The Flames of Resistance Against Japan in Jiangnan

To achieve its operational intentions and objectives, a highly skilled special operations team is indispensable. Therefore, at this stage, training and guiding the special operations battalion, especially the special operations company, is Xu Wenqing's most important task. He certainly wouldn't hand over command of this newly formed but highly promising special operations battalion to someone else.

Xu Wenqing's second consideration was that he could temporarily entrust the daily management of the 55th Regiment to Hu Jiu, Yao Hutou, and Wang Tiecheng. Xu Wenqing believed that these three would cooperate with his plans and actions in the coming period. Therefore, Xu Wenqing felt comfortable entrusting the daily management of the 55th Regiment to them. The 55th Regiment also played a crucial role in Xu Wenqing's current plan. After carefully considering these matters, Xu Wenqing had Zhou Gang arrange for someone to contact the three of them and deliver a letter to them.

In the letter, Xu Wenqing reiterated that after the 55th Regiment set off at 6 PM, the entire division entered a state of radio silence, citing the need for secrecy. Xu Wenqing also gave instructions regarding the main force's secret operation. Communication between the special operations battalion and the 55th Regiment was handled through special operations members remaining at the regimental headquarters.

After arranging everything, Xu Wenqing led the special operations company on a surprise attack on Quzhou.

The journey from Yushan County to Quzhou City involves traversing numerous mountain ranges, with stunningly beautiful and rugged peaks along the way.

These scenic spots, which are famous in later generations, are now the best hiding places for Red Army soldiers. They can travel through the mountains without worrying about reconnaissance by White Army aircraft, which greatly reduces the pressure on the troops.

The mountainous area at dusk was exceptionally beautiful, the sunset casting a golden glow over the verdant peaks. Xu Wenqing led his special forces team, traversing the picturesque mountains like a group of ghosts, undisturbed by the tranquility of nature. Along the way, they received special training from Xu Wenqing while advancing, yet their marching speed remained unaffected.

As darkness fell, Xu Wenqing began to personally teach the special forces soldiers various night-walking and night-fighting techniques, and everyone learned and grasped them very quickly. It wasn't until 11 p.m. that Xu Wenqing arranged for everyone to rest for two hours.

The group traveled through the pitch-black night, while also having to complete Xu Wenqing's endless stream of bizarre training plans.

This kept many special forces soldiers on the verge of collapse, but by 8:00 a.m., after more than two hours of rest, their bodies, which had been limp and exhausted, were full of energy again.

What followed was another arduous journey of marching and training, but now both the soldiers of the special operations company and the leaders at all levels of the special operations battalion were gradually starting to enjoy it.

Everyone joked that these past two days, the training by the regiment had made them all more subservient and stupid, and it seemed that they had come to enjoy being tortured and abused by the regiment leader.

Xunbo couldn't help but laugh at everyone's humor. However, he was also moved by the fearless revolutionary optimism of the special operations battalion soldiers.

The special operations battalion soldiers arrived at the outskirts of Quzhou at 4 p.m. the following day. In the mountains about ten miles from Quzhou city, Xu Wenqing had Zhou Gang arrange for the men to camp and rest.

At the same time, a reconnaissance company was dispatched to begin reconnaissance of the area surrounding Quzhou City.

Quzhou, a prefecture-level city in Zhejiang Province, is a famous cultural city in the Jiangnan region with a history of over 1800 years. It has always been a transportation hub and distribution center for goods at the border of Zhejiang, Fujian, Jiangxi, and Anhui provinces, and is known as the "gateway to four provinces and the head of five roads".

衢州位于浙江省西部，钱塘江上游，金（华）衢（州）盆地西端，地理坐标为位于东经118°01′一119°20′，北纬28°14′～29°30′。总面积8844.6平方公里。

Quzhou is bordered by Nanping in Fujian to the south, Shangrao and Jingdezhen in Jiangxi to the west, Huizhou in Anhui to the north, and Jinhua, Lishui and Hangzhou in Zhejiang Province to the east.

More than an hour later, the reconnaissance personnel who had been sent out returned to the camp one after another.

While the other team members were resting, Xu Wenqing was worried, so he secretly sneaked out of the camp alone and conducted a detailed reconnaissance of Quzhou City.

Before the reconnaissance team returned to the camp, Xu Wenqing had already sneaked back into the camp, appearing as if nothing had happened, and was resting in a corner.

Soon after, Zhou Gang, the battalion commander of the special operations battalion, came over and began reporting on the reconnaissance situation of his team. Xu Wenqing was pleased to hear that Zhou Gang's report was so detailed and clear, describing the main terrain of Quzhou City, the various outer firing points, and the height and defenses of the city walls—almost exactly what he had observed himself. It seemed that the training over the past few days had not been in vain.

At this point, Xu Wenqing instructed Zhou Gang to gather all leaders above the deputy platoon leader level in the Special Service Battalion, and each of them had one hour to come up with an attack plan for the city, which would involve the Special Service Battalion and other main forces of the 55th Regiment working together. Furthermore, they were not allowed to discuss it among themselves.

Xu Wenqing also knew that special operations in this era did not have the strong rear information support of later generations. They were often deployed to the front line or behind enemy lines for a specific or related tactical target. The completion of the target and the effectiveness of the operation mainly depended on the special operations team members' self-control and independent completion of the mission.

Therefore, special forces members today place great emphasis on on-the-spot decision-making and personal judgment.

Similarly, in the harsh environment of deep behind enemy lines and small-unit operations, there are few conditions for holding discussions and conducting democratic consultations. Therefore, the leaders of special operations teams especially need to have strong decisiveness.

Xun Bo particularly values ​​the ability of special operations soldiers, especially their leaders, to independently formulate and implement operational plans. His current requirement that each leader of a special operations squadron develop their own operational plan is a way of assessing their capabilities.

An hour later, Zhou Gangshan came to the heavy weapons department to report:

"Commander, the siege plan for Quzhou City that you asked everyone to prepare is ready and waiting for your review."

Xu Wenqing glared at him fiercely.

After glaring at Zhou Gang, Xu Wenqing ignored him and went to a more open area in the forest. Zhou Gang, however, showed no remorse and followed Xu Wenqing around like a little puppy.

By this time, officers of the deputy platoon leader rank and above from the special operations battalion had gathered together.

When Xu Wenqing arrived, he gestured for everyone to sit down. He was pleased that no one saluted him. This was a point Xu Wenqing had specifically emphasized: on the battlefield, one should not casually salute one's superior. Otherwise, it would be tantamount to exposing one's superior to enemy snipers or other personnel who might be lurking at any moment, or to being targeted by enemy special forces.