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

Chapter 206 The takeout has arrived, and it's an armored regiment!

The head cook immediately recognized Chen Ming's identity.

Li Dabenshi was initially taken aback, looking around as if searching for the possible figure of the "leader".

However, no one else was seen, and it was finally confirmed that the leader mentioned by the cook was Chen Ming.

Li Dabenshi's brain suddenly went blank.

What? The person I was just chatting and bragging with was actually Chen Ming, the captain of the Independent Detachment?

I actually put my arm around his shoulder and smoked with him, and even called Chen Ming "Old Chen".

"No? Who are you? Who am I?"

Li Dabenshi spoke incoherently.

“That’s right, I am Chen Ming, the captain of the Independent Detachment. What, are you surprised?” Chen Ming said with a smile.

"Reporting to the commander, it's quite a surprise. I didn't expect the commander to be such an easy-going person. It's really unexpected," Li Dabenshi said honestly, nodding.

"So, in your impression, what kind of person should I be?" Chen Ming asked.

"Reporting to the commander, before I met you, I always thought you were like Zhuge Liang from the Three Kingdoms in the stories, who could wipe out the Japanese devils with a few words."

Li Dabenshi spoke up.

"Listen to less storytelling. Also, the phrase 'with a few words, the enemy's ships and towers were reduced to ashes' describes Zhou Yu," Chen Ming said with a smile.

"Yes, Chief."

"Didn't I say before that we are all revolutionary fighters, just with different roles? You can also call me Old Chen," Chen Ming said with a smile.

"No, no." Li Dabenshi shook his head repeatedly.

After learning Chen Ming's identity, Li Dabenshi dared not call Chen Ming "Old Chen" anymore.

It would have been fine if he hadn't known before, but now that he does, if he still acts without respect for elders, then he's just being immature.

Looking at Chen Ming, Li Dabenshi remembered his business and shouted to the soldiers of the Wuyi County Brigade.

"All personnel line up! Please inspect us, Commander."

After receiving Li Dabenshi's order, the county brigade soldiers, who had been tense and on edge after learning Chen Ming's identity, were relieved.

They immediately began to line up and receive inspection from their leader, Chen Ming.

"Alright, let's eat first. The soldiers have been hungry all morning. There's no rush for the inspection."

"Look, the soldiers are sweating like water."

Chen Ming walked up to a soldier, patted him on the shoulder, and asked.

"Tired?"

The soldier, whose shoulder had been patted by Chen Ming, straightened up and replied loudly, "Reporting, sir, I'm not tired!"

"Well done."

"Eating is our primary fighting force. Everyone, turn left and eat in an orderly manner," Chen Ming ordered.

During wartime, command authority is clearly hierarchical, but this can change under special circumstances.

When Chen Ming arrived at the inspection site, the command of the Wuyi County Brigade had already been temporarily transferred to Chen Ming.

After Chen Ming gave the order, the team began to move towards the canteen in an orderly manner.

"Let's go, let's eat and chat," Chen Ming said to Li Dabenshi.

Li Dabenshi walked with all his might, his legs stiff from nervousness, following behind Chen Ming.

"Get me a meal too," Chen Ming said to the soldier serving food after entering the canteen.

"Yes, Chief."

The cooks served Chen Ming a large spoonful of food.

As for flipping the wok? That's out of the question. Who would dare to flip the wok while serving food in the military? The consequences would be quite severe.

"Why is there mutton today?" Chen Ming asked, looking at the large bowl of mutton and soup.

"This was sent by Commander Ding Wei. It was mainly delivered to the hospital for the wounded, and some were also distributed to our brigade headquarters," the cook replied.

Upon hearing the other party's reply, Chen Ming thought to himself that he had benefited from Ding Wei's help today.

After being criticized by Chen Ming a few days ago, Ding Wei became more obedient when recruiting soldiers, but focused his energy on other aspects.

This mutton was probably obtained by Ding Wei through his side business.

It's probably a case of the other party "making amends for their crimes."

After getting his food, Chen Ming went to get two steamed buns and sat down with Li Dabenshi.

The quantity of food was prioritized, and the cooks and their assistants were responsible for distributing the food. However, the staple food was not required; the soldiers were to take it themselves.

The soldiers of the Wuyi County Brigade were overjoyed to see the mutton prepared for them by the cooks.

As expected of the main force, they're really capable; they even managed to get some meat.

When they were still in Wuyi County, they might not eat meat even once a year.

The soldiers ate their meal ravenously, without any manners, just like Monk Wei.

"Commander, I would like to ask how the reorganization of our Wuyi County Brigade will proceed after its reorganization."

At the dinner table, Li Dabenshi couldn't help but ask.

"As I just said, ordinary troops will be integrated into the main force."

"However, I have other thoughts about your Wuyi County Brigade. From our interactions just now, I've found you to be a very thoughtful person."

“It would be a waste to break up and reorganize them, so I have decided to reorganize the Wuyi County Brigade into an independent detachment and independent battalion so that you can develop independently.”

"I'd like to see what surprises you have in store for me," Chen Ming said.

When Li Dabenshi heard that Chen Ming was actually going to give them a unit number, and even an independent battalion number, he was extremely excited.

In the Independent Detachment, the word "independent" carries a special significance.

The designation "Independent Battalion" signifies that Chen Ming had high expectations for their Wuyi County Brigade.

"Thank you, sir. I promise I will live up to your expectations," Li Dabenshi said excitedly as he stood up immediately.

"Let's sit down and eat first. And I want to add one more thing: not only must we live up to my expectations, but we must also live up to the expectations of the Party, the people, and the country."

Chen Ming spoke up.

"Yes!"

After the meal, Chen Ming conducted a routine inspection of the Wuyi County Brigade and announced the establishment of the Independent Battalion.

Upon learning that they had received a unit designation, the soldiers of the county brigade were overjoyed.

This means that they are no longer a local armed force, but a main force, and the strongest independent detachment among the main forces.

If we encounter the enemy again, we'll announce our unit number: "I'm from the Independent Detachment, Independent Battalion."

At that time, just announcing the unit number might be enough to scare the enemy. If the enemy is a puppet army, they might not even resist.

The reorganization and recruitment process was faster than Chen Ming had anticipated. Most of the soldiers were drawn from local armed forces, and a few were drawn from militia units and transferred to the main force.

These are soldiers with a certain level of military skills, which can help them form combat effectiveness more quickly.

As for ordinary civilians who join the army, they first undergo local armed training to accumulate combat experience.

They will be added to the main force when the time is right.

Regarding troop deployments, Ding Wei's troops were stationed in Huai'ren and the area north of Huai'ren, responsible for operations in that region and beyond the Great Wall. He Jianxin's troops were stationed in Hunyuan, Yingxian, and the area north of Wutai, jointly threatening Datong with Ding Wei's troops and creating a stalemate with the Japanese.

Kong Jie's troops remained in their base area in northwestern Shanxi to protect important arsenals, field hospitals, and other key locations, while also ensuring food production and preventing the Japanese from causing trouble.

The remaining troops were scattered throughout the base area.

The cavalry detachment cooperated with Ding Wei's troops in their operations in the grassland region.

This wasn't the first time Ding Wei and Xu Desheng had collaborated. The two had earned a formidable reputation in the grassland region, striking fear into the hearts of the puppet Mongolian regime.

Inside the Independent Detachment Command Post, Chen Ming handles his daily affairs.

"This mountain city is getting stingier and stingier. I've already conquered Datong and made such a big commotion in the Yanbei region, and they're still doing this kind of empty talk."

Chen Ming casually tossed the commendation letter and badge from Shancheng onto the table.

The mountain city is really stingy. Chen Ming made such a great contribution, but they didn't even give him a single silver dollar. They just gave him a letter of commendation and a badge and that was it.

Unlike Commander Yan next door, who at least sent a sword of justice.

"It's a pity the Japanese Osaka Division left, otherwise these things could have been sold for some silver dollars," Chen Ming said with emotion.

These things were useless to him. If he could exchange them for silver dollars from the Osaka Division, he could at least make more weapons to fight the Japanese.

After reading the "reward" from the mountain city, Chen Ming then read the letter from the commander of the Northern Route Army.

a week ago.

The commander of the Northern Route Army received a secret telegram.

Yamashiro already knew about the coordinated operations between the Northern Route Army and the Independent Detachment.

The secret telegram from Shancheng was an inquiry to the commander of the Northern Route Army, who had previously cooperated with the Independent Detachment, about whether Chen Ming could be recruited into their ranks.

The mountain city is too far from the independent detachment, making it difficult to gain their trust, according to the battalion commander.

The Northern Route Army and the Independent Detachment have had contact and cooperation, so there might actually be a chance to gradually win them over.

Originally, the mountain city side was planning to use Chu Yunfei.

After experiencing Qian Bojun's betrayal, Chu Yunfei realized that there was no future in continuing to follow Commander Yan, and it would be better to side with Shancheng.

At least I am still a student of Whampoa Military Academy, and I have the identity of a student of the principal.

Thus, Chu Yunfei truly became a thorn in the side of the Jin-Sui Army.

He also put in a lot of effort, secretly trying to win over officers who genuinely wanted to fight the Japanese, rather than those who maintained an ambiguous relationship with Commander Iwao towards the Japanese.

Chu Yunfei possessed great personal charisma and indeed won over some officers of the Jin-Sui Army.

However, by the time Shancheng wanted Chu Yunfei to try to win over Chen Ming, Chu Yunfei was no longer qualified.

The independent detachment developed too fast, so fast that it left Chu Yunfei far behind, until he was out of reach.

While his 358th Regiment was still plotting to capture the county seat, the Independent Detachment had already taken Datong and conquered six counties in succession.

After Chu Yunfei had no chance, Shancheng turned his attention to the commander of the Northern Route Army.

Although his behavior made the captain suspicious, his abilities were top-notch.

If it weren't for a series of unexpected events, the Northern Route Army might have actually annihilated the Japanese cavalry group, recaptured Baotou, and opened up the route to Guihua.

Therefore, a secret telegram from the mountain city instructed the commander of the Northern Route Army to try to win over Chen Ming, suggesting that he be offered a military rank, or even the position of deputy commander of the Northern Route Army.

If we can win over Chen Ming, the two armies can work together to quickly stabilize the Northwest.

To contain the Japanese forces in North China, freeing up more resources to support the international battlefield, and to increase the battalion commander's influence on the international stage.

Then we will be able to acquire more equipment from the international community.

The captain couldn't forget Chen Ming.

In just three years, a squad leader from a district has risen to a level where he can influence the strategic situation.

They accumulated formidable fighting power, enough to capture important towns like Datong, and simultaneously confront the Japanese First Army and the troops stationed in Mongolia.

If he hadn't checked Chen Ming's file and found that he was indeed from a peasant background and had never attended any military academy, he would have really thought that Chen Ming was a top student who graduated from some military academy or military training school.

Such an officer, born into humble circumstances, possesses abilities that surpass even those of officers meticulously trained by the battalion commander.

How could a captain not be tempted by such a talented person?

If he were to undergo further "refinement," it's impossible to know how far Chen Ming could grow in the future.

After reading the letter from the commander of the Northern Route Army, Chen Ming also casually threw it away.

Shancheng is dreaming. Trying to divide them with empty promises is pure wishful thinking.

This letter should not have been on Chen Ming's desk only.

Yamashiro intended to use letters to sow discord, but he underestimated the trust among revolutionary fighters within our army.

Those are comrades who would entrust their backs to the other side. How could they be sown apart by such means?

After dealing with the letters, Chen Ming began to review the intelligence sent by Ding Wei's unit.

In response to the setbacks suffered by the Japanese troops stationed in Mongolia, the Japanese racked their brains and came up with a solution.

The cavalry group was too powerless against the independent detachment. No matter how many cavalrymen there were, they would only become moving targets when faced with a network of heavy machine gun fire.

So the Japanese decided to reorganize the cavalry group into the 3rd Tank Division.

A large number of tanks and armored vehicles were brought in to strengthen armored forces in order to counter the pressure exerted by the independent detachment.

The Japanese believed that cavalry made of flesh and blood could not stop the offensive of the Independent Detachment, so they would use steel to stop it.

They refused to believe that, no matter how strong the independent detachment was, it could be stronger than the armored forces.

The Japanese had witnessed the power of armored forces during the Battle of Khalkhin Gol in their war against the Soviet Union.

Even the most elite standing divisions would be crushed into a pile of minced meat in the face of the Soviet army's steel torrent.

That battle became a nightmare for countless Japanese soldiers, who were unwilling to recall the scene.

Correspondingly, the Japanese soldiers who participated in that battle had a special fervor for the steel torrent.

Now, they will soon have a large number of tanks and armored vehicles.

It will no longer be them facing the overwhelming force of steel, but rather the Eighth Route Army of the Independent Detachment.

The intelligence Ding Wei delivered was a secret telegram from the Japanese that they were secretly transporting a second batch of dozens of tanks and a large amount of fuel to Guihua.

Tank transportation cannot involve long-distance movement, as that would cause great damage to the physical strength of the tank crew and the running gear (such as suspension and tracks).

Therefore, the Japanese tanks were transported by train.

Upon seeing the intelligence delivered by Ding Wei, Chen Ming finally smiled.

"I can just sit at home and have my takeout delivered. I'm going to have my own armored battalion."

"Go and bring Zhou Weiguo here to me," Chen Ming said.

After ensuring the safe relocation of the headquarters, Chen Ming immediately ordered Zhou Weiguo to bring the troops back.

Otherwise, he worried that if they stayed at headquarters for too long, Zhou Weiguo and that special forces team wouldn't be able to return.

These are all Chen Ming's treasures, how can he give them away so easily?
Not long after, Zhou Weiguo arrived at Chen Ming's office, not knowing why Chen Ming had suddenly called him over.

He's still training tank crews in an armored battalion.

"report!"

(End of this chapter)