Yesterday's tank made many people in the 136th Division enthusiastic and full of expectations, but today and tomorrow there are more important things waiting for Zhang Yunfei to complete. Today, the representatives of the Party Central Committee will reach Datong, accompanied by the future chief of staff and director of the Political Department of the 36th Group Army. In addition, the delegation of the Kuomintang side will also reach Datong today.

Tomorrow will be the day of the formal establishment of the 36 th Group Army, and the inaugural meeting will be held at 9 a.m. in the conference hall of the headquarters in Datong, attended by not only officers at and above the regimental level of the former 136 th Division, but also representatives of the party Central Committee, representatives of the National Military Commission, and reporters from several large newspapers who rushed to hear the news.

In order to reassure the central authorities and make his posture clear, Zhang Yunfei sent a special telegram to Yan'an a few days ago, asking Yan'an to send a new chief of staff and director of the political department to the newly established 36 th Group Army.

After receiving Zhang Yunfei's telegram, the Yan'an side immediately called back, not only highly praising Zhang Yunfei's political consciousness, but also sending Zhang Yunfei a new chief of general staff and director of the political department. At that time, seeing the call back from Yan'an, Zhang Yunfei was very excited.

Because, the chief of the general staff and the director of the political department sent by the central government to Zhang Yunfei are too familiar, and the names of the two, Zhang Yunfei has been thunderous for a long time, and the future chief of the general staff is Comrade Zuo Qingquan, the former deputy chief of the general staff of the Eighth Route Army, in history, General Zuo Qingquan is the highest-ranking general of the Eighth Route Army who died in the War of Resistance Against Japan, but this time, General Zuo Qingquan gave himself the post of chief of the general staff of the group army, and it will definitely not repeat the mistakes of history.

Comrade Deng Wenping, the chief designer of the future new China, who was appointed by the central authorities to serve as director of the political department of the group army, was very outstanding in both economic construction and political work.

After Comrade Deng Wenping became director of the Political Department of the group army, Fang Zheng, the former political commissar, served as deputy director of the political department of the group army, and Zhang Yunfei communicated with Fang Zheng a few days ago.

This is the embodiment of Zhang Yunfei's great personality charm, Founder and Zhang Yunfei have worked together for so long, Zhang Yunfei has completely convinced Fangzheng, Fangzheng's heart, Zhang Yunfei only admires and worships, and there is no trace of dissatisfaction.

At 11 o'clock in the morning, Zhang Yunfei still took the senior leaders of the original 136th Division and all the officers above the regimental level who had reached Datong to the gate of Datong to greet the commander-in-chief and his party as usual.

In everyone's patient waiting, at the end of the spacious cement road, dozens of people slowly appeared, everyone riding a tall horse, is walking this way, walking in the middle, the front is the commander-in-chief of the Eighth Route Army, this time the commander-in-chief represents the Party Central Committee, to participate in the inaugural meeting of the 36th Group Army.

Behind the commander-in-chief are Comrade Zuo Qingquan, future chief of the general staff of the 36 th Group Army, and Comrade Deng Wenping, future director of the General Political Department. Seeing everyone coming, Zhang Yunfei said loudly to everyone: "Comrades, the heads of the Party Central Committee have arrived, let's go up together to greet them." ”

Everyone smiled on the horse, hugged Zhang Yunfei, and greeted them together. This time out to greet everyone, Zhang Yunfei's attitude is very humble, the leader is the commander-in-chief, is one of the people Zhang Yunfei admires the most, although the commander-in-chief is the same as Zhang Yunfei, is a second-class general awarded by the Kuomintang, and they are both commanders-in-chief of the group army, but the commander-in-chief's party position is higher than Zhang Yunfei's, and Zhang Yunfei should lower his posture.

When the two sides met, they naturally inevitably exchanged pleasantries, and then the commander-in-chief introduced Zhang Yunfei: "Comrade Yunfei, this is Comrade Zuo Qingquan, the future chief of general staff of your 36th Group Army. After speaking, the commander-in-chief pointed to a comrade of the Eighth Route Army who was tall and thin, with a slightly dark face, but in very good spirits, and introduced Zhang Yunfei to Zhang Yunfei.

Looking at this familiar and unfamiliar man in front of him, Zhang Yunfei was slightly excited in his heart, Comrade Zuo Qingquan's resume, Zhang Yunfei had already memorized it. In his early days, Comrade Zuo Qingquan entered the first phase of the Whampoa Military Academy. In February of the following year, he joined China [***]. In December of the same year, he went to the Soviet Union and studied at Sun Yat-sen University in Moscow and the Frunze Military Academy. He successively served as the commander and corps commander of the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army, participated in all anti-encirclement and suppression operations and the Long March, and served as the deputy chief of staff of the Eighth Route Army and the chief of staff of the forward headquarters of the Eighth Route Army after the outbreak of the National War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.

It seems that there is another battle-hardened general under his command, and Zhang Yunfei was slightly distracted because of the excitement in his heart.

Looking at Zhang Yunfei, who was a little distracted, Comrade Zuo Qingquan enthusiastically and took the initiative to stretch out his big hand, and said heartily and forcefully: "Commander-in-Chief Zhang, I am very happy to come to the 36th Group Army and fight side by side with you. ”

Holding Comrade Zuo Qingquan's powerful hand, Zhang Yunfei said with excitement: "Welcome, welcome, it is Yunfei's honor for Comrade Qingquan to come to our 36th Group Army. ”

Seeing that Zhang Yunfei and Zuo Qingquan had finished shaking hands, the commander-in-chief said enthusiastically: "This is the director of the General Political Department of your 36th Group Army, Comrade Deng Wenping. ”

Looking at the not tall, but dressed in military uniform, the mighty Comrade Deng Wenping in front of him, Zhang Yunfei's heart had just calmed down, and he immediately became excited, as the chief designer of the future reform and opening up of New China, Comrade Deng Wenping's name was also like thunder.

Zhang Yunfei took the initiative to hold Comrade Deng Wenping's hands and said enthusiastically: "Comrade Wenping, welcome to Datong." ”

Seeing Zhang Yunfei so active and enthusiastic, Comrade Deng Wenping also said modestly: "Thank you Commander-in-Chief Zhang, it is my honor to work under Commander-in-Chief Zhang, and I am very happy." ”

After a few words of greeting, Zhang Yunfei introduced Fang Zheng and Liu Dazhu to everyone one by one, and then Zhang Yunfei said: "Let's get on our off-road vehicle, let's go back to the headquarters together." ”

So, everyone got on the off-road vehicle parked aside, Zhang Yunfei and the commander-in-chief took a car, and the rest of the people also got into the back cars in twos and threes, and the war horses that everyone rode were naturally led away by the guards of the 136th Division, and the guards brought by the commander-in-chief would naturally be warmly entertained.

Sitting in the car and seeing the prosperous scene on both sides, the commander-in-chief said to Zhang Yunfei with emotion: "Comrade Yunfei, I have come to Datong several times, and every time I come, I am very surprised, and every time there is a great change." ”

After listening to the praise of the commander-in-chief, Zhang Yunfei was happy in his heart and said happily: "That is the result of the joint efforts of the comrades, and everyone has paid a lot of sweat and hard work in the construction of Datong." ”

"You comrade, you are just too modest." The commander-in-chief also smiled.

After everyone arrived at the headquarters, Zhang Yunfei warmly entertained everyone. On the way here, I saw the prosperity and liveliness on both sides, and after entering the headquarters, I saw that the real headquarters looked spacious and atmospheric, and the lunch that Zhang Yunfei entertained everyone at noon was also very rich, Zuo Qingquan and Deng Wenping, their hearts were also slightly excited.

I used to hear that the conditions of the 136th Division were very good, very wealthy, and the soldiers were also very well-equipped, but I met today, and sure enough, it was even better than the rumors, so the two of them were looking forward to the future work more and more.

For Zhang Yunfei himself, he is becoming more and more incomprehensible, more and more curious, it is really amazing to be able to achieve such great achievements in less than two years, and it is so happy and excited to work with such a capable person, both of them think so in their hearts.

After eating, Zhang Yunfei took everyone to the headquarters to rest, after everyone sat down, the orderly soldiers immediately served hot tea to everyone, holding exquisite teacups, the commander-in-chief looked around at everyone, and then said to Zhang Yunfei: "Comrade Yunfei, have you arranged the inaugural meeting of the 36th Group Army tomorrow?" ”

"The commander-in-chief can rest assured that we have all made arrangements, and the reporters of all the newspapers are staying at the best hotels in Datong, and the officers of our 136th Division and above who are attending the meeting have basically arrived in Datong City, but the Kuomintang delegation has not yet arrived, and according to the itinerary, it should arrive this afternoon." Zhang Yunfei said.

The Kuomintang delegation was of a very high standard, and the telegram said that the leader of the delegation was Chen Cheng, a first-class general of the Kuomintang Army and chief of staff of the Ministry of National Defense. According to the agreement between the two sides, Chen Cheng's special opportunity will arrive at Datong Airport this afternoon.

The head of the delegation was actually the chief of staff of the Ministry of National Defense, and it can be seen that the Kuomintang also attached great importance to the inaugural meeting of the 36 th Group Army, and Chairman Chiang sent his confidant and favorite generals to come.

"Comrade Yunfei, this time I went to greet the delegation of the Kuomintang, and I will have to work for you." On the one hand, the host here is Zhang Yunfei, and the commander-in-chief and others can be regarded as guests, on the other hand, the commander-in-chief is not very interested in the high-ranking officials of the Kuomintang.

"Commander-in-chief, you can rest assured, I will definitely go to the airport to greet you in person, and entertain the members of the Kuomintang delegation, at least on the surface, I will not leave a tongue on them." Zhang Yunfei assured.

After listening to Zhang Yunfei's words, the commander-in-chief was very relieved, and nodded with a smile and a look of satisfaction.

Everyone was together, due to the large number of people, it didn't take long to chat, the atmosphere was very warm, more than an hour of talking, a lot of closer to everyone's departure.

At this time, after a correspondent soldier shouted a report, he walked quickly in front of Zhang Yunfei and said loudly: "Chief, I just received a telegram from the Kuomintang delegation that their special plane arrived at Datong Airport in about half an hour. ”

(To be continued)