Chapter 18

In the midst of the vast mountains, even the slightest rustle of the wind or the movement of grass could alert the soldiers on both sides. As He Zhengdao pondered how to avoid conflict and prevent the Xiang Army or the Gui Army at the foot of the mountain from noticing, he moved very cautiously towards the Red Army's hidden sentry post. This movement undoubtedly required great skill and patience. Fortunately, He Zhengdao was different from ordinary soldiers; his martial arts training allowed him to minimize the noise he made while walking.

When he was just a few steps away from the Red Army's hidden sentry, the sentry, who had been staring at the front for a long time, slightly loosened his grip on the rifle and was about to wipe his eyes.

Suddenly, a black shadow darted out and pinned him down in the hidden depression. Before the Red Army soldier could realize that this time he was surely dead, he found that the person who had restrained his limbs and was dressed in Xiang Army uniform was covering his mouth and said, "Comrade, don't be nervous, I am also from the Red Army. I know there are many of you in the valley, and I have come to meet you.

To avoid any misunderstanding and fratricide, I will let you go in a moment, but you must not shout. Otherwise, the White Dogs at the foot of the mountain will be alerted, and we will all be in trouble. Do you understand?"

Red Army? The person pressing down on him is from the Red Army?

The sentry hesitated and nodded slightly, not fully believing it. He Zhengdao quickly released his hand and said with a serious face, "Don't shout, or your comrades will think you are in trouble and start shooting. Then the White Dogs at the foot of the mountain will all be alerted. I am also a Red Army soldier who heard the gunfire and came to check the situation.

As for my identity, I will inform your commander when I meet him. Your task now is to take me to meet your commander. And you can rest assured, I am the only one who came down. My guard platoon is still hiding in the forest ahead to avoid any misunderstanding.

The White Dog uniform I am wearing is just for convenience when moving down the mountain. If you promise not to move around, I will let you go. This concerns the survival of both our Red Army units, so we must be careful, do you understand?"

After He Zhengdao explained again, the Red Army sentry still seemed wary and said, "Are you really from the Red Army? You're not lying to me, are you? Unless you let me take you down, I won't take you down. Who knows if you are a White Dog pretending to be a Red Army soldier? I won't be a traitor!"

Before he finished speaking, He Zhengdao tapped him on the head and scolded, "Are you stupid? If I were a White Dog, would you still be able to talk to me? I know you are cautious, which is good. But if you delay any longer, the White Dogs at the foot of the mountain will hear the gunfire and come up. Both of us will be in trouble!

Being loyal to your duty is good, but don't be blindly loyal! You are just a small squad leader, and you want to take me down? Your attitude is really over the top. Come on, take me down, I am alone. You have over a hundred people in the valley, do you think you can't deal with me? Get up and go with me!"

As he spoke, he lifted the Red Army soldier, who looked aggrieved, from the hiding place and took his rifle. Looking at the slow-moving soldier, He Zhengdao couldn't help but scold, "Why are you so stubborn? Won't you know if I am from the Red Army when we get down there?

You have over a hundred people, and I am just one. Do you think I can fly away? You are really stupid! Who is your commander? How can you be so inflexible?"

As the Red Army soldier, who was clearly unwilling, was pushed down by He Zhengdao, He Zhengdao's figure could be hidden behind the Red Army soldier. To show that he had no intention of harming them, he held the rifle by the barrel, not the stock.

When they reached the flat ground in the valley, He Zhengdao threw the rifle and said, "I am Captain He Zhengdao from the Political Security Brigade. Please have your commander come out. Everyone, don't shoot, or we will all be in trouble if the White Dogs are alerted."

As he finished speaking, the Red Army regimental commander, who was leading his soldiers and preparing to withdraw, suddenly came out from the grass and said, "Little He, what are you doing here? Weren't you with Comrade Mao?"

Uh! Another one who knows me?

Looking at the young officer who seemed not much older, He Zhengdao said somewhat embarrassedly, "I fell ill on the way and was left to recuperate at a peasant's home in Gongcheng. I don't remember much from before, except for this identity card. So, may I ask who you are?"

The young man, hearing this, took the identity card from He Zhengdao and said in surprise, "You have amnesia? I am Chen Shuchun, the commander of the 34th Division of the 5th Red Army Corps. You really don't remember me? Back then, when you were with Comrade Mao, we even had a sparring match! You don't remember that?"

Chen Shuchun! Hearing this name, He Zhengdao was utterly shocked! How could he not recognize this divisional commander who also sacrificed his life during the Long March?

This divisional commander, who had fought alongside Chairman Mao, was deeply mourned by Chairman Mao after his sacrifice. Especially his 34th Division, which was almost completely annihilated after the Battle of the Xiang River, was one of the few Red Army main forces that were completely dispersed during the Long March.

Although he knew everything about Chen Shuchun, He Zhengdao smiled bitterly and said, "Commander Chen, I am really sorry, but I can't remember these things. However, my current regimental political commissar, Yao Shengjun, should know you. He was previously the political commissar of the 12th Division of the 5th Red Army Corps. Besides Yao Commissar, there are over a thousand Red Army soldiers I rescued along the way in the mountains nearby.

They are currently resting in the mountains! As for my background, I only know that I am from the Red Army, and I don't remember much else. By the way, Commander Chen, why are you here?"

Regarding this question, Chen Shuchun also said with a bitter smile that they were responsible for covering the last Red Army unit crossing the river and were surrounded by the enemy, which prevented them from following the main force. According to the instructions from the front command, they were preparing to return to southern Hunan to conduct guerrilla warfare behind enemy lines. This place was where they were resting before entering southern Hunan.

Hearing that Chen Shuchun was still planning to go to southern Hunan to lead guerrilla warfare as in history, He Zhengdao was undoubtedly worried. From the less than 200 Red Army soldiers he saw, he knew without asking that they were in a dire situation with a shortage of food and weapons. How could such a small group possibly resist the Xiang Army and the Gui Army, who were like wolves and dogs in each city and town?

Not wanting to express these concerns for the moment, He Zhengdao quickly whistled, and the guard platoon soldiers who heard the whistle immediately ran down the mountain. Seeing these 34th Division comrades they met again in the mountains, the guard platoon soldiers were undoubtedly very happy.

Learning that He Zhengdao had captured Xiang Army and Gui Army county towns, starting with just six people and growing to a thousand-strong independent regiment, Chen Shuchun was also very pleased and accepted He Zhengdao's invitation to lead the remaining 34th Division soldiers to join the independent regiment.

When the group, carrying the wounded Red Army soldiers, arrived at the independent regiment's resting place, Chen Shuchun looked at the many soldiers lying on the ground in the valley, wearing various uniforms, and said with deep emotion, "Little He, if Comrade Mao knew that leaving you behind could rescue so many scattered soldiers, he would be very happy for you."

After Chen Shuchun arrived, Yao Shengjun, who had been sleeping in a state of high alert, quickly woke up. When he saw that the person accompanying He Zhengdao, checking on the resting Red Army soldiers, was the 34th Division commander Chen Shuchun, he ran over with a look of surprise and joy, "Commander Chen, what are you doing here?"

Seeing Yao Shengjun, who had fought alongside him, Chen Shuchun was also very happy. Especially when he saw that the food and weapons, which had been their biggest concern, were abundantly stocked in the independent regiment formed by Red Army prisoners. These hungry and cold 34th Division soldiers undoubtedly felt the warmth of the organization!

He ordered the logistics team to properly entertain these 34th Division comrades and let them choose the weapons and ammunition they liked from the weapons they had brought up the mountain.

This meant that the 34th Division, which had lost its combat capability, would, after being replenished with weapons, ammunition, and food, once again become a formidable force capable of fighting the Xiang Army!

However, compared to the joy of the 34th Division soldiers, He Zhengdao began to consider whether to prevent Chen Shuchun from returning to southern Hunan to continue guerrilla warfare behind enemy lines.

After all, in his previous life, Chen Shuchun was captured and martyred by the reactionary forces at the border of southern Hunan before he could reach the Soviet area!