Yan Jingtao gathered his troops and prepared to return to Nantong. Of the more than 600 troops, only more than 400 were left.
Those soldiers who did not adapt to the life of the puppet army, or who were very adaptable to the life of the puppet army, took advantage of this opportunity and sent them back to the main force.
After returning, Yan Jingtao immediately went to the Qingxiang Chief's Office in northern Jiangsu, and together with Li Baolian, reported the battle to Xie Xuan.
Yan Jingtao said seriously: "We encountered the First Division of the Third Division of the New Fourth Army in Huaiyin. Our soldiers fought bravely. Although nearly one-third of our personnel were martyred and more than a hundred people were injured, the New Fourth Army also paid a heavy price. Their casualties are at least twice as high as ours."
Xie Xuan said nothing and turned his attention to Li Baolian.
Seeing Xie Xuan looking at him, Li Baolian immediately said: "The battle was very fierce. Commander Yan came to the front line in person and commanded well. This can be said to be a great victory."
Xie Xuan said: "Thank you for your hard work, Commander Yan. You go back and rest first. I will visit the brothers in the self-defense group tomorrow."
"Boss, the losses of Yan Jingtao's tribe are too great. All the weapons are almost in action, the ammunition is all exhausted, and the medicines are gone. How did they withdraw? There are not many who escaped."
After a while, Ma Tian also came to report, holding Yan Jingtao's damage report list in his hand.
Xie Xuan asked: "What did Li Baolian say?"
Ma Tian said: "Li Baolian listened to the gunfire and artillery all night and concluded that the battle between the Self-Defense Group and the New Fourth Army was fierce. However, in the end, after the New Fourth Army received support, it launched a counterattack, and the Self-Defense Group could not withstand it, so they hurriedly withdrew. return."
Xie Xuan was secretly amused when he heard this. Li Baolian was really a good helper, covering up the self-defense group's operations perfectly.
The Self-Defense Group did fight hard against the New Fourth Army. The reason why it was defeated was because the New Fourth Army received support, and it was normal for the Self-Defense Group to fight alone and not be able to withstand the New Fourth Army's counterattack.
Xie Xuan asked: "Do you think Li Baolian's words are credible?"
Ma Tian said: "Believe it or not. It is true that Yan Jingtao's troops fought with the New Fourth Army. They fought all night. I don't believe it. How can the New Fourth Army have so much ammunition to deal with him?"
Xie Xuan said: "As long as Yan Jingtao's troops open fire on the New Fourth Army, our plan will be successful."
Ma Tian said: "Yan Jingtao proposed to rest and replenish soldiers, equipment and ammunition."
Xie Xuan said: "You can rest and recuperate. Give him half a month. There is no need to replenish the troops. Let him solve it on his own. He is the Tonghai Self-Defense Regiment, so let him go back to Tonghai to recruit troops. As for equipment and ammunition, we can give him I will give the New Fourth Army no matter how much equipment and ammunition they have. In addition, tell Yan Jingtao that I will give him as many guns as he recruits. If he can recruit two thousand people, I will give him a division commander. If he can recruit five thousand people, I will give him a division commander. I will give him a military establishment."
Ma Tian smiled and said: "If he can recruit five thousand people, we can really fight with the New Fourth Army."
"We can fight now. As long as the New Fourth Army doesn't run away, we can take care of them at any time. This bunch of communist troops always avoid the truth and make mistakes. When we sweep them away, they run away. As soon as we withdraw, they come back. To the occupation District, we must do a good job in blocking and not give them any chance."
Ma Tian asked: "Boss, do we really want to drive out the New Fourth Army?"
Xie Xuan said angrily: "What do you think I can do that so many troops of the Japanese army cannot do? It would be great to curb the development of the New Fourth Army, but to kill them all is not an ideal, but a delusion."
With him in northern Jiangsu, no one dares to attack the New Fourth Army.
Xie Xuan was plotting against Yan Jingtao's troops in Nantong, while the Ninth Brigade of the Third Division of the New Fourth Army was also counting the gains.
"Brigadier Commander, we made a fortune this time. We bought 100,000 rounds of bullets, eight machine guns, two mortars and 3,000 rounds of artillery shells. When did we have 3,000 rounds of artillery shells? All this It’s enough to knock down Nantong.”
The person speaking was none other than Chai Guangjin, the chief of staff of the Ninth Brigade. His face was flushed with a happy smile. For the Ninth Brigade, being able to get so much ammunition at one time, wouldn't it mean making a fortune?
Brigadier Huang Zhenzhong said: "Is there anything else?"
Chai Guangjin said: "There are also two hundred sets of new military uniforms. Soldiers don't like the uniforms of the puppet army. In addition, there are medicines that we urgently need. The Self-Defense Group has solved our urgent need. Many soldiers only need anti-inflammatory drugs because they don't have them." Being able to watch the wound worsen.”
Huang Zhenzhong smiled and said: "What's wrong with the uniforms of the puppet army? These are treasures. Don't tell me anymore. When we attack enemy strongholds in the future, these uniforms will work wonders. I think at the beginning, I relied on a set of peaceful founding army The certificate of the staff officer of the Third Regiment of the First Army was unimpeded in Shenpu. Not only was his injury cured, but he also returned with a healthy body."
A few years ago, when he was the deputy brigade commander of the ninth brigade of the third detachment of the New Fourth Army, he was seriously injured and was sent to Shenpu for treatment.
At that time, comrades from the Shenpu underground party prepared a major officer certificate named "Wu Xinmin" for him. With this certificate, he could safely receive treatment in Shenpu.
Although some things happened during the period, there was no danger at all.
After returning to the army, Huang Zhenzhong remained in the army. After the third column was reorganized into the third division of the New Fourth Army, he also served as the brigade commander.
Since then, he has been even busier.
Huang Zhenzhong has always had a wish to thank the underground party comrades in Shenpu. If they had not obtained a fake military ID for him, he would not only have been unable to treat his injuries in Shenpu, but he would have even fallen into the hands of the spies.
Chai Guangjin said: "Can the uniforms of the puppet army have such an effect? I didn't expect it."
Huang Zhenzhong asked: "Have all the soldiers of the Self-Defense Group settled down?"
Chai Guangjin said: "Everything is settled. We will start studying tomorrow. After studying, we will disperse and organize into the troops below."
Some of the more than 200 people in the Self-Defense Group were not used to the life of the puppet army. They thought about how to escape back all day long, and even plotted to escape anyway. There are also some people who quickly adapted to the life of the puppet army. If they cannot be stopped in time, I am afraid they will go further and further down the road of the puppet army.
Huang Zhenzhong asked: "How are the soldiers selected for the Self-Defense Group?"
"They are still learning. They have to make a complete ideological change before they can join the self-defense group."
"How good is it to join the self-defense group? You don't have to train hard, and you still have to eat and drink well every day."
"Soldiers don't want to eat the enemy's food."
Huang Zhenzhong said: "As long as they can eat, who cares about their food? As long as their thoughts are right, their hearts will be red. Report the results to the division headquarters, and I will go see those mortars and artillery shells. They are really there." Three thousand rounds?”
"Just a little more."
"It would be great if the Self-Defense Group had done this earlier. Next time, let the Self-Defense Group get a few mountain cannons so that they can attack the enemy's strongholds and hit them accurately."
