Canteen System Assistance Notes

The reason is simple: there are too few people and too little capital: the master gunner Zhao Zhicheng only had three shells in total, and after he used them up, he could no longer perform "manual precision guidance". The Red Army artillerymen, who had almost exerted their subjective initiative to the extreme, lacked guns, shells and even fewer people - you can't ask them to load boxes of Trump into the gun barrel and fire them as shells.

Up to this point, conditions have gradually begun to improve, and a demand has gradually been put on the table.

Is it time we make the artillery independent and establish its own school?

Building a school requires teaching aids. With the daily operations of Liu Helian's eMule business opportunities and the anticipated situation of the Hexi Corridor, the Eighth Route Army's military-industrial complex, having achieved ammunition restocking, did not rush to replenish rifles, but instead began to build its own artillery production capabilities. As the god of war, the importance of artillery is self-evident.

The main focus was on achieving the production of 60mm mortars. Since the Soviet Union lacked the 60mm mortars widely used by the Eighth Route Army, the Eighth Route Army imported equipment suitable for processing 60mm seamless steel pipes and steel molds for casting shells. Combined with the imported fuses provided by Liu Helian, the Eighth Route Army began gradually replenishing its mortars, which were already short of ammunition, with widely used 60mm high-explosive shells, flares, and smoke bombs.

But the artillery academy couldn't just teach mortars. As a weapon that relies on visual feedback and an indirect fire trajectory within visual range, the mortar demands even more than just range finding, and even a certain profound "feel," the "feel" of the mortar. Zhao the Artillery God could hit three times in a row on his first shot without any test firing, calculations, or a gun mount, but that didn't mean he could lead all his men to the same level. Meanwhile, for mountain artillery, field artillery, and even howitzers and cannons, whose primary mission was indirect fire, the artillerymen's mathematical foundation, surveying skills, and even map-based work became major limitations.

Huang Nianzhuo, the new principal of the Eighth Route Army Artillery School, agreed with this. As an "intellectual" with only a high school education, he took the "warrant" from the Military Commission and shamelessly went to various units to ask for people. He also left his contact information at various conscription offices. He wanted those who had an academic foundation, could read and count, had passed literacy courses, and even top students with a strong desire for knowledge and learning ability. Then he stuffed them all into the Cultural Department of the Eighth Route Army Artillery School in Fushi North.

Here, most of these children who have unrealistic fantasies about a beautiful future with unlimited shooting will be hanged on a crooked tree called mathematics. This is not like the square characters learned in literacy classes. The Arabic numerals that are twisted like snakes and worms, and the operation symbols, trigonometric functions and graphs with foreign code words will mostly force them to become unlucky kids who are still doing function transformations in their dreams.

After this "big filter," more than half of the artillery cadets were forced to disgracefully cease their studies. They could choose to retake the exam or simply return to their units to serve as mortar and infantry gunners. As advanced infantry subjects, these two types of artillery, primarily used for indirect fire support and direct fire within visual range, didn't require extensive artillery knowledge. Furthermore, they were the most readily available firepower and the most numerous. However, the political commissars and instructors of each unit had to do some ideological work for these young men, explaining that revolutionary work was not divided into high and low categories; mortars and mountain guns were all artillery, and anyone who could fire them against the Japanese was a hero.

Those who are lucky or strong enough will come to the practical department of the Eighth Route Army Artillery School in Wuqi Town during a loaded march. Here, the teaching aids carefully prepared by Principal Huang Nianzhuo finally make their debut - a Shanghai-made German-style 75mm mountain cannon!

From a distance, this gun has a large monopod, a lower muzzle brake, a complete aiming system, a painted wooden stick pretending to be a calibration rod, and a large, shiny solid wheel hub; but when you take a closer look, this thing is actually a double-cased half-mounted muzzle brake, the sight is actually a rear sight, and the large steel wheel hub is actually the big pot cover of the kitchen squad. The wheels of the entire gun are missing and can only be supported by stakes.

Whenever there is a strong wind in Wuqi County, the students' mood is always as nervous as the flapping "steel wheels", which is very lively.

There is no way. The Eighth Route Army only has this little wealth. In the Battle of Shanchengbao, the four 75 mountain guns of the same model were captured due to the complete annihilation of the "No. 4 Brigade in the World". They are all in good condition and have been added to the troops. Principal Huang begged and pleaded, but couldn't get a single one - this old 75, but it was brought all the way by the Red Army on the Long March. It is a meritorious old veteran with a lot of experience. The horizontal and directional control of the gun are still in good condition. Please bear with it.

So, while continuing their diligent math and cartography training and practicing outdoor orienteering on the Huangtugou plateau, the soldiers in the Wuqi artillery school's practical training class also began learning carpentry. Using the equipment and teaching materials brought by Liu Helian, they fashioned "equipment" out of wood for artillery training.

Before long, three more wooden "similar" guns appeared alongside the Shanghai-made mountain gun with a pot lid impersonating a wheel. Whenever someone practiced with a live gun, rapidly cranking the cannon's handwheel to aim at the intended target and quickly adjusting it on command, the comrades on the wooden guns would run back and forth, holding "cannonballs" made from discarded cartridges filled with sand, stuffing the ammunition into the wooden "barrel," cranking the wooden wheel, and pointing the wooden sticks attached to the rifles at the same "target area." After confirming everything was correct, they would pull the trigger firmly, firing the rifles, and thus completing a live-fire artillery exercise.

Meanwhile, on the mountaintop, the artillery reconnaissance trainees carefully operated Liu Helian's newly imported 1-meter combined image optical rangefinder. A rangefinder was essential for indirect shooting. Without the German rabbit-ear gun scope, a bamboo tube-shaped combined image rangefinder would also work. They would closely observe the impact zone, trying to detect whether the iron bullet without a warhead had landed where it was supposed to.

"Hit the target, hit the target, all company, eight rounds in rapid fire!"

Principal Huang shouted into the phone with delight. He closed his eyes and imagined the division's mountain artillery company, equipped with four intact mountain guns, completing the firing order. Loaders shouted slogans as they pushed ammunition into the still-steaming barrels. The continuous roar of artillery was like galloping war horses, stirring up a cloud of dust that symbolized victory. And further away, soldiers lay dormant, ready to charge as the artillery fire extended.

Unfortunately, there is nothing now.

But in the future, there will always be everything.

Chapter 23: All Things Are Difficult at the Beginning (II) Combat Engineers

Canteen System Assistance

By Forgotten Maple X

2061 words

2020-09-23 12: 00: 00

On the Long March of the Red Army, if anyone takes the time to study the history of the war, they will often see a strange type of troops: "Advance X".

They could be a company, a platoon, a regiment, or simply a "detachment." They were required to lead the entire army, clear paths through mountains, build bridges across rivers, break enemy attacks, seize favorable terrain, and block potential enemy counterattacks, creating opportunities for subsequent troops to cross rivers, pass through, and hide.

The most surprising thing is that during the R1 Corps' long march, such advance troops were often assigned to any designated infantry unit. After being strengthened with some machine guns, artillery, engineering forces, and command and communication, they were transformed into an outstanding unit with superior combat power, capable of leading the charge for the entire army.

Among these, the Red Army's engineers were an indispensable force multiplier. These exceptionally skilled engineers, skilled in orienteering, road and bridge construction, close-combat demolition, and even local political work, made invaluable contributions to the Long March's success. However, their casualties were also quite high. Throughout the 25,000-mile march, the Red Army's engineers fought virtually every battle, braving every obstacle and facing every challenge.

Therefore, in the process of transitioning from the Red Army to the Eighth Route Army, the engineers, along with the artillerymen, were the first to be separated and became the priority force for replenishment.

The Eighth Route Army's engineering school was located at the mouth of a river, near the Fushi Airport. Unlike the artillery school, which had borrowed local buildings, the engineers faced a barren wasteland and a pile of building materials—bricks and wood scavenged from the home of a local diehard landlord, and a pile of newly produced "earth cement" from the border region.

School? Isn't that it? Not to mention the engineers need help setting up the camp!

Engineers can not only dismantle things, they can also build things!

A brief discussion meeting was held, with several veterans of the Long March leading the planning. Younger students, having read the new textbooks, offered suggestions. The newly distributed pancakes and naan were then used to mobilize the people. Within a month, a small complex of cave dwellings and brick-concrete houses with wooden roofs had emerged on the high ground at the mouth of the river. The varied and complex terrain, with its river branches and earthen plateaus, facilitated the simulation of the various obstacles encountered by troops crossing rivers, trenches, mountains, and attacking cities.

Looking at the school building, completed ahead of schedule, Principal Chen Youzheng was very satisfied. These veteran engineers, hailing from General Zhu's guard regiment, were now strong and skilled. They could not only design buildings, construct buildings, and dig out cave dwellings, but they also maintained the Red Army's unique thirst for knowledge. However, he had an inexplicable feeling that something was missing from the school building.

This feeling lingered in his mind and made him feel quite uncomfortable, but whenever he wanted to delve deeper into the source of this idea and find out what was missing in this seemingly good school building, he couldn't find it.

Is there a lack of teaching materials?

The central government recently distributed a number of engineering materials, including the techniques and practices of trenching and entrenchment during the last World War, used by countries like Tsarist Russia, England, and Germany. They included numerous illustrations and a book entirely in Chinese titled "Field Fortification Specifications," though the handwriting was a bit fragmented. This was far superior to the initial practice of relying on personal copying and word-of-mouth transmission.

Is it a lack of equipment?

That's a little bit true, but it shouldn't be the source of this strange feeling. We, the Eighth Route Army, have always been short on supplies. The engineers' three-piece set: the pole, the shovel, and the small red flag were only recently issued. The required explosive materials have always been a bit insufficient—engineers can't use low-speed black powder for blasting, only high-energy materials. Compared to before, things are much better now, at least the food is much better. I shouldn't be too demanding of the central government.

What exactly is that?

From a distance, he could hear the soldiers having a heated discussion.

"This guy's trench digging skills are really not very good..."

"Back then, they were still White Russians! How can we compare with now? I think it's better to attack here... and here. I think if we put two machine guns there, we can only attack from above. I don't think anyone can attack without two companies!"

"Tsk, you keep the machine guns here, I'll have a squad climb the mountain and make a detour... If we lose that hill over there, I think all your machine gunners will become targets."

Unlike the artillery academy, the Eighth Route Army's engineering training primarily relied on existing unit training. Established units near the engineering school would select corresponding companies and platoons and send them to the school as a whole for training, mastering various engineering skills. After passing the exam, they could return to their units. In their new positions, they could perform both general combat and engineering duties, or they could establish a secondary training mechanism within the unit, forming a new engineering training school—in this way, the engineering skills of building and dismantling things could be expanded.

This was also the training and expansion method inherited from the Eighth Route Army. In the eyes of these veteran commanders, if all infantry soldiers could master additional skills, then the existence of "engineer" positions would be irrelevant. If this was not possible in a short period of time due to the specialization of the arms, then it would be a good thing to have everyone able to handle cluster grenades and blasting tubes and dismantle things. Therefore, the Red Army and the Eighth Route Army have always encouraged soldiers to learn more, be flexible, and think actively. This enthusiasm for "pondering everything" is a characteristic that distinguishes them from other armies of the same time and space.

I thought so! Principal Chen suddenly understood. He clapped his hands vigorously and shouted "Oh", which scared the instructor next to him.

"Old Chen, what's wrong with you? Are you possessed in broad daylight?"

"How could that be! I just figured out the reason!"

Chen Youzheng stretched out his hand and pointed around. "I've always felt like our school is missing something. For so long, I've never figured out what it is, but now I finally understand." He said excitedly, "Since this is an engineering school, we have to build some fortifications! Look, our school has a mountain behind it and a small river in front of it. Isn't it just right to build fortifications relying on the mountain's terrain?

"Once it's finished, it can be used as a testing center for engineering cadets—either repairing or demolishing fortifications. We could even have one group repairing while another attacked, then switch roles and do it again. Normally, this place can also be used as a training ground for fraternal units, allowing those who haven't seen the battlefield yet to hear the roar of machine guns and artillery fire first. That way, they won't wet their pants on their first battle."

"Although it's definitely not as good as using real weapons, it will always be beneficial to practice more!"

Chapter 24: All Things Are Difficult at the Beginning (Part 3) Red Second Bureau

Canteen System Assistance

By Forgotten Maple X

2360 words

2020-09-24 12: 00: 00

"Is Principal Chen training the newcomers again?"

"Yes, look at howling like ghosts and wolves, they must have practiced a lot."

At the airport, two men wearing round glasses sat at one end of the runway, looking out at the Engineering School in Kawaguchi. A group of men were busy digging a five-meter-wide trench. The trench was steep at one end and slightly shallower at the other. The steeper end was covered with a layer of soil—apparently, the diggers had deliberately piled the new soil they had dug to one side.

The busy people were divided into two groups. One group had already built a bridge over the ditch and erected two flagpoles with colorful flags on them at the bridge head, while the other group was still shouting slogans with difficulty and jumping up and down in the ditch.

"Looks like the winner's decided, yo!" A bespectacled man, clutching a Bakelite switch box, stretched his feet on a rock. "Hey, Xiao Zeng, stop staring at this bag. The 'Automatic Calculator' isn't in there."

"Hey! I know, it's locked in the safe now! But, Minister Li, this thing... is simply too..." The radio expert named Zeng Haiyun slapped his thigh, "What was the decryption we learned in the past called! Find radicals, put together characters, and apply mappings... Now, just input the dots and dots, compare it with the previous records, and then it will automatically process it... After that, we have everything!

"If I had this thing, I could translate not only Chiang Kai-shek's telegrams in Beijing but also the Japanese ones in Peking in ten minutes!"

Liu Helian's big black notebook is now kept in the cafeteria. On weekdays, people with the right to know want to use it, but they have to get approval from the central government. Naturally, the radio departments inherited from several legions have become its frequent visitors, and the current director of the "Second Bureau", Minister Li Qiang, is naturally the first to get it and uses it very quickly.

In just a few months, he was able to use the "Office X Suite" in Liu Helian's computer to write small programs. The first program was naturally the current KMT telegram automatic decryptor. As long as the Morse code corresponding to the intercepted KMT telegram was entered into the computer, it would only take a few seconds to output a telegram deciphered into plain text, shortening the decryption time from several hours to less than 5 minutes, which played a huge role in the negotiations of the Haojing Incident.

As for the news transmitted by the wired telegraph station—the Communist Party has even been able to set up a party branch in the wireless telegraph office in Gaojing. What do you think of the situation?

Minister Li Qiang pointed to the distant sky and said, "The automatic calculator can do much more than this. Simply using it to decipher telegrams is a waste of talent. I looked at some of the information Commissioner Liu left behind. This automatic calculator can do many boring tasks for humans. All you need to do is tap on the keyboard and teach it how to work."

It's a pity he's so busy and doesn't have many automatic calculators. Otherwise, I'd tie him up in a room, drain all his knowledge, and then give everyone one of these automatic calculators. He checked his watch. "How long until Commissioner Liu's plane lands?"

"If nothing unexpected happens, it should take another half an hour."

"I can't wait any longer." Minister Li Qiang rubbed his hands together and suddenly turned to Zeng Haiyun, saying in a rhythmic and lamenting voice, "My dear Mr. Zeng, how's the weather today?"

"It's sunny and windy today, a nice breeze, Mr. Li."

"Oh, that's great." Li Qiang nodded. "May our friends from afar arrive safely."

"Me too."

"Hahahaha!" the two grown men laughed. This was a very interesting way of communication between them, and also a very interesting way of communication in the communications school: because telegraph work was mainly conducted in English, the comrades in the training class tried to communicate in English at work and in their daily lives to speed up their English learning.

"Speaking of English. Perhaps in the future, our radio operators won't need to learn English. They just need to know the English alphabet."

Li Qiang raised his head and looked at the engineers on the other side who had completed the bridge-building work and were being evaluated by the instructor. "But the training of the communications squad leader needs to be significantly extended, and the scale of the rotation training class should also be expanded."

"Oh, what's going on?" Zeng Haiyun had just returned to Fushi and was still immersed in the novelty of the new gadget. "So, the total number of radio operators and communications team leaders will increase - do we have so many radio stations?"

"The school is expanding. Commissioner Liu found a way to buy a lot of electromechanical components from Shanghai. I've signed for a lot of spare parts and semi-finished products these past few days. Aside from what went to the Military Commission, we still have a lot left, all of which have been handed over to the school's equipment workshop and laboratory." Li Qiang gave a brief description. "There are over thirty 15-watt machines, and even more 5-watt ones, including oscillators, buzzers, and electric keys. Principal Wang hasn't slept well in three days."

Hiss... Li Qiang heard Zeng Haiyun taking a breath, like pulling a bellows, and then he began to wheeze.

"More than 30? Director Li, are you serious?"

"How could I possibly lie to you?" Li Qiang snorted, throwing a thick cylindrical object over. "I can't bring you a radio, but you, take a look at this."

Zeng Haiyun grabbed the metal tube and examined it carefully. "Battery? Jinlong battery? 1.5 volts, carbon... Oh, it's actually all metal. Great! Great! No more hand-cranked generators, haha!"

His voice paused as he laughed, and he shook his head regretfully, "It's a pity that batteries are too expensive. We'd still rather use a hand-cranked generator on weekdays. It's not easy for the central government to procure batteries, so let's keep them for the comrades in the Urban Work Department, the Enemy Work Department, and the Special Operations Department. It's embarrassing for the Tong School to occupy such a precious thing."

"Here," Li Qiang thrust the battery back into Zeng Haiyun's hand. "I can tell you something. The border region now has partial 24-hour power supply. It's limited to Fushe, but it's still enough to open a communications school. Don't worry about the generator either; the central government has a solution."

"Really?"

"real."

Seeing Li Qiang's serious expression, Zeng Haiyun relaxed, slid halfway down from the stone, and stretched himself. "Ah, that's really—great news! A lot of good things have happened in the border region during my time in Haojing!" He also looked up at the sky, squinting his eyes, trying to find a tiny black dot in the western sky. "During the Long March, the entire front had no more than three radio stations. Now, we have thirty at a glance. That's great news!"

"We'll be busy from now on! With so many new radio stations, and maybe even more 'automatic calculators', we have to keep up the training."

As soon as Li Qiang finished speaking, the small light bulb on the switch box flickered. He hurriedly jumped up from the stone and adjusted the metal net on one side of the bamboo pole. This metal net was made of iron wire bent in a specific way and was fixed on the top of the bamboo pole. It was connected to the small bungalow at the other end of the airport by an electric wire.

Zeng Haiyun picked up a telephone receiver and repeated himself into it.

"Dongdong, Dongdong, this is Fushi. Please reply if you get it. I repeat, Dongdong, this is Fushi. Please reply if you get it."

There was a chaotic noise in the microphone, and occasionally there was a distorted electrical noise. He repeated this tirelessly, and finally, a male voice that was also a little distorted appeared.

"Fushi, this is Dongdong... Twelve ultra-shortwave test calls. Please reply if you receive any!"

"Fushi received! Fushi received... Director Li, don't move at this angle! Dongdong, Fushi received!"

Chapter 25: Everything is Difficult at the Beginning (IV) Huinong District

Canteen System Assistance

By Forgotten Maple X

2111 words

2020-09-25 12: 00: 00

115, 120, 129. Just listing these three numbers alone probably makes some people realize that these were the "three main forces" of the Eighth Route Army in this historical period. These three designations were actually the units Chiang Kai-shek disbanded from the Northeast Army after the Xi'an Incident, using the excuse of "reorganizing" the Northeast Army. To continue his signature "forcing the tiger to devour the wolf" saga, he ultimately gave these three designations to the Eighth Route Army.

In this timeframe, the Eighth Route Army, having preserved a significant portion of its strength heading west, was able to mobilize more troops, effectively destroying an entire brigade of Hu Qinzhai in the Battle of Shanchengbao. After returning to his base in Gaojing, this loyalist sent a secret telegram to Lao Chang, informing him that he needed to "rebuild the army" in order to maintain the pressure on the Red Army. His target was the Gannan warlord Lu Dachang.

Of course, the official line was this: "In the Gannan region, public discontent is boiling, but our army has long been here, and the military and civilians are in harmony. Many gentry and living Buddhas have asked our army to uphold justice. Moreover, our army has been fighting the bandits for over a month, and although we have achieved great success, we are also exhausted. It would be better for us to temporarily reside in Gannan to recuperate, mediate conflicts between the upper and lower levels, facilitate trade, and promote the happiness of the people and the strength of the army."

It’s really good, all it needs is a “isn’t it beautiful”.

At this point, Chang Ke became excited. He quickly sent a telegram to appease Hu, but temporarily stopped Hu's overly blatant embezzlement, "to protect the reputation of the Central Army first."

This didn't mean he rejected Hu Qinzhai's request. Soon, Lu Dachang was promoted to Senior Counselor of the Xi'an Headquarters. He was then ordered to travel abroad at public expense, to France for research, while his son enrolled at the Army University for further studies. Meanwhile, the Huangpu Military Academy branch school in Gaojing sent a group of young soldiers to "reinforce" its ranks. Before long, the unit that had been brutally defeated by the Red Army at Lakou officially changed its name, and even Lu's territory came under the direct control of Hu Qinzhai's direct line.

So, how to prevent Lu from returning to China a few years later and his son from graduating and making a comeback? No problem, Old Chang already has a plan—give his unit's designation, the 165th Division, to the Reds! The Reds will surely seize the organization. If Lu Dachang wants to reclaim his army, he'll have to attack the Communists. Great!

Apart from the economy, military and internal affairs, when it comes to fighting against warlords, Mr. Chang is really good at it!

However, the Eighth Route Army had no intention of rejecting this additional designation compared to its historical counterparts: no matter how many, it signified recognition and identity. Accordingly, after discussion, the Military Commission decided to give this new designation to the remaining R4 troops westward, currently located in Huinong, and to establish the Huinong Anti-Japanese Base Area.

Acting division commander Xu Xiangqian awaited the arrival of Lin Zhongdan from the Central Committee to calm the somewhat agitated soldiers. After opening up access routes to Yanchi, Dingbian, and Pingluo in the Shaanxi-Gansu Border Region, the 165th Division was the first to complete its transformation into the "Eighth Route Army" and began to establish itself in the region. Soon, in accordance with the Central Committee's directives, the 165th Division launched its first "Great Production Movement." Simultaneously, it also initiated its first ideological rectification campaign, focusing on recuperation and thoroughly reforming the Napoleonic style that existed within the army.

Compared with Fushi, which is covered with yellow earth, the conditions here can be said to be much better.

The Yellow River, often called the Mother River, hardly even bears the name "yellow" here. Near Jinfeng City, it still presents itself with its crystal-clear waters. The ancient name "Jiangnan on the Great Wall" reflects Huinong's long history of agriculture. However, when the cadres and soldiers of the 165th Division began to disperse to various grassroots units, spreading across a large area stretching from Jinfeng in the south to Heshuote Banner in the north, they were surprised to discover that local farmers still used primitive methods of carrying water for irrigation and cultivated dry land.

Huh? What's going on? The documentation clearly states that this area has had extensive irrigation and water conservancy facilities since ancient times. The puzzled team consulted many locals, and finally, with the guidance of some elderly farmers, they discovered the cause—waterways were silted up, gates were damaged, some larger ditches were being used to grow vegetables, and some ditches had been occupied and damaged.

The local water system has long ceased to function due to long-term lack of maintenance!

If the farmers around Fushe had lost even the most basic agricultural skills like composting due to the warlords' levy of "special goods", necessitating the Eighth Route Army's anti-drug efforts and agricultural assistance and education, then it might not be surprising that the "Jiangnan on the Saishang" had well-developed water conservancy facilities but could not be effectively utilized.

The starting point for large-scale production was thus easily found: repair the water conservancy project, restore the irrigation system that should have existed here, and turn these dry lands into irrigated lands again. Since the Yellow River has not yet completely thawed, let's try to complete some of the work!