The Flames of Resistance Against Japan in Jiangnan

However, Xu Wenqing's good mood vanished after he saw a set of statistics presented by the staff officer of the 55th Regiment.

Preliminary statistics on the losses of the entire regiment indicate that more than 60 officers and soldiers were killed or wounded, including six officers below the rank of deputy battalion commander.

Deputy Division Commander Chen said with deep concern:

"The 55th Regiment's combat effectiveness was significantly weakened after the reorganization. On the other hand, our enemy is no paper tiger!"

"The fighting power of the Zhejiang Army should not be underestimated. Even under a surprise attack, they were still able to inflict such heavy losses on the 55th Regiment."

Looking at the glaring casualty figures, Xu Wenqing began to reflect:

"If the scenario were different, and the 55th Regiment was the one ambushed, I wonder how this battle would have ended?"

Thinking of this, Xu Wenqing, who had been so smug just moments before, was terrified by his own idea and broke out in a cold sweat.

Reconnaissance battalion commander Luo Jinsheng walked over slowly, saluted, and then lowered his head without speaking. Chen Xinchun asked:

"Battalion Commander Luo, have your battalion suffered any casualties?"

"Reporting to the political commissar, the casualties are also very serious. Six people were killed and nine were wounded in the fighting in the city."

Xu Wenqing stared aimlessly into the distance, and asked calmly:

"Did we expose our position, turning a sneak attack into a full-scale assault?"

"Reporting to the commander, it was my fault for not leading the troops well, which exposed our position."

Luo Jinsheng lowered his head in shame and said through tears:

"Please, superiors, give me severe punishment!"

"Discipline! Is a single disciplinary action enough to honor the six comrades who sacrificed their lives?"

Regiment Commander Xu Wenqing suddenly lost control of his emotions and pointed his finger at the other person:

"Easy for you to say, they were perfectly fine just an hour ago!"

"Although the losses were severe and caused a great deal of casualties."

Deputy Division Commander Chen began to persuade:

"However, they also captured the city walls and blocked the enemy's retreat, which is both a merit and a demerit."

"The officers and soldiers of the 19th Division are our valuable assets. Every one of them may become a cadre or commander in the future, and they are the mainstay in the tide."

Xu Wenqing looked coldly at Luo Jinsheng and said:

"No one has the right to waste their life, including you and me! To do so is the greatest crime."

Breakfast arrived, carried in swaying mess troughs: rice, fatty pork, and cabbage, pork rib, and vermicelli soup. The cook announced with an air of self-importance that there would also be beef and rice for lunch, all salvaged from captured Zhejiang army supplies. The already ravenous soldiers of the 19th Division all crowded around, wolfing down their rice and pork. Eating was truly a happy, satisfying, and delightful experience.

"Because of your carelessness, the commander of the Zhejiang Army Corps managed to sneak away. You must be punished for your mistakes, so you can't have your breakfast here in peace!"

Seeing that he had taught them a lesson enough, Xu Wenqing began to punish them:

"I order your reconnaissance battalion to immediately take breakfast and head southeast. After reaching Qingtian County, proceed with the search towards Wenzhou."

"Yes, sir! We will complete the mission without hesitation!"

"Commander, what should we do with these prisoners?"

After Political Commissar Yao Hutou finished assigning tasks, he quickly asked...

Xu Wenqing thought for a moment and then made a decision, saying:

"Tie up the prisoners, then gather them together and escort them to the ravine east of the city. After we leave, let the citizens release them."

By the time the supply corps arrived at Chuzhou City from the palace, it was already broad daylight. The soldiers hurriedly gathered their spoils on the east side of the village, the sounds of men shouting and horses neighing filling the air.

It was time to depart, and the 55th Regiment set off in a grand procession. Someone started singing:

"Who dares to invade our sacred land and its freedom? Who dares to trample on our regime? Ah! The iron fist awaits the people of the Soviet Union. We are the warriors of the Soviet Union, fight! Until the last man!"

The chief of staff, fearing their whereabouts would be revealed, prepared to send someone to stop the singing. Xu Wenqing waved his hand to stop them, saying:

"Chief of staff, let the comrades sing! From now on, we not only won't need to hide, but we'll make a big commotion!"

"Why? Wouldn't that be dangerous?"

The chief of staff was somewhat worried.

"Our mission is to hold back the enemy's pursuers, so the bigger the commotion, the better. Besides, the soldiers also need to regain their lost confidence!"

Xu Wenqing looked emotionally at his comrades who were singing loudly:

"We all need songs!"

At first, it was just one person singing, but gradually more and more people joined in. The song was sung again and again, and the morale of the troops rose higher and higher. Xu Wenqing stood at the crossroads, gazing at the soldiers, deeply moved by the song.

After the 55th Regiment set off, the 56th Regiment followed, then the 57th Regiment. After the battle, a steady stream of supplies from the 19th Division arrived, some carried on shoulders, some by hand, and some by several people, making the mountain roads bustling with activity. The Special Service Regiment's guard battalion was responsible for equipment, while the engineer battalion provided protection.

Xu Wenqing's orderly, Zhong Shi, was waiting for him at the village entrance, leading a warhorse. Several enemy warhorses had been captured in the battle. This particular horse was jet black, without a single blemish, the color of charcoal; everyone who saw it said it was a fine horse. However, its mane was also like burning coals; whenever someone approached, it would tremble and neigh. Strangely enough, when Xu Wenqing approached, the black horse obediently allowed him to mount, submitting completely. Xu Wenqing was extremely proud, believing that perhaps it was his own domineering aura that had conquered it.

Looking at the gray sky, Xu Wenqing analyzed the course of the battle in his mind. He felt that there was something he hadn't considered, and it wasn't until his guard urged him several times that he finally mounted his horse and prepared to give chase.

Since the end of the battle, Xu Wenqing has been thinking about the escape of the Zhejiang Army commander. Although whether they were captured or not is not a big deal, how did they escape? In this battle, the southeast and southwest sides of Chuzhou City were surrounded, and surveillance posts were also set up at the bottom of the steep slope in the northwest. No one was found to have escaped from any direction.

"It's so weird!"

Xu Wenqing had some doubts:

He was able to drive Xu Wenqing to the prisoner and say in a mocking tone:

"You lot are really not being fair! I've come all this way to pay my respects, and you've all hidden yourselves away to avoid me!"

A Zhejiang Army officer glared fiercely at Xu Wenqing and hissed:

"I am Guo Dehong, the regimental commander of the 170th Regiment of the 44th Division of the Fourth Army Group. You actually captured me. Do with me as you please!"

"I don't want to kill you now, I just want you to go back and tell your chairman a thing."

Xu Wenqing cracked his whip, staring intently into the other man's eyes:

"Please tell your Chairman that we are the 10th Army Corps, and we have returned to avenge the defeat at Tanjiaqiao!"

Releasing the group of Zhejiang army prisoners whom they thought were surely doomed, Xu Wenqing spurred his horse and led the 19th Division towards Wenzhou! ... Yes, that's right, underground!

Xu Wenqing suddenly realized that the wealthy families in the mountains all secretly built cellars and hidden rooms. The Zhejiang Army commander must have hidden inside one. He immediately arranged for his orderly, Zhong Shi, to take a platoon of soldiers back to Chuzhou City to cooperate with the guard battalion in charge of security equipment to search the landlords' houses in the village again carefully, determined to find the escaped Zhejiang Army commander by any means necessary.

Less than an hour later, the soldiers Xu Wenqing had sent out returned triumphantly. In the middle of the column were a dozen or so Zhejiang soldiers, their faces covered in dust and grime. The orderly, Zhong Shi, ran over to boast of his achievement:

"Commander, the Zhejiang regimental commander and chief of staff who fled have been captured. They were indeed hiding in the cellar of a wealthy man's house in the city."