An Yi's model battalion, together with the Second Division's headquarters, arrived in Gao'an County ahead of schedule at two o'clock in the afternoon on October 3.
Since the Northern Expeditionary Army Headquarters, General Zhu Peide's Third Army Headquarters and many directly affiliated troops were all crowded in Gao'an County at this time, all major villages and towns within ten kilometers of the surrounding area were occupied by main combat divisions and regiments.
Therefore, the model battalion could only go to the Jiangjun Temple, 3.5 kilometers north of the county, to station based on the terrain information provided by its own reconnaissance team.
The dilapidated General Temple is located at the foot of an 80-meter-high hill 3.5 kilometers north of the city. The collapsed roof, the ground overgrown with weeds, and the messy gravel look desolate. At the foot of the mountain is a tributary that flows into the Jinjiang River from north to south.
To the north and west of Wadi River, the terrain is undulating and rolling hills, to the east there are lush green bamboos and trees, and there are four villages within a radius of ten miles.
As soon as each company of the model camp arrived here, without the need for orders from superiors such as An Yi, the chief officers of each company gathered together for a brief discussion, and immediately designated their own garrison areas, set up warning posts, and more than a thousand people got busy.
Three hours later, the broad platform in front of the General Temple had been cleaned up. Even the loose soil brought up by cutting down the small trees and pulling out the weeds had been compacted. The dilapidated temple and the east and west wing rooms in the backyard had been tidied up.
All the roofs were cleverly covered with canvas tents, and a total of thirteen large and small houses were organized for the use of the camp. The camp within one kilometer has undergone earth-shaking changes. Looking around, there are many thatched tents and everything is in good order.
Where is there any desolate and decadent scenery?
Yang Bin and others stood on the platform in front of the temple and watched everything in front of them. They marveled at the excellent quality and fighting style of the officers and soldiers of the model camp. This was the first time they had seen the model camp camping in the wild, and the first time they had seen it so fast and efficient.
The construction of the camp was impeccable from every angle, and even in terms of the rationality of the layout and the accuracy of the sentinel settings, it had far exceeded their expectations.
"Boom...boom..."
At this time, six dull explosions were heard from the north. The attentive Ye Cheng and Qu Muchen immediately called the fifth company commander Chen Kan, who was responsible for the battalion's security mission, to inquire.
Chen Kan trotted over, saluted and said with a smile: "This is where Brother Jingtong Pai is frying fish in a bend 1.5 kilometers upstream of the main river. At noon, I heard them say that there are shoals of fish there.
A grenade can catch at least dozens of them, and all our brothers in the battalion will have fish to eat tonight."
Ye Cheng and others looked at each other, and Yang Bin stepped forward and asked: "During the march, each company carried out long-term live-fire shooting training. I made a rough calculation. From the beginning of Fengxin's rest to the present, the whole battalion's shooting training has cost at least
We purchased 170,000 rounds of ammunition and about 500 rounds of artillery shells. How can we withstand such a huge consumption?"
"Sirs, you are overthinking it. Our battalion has never been short of ammunition since its establishment. No matter how much we consume, we will always have a basic amount of ammunition, and this will not affect any sudden wars."
Chen Kan explained with a smile: "The ammunition consumed in these more than ten days of non-stop live-fire training was due to the efforts of more than a hundred siege brothers led by our battalion's guard company and subordinates in the Battle of Fengxin.
After the city, we took the lead in occupying the garrison's munitions warehouse and garrison headquarters. Not only did we secretly hide more than three thousand pieces of ocean and a batch of valuable materials, but we also received one hundred thousand rounds of rifle bullets and shells. Two days later, the battalion commander
According to the opinions of the officers and men of the artillery company, two of the original eight artillery pieces of our battalion's artillery company were exchanged for 50,000 rounds of machine gun bullets and 600 rounds of artillery shells from the division headquarters, which met the sufficient training needs of the brothers."
After listening to Chen Kan's introduction, Yang Bin nodded several times. Qu Muchen thought for a while and asked in a low voice: "Are the expensive materials you mentioned the opium and tobacco that the guard company secretly sent out the night before departure?"
Chen Kan nodded with a smile and said: "Exactly, together with the cigarettes we seized in the Battle of Shangfu, we sent them out, and exchanged a total of 20,000 yuan in cash, and another 20,000 yuan was added to our camp's provident fund account. According to
According to the figures announced by Staff Officer Yin at the battalion affairs meeting, the total self-owned provident fund of our battalion officers and soldiers has reached 56,000 yuan. This is the remaining figure after frequent payment of bonuses and increased benefits for officers and soldiers over the past few months, so our battalion has a very high expenditure.
Guaranteed.”
Qu Muchen and others were amazed. The figure of 50,000 yuan was equivalent to a year's salary for a battalion of the Anhui army. An Yi and his brothers really dared to think and do things to make money. No wonder the officers and soldiers of the model camp had meat to eat every day.
With a red face, he is much better dressed and equipped than other friendly forces, and he can go to great lengths to obtain a large amount of ammunition for the training of officers and soldiers, which rapidly improves the combat capabilities of the officers and soldiers, especially the newly established artillery company in the battalion, which has undergone a large amount of live ammunition.
After the training, combat effectiveness has basically been formed. Such a generous training method regardless of consumption is something that other troops simply cannot imagine.
Down the gentle slope to the south, the sound of horse hoofbeats was getting closer and closer. An Yi and the other three, who had been summoned by the principal, rode back on their horses accompanied by seven adjutants and guards. After a while, they came to the high platform in front of the temple and got off their horses. Chen Kanhe
Yang Bin and others could tell from An Yi Chunfeng's proud smile that he returned home with a full load.
An Yi glanced at the observation post on the top of the mountain, nodded happily, and then strode towards the crowd: "Chen Kan, you did a good job. I saw the post on the top of the mountain as soon as I left the city. The location and disguise are very impressive.
If you are satisfied, it seems that you have to be rewarded well...Jinan, give Chen Kan the dagger we got back from Lao Zeng. He and Chen Zhibiao were jealous when they saw the dagger on our waists.
They came out of Huangpu and their Chaozhou branch, but they are the sons of daughters, so let’s see what they have to say this time.”
Everyone laughed, and Yin Jinan smiled and took off two daggers from his waist and handed them to Chen Kan: "You can give one to Zhibiao. The eldest brother snatched these two daggers back from some bosses of Huangpu Alumni Association.
, the workmanship and quality are much better than the ones we are wearing, and it is also engraved with the name of the principal. I heard that it is intended to be awarded to General Huangpu who made meritorious service in the Northern Expedition."
Chen Kan was overjoyed, took the dagger, thanked him repeatedly, saluted and hurried to find the sixth company commander Chen Zhibiao.
An Yi laughed and told Yang Bin and others: "This time we went to meet the Commander-in-Chief and gained a lot. The Commander-in-Chief spoke highly of our model camp's performance since the Northern Expedition. The three of us took this opportunity to cry out for poverty. The principal was considerate.
Notify the munitions department at the headquarters on the spot to allocate twelve French-made Brandt 81mm mortars to our model camp at one time, plus 1,200 rounds of artillery shells, and 150 German-made machine guns.
Along with 100,000 rounds of various types of bullets, two thousand sets of new military raincoats produced at the factory owned by Mr. Ou Yaoting in Nanyang will be delivered by the Munitions Department tomorrow morning, haha!"
Yang Bin said happily: "Twelve mortars can form a mortar company on their own, and the one hundred and fifty powerful machine guns in close combat can also form a light machine gun company. Our battalion's combat capabilities
The strength will definitely be greatly enhanced.”
An Yi waved his hand: "The mortar company must be established, but the light machine gun company is not necessary. The three of us briefly discussed it on the way back and initially decided to use the original 130 or so mortar guns of the entire battalion.
The machine guns are gathered together and then distributed to each platoon leader and deputy platoon leader. In the future, they will be distributed to each squad leader and deputy squad leader to enhance the combat firepower of the grassroots squad platoon and the sense of honor of the officers and soldiers. The 150 newly arrived units are arranged in this way
, seventy-six were equipped for the guard company, together with the six French mortars that the Second Regiment gave us in exchange for equipping the guard company. The other sixteen were assigned to the adjutants and guards of our group, and the remaining forty-eight were equipped with mortars.
What do you think about the artillery company and the artillery company’s guard platoon?”
"I agree, especially for the artillery company. Their escort platoon of thirty-five officers and soldiers only has one light machine gun, and the firepower is indeed weak. Adding twenty-four machine guns can greatly enhance the artillery company's protection capabilities," Lu Mindy said.
Very satisfied with this, Yang Bin and Ye Cheng also agreed to this configuration plan.
An Yi looked at the setting sun that was slowly setting in the west. He was in a good mood for a while. He loudly ordered the logistics unit elder standing at the door of the temple to call the two ordnance masters Shen Jianping and Tao Xun to have a meeting together. Then he walked to the high platform alone to talk to him.
Yang Fei, the second company commander in the distance, shouted loudly.
After a while, a platoon of officers and soldiers from the second company rushed up to the high platform carrying tools and planks, and worked hard under the tall camphor tree to the west. In less than ten minutes, they finished a simple long table that could seat thirty people around.
and benches, their solid workmanship, reasonable size and astonishing speed made Yang Bin and the other five people stare in amazement. They all said that the engineers and soldiers of the model battalion were definitely the best officers and soldiers in the country. Every word of praise made the company commander Yang Fei and
The brothers in a platoon couldn't even walk.
"Come on, come on, everyone, sit down. Let's have a small meeting first. Later, we will call the chief officers of each company to have a meal together and assign tasks. Young doctor, come here for a moment..."
An Yi asked the young man to inform the kitchen to add more food, sat down and said to the brothers: "According to the commander-in-chief's instructions, all departments of our revolutionary army will launch the Nanchang Campaign within a week. Yesterday, the Third Army was 30 kilometers away from Nanchang east of Gao'an.
Wanshou Palace won a great victory, defeating an enemy division and annihilating more than 3,000 people from Yang Zhendong's East Brigade. This eliminated one of the biggest obstacles for our army to advance towards Nanchang. The Commander-in-Chief is so happy! Otherwise we wouldn't get so many good things today.
."
Everyone laughed after hearing this, saying that it was a good time for An Yi to catch up. Yang Bin, who was sitting at the lower left of An Yi, immediately realized the mission of the model camp after laughing. He leaned forward and looked at the bearded man opposite: "Yes
Are you not asking our model camp to rush to the Ganjiang River in advance to build a pontoon bridge?"
Huzi greatly admired Yang Bin's sensitive foresight: "Exactly, and the requirements are very high, and the difficulty is also very high. In the past few days, our four engineering companies must go to Zuojiadu, southwest of Gao'an City, to build pontoon bridges on the Jinjiang River.
Ji Nan will be responsible for the specific command of the erection training. Tomorrow morning, I will lead the first, third and fourth platoons of the guard company to go out for reconnaissance. If you brothers are willing, you can choose a direction and go have a look together. However, Lao
Qu, you have a heavy responsibility on your shoulders, so you can't go out with us. You have to teach the training class and the teaching team."
Yang Bin and the five men immediately discussed nervously and made a choice quickly. Yang Bin and Lu Mingdi followed Hu Zi's platoons and tried to select four to six pontoon bridge erection areas. Ye Cheng and Zhang Xiangong followed Yin Jinan to observe the actual combat training of the engineers.
Together with several non-commissioned officers, he was responsible for supervising the production of steel parts for fixed connection of pontoon bridges undertaken by three blacksmith shops in Gao'an City.
Only the 28-year-old and gentle Qu Muchen felt deeply regretful. He turned to An Yi with dissatisfaction, frowned and said loudly: "Xiao Yi, you are injured, so you can help me with the training class and teaching team."
In order to teach, I’d better go out for a walk with Huzi and the others.”
An Yi chuckled: "Do you know that Huzi has to do something besides surveying the construction site?"
"What else can we do?" Qu Muchen asked curiously.
When Yin Jinan saw An Yi shut up and refused to answer, he smiled and said to Qu Muchen beside him:
"While we were waiting for the principal's summons in the attendant's room of the headquarters in the afternoon, Deputy Commander Jiang said with emotion that the enemy brigade commander Jing Yanzong guarding the pontoon bridge eight kilometers southwest of Nanchang City was his classmate. The two of them gave lectures in Zhejiang back then.
When Wu Tang was studying, they shared the same desk and shared a pot of rice, but now they became life-or-death rivals.
After my eldest brother heard about it, he discussed it with Hu Hu and me, and then made a bet with Deputy Teacher Jiang, saying that he would be able to invite Deputy Teacher Jiang's old classmates to him within three days. How could Deputy Teacher Jiang believe it? He immediately and my eldest brother
He made a bet that he would pay five thousand oceans if he could do it, and one thousand oceans if he couldn't.
You also know my elder brother’s temperament. He is very irritating when he talks. A few jokes made the deputy division commander very angry. He immediately asked the division commander and Chief of Staff Xu to testify. Unexpectedly, Chief of Staff
Captain Hui of the Sixth Regiment also got excited and made a bet with my eldest brother according to the terms of the deputy division commander. My eldest brother immediately accepted the three people's bets and wrote down the bet.
The division commander looked on and wanted to make a bet. Unexpectedly, the commander-in-chief came out. Seeing everyone so excited, he asked why. The deputy division commander was the commander-in-chief's brother, so he had no scruples, so he immediately made a bet with my elder brother.
Tell the commander-in-chief, the commander-in-chief laughed and said to my eldest brother that if he can really do it, he will reward my eldest brother 10,000 yuan, so the task assigned by Huzi just now came about, do you understand?"
Qu Muchen and Yang Bin were shocked and felt that the task was very difficult. However, Ye Cheng immediately thought of the abnormal drill of the seven tough officers and soldiers of the guard company that day, and felt that An Yi's plan had a high chance of success, so he immediately sent the Anhui army to the usual routine.
Yang Bin and others also came to their senses and made supplements one by one, actively offered suggestions and advice, and detailed the age, appearance, hobbies and habits of the arrested target Jing Yanzong.
Beard's face was filled with excitement after hearing this, and he thought that such lax military discipline and security measures full of loopholes couldn't be better, and he gained a little more confidence in the mission.
Qu Muchen saw that Yang Bin and Lu Mingdi both got the opportunity to participate in secret operations, and Ye Cheng and Zhang Xiangong also got the job of studying and observing the actual combat of engineers. He felt indignant and asked An Yi again: "Xiao Yi, you are idle anyway.
, why don’t you want to take lessons for me for a few days?”
An Yi chuckled: "Who said I'm idle? Brothers are fighting and training. How dare I, the battalion commander, use this minor injury as an excuse to lie down? I have to do some business to help us.
A few of us and the rest of the camp got some small money back to spend, haha!"
Qu Muchen was horrified: "How long has it been and you are still in the mood to do business? I'm convinced!"
An Yi laughed loudly: "I can't do it if I don't do it! As long as you seize the opportunity these days, you can't let it go, otherwise there will be no shop like this after passing this village, haha!"
"With all the war and chaos these days, what business is there to do?" Ye Cheng asked strangely.
An Yi lowered his voice and spoke: "This year there is a severe drought in Hunan, and we have been fighting for another half a year. The food stocks are beginning to be tight. In addition, General Tang Shengzhi's 60,000 horses and more than 40,000 officers and soldiers of the Fourth Army are constantly coming from Hunan.
If we transport grain to Wuhan, I estimate that the price of grain in Changsha will at least double in a month.
It just so happened that in the afternoon, when I took the principal's approval note to go to Director He of the Munitions Department, I saw that all the vehicles of our army's transportation group were empty and returning to Guangdong and Changsha. So after finishing the work, I immediately found Deputy Commander Jiang, and the two of us made a decision immediately.
We decided to work together. The three counties of Gao'an, Shanggao and Zhangshu have always been a land of plenty with guaranteed harvests despite droughts and floods. This year, due to the war, businessmen have thousands of tons of grain that they cannot sell, and the price is only a little more than half of last year. Let's
We had to take advantage of the news from Hunan before it could be heard, and pay a deposit of tens of thousands to buy up the large quantities of grain stored in the hands of the merchants. We only had to transport one or two hundred tons, and most of the remaining grain would be on-site.
Sell to rice merchants from all over the country at a starting price.
We have soldiers and guns, and those profit-seeking grain merchants will not dare to go back on their word as long as they accept our deposit, haha! If we do it, I will get at least 50,000 yuan, haha... Brothers, where are you going these days?
Looking for 50,000 yuan? You all go about your own business. I will give each of you a thousand yuan in a week at the latest. The rest will be put into the provident fund account of my camp. When Nanchang is captured, we will have to be in the city.
We bought a piece of land of more than 100 acres in the east or north of the city, started to build our factory, and sold our military kettles, various equipment, engineering equipment, compressed military rations, military uniforms, helmets, etc. to the entire army.
I have thought about it. All kinds of machinery and equipment and large diesel generator sets in our factory use the latest products from Europe and the United States. By then, we can order them with just a telegram, and they can be shipped to Guangzhou within two months, and they can be ordered in a year.
Produce products. The gadgets we produce are definitely what the military needs most. During this time, I can squat next to the commander-in-chief every day. I have to race against time and work hard. If I have a chance, I will do it. If I don’t have a chance, I will create an opportunity. I must do it.
Invite my eldest brother, the deputy division commander, and even the commander-in-chief to join the team. When the time comes, all the brothers here and the chief officers of each company will have a share. I don’t believe you can’t make a fortune. You can wait for the dividends in a year, haha!”
Yang Bin and others were dumbfounded and couldn't react for a long time.