noffsinger Chapter 531 Crossing the River
Chapter 531 Crossing the River
Wang Meng's well-reasoned words spread throughout the 36th Army.
On the fourth day, the 36th Army and the 47th Army had completed their reorganization. Only about a hundred people were unwilling to cross the Yellow River for various reasons.
The remaining soldiers were reorganized into two infantry divisions and one infantry brigade.
Under the supervision of Adjutant Jiang Dingwen, the 47th Army passed through three pontoon bridges and crossed the Yellow River almost naked.
"Humph, since you are not going to take the Central Army's bowl, then don't take a single cent across the Yellow River!"
But Wang Meng didn't care. He really looked down on the 47th Army's assets.
The entire army had no more than a hundred vehicles, and only a few dozen small-caliber infantry guns and mortars. As for the other machine guns and rifles, they were tattered and incomplete.
"Brothers, we should treat these things as beggars. Once we cross the river, we will immediately change into new uniforms and receive new weapons."
After Wang Meng finished speaking, he looked at Adjutant Jiang Dingwen's expression, which turned red and green, and followed Li Jiayu across the Yellow River.
In order to change clothes on the spot, Zhang Wanhe from the Logistics Department put a lot of thought into a large open space 500 meters away from the pontoon bridge.
Zhang Wanhe opened more than a dozen channels to distribute bedding. Those who knew the size could report it on the spot, and those who didn't know would measure it on the spot.
After putting on the new military uniforms, they can go to the field canteen set up on site to eat. Zhang Wanhe prepared dumplings, noodles, buns, etc.
Finally, they were taken to the Jincheng railway station by truck and then transported to Yuncheng, where they were prepared for training at Xing Zhiguo's original camp.
Wang Meng looked at Zhang Wanhe who was busy, and led Li Jiayu over.
"Minister Zhang, where is Commander Li? Didn't he say he would come to pick up the new comrades?"
"Chief of Staff, Commander Li and Political Commissar Zhao are at the Jincheng Railway Station. They will send the soldiers to the train from there!"
Wang Meng nodded. This division of labor was a good idea. Someone was indeed needed at the train station.
"Minister Zhang, this is Comrade Li Jiayu, the commander of our Fourth Army. Our Fourth Army has just arrived, so you, Zhang, will have to take care of it.
Commander Li, this is our God of Wealth, Minister Zhang of the Logistics Department. You must have a good relationship with him. If he lets some money slip through his fingers, you can live a good life!"
Li Jiayu is also a shrewd man. He would offend no one but Zhang Wanhe, who is in charge of logistics. After all, he is the god who controls their eating, drinking, defecating and urinating.
Li Jiayu saluted regardless of his current position.
"Minister Zhang, we are outsiders, please take care of us in the future!"
Zhang Wanhe also knew that he was given the title of God of Wealth by Commander Li and Wang Meng, especially Wang Meng. If he had not vigorously developed the economy in Shanxi, would he, the Minister of Logistics, be so generous?
I remember when I was in the Eighth Route Army, we were so poor that we had to rely on collecting bullet casings to reload gunpowder warheads, and the bullets we fired were all in arcs.
Now, there are six arsenals, three clothing factories, several instant noodle factories, compressed biscuit factories, etc.
The resources he controls are probably more than those controlled by the three or five provinces of the Central Army.
"Commander Li, you are too polite. Let's work together to drive the Japanese out as soon as possible!
Chief of Staff, Commander Li, let's have dumplings on board and noodles off board. We have just gotten off the Central Army and stepped onto the road of the Independent Column. How about a bowl of dumplings and then a bowl of noodles?"
Wang Meng didn't expect that Zhang Wanhe was so fluent in colloquialisms.
"Okay, I'll have the same bowl!"
Wang Meng and Li Jiayu gulped down the dumplings and noodles, then boarded the truck with the first group of soldiers and headed for Jincheng Railway Station.
When we arrived at the train station, we saw slogans welcoming the Fourth Army posted all over the station.
Li Yunlong and Zhao Gang were also standing at the entrance of the train station, looking forward to it.
Wang Meng and Li Jiayu got out of the car, walked quickly to Li Yunlong and Zhao Gang, and saluted.
"Commander Li Yunlong, Political Commissar Zhao Gang, I have been ordered to organize the reorganization of the Fourth Army. Part of the reorganization has been completed. This is Comrade Li Jiayu, Commander of the Fourth Army!"
When Li Jiayu saw his two immediate superiors, he quickly straightened his body and saluted.
"Hello, Commander Li, hello, Political Commissar Zhao, I am Li Jiayu!"
Li Yunlong has been reading through all the information about Li Jiayu these past two days. This "Shorty Li" is notorious for his brutality in battle and can be considered a ruthless character.
"Welcome, from now on we are comrades in the same trench! I was planning to let you take a rest, but now the Japanese may not give us time!
Two months, in two months you infantrymen must complete combined training with tanks and armored vehicles!
The tank regiment and armored vehicles have been sent to the training ground in Yuncheng in advance, and training will begin immediately! "
Li Yunlong's straightforward approach was very much to Li Jiayu's liking. In this war-torn era, being polite would only waste time and would not bring any other benefits.
"Yes! I'll start as soon as we get to Yuncheng!"
Zhao Gang smiled and waved his hand, jokingly saying:
"Old Li, Commander Li Jiayu has just arrived at our base, and you are putting so much pressure on him. That's a bit too much!"
Zhao Gang changed the subject and said to Li Jiayu:
“Commander Li Jiayu, Commander Li Yunlong’s words are both pressure and motivation. You must convey them to commanders at all levels.
In addition, President Lin Shubing of the National Defense University has assigned a group of instructors to each of your divisions, who will be responsible for the training of your soldiers and officers.
You senior officers must lead by example and set a good example for the soldiers. Try to get the approval of our Principal Lin Shubing as soon as possible so that you can go to the battlefield as soon as possible!
In addition, our political cadres will also be stationed in your troops. It's not that we don't trust you, but it's the tradition of our independent column. But don't worry, unless it's necessary, we will never interfere with your training and command! "
Wang Meng had already informed Li Jiayu of this request in advance, so he had no objection.
"Yes! Welcome the instructors and political cadres to move in! We will study hard and cooperate with the political cadres to complete the transformation of the team!"
Wang Meng saw that everyone had finished talking, so he said to Li Yunlong and Zhao Gang:
"Then I'll take them there first, Lao Li and Lao Zhao. I'll leave the dock and the station to you! I'll come back after I've settled them down!"
"Go ahead, contact me immediately if there is anything that needs coordination!"
After Wang Meng finished speaking, he boarded the train heading west.
"Commander Li, do you see this railway? We built it ourselves. Now Jincheng, Qingyang, Yuncheng, Linfen, Changzhi, Pingshun, Taiyuan, Yangquan and Datong are all connected. In addition, we can also go to Baotou in the north!
All of our county towns are connected by high-quality asphalt roads, making it very convenient for our people to travel and for the deployment of troops!"