"Comrades, how could Zhao repay Zhao with such courtesy?" General Baitou stood in front of the three of them, standing upright as well. After returning the salute with a standard military salute, he said with a wry smile.
"Sir Zhao has traveled a long distance and worked hard. Please come in!" Tang Daosu greeted him with his hand.
"Although Zhao is in his mid-forties this year, his body and bones are still good. Marching at this level is still no problem." The white-headed general waved his hand, with confidence surging on his thin face.
Although he had never met Commander Li and Brigadier Cheng of the 104th Division, Tang Dao's telegram to the 17th Division Headquarters already stated that he would also invite the military chiefs of the 104th Division and the 683rd Brigade to come for a gathering.
The military ranks on the collar badges of the two men already indicated their identities. General Baitou shook hands with the two generals politely, and then stared at the tall Tang Dao: "You must be Commander Tang! You are indeed a young hero, and you live up to your reputation!"
"
"Sir Zhao, you are complimentary. Tang Dao is a junior and needs a lot of support from several senior officers. Tang Dao has already prepared the food and drinks. I hope the senior officers and brothers will show their appreciation!" Tang Dao said modestly with a smile.
"Haha, you said you are a hero, Captain Tang, but you still don't admit it. Just saying that you are straight to the point and calling everyone to eat has really made it into my heart, Lao Zhao. Hurry up and hurry up this way, Lao Zhao's ass
Dahei is a stubborn breed, and will not work hard if he is not given food. Lao Zhao only ate one piece of cake that day. Now he is so hungry that his stomach is growling. It’s not that the belt is tighter.
You're so ugly." General Baitou laughed.
Seeing this man talk about his strange mount without hesitation, the three of them admired him and couldn't help but laugh at this man who didn't stick to details.
All three of them know that today's 17th Division is very difficult.
In the Battle of Fululing half a year ago, the 17th Division with nearly 12,000 soldiers lost 8,000 people. Including the injured, those who could stand and walk out of the position were only 2,000, which was equivalent to directly crippling the Northwest Army Infantry Division.
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The crippled 17th Division could only withdraw from the battlefield and repair in the rear. However, because the battle in Jin Province was in full swing, no troops above the division were allowed to retreat across the Yellow River without an order from the Ministry of Military Affairs. So it was said to be repairing, but in fact it was for you.
Re-recruit and train troops within a certain period of time, and then return to the battlefield at any time.
The 17th Division is almost equivalent to reconstruction. Whether it is personnel or equipment, the military expenditures allocated by the peak are only so small, so the difficulty can be imagined.
But no one expected that the 17th Division would be so difficult. It was so difficult that the majestic commander of the division didn't even have a war horse, so he had to get a barking donkey as a mount during the long march.
You know, even in the most difficult times, the 683rd Brigade still retains a cavalry platoon with more than 30 horses.
Although the Sichuan Army was called the "Beggars Army" by the Jinsui Army, at least the officers of the Sichuan Army were equipped with war horses at the level of regiment commander or above. They would never ride a donkey to a meeting like the famous lieutenant general of the 17th Division.
It is conceivable that when more than a dozen generals gathered at the headquarters of the Eightyth Army, they all rode tall horses, but this important general of the Northwest Army rode a donkey. The expressions on the generals' faces would be very rich.
But obviously, since this man dared to ride, he didn't care too much about the so-called face. He would rather spend the money saved on horses that were not worthy of war on equipment and ammunition.
This kind of behavior is actually more admirable.
General Baitou is truly worthy of his reputation.
The place where Tang Dao hosted the banquet for the three generals was nowhere else but in his war conference room, where four people sat at an Eight Immortals table.
Tang Dao is not stingy with the food, but in fact the few dishes served are very simple, five meat dishes, two vegetarian dishes and one soup. Among the five meat dishes, there are pork, mutton and rabbit meat. However, they are all air-dried meat sent by hunters in the mountains, which may not be enough.
Exquisite, but large and filling, it is most suitable for soldiers who work hard to fight and work hard.
However, the biggest difference from the usual banquet is that the jar of old wine that was brought was barely touched.
It’s not that Brigadier Cheng said Tang Dao was a heavy drinker, so no one dared to compete with him. General Baitou looked weak, but there were some people from the northwest who weren’t good at wine, and Sichuan Province was also a big liquor-producing province. If these three people faced each other,
Tang Dao, let's not talk about whether five kilograms of wine in this jar is enough. In terms of single-round strength, Tang Dao is probably not better than a wine vat.
However, as the host, Tang Daodu just made an opening statement, asking the three officers who were considered guests to eat something to fill their stomachs first. When General Baitou came up, he added a bowl of white rice and started to cook hard with the broth.
His actual actions proved that what he said before was true. He was really hungry, which made the other three people also have great appetites.
We are all soldiers. Once we focus on attacking the food, what kind of situation will it be like?
Anyway, the little bald man who was helping to refill the meal had a new understanding this night, so much so that he almost had the illusion that the gold stars on the collar badges of the officers were due to their appetite!
The wine was not drunk yet, but half of the rice was gone, and 70% of the meat on the table was gone. However, not a single chopstick was touched on the plate of greasy vegetables stir-fried with mountain wild vegetables that the cooking team specially prepared for the officers.
To quote what Master Li of the 104th Division said during his busy schedule: "I eat this crap every day. It looks like I'm almost full. I finally have some oil and water. How can I keep it for a few days to get rid of it?"
Of course, what's more important is that the three generals who are immersed in cooking are like a mirror in their hearts. They came to the station of the Sixth Regiment. It doesn't mean that everyone really made an appointment to go together. There are four guard companies plus cavalry.
Putting it all together, when the Japanese were strong in the past, they could fight even if they sent an infantry brigade to block them. Now that China has gathered a small number of hundreds of thousands of troops in the Taihang Mountains, the Japanese are not afraid even if they send a regiment to block them.
When they came here, they probably had something to say about Commander Tang, who also had a place in the General Staff of the Southeast Shanxi War Zone.
As a colonel-level officer, it is an honor for Tang Dao to join the staff of the general staff. If he can have refreshing opinions at the high-level military meeting organized by the staff through communication,
Then his meteoric rise is just around the corner.
Perhaps except for Brigadier Cheng Da, who knew Tang Dao best, the other two division-level officers thought so.
This is a basic operation in all armies. How could two generals who had been promoted from the bottom not know how to do it?
This is Tang Dao. The 104th Division owes him a favor, so this is a return of favor. But what about General Baitou of the 17th Division? He is incompatible with Tang Dao and the Four Lines Regiment. If he can come after receiving Tang Dao's invitation, then
I am just curious about Tang Dao.
Tang Dao was promoted to an army colonel at the age of 21, and also served as a regimental commander. Coupled with his series of achievements on the Songhu battlefield and on the retreat, it can be said to be a miracle.
The major general of the Northwest Army is elegant on the outside, but he is the most important hero in his heart. Just like when he was at Fululing in Niangzi Pass, he clearly knew that the 17th Division, which lacked artillery, was definitely not the two Japanese infantry with a strength of 5,000 and the support of artillery and aircraft.
The opponent of the alliance, but still took orders and stood firm.
He came here purely because of Tang Dao's past achievements.
But if Tang Dao's way of trying to get through the three of them through the back door was too despicable, I'm guessing that this literary and artistic hero who couldn't get rid of the dirt in his eyes would leave overnight.
With this understanding, the wine is naturally destined to be tasted only to fill the belly.
It only took half an hour for the meal to be finished. Tang Dao was not modest and asked Xia Dayu to ask people to remove the leftovers and put on the new tea that had just been picked by the mountain people.
"Chief Zhao, Chief Li, and Chief Cheng, do you know the purpose of Tang Dao inviting these three to my four-element gathering today?" Tang Dao stood up and stood in front of the hanging map of southeastern Shanxi and asked straight to the point.
"Brother Tang, you want Zhao and Li to help you with your speech at the staff meeting tomorrow! This will allow the boss to see your true level before entrusting you and the Four Lines Group with important responsibilities.
Brother, you are so quick at making small calculations! If it were in peacetime, even if you didn't join the army, you would definitely be top-notch as an accountant."
Brigadier Cheng Da smiled and took out three cigarettes from the cigarette case that Tang Dao placed on the table, handed them to the two division commanders, struck a match and lit one and said with a smile.
"However, brother, you really don't have to say anything about your vision. Commanders Zhao and Li are among the best not only in our Southeast Shanxi War Zone, but also in the army throughout the country. There is no problem in guiding you, brother."
"I'm talking about Brigadier Cheng, when you said this, Lao Li and I almost couldn't answer it. The whole country didn't dare to say it, but in this second theater, if you are said to be the number one general, who dares to say no?
In the last battle at Shentou Ridge, your brigade killed far more Japanese than our 104th Division did in the six months of fighting together. There were more than 10,000 soldiers in our 104th Division, and no one was dissatisfied.
." Grand Master Li of the Sichuan Army shook his head repeatedly, extremely humble.
"Yes! Captain Tang, although you are young, but looking at your past achievements, all of them are about surviving in dangerous situations, but the final results are amazing. I, Old Zhao, would not be able to do it anyway. Old Zhao is the only one I can win.
The victory we achieved was achieved with the lives of nearly 10,000 brothers in my 17th Division. If possible, I would rather be an unknown general." General Baitou mentioned the blocking battle that brought him honor, but
It was a sad look on his face.
Fulu Ridge is located on the right side of Niangzi Pass. It has always been said that if you want to take Niangzi Pass, you must first capture Fulu Ridge. Therefore, the commander of the Eastern Route Army of the North China Front, Saburo Kawayasu, could only arrange one brigade in front of Niangzi Pass, but at the foot of Fulu Ridge
However, 36 artillery pieces were used, nearly a hundred bombers made sorties, and the strength was as high as two infantry regiments.
However, the 17th Division relied on sacrifice and without any external aid to hold off the Japanese invaders at Fulu Ridge for 15 days, making Niangziguan hold on for more than half a month. The Japanese army had to force two groups to attack the original city.
Plans are delayed backwards.
It was these precious 20 days that enabled many merchants, government agencies, factories, and civilians stationed in the original city to evacuate smoothly, saving a large part of Jin Province's effective force.
If the Japanese army were allowed to break through Niangziguan quickly, and nearly 30,000 Japanese troops entered from eastern Shanxi, and more than 60,000 Japanese troops entered from Xinkou and Tianshui directions, most of the soldiers and civilians in the original city would be doomed.
It can be said that the 17th Division sacrificed a lot, but also made a great contribution to the defense of Jin Province. Even if the principal disliked this general who was so close to the 80th Army, he still had to award the medal.
However, intentionally or unintentionally, almost no newspapers publicized this battle, and this awe-inspiring battle was lost in the long river of history. Not many people knew about this battle at the time or in the future.
8000 Lengwa was martyred in Shaanxi Province. Only after the war, the local government built a monument to commemorate it.
Of course, the real reason why General Baitou feels extremely sad when he mentions this matter is not whether the people of the country can remember his brothers who died in the battle, but that they all died under his strict orders, and he died together.
heart, but in the end, he could not continue to live.
Because his country is still suffering in the flames of war, and the mission still needs to continue.
"Hey, three officers, please don't be humble. Tang Dao is very young and has many inexperiences, but Tang Dao's eyes are not blind. The three of you will lead our Chinese army and fight the Japanese invaders in a bloody battle. Regardless of victory or defeat,
They are still holding on, this is where the soul of my Chinese army lies.
Commander Li, during the defense battle of Changzhi, your regiment had more than 2,000 men. They fought bloody battles until only 300 remained. Such an iron-blooded army is also the Sichuan Army. We, Tang Dao, are honored to do so.
Sir Zhao, I will not mention the brutality of the battle at Fululing, but I can tell you that if one day our Tang Dao can survive until the end of the war, we will build a monument on the highest peak of Fululing to commemorate all the martyred soldiers of the 17th Division.
The name is engraved on it for future generations to admire!
Brother Cheng, the 683rd Brigade is regarded as the number one enemy by the Japanese invaders. This is all due to the painful beatings made by the Japanese invaders. Your name will surely shine brightly in our thousands of years of Chinese history, no less than any famous general."
Tang Dao talked about the achievements of the three of them as if they were family treasures.
Even these three famous generals, each with their own merits, couldn't help but feel excited when they heard what Tang Dao said.
In fact, what Tang Dao said spoke to their hearts.
But Tang Dao's last sentence was like a thunderclap, making the three of them suddenly startled.
"It's just that you three officers all guessed wrong. Tang Dao asked for leave from the theater headquarters as early as yesterday. Our regiment has important matters. As the regiment leader, I cannot leave. I cannot participate in this combat meeting."
As soon as he said this, even Brigadier Cheng Da, who knew him very well, was slightly startled. Of course he knew that Tang Dao did not come to the three of them just to gain publicity and promotion, but it was inevitable to discuss regional strategies and tactics. He also hoped that Tang Dao would
Use younger and more aggressive combat thinking to influence those conservative-minded veterans!
Even if the final strategic deployment plan cannot be changed, it is still good to have an impact and bring about some new changes. Why doesn't Tang Dao go?
This is true for Brigadier Cheng Da, not to mention the other two division commanders who have already preconceived ideas. Tang Dao is not here to use the back door, so what is this meal for?
The two middle-aged men, who had experienced many changes in the world, suddenly couldn't understand the young man in front of them.
"The three officers probably all know that Tang Dao is doing a big purchase in Linfen City! I used the gold captured from the Japanese invaders to purchase the necessary daily necessities for my four-line regiment for half a year." Tang Dao said with a smile.
"So many!" The two senior masters each took a deep breath.
It is enough for a regiment to live for half a year, and giving them a division can last for two or three months! This must be hundreds of thousands of kilograms of food!
This is really a rich man.
But soon, the two teachers discovered that they had been poor for too long and their vision was too small.
Hundreds of thousands of kilograms of grain are really nothing.
"Hehe, but I'm afraid the three officers don't know that before purchasing these daily necessities, I have already gone to the Jin Provincial Ordnance Department to purchase some arms." Tang Dao smiled brightly.
"A few?" Brigadier Cheng Da must be familiar with Tang Dao. When he heard this uncertain quantifier, he instinctively felt that something was wrong. "Brother, just tell me how much it cost to buy it."
"About 2.2 million silver dollars! The main reason is that the Ordnance Department has insufficient inventory. You said that the provincial Ordnance Department has one of the best arsenals in the country, and it only has such a small inventory. Isn't it too bad?" Tang Dao was very casual.
Said sexually.
The three generals looked at each other and almost stopped breathing.
The arms of 2.2 million silver dollars, even if all the heavy firepower of the three of them are added together, it is probably not worth this price!
Be more confident and remove the word "estimate". The three of us are just bumpkins in front of this guy! Brigadier Cheng Da's golden eyes are full of this meaning.
However, Brigadier Cheng Da, who already knew what Tang Dao meant, couldn't care less about asking questions like a curious baby. He now only regretted it.
If he had known that there were so many munitions, Te Liang should have brought the 772nd Regiment. No, the 772nd and 771st two main regiments came together. Not only could everyone have a good meal, but they could also carry the guns and artillery back to the station.
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Now, what can this company of packhorses do? The food that was originally imagined will no longer taste good in an instant.
There was a bit of silence in the conference room for a while, so silent that it became stagnant.
"Captain Tang, what do you mean by telling us this?" Mr. Li broke the silence and asked in disbelief.
"The defense lines of our four armies are relatively close. To use a literary term, we call them the same spirit, or to speak more informally, we call them grasshoppers tied to the same rope. If we want to live together, if we want to die, we will die together." Tang Dao looked at him.
He became serious. "And we, the Four Elements Group, want to live! You don't have money, but I do. If you don't have weapons, then we will buy them for you."
"Except for some of these arms that equipped our four-line regiment, all of these arms were given to three adjacent friendly forces.
It’s a gift, you don’t have to pay it back, but I have a condition!”
"Whatever the conditions are, just tell me." General Baitou nodded with deep eyes and seriousness.
With such a huge batch of arms, even if it were divided among three companies, he would still be able to obtain at least one infantry regiment's equipment. However, his life experience told him that pie never falls in the sky, only traps!
It's normal if there are conditions. If there are no conditions, this batch of weapons and equipment will feel hot to his hands.
"In this battle, let alone the grand strategy of the entire theater, we are talking about the defensive tactics of our area of more than 100 miles. I hope that the officers will listen to me."
Tang Dao’s words are shocking!
........
ps: Did Fengyue keep her word? No matter whether it was a man or a woman, Fengyue refused. On New Year’s Eve and the first day of the Lunar New Year, she was working diligently on typing. Why haven’t your monthly tickets and rewards come yet? Of course, first of all, in advance
Asking for a leave, Fengyue will take her parents back to her hometown on the third day of the Lunar New Year, which is impossible to write. Come back on the fourth day of the Lunar New Year and continue working!
