Chapter 165: Incorporating Troops 1

After these days of bloody fighting, defeated soldiers from all sides swarmed toward every crossing like headless flies.

Li Nian'an's 259th Brigade had suffered heavy losses, but its organization still existed; however, while inspecting the positions and accounting for personnel and equipment, a thought grew wildly in his mind: troops! He needed more troops! After days of fierce fighting, the 259th Brigade had fewer than three thousand combat‑ready soldiers, and its weapons and ammunition were severely depleted. The battles to come would only become harsher. Without troops, everything is empty talk.

His gaze turned to those disoriented, broken soldiers on the riverbank who had lost their units. These men came from various forces—Gui Army, Sichuan Army, Northeast Army, Central Army affiliates… They were like a hive that had lost its queen, possessing combat experience and weapons but lacking organization.

A bold, even downright shameless plan quickly took shape in his mind.

"Chief of Staff," Li Nian'an called his confidant aside, lowering his voice, "Take a group of capable officers, with our brigade's serial number and my name card, and go to each gathering point of the broken soldiers."

"How should we do it?"

"Tell them, if they want to stay alive, if they want to fight the devils, join our National Revolutionary Army's 259th Brigade! We have food, ammunition, organization, and Li Nian'an leading them into battle!" He paused, a harsh glint flashing in his eyes, "If necessary, we can… 'borrow' allied supplies, especially Heavy Machine Guns and Mortars. When you see good ones, bring both people and equipment over to me. Move quickly, act cleanly, and leave no obvious evidence!"

The Chief of Staff was stunned; this was practically an open "absorption" and "recruitment of conscripts," a grave taboo in the army! "Brigade Commander, if this gets reported up the chain, or if allied forces complain…"

"Can't worry about that any longer!" Li Nian'an cut him off, "In extraordinary times, we must do extraordinary things! We have no time to wait for reinforcements, and the devils won't give us time either! Go, I'll shoulder the responsibility! Remember, prioritize gathering experienced veterans and technical troops, especially artillery, engineers, and signal troops!"

With that order, the officers of the 259th Brigade instantly became a "recruitment squad," operating amid the chaos on the Suzhou Creek. They half incited, half coerced, using food, ammunition, the promise of survival, and Li Nian'an's growing "reputation" among the broken soldiers as bait, gathering large numbers of them. When they encountered scattered units that still retained some structure, they sometimes simply brandished weapons and forced a "reorganization." They also "picked up" abandoned ammunition depots and supply points left by other units.

In just two or three days, the 259th Brigade swelled like a rolling snowball, its numbers quickly restoring to nearly seven thousand, even gaining a few Mountain Guns and a dozen Heavy Machine Guns. Li Nian'an dispersed these men, mixing them into the existing framework, pairing veterans with newcomers to swiftly forge combat power. He knew this conduct was unacceptable on paper, but he also knew that in the upcoming war, one more person, one more rifle could mean one more day of defense.

September 25, at the Jinling Military Commission, the commander slammed a report onto the desk: "That Li Xuewen is absolutely lawless! In seven days he seized the equipment of four divisions and incorporated over two thousand broken soldiers. If this continues, how can the other units fight?"

Chen Cheng said cautiously, "Commander, calm down. Although Xuewen acted out of line, the 598th Brigade indeed fought well. Last week they repelled three fierce Japanese river crossings on the Suzhou River, annihilating several hundred enemies…"

"That's a different matter!" the commander paced irritably, "Just because a battle is won, does that give you free rein? How did Jingxing teach his son!"

He Yingqin interjected, "I heard that yesterday a transport unit of the Fifth Army was also intercepted by the 598th Brigade. Huang Wei got so angry he went straight to Lord Jing to argue."

"What was the result?"

"Lord Jing assigned his Guard Battalion to the Fifth Army, which settled the matter."

The commander was silent for a moment, then shook his head helplessly: "Niang Xipi, tell Jingxing to keep his son in line. The war is tight now; I can turn a blind eye, but don't go too far, Niang Xipi, I remember Xuewen wasn't like this when he was young?"

September 27, at the 598th Brigade headquarters, Li Nian'an shouted into the phone: "Uncle Huang, this is pointless. I'm just taking a few trucks of your ammunition, right? Then, the next time we capture Japanese equipment, I'll give you thirty percent… what? fifty percent? You're robbing us!"

He hung up, smiling at the Chief of Staff: "Uncle Huang is just looting a fire. But that's fine; promise him whatever, in the end we decide how much to give."

At that moment, Wang Yaowu rushed in: "Brigade Commander, we just received word that the left‑wing 104th Division's defensive line has been breached and is retreating. Their division commander wants to pass through our sector…"

Li Nian'an's eyes lit up: "How many?"

"Roughly two regiments, plus the division headquarters' direct unit."

"Great!" Li Nian'an slapped his thigh, "Notify each regiment, block the road for me. I'll go meet that division commander myself."

Half an hour later, the 104th Division's commander arrived with his troops at the 598th Brigade's sector, only to find the road blocked by obstacles and machine‑gun nests.

"Commander Li, what does this mean?" the 104th Division commander asked angrily.

Li Nian'an smiled along: "Division Commander Wang, the Japanese are in pursuit; if you pass through my sector like this and the enemy exploits the gap, who will bear the responsibility?"

"Then what do you propose?"

"Here's the plan: you temporarily hand your troops over to my unified command; once I repel the Japanese pursuit, I'll return them fully restored. How does that sound?"

Division Commander Wang turned pale with anger: "You… you're outright looting!"

"Division Commander Wang, you're being harsh," Li Nian'an said, his smile unchanged, "It's all for the resistance, after all."

Finally, after leaving behind most of a regiment and all heavy weapons, the remnants of the 104th Division were allowed to pass through the sector.

Looking at the newly acquired equipment and personnel, Li Nian'an said contentedly to the Chief of Staff, "See? That's efficiency. If we went through the normal channels and waited for the Military Commission's allocation, the daylilies would have wilted."

October 1, 1937, at the 598th Brigade headquarters on the South Bank of Suzhou River, the command post was set up in a half‑ruined textile mill by the river, the air filled with a strange mix of gunpowder smoke and cotton fluff. Li Nian'an leaned against a marching cot, his uniform's collar casually unbuttoned, idly handling a gold‑plated Luger pistol—a trophy he had scavenged from a fallen Imperial Japanese Army Colonel.

"Brigade Commander, here are today's casualty statistics," the Chief of Staff said, cradling a folder carefully, "The 3rd Regiment suffered over half casualties, the 2nd Regiment lost all heavy weapons, the 1st Regiment is relatively intact, but its ammunition will only last two days."