Speaking of this, Yang Zhen turned his head to Guo Bingxun and said, "Old Guo, you will draw up a final adjustment plan for the establishment and firepower allocation, and report to the commander-in-chief and political commissar. If there are no comments, they will be implemented by midnight today. ”

Hearing this, Guo Bingxun nodded and stood up and said, "Commander-in-chief, political commissar, we now have a total strength of 23,000 people, and the configuration of this weapon must be higher than the current number of people." In order to give better play to the combat effectiveness of the troops, after studying the troops, the commander and I are ready to make the following adjustments to the troops' strength and firepower allocation. ”

"The original strength of the three infantry regiments remained unchanged, but the strength of each infantry regiment was strengthened to 3,000 men. The part that is lacking now is to be supplemented by the better trained part of the recruits. The remaining recruits of about 3,500 recruits who were not yet able to participate in the war were formed into a supplementary regiment to replenish the battle-damaged troops at any time while continuing their training. ”

In addition, among the units directly under the division, the original engineer company was expanded into an 800-man engineer battalion. The original baggage company was expanded into an 800-man baggage battalion, which was specially responsible for the transportation of baggage for various units. ”

"Of course, due to the lack of horses in our current baggage camp, we can only replace it with manpower for the time being. In order to ensure the supply of troops, this baggage battalion will be expanded into a baggage regiment as soon as enough horses are raised. ”

"The original reconnaissance team was expanded into a reconnaissance battalion, which was specially responsible for the reconnaissance mission of the entire battlefield. The communications company was expanded into a communications battalion, and one 50-watt radio station and three 15-watt radio stations were added to the original foundation. Add a wired connection. It is specially responsible for erecting battlefield wired communication lines. ”

"The establishment of the original guard company directly under the company remains unchanged, but on the basis of the three platoons of the original guard company, one guard platoon, one heavy machine gun platoon, and one fire support platoon, it will be changed to a reinforced company. In addition to four guard platoons, the reorganized guard company also had two heavy machine guns, three light machine guns, and nine grenadiers. ”

The artillery of the original division was upgraded to an artillery regiment composed of the current two mountain guns and mortars. It has one field artillery battalion and two mountain artillery battalions, a total of three artillery battalions. All equipped with captured Japanese mountain artillery. ”

"Each infantry regiment is organized into three infantry battalions, one each of an infantry artillery company, a mortar company, and an anti-aircraft artillery battery. and one company each of engineers, communications, and baggage. Each infantry battalion has three infantry companies, a fire support company, a heavy machine gun company, and a communications platoon. Each infantry company has three infantry platoons and one fire support platoon. A total of nine combat squads, as well as two heavy machine gun squads. "After this adjustment, each of our infantry squads will have a light machine gun and a grenadier canister. The infantry company will have two heavy machine guns, as well as a Type 92 70mm mortar. ”

"Each infantry battalion will have six heavy machine guns and two Type 92 70mm mortars. Each infantry regiment will have four Type 92 infantry guns, six Type 94 mortars, and four Type 94 rapid-fire guns. The artillery directly under the division will be equipped with 12 Type 95 field guns and 24 Type 94 mountain guns. ”

"According to this establishment, after the reorganization is completed, the main force of our army will have 36 wild mountain guns of various types, 96 70-mm mortars, and 18 90-mm mortars. 12 infantry guns and 12 rapid-fire guns. ”

"One hundred and fourteen heavy machine guns and two hundred and sixty-eight light machine guns. Three hundred and six grenadiers. In addition, the regiment also had a Type 94 mortar company, a rapid-fire artillery company, and an infantry artillery company, equipped with six guns of various types. The supplementary regiment is a unit that specializes in replenishing the main force and is responsible for the training task, so the equipment of each artillery company, in addition to mortars, is two more than that of the main regiment. ”

"The whole army, including the supplementary regiments, has 12,000 Type 38 rifles and 3,600 Czech rifles. There are more than 3,200 fast and slow machines. In order to effectively protect artillery, baggage troops, engineers, etc., we have distributed weapons to all technical arms according to their numbers. The bulky Type 38 rifle was replaced with a lighter Czech rifle. ”

"In addition to the rifles, there were various pistols, one hundred and twenty-three. Sixty-four submachine guns. However, in addition to the Japanese-style southern style pistol, the number of all kinds of pistols, including submachine gun ammunition, especially the 7.65 pistol bullets and 9mm pistol cartridges used by the various Brownings, was insufficient. ”

"And the Japanese-style southern pistol, which is generally unpopular. Therefore, except for a few high-ranking cadres who wear German-made or Belgian-made pistols, most of the cadres are equipped with fast and slow machines. We hope that this situation can be solved as much as possible after the commissioning of our own arsenal. However, our rank-and-file cadres are very fond of these brand-new Belgian-made machines. This issue is not urgent. ”

Speaking of this, Guo Bingxun made some separate reports on the issue of weapons and equipment: "Because of our lack of traction capacity and artillery training time, the artillery in this warehouse of the captured Japanese army can only be partially used. ”

"Our greatest difficulty now is that we have enough pack horses and towing horses to carry radio stations and some ammunition, but we also have insufficient artillery regiments. The relatively light Type 94 mountain cannon can only be disassembled and carried by people. Not only is the response speed slow, but it is also easy to cause the loss of parts. Officers and soldiers also get tired easily. ”

"As for the twelve 150mm guns, no one is good at using them. And Ma Qichang was unable to study the use of this heavy artillery because of the need to train the troops. In addition, our army really has no traction tools, so we can only put it on hold for the time being......"

The Japanese 150-millimeter mortars in the warehouse were also facing this problem, so they were put on hold for the time being. As for the 81-mm mortars in the warehouse, for reasons such as reducing the caliber of the weapon, facilitating the supply, and the performance of the weapon itself, except for the 94-type 90-mm mortar, the rest can only be temporarily mothballed. ”

"Because the Kwantung Army of the Japanese army attaches great importance to Cheng Dù, many of the Japanese weapons stored here are of the latest type. Commander Bai Yang took this Japanese equipment warehouse without bloodshed, and these new Japanese weapons were completely captured by us. On the battlefield in Guannai, most of the Japanese field artillery units I saw were still equipped with relatively backward Type 38 field artillery, or its improved version. The Type 95 field artillery is rarely equipped. ”

"This is also the case with infantry weapons. If I hadn't read the information here, I really wouldn't have thought that the Japanese army would have finally realized the problem of crooked handles and developed the Type 96 light machine gun. This machine gun has never been seen before on the battlefield of Kannai. The Japanese troops there were still equipped with Taisho 11 light machine guns. ”

"In addition to equipment, in accordance with the commander's decision to ensure smooth communication on the battlefield in wartime, each regiment will be equipped with a 15-watt radio station in this reorganization. As for the five-watt radio, it is equipped with the battalion. For the time being, the battalion and below will use horn sounds, flag languages, field telephones, and manpower to ensure communications. ”

"Fortunately, there are enough Japanese-style radio stations in this warehouse, and there are also a large number of field telephones. Otherwise, according to the commander's request, we would not have had the place to build so many radio stations. ”

The commander-in-chief nodded as he listened to the report. After Guo Bingxun's report was completed, the commander-in-chief smiled slightly: "Who would have thought that in less than half a year, the army would grow from a few thousand to more than 20,000 now. ”

"According to the standards of the Anti-Japanese Federation, the number of people in this division is equivalent to the sum of the nine armies of the Second and Third Route Army of the Anti-Japanese Federation in its heyday. Even if the first and second armies of the First Route Army of South Manchuria are added, the number is not necessarily small. ”

"This equipment is even more incomparable. A division does not count the mortars and infantry guns of the regimental battalions, and the artillery directly under it alone has a regiment and 36 wild mountain guns. And that's not even counting the stock reserves. This firepower is not to mention the army of the Anti-Alliance, it is the eleven armies of the Third Route Army combined, I am afraid that the firepower is not as good as one of your regiments. ”

"That's not counting more than a hundred heavy machine guns, more than 300 light machine guns. I don't think there is such a standard for this amount of equipment, even according to the Central Army of the Nationalist Government on the battlefield in Guannai described by the chief of staff. When I was the deputy division commander of the Northern Expeditionary Army, the equipment of an army and even a front army was nothing more than that. ”

"With such sophisticated equipment, it can be said to be of great benefit to the overall situation of our future war of resistance. But there is a question that you have not thought about, the equipment of the troops has gone up, but the mobility has also slowed down because of these equipment. How to resolve the contradiction between the mobility of the troops and the development of equipment requires you to study and study it well. ”

"And I don't know if you have noticed, the number of our troops is currently going up, and the types of troops are also increasing. Artillery, engineers, and baggage troops are well equipped. But there is one thing, we do not have cavalry as a mobile strike force. The limited number of horses were rationed to the artillery and baggage men. If we go deep into the plains in the future, we will be very passive without cavalry, relying on infantry alone. ”

"For field troops, cavalry and infantry are equivalent to the right and left hands of a person, and without cavalry, there is no mobile combat capability. The resistance to the United Nations was so difficult, and all armies maintained a certain amount of cavalry. The Japanese army was much higher than ours, and didn't they also establish cavalry wings in every division? ”

"The Northeast region has been an important horse producing area in China since ancient times. Didn't the Manchu Qing Dynasty rely on the horses of the Northeast to establish an iron cavalry that swept the world? By saying this today, I do not mean that you should immediately form a cavalry unit. I'm just reminding you that when you have a chance to fight, you must form a cavalry. This is important for the plains that we are likely to face in the future. ”

Speaking of this, the commander-in-chief looked at Yang Zhen and Guo Bingxun and said: "You are the military commanders of this army, and one of your commanders and chief of staff can cooperate so closely, as your superiors, I am very relieved and very happy." And Yanping, being able to integrate with you so quickly and so well, this is also something I didn't expect. ”

"But as a military commander, I have one request, and you must remember. The army is now growing, but the foundation must be laid well. Just like Deputy Commander-in-Chief Yang once said, what we want is an iron army that cannot be dragged forward and defeated. Not an army made of sand. ”

"At that time, the number of anti-Japanese volunteers was much larger than ours now, and the momentum was also very large, but the speed of the rout was also very fast. We must not repeat the mistakes of the Volunteers. You have to build a united core of leadership that dares to face difficulties. ”

"You have already read the contents of this telegram, and as the military commander, you have just told you about your plan. But I would like to remind you that as a senior commander, when looking at problems, you must have a long-term vision, proceed from the overall situation, and do not care about the gains and losses of one city or one place when necessary. This battle, if you insist on fighting, then you must fight it well and completely hurt the little devil. ”

After saying that, the commander-in-chief smiled, turned his head to Li Yanping, and said: "As for the issue of establishment, as the military and political chiefs of the troops, you must have your own opinions. If you think so, I don't have any opinion. It's just that how to feed these muzzles and muzzles in the future is up to you. ”

"But there's one thing, what needs to be done, I'm going to give it my all. In the future, the military struggle of the Second Route Army will depend on a few of you, and I can rest assured that you are here. As for me, Deputy Commander-in-Chief Yang's idea of building a base area, I took a look at it and felt that many things were very good. In the past few days, I have also pondered for a while, and I want to gradually shift the focus of work to the local area and do a good job of logistics for you. ”

Regarding the commander-in-chief's requests, Yang Zhen knew that this was the commander-in-chief's heartfelt words, and it was also a kind reminder. But as for the commander-in-chief's idea of shifting the focus of his work to the local area in the next step, Yang Zhen resolutely disagreed: "Please rest assured that the commander-in-chief will definitely do what you ask." Look at the overall situation, and don't care about the gains and losses of one city and one place. ”

"But commander-in-chief, although local work is important, we are all young and inexperienced, and we still need you to coordinate the overall situation. The party, government, and military, as the commander-in-chief of the Second Route Army and the supreme person in charge of the Jidong Provincial Party Committee, cannot be the shopkeeper. He only cares about the party and government, not the army. ”

"You are a top student of Yunnan Jiangwutang, and you have fought guerrilla warfare in the Northeast for so many years. In terms of the basis of military theory, as well as actual combat experience, all of us are inferior to you. In terms of party age, you joined the party during the Great Revolution, and you are about to catch up with my age. Moreover, the government has rich work experience, the army needs you, and we can't do without you. ”

Yang Zhen said this from the heart. The commander-in-chief is generous, has a strong sense of responsibility, and has a strong party spirit. The most important thing is that he never engages in line struggle, and he also has great respect and trust for his subordinates. It's very comfortable to work under the commander-in-chief. With the commander-in-chief to be his own superior, whether in name or in substance, he will help him solve many things.

Especially the things on the political zhì. The struggle within the party is too hard, and I am not that material. With this big brother on the top, I will be much better.

And the composition of the personnel of their own troops is complicated. A considerable number of them are prisoners of war from Kannai, who are numerous and have also received military training, and most of them are currently military commanders at all levels. Many of the company-platoon-level cadres in the army were born as prisoners of war. The representatives of this type of person are himself and Guo Bingxun.

In addition, there are some people from the Anti-Japanese Federation. Among them were the remnants of the Fourth Army, part of the Third Division of the Fifth Army, and even part of the headquarters of the Second Route Army. Although the number of these people is small, and most of them are now political cadres. But after all, there is some influence in the troops. The representative figures are Li Yanping and Wang Guangyu.

As for those who came from labor, the puppet Manchu army anyway, and a small number of soldiers from local origin, most of these people are still ordinary fighters at present. Although the impact is not large, the number of people is the largest. And the commander-in-chief has a great influence on these people, especially among the cadres and soldiers from North Manchuria.

Thinking of the current composition of the troops, Yang Zhen sometimes felt a headache. In particular, most of the prisoners of war were prisoners of war of the national army. These people are very reluctant and even disgusted with political work, and although they accept it now, it does not mean that they will not have any ideas in the future. If this estrangement persists for a long time, it will inevitably affect the future development of the troops. And the commander-in-chief is an expert in solving this kind of problem.

Moreover, once the commander-in-chief leaves the unit and shifts the focus of his work to the locality, Yang Zhen is a little worried that those cadres and soldiers who are not prisoners of war, especially those from the Anti-Japanese Federation, will think that those who come from his center of gravity are deliberately squeezing out?

What's more, the communication with the Third Route Army still has to rely on the commander-in-chief to do the work, thinking of the so-called line struggles that have continued to appear since the establishment of the Third Route Army, Yang Zhen has a headache. In the future, once they work together, no one will be comfortable when this big hat is buttoned down. When the time comes, don't break down the relationship between the two armies. That's why as soon as he heard that the commander-in-chief wanted to shift the focus of his work to the place, he hurriedly stopped it.

Hearing that Yang Zhen resolutely opposed his shift of focus to the locality, the commander-in-chief looked at Yang Zhen with some clarity. Although he didn't say anything more, he nodded slightly.