Chapter 269

·

·

·

Protagonist:

Lv Muzhi

After the Jinling Defense Campaign ended, Lv Muzhi's Youth Army was ordered to go to Wuhan for rest and reorganization; after reorganization, they would be committed to combat in North China.

At the same time, Commander Tang's remains were given a grand state funeral in Wuhan, the whole nation mourned, and at home and abroad everyone spread the deeds of this legendary commander.

At Wuhan's Guan Wharf, the winter sunlight shone on the rippling river surface.

Several deep-draft cargo ships were slowly docking; as soon as the gangways were secured, groups of young men in brand-new gray-blue winter uniforms, carrying packed backpacks, with bright eyes, disembarked from the ships in orderly fashion.

"This is already the fourth batch this month," Qiu Qingquan said, holding a list in his hand, his gaze sweeping over those young faces.

"Cadre personnel transferred from the Southwest Military Academy and various places, plus reservists, four batches totaling over eight thousand men. Their foundation isn't bad, they just lack actual combat tempering."

Lv Muzhi nodded, but his gaze turned toward the heavy equipment being unloaded from another large cargo ship in the distance.

Some were imported from abroad, others transported from the Southwest Military Factory.

A huge crane slowly hoisted from the ship's hold a heavy cannon with a slender barrel painted olive green, its muzzle pointing diagonally at the sky.

"105mm howitzers, French goods, negotiated along with the shell production line, plus another 24 155mm caliber howitzers," Lv Muzhi said in a calm tone, as if talking about nice weather today.

On the wharf, another 155mm howitzer was steadily hoisted out of the ship's hold by the crane; its huge silhouette cast a powerful shadow under the winter sky.

"Commander Lv, French cannons again, and 105, 155mm calibers! How much will this cost them......."

Lv Muzhi smiled: "No money for now, bought on loan, to be paid off in five years, settled at the end of each year, payments starting from '38, still quite a bargain."

"That's still expensive, tsk tsk."

"In these chaotic times, if you can get a loan, hurry and take it; who knows if the creditor will still be around in a few years, maybe you'll only need to pay for two years?"

Hearing Lv Muzhi's words, Qiu Qingquan was somewhat baffled; France, as a European power, how could it just cease to exist?

"Over there," Lv Muzhi raised his hand again, pointing to a barge next to them unloading various sizes of wooden crates and canvas coverings, "is the last batch of Sanhao tanks delivered by Hans State, the 50mm long-barreled type. The production line and blueprint technicians have already arrived in the Southwest, and they brought a batch of barrel steel too; in the future we can build them ourselves."

Qiu Qingquan took a breath; the Sanhao tank production line and this batch of ready-made Sanhao tanks had been exchanged by Lv Muzhi using penicillin.

Exchanged along with them were 100 BF109 fighter planes, to supplement the Southwest Air Force, ensuring the troops' air superiority wouldn't be easily seized by the Japanese.

"With these, our reorganization plan can truly be implemented," Qiu Qingquan collected his thoughts, returning to the subject, "what you said last time, abolish brigades and establish divisions, the triangular system... the few old brothers below all agree; anyway, this way everyone can be a division commander, haha, no brigade commanders, division commanders directly command each regiment, efficiency is a bit higher."

Lv Muzhi turned around, his back to the river, looking at Qiu Qingquan: "The new establishment, the Youth Army will expand into two armies;

one army commands three divisions, I'll serve as one army commander, you lead the other. Abolish brigade headquarters; each division directly commands three infantry regiments and other directly subordinate units; that's the skeleton.

The key is, we must turn every division and every regiment into a fist capable of independently undertaking combat missions."

Qiu Qingquan counted off on his fingers, item by item: "Now we need to dismantle Zhou Weiguo's Armored Tank Regiment, distributing the tanks to each division; besides three infantry regiments, division headquarters directly commands one tank battalion, one tank battalion has three companies, assigned 12 of our domestically produced T Light Tanks, plus 6 Sanhao long-barreled medium tanks;

one anti-tank battalion, equipped with various anti-tank guns, to ensure infantry safety;

one engineer battalion, opening paths through mountains and building bridges over water;

one anti-aircraft battalion; besides those small-caliber anti-aircraft guns, the 88mm guns must also be arranged, and light anti-aircraft vehicles might as well be included;

one reconnaissance battalion, not just mounted infantry anymore, equipped with wheeled and half-track armored vehicles modified from 38T chassis, plus motorcycles and bicycles; what we want is speed and intelligence."

Lv Muzhi added: "Divisional artillery will use the 105mm howitzers just imported; each division gets 12 105mm howitzers.

Originally our reinforced Heavy Artillery Regiment had 24 105mm howitzers and 24 155mm howitzers, 48 guns in total; now take out 24 105mm howitzers for divisional artillery use, plus the ones I imported, the quantity is enough.

As for 75mm mountain guns, infantry guns, etc., they will be delegated to the regiments; regiments will have direct accompanying support fire, and other regimental establishments remain as before."

"What about the original Heavy Artillery Regiment then..." Qiu Qingquan recalled the awe-inspiring 155mm howitzers.

"Too heavy, still used centrally," Lv Muzhi explained, "now we have two armies, Youth First and Second Armies; organize the original Heavy Artillery Regiment into two army artillery regiments, one artillery regiment per army, each regiment with 24 155mm howitzers."

Lv Muzhi paused, then continued: "This time we also need to strengthen logistics transport, combining mules and horses with automobiles."

Qiu Qingquan listened while quickly sketching the form of such a force in his mind, then thought of another question: "The framework is set, but these officers... according to what you said before, you and I count as two army commanders;

Zhang Fei, Chu Yunfei, Liao Yaoxiang three division commanders; Zhou Weiguo's qualifications are still a bit shallow..."

Lv Muzhi thought for a moment: "Like this, you, as army commander, will concurrently serve as one division commander, and Zhou Weiguo will serve as deputy division commander; you should mentor him more, after all his Armored Tank Regiment was dismantled, he can't be allowed to suffer a loss."

Qiu Qingquan said awkwardly: "But even so, there are only four division commanders in total; the reorganized Youth Army has six divisions; we're still short two division commanders, plus some regimental and battalion commanders; the gap isn't small; those eight thousand plus men we brought over are still not enough."

A meaningful expression appeared on Lv Muzhi's face: "As for the other two division commanders, I have candidates in mind and will personally invite them; as for missing personnel... quite a few were beaten back on the battlefield; we can absorb some of them; veterans are more useful."

"Oh?" Qiu Qingquan suddenly thought of something and teased: "Short two division commanders, won't you let that nephew of yours, Lv Ziqing, serve as one?"

Lv Muzhi flatly refused: "Nice try, no place for him; I've already sent him to the United States to study, and over two thousand excellent soldiers selected from the Southwest went with him."

Qiu Qingquan was somewhat surprised and said regretfully: "What a pity; being sent out to study at this time means less military merit; but what do they need to study that requires over two thousand people to go together?"

As the two spoke, another batch of equipment was unloaded on the wharf.

Besides artillery and tanks, there were rows of vehicles wrapped in oilcloth: American-made Dodge trucks, jeeps, and more various armored vehicle bodies modified from 38T chassis, some with machine gun turrets, others open-top troop carriers.

"Look, these are the legs and feet of our future divisional reconnaissance battalion and rapid detachment," Lv Muzhi pointed to those vehicles, "in terms of mobility, we can't lose to the devils. Their trucks and light tanks, their advantage can no longer be maintained."

Qiu Qingquan looked at all this before his eyes: an endless stream of new recruits, piles of brand-new equipment like mountains, a clear and ambitious reorganization blueprint.

The gloom brought by the tragedy and sacrifice in Jinling seemed to have been diluted somewhat by the power flourishing by the Wuhan riverbank.

After reorganization, the Youth Army could finally stretch its limbs freely on the North China battlefield!

The skeleton was in place, the flesh and blood was growing.

Zhang Fei rushed into the wharf in a hurry: "Report to Commander Lv, I've already found out; the deserter Sun Yuanlang is hiding in Hu Gongnan's Seventeenth Army Corps!"

"This beast, I'll personally catch him back!" Qiu Qingquan drew the pistol at his waist, about to go and deal with him according to military law.

"Hey, don't rush," Lv Muzhi hurriedly stopped him.

"I've already reported Sun Yuanlang as missing; his Eighty-Eighth Division was also scattered in the battle report; the Eighty-Eighth Division will be reorganized into our Youth Army, just right to make up for some gaps in grassroots officers and soldiers; all good soldiers!"

Qiu Qingquan and Zhang Fei both widened their eyes, feeling extremely shocked.

"Don't be afraid, this was approved by the old man; he said he'd promote me to Second-Class General but hasn't yet; he has to make up for it somewhere else, right?"