Canteen System Assistance Notes

..He couldn't describe the feeling, it just felt like someone was pushing him hard.

I felt the same scratching feeling as if I were rubbing a piece of candy wrapped in transparent paper but never opening it to eat it.

"Forget it, I lost! You were just one point away."

"Heck! You're just...giving up like that? This doesn't count."

Despite his harsh words, the comrade across the table had placed his paddle on the table, a hint of absent-mindedness. Finally, the crowd around the table dispersed and began to gather around. "Are the intermediate or professional exam results showing today?" someone asked as they ran.

"Let's fire it together! Let's fire it together!"

Every time the scores were released at the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region Military Academy, it was a major event. Whether it was the "junior class" responsible for training company and platoon-level commanders, or the "intermediate class" focusing on cultivating battalion and regiment-level commanders - the "advanced class" providing courses on campaigns and logistics for commanders at the division and brigade levels and above was not held here, but at the Anti-Japanese Military and Political University - it meant the end of the course for all students in that period.

In addition to those who are receiving on-the-job correspondence training, this pass-based exam will determine whether the commanders at all levels who come for training have completed their studies excellently and met the graduation standards. If they fail, the students will have one chance to retake the exam. If they fail again at that time, the school will have to do something to them: mainly to comfort the poor student, saying that you are still young, there are still many opportunities, and there are many ways to contribute to the war of resistance, so don't think too much.

But fortunately, at present, the selected students are studying very hard.

As soon as the staff helping with the postings left, the crowd rushed over. Wang Tiechui, having been playing basketball earlier, had fallen behind and was confined to the periphery of the crowd. Fortunately, this former Northeastern native, formerly from Shandong Province, who had enlisted in 37, was tall enough to stand on tiptoe and see clearly.

"Wang Tiechui... Wang Tiechui... No. 99 Wang Tiechui... Wang Dachui... Ugh!"

He searched for his answer among the densely packed list of names and numbers, but he could hear the people in front of him whispering to each other. It sounded like two people were cramming for answers. "What did you choose for question three on 'General Knowledge'?"

"I chose C."

"Choose C? You're not guessing, are you?"

"Nonsense! I know the answer to that question..."

Wang Tiechui couldn't help but think of the intermediate class he had taken a few days ago.

To be honest, it's quite difficult.

He had earned a commemorative medal for his service in Northeast China, and as a result, was sent to a military academy in the border region to attend the "beginner's class" for company and platoon leaders, becoming a platoon leader. However, shortly after graduation, the reconnaissance platoon, still in training, saw its first real opportunity during the February Incident. Iron Hammer and his new comrades performed exceptionally well in this makeshift unit, achieving the first cross-level artillery call and, along with friendly forces, eliminating two Nationalist divisional headquarters and capturing a division commander.

This brilliant achievement allowed Wang Tiechui to gain a second academic degree - a 52-week "intermediate class" course. As a result, he became one of the few

A student who is studying in the intermediate class as a company commander.

Key points in deploying heavy machine gun positions in defensive position operations? What are the different functions of 60mm and 82mm mortars in offensive operations? What is the typical marching speed and daily mileage?

What are the key points in managing military-civilian relations? How to mobilize the masses? How to make decisions and handle case situations?

The curriculum expanded significantly, and the curriculum began to focus more on systematic theoretical knowledge. Even though Wang Tiechui had previously attended a private school and didn't need to retake literacy courses, he felt the difficulty of the course and even thought, "Why does fighting a war have to be so complicated? It's so troublesome." However, rationality ultimately prevailed. The idea that "learning more will always be useful, and maybe I'll use it later" became his motivation to keep going.

"Number 99, Wang Tiechui, Wang Tiechui... Excellent physical training, 82 points in general education, 92 points in military command, 86 points in political science—passed, passed? Passed!"

I passed!

And it seems like his grades are pretty good! He quickly glanced at the students around him. Most of them scored in the 70s and 80s. Usually one person scored in the 90s, and it was rare to have two or more than 90 points! Oh, no, that 99 is my number... But it doesn't matter!

The expectation was responded to, the anxiety turned into steadiness, the tension and uncertainty turned into sweet syrup, as if surging up from the heart, turning into a cool, sweet warm current, spreading throughout the body along with the exhalation of relief.

This meant he was one step closer to his goal: when he was selected to join the "intermediate class," the regimental commander and political commissar, whom he had become acquainted with during battle, came to him and asked if he was willing to, after completing the training, "go to the distant Hebei base as a seed company commander to assist the troops there in building a regular reconnaissance unit."

At that time, although the group leader looked a little unhappy, he still asked for his willingness in a businesslike manner and winked at him frantically. However, Wang Tiechui, who always obeyed the organization's arrangements, seemed not to notice this. He thought about it and asked a question.

"Is that the Jizhong area our army's outpost heading northeast?"

"Well, I guess so!" the political commissar replied, "In terms of straight-line distance, it is probably not as close as the Jidong base area, but the comrades who go to the Northeast through the Pingxi and Pingbei base areas almost all start from Jizhong." "Resolutely obey the organization's arrangements!" Wang Tiechui stood at attention and answered loudly.

Wang Tiechui turned away from the crowd. Now, he wanted to clench his fists and shake them vigorously, then yell, jump up, and run around the playground twice. It's been so long, so long! Finally, he's one step closer to fighting back home!

Although the rational part of his mind repeatedly told him that the Japanese invaders in North China were still very powerful, the even more powerful Kwantung Army still controlled the entire Northeast, and the Eighth Route Army did not yet have the ability to sweep through the defense circle of Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei, the emotional part of his heart could not suppress the surge of joy, causing Wang Tiechui's hands to tremble slightly.

After all, this time is different from last time, when I took a plane secretly and went there and came back again!

"Company commander, company commander!"

Someone called out from behind, but he couldn't tell which company commander it was. It wasn't until a large hand rested on his shoulder that Wang Tiechui realized it was him. He turned and saw it was his own artillery platoon leader. Affixed to his chest was an "Infantry Artillery Skill Badge," signifying professional training in mortars and infantry guns, and possessing the expertise to operate mortars.

"Company Commander! Instructor Lei called me. I came by to see if our company commander had passed the exam!" Platoon Leader Lu Haotian looked his company commander up and down. "But after looking at him like this, hey! Company Commander, there's no need for me to ask. You must have passed the exam, and your grades are pretty good!"

"I passed the test, is it that obvious?" "Of course!"

Chapter 422 Seeds and Dandelion Seeds

From the Red Army to the Eighth Route Army, the New Fourth Army, and finally the People's Liberation Army, the "company" has always been a crucial element in the army's grassroots structure: it serves as the vehicle for the downward radiating power of the Party branch, and is the smallest tactical unit in the conventional sense. It is also from here that company-level commanders begin to face the complexities of non-combat affairs and military and civilian work. There's even an unwritten saying in the Eighth Route Army: "If a company commander is good, so too will a regimental commander."

All in all, this was a truly challenging place, and Comrade Wang Tiechui was considered a very capable company commander. This reputation was even reflected in his reconnaissance company's farewell banquet—the company's cooks brought ground meat and leeks, along with some pickled mustard greens and beer. The entire company worked together to make over a hundred pounds of dumplings, combining traditional and Western influences, using beer with raw garlic and dumplings with aged vinegar, for a truly satisfying dinner.

At that time, the commander and political commissar of the field regiment who were temporarily assigned during the February Incident also came.

Wang Tiechui still remembers the regimental political commissar raving about the homemade dark beer they'd obtained from the Germans, saying it was much better than the green glass bottles sold at the supply and marketing cooperative. The regimental commander, on the other hand, drank half a glass of beer and became drunk, his speech slurring and rambling, like, "Hammer, although you're only assigned temporarily for a few months, you're my soldier!" and "Comrades, don't embarrass me over there. Do your best and come back after you've defeated the Japanese!"

The atmosphere was a mixture of anticipation and sadness. The company comrades laughed heartily at Wang Tiechui's embarrassment, commenting that the Northeastern pickled cabbage didn't quite taste right. The company's chief steward retorted that the damned Seventh Regiment next door had received new equipment and was celebrating, too. Their chief steward and a bunch of other people had bought up all the Northeastern pickled cabbage, leaving them with the next best thing: today, the reconnaissance company's dumplings were filled with German sauerkraut.

"No! How can this Dezi pickled cabbage be so tasty!" someone complained, "These dumplings are a bit sweet!"

"Eat yours! Pork dumplings can't stop you from eating!"

Compared to traditionally powerful armies at this time, with the exception of the Russians, whose massive military expansion left them short of talent, countries like the United States and Germany employed numerous auxiliary and support forces alongside their armies, creating the concept of mixed combat groups—for example, the American "Task Force" and the German "Battle Group." Within these units, the number of these "support units," designed to aid the infantry in combat, could outnumber the number of infantrymen carrying rifles.

Similarly, the Eighth Route Army, pursuing a strategic stalemate and acquiring the capability for exterior operations and strategic offensives, also worked diligently to develop these non-infantry units. Since the Field Army Plan began in 39, nearly two years have passed since the Red Army's growth. The era of labeling all "non-infantry units" as "special forces" has long since passed. Over the long term, the training methods of the "teaching units," or "seed units," have withstood the test of reality.

This approach is similar to the way air forces in various countries use ace pilots as instructors to train new recruits. Units with combat experience and systematic training are sent to regions with relatively little experience, deficient military academy education, and insufficient human resources to serve as teaching units, training specialized technical personnel. Compared to training solely through textbooks, this approach, which involves both instruction and practice, is clearly more effective.

"So, that's why we're taking the intermediate-level classes." Wang Tiechui folded his clothes and stuffed them into his large backpack. He said to his partner, Lei Zhende, the instructor of Wang Tiechui's company commander. "When we get there, we'll be asked to lead a battalion. I don't think it'll be called a reconnaissance battalion at first. It'll probably be a special forces battalion."

After all, the military sub-district is short on personnel, or more precisely, technical personnel. "Lei Zhende had his large backpack slung over his shoulder, a briefcase in hand," he said. "Reconnaissance troops always have to do a lot of things. Besides reconnaissance and prisoner capture, they also have to do raids and harassment. It's different when coordinating with field troops."

"Yes, it feels more like that new special forces unit—I used to be in Northeast China... well, a comrade I met back home is now in the special forces unit." "That's why we're getting more equipment," Coach Lei said. "The better the equipment, the more important the mission!"

———-——--

Compared with the temporary organization during the February Incident, Wang Tiechui's reconnaissance company has been strengthened into a "teaching reconnaissance company".

It has a bit of the style of the Japanese Army's Silver Wheel Force.

Even the baggage team's rubber carts were replaced with "Mark II" power-assisted carts. With the Dongfeng Auto Repair Shop's improved technology, these vehicles received a steel chassis, a 4-horsepower output, and a classic two-speed gearbox. While retaining the previous generation's multi-fuel capabilities, with dual horsepower and a hardened surface, the maximum traction capacity increased from 1.5 tons to 2.7 tons (theoretical value), and the maximum load capacity increased from 80 kg to 1.5 tons (overload value). Even in actual combat conditions, the second-generation product's 600 kg standard load was double the first-generation's 300 kg (usable value).

The transport capacity of bicycles and power-assisted carts gave the reconnaissance company a higher carrying capacity than typical mule- and horse-drawn units, allowing them to carry heavier weapons and maintain greater operational sustainability. Wang Tiechui's artillery platoon could use proper 60mm mortars, his squads could equip their light machine guns with a basic supply of ammunition, and even the baggage carts could be loaded with sufficient clothing, food, fuel, and various equipment to sustain the troops during extended periods of independent logistics operations.

However, because the target area, the Hebei-Central Base Area, was primarily comprised of inherited Northeastern Army forces, local militias, and captured Japanese and puppet forces, Soviet weapons were rarely used. Wang Tiechui and his men had all their "Lao Mo" and "revolving rifles" confiscated and replaced with Polish Mauser and Browning submachine guns. Even their submachine guns were replaced with "Red October" submachine guns chambered for Mauser cartridges. The troops also organized a period of modification training to familiarize everyone with the equipment.

"It's a pity we're moving this time, so we have to bring all the pots, pans, and other things. Otherwise, I'd like to cram a few more of them on the car."

"Why, the whole company packed up and stuffed in about ten launchers and eighty rounds of ammunition, and you still think it's not enough?"

"Hey! Isn't there a one-time version?"

After finally packing his belongings, Wang Tiechui's backpack was already bulging, and he was still clutching a large duffel bag. Looking at the empty company headquarters and the mopeds loading and unloading supplies outside, he sighed. "I heard from the logistics department that the border region has a lot of production capacity, and we can just file a report and take as much as we want."

"If you want more, everyone has to be able to carry it!" Instructor Lei smacked him. The two of them walked out of the company headquarters and headed outside. "How much can you hold with just your two hands? That bulletproof armor our regiment tested last month is said to be able to stop rifle bullets, but it weighs 12 kilograms. Who would want to wear it while marching?"

"Think about it, in a big war, no one would think the weapons are heavy."

"Then don't complain too much when the time comes... Forget it, there are powerful enemies approaching in Jizhong. Either we don't fight, or it will be a big battle if we do."

Coach Lei teased, gazing at the slowly setting sun. The golden sunlight stretched the barracks' shadows far, far out, towards the eastern mountains—they too would march further east, like dandelion seeds, to take root and sprout elsewhere, spreading the seeds of even more tenacious resistance.

Instructor Lei Zhende took out a cigarette, lit it, took a puff, and exhaled a cloud of smoke. He wanted to give one to Wang Tiechui, but suddenly remembered that his partner didn't smoke much, so he put the cigarette back into the box. He said:

"We're leaving tomorrow, traveling through northwest Shanxi and Beiyue to central Hebei. Besides ourselves, we'll also be accompanied by a field regiment undergoing rotation training and a cadre support unit. The field regiment is the former Solitary Brigade, and the cadre unit is led by Captain Zhang from the Third Branch of the Anti-Japanese Military and Political University.

"It is said that he is also from Northeast China. We can talk to them about it when the time comes." "Yes, I know."

Chapter 423: The Scale of "Infiltration"

Heading north, Wang Tiechui's troops, accompanied by Captain Zhang Shi from the Third Branch of the Anti-Japanese Military and Political University, and a cadre of more than 80 men, advanced. This was a busy internal transportation artery in the border region, paved with cement by the Eighth Route Army. The troops advanced at a rapid pace, quickly reaching Suizhou.

Here, they waited for the 7th Regiment of the Hebei Field Army to complete its training - this was a newly assigned designation - and the regiment commander Gao Shiyi brought the former "Hebei Independent 1st Brigade" back to the border area for a six-month training.

After adjusting the personnel system and supplementing technical equipment, it will return to the Hebei-Central base area with the standards of the 139th edition of the "Class A Field Regiment" of the Border Region - 3 combat battalions, 1 machine gun battalion, 1 reconnaissance company, logistics and supplies, medical support and security communication units. With a scale of nearly 3000 people, it can be regarded as a brigade on the side of the National Army.

Although some people were transferred to other units and the troops were downgraded on the surface, the Solitary Brigade, or the 7th Regiment, was strong enough to defeat the Japanese and was not afraid of a Japanese regiment.

Wang Tiechui was delighted to have such a capable teammate, but he also had a question: from the perspective of a reconnaissance company commander skilled in reconnaissance and mentally simulating battlefields, the size of the force carrying out the organized infiltration should be similar to his own reconnaissance company—too small and ineffective, too large and too noisy—and with the cadre team he was escorting, how would he possibly cross the Japanese railway blockade?

With doubts, the troops continued to mobilize.

They crossed the Wuding River Bridge, still undergoing final construction, and boarded the train at the temporary railway station. From Suizhou northward, the terrain gradually flattened, the river valley widened, and the number of bridges and tunnels decreased, facilitating railway construction. The tracks from the Yansui steel mill had already been extended south to Suizhou and west to Fugu, allowing Wang Tiechui and his companions to board the small train and head north amidst the whistle and the clatter of the train.

They disembarked at Fugu Station and, after a brief march, boarded a motorboat at a ferry crossing the Yellow River and arrived at Baode County on the other side. Here, within the radius of the "supply center" of Pianguan in northwest Shanxi, the troops rested briefly and replenished supplies before preparing to continue their march.

If starting from the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region, there are mainly three routes to support other bases.

One route was eastward through Hejin Ferry, passing through the Shanxi-Hebei-Henan-Taihang base area and the Hebei-Shandong-Henan base area, heading south to Shandong, Anhui, and Jiangsu provinces. This route had a temporary bridge crossing the Yellow River, closely connected the various base areas, facilitated supply routes, and had the largest transportation capacity. I had previously taken this route when returning to the border area from the Taihang base area.

The other route was to cross the river at Hequ Ferry in the north, pass through Pianguan and Pinglu, cross the Tongpu Line, follow the northern edge of the Inner Great Wall, and advance along the Sanggan River Basin. This route was mainly used for supply transportation to bases such as Pingxi and Pingbei. The surrounding conditions were relatively harsh, but the enemy density was not high.

The central route we will take this time is the "middle route" which goes east through Fugu, crosses the Kelan Pass to reach Shenchi, and after crossing the Tongpu Road, advances along the Qituo River and enters the Qingliangfeng base. This route is the shortest and fastest, but it requires marching around Japanese-controlled cities and is the most dangerous.

"Let's take the center line this time..." Wang Tiechui looked at the map, closed his eyes and thought about it, and he had a rough idea of ​​the route this time.

That should be the defense zone of the Japanese 52nd Division (formerly the 3rd Independent Mixed Division) and the 58th Division (formerly the 9th Independent Mixed Division), right? A little further north, it seems, is the Mongolian Garrison… Yes, the 26th Division, Wang Tiechui thought. I wonder how strong they are now, and if that will affect the march.

"The Mongolian Army? The First Army? Those devils?"

Hearing Wang Tiechui's thoughts, the comrade not in uniform but carrying Lao Mo with his goggles shook his head. "Comrade Tiechui, you also came back from the Taihang District. Even though the conditions along the Tongpu Line are different north and south, how could you have made such a misjudgment?"

Wang Tiechui's training and reconnaissance company led the infiltration effort, operating alongside the reconnaissance company of the 7th Hebei Regiment. In addition to the two of them, the host base area of ​​Northwest Shanxi also sent a guide to accompany the detachment. The guide's question left Wang Tiechui speechless, and he could only answer honestly.

"When I came back, it was the second half of 39. Back then, the troops crossing the Tongpu Line would march in small groups under cover of night, looking for areas where the Japanese blockade was weak. It wasn't like us this time, with carts, horses, and a lot of artillery." "Oh! That's not surprising."

The guide had a look of surprise on his face. "It's been over a year, and things have changed a lot. No wonder you didn't know, Iron Hammer." He waved his hand. "Now, apart from other places, the section from Shuozhou, Ningwu to Yuanping is under the final say of our military sub-district." "Huh?"

"As long as we don't attack the big cities on the railway, the Japanese will be blind." The guide said a little proudly and a little boastfully, "Comrade Tiechui, you will understand in a moment."

After passing Shenchi, the troops were about to cross the intersection of the enemy and our own control lines. The two reconnaissance companies began to change their formation, spreading out in front and on the flanks of the marching column, forming a reconnaissance line. Wang Tiechui rode his "Fei Fei" at a moderate pace on the mountain path. This foal, bred from Hequ horses, was very smart and enjoyed kicking and stomping as it carried its owner forward. "Are all the platoons in place?" Wang Tiechui turned and asked. Guo Shun, the company's communications soldier, was riding behind with the company radio on his back. "Are the commanding heights under control?"

"Reporting to the company commander, the first, second, and third reconnaissance platoons have all reached the commanding heights," Guo Shun said, pressing his headset and checking the battery of the radio on his horse's back. "The 7th Regiment's reconnaissance company is a little slower than us, but they're also in place. We've secured all the commanding heights along our route."

"Have you spotted any enemies?"

"Report to the company commander, no."

Wang Tiechui felt a little regretful as soon as he asked this question. There was only the sound of horse hooves and the rumble of internal combustion engines around him, but no signature crisp sound of the Polish Mauser guns - unless the platoon was using silenced guns to sound the whistle.

"That's not right. Why haven't these devils sent out patrols? Or even a single sentry post?" He wondered, his mind inexplicably wary. "It's so quiet around here... Is there anything on the monitoring channel?"

"Ha! You're probably overthinking this," Coach Lei consoled. He glanced at Guo Shun, who nodded and waved his hand. "At the pre-war discussion, according to the military sub-district's report, Ningwu was a battalion of the Japanese. How many radios could this Japanese battalion have? Even if they needed to send a message, they would use messengers."

The instructor turned to look at the guide, who smiled but remained silent. "Comrade, could you please tell us what happened to the Japanese here this past year?"

"These devil soldiers, ever since those battles, those powerful devil soldiers have become fewer and fewer, and the number of injured, retired, and deserting has increased. And those new ones, however, are not as good fighters as the old devils!"

The military sub-district guide finally led Wang Tiechui and his men up a ridge. This was the northern edge of Luya Mountain, not far from Ningwu County. Wang Tiechui tied Feifei to a horse post halfway up the mountain and, with a few men from the company headquarters, climbed to the top, only to find a semi-permanent shelter.

Its lower half was embedded in the thick loess ridge, and the roof was covered with dry grass for camouflage. The shelter was quite neat, divided into living quarters, work areas, weapons storage areas, and observation areas. There was a water tank at the entrance, a toilet had been dug, and even telephone lines were laid inside.

"Oh! These are the comrades who are going to cross the railway this time." Hearing the guide calling out, two heads popped out of the shelter and grinned, "Nice to meet you! We are the observation team of the Shenchi Brigade - Xiucai! What are the Japanese doing today?" "Oh? What else can the Japanese do? Digging holes!"

The shelter had an opening facing Ningwu County, and on it were a rabbit-ear-like direction finder, a bamboo-tube-like rangefinder, and an L-shaped high-power telescope.

The young man called "Scholar" complained, "I watch the devils digging holes every day.

Farming, I feel like I've become a sweet potato egg!"

Huh? Ah? Wang Tiechui and Lei Zhende were both extremely surprised when they saw this scene. What was going on?

The soil in Shuozhou and Ningwu isn't fertile enough, and there's too little flat land to grow much food. Even if we provide fertilizer and seeds, the only crops we have are potatoes, taro, and a little millet. "The guide clutched his gun, exuding the confidence of a seasoned farmer," he said. "These Japanese have a large contingent here, and most of their food and drink needs will have to be shipped in by rail."

“But now, how can it be so easy to transport it in?

"Where can we get enough food to transport to them?"

-——————―

Wang Tiechui greeted his comrades, borrowed the high-powered telescope, and peered down the mountain. In the distance, the outskirts of Ningwu County were surrounded by two deep, winding trenches. The land between the trenches had been cultivated into farmland, and figures resembling green beans were crawling in and around the trenches.

Those should be the Japanese devils, the puppet troops controlled by the Japanese devils, and the Korean laborers.

The trenches are well-formed, with the two trenches providing mutual protection. However, there aren't many permanent concrete structures, so their sturdiness is questionable...

Wang Tiechui instinctively began to analyze the situation, but was surprised to discover that, aside from the trenches surrounding the county town and the railway station, the Japanese didn't seem to have deployed any troops on the commanding heights, transportation routes, or key landmarks outside the trenches. The surrounding hilltops and ridges were completely controlled by the two reconnaissance companies, and no enemy forces were found. The forward scouting team checked the roads and found no enemy either. Although some Japanese soldiers in the city were stationed in trenches, most were still digging holes and cultivating the land, completely absent from any combat posture.

"These devil soldiers, don't they want to fight?"

"As long as we don't attack the county town and don't bomb their train station, they won't bother to move or call for reinforcements. If they do move, they'll need food."

"The scholar Y in the shelter said with a smile, "The number of troops we sent through this time is almost a regiment, which is just right! If too few troops came through, the Japanese wouldn't notice us and wouldn't leave the city; if too many troops came through, they would have to hold on and wait for reinforcements and wouldn't leave the city; if neither too many nor too few troops came through, then both sides would suffer losses in a fight, which would be too costly and not worth it, and the Japanese wouldn't leave the city either."

It seems that these devils won't leave the city, right?