Chapter 41

He Zhengdao, who did not know about the headquarters, had been waiting for a reply due to the news of the Independent Regiment. The next day, he arranged for all the Red Army soldiers to change into the uniforms of the Central Army. The soldiers of the Independent Regiment had become accustomed to such changes in uniforms.

On this journey, many soldiers had changed into several different military uniforms. Uniforms of the Hunan Army, the Guangxi Army, the Guizhou Army, and now the Central Army. Each time they changed uniforms, it always led to consecutive victories.

The Central Army prisoners, who had also rested for a night, although many did not rest well, woke up early to find that the Red Army had even prepared breakfast for them. This made them feel they were treated quite well.

After breakfast, He Zhengdao asked, "Shi Cheng, has the division headquarters sent any telegrams?"

"No! According to the information we have, the main force of the Central Army has already entered Guiyang. I believe that in the short term, the main force of the Guizhou Army will be the one to encircle and suppress us. Our regiment just needs to arrive in Jincheng on time to take up defensive positions."

Listening to Sun Shicheng's response, He Zhengdao felt that this guy had adapted very quickly. If it were someone else, they might find it hard to accept such a change. But now, Sun Shicheng seemed to have quickly integrated into the Red Army.

He Zhengdao, thinking this to himself, also sneered, "Just a tactic to use the tiger to devour the wolf! This time, our advance into Guizhou has given that chairman a perfect excuse and opportunity. Wang Jialie is probably doomed!"

Sun Shicheng did not respond to such words but agreed with He Zhengdao's view. In fact, anyone with a bit of military acumen would know that if the Central Army were really here to fight for the Guizhou Army, they would not be gathering their main force in Guiyang.

Just as the troops were preparing to set out, the political commissar Yao Shengjun found He Zhengdao and asked, "Commander, what about the prisoners?"

"Have the logistics battalion issue them weapons, but only guns, no ammunition. Everyone will follow the logistics battalion. Additionally, have the Fourth Battalion be responsible for guarding them. If anyone misbehaves, deal with them according to military law!"

What was meant by "military law" was simply to execute them on the spot. Although Yao Shengjun did not entirely agree with He Zhengdao's approach, he also understood that it was necessary to be cautious when traveling with these people.

If they were bound, they would have to be disguised as Red Army prisoners. But this would likely make the real Red Army soldiers feel uncomfortable. If they were not bound and allowed to follow the troops unarmed, it would also seem strange.

With He Zhengdao's orders, Yao Shengjun returned to the prisoner camp and, looking at the Central Army prisoners who had finished their breakfast, said with a smile, "Everyone has eaten well, right? The troops are about to set out, and you will be marching with us.

Before we set out, I want to emphasize a few points. First, we will issue you guns, but they will be unloaded. I hope you will follow our troops as you did before and not do anything unnecessary.

Additionally, during the march, it's best not to speak casually or interact with strangers. In short, I hope you will cooperate with our actions and not have any thoughts of escaping or reporting. Otherwise, it will be difficult for me."

The Central Army prisoners, hearing this, were surprised and asked, "You're giving us guns?"

"Yes! If we don't give you guns, wouldn't you look suspicious walking around empty-handed? Also, if you carry guns, my logistics battalion will have to transport fewer guns. If you want to show good behavior, you must obey our orders. Don't do anything dangerous on the road. Even for bathroom breaks, you must wait until we stop. Got it?"

"Got it!"

From the moment the entire Independent Regiment changed into Central Army uniforms, the prisoners understood what He Zhengdao was planning. The 704th Regiment, separated from the main division, was entering Guizhou to take over the defensive positions in Jincheng.

This meant that as long as they did not encounter other Central Army units entering Guizhou, no one would know that this well-disciplined force was actually a Red Army unit in disguise. The Central Army prisoners, guessing this, felt that He Zhengdao was being very bold.

However, from yesterday's battle, they knew that this Red Army Independent Regiment had astonishing combat power and firepower. If they really faced their division headquarters, their division headquarters would surely suffer a loss.

But no one dared to voice this concern. At this moment, even their own lives depended on He Zhengdao's mood. Worrying about the division headquarters was just overthinking.

Thus, dressed in Central Army uniforms, they marched boldly as the 704th Regiment, heading straight for Jincheng. During the march, He Zhengdao did not turn on the radio.

Until the troops successfully entered Jincheng, and seeing the bowing and scraping of the city defense commander, Zhang Cheng, who was impersonating the regiment commander, felt that this kind of warfare was indeed too easy. He also admired his commander's bold military actions.

If not for impersonating the Central Army, it would have been impossible for their Independent Army to carry so many weapons and even a mountain artillery battalion so boldly. And along the way, no one suspected them.

In addition, during the journey to Jincheng, over 600 captured Central Army soldiers, after Yao Shengjun's work, gradually joined the Independent Regiment, with about 500 of them being absorbed. Many Red Army soldiers had objections to their joining.

To make these people feel that they were not being excluded, He Zhengdao specially convened a meeting of the Independent Regiment's company commanders and made a serious decision by the regimental party committee. He told these company and battalion commanders not to oppress these Central Army prisoners.

The reason was that the Independent Regiment was currently behind enemy lines. Although they had entered Guizhou and gradually received some Red Army reinforcements, these reinforcements were still far from enough to expand the regiment.

"Comrades, I know it's hard for you to accept these Central Army prisoners joining our ranks. But you are all veterans, and most of you are party members. You know the discipline of our party and our army in treating prisoners.

To be honest, I would also like to shoot them to save trouble. Even when we defeated the 704th Regiment, I did the same. At that time, many of you opposed my actions. So why can't you accept these prisoners who have surrendered now?"

Faced with He Zhengdao's question, a company commander said, "Commander, we understand. But the soldiers below feel very uncomfortable being in the same squad with these white dogs."

He Zhengdao quickly responded, "Uncomfortable? What reason is that? Do you think you've been too comfortable lately, so you feel the world is at peace? Or do you think you are invincible?

In the past, in the Soviet area, besides selecting poor children from the local area to join the army, weren't the captured Central Army soldiers also our main source of new recruits? If it was possible in the past, why not now?"

Looking at these silent company and battalion commanders, He Zhengdao continued, "Remember, we are the people's army. Since they are willing to join our Red Army and fight alongside us, we must put aside our hatred.

You are all officers and should know that our real enemies are not these ordinary soldiers but their commanders and that chairman in Nanjing. Soldiers follow orders, and you all understand this.

Perhaps you think we can recruit poor children from the local area. But what happens when we encounter a battle? Will the enemy give us time to train new soldiers? They can just pick up a gun and fight."

After this reasoning, the company and battalion commanders gradually accepted the Central Army prisoners, who were gradually distributed to the battalions and companies. Gradually, these Central Army prisoners also found that the Red Army soldiers and officers did not treat them with too much coldness.

When the Independent Regiment entered Jincheng, Zhang Cheng, impersonating the regiment commander, began to accept bribes on He Zhengdao's advice. As He Zhengdao put it, it was "robbing the rich to help the poor," and the money would be used for the Independent Regiment's supplies.

After entering Jincheng, the civilians did not notice that the Central Army taking over the city defense was actually the Red Army in disguise. Taking advantage of the rare rest period, He Zhengdao ordered the troops to rest.

At the same time, he began to turn on the radio, waiting for telegrams from headquarters. The reason was that He Zhengdao already knew that the Zunyi Conference was held as scheduled, and Mao Zedong had regained military command as in history.

This meant that He Zhengdao did not have to worry that the hard-won Independent Regiment would be destroyed by incompetent leaders. But this result also made He Zhengdao realize that his arrival had not changed much of the Red Army's history.

So, would the Red Army's history of crossing the snow-capped mountains and the grasslands still play out?

Thinking about this, He Zhengdao felt more and more that he needed to quickly contact headquarters and successfully transfer the large amount of supplies and medicine they carried to the main Red Army forces. So, it was time to contact headquarters!