The Flames of Resistance Against Japan in Jiangnan

Xu Wenqing also thought this method was good and expressed his agreement:

"You can select some educated young soldiers from the army to run training classes and train nurses and medics. As for the teachers, aren't there doctors from the Zhejiang Army Garrison Hospital?"

Hu Li then remembered that Commander Xu hadn't yet allowed the doctors from the Zhejiang Army Garrison Division's field hospital to leave, indicating he had planned this all along. She tentatively asked:

"Commander, do you mean to have the Guangxi Army's doctors teach the soldiers medical skills?"

"They're just sitting around doing nothing anyway, might as well make use of them!"

After making up his mind, Xu Wenqing immediately made the arrangements:

"Without delay, select personnel immediately and have them begin teaching."

What if they slack off?

"Easy, just tell the doctors that they can leave whenever our soldiers learn it!"

Xu Wenqing said very casually:

"Of course, they should be paid double their original salary during the teaching period."

Just as Hu Li and her companion were about to leave, Xu Wenqing repeatedly gave them instructions:

"You must be prepared at all times. Our hospital's medical staff are ready to cooperate with the troops during marches and operations, and to undertake battlefield medical missions."

Xu Wenqing was concerned about the 57th Regiment's guard and blocking mission. As soon as he finished his business at the division, he rushed to the 57th Regiment's blocking position set up at Boyu Mountain in the south of the city.

Xu Wenqing led cadres of all levels from the 57th Regiment to inspect the position. Mengshan Mountain, south of Wenzhou City, is a strategically important location, covered with pine trees as thick as bowls. The biting north wind carries dust as it rushes east and west between heaven and earth.

The Zhejiang army built its trenches on the mountainside, no more than ten meters from the summit, winding and extending along the mountain's contours, creating an excellent terrain for ambush warfare. At the foot of the mountain were numerous bunkers built by the Zhejiang army. The bunkers had two layers, covering an area of ​​about forty square meters and about ten feet high. The walls were made of bluestone blocks and the "grandma mud" unique to the mountains, making them exceptionally sturdy. The walls were about fifty centimeters thick, and the machine gun holes on the walls were dark and menacing.

In the trenches shrouded in the cold wind, the soldiers of the 57th Regiment, armed to the teeth, were still working hard to repair and improve their fortifications despite the howling wind. Everyone looked energetic and in high spirits.

Xu Wenqing held up his binoculars and looked at the terrain at the foot of the mountain. The mountains behind Shuainan Village were covered with bunkers of all sizes, which were connected in a crisscross pattern.

Xu Wenqing's expression was solemn as he slightly turned his head to look upstream along the stream.

With renewed vigor, Xu Wenqing inquired carefully about the troop deployment and offered his suggestions from time to time.

"I think we should deploy half of our forces behind Nanshui Village to block the Zhejiang army's attack with the help of the bunkers. We don't need to deploy too many troops on Mengshan Mountain. We can rely on its strategic terrain to block the enemy and avoid heavy losses under the enemy's superior artillery fire."

Wang Tielin thought for a moment and said he would immediately redeploy his troops.

"Have the reconnaissance personnel been sent out?"

Xu Wenqing suddenly asked a question.

"They were dispatched as soon as they received the order."

After answering, Wang Tielin looked at Xu Wenqing and asked softly:

"Commander, do you think the enemy might send a large force to retake Quanzhou from the very beginning?"

Xu Wenqing shook his head and analyzed the current situation of the enemy and ourselves for Wang Tielin:

"The four divisions sent by the Zhejiang Army to pursue the main force of our Red Tenth Army Corps, even if they turn back immediately, it will take at least three days for the main force of the enemy closest to us to reach Wenzhou. In those three days, we will be facing the enemy's Zhejiang East Garrison Division and the surrounding militia."

"The Zhejiang Garrison Division is a defeated foe and not worth mentioning!"

Upon hearing that their opponents were the Zhejiang Garrison Division and nearby militia, Wang Tielin immediately felt contempt and a disdainful expression appeared on his face.

Xu Wenqing's anger flared up. Underestimating the enemy is a cardinal sin in warfare. He never expected that the 57th Regiment, commanded by Wang Tielin, with only a little over a thousand men, would dare to disregard an entire enemy division. He truly didn't know if it was fearlessness or ignorance!

Seeing his division commander's ashen face, Wang Tielin knew things were going badly. He hurriedly explained:

"Commander, it's not that I underestimated the enemy, it's just that this garrison division is too weak!"

"Not strong enough? You make it sound so easy. In the Battle of Chuzhou, we launched a surprise attack on the Zhejiang army despite having a numerical advantage. What was the result? More than sixty casualties!"

Xu Wenqing looked at Wang Tielin with disappointment and said:

"Let me tell you about the Battle of Wenzhou. We only gained the upper hand by catching them off guard. Can you guarantee we'll have another easy victory this time?"

Wang Tielin blushed deeply, realizing the lingering fear of his underestimation of his opponent. Xu Wenqing, not wanting to let him off the hook, continued to press him:

"You think you're the best and invincible just because you've won a few battles through opportunism? Remember this: pride comes before a fall!"

Xu Wenqing immediately stood at attention and made a promise:

"Commander, please rest assured! I will be responsible and never underestimate the enemy again. I guarantee that I will complete the blocking mission!"

Xu Wenqing, still furious, ignored him and turned to the political commissar of the 57th Regiment, saying:

"Comrade Chen Hongwei, I remember you used to be the chief of staff of the 57th Regiment, right?"

Chen Hongwei stands at attention and reports:

"Reporting to the regimental commander, I was indeed the chief of staff of the 57th Regiment."

"I hereby issue an order."

Xu Wenqing said, word by word:

"From now on, Wang Tielin is relieved of his concurrent post as commander of the 57th Regiment and transferred back to the division headquarters. Chen Hongwei will take over as commander of the 57th Regiment. Chief of Staff, you can choose one yourself and report to the division for record!"

After Xu Wenqing finished speaking, he looked at the stunned crowd and asked Chen Hongwei:

"Commander Chen, are you determined to hold off the enemy for two days?"

Chen Hongwei glanced at Wang Tielin beside him and said hesitantly:

"Commander, should we give Deputy Commander Wang another chance?"

Xu Wenqing looked at the other person with a beaming smile, and then said something that sent a chill down Chen Hongwei's spine:

"Looks like you two have a good relationship. Let me tell you, Chen Hong, there's still a vacant deputy chief of staff position in the division!"

"Reporting to the commander, we guarantee the mission will be accomplished!"

After hastily answering, Chen Hongwei cautiously asked for instructions:

"Should we let Deputy Division Commander Wang fight this battle before returning to the division?"

"Then let's keep him at the regimental headquarters as chief of staff for now."

Xu Wenqing glanced sideways at the pitiful-looking Wang Tielin before finally agreeing to Chen Hongwei's request. Then he walked over, patted the newly appointed Chief of Staff Wang on the shoulder, and said earnestly:

"Comrade, arrogance and underestimation of the enemy are unacceptable!"

After inspecting the entire troop deployment, Xu Wenqing, accompanied by his guards, prepared to return to Quanzhou City. Just before leaving, he suddenly noticed a problem and turned back to ask:

"Commander Chen, why aren't the soldiers on the position wearing helmets?"

"It's too heavy to wear on the head, and nobody wants to wear it. Besides, we can defeat the Zhejiang army even without steel helmets!"

"Were all those Zhejiang army helmets we captured used for cooking? They can protect our comrades' heads and save their lives in critical moments!"