Chief Zhang and Zhou Wen discussed the current war situation again. With no more reinforcements from Nanjing, the Chinese army was unable to resist the Japanese army that was about to increase its troops significantly.
Zhou Wen also specifically reminded Chief Zhang to be careful of the danger of being surrounded by Japanese troops landing in the direction of Liuhe.
Chief Zhang said with a smile: "I didn't expect you to have such vision. Don't worry, the 19th Route Command and I have foreseen this situation. We will withdraw the defense line in the next few days. Shanghai cannot be defended." , your volunteers will withdraw tonight, and there won’t be any fierce fighting later.”
Zhou Wen felt ashamed. He didn't deserve Commander Zhang's praise. He only said this because he knew the history. Commander Zhang and Commander-in-Chief Jiang have the true military level and vision. They have already seen the weaknesses of the Chinese army.
He couldn't help but ask again: "Sir Zhang, what does Nanjing mean?"
Chief Zhang said in a low voice: "This is still top secret, as long as you know it. Now the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has started negotiations with Japan, and there will be news soon. Anyway, no matter how we negotiate, China will always be the loser. As soldiers of our generation, no matter what, It’s a long way to go!”
Sure enough, a few days later, the mercenary regiment, which had once again withdrawn to Huangdu Station for rest, received a military report from the headquarters. As expected, the Japanese army carried out a landing operation at Liuhe after receiving a large number of reinforcements.
It is a pity that under the wise command of Commander-in-Chief Chiang Kai-shek and Commander Zhang, the Chinese army had already given up on Shanghai and withdrew to the second line of defense (i.e., the line between Jiading and Huangdu), crushing the Japanese army's attempt to encircle and occupy Songhu, China. The defenders' intentions.
On March 3, the Japanese commander issued an armistice declaration based on a telegram from his chief of staff. On the same day, the League of Nations decided that China and Japan ordered an armistice.
Although the Chinese and Japanese armies were still in a confrontation at this time, neither side had any intention of provoking another fight, and the Songhu War of Resistance ended.
But Zhou Wen didn't care about the war. Anyway, he already knew the history. After that, the two sides negotiated with each other, and it was not until May that the armistice agreement was finally signed.
This morning, Zhou Wen, who was already seriously injured, was busy preparing for the follow-up arrangements for the mercenary group after he went to Nanjing to serve as an instructor.
Zhou Wen's back injury has basically been sealed, but his shoulder injury will still take some time to recover. After all, he was shot in two eyes.
At this time, his left hand was held by a bandage on his chest to prevent his left hand from pulling the wound on his shoulder. Today is the first time he has put on a military uniform since he was injured, and it is also the first time he has held a meeting, a meeting of all officers.
Zhou Wen looked at the brothers of the first team and the officers of each company and platoon of the second team, all sitting upright, looking at him with bright eyes, waiting for his speech, and couldn't help but feel a little proud in his heart: "This is me The team is no longer just opened. They have passed the test of blood and fire and have become a real elite. They are also the only elite in the country. They have fought with the Japanese army, known as the strongest in Asia, for dozens of times with real swords and real guns. God, and beat them to the point of losing their armor."
Thinking of this, Zhou Wen said loudly: "Brothers, our mission in the Songhu Anti-Japanese War is coming to an end. Your performance has not disappointed me or my relatives in Shanxi. We have been on the battlefield for more than ten days. In continuous battles, thousands of Japanese troops were annihilated, and they won one victory after another, breaking the myth that the Japanese army was undefeated since the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1894."
"I, Zhou Wen, am proud of you and proud of having brothers like you. Thank you for your trust..."
Zhou Wen explained to everyone at the meeting the reasons why he was going to Nanjing to serve as an instructor at the Central Army Officers School, and explained the difficulties of having to be separated from the army for a period of time.
But he said: "Brothers, please believe me. I will not make you wait too long. When I return to the army next year, I will lead you to a new battlefield. Let us once again build new glory and merits." .”
"Answer me brothers, are you willing?"
"Yes! Yes!"
Nearly a hundred officers in the audience shouted loudly. Their spirits were high and their fighting spirit was high. They were no longer newcomers to the battlefield. They had already proven themselves on the battlefield. In the future, they will also follow the commander they love and admire to win one victory after another and gain more glory and merit.
Only Meng Yuting and the others heard the implication of Zhou Wen's words and couldn't help but look at each other with excited expressions on their faces. Next year, there will be a new battle next year, and the scholar will never make excuses.
With the most powerful army in the world, what do you desire most? Of course it is a battle, and only the battlefield is the best place for our soldiers. And they knew that the battle the scholar was talking about could only be fought with little devils. Come on, little devil, we will meet again on the battlefield, and we will make history again.
At this time, the brothers of the first team suddenly shouted: "We will live and die together! We will follow you to the death!"
The officers of the second squadron also shouted together, "We will live and die together! We will follow you to the death!"
Zhou Wen looked at the young faces and bright and excited eyes with relief.
He raised his right hand to signal everyone to quiet down, and then deployed the next task.
He planned to divide the brothers in the first team into two, except for himself staying in Nanjing. Some would stay with him in Nanjing, and some would follow Gao Xiaoshan back to Shanxi. By the way, he would go to Henan to pick up the relatives of the supplementary group in Ertang Village. Going to Shanxi is time to let these relatives who have endured a lot of hardship live a good life for a few years.
As for the more than a thousand people in the second detachment, of course they have to retreat to Shanxi. There are so many relatives and properties in their base camp, and they need a strong force to protect them.
Moreover, he also assigned new tasks to the second team.
One course is to reward based on merit. He asked Gao Xiaoshan, Meng Yuting and the platoon leaders of each company to form a review committee to evaluate the merits of the officers and soldiers of the second squadron. Those who deserved promotions were promoted, and those who deserved bonuses were given bonuses. We should also publicize their achievements to their hometowns and let them go home to visit relatives with their achievements and big red flowers beating gongs and drums. We should also improve the treatment of military dependents of their families.
The second is summary and training. Everyone must summarize their performance in the battle and make suggestions for targeted training in the next step. Moreover, Zhou Wen also proposed new training subjects for them, including defensive warfare in anti-slope positions and construction training of tunnel fortifications.
The third is to expand the army. The artillery will add a light howitzer platoon and is planned to be equipped with two 105 mm caliber howitzers to increase the long-range strike capability of the mercenary regiment. This requires Gao Xiaoshan and Meng Yuting to come up with a plan. Zhou Wen means not to increase the establishment of other main forces for the time being. The purpose of expanding the recruitment is to have a strong guard force at home when the mercenary group goes on an expedition, and at the same time, it can be replenished at any time. Attrition of the main force. Anyway, they already have previous experience and templates, and the number of people is tentatively set at 500-800 people. They will decide specifically.
