Bright Sword: From Northwest Shanxi to Shangganling

Chapter 377 The Russians are here

Because the Jin-Sui Army took the initiative to withdraw, Chen Sijin also learned about the power struggle at the top.

Therefore, he did not intend to destroy the Jin-Sui Army now, so he stopped the operation and began to reorganize and train the army.

Chen Chengxing led his troops back to Taiyuan and prepared to march north to Suiyuan to participate in the war.

However, the KMT's 12th War Zone is currently suffering repeated defeats.

Chen Chengxing estimated that the Second Independent Detachment would not need to be deployed.

"Old Chen, what are your plans with all these weapons in the warehouse?"

"Should we hand it over to the General Logistics Department?" Luo Ping asked.

Chen Chengxing had considered Luo Ping's question on the way back.

"Let's build another reinforced supplementary regiment, with multiple infantry battalions under it, to facilitate the replenishment of the main force's troops."

The American-made weapons of the First Division were all of high quality.

Despite the lack of ammunition supplies, Chen Chengxing decided to use them together.

However, it was precisely because the bullets and mortar shells of the American-equipped weapons were not compatible with the supplies of the Second Independent Detachment.

Therefore, Chen Chengxing's initial plan was to establish a new unit.

When Chiang Kai-shek sends more troops later, then we'll build a main force equipped with American weapons.

Luo Ping hesitated upon hearing Chen Chengxing's idea.

"Create another regiment? Is that even possible?"

Luo Ping knew very well what a supplementary regiment was, and he knew it would gradually be promoted to a main force brigade in the future.

The Second Independent Detachment already had three sub-teams, which was quite a lot. Now they've got four, isn't that a bit too many?

"If you remove the 'ma' character, it will definitely work," Chen Chengxing affirmed.

He had already heard from Chen Sijin that the D column was going to take on two more brigades.

“However, we can’t say that when we send a telegram to our superiors.” Chen Chengxing decided to offer a way out.

"Well, let's talk about the mission of this supplementary regiment. Its main task is to conduct ideological education for the prisoners, and the director of the political department of the detachment will serve as the political commissar."

He didn't have the same prestige as Chen Dasi. The Second Independent Detachment already had three infantry squads, which was quite a lot.

If we form another detachment, other friendly forces might object.

"Alright, let me think about how to write it." Luo Ping nodded.

"But who do you want to report this regimental commander to?" Luo Ping asked.

After all, this was a unit built by the Second Independent Detachment itself, and the Second Independent Detachment still had a certain right to make suggestions regarding the appointment of commanders.

When superiors are considering these suggestions, they will also pay attention to them.

“Right now, there are only two suitable candidates: Zhou Weiguo and Chu Yunfei,” Luo Ping said.

"Report it to Old Chu," Chen Chengxing said after thinking for a moment.

After the Second Independent Detachment was established, Xu Wu served as the deputy chief of staff, while Chu Yunfei didn't even get a position as chief, and now his position is somewhat awkward.

Zhou Weiguo and Chen Chengxing had other plans for him, but they weren't needed yet.

Appointing him as the commander of the supplementary regiment will help him integrate better into the unit.

“Okay, then I’ll report to Chu Yunfei.” Luo Ping nodded.

"What about the troop strength? How many battalions?"

“Five infantry battalions, three infantry companies per battalion. Use whatever heavy weapons you have, and leave the missing ones vacant for now,” Chen Chengxing said.

In this battle, the 1st and 31st Divisions of the Guo Army, as well as the Jin-Sui Army, captured a considerable number of prisoners.

Chen Chengxing decided to select elites from among them to fill the main force of the Second Independent Detachment, and then add them to the supplementary battalion after the main force was fully staffed.

As for the remaining prisoners who didn't want them, let them be handled by the Political Department of the Field Headquarters.

Chu Yunfei was very grateful for Chen Chengxing's kindness.

If this were in the KMT army, someone like him, who came to the military later in life, would be lucky to get a minor, low-level position to retire in.

Who would have thought that I could now become the commander of a combat regiment?

Regardless of whether this supplementary regiment only has about two thousand men, at least they now have soldiers at their disposal.

Moreover, they were American-equipped troops.

As for the ammunition issue, we'll discuss that later.

After the New Year, Chiang Kai-shek launched a series of attacks, only to be soundly defeated.

A temporary ceasefire was finally decided to be implemented to gain some buffer time.

With the mediation of the US and the Soviet Union, both sides, who needed time to develop, eventually signed a ceasefire agreement.

In early 1946, China presented a new atmosphere of peace and democracy.

However, both sides understood that peace was short-lived.

At the routine meeting of the Second Independent Detachment, Chen Chengxing looked at everyone and said:

"You all know about the ceasefire agreement, and I hope everyone will not let their guard down."

"The flames of war could reignite at any time, and the troops' training must be intensified."

Although the fighting had stopped and Chiang Kai-shek had begun downsizing in accordance with the agreement, anyone with a discerning eye could see what an integrated division really was.

"The troops' food rations are now guaranteed, so the intensity of training needs to be increased."

"We must focus on training in shooting, grenade throwing, bayonet fighting, demolition, earthmoving operations, and mobile warfare tactics."

In the past, even the main force regiments mainly engaged in guerrilla warfare and ambush warfare.

As the war situation changed, the troops had to adapt.

"As for marching speed, I must train him to be the fastest!" Chen Chengxing emphasized.

In warfare, speed is the key to creating miracles.

Everyone present nodded in agreement.

Their vision may not be that sharp, but they know that neither side is truly convinced of the other's superiority.

Whether it's a battle between two people or a conflict between armies.

As long as one person is dissatisfied, the battle will not stop, let alone now that neither of them is satisfied.

Just as Chen Chengxing was listening to the reports from the brigade commanders on troop replenishment, Zhou Weiguo walked over.

Zhou Weiguo whispered in Chen Chengxing's ear:
"The field commander has sent someone looking for you. They're at the brigade headquarters right now, and they've brought two Soviet Russians with them."

"The Russians? What are they doing here?" Chen Chengxing asked, somewhat puzzled.

I have absolutely no connection with the Soviet Union.

"I don't know, but it shouldn't be a bad thing," Zhou Weiguo said.

"Go and see."

Chen Chengxing stood up and addressed the meeting participants:

"The political commissar will take charge from now on; I have something to attend to."

Without waiting for a response from the others, Chen Chengxing left the meeting room.

The person sent by the field headquarters to lead the way was Zhang Wanhe, the logistics minister. "Commander Chen, these two Soviet comrades, Sergei and Ivan, are both engineers from Soviet arsenals."

"They came here to learn about the manufacturing process of rocket launchers," Zhang Wanhe said.

After the Soviet army saw and tested the rocket launcher in Northeast China, they immediately determined that it was a weapon they desperately needed.

In Germany, they have already begun a standoff with the United States.

In terms of anti-armor weapons, the United States has the Bazooka, while the Soviet Union and Russia lacked essential man-portable anti-tank weapons.

Although Soviet Russia had gained the Iron Fist of Germany, it still lacked some production capacity.

And most importantly, the performance of the Iron Fist is actually inferior to that of the Type 71 rocket launcher!

Therefore, they wanted to obtain the rocket launcher production technology directly without any investment.

Hearing Zhang Wanhe's words, Chen Chengxing was somewhat puzzled.

In any case, this job is not for me.

Chen Chengxing glanced at Zhang Wanhe and noticed that Zhang Wanhe was giving him a meaningful look.

Chen Chengxing finally realized that he was being used as a scapegoat.

It seems the superior wants to speak but can't.

Chen Chengxing's eyes darted around, and he said:

"Soviet Russia and China are brothers and should help each other."

"However, this weapon was not developed by our army, but was independently developed by a weapons engineer."

"The reason our army was able to produce was simply because we obtained the right to produce during the War of Resistance."

"Due to patent rights and agreement restrictions, I regret that I cannot help you."

Soviet Russia could certainly disregard patents and produce directly, but Chen Chengxing could use that as an excuse.

Whether it works or not, there's always an excuse.

"Oh? Is that so?" Zhang Wanhe seemed to be hearing about it for the first time.

"Minister Zhang, it's absolutely true. Several new weapons that have appeared in our army were all designed by this man," Chen Chengxing confirmed.

"Such a genius exists in the world!" Zhang Wanhe exclaimed.

"This man was originally an engineer at the Taiyuan Arsenal. He was exceptionally talented and quite wealthy."

"However, the family fortune was almost completely exhausted in the research and development of various weapons."

"Because of the War of Resistance against Japan, we obtained the right to use it free of charge," Chen Chengxing explained.

Zhang Wanhe nodded: "I see. Then we must respect this expertise."

"Patent rights! That means you can't just copy someone else's invention," Chen Chengxing said.

“Yes, patent rights!” Zhang Wanhe affirmed. “We, the G Party, always keep our word; we would never do anything to cheat people!”

Seeing that Zhang Wanhe and Chen Chengxing were about to finalize the matter, Sergei quickly said:
"We all belong to G International, so we should help each other!"

“We should definitely help if we can, but this doesn’t belong to the G Party, so we can’t just take it by force, can we?” Zhang Wanhe said, somewhat troubled.

Of course, we're talking about you guys.

Chen Chengxing, who was standing to the side, didn't say anything, but just rolled his eyes.

"International" my foot! Your boss disbanded it a long time ago.

Zhang Wanhe's words left Sergei and Ivan speechless.

They wanted to just take it, but they couldn't say it out loud.

Patents are a lame excuse, but they are still an excuse.

It's like a piece of paper lying across their path.

Everyone knows this paper is easy to break, but if you deliberately break it, you'll have to pay the price.

After discussing it with Ivan, Sergei spoke again:

"Can we go to the factory and take a look?"

"Of course." Zhang Wanhe agreed without waiting for Chen Chengxing's reply.

There's no way to refuse this.

"Weiguo, go tell Director Wen to make preparations for receiving our Soviet friends," Chen Chengxing gestured to Zhou Weiguo.

“No need for that,” Sergei quickly said.

"Yes, yes, you have come from afar, we must show our hospitality."

As Chen Chengxing spoke, he gestured for Zhou Weiguo to hurry up and go.

Sergei and Ivan couldn't persuade Chen Chengxing otherwise, so they could only watch Zhou Weiguo run away.

The group squeezed into a captured Willys Jeep and arrived at the arsenal in the north of the city.

Of course, this squeezing was just Zhang Wanhe being sandwiched between Sergei and Ivan.

Chen Chengxing sat in the passenger seat and said it wasn't cramped at all.

"This is Director Wen, the head of the technical department and director of the second branch factory of the Taiyuan Arsenal," Chen Chengxing introduced.

Upon hearing Chen Chengxing's introduction, the two Soviet engineers' eyes widened in astonishment.

The Soviet Union did have young weapons engineers, but young female weapons engineers were extremely rare.

"Director Wen has achieved so much at such a young age, it's truly admirable!" Sergei exclaimed.

"Director Wen's father used to be the factory director of the Taiyuan Arsenal," Chen Chengxing introduced.

Although Chen Chengxing was giving a truthful account, Sergei and Ivan interpreted it differently.

Their initial enthusiasm immediately waned considerably.

What they despise most is nepotism!
Seeing the sudden surge of enthusiasm from the two, Wen Ying was somewhat bewildered.

However, she didn't investigate further, since they were strangers anyway.

"I'll show you around," Wen Ying said, leading the way.

Inside the workshop, Sergei frowned as he looked at the old-fashioned machine tools from World War I and some of the machine tools that were later produced domestically.

How could a single-soldier rocket launcher be invented in such a production environment?

Sergei casually touched two parts as he took them out of a box and put them together.

You don't even need calipers to know that the tolerance is frighteningly large.

When they arrived at the assembly site, they discovered that the assembly workers would occasionally rework the parts.

Sometimes, they would even use a hammer to smash it.

Under such circumstances, even if they managed to acquire one or two rocket launchers, Soviet Russia would have difficulty producing them.

Moreover, the more data you acquire, the more chaotic it may become.

These parts, produced by the Taiyuan Arsenal, had large tolerances for each one, yet they could miraculously be assembled.

During the visit, Sergei suddenly stopped.

"Wait a moment!"

(End of this chapter)