.

"By the way, the local guerrilla warfare still needs to be led by each independent regiment."

"The strength of guerrilla forces such as county brigades and district squads should not be weakened excessively," Chen Chengxing added.

Although the Japanese forces in China were weakening, they still had several million troops.

Now is not the time to be a pioneer; focusing on development is the best approach.

“I know that. I’ll go to various places first to take stock of the personnel and equipment situation, and then we’ll discuss how to reorganize.” Luo Ping nodded.

Before making any changes, we must first understand the situation.

Otherwise, if you send it to your superiors and they say they don't know anything, then it's all nonsense.

"Old Luo, the Second Brigade has plenty of food now. I'm planning to strengthen the troops' training and strive to achieve mule and horse production as soon as possible. What do you think?" Chen Chengxing said.

Since Zhang Chu arrived, the hand tractor business has been on track, and Zhang Chu has also made modifications and simplifications.

However, due to fuel shortages, the new Second Brigade has not deployed it throughout the troops; currently, it is mainly used by the artillery battalion.

However, with the increase in potato production and sufficient food in the base area, signs of livestock farming have emerged.

Moreover, crops have begun to show a diversified development.

At this point, there is no problem in having the troops undergo intensive training.

“The idea is good, but we don’t have that many mules and horses,” Luo Ping sighed.

The three regiments, which are the main force, are equipped with a large number of heavy weapons, so their normal marching speed is only about 30 kilometers per day.

Moreover, this speed already surpasses that of other main force regiments that Luo Ping is familiar with.

If mules and horses could be used, the speed of the main force could immediately increase to over 40 kilometers per hour.

However, the new Second Brigade simply doesn't have that many horses right now.

"Who said we needed mules and horses?" Chen Chengxing asked in surprise.

As the commander of the new Second Brigade, Chen Chengxing naturally knew how much resources the new Second Brigade had.

"How can you achieve mule-horse production without mules and horses?" Luo Ping asked, looking puzzled.

"Why not just make people run as fast as horses?"

"What did you say?" Luo Ping thought he had misheard.

"You mean, to convert troops to mules and horses without adding horses, but to get the troops to the speed of mules and horses?"

"Yeah, what do you think? Ma is a big eater, can we afford to support him?"

Chen Chengxing looked completely at ease.

No matter how much grain the New Second Brigade had, it couldn't support the entire brigade's mule and horse production.

With the current strength of the new Second Brigade, it would need at least 3 mules to achieve full mule production.

Even with three thousand donkeys, Chen Chengxing couldn't afford to raise them now.

"You're a tough guy." Luo Ping gave him a thumbs up.

“Old Luo, you don’t understand. The soldiers can definitely do it,” Chen Chengxing said confidently.

Without these acceleration features, Chen Chengxing wouldn't dare to say that.

But with the added benefits of these special features, if the soldiers put in a little more effort, achieving a normal daily march of forty kilometers is still not a problem.

"We'll see how things go later," Luo Ping said, not daring to give a definitive answer.

Mountains and plains are different after all.

If the soldiers couldn't handle it, he would definitely stop them.

Just as Luo Ping was about to leave, Zhou Weiguo walked in.

"brigadier."

Before Zhou Weiguo could speak, Chen Chengxing immediately interrupted him.

"We'll talk later."

"Oh."

Luo Ping glanced at Chen Chengxing with some suspicion, but didn't say anything more; he was already too busy. "I'm leaving now."

Chen Chengxing breathed a sigh of relief as he watched Luo Ping leave.

"Weiguo, sit down. I haven't told the political commissar about the matter I asked you to do."

Chen Chengxing gestured for Zhou Weiguo to sit down and said.

The situation is still uncertain. It's not too late to tell Luo Ping once it's confirmed.

"Have you found out the situation?" Chen Chengxing asked.

"We've roughly figured it out; the commander of the Japanese 4th Division is Yamashita Tomoyuki."

"He was previously the Chief of Staff of the North China Area Army. Before Okamura Yasuji took over, he was transferred to the 4th Division."

"However, while I was making inquiries, I discovered something strange," Zhou Weiguo said.

"According to what I've gathered, Yamashita Tomoyuki is a man of outstanding military achievements, but it seems that the people in the 4th Division don't like him."

Zhou Weiguo was very puzzled by this situation.

In a normal military, the better an officer's combat record, the more respect he should receive from his subordinates.

“It seems that Yamashita Tomoyuki is indeed a talented person, but the more talented someone is, the less likely they are to be able to work in the Fourth Division,” Chen Chengxing said with a smile.

The 4th Division was a very awkward unit.

In terms of both equipment and combat effectiveness, it was second to none among the entire Japanese army.

However, in terms of fighting spirit and loyalty to the Japanese invaders, they ranked last.

Throughout history, even when the Japanese were decimated in the Pacific, no one ever considered transferring the 4th Division to defend the island.

Let them keep selling rice in Thailand until they surrender.

In such an army, the more the leader wants to achieve something, the more uncomfortable the subordinates become.

"Where is their deputy division commander?" Chen Chengxing asked.

Yamashita Tomoyuki is a talented individual, so he is not within my consideration.

"The deputy commander of the 4th Division is named Mori Tomoro."

"I heard he has a good reputation in the Fourth Division," Zhou Weiguo said.

"Where is this Mouri Tomoro from?" Chen Chengxing asked.

"He seems to be from Osaka and has been the deputy division commander of the 4th Division for many years."

"There's another strange thing about this Fourth Division: every time the division commander is replaced, he's parachuted in from somewhere else."

“Mori Tomoro has never been promoted,” Zhou Weiguo said.

Zhou Weiguo said that he was increasingly unable to understand the Fourth Division.

Everything about it, from top to bottom, seemed strange.

“This is the person we’re looking for. Send him a letter!” Chen Chengxing said.

Wuyi County City Defense Command.

"Can anyone tell me what's going on?!"

Mouri Tomoro stared at a letter on the ground, veins throbbing on his forehead.

In the morning, as soon as he opened the door, he heard a thud; the letterboard must have fallen to the ground.

There should be something else inside.

If that had been a hand grenade, he would probably be dead by now.

No one at the scene spoke when faced with Tomoro Mori's question.

If they hadn't already confirmed there was no danger, they would have disappeared long ago for various reasons.

"Hiroshi Nagata, the security of headquarters is the responsibility of your unit."

"Now tell me, why are there unidentified things in my office?!"

Mouri Tomoro turned his gaze to Nagata Hiroshi.

"Smimas!" Nagata Hiroshi was also feeling bitter.

Yesterday was perfectly calm, nothing happened.

Who knew something would suddenly appear in the deputy division commander's office?

"Baka! I don't want an apology!" Mouri Chiro shouted angrily.

"Investigate this immediately!"

"Hai!"

After standing at attention, Nagata Hiroshi quickly left the place, fearing that Yamashita Tomoyuki might call him back again.

"You may all leave now," Tomoro Mori said, waving his hand dismissively.

The engineers have already inspected the metal plate and the letter; there is no threat.

The remaining Japanese officers scattered like birds and beasts, disappearing without a trace in the blink of an eye.

Sitting down at the table, Mouri Tomoro read the letter over and over again.

There was nothing suspicious about his appearance.

After opening the letter, it turned out to be a standard Japanese letter.

"Eighth Route Army?"

(End of this chapter)