Bright Sword: The Flowers of War

Chapter 137 Thinking

The next morning, Su Yaoyang got up early. When he went to the small tent to get the documents, he saw a figure writing something at the desk.

He paused for a moment, walked over and looked at him, then asked in surprise, "Old Pi... why are you still here? Didn't you sleep all night?"

"The troops are about to set off, and I, as the chief of staff, don't even know the troops' marching route. How can I sleep?"

Pi Ruoyu raised his head, revealing bloodshot eyes.

"But you can't not sleep."

Su Yaoyang shook his head repeatedly, picked up the kettle on the table, poured a glass of water and handed it to him: "Besides, Lao Li and I have already planned the marching route. If you want to know, you can just take a look along the way. Do you need to study it all night?"

"I can't sleep until I figure this out." Pi Ruoyu rubbed his sore eyes and drank the water in his hand in one gulp.

He let out a long sigh of relief before continuing, "Furthermore, the route you and Old Li devised is somewhat flawed, you see..."

At 8:00 a.m., the troops began to set off one after another. The tank company and the pontoon bridge company were the first to depart. They played the role of the vanguard, and their mission was to open up mountains and build bridges when they encountered rivers.

Inside the tent, Su Yaoyang and several battalion commanders were gathered around the newly appointed Pi Ruoyu, with a huge map hanging in front of them.

"Commander... everyone... look."

Pi Ruoyu, dressed in a Type 36 German military uniform, stood next to the map, pointing at it with a wooden stick in his hand.

"At eight o'clock in the morning, the troops set off and began their westward advance."

The wooden stick sliced ​​through the air and landed on the west bank of Weishan Lake. "The pontoon bridge company has already erected three pontoon bridges in Zhanggutan." The new chief of staff's voice sounded like he was explaining a topic to a student, and the eyes of more than a dozen officers followed the wooden stick in his hand.

"After passing Shangqiu, the army split into two routes. One battalion took trucks along the Longhai Railway, while the main force entered the Funiu Mountains via Bo County. The two teams then met in Longquan County, and the entire army marched straight to Wutai County via Pingxingguan and took it!"

As the officers listened to Pi Ruoyu's explanation, their expressions changed constantly.

Pi Ruoyu's newly devised marching route was several levels better in terms of both completeness and safety compared to their original route.

Not only that, even the order of the troops' march and the arrangement of supplies were all arranged clearly and plainly, making it easy to understand at a glance.

That's how soldiers are; good is good, and bad is bad, with no room for pretense.

People always respect those who are capable.

Many people initially harbored some doubts about the new chief of staff, even believing that he had gotten the job through connections.

But now, he not only rejected all the original marching routes planned by everyone, but also devised a new marching route that was not only more convenient, but also greatly increased in terms of concealment and security.

In particular, sending troops along the Hebei-Shanxi route, and finally through Pingxingguan straight to Wutai Mountain and into Shanxi, was a stroke of genius that would definitely catch the Japanese army in Shanxi off guard.

Su Yaoyang also looked appreciative. He thought it was a great deal to have his new chief of staff. With him around, he could save a lot of energy.

However, although the other party is capable, I can't treat him like a beast of burden. After a while, I will have to provide him with a few deputies and a set of staff officers. Otherwise, if he really collapses from exhaustion, where will I find such a good chief of staff?

He clapped his hands, drawing everyone's attention to himself. "Alright everyone, you've all heard Chief of Staff Pi's plan, and I believe you've all seen it. The marching route Chief of Staff Pi devised is far superior to our original plan in terms of safety, detail, and secrecy."

So who can deny Chief of Staff Pi's abilities?

If not, then proceed according to Chief of Staff Pi's plan. Does everyone understand?

"Understood!" the crowd responded in unison.

"Alright... in that case, let's get started."

With a roar, everyone scattered like birds and beasts.

After the meeting ended, Su Yaoyang called Pi Ruoyu over.

“Old Pi… This time, you’ll go with Song Mei and Xiao Lu’s field hospital. It’ll be easier to take care of your wife and the two kids along the way. I’ll take the guard company and the first battalion with me. If anything happens, just use the radio to contact each other.”

“How can this be?” Pi Ruoyu was somewhat displeased. “Regimental Commander… I am the Chief of Staff. I should go with the troops. How can I be mixed in with the doctors and wounded?”

"Who said it's not okay?" Su Yaoyang glared at her. "My sister-in-law and two nephews are already in poor health and need to recuperate slowly. How can you, as their husband, not be there for them?"

Besides, you're new here and don't know much about our regiment yet. Take this opportunity to read more materials along the way so you can better advise our security regiment.

To be honest, we just received an order from the Ministry of Military Affairs appointing me as the commander of the Shanxi Security Corps.

I've been thinking about how to expand the army after we get to Shanxi, so we can fight the Japanese devils there. You should use these days to think it through and come up with another expansion plan for me.”

"Well... okay..."

Pi Ruoyu finally had nothing to say and could only agree.

In fact, he also needs some time to process what he has seen and learned from yesterday to now.

No one could know the shock he felt last night when he looked through the security team information that Su Yaoyang had left him.

Although he only had a rough understanding of it, in Pi Ruoyu's view, the security regiment's firepower and combat effectiveness had surpassed that of a Class A division of the National Revolutionary Army, and it was even comparable to a corps of the Central Army.

Putting everything else aside, their artillery battalion's twenty-four M2A1 105mm howitzers were the best in the Nationalist Army, and all the soldiers were equipped with Garand semi-automatic rifles.

As a graduate of the Virginia Military Institute, Pi Ruoyu was all too aware of the benefits of mass-producing Garand rifles.

In addition, each platoon was equipped with an M1917 heavy machine gun, each infantry squad was equipped with two BARK light machine guns, and each company was also equipped with three M2 60mm mortars. Such firepower was considered abnormal on the Asian battlefield.

Pi Ruoyu made a rough estimate and concluded that, in terms of firepower alone, the current security regiment was now able to hold its own against a Japanese brigade without being at a disadvantage.

With the troops' weapons and equipment replaced, their tactics naturally had to change as well. This was something he, as the chief of staff, should do. Since Su Yaoyang had told him to spend more time with his family and rest, he could take this opportunity to think carefully about the future restructuring of the security regiment.

For the security team, this is the most important thing.

(End of this chapter)