Chapter 51: The First Special Column Boasts Nine Regiments and 35,0aya Troops; Su Changqing Departs for the National Capital

"Your department is required to dispatch an officer proficient in military defense to Songhu to coordinate the resistance."

"After careful study by our department,"

"Su Changqing, a graduate of Whampoa's 4th期, is well-suited for this mission."

"At the same time, our department hopes that your forces will operate under our command in coordinated combat,"

"and dispatch a certain number of troops to reinforce the national capital, demonstrating the resolute determination to fight the war of resistance to the very end."

Reading the phrases mentioned in the telegram, Su Changqing was left between laughter and tears.

Had he, too, become a bargaining chip in the negotiations?

"This matter,"

"I understand!"

"Reply to the headquarters that Su Changqing is willing to accept all arrangements made by the organization."

"Yes!"

Su Changqing had originally planned to wait until the Red Army was reorganized into the Eighth Route Army before leading a force of 20,000 southward to support the capital of Great Xia.

He never expected that the higher-ups on the other side would be harboring such persistent thoughts about him.

Before the battle had even begun, they were already plotting to transfer him over.

Presumably, they were attempting to use this tactic once more to lure him with promises and win him over further.

Naturally, this was merely their consistent modus operandi.

Su Changqing was well aware of this.

Before leaving the Mount Wutai base for the headquarters, Su Changqing conducted a new round of reorganization for the 1st Independent Division, which now boasted 35,000 personnel.

With Su Changqing's backing, the 1st Independent Division had grown into nine regiments.

Among them, the 782nd Regiment, the 783rd Regiment, and the 784th Regiment served as the division's regular main force regiments.

The commander of the 782nd Regiment was Li Yunlong.

The commander of the 783nd Regiment was Ding Wei.

The commander of the 784th Regiment was Kong Jie.

Aside from these three regular regiments, the rest were not officially part of the 1st Independent Division's established regular order.

These unregistered regiments belonging to the division were as follows:

The New 1st Regiment, commanded by Long Wenzhang.

Long Wenzhang primarily gathered stragglers and deserters.

Even Su Changqing had to admit that this kid possessed a genuine talent for bluffing people.

Of course, as a military commander, being able to bluff and hold sway over one's subordinates was also a crucial skill.

As for the New 2nd Regiment, its commander was Li Chishui.

Li Chishui was formerly an officer in the Fourth Front Army and later became the second-in-command of Qingfeng Stronghold.

Coupled with the fact that Zhu Ziming also originated from Qingfeng Stronghold, the composition of this unit was largely based on "righteous bandits"—those who did not bully ordinary peasants, but instead focused their raids on tyrannical gentry, landlords, little Japanese devils, and corrupt scoundrels.

Li Chishui was quite capable; at the very least, after undergoing ideological education, this regiment remained thoroughly obedient to him.

Of course, this was also partly due to the fact that Su Changqing had stationed a large number of basic-level platoon and company political instructors within it.

As for the New 3rd Regiment, its commander was Deng Yun, a veteran who had marched on the Twenty-Five-Thousand-Li Long March.

He was an officer deeply trusted by Su Changqing, possessing rock-solid military competence and exceptional command abilities.

The New 4th Regiment was commanded by Lin Xiangqian.

This man was an officer of old warlord origin whom Su Changqing had encountered along the march through the marshes.

Later, he joined the Red Army and participated in multiple campaigns, such as the Battle of Chishui, where his combat performance was immensely brave and fearless.

The Cavalry Regiment was commanded by Liu Yunbiao.

He was one of the few officers in the 1st Independent Division gifted with superb cavalry command skills.

The Artillery Regiment was commanded by Zhao Zhangcheng.

Zhao Zhangcheng held unique insights into the employment of artillery, and his capabilities were exceptionally prominent and formidable.

During the Battle of Luodian Town, his coordination with the cavalry led by Li Yunlong was remarkably tacit, even managing to decapitate the command headquarters of the Fengtian Army.

It was after that battle that Su Changqing formed an extremely deep impression of Zhao Zhangcheng.

In addition to these, there were a reconnaissance battalion, an anti-tank battalion, an engineering battalion, a communications battalion, a medical detachment, and so on—fully equipped with every necessary branch.

With a full 35,000 soldiers, even if Su Changqing were to pull out 20,000 of them to head south, the Mount Wutai base would not be rendered incapable of preserving its current achievements due to their departure.

"Given Junior Schoolmate Song's and Ding Wei's experience and background, they still lack a degree of leadership when it comes to safeguarding the fruits of victory we've secured so far."

Since he was going to leave, Su Changqing naturally had to make thorough preparations.

Although Su Changqing harbored no major doubts about the talents of Junior Schoolmate Song and Ding Wei, the geographical location of the Mount Wutai base was of paramount importance.

Therefore, Su Changqing believed that someone seasoned, steady, and possessing extraordinary capability was still needed to stabilize the situation at the Mount Wutai base.

At this thought, the image of a certain individual immediately flashed through Su Changqing's mind.

If one were to ask who was best suited to successfully safeguard the fruits of the Mount Wutai base upon his departure, it could be none other than Su Changqing's old school senior.

To Su Changqing's knowledge, his old school senior would eventually be appointed as a "brigade commander."

Once the official orders came down, it would be virtually impossible for Su Changqing to poach him.

With this in mind, Su Changqing did not hesitate at all.

He immediately dispatched a telegram to the headquarters, stating his position and requesting that his old school senior be sent over to temporarily take over his command.

Su Changqing's telegram received a swift response from the headquarters.

As it turned out, the considerations of the headquarters were identical to those of Su Changqing.

From the perspective of overall strategic layout, the Mount Wutai base was extraordinarily vital.

If Su Changqing left and the Mount Wutai base was left without a leader, chaos would inevitably ensue, and wouldn't that simply hand the little Japanese devils an opportunity to exploit?

Anyone well-versed in history knew that during the Wei, Jin, and Northern and Southern Dynasties, Liu Yu, the peerless warrior sent by the heavens, captured Chang'an City, only to be forced to rush back to Jiankang to ascend the throne as emperor after the death of his advisor, Liu Muzhi.

Because of Liu Yu's departure, Chang'an City was left completely without a leader.

Taking advantage of the chaos brought about by Liu Yu's departure, Helian Bobo captured Chang'an City in one fell swoop, slaughtering nearly all the renowned generals serving under Liu Yu's banner.

Thus, the headquarters shared the exact same line of thought as Su Changqing.

The two sides hit it off immediately, and after making proper arrangements for the affairs of the Mount Wutai base, Su Changqing personally traveled to the headquarters base and engaged in in-depth communication and exchange with the leadership.

The headquarters naturally agreed to every single proposal put forward by Su Changqing.

At this point!

Su Changqing's departure for Songhu and the capital of the Xia Republic became a settled matter, set in stone.

Meanwhile, on the other side,

with the arrival of the little Japanese aircraft carrier fleet in the Songhu region of Great Xia, the little Japanese provocations against the Great Xia Republic grew increasingly unbridled.

Presently, the little Japanese required nothing more than a pretext—a pretext to launch a war against Great Xia in places like Songhu.

Naturally, the Great Xia Republic had likewise perceived the sinister plot of the little Japanese.

Just as the two sides stood at daggers drawn, from Sichuan, Yunnan, Guangxi, Hubei...

armies that had previously been at war with one another over territory finally twisted themselves into a single rope.

Streaming in from all directions across the country came dense throngs of regional warlord troops, rushing toward the national capital of Great Xia.

At this very moment!

The ordinary people of Great Xia cast aside their hatred and grievances, preparing to join hands and fight the war of resistance together!