"Good boy, the other main regiments are still worrying about one or two mortars. The independent regiment has built out the heavy artillery battalion. Kong Jie's development is more and more beyond our expectations!" the deputy commander-in-chief sighed with shock.
Brigadier Chen responded: "I didn't expect them to develop so fast!"
"As far as I know, the reorganized heavy artillery battalion of the Independent Regiment not only includes a heavy mountain artillery company equipped with four 105 mm caliber mountain guns, but also a heavy mortar company equipped with six 120 mm caliber mortars, and a heavy mortar company equipped with four 120 mm caliber mortars. A field artillery battery of 75 mm caliber field artillery, a flying thunder artillery battery, two four-gun mountain artillery batteries..."
"In terms of the number and caliber of artillery, it is stronger than many artillery regiments of the Shanxi-Sui Army!"
"After the troop expansion is completed, each main battalion will have an artillery company equipped with four to six mortars. The main company will have a fire platoon equipped with two heavy machine guns and four to six grenades. The main platoon will have a A machine gun squad equipped with two or three machine guns..."
"The firepower of one battalion is stronger than many of our main regiments!"
The deputy commander-in-chief was listening and recording when he saw Brigadier Chen suddenly shut his mouth and continued to ask!
"Where is Li Yunlong's new second regiment? How many people does he plan to expand the army to?"
"Li Yunlong captured less heavy equipment than Kong Jie, and the ammunition was not too much, but it was enough for them to expand the strength of two to three battalions!"
"The current idea is to expand the New Second Regiment to 6,000 men, collect the captured heavy artillery to form a heavy artillery battalion, and expand the cavalry company into a cavalry battalion!"
The deputy commander continued to ask: "Where is Ding Wei's new regiment? They haven't fought any big battles, so they probably don't have that much equipment to expand their troops, right?"
Brigadier Chen shook his head and replied: "Although the new regiment did not fight big battles, they continued to fight small battles. They also captured a blockade at the last moment of the counter-sweep operation, wiped out more than 2,000 Japanese puppet troops, and seized a large number of weapons and ammunition!"
"When they reinforced the troops of the Independent Regiment and the New Second Regiment and retreated, Kong Jie and Li Yunlong both sent equipment for a reinforced battalion. Ding Wei also has no shortage of equipment, and there is no problem in expanding three more reinforced battalions!"
"He also wants to expand the army to 6,000 men, set up an artillery battalion, and expand the cavalry company!"
"I didn't expect that only half a year after we divided our troops, each one of us would become a rich man. What a good fight!" The deputy commander put down his pen and sighed happily.
"If Yoshio Shinozuka knew that our three regiments operating in northwestern Shanxi were not attacked during the sweep, but were actually getting bigger and more powerful, and the total strength would soon be expanded to 20,000, he would definitely be so angry that he vomited blood on the spot. !”
"What about the establishment?" Brigadier Chen asked expectantly.
"No!" the deputy commander replied without hesitation.
Seeing that Brigadier Chen was getting anxious subconsciously, the deputy commander immediately explained: "I made it clear to them when the troops were divided!"
"They go deep into northwest Shanxi alone, far away from the brigade and headquarters. When in danger, we are beyond our reach to reinforce them. All development can only rely on them!"
"As long as you have the ability and courage... I don't care if the three regiment leaders expand their troops to 10,000 people!"
"But there is a prerequisite!"
"No matter how many troops they hold, they can only operate in the northwest of Shanxi in the name of the regiment!"
"Chongqing is already very dissatisfied with our large-scale expansion of troops behind enemy lines. In order not to affect the overall situation, we can do our best not to irritate them!"
"Activities in the northwest of Shanxi as regiments can also paralyze the Japanese and puppet troops, making it impossible for the Japanese and puppet troops to determine their true strength, and then underestimate them on the battlefield, giving rise to the idea of underestimating the enemy!"
"This is only good for Kong Jie and the others, not bad!"
"When you go back, send a telegram back to the three of them: As long as they have equipment, people, and food, they can expand as many people as they want!"
"But the troops they expand must be well-equipped and a real main force. They must not equip the troops with some broken guns just to increase the number of people!"
At the Baipogou Independent Regiment Headquarters, regimental commander Kong Jie, chief of staff Li Wensheng, staff officer Huang Yu, and first battalion commander Shen Quan were sitting together to discuss the upcoming expansion plan.
"Commander, my idea is that the six main battalions remain unchanged and three new battalions, seven, eight, and nine, are formed!" Chief of Staff Li Wensheng suggested.
"Cadres at all levels are directly transferred from the old army to serve as deputy positions, and then a platoon is transferred from each of the six main battalions, two platoons are transferred from the guard battalion, and one platoon is transferred from the assault battalion to build the framework of three battalions and nine companies!"
"In this counter-mopping operation, we have captured more than 1,800 prisoners, and have mobilized more than 900 people to join the Eighth Route Army..."
"We should be able to mobilize two to three hundred people, which adds up to 1,200 people!"
Draw 600 people to supplement the three battalions of 7, 8, 9, and they will have the backbone! "
"Add another 600 people from the local army and add another 600 new recruits, and the three battalions will be fully staffed in no time!"
Kong Jie also agreed with this idea in his heart and made a decision immediately: "Since the chief of staff is already convinced, I will leave this matter to you!"
Seeing Li Wensheng nod, Kong Jie continued: "After the army expansion is completed, the total strength of the independent regiment will reach an astonishing 8,000 people, which is more than many main brigades of the Jinsui Army!"
"There are nine main battalions in total, one assault battalion, one guard battalion, one heavy artillery battalion, one cavalry battalion, one baggage battalion, one reconnaissance company, one engineer company, one airborne company..."
"More than a dozen battalions and companies!"
The chief of staff and I not only have to take care of base area construction, but also war fighting, troop training, and logistics... We will definitely be too busy! "
"Xiao Huang mentioned an idea to me, I think it's great!"
"Let's discuss it among ourselves first. If there is no problem, we will report it to the brigade headquarters and ask for approval from our superiors!"
Li Wensheng hurriedly asked: "I felt this way before the army expanded!"
"The two of us manage more than a dozen battalion and company-level units at the same time. We also have to command battles and manage base areas. We are so busy every day that we don't even have time to rest!"
"If there is really a way to reduce stress, I will definitely support it with both hands!"
Kong Jie said bluntly: "Select three people from the dozen battalion commanders in the regiment to serve as deputy chiefs of staff of the regiment. As deputy chiefs of staff, they will assist me and the chief of staff in managing the strength of two to three battalions!"
"For various reasons, our superiors do not agree with our expansion into a brigade, but we have to manage a force with a total strength no less than that of a brigade, so we can only settle for the next best thing and use this method to manage the troops!"
"Captain, do you want to find another way?" Li Wensheng's eyes lit up and he said!
"If our superiors don't allow us to expand into a brigade, we won't be able to build a regiment..."
"Although you haven't directly built a team in this way, you have already figured out the shape and function of the team."
"Three deputy chiefs of staff help us manage nine main battalions. We only need to manage the three deputy chiefs of staff. This will definitely greatly reduce the pressure on the regiment..."
"I agree with this with all my hands!"
At the General Headquarters, looking at Brigadier Chen who appeared again after a day, the Deputy Commander-in-Chief himself was confused and asked with a puzzled face: "Is it possible that Kong Jie and the others won the battle again?"
Brigadier Chen shook his head and said: "I didn't win the battle, but you gave me a difficult problem. I need the chief's approval before I can reply to them!"
"Is there any problem in this world that you, Brigadier Chen, can't solve? Tell me about it?" The deputy commander immediately showed a curious expression.
"Didn't we not give Kong Jie and others a formal establishment and strictly prohibit them from expanding into a brigade?" Brigadier Chen explained.
"In order to manage the dozen or so battalion commanders under him, Kong Jie found another way and wanted to select a few battalion commanders to serve as deputy chiefs of staff at the regiment headquarters and help them manage the troops as deputy chiefs of staff!"
"When the independent regiment can be expanded into a brigade in the future, these deputy chiefs of staff will be the future regiment commanders!"
The deputy commander understood and said with appreciation: "He wants us to give him three deputy chiefs of staff positions?"
Brigadier Chen shook his head and said: "It's four..."
"The commander of the assault battalion of the Independent Regiment, Huang Yu, also needs a quota!"
"He played a decisive role in the counter-mopping up. The independent regiment was able to wipe out all the troops that were mopping up all the way. Comrade Huang Yu deserves the most credit!"
"Kong Jie wants him to be the number one deputy chief of staff of the Independent Regiment!"
"And give him enough autonomy and power to mobilize troops. Even without orders from Kong Jie and Li Wensheng, he can mobilize any unit of the independent regiment at will!"
The smile on the deputy commander's face grew wider, and he nodded immediately: "This is a good idea!"
"As the deputy chief of staff of the regiment, I will build up the structure of the three regiments and exercise the rights of the regiment leader. As long as the conditions are suitable in the future, the independent regiment can be transformed into a brigade, and even the step of adaptation will be omitted!"
"Isn't it just four deputy chiefs of staff? I agree..."
"If Li Yunlong and Ding Wei also ask you for the deputy chief of staff position, you don't need to come to the headquarters to ask for instructions, just reply directly and agree!"
"Managing so many troops as a regiment leader must be extremely stressful. If we can support this small thing, we will definitely support it!"
At the Baipogou Independent Regiment Headquarters, Huang Yu was fooled by the surprise prepared by Kong Jie.
The original three deputy chiefs of staff turned out to be four. He also ranked first among all deputy chiefs of staff and had the right to mobilize any unit of the independent regiment.
In this way, he became the veritable number three of the independent group.
"Huang Yu informed us that your ability is obvious to all of us! I, the Chief of Staff, and Shen Quan all support you as the First Deputy Chief of Staff of the Independent Regiment..." Kong Jie explained with a smile.
"Don't think too much. If you accept the appointment, you will be the first deputy chief of staff of the independent regiment!"
Seeing Kong Jie and Li Wensheng looking at him expectantly, Huang Yu could only bite the bullet and accept the appointment document: "Regiment leader and chief of staff, don't worry. I, Huang Yu, will definitely live up to your expectations and be a good deputy chief of staff." !”
Kong Jie nodded and replied: "In addition to the deputy chief of staff, you will continue to serve as the commander of the assault battalion!"
"If nothing happens at the regiment headquarters, you can stay in the assault camp and train. If anything happens at the regiment headquarters, you can report back here. Just like before!"
"Tomorrow's cadre meeting of the entire league, I will lend you your identity again!"
"But before the meeting, we need to decide how to divide the troops!"
