Chapter 42

The independent regiment stationed in Jinping, to ensure that the entire regiment's disguise was not detected by the civilians and the Guizhou Army in the city, directly constructed a so-called 'military camp restricted area' within the city, strictly prohibiting any outsiders from entering.

Apart from the main battalion that took over the city's defense, the rest of the main forces were resting in the designated military camp. Many of the Red Army soldiers who had been rescued along the way also received valuable rest and recuperation time.

As the radio station was set up, He Zhengdao, who received a call that afternoon, was also very surprised. He personally supervised the telecommunications room, guiding Sun Shicheng to communicate with the other party and inquire about their identity.

General He, who was worried about where the independent regiment had hidden and whether they had been surrounded and annihilated, was also very surprised upon learning that contact had been made with the independent regiment's radio station. He also came to the telecommunications room.

He ordered, "Tell the independent regiment that we are the Second Red Army. Also, have them report their current location."

After receiving the telegram, He Zhengdao looked at Yao Shengjun beside him and said with a smile, "It seems that the people we rescued in Jingzhou City have successfully returned to the base of the Second Red Army. This is General He's telegram!"

'Yes! We have finally made contact with our unit! I wonder if headquarters knows about us!'

Thinking about how they were scattered and eventually captured, Yao Shengjun actually felt a bit ashamed. However, when he was captured, he was already completely unconscious. When he woke up, he found himself already captured.

He believed that his former comrades probably thought he had been martyred!

'Reply to the telegram, informing them of our current location. Also, ask General He if headquarters has received our information. Additionally, we have a batch of supplies that we hope to deliver to headquarters as soon as possible.'

Upon receiving the telegram from the independent regiment, General He immediately said, "Someone, bring the map over!"

After the map was laid out, General He quickly found Jinping City where the independent regiment was located. Looking at the intelligence sent by headquarters, General He said in disbelief, "They have grown so bold? They dare to infiltrate deep into the enemy's heart?"

According to the enemy situation report from headquarters, many Central Army units were stationed near Jinping. In addition, there were some cooperative units of the Guangxi Army. Together with the Hunan Army on the border, it was a massive military concentration!

At this moment, Political Commissar Ren Bishi also suspected, "This can't be the enemy pretending to be the independent regiment, trying to contact us, right?"

"It's unlikely! This frequency was personally relayed by our soldiers. We had been trying to contact them for several days without success. It was only today that we found their radio station was on. Besides, if they were the Central Army pretending, do you think they would be so bold as to directly tell us their current location? However, I am really curious about how they managed to do it."

"Why don't we just send a telegram to ask? Then we'll know!"

As the inquiry telegram was received, He Zhengdao also said with a smile, "Commissar, it seems that General He is a bit suspicious of our identity. Let's report our actions over the past few days to them!"

When General He received the telegram and learned that the independent regiment was currently pretending to be the 704th Regiment of the Central Army stationed in Jinping, and that the real 704th Regiment had been completely annihilated by the independent regiment, he was greatly shocked.

"I never thought the independent regiment would have such strength. To completely annihilate a Central Army main regiment behind enemy lines and boldly pretend to be the other side to station in Jinping City. This He Zhengdao is truly skilled in unconventional warfare!"

According to the intelligence from headquarters and the Second Red Army, General He looked at the map and knew that the unit stationed in Jinping on his military map was indeed the 704th Regiment of the Central Army.

However, no one would have thought that this Central Army main regiment would be replaced by the independent regiment. This was truly like 'creating chaos in heaven'! But General He also knew that any slight mistake could bring serious consequences.

While the two sides were constantly in radio contact, Ren Bishi also said, "General, I think we should report to headquarters. At this time, headquarters must also want to know the news of the independent regiment. Besides, headquarters now really needs support!"

Although a large part of the Guangxi Army and the Central Army that were encircling the Second Red Army had entered Guizhou to pursue the main Red Army, the main forces of He Jian and the Guangxi Army still surrounded them tightly in western Hunan.

Although the Second Red Army had launched a series of battles to attract some of the enemy's firepower, distant water could not put out a nearby fire. The main Red Army, which had already left Zunyi and entered Sichuan, was again blocked.

The most critical issue was that the Sichuan Army and the Yunnan Army had set up multiple layers of encirclement in front of the Red Army's advance. For a time, the situation of the main Red Army, which had moved to the border of Sichuan and Yunnan, remained grim.

When headquarters received the telegram from the Second Red Army, Mao Zedong, who was also considering the battle plan, said in surprise, "They are truly bold, a regiment's strength, and they have actually stationed in the enemy's heartland."

On the contrary, Zhou Enlai, holding the telegram, said at the right time, "Old Mao, if the intelligence from General He is accurate, the move by the independent regiment might be a good one! Didn't you want to return to Zunyi again?

If our main force returns, I believe the encircling forces near Zunyi will swarm over. At that time, the independent regiment, pretending to be the 704th Regiment, will likely be called to participate in the encirclement. With an insider, our chances of victory will be greater, won't they?"

Hearing Zhou Enlai's suggestion, Mao Zedong thought for a moment and said, "Let's contact the independent regiment first and ask about their current situation. For now, don't tell them about our battle plan, prioritize preserving their strength."

From the distribution of enemy and friendly forces on the map, Mao Zedong could also see that the position of the independent regiment was very dangerous. Once their disguise was exposed, the encircling forces near Jinping would likely annihilate this independent regiment behind enemy lines.

When receiving the call from headquarters, He Zhengdao was also very happy and said, "Commissar, it's Comrade Mao's telegram! We have finally made contact with headquarters! Let's quickly ask about the current location of headquarters!"

After receiving the reply from headquarters, He Zhengdao looked at the military map and knew that this was the position of the Red Army after the first crossing of the Chishui River. So, the time for the second crossing of the Chishui River should not be far off!

Thinking about this, He Zhengdao quickly wrote a detailed report about the formation and development of the independent regiment. In the telegram, he also informed headquarters that the independent regiment had a batch of supplies and a list of medicines that they hoped to deliver to headquarters as soon as possible.

Looking at this long telegram, Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai both felt that the independent regiment, which had grown from He Zhengdao alone to its current scale, was simply incredible.

What was even more astonishing was that the independent regiment, which had grown from nothing, had almost never lost a battle. Even after capturing many cities from the Guangxi Army and the Hunan Army, they had not exposed their whereabouts, which was truly remarkable!

Even Mao Zedong sighed, "I never thought this young man had such command capabilities!"

Similarly, Zhu De also said with a smile, "It seems that making him your guard battalion commander was a bit of a waste. This young man, if used well, can be a fierce general for our Red Army!"

Regarding the two men's words, Zhou Enlai said with a headache, "Old Mao, General, do you think how we should receive this batch of supplies? Whether it's weapons, ammunition, or medicines, they are all urgently needed by us!"

Only Mao Zedong looked at the map and said, "It seems that we can't avoid fighting in Zunyi this time. Send a telegram to the independent regiment, approving the formation of their regiment. From today, the independent regiment will be directly under the command of headquarters.

Additionally, have them pay attention to the military movements of the Central Army and the Guizhou Army. Protect the supplies and wait for headquarters' orders. If there is an opportunity, it would be best for them to move to the Wengan area.

If they cannot find a battle opportunity, prioritize preserving their strength. If the situation is unfavorable, they can withdraw to the western Hunan area and join the Second Red Army. We will inform them about our battle plan after the battle begins."

Although Mao Zedong also wanted to order the independent regiment to quickly bring the supplies to headquarters, he was very clear that under the current heavy encirclement, it would be extremely difficult for the independent regiment to successfully join headquarters.

What he and the independent regiment could do now was to find the right opportunity during the movement. If the independent regiment could move to the Wengan area, perhaps the main force could also send troops to assist them.

But Mao Zedong suddenly felt that if the independent regiment, this special force, was used well, it might play an unexpected role. At least, the battle reports from He Zhengdao made him believe in He Zhengdao's command capabilities.

With such a commander skilled in unconventional warfare, the independent regiment might bring more unpredictable good news to the main force in the enemy's heartland. Perhaps, after causing chaos in Guizhou, it would become chaotic again.

As long as the enemy's encirclement was disrupted, Mao Zedong believed he could find the right opportunity to make the encircling forces retreat without success. What he needed to do now was to make the encircling forces move again. As long as the enemy moved, there would always be an opportunity!