The Flames of Resistance Against Japan in Jiangnan

After the meeting, everyone hurriedly left to get to their own work.

Xu Wenqing, using his position as the military commander, excused himself from the complicated propaganda work and ordered Ding Fujiang to take Lao Dao and Zhong Shi to mobilize prisoners to join the Red Army.

When Luo Jinsheng brought Ma Yun, who had made a great contribution, to find Xu Wenqing, Xu Wenqing was getting a haircut at a barber stall. At that time, haircuts rarely used clippers; they were mostly done with shiny razors. Before long, He Feng's head was shiny and bright.

It turned out that Battalion Commander Luo was eager to recruit talent. Seeing that Ma Yun was not only educated and shrewd, but also a skilled driver, he wanted to assign Ma Zhanyun to his reconnaissance battalion. After hearing Ma Yun's background story, Xu Wenqing made his decision:

"Battalion Commander Luo, you have a good eye. Platoon Leader Ma is a talented person. It's a waste of his talents to put him in the reconnaissance battalion as a soldier. I plan to send him to the recruit camp and make him a deputy company commander first."

"Is it not a good thing that I became a company commander right after joining the Red Army?"

Jack Ma had some concerns.

Xu Wenqing comforted him, saying:

"Our Red Army is a young force, and we never follow seniority. The capable rise and the mediocre fall! Just do your job with confidence."

Luo Jinsheng never expected to become a fool delivering goods to someone's door, and left with regret.

On the very evening after the occupation of Taizhou, a collective oath of joining the Party was held in an old brick building at Taizhou Middle School, attended by 67 people. Their resounding vow, "To fight for communism for life and never betray the Party," echoed like thunder over Taizhou.

The bright red Party flag once again fluttered in the night sky of Taizhou.

Following the oath-taking ceremony for new Party members, the Party Representative Congress of the 19th Division of the Red Army was convened. Political Commissar Yao Hutou emphasized that the more arduous and difficult the times, the more Party members should play an exemplary role and firmly believe that victory is certain!

Xu Wenqing urged his comrades to devote themselves to their work and battles with full enthusiasm. The main task at present was to rapidly improve the revolutionary consciousness of the new recruits through ideological education, so as to give full play to their due combat effectiveness and continue to develop and strengthen the 19th Red Army Division.

"Commander, our division is now strong and well-equipped, with nearly five thousand soldiers, both new and veteran, right?"

A new Party member stood up and asked happily.

Xu Wenqing did some mental calculations and then said:

"The 19th Red Army Division now consists of five regiments with a total of 4,861 men."

"Ah, really, that's more than a division! More than the Red Seventh Army Corps back then."

The Party members in the audience exclaimed in amazement and began to whisper among themselves, feeling proud of the rapid growth of the unit.

It was the same soldier asking the question again:

"Commander, Political Commissar, is our division going to be upgraded to a corps again?"

Looking at everyone's expectant eyes, Xu Wenqing and the political commissar exchanged a glance and announced:

"Comrades, it's time to announce this. In the beginning, we were the 55th Regiment of the 19th Division of the Red Army. When the main force of the army suffered heavy losses at Huaiyu Mountain, we operated in the name of the 19th Division of the Red Army, which could divert the enemy's attention and cover the transfer of the main force of the army. However, it is impossible to upgrade our status further, and we will no longer act on our own initiative."

The political commissar stood up and said loudly:

"Although the development of the military is a great event, we need everyone to work hard and do a good job in all the preparations!"

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

The Party members responded with a resounding reply.

Xu Wenqing turned to the political department director sitting next to him and asked:

"Political propaganda work must be expedited; have you begun any actions yet?"

"Their work has been carried out vigorously, and the results are quite good!"

The political commissar found it difficult to praise the political department.

Upon entering Taizhou Prefecture, the Political Department of the 19th Red Army Division issued "Principles, Instructions, and Slogans Regarding Work with the People" to all officers and soldiers of the division, emphasizing the importance of doing a good job in working with the people and formulating correct policies for the current situation. Instructions were given to all battalions and companies:

"In all our work, we must tirelessly explain and propagate the reasons why the vast working masses are oppressed by imperialism, the Kuomintang, warlords, bureaucrats, landlords, and capitalists, and that everyone should take action, work together, and fight to overthrow imperialism and reactionary rule!"

The Political Department instructed that the Party organization and revolutionary propositions should be vigorously publicized among the people, and that "the most conscious and advanced elements should be continuously recruited into the Party organization to develop our Party's organization among the masses."

After the order was issued, the commanders and soldiers used various methods such as holding rallies and speeches, writing slogans, and distributing leaflets in the streets of the city to vigorously publicize that the Red Army was a poor people's army led by our Party, so that the masses would not be afraid and could do what they needed to do.

The amiable attitude of the officers and soldiers of the 19th Red Army Division, as well as their practice of not conscripting laborers or levying taxes and not taking anything from the people, made the people of Taizhou Prefecture no longer worried or afraid. They began to take the initiative to contact the Red Army and help them with their work.

To solve the problem of winter clothing, Red Army cadres, guided by the masses, adopted a series of methods: finding dye workshops to dye the clothes that needed to be changed to grayish-brown, gathering a large number of tailors to be responsible for uniform cutting, and mobilizing the masses to sew them in their own households. They began to make military uniforms and flags overnight using the captured cloth.

The city of Taizhou was bustling with activity at night, with people chatting and laughing. Lights were still on in every household late into the night as skillful women busied themselves sewing clothes, making shoes, and crafting flags for the Red Army.

Meetings followed one after another. It was late at night, but the division headquarters was still brightly lit. All officers above the company level gathered together to summarize the experiences and lessons learned from this battle, discuss the troop organization, and prepare for troop adjustments.

Xu Wenqing concluded by saying:

"Since our troops assumed the rearguard role after the Battle of Tanjiaqiao, they have achieved considerable success, eliminating over 5,000 enemy soldiers and capturing countless spoils. Our division's advantages are:"

First, there was strict discipline, with orders being obeyed without question. Second, there was a tight organization, with Party orders being strictly implemented. Third, there was a strong revolutionary will.

Seeing the smug expressions on everyone's faces, Xu Wenqing changed the subject and said:

"However, we also have many shortcomings. First, our marching ability is weak. Our Red Army is usually good at marching on mountain roads, but of course, it is related to the fact that our comrades have not yet recovered. Second, our logistics are not perfect, and we need to work hard to improve them in the next few days. Third, our communication is not good. Although we have captured radio equipment, we do not have enough technical personnel."

The company and battalion commanders expressed their determination to strengthen training and help the soldiers recover as soon as possible. Director Chen of the Logistics Department assured them that they would accelerate the pace and improve the logistics system.

"We have captured three enemy radios, but we are short of radio operators."

The chief of staff explained the reason.

What was the attitude of the captured radio operator towards the Red Army?

"The Jiangxi army radio operator captured in Wenzhou was quite decent. After he found out that our army had secretly sent three hundred silver dollars to his family, he offered to help us train a group of radio operators."