Sword: Heart of Iron

Chapter 70 New Group

1937 10 Month 24 Day.

Wang Feng led a regiment under the North China Battle Group and a mountain artillery battalion to the Baimujing area.

Before the Battle of Xinkou began, Huang Shaohong came to Niangziguan to supervise the battle in the name of deputy commander-in-chief of the war zone.

Even though they were far apart, they had heard of Wang Feng's reputation.

I went to the Kashiwagii area specifically to wait.

A group of people in neat formation slowly entered the Kashiwa Well. The formation remained neat throughout the whole process and no one was whispering to each other.

When Huang Shaohong saw the group for the first time, he couldn't help but praise it: "What a mighty army!"

"With strict military discipline and obedience to orders, how can we not win the battle?"

Wang Feng jumped off his white horse and saluted: "Commander Huang, thank you for your praise."

Huang Shaohong pulled Wang Feng aside and said, "Commander Wang, the Baimujing area is of vital importance. Yesterday, we joined forces with the 1st Regiment of the Eighth Route Army to block the enemy in Qigeng Village but failed. The Japanese army is likely to approach the city."

The two men had the same title, but their positions were different. Calling each other "superior" was Huang Shaohong's way of showing respect to Wang Feng.

He is young and good at fighting. Who wouldn't like such an officer?

Huang Shaohong sighed: "To be honest, my wife's defense line is already at its end."

A powerful enemy is approaching, and it is a big taboo for a commander to say such words.

But he was completely disappointed with Yan Laoxi.

The reason why Huang Shaohong said these words to Wang Feng when they met for the first time was that he felt a little reluctant.

Regardless of the weapons and equipment, just looking at the appearance of the soldiers of the North China Battle Group, among all the armies he had seen over the years, only the German-equipped Adjustment Division could be compared with it.

Such an army will die on the battlefield against Japanese aggression.

Rather than falling victim to factional strife.

"After the war zone military meeting, Commander Yan of the Second War Zone gave me a group of troops and asked me to come to Niangzi Pass to supervise the battle."

"As a result, halfway through the journey, some troops, instigated by cowardly generals, broke away from the team without authorization, turned off their marching radios, and ran back to Taiyuan."

"Not long after arriving at Niangzi Pass, Commander Yan secretly transferred a group of troops."

"The command system of Niangzi Pass is very chaotic now, with various factions everywhere. It is difficult to defend the pass."

Huang Shaohong shook his head helplessly.

They were all old hands in the officialdom, and they seldom said such words even to their confidants, not to mention that it was the first time that he and Wang Feng met.

Huang Shaohong is not stupid.

He had long been dissatisfied with Yan Laoxi, and saying this would alienate the relationship between Wang Feng and Yan Laoxi, causing him to completely side with the Nanjing government.

Whether it is out of personal interests or the interests of the party and the country, there is nothing wrong with saying this.

Besides, what I just said was not nonsense, it was all solid facts. There was no falsehood at all.

He was not afraid of others knowing at all. Even if Wang Feng leaked these words, the only one who would be embarrassed in the end would be Yan Laoxi.

Wang Feng was stunned.

Turning off the radio halfway is such a classic move.

"Niangzi Pass is the barrier of the eastern side of Shanxi. Defending the country is the duty of a soldier."

Huang Shaohong grinned.

This answer is the same as no answer.

Wang Feng was not stupid and did not rush to express his opinion.

Huang Shaohong was a special envoy of the Nanjing government. After the battle, he just left.

As one of the three giants of the New Guangxi Clique, his influence is no less than that of Yan Laoxi. The two of them are at loggerheads and neither is afraid of the other.

But Wang Feng has his roots in the Second War Zone, so he still needs to be careful with his words and actions.
Huang Shaohong brought up the main business: "The Japanese right column attacked the north side of Niangzi Pass. The newly transferred 41st Army temporarily resisted the Japanese attack."

"The left column is depending on you."

But no matter what, he had to keep his wife until the last moment.

There is a world of difference between retreating after receiving an order and rout- ing without authorization.

Wang Feng: "Please rest assured, sir!"

Kashiwagi Village.

After the first regiment moved in, they set up camp on the open space on the south side of the village.

There are no villagers here anymore. As early as a week ago, Huang Shaohong had predicted that the Japanese army would attack the Niangzi Pass flank and evacuated the people early.

The terrain of Kashiwagi Village is very complex. It is located in the mountains and the terrain nearby is extremely undulating.

Inside the temporary command post.

Zhao Fangyuan hung the map he had taken on the wall. Holding a baton, he said, "Sir, if we want to hold on to Baimujing Village, we must at least deploy the defense line two or three kilometers outside the village."

Wang Feng nodded.

There are no strategic locations to defend around the village, and instead the Japanese army will seize the surrounding high ground and look down on Kashiwagi Well.

Just as the two were discussing the defensive deployment, there was a commotion outside.

The discussion was interrupted.

The two looked at each other and quickly walked out of the command room.

Outside, a group of people gathered together, chattering non-stop.

Zhao Fangyuan immediately stood on a high place and looked around.

call.
Zhang Hu should be busy with other things, and only Deputy Head Wu Guangsheng is there to stabilize the situation.

so far so good
Wang Feng frowned
A familiar voice came from the center of the crowd.

"Hey! Is this how you, the national army, bully people?"

"I'm fighting the Japanese on your Shanxi territory, and in the end I'm not even given a place to live?"

Wang Feng looked carefully.

Li Yunlong!
He was like a crude cook, taking off his hat and pointing at a soldier's nose and cursing.

"Damn it! Who is your commander?!"

"You are spoiled. If you have the ability, go fight the Japanese on the battlefield. What's so great about your national army? When it comes to fighting, you run faster than rabbits. Why are you so proud?"

Wang Feng shook his head, feeling helpless.

After arriving at Baimujing, he first discussed the battle situation on the Niangzi Pass front with Huang Shaohong, and then immediately arranged defensive deployments and ordered his soldiers to dig fortifications.

I was so busy that I forgot about this guy.

No matter what, Li Yunlong was scolding his own soldiers. If a general doesn't protect his own shortcomings, how can he let his men follow him? Thinking of this, Wang Feng slowly walked towards the quarreling crowd.

Deputy head Wu Guangsheng spotted it immediately and said, "Sir!"

"Sir!"

Facing everyone's greetings, Wang Feng casually returned the greeting: "What's going on?"

"What are you arguing about?"

Looking at the two shining triangular star emblems on the collar badge, the originally bustling crowd immediately quieted down.

"what's the situation?"

Wu Guangsheng: "Sir, they are trying to rob our tent."

Wang Feng's face turned dark.

What did I do to offend someone? Every time I rest with other troops, my things are always stolen.
Seeing the senior official in charge coming, Li Yunlong also began to argue for himself: "Hey, brother, don't say such harsh words."

"What do you mean by robbing? We call this borrowing!"

Wang Feng frowned: "Borrow?"

Li Yunlong nodded: "Yes, we can discuss anything."

Wang Feng suddenly realized: "Well, we won't lend it to you!"

"With the enemy at hand, how did the Eighth Route Army fight the war without building positions to resist the Japanese invaders and with so many people coming here to borrow tents?"

Li Yunlong's eyes widened.

The casual words "no" instantly made the excuses he had prepared useless.

It feels like a punch on cotton.

Wang Feng seized the sore spot: "Which unit are you from?"

A soldier said first: "We are from the New 129st Regiment of the 386th Brigade of the th Division?"

Wu Guangsheng was puzzled: "New 1st regiment?"

"The 129th Division has this number?"

They had fought side by side with the 115th Division before and were also members of the Eighth Route Army.

They are all organized into one division, two brigades and four regiments, and all have numerical numbers.

The independent regiment under the division does not have a numerical number, but it is a direct unit of the division and serves as a reserve force at critical moments.

I haven't heard of the new group number either?

Wang Feng followed suit: "Zhao Fangyuan!"

"To!"

"Go get the number book."

"Yes!"

Li Yunlong's face turned pale: "Which unit are you from?"

Wu Guangsheng refused to give in: "We are from the newly formed 1st Regiment of the North China Battle Group, what's the matter?"

"Would you like to see the formation document issued by the Nanjing Military and Political Department?"

"Do you have this thing?"

"The superiors only told us to guard Baimujing, but didn't tell us that there was an Eighth Route Army here. You don't even have a regular number, but you came here to steal military supplies. I doubt your motives!"

Wu Guangsheng was aggressive.

Wang Feng waved his hand.

Li Yunlong had a conflict with his soldiers, so naturally he had to help.

But everything should be done in moderation.

Huang Shaohong told him privately that a unit of the Eighth Route Army had failed in blocking the Japanese army in Qigan Village, and it was probably the New 1st Regiment.

Looking at the appearance of the Eighth Route Army soldiers on the opposite side, it seemed that they had just suffered a defeat.

They are all anti-Japanese troops. The Japanese army is about to attack us, and maybe they will have to fight side by side.

Internal strife is unacceptable.

Wang Feng: "Excuse me, who are you?"

Li Yunlong was not convinced: "The new regiment's leader is Li Yunlong!"

Wang Feng pretended to be enlightened: "Captain Li, nice to meet you."

Wu Guangsheng was still angry and said coldly, "Look, this is Commander Wang from our North China Battle Group."

Li Yunlong glanced sideways slightly.

He saw Wang Feng's collar badge clearly. It took more than ten years from the battles in Hubei, Henan and Anhui to Shanxi, Chahar and Hebei.

This is the first time I have seen such a high-ranking official.

Seeing that the atmosphere between the two sides had eased somewhat, Li Yunlong also lowered his tone and said, "Captain Wang, can you give us your tent for use?"

I almost blurted out "Laozi", but luckily I managed to say it back.

Li Yunlong has a bad temper, but he is not stupid.

I was in the wrong in the first place. Before I set off, the brigade commander repeatedly reminded me that now we must unite to fight the war, and we must unite with friendly forces and not cause unnecessary trouble.

That Commander Wang on the opposite side, being such a high-ranking official, should be able to talk directly to the brigade commander.

If you make a report, you will be in trouble.
Wu Guangsheng whispered, "Sir, in order to speed up the march, we will leave the extra baggage to the second and third regiments at the back."

"If we give it to them, we will have no use for it."

The weather was turning colder, and people were freezing to death at night. We were about to go to war with the Japanese army, and if a dozen people caught a cold, it would trigger a large-scale influenza epidemic in the army.

Wang Feng frowned.

This is a troublesome matter. No matter who Li Yunlong is, he cannot make his own soldiers suffer just to please others.

“Are there any vacancies in the houses?”

Wu Guangsheng pondered for a moment and said, "There are several houses where ammunition is stored. We are afraid that it will get wet in the rain."

Wang Feng looked up at the sky and said, "Let them use it first."

Wu Guangsheng hesitated: "This..."

Wang Feng waved his hand and said: "Send all the ammunition out, and put the whole army on a combat readiness state."

Wu Guangsheng responded: "Yes, sir!"

(End of this chapter)