Bright Sword: From Northwest Shanxi to Changjin Lake, a Hundred Battles, a Hundred Victories

Chapter 178 Headquarters Shocked! Chen Ming: I Have an Armored Company!
After leaving headquarters, the brigade commander called Chen Ming back.

"Brigadier, what's wrong? Why can't you just say it now? Why did you have to stop me?"

Looking at the brigade commander's smiling face, Chen Ming felt a little uneasy.

Could it be that the brigade commander has his eye on something under his command again?

Being on the brigade commander's mind is no good thing; a simple "Congratulations on getting rich" could lead to some equipment being taken away for no apparent reason.

"It's nothing serious. The Fourth Division must have made a fortune from their successful campaign on the Datong-Ping-Sui Railway."

"Congratulations on your fortune!"

The brigade commander said with a smile.

Upon hearing what the brigade commander said, Chen Ming thought, "Oh no!"

As expected, the brigade commander had his eye on him again.

"What kind of fortune are we making? Suddenly there are over 20,000 more mouths to feed, and I'm worried about not having enough rice to cook," Chen Ming sighed.

The brigade commander certainly didn't believe Chen Ming's explanation.

"If you can't afford to feed them, send me 8,000 men and I'll help you raise them. I still have enough food," the brigade commander said with a smile.

Aside from those with occupational diseases, these miners are excellent recruits.

After a period of recuperation, his physical condition will be excellent. Moreover, because he was abused by the Japanese for a long time, he has a deep-seated hatred for the Japanese.

On the battlefield, when fighting against the Japanese, both morale and fighting will were top-notch.

The more than 20,000 miners currently under Chen Ming's control, who are settled in the Fourth Division, are being coveted by many.

"Hey, brigade commander, what are you saying? These are civilians persecuted by the Japanese. No matter how difficult things are for us, we have to take care of them."

"Even with the four zones tightened, it's still barely affordable."

Chen Ming spoke up.

"Alright, let's not talk about the miners anymore. Let's talk about the horses. I've heard that you seized more than 1,500 horses from the Mongolian army this time. You've made a fortune!"

"I don't have any particular ideas. Just do as you said last time, and return the equipment of one cavalry battalion," the brigade commander continued.

Upon hearing this, Chen Ming thought to himself, "So the brigade commander was waiting for me here."

I think I said something like that last time, but now that I've managed to get a cavalry battalion from the brigade commander, there's no reason to give it back.

"Oh dear, look at my memory, there are so many things to do every day, I've forgotten everything."

“Brigadier, to be honest with you, I didn’t pay much attention to the equipment of a cavalry battalion at first, and I thought it was fine once it was returned.”

"But now this matter is difficult to handle. As you know, our Eighth Route Army has always had a large number of people but few equipment, and many soldiers are waiting for equipment."

"Look, after we got the horses, the cavalry detachment expanded by two battalions. If I were to return the horses to you now, the soldiers of my cavalry battalion would have to fight the Japanese cavalry on foot."

"Brigadier, could you give me a break? Let me coordinate for a while, and I'll definitely return the equipment of an entire cavalry battalion to you with interest," Chen Ming said.

The brigade commander looked at Chen Ming's unexplained combo and scratched his head in confusion.

Who did Chen Ming learn this from? Why does his speaking style sound so familiar?
"You're not making fun of me, are you?" the brigade commander said, patting his riding whip.

“Brigade Commander, you know me. I would joke around with anyone but you, Brigade Commander.”

"Really, really, Brigade Commander, please give me a few more days, and I'll definitely deliver the equipment for that entire battalion to you," Chen Ming quickly said.

Upon hearing Chen Ming's explanation, the brigade commander sensed something was amiss, but didn't dwell on it.

After all, Chen Ming had a good reputation, and he had made a lot of money from Chen Ming, expanding his troops by several regiments.

They were all main force units, not the basic regiments with only a few hundred people.

"Alright, let's put the cavalry battalion matter aside for now. This time you attacked the Japanese mining area and caused such a big commotion on the Ping-Sui Railway."

"You've captured quite a few weapons and equipment, made a fortune, haven't you? You should give me something in return," the brigade commander said with a smile.

"Don't worry, Brigade Commander, I'll definitely be loyal!" Chen Ming said, patting his chest.

"Then I'll be very sorry," the brigade commander said with a smile.

"I'm the one who's embarrassed."

"."

Ultimately, Chen Ming was extorted by the brigade commander from 2,000 rifles, 80 light and heavy machine guns, and 5,000 miners.

The brigade commander was satisfied and let Chen Ming go.

"You little punk, trying to outsmart me? You're not being fair." The brigade commander looked at the list in his hand and said with a smile.

On his way back to his base from headquarters, Chen Ming felt increasingly uneasy.

"Damn it, we've fallen into the brigade commander's trap again!" Chen Ming exclaimed.

The brigade commander never intended to acquire the equipment of a cavalry battalion.

After all, those were cavalry units deployed by headquarters to enhance the mobility of the Fourth Division and increase Chen Ming's confidence in fighting on the grasslands.

The cavalry battalion is far more effective in independent detachments than in other units.

The brigade commander shouldn't ask for the weapons and equipment back, since he has never asked for them back unless there are special circumstances.

The brigade commander's real purpose was those two thousand guns.

However, those five thousand miners were all unsuitable for joining the army, and the brigade commander was voluntarily helping Chen Ming reduce his burden.

After all, the grain output of northwestern and northern Shanxi is naturally less than that of southern and southeastern Shanxi, which are known as the "granary of Shanxi Province".

By taking in 5,000 miners who were not suitable for joining the army, the Fourth Division not only reduced its burden but also retained excellent recruits, giving it the potential to rapidly expand its forces.

As for the weapons and ammunition, Chen Ming had originally planned to hand them over to enhance the overall strength of the troops.

So it doesn't count as a sacrifice; from this perspective, the brigade commander actually suffered a loss.

After thinking it through, Chen Ming exclaimed, "The brigade commander is really a good man; he's a great leader!"

Upon returning to the Independent Detachment's base, the first person to approach Chen Ming was Political Commissar Zhang Zhengze.

"Old Chen, you're back. Did you receive any instructions from headquarters this time?" Zhang Zhengze asked.

"There's a lot to do. Let me give you a brief overview first, and we'll discuss it further in the meeting later," Chen Ming said.

"By the way, where's Zhou Weiguo? I haven't seen him." Chen Ming asked.

"He's teaching the soldiers how to drive tanks," Zhang Zhengze said with a smile.

Chen Ming was taken aback when he heard this. He didn't recognize the words "teaching soldiers to drive tanks" when they were put together.

When did the Independent Detachment get tanks?
"No, where did we get the tanks?" Chen Ming asked directly.

"You forgot, during this attack on the Datong mining area, we destroyed eleven Japanese tanks, and we brought them all back."

"Then Zhou Weiguo knew how to repair tanks. He took eleven tanks and added parts from tanks we had destroyed and captured before, and put together six tanks that could be used in battle, plus one slow-moving tank that could only be used for training," Zhang Zhengze said.

"What? Zhou Weiguo really fixed the tank?" Chen Ming said in surprise.

“Absolutely true. When have I ever lied?” Zhang Zhengze said with a smile.

"Let's go, we can drive later if we want, let's go check on my tank first," Chen Ming said excitedly.

That's a tank, even if it's just a thin-skinned Japanese tank that can be penetrated by anti-aircraft guns, it's still a tank after all.

In terms of both mobility and combat effectiveness, it is unmatched by cavalry.

A tank platoon normally has 3-5 tanks, and a tank company has 13-17 tanks, but the Eighth Route Army's heavy weapons were generally downsized.

Six tanks are enough to form a scaled-down tank company.

If this were used on the battlefield to catch the Japanese off guard, it might yield tremendous results.

If you were to ask Chen Ming what he loves most, guns and ammunition wouldn't matter; what he wants most are airplanes, tanks, and cannons!
This is the real treasure, a man's romance.

"Haha, I knew it. After I told you, you would definitely be eager to go and see it first," Zhang Zhengze said with a smile.

"Old Zhang, don't laugh. I don't believe you were much better than me when you found out the tank was fixed," Chen Ming replied.

The group arrived at Zhou Weiguo's training ground for armored soldiers, and before they even saw him, they heard Zhou Weiguo's voice. "Left turn, left turn! Step on the brakes, step on the brakes!"

Zhou Weiguo's voice came from inside the tank. As soon as he finished speaking, the moving tank suddenly stopped, and Zhou Weiguo, who was observing, almost bumped into the tank.

"It seems that operating a tank is much more difficult than operating a car. I haven't seen Comrade Weiguo so strict in a long time; his tone is almost breaking down," Chen Ming said with a smile.

“Yes, these soldiers who are training to drive tanks are all selected from the motor transport company. Even they find it difficult to get the hang of it. Driving a tank is really a technical job,” Zhang Zhengze said.

The Independent Detachment had a motor transport company directly under its command, which was responsible for driving the vehicles captured from the Japanese.

However, due to limited fuel, it is only used when necessary.

"No matter how difficult it is, we have to train. In the past, it was always the Japanese who drove tanks to attack us. We should let them taste what it's like to be attacked by their own tanks," Chen Ming said.

Tank crews should definitely be trained when conditions permit.

Even if the Eighth Route Army doesn't have many tanks now, there's no guarantee they won't capture them later.

Always take a long-term view; it never hurts to prepare early.

While Chen Ming was talking to the political commissar, Zhou Weiguo saw the group of people, immediately led the soldiers out of the tank, and ran over to salute.

After the others returned the greetings, Chen Ming asked:
"Wei Guo, how is the situation?"

"The results are quite good. I'm confident that these tanks will be combat-ready in about a month," Zhou Weiguo said with a smile, his face red from the cold.

When the air temperature is low, the temperature inside a tank is often lower than the outside temperature, while when the air temperature is high, a tank can become a "furnace".

It is like an ice cellar in winter and a steamer in summer. You also have to deal with the high noise of the engine running inside the tank, the cramped space, the limited visibility, and the huge physical exertion of what can be called a "tank gym".

Therefore, tank crew members are a very demanding type of soldier.

"That's right, these tanks are our secret weapon. Once they're properly trained, they'll be a powerful tool to wipe out the Japanese devils." Chen Ming patted Zhou Weiguo on the shoulder.

"Please rest assured, I, Zhou Weiguo, will not be afraid of any challenges and will train a tank force that is capable and willing to fight," Zhou Weiguo said earnestly.

"Good, very energetic. I'm planning to establish an armored division. Are you interested in taking charge?" Chen Ming said with a smile.

"Guaranteed to complete the mission!"

Next, Chen Ming encouraged each of the soldiers who were training to drive tanks.

Looking at the soldier who had just emerged from the tank, Chen Ming straightened his crooked hat and said:

"Practice hard, I'm waiting to see the day you show your true power."

"Yes."

The soldier, whose cheeks were red from the cold after driving the tank, was still panting heavily, but his expression was exceptionally excited.

This was thanks to Chen Ming's personal encouragement, so when he met his former comrades from the motor transport company, he could brag about it to them.

"Hehe, you guys don't know, the commander personally straightened my hat back then. I've decided, I'm never washing this hat again!"

The soldier was already picturing the scene in his mind.

Seeing that the other party was already so exhausted after only a short period of training, Chen Ming said to Zhang Zhengze:
"In the future, we will increase the food rations for tank crew members. Driving a tank requires a lot of physical strength, and they can't afford to get injured from exhaustion."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Zhengze nodded and said, "I will arrange this matter."

Flying an airplane is jokingly called an "airborne gym," and driving a tank and operating artillery are equally demanding, both requiring high levels of physical exertion.

Tank units should also receive increased rations, just like artillery units, to ensure adequate physical strength.

After inspecting the tanks, Chen Ming returned to the command post and convened a meeting to convey and implement the instructions from headquarters regarding his trip there.

At the same time, Chen Ming also finalized the formation of the armored company at the meeting.

Zhou Weiguo served as the instructor, and Zhao Yuan, the former commander of the motor transport company, became the commander of the armored company.

The armored company is equipped with two tank platoons, each with three tanks, as well as a support platoon and a vehicle platoon.

The support platoon consisted of two tracked tractors, two 37mm anti-tank guns, and a motorcycle squad.

The tracked tractor was captured during the attack on the Japanese county town, and the 37mm anti-tank gun had played a role in the attack on Ping'an County town.

As for the motor transport platoon, it was mainly used to transport infantry and to cover tank operations.

This configuration is already quite luxurious, and the fuel consumption alone is a considerable figure.

With the resources accumulated by the independent detachment in the past, apart from supporting tank training, it can only carry out three operations at most before the fuel is exhausted.

Otherwise, Chen Ming would have loved to cram more anti-tank guns and vehicles into the armored company to enhance its combat capabilities.

"We're still poor. After reporting to headquarters, let's see if we can get some fuel and spare parts from them."

"The commander can't just watch our only armored unit turn into a lump of iron and become immobile," Chen Ming thought to himself.

After the meeting, Chen Ming reported that the independent detachment had formed an armored company.

At headquarters, the staff officer responsible for receiving telegram reports rubbed his eyes, unable to believe what he was seeing, as he looked at the telegram from the independent detachment.

"Xiao Chen, is this a correct translation? I can't believe it!"

"Reporting to the director, no, I've checked the codebook repeatedly, and there are no problems," replied the cipher clerk surnamed Chen.

"I still can't believe it, our unit suddenly has an armored company, it's too unbelievable."

The staff officer realized there were women in the confidential room, and swallowed back the nonsense he was about to say.

"Director, that's nonsense," the translator, Chen, received the call.

"I had no idea! There are women in the confidential office!" The staff officer slapped Chen, the translator, on the head.

"I understand," said Chen, the translator, sounding somewhat aggrieved.

“Box, box, box!”

Inside the confidential room, the other female comrades laughed when they saw Chen, the translator, looking so stunned.

"Alright, I'll submit the telegram to the commander-in-chief right away and let him make a decision." The staff officer took the telegram and quickly left to deliver it to the commander-in-chief.

Even a tank company, though only equipped with six tanks, is of great significance to the Eighth Route Army today!
This is such an important matter, and we must let the leaders know about it as soon as possible.

As for the news about the tank company, the staff officer was more or less convinced of it.

After all, they brought back one plane last time, and that was a Japanese plane, which wasn't as technologically advanced as a tank.

The idea that an independent detachment could form a tank company might seem like a pipe dream, but it's actually quite possible.

Having been exposed to this information, the staff officer believed that he wouldn't be too surprised if the independent detachment produced a heavy artillery company in the future.

Upon arriving at the command center, the staff officer first handed the telegram to the deputy chief of staff, who then reported it to the commander-in-chief.

"What? An armored company? When did his independent detachment start having an armored company? Why didn't they report this when Chen Ming came to headquarters a few days ago? Now they've given me a surprise attack?" the commander said in surprise.

The brigade commander, because he had to take over the miners, also did not leave headquarters.

"No, just a few days ago Chen Ming was playing tricks on me over a cavalry battalion, and now he's built an armored company."

"Good heavens, that's an armored company! Chen Ming even has an armored company, and I don't even have a cavalry battalion." The brigade commander was equally shocked.

If the Eighth Route Army had assembled an armored company, no one would believe it; they would just think it was a rumor or that the Eighth Route Army was bluffing.

After all, that was an armored company, not just one or two cannons; it wasn't something that could be easily assembled.

When everyone saw the telegram saying that Zhou Weiguo had repaired six combat-ready tanks and one training tank by disassembling parts, they were shocked.

He regretted it and slapped his thigh.

"Damn it, we've fallen for Chen Ming's trick. How could we agree to let Chen Ming keep such a talented person who can repair and drive tanks, fly planes, and understand special operations in the Independent Detachment?"

"Now Zhou Weiguo has become the deputy chief of staff of the independent detachment, an instructor of the armored company, and the director of the armored department. It will be difficult to transfer him now."

Of course, this is just something people say.

Zhou Weiguo is indeed not suitable to be transferred to headquarters now; he is more useful to stay in the independent detachment.

We'll consider it again when the conditions are right.

"Go, call Chen Ming back and ask about the specifics!" the boss ordered.

P.S.: Sigh, I've been stuck in the Air Force for two days now. Is there anyone skilled enough to teach me some techniques?
(End of this chapter)