Chapter 50

Early the next morning, many of the Red Army officers and soldiers who had been resting at the camp saw the last independent regiment, which had just joined the headquarters, packing their bags and preparing to move out. However, the other units seemed to have received no combat instructions.

Although everyone knew that the current location was not suitable for a long stay, without orders from superiors, no unit dared to move随意调动. The departure of the independent regiment perhaps signaled that a new round of battles was about to begin.

Watching the independent regiment, which had been resting for three days, He Zhengdao didn't say much. He simply waved his hand and said, "Let's go!"

The reconnaissance company, as the vanguard of the independent regiment, was undoubtedly the first to leave the camp. The other soldiers of the independent regiment also quickly ran off. As for where they were going, many of the Red Army officers and soldiers didn't know.

As He Zhengdao led the independent regiment to depart early in the morning, Mao Zedong and Zhu De, who had also risen early, looked somewhat serious. They both knew that the task assigned to the independent regiment was not an easy one!

Watching the independent regiment disappear from sight, Mao Zedong was still unwilling to leave. Zhu De, who seemed to know something, smiled and said, "Old Mao, since you entrusted such an important task to him, you should trust him. Although the independent regiment has only about 3,000 people, look at their equipment. Our main force can't match any unit with their equipment. I believe this young man won't let us down."

"But I still feel a bit uneasy. If I didn't know that their independent regiment was the best-equipped, I wouldn't have assigned such a task to them. After all, it's already a lucky thing if they can return alive," Mao Zedong said, leaving the rest unsaid. Zhu De could understand. These people had barely survived, and now they had to serve as the vanguard of the main force, poking the hornet's nest of the encircling army. The outcome could be disastrous if things went wrong.

After a while, Zhu De said, "Who asked us to be the Red Army!"

This seemingly helpless statement also revealed the current situation of the Red Army. Zhu De knew that Mao Zedong felt somewhat uneasy about assigning the task to the independent regiment.

But all the officers and soldiers were watching him. As the former commander of Mao Zedong's guard company and now the commander of the independent regiment, He Zhengdao's independent regiment might not have the highest combat effectiveness, but their equipment was definitely the best in the entire army.

Since the independent regiment had such conditions, wasn't it natural for them to take on some arduous tasks?

However, He Zhengdao himself wasn't very clear about all this. The reconnaissance company, which left first, changed into the uniforms of the Central Army after leaving the camp and began to scout for the main force.

Even though He Zhengdao knew that the area the independent regiment was moving to had no Central Army encirclement forces, to ensure absolute safety, he sent the entire reconnaissance company to continuously scout the enemy situation ahead of the independent regiment.

The independent regiment, carrying only five days' worth of rations, also carried limited weapons and ammunition. As for the captured prisoners, Yao Shengjun, who was concerned, handed them over to the Military Commission's column.

Therefore, the independent regiment, which had been resting for a few days, was very happy to set out again for the enemy-occupied area. During the days of joining the headquarters, many Red Army soldiers felt that they were more free when they were outside on their own.

Most of their comrades had similar experiences of being captured. As for the new comrades who had been added, they were all former ordinary soldiers of the Central Army. In comparison, they seemed to be in the same boat.

Yao Shengjun, who set out with He Zhengdao, asked somewhat puzzled, "Commander, where is Xiaoshan? Why isn't he with you? I thought you sent him to deliver a message! Why hasn't he joined us yet?"

In response to Yao Shengjun's question, He Zhengdao said calmly, "Xiaoshan has another task and won't be joining us for now. Don't worry, as long as we survive, I believe we will meet again."

From He Zhengdao's words, Yao Shengjun could sense that the task He Xiaoshan was assigned to was not simple. In fact, after much deliberation, He Zhengdao finally decided to send He Xiaoshan on that mission.

In addition, he also selected five elite soldiers from the reconnaissance company. However, He Zhengdao didn't tell anyone about the mission of these six people. He still hoped that when the main force of the Red Army successfully reached Yan'an, they would meet again there.

Seeing that He Zhengdao was unwilling to reveal what task He Xiaoshan and the others were on, Yao Shengjun didn't press further. During the days at headquarters, Yao Shengjun truly understood the status He Zhengdao held in the hearts of the leaders.

Despite his young age, with the recognition of these leaders, He Zhengdao was expected to achieve great things in the Red Army. Before departure, Zhou Enlai also specifically met with him and asked him to cooperate more with He Zhengdao in future operations.

After a day and night of marching, the independent regiment reappeared on the banks of the Chishui River in the evening. Looking at the still-erected pontoon bridges, the soldiers of the independent regiment felt that they would have to return to the place where they had previously ended the battle.

Seeing the somewhat tired soldiers and the sky, He Zhengdao quickly ordered, "Command the troops to rest on the spot! Eat some dry rations and water, and cross the river at 8 PM. The reconnaissance company, cross the river in advance and set up defensive positions."

After the order was given, the main force of the independent regiment began to find places to rest. For these Red Army soldiers, marching and traveling were routine. A few hours of rest was already a rare luxury!

Seeing the reconnaissance company, dressed in Central Army uniforms, cross the Chishui River in advance, He Zhengdao waited for their report. Fortunately, the weather was good tonight, and the moonlight alone was enough for the independent regiment to cross the river without torches.

On the banks of the Chishui River, He Zhengdao couldn't be sure that the Central Army or other encirclement forces wouldn't send reconnaissance units to scout. Therefore, sending the reconnaissance company in advance could help clarify the enemy situation on the other side of the river.

Soon, a communicator from the reconnaissance company returned and reported that no enemy was found within ten kilometers on the other side of the river. Hearing this, He Zhengdao breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that the Central Army had not yet detected their intention to return.

In fact, not long after the independent regiment set out, a regiment of the First Red Army Corps also began to march boldly. Their direction was precisely where the various encirclement forces were located.

Of course, the task of this main regiment was to attract and divert the attention of the encirclement forces. As for He Zhengdao's independent regiment, their task was to clear the enemy on the Red Army's route for crossing the Chishui River again.

According to Mao Zedong's instructions, he hoped that the independent regiment could serve as a sharp blade for the main force, piercing deep into the rear of the encirclement forces, which were now thinly spread. This task was simple in theory but not easy in practice.

If they were exposed prematurely, the entire operation would be affected. Therefore, during the march, He Zhengdao was very cautious. The reconnaissance company's scouts thoroughly searched the area several kilometers ahead of the troops.

Fortunately, the encirclement forces were now focused on the Red Army's main force resting on the north bank. Various troops were also gathering nearby. The east bank, where the independent regiment was passing, was relatively quiet.

The independent regiment's soldiers, who were gradually woken up at 8 PM, felt they hadn't rested well. However, they all knew that the task of crossing the Chishui River again was not light. They would likely have little time to rest in the coming days.

After successfully crossing the Chishui River, He Zhengdao said to Sun Shicheng, who was marching with the regimental headquarters, "Send a telegram to headquarters. Our unit has successfully crossed the Chishui River. No enemy has been detected so far, and we are proceeding according to the original plan."

"Yes, Commander!"

As the only communicator personally recruited by He Zhengdao, Sun Shicheng was also personally received by Zhou Enlai during his days at headquarters. If "reception" was not appropriate, it could be said that he was personally questioned.

In any case, after meeting Zhou Enlai, Sun Shicheng truly felt the difference between the Red Army and the Central Army he had previously served in. In the Central Army, let alone meeting a leader like Zhou Enlai, he would have been lucky to say a word to a division commander.

After the meeting with Zhou Enlai, he returned to the independent regiment as the head of the communications platoon. However, this time, his appointment was directly made by Zhou Enlai, not just by He Zhengdao.

Although he was still a platoon leader, Sun Shicheng was now trusted by the communications platoon leaders who had previously doubted him. This feeling of being trusted made Sun Shicheng feel very good.

When headquarters received the telegram from the independent regiment, Zhu De said happily, "Old Mao, it seems your guess was right. Now that the Central Army's main force has mostly gathered on the north bank, can we withdraw?"

"No rush! Let the troops rest for one more day and give the Central Army more time to tighten the noose. If we run away now, they will think we are running too fast. Let's wait a bit longer. I believe the independent regiment will reach the Xishui area tomorrow.

If the independent regiment can really deal with the Guizhou forces in Xishui, our main force will have more time to move after crossing the Chishui River. So, waiting one more day is not a problem. Now, we just need to wait for news from the independent regiment."

By saying this, Mao Zedong also hoped that the independent regiment could achieve new success and clear a relatively easy path for the main force. If there were any resistance along the way, it would undoubtedly delay the movement.