Rebirth from the Ashes: Rebuilding the Red Soviet Area

"Now let's talk about the new recruits."

Zhang Dong said: "There are currently 1235 new recruits, and they have been assigned to various platoons for training."

“The training progress is pretty good at the moment.”

Li Yan asked: "Have these soldiers undergone political review?"

"The environment around us is very complicated now, so we must be careful when doing things."

The old squad leader said: "We have already started the preliminary review of these new recruits. There are too many people and the time is short, so we have only completed part of it."

Li Yan hummed and said, "We need to mark out a military restricted zone. No one is allowed to enter the restricted zone without the approval of the military."

"We must also develop our Party organizations among the common people"

"With the power of the Party organization and the people, the enemy spies will have nowhere to hide."

"Similarly, in order to maintain its purity, the military must periodically organize party affairs meetings on a class basis and recruit members according to organizational procedures."

"Although our troops have been through the test of blood and fire, there are too many new recruits. Many of them are immature and easily corrupted by the enemy."

"Old squad leader, you are an old party member and an old political expert. I have a suggestion, which is to open a night school."

"It not only improves everyone's party consciousness, but also makes the army more cultured. An army without culture will not go far."

The old squad leader nodded and said: "Don't worry, I will definitely strengthen my work in this area."

Li Yan was still relieved about the old squad leader and continued, "Now we have too many new recruits and too few cadres, so our combat effectiveness cannot be improved."

"I am going to start a military academy for grassroots cadres"

"The courses offered include company and platoon tactical command, artillery command, engineering command, reconnaissance and counter-reconnaissance, communications intelligence, equipment support, and quartermaster services."

"Depending on the type of military service, you will choose different learning content."

"The conditions for admission to the military academy are high ideological awareness, ability, and priority for those with military merit."

"I will personally serve as the principal of this military academy, and Comrade Zhang Dong will be the vice-principal. As for the instructors, select those with specialized abilities from each of your platoons."

"For example, if you, the stonemason, are accurate in your artillery fire, then you are the instructor of artillery command."

Gao Xuan said: "That's great. I have too few squad leaders now, and I can't take care of the new recruits."

Zhao Wu also said: "Yes, the company commander's method is better. We are good at fighting, but we can't lack people."

The old squad leader then raised a question: "Company Commander, we now have more than 2000 people, and it is no longer possible to use the company-level unit."

"Are you considering upgrading our unit?"

Li Yan shook his head: "We don't have any instructions from our superiors. This kind of thing is against discipline."

The old squad leader said: "We can't contact our superiors now, so we have to make emergency arrangements."

"Furthermore, during the Soviet period, the Central Bureau ordered the troops to break out in nine directions. It also stated at the time that the troops that broke out should persist in guerrilla warfare in the Central Soviet Area and its neighboring Soviet areas, and that they should immediately change their organizational and struggle methods to suit the guerrilla warfare environment."

"This shows that the central government and the central branch recognize the changes in some things."

"Our primary goal now is to expand our forces. Once we contact the Minxi Military Sub-district, we will follow the orders from our superiors."

Li Yan thought about it and realized that using company-level combat units for a 2000-man army was indeed out of touch with reality and not conducive to combat.

"Then how should we reorganize the troops?"

The old squad leader said, "We can reorganize our company into the Meishan Guerrilla Brigade. What do you think?"

Li Yan's mind moved. An old man in the family is like a treasure. The guerrilla brigade is not a formal organization. It can be large or small. In this way, the problem of too many personnel is solved without violating the discipline of the army.

After thinking it through, Li Yan said, "Let's do it this way."

"From today on, the company will be reorganized into the Meishan Guerrilla Brigade"

"It has three guerrilla detachments, one heavy machine gun unit, one artillery unit, one direct guard platoon, one direct reconnaissance platoon, and one direct logistics platoon."

"Each guerrilla detachment is equipped with six platoons, each with three infantry squads and one light machine gun squad. Each squad includes a squad leader and a deputy squad leader, 12 people, for a total of 48 people. Six platoons plus the platoon leader and deputy platoon leader for each platoon, a total of 300 people, equipped with 18 light machine guns, 240 rifles, and 16 pistols."

"In addition, there is a heavy machine gun platoon equipped with 6 heavy machine guns and 2 82MM mortars, a total of 98 people."

"One reconnaissance platoon, one communications squad, and three cooking squads, a total of 470 people"

"Zhao Wu, commander of the First Guerrilla Detachment; Gao Xuan, commander of the Second Guerrilla Detachment; Zhang Dong, commander of the Third Guerrilla Detachment"

"I am the captain of the Meishan Guerrilla Battalion and also the leader of the guard platoon. The guard platoon directly under me has a staff of 108 people. Currently, there are 24 people in the battalion's direct guard platoon. After the new recruits are assessed, they will be selected first."

"Directly under the command of Reconnaissance Platoon Leader Song Tao, there are 6 squads under his command, each with 12 members, for a total of 72 members, all equipped with pistols and submachine guns."

"The stonemason was appointed as the captain of the artillery detachment, equipped with 2 Bofors 75mm mountain guns, 12 82MM mortars, a total of 160 people"

"Finally, there was the logistics platoon. The old squad leader was the political commissar of the Meishan guerrillas and also the platoon leader. The logistics platoon consisted of 72 people, equipped with 6 light machine guns and 45 rifles."