A Journey Through the Flames of War in the Republican Era

The sergeant battalion, as the training battalion within the training brigade, is a fully trained infantry battalion.

Upon assuming office, Song Hongfei immediately conducted a series of innovative and advanced tactical training exercises.

In terms of basic individual military skills, the training focused on shooting, grenade throwing, demolition, earthwork, bayonet fighting, mine laying, mine clearance, air defense, gas defense, battlefield self-rescue and mutual rescue, utilizing terrain and features, cross-country running with heavy loads, mountain marching, and mountain warfare.

The exercise also focused on combat firing, firing at targets at a 45-degree elevation angle, night firing and bombing, live-fire drills against barbed wire and bunkers, wading, and river crossing.

In terms of tactical training, a series of advanced squad, platoon, and company offensive and defensive maneuvers were practiced, such as navigating through fortifications and contaminated areas under enemy artillery fire, outflanking maneuvers, infiltration, mobile warfare, and frontal/reverse slope operations.

All officers at the platoon level and above are required to conduct tactical simulations on the sand table. They must learn and master organization and command, communication and liaison, and map reading and use. In addition, 3-5 sergeants with map reading and use skills have been selected and trained in each company.

The organization arranged for each company to carry out comprehensive training in marching, mountaineering, and camping, focusing on marching, eating, lodging, and fighting, while also conducting training in river areas, including raft crossing, wading, and armed swimming.

Armed swimming, as a training subject conducted in water, is much more difficult and dangerous than on land. Ordinary companies usually only conduct training in boat crossing and wading across rivers, and do not conduct armed swimming. However, as a fully trained infantry battalion, the sergeant battalion insisted on carrying out this training.

Each company first strengthened physical fitness and swimming training, pairing those who were good swimmers with those who were not, and after intensive training, everyone basically mastered swimming.

Subsequently, the entire sergeant battalion, fully equipped, was moved to the Qinhuai River near Qiqiaoweng, south of Xiaolingwei, where the river is 70 to 80 meters wide. First, they conducted wading drills in a shallower section of the river. After mastering the technique, they then conducted armed swimming drills in a deeper section.

Fully armed soldiers carry rifles, submachine guns, magazines, ammunition pouches, four grenades, bayonets, satchels, canteens, and other items on their backs, with loads ranging from 16-17 jin to more than 20 jin.

"Each platoon enters the water in company-wide order! Form columns of platoons!" Company Commander Zhang Yi shouted on the riverbank, organizing and mobilizing the troops. "Attention, platoon leaders! The best swimmers will lead the way, followed closely by those with average skills, the weakest in the middle, and the best at the back. Pay special attention to taking care of and protecting those in the middle! Now, platoon leaders, begin warm-up exercises! Follow me into the water in 10 minutes!"

Song Hongfei observed the swimming training of each company from the riverside battalion command post. He nodded, quite satisfied with Zhang Yi's scientific and reasonable formation organization.

A swimming formation must maintain its formation, facilitate command and communication, and enable mutual assistance and rescue. The formation should be strong at the front and rear, with weaker members in the middle, and stronger members leading the weaker ones. This way, in case of an emergency, the better swimmers at the back can provide assistance.

The 3rd Company's formation swam forward with all its might on the Qinhuai River. Armed swimming is conducted in company units; when one company is practicing, another company will operate boats alongside to provide safety support.

"Maintain spacing! Maintain spacing! 2 meters in front and behind, and 2-3 meters to the left and right!" the support officers on the lifeboats on both sides of the swimming formation shouted.

After numerous drills, the sergeant battalion soldiers have mastered the skills of using floating objects such as air bags, bamboo tubes, and rafts, as well as making "floating packs" from water bottles, raincoats, waterproof cloths, clothing, backpacks, and cooking pots to assist in swimming.

The swimming exercise also confirmed that the ZB26 Czech light machine guns equipped by the infantry company and the "Min 24" general-purpose machine guns assigned to the company are too heavy for the infantry to carry themselves for armed swimming, and both require the use of floating devices.

The "Min 24" general-purpose machine gun, which uses a belt-fed ammunition system, requires the gun and frame to be separated, as well as the gun and ammunition to be separated. Furthermore, the canvas belts have high waterproofing requirements and need to be adequately waterproofed. Otherwise, the reliability of the belts after being soaked in mud and sand will not meet the requirement of being able to fire immediately after landing.

Song Hongfei believes that as a squad machine gun providing support fire for infantry squads, it is better to use magazines or drum magazines for more reliable ammunition. In addition, the gun should be lightweight so that it can accompany the infantry across the river and fire immediately after landing, and even fire while swimming if necessary.

He couldn't help but scratch his head: such performance requirements are not easy to meet. At the same time, he thought to himself that the design of the intermediate-power ammunition family of guns needs to take this point into careful consideration.

Song Hongfei's leadership style was unique. He placed great emphasis on a balance between work and rest, and vigorously promoted the West Point Military Academy's emphasis on physical education, developing various sports activities in the sergeant camps. Fields were built for football, basketball, volleyball, and even rugby, which were very popular among the soldiers.

In their spare time, the sergeant battalion soldiers often hold various ball games and other sports activities. On the sports field, the soldiers are full of energy, and the whole military camp is full of vitality.

To the officers' astonishment, the soldiers applied the tactical training they had learned on the training field to the sports field, turning various ball sports into combat football, combat basketball, and combat rugby.

Song Hongfei and Zhang Yi were also surprised. Wasn't this the same fighting style that had made the Americans suffer back at West Point? They never expected that they would learn it so naturally and spread it in the sergeant camp!

The fierce soldiers of the sergeant battalion roared and howled, displaying incredible ferocity and a willingness to fight to the death. Their reputation was so great that when they competed against other units, their opponents often hesitated even before the battle began.

The slogan "Who is the strongest? We are the strongest!" resounded throughout Nanjing, and the military battalion's reputation spread far and wide.

Everyone in the training corps felt that the sergeant battalion was a fierce and determined force that strived to be the best in every aspect!

"First Platoon, listen to my orders!" Lin Chengfeng, the platoon leader of the first company, said to his entire platoon. "The assault team will follow me and play as midfielders and forwards. Li Daniu, Dong Xiaoqiang, and Zhang Lei, your group will play midfield. The machine gun team will be the defense, and the deputy platoon leader will be the goalkeeper! That's how we'll play! Understand?!"

"understand!"

The soldiers of the 1st Platoon, dressed in short-sleeved shirts, shorts, and high-top rubber-soled combat shoes, shouted.

"Squad leader, is this a football game or a war?" Li Daniu scratched his head. "Why does it feel like a combat formation exercise?"

"Of course, it's soccer!" Lin Chengfeng shouted. "You're pretty smart, kid!"

"What's the purpose of our football game? The battalion commander said it's to improve our physical fitness, cultivate our character, and relax! It's also to better prepare for training and fighting! The field is also a battlefield, and it requires tactics. So why don't we practice our teamwork in our respective positions at the same time? The tacit understanding and coordination formed on the field will subtly carry over to the battlefield! Come on, follow me! Let's give those guys in the second platoon who're yelling a good beating!"

The soldiers of Platoon 1 roared and followed Lin Chengfeng onto the sandy field. The soldiers watching also roared and waved their military flags, their morale soaring.

Song Hongfei walked over and watched from the sidelines with his hands behind his back. He was very satisfied with the squad leader's "pre-battle mobilization" and kept nodding as he praised Wang Jingxiong, the company commander next to him, saying, "Not bad! This squad leader can draw inferences from one instance to another and has a knack for leading troops!"

Company Commander Wang Jingxiong laughed and said, "Yes, Battalion Commander! I've also felt that the soldiers have grown and changed a lot during this time. They're all full of energy and high morale! Their spirit is completely different, they're roaring with excitement!"

Stepping into the barracks of each company, platoon, and squad, a tense atmosphere of battle was palpable. On the chessboard, the Chu River and Han border were marked, and the pieces were in full swing. On the other side, a card game was also raging. Several veterans from the 7th Platoon of the 2nd Company were arguing fiercely over a single card. The losing team had multiple small slips of paper stuck to their faces, and three heavy steel helmets weighed down on their heads, making them hunch their necks.

Gambling is strictly prohibited in the sergeant's camp, and money is absolutely not allowed to be wagered. This is an ironclad rule. Soldiers use stickers on their faces and wear steel helmets on their heads to indicate the winners and losers and the punishments.

Seeing the loser's pathetic state, Song Hongfei couldn't help but laugh and said, "Oh dear! They've been flattered three times already!"

The soldiers chuckled.

Song Hongfei nodded in satisfaction and said, "Not bad, the morale is good!"

He continued, "Born to die, facing life with laughter, anger, and curses—that's the true nature of a soldier! Whatever you do, do it right! Eat like a hungry wolf! Train and fight like a tiger! Work like an ox! Play hard and enjoy yourself to the fullest!"

During his spare time and weekends, whenever he had nothing else to do and didn't need to go to the Central Military Academy, the Transportation Corps Military Academy, or the Army University to give lectures, Song Hongfei always liked to wander around the barracks of each company and platoon.

At first, the company and platoon leaders were on edge, afraid that they or their soldiers might make a mistake and be caught red-handed by the battalion commander. Everyone knew that the battalion commander was strict with regulations and discipline without any compromise.

Song Hongfei smiled, waved his hand, and said, "Everyone should continue doing what they're supposed to do! I'm just here to walk around and check on the soldiers. They should refer to the regulations and do what they're supposed to do! Do you think I'm here to cause trouble for you?"

He would walk around and observe the various platoons and squads, but he would never speak or point fingers. He would never give orders beyond his rank or allow reports to be submitted to higher-ups. The army has its own regulations and rules, and everything should be done in accordance with those regulations.

If someone makes a mistake and is caught, he waves his hand dismissively and tells them to report it to their direct superior. That's what superiors at all levels should do!

The soldiers in the sergeant battalion all felt that their battalion commander truly went deep into the grassroots and was able to share weal and woe with the soldiers.

Song Hongfei was strict in managing his troops and rigorous in training. He not only enforced military discipline but also led by example, earning the deep support and love of his soldiers.

Song Hongfei had his own ideas. After returning to China, he served as a lieutenant colonel battalion commander and held several other enviable positions. He believed this was both an opportunity and a challenge—after all, he had skipped the platoon leader and company commander stages and had no experience leading troops from the most basic platoon leader level.

He knew that dealing with soldiers and understanding them was an art, not something that could be achieved simply by charging in recklessly.

Song Hongfei always kept in mind what his father had told him: "To be an invincible commander, you must first become a hero in the hearts of your soldiers!"