The Flames of Resistance Against Japan in Jiangnan

The prisoners below shouted, and then they rushed towards the officers, punching and kicking them.

Seeing all this, Lao Dao felt an indescribable excitement. He watched the enraged prisoners with great excitement. Although he didn't fight, he felt the same sense of satisfaction. He felt the same way as the prisoners; he wanted them to fight more to vent their anger. He deliberately pretended not to see the battalion commander's call.

The soldiers on guard rushed over, pulled the prisoner officer behind them, and formed a human wall to block the crazed prisoner. But they were too few in number and couldn't hold him back.

Just then, a large group of Red Army soldiers rushed to the scene and blocked the frenzied crowd.

After five or six White Army officers, exposed for their bloodshed and which aroused great public indignation, were executed by the Red Army, the prisoners present eagerly requested to join the Red Army. After selection, a total of 381 prisoners were approved to join.

The scene of prisoners enthusiastically signing up to join the Red Army also inspired the onlookers. The young people of Tuguan Town and the porters who accompanied the army also began to eagerly prepare to sign up. Xu Wenqing saw that something was wrong and quickly increased manpower and set up another registration point.

The Party Committee of the 19th Division of the Red Army made an emergency decision to organize the newly recruited soldiers into a new recruit battalion. Three companies were drawn from the Special Service Regiment's training battalion, and these veteran soldiers who were about to finish their squad leader training were mixed with the new recruits, so that each squad had at least four veteran soldiers. Once a company was full, another company would be formed.

As the sun set, the recruit battalion was formed, with 816 people in six companies. All the recruits changed into newly made black Red Army uniforms.

Considering that half of the recruits in the basic training camp were prisoners of war with a certain level of military skills, but their backgrounds were diverse and their ideologies somewhat confused, and the unit organization was only completed, the conditions for establishing Party groups in platoons and squads were still met, despite the relatively small number of Party members. Therefore, it was imperative to greatly strengthen the allocation of cadres and ideological and political work.

At the same time, one veteran suitable for promotion to squad leader was selected from each squad of the four regiments of the entire division and transferred to the training battalion, totaling four companies. The training battalion's organizational structure was restored.

After discussion by the division's Party committee, the division headquarters decided that more political cadres should be assigned to the recruit camps to give full play to the exemplary role of Party members and to cultivate the new soldiers through their words and deeds so that they could become qualified Red Army soldiers as soon as possible.

"Once they are tempered by a few tough and fierce battles, the recruit camp will become an iron-blooded and mighty army!"

Xu Wenqing was full of confidence in the new recruits who had just changed into their uniforms.

After dealing with matters at the recruit camp, the division leaders returned to the regimental headquarters together.

A quiet mansion stood at the east end of the central intersection of the town. Green vines climbed the cobblestone walls, marking the residence of a local wealthy man. The mansion was enclosed by brick walls at both ends, surrounded by brick and stone walls, with a central courtyard planted with several osmanthus trees. The front and back courtyards had stone steps and stone embankments, and the three-arched stone structure with carved dragon gates was topped with blue tiles. The headquarters of the Xiangjiang Independent Regiment was located here.

In the center of the main hall of the mansion, a kerosene lamp sat on an old square table, casting a warm, soft red light. Xu Wenqing, Political Commissar Yao, Hu Jiu, Wang Tielin, Li Jianmin, and other comrades sat facing each other.

As soon as everyone was seated, Political Commissar Yao raised a pointed question:

"Comrades, since most of the members of the division's Party Committee are here, I suggest we discuss the procedures for removing Comrade Ding Fujiang and others from their posts."

Xu Wenqing was taken aback, then became somewhat annoyed, feeling that the political commissar was making a mountain out of a molehill. He lit a cigarette and started smoking, his expression shrouded in the swirling smoke, making it impossible to see his face clearly.

"Let's consider whether it's necessary to immediately dismiss Ding Fujiang because he's become complacent and underestimates the enemy. Is this appropriate?"

Political Commissar Yao Hutou said another sentence.

Political Commissar Li Jianmin looked up at the division commander's ashen face and said carefully:

"It's not uncommon for someone to be dismissed on the spot, but that's usually only allowed in emergency situations during combat. And afterwards, the Party Committee still has to hold a meeting to discuss and confirm it."

"As a division commander, to dismiss a battalion commander on a whim simply because he was a little complacent and underestimated the enemy is probably a bit rash," Wang Tielin chimed in.

Chief of Staff Hu Jiu remained silent for a long time before speaking:

"I think the commander was just taking precautions."

"I'm also worried that harsh measures are necessary in chaotic times..."

Xu Wenqing tried to explain the situation, but unexpectedly attracted even more criticism.

"Even if the division commander wants to adjust the position of a battalion commander, shouldn't it be best to submit it to the division's party committee for review and decision before making an announcement?"

"Our Red Army is led by the Party and the gun, not the other way around!"

"We must resolutely eliminate the phenomenon of new warlords in our ranks!"

Xu Wenqing fell silent, lowered his eyelids, and kept smoking, as if intoxicated by the alluring aroma of tobacco.

"Comrade Xu Wenqing, you can share your understanding."

"Because I failed to study diligently, I picked up the warlord's style. I promise I will correct it in the future! I was wrong to punish Comrade Ding Fujiang. I hope the organization will correct it and I will go and apologize to him!"

Xu Wenqing suddenly stood up, bowed to everyone, and rushed out of the mansion.

The people inside looked at each other in bewilderment.

Stepping out of the courtyard, Xu Wenqing stood silently on the street, facing the cold wind, his heart churning with emotions. A myriad of feelings welled up within him:

In certain rebirth novels, other reborn individuals would tremble with awe, and heroes from all walks of life would bow down in submission. But here I am, even removing a battalion commander is met with heavy criticism. Have I truly forgotten organizational principles and Red Army discipline?

No one knows what Xu Wenqing thought that night. All that is known is that as soon as he returned to the regimental headquarters, he earnestly admitted his mistakes, sincerely accepted everyone's criticism, and expressed that he would strengthen his organizational discipline in the future.

The Party Committee ultimately decided that Ding Fujiang would be transferred to the position of battalion commander of the new recruits' camp.

The division headquarters decided to rename the Special Service Regiment as the 58th Regiment, and to form the Training Regiment from the recruit battalion, supply battalion and training battalion. The Training Regiment was internally designated as the 59th Regiment, with Wang Tielin serving as the regimental commander and Li Jianming serving as the political commissar.

Nothing happened that night. At dawn the next day, just as the sky was beginning to lighten, the Independent Regiment left Tuguan Town and headed towards Taizhou.

According to the division of labor, Xu Wenqing led the 57th Regiment to clear the way for the advance troops.

Xu Wenqing mounted his horse and led the 57th Regiment, dressed in full Jiangxi Army uniforms, swiftly advancing along the mountain road despite the frost and dew. It was still early, and the surroundings were vast and quiet, with only the occasional bark of a dog coming from a distant village.

These soldiers are warriors who have crawled out of piles of dead bodies in countless battles. They will continue to bleed and be wounded, and will have to deal with death countless times in the future. They will endure gunfire, artillery fire, and physical pain, but they are fearless because they are not even afraid of death!