Chapter 92

As the main force of the Independent Division successfully rendezvoused in Shuicheng, many of the city's residents were surprised to see the thousands of prisoners being escorted into the city. In their view, when did the Red Army become so powerful?

According to the government's propaganda, the Red Army should have been scattered and fleeing in Guizhou. But why, every time the Red Army came to Shuicheng, did it seem that the Central Army was the one suffering losses? This made many residents think that the government might be exaggerating!

Facing the curious gazes of the residents, He Zhengdao, who had finally reunited with the political commissar, was also welcomed by the commissar who had been stationed in the rear. The complete annihilation of Zhou Hunyuan's division undoubtedly greatly boosted the morale of the Red Army!

"Commander, this battle was fought brilliantly!"

Hearing Yao Shengjun's words, He Zhengdao smiled and said, "Winning battles is my duty. But Commissar, how many of the prisoners can be selected to join our division will depend on your ability. To quickly distance ourselves from the pursuing enemy, I can't give you too much time. I hope that out of these ten thousand prisoners, we can recruit half of them to join our ranks. This way, our division can be fully staffed."

"Rest assured, I will do my best! In the past few days, the political education of the new recruits has been completed, and the results have been good. If you agree, the new recruits can be assigned to our main units."

"Of course, I agree! In this battle, we still lost many soldiers. I plan to hold a collective funeral for them in Shuicheng tomorrow. The wounded must be treated as soon as possible. Those who cannot be taken with us should be contacted with local guerrillas to be sent to the mountains for recovery. We must also speed up, or it will be hard to know when we can reunite with the main force."

"Alright! I will arrange these matters!"

After a brief conversation outside the city, He Zhengdao returned to the division headquarters in the city and quickly said, "Send a telegram to headquarters to inform them of our battle results. Also, tell the leaders of headquarters that the Independent Division needs at least two days to rest and regroup."

"Yes, Commander!"

As this victory report was sent to headquarters, which had just crossed the Jinsha River, Zhou Enlai, upon receiving the telegram, excitedly slapped the table and said, "This battle was fought brilliantly!"

Seeing Zhou Enlai's excitement, the officers in the telegraph room also felt very happy. Although the Independent Division was a newly formed unit, it had already become a heroic unit with a string of victories in the minds of these telegraph operators.

When the telegram was forwarded to Mao Zedong and Zhu De, Mao Zedong also happily said, "This battle was fought well! The annihilation of Zhou Hunyuan's main division, along with the reorganization of the Guizhou army in Liupan, has opened up more routes for the Independent Division to break through. Zhou Hunyuan, who has been our Red Army's nemesis, has finally fallen into our hands. It seems that our Chairman Jiang will be very upset!"

"Yes! As an opponent, Zhou Hunyuan is indeed a rare talent. Unfortunately, like other Central Army commanders, he only follows orders and acts as Chairman Jiang's executioner. Alas!"

Zhu De, who had dealt with Zhou Hunyuan many times, naturally knew that his command ability was very good. If not for his determination to hold the steep ravine and wait for the other reinforcements to encircle, he might not have ended up in this situation.

At this moment, looking at the advance routes of several Central Army divisions, Mao Zedong worriedly said, "Do you think the Independent Division can stay in Shuicheng for two days? The 86th Division of the Central Army is not far away."

"Mao, I think we should trust Xiao He. He should be more aware of their current situation. If he doesn't have a solid plan, he wouldn't make such a decision. Let him decide on this matter!"

"Alright, Enlai, inform the Independent Division of our next route. Order them to leave Guizhou as soon as possible and strive to reunite with the main force in Sichuan. The current enemy situation is not yet relaxed!"

"Alright, I will send the telegram to them shortly!"

Receiving the main force's route from headquarters, He Zhengdao felt that the Red Army's main force still hoped to reunite with the Fourth Front Army. However, He Zhengdao knew that the Fourth Front Army might not respect the central command much now!

Although he had these concerns, He Zhengdao did not show them. While ordering the troops to rest and regroup, the reinforcements from Nayong, upon learning that Zhou Hunyuan had been defeated, decisively stopped advancing.

As for Xue Yue in Guiyang, facing this outcome, he could not help but sigh, "It's over! The chance to encircle and annihilate this Red Army Independent Division is gone. How can I explain this to Chairman Jiang!"

Given the current situation, even if Xue Yue did not want to admit defeat, he had to acknowledge that the situation was very unfavorable for them. Especially since the Independent Division and the Red Army's main force advancing into Sichuan were not far apart.

Although there were still many Yunnan and Sichuan troops between the two forces, Xue Yue knew that the combat capabilities of these border guards were unreliable. It was impossible to stop the Independent Division!

The main Yunnan troops were mostly deployed near Kunming, and the main Sichuan troops were dealing with the Fourth Front Army entering Sichuan. The remaining few defense units could not resist the Red Army's main force entering Sichuan.

Despite knowing that he was powerless, Xue Yue still ordered the Yunnan troops led by Long Yun and the Sichuan troops led by Liu Xiang and Liu Wenhui to gather heavy forces at the Yunnan-Sichuan border to block the Independent Division. Any chance, no matter how small, could not be allowed to let the Independent Division easily reunite with the Red Army's main force.

Before the main force of the Independent Division began to advance, the First Regiment and the Reconnaissance Battalion, after a day of rest in Shuicheng, secretly left the city. Their task was to pave the way for the main force.

After two days of rest and through the "complaints" activity, Yao Shengjun successfully selected over 5,000 ordinary soldiers from the prisoners to join the new regiment, which was left with only instructors. The remaining prisoners were also partially assigned to the logistics units.

As for the prisoners who were eliminated, He Zhengdao ordered the Second Regiment to drive them to the steep ravine to accompany Zhou Hunyuan. The food and supplies given to them could only last for three days.

If their reinforcements did not arrive within three days, it would not be He Zhengdao's concern. Most of these released prisoners were old soldiers and those with bad habits.

The truly loyal officers to the Central Army, apart from those executed, were sent to the logistics units by Yao Shengjun to transport supplies for the Independent Division. When they would be released would depend on their luck!

After the Red Army's main force began to move from Shuicheng towards Liupan, upon receiving the news, Xue Yue still ordered the encirclement forces in Nayong to pursue. However, this force, after leaving Shuicheng, was quickly defeated and retreated in disarray.

Faced with these poorly performing reorganized divisions, Xue Yue felt very helpless. But considering that they had successfully recaptured Shuicheng, Xue Yue did not want to make things too difficult for them. After all, these were local forces!

Upon learning that Zhou Hunyuan, due to severe injuries, could not be saved, Xue Yue knew that he could not escape punishment. In Chairman Jiang's heart, Zhou Hunyuan was a trusted and beloved general!

Receiving Xue Yue's telegram, Chairman Jiang could not help but be furious. After venting his anger, he also knew that it would be difficult to encircle and annihilate the Independent Division again.

But even so, Chairman Jiang still ordered, "Order Xue Yue and Long Yun to gather heavy forces and advance into Sichuan. They must annihilate the Red Army's main force and the Independent Division in Sichuan. If they fail again, I will not hesitate to take military action against them. Damn it, we have the numerical advantage and our equipment is a hundred times better than the Red Army's. Why do we always suffer defeats?"

For this question, the Central Army commanders, who were bearing the brunt of his anger, dared not answer. But many of them felt that Chairman Jiang's plan to annihilate the Red Army in Sichuan had a low chance of success.

The Central Army's elite forces, which had been annihilated by the Independent Division, numbered three divisions and over 30,000 men. The main Central Army forces participating in the encirclement in Guizhou were also not many. And how many Red Army troops were there in Sichuan now?

Not to mention the First Front Army and the Independent Division, just the Fourth Front Army alone, which had entered Sichuan, had over 70,000 troops. For the poorly equipped Sichuan troops, they had no significant advantage against the Fourth Front Army.

Knowing this was one thing, but the orders issued by Chairman Jiang in his fury had to be firmly executed. At this moment, no one dared to defy him. But many Central Army commanders remembered the Independent Division.

A unit formed from Red Army soldiers who had been captured by the Central Army could cause so much trouble. Its commander, He Zhengdao, also became a target of the Central Army's intelligence department.

Unfortunately, He Zhengdao's appearance was too mysterious. Having previously served in the security battalion, he had contact with only the Red Army's top leadership. Truly knowing his background was rare, making it difficult to gather detailed information about him.