Chapter 2, The War of Resistance, The Transformation of the Sichuan Army

Officer Ma is handling an emergency situation; therefore, the meeting will be temporarily postponed

What is going on, what does "Chief Ma" mean

It should not be the case. The War of Resistance is at a difficult moment, and the Northwest would not destroy its own stronghold. Moreover, I have heard that the Northwest is digging into the roots of Chiang Kai-shek. At this time, if they were to act against us, would it not instill fear in outsiders? The esteemed leader should not be so unwise.

Peng Chengfu is appointed as the Major General Commander of the 44th Army, and Liao Zhensheng, the former Commander of the 167th Division, is promoted to the position of Major General Deputy Commander of the 44th Army. Li Xiajun, the former Chief of Staff of the 167th Division, is appointed as the Major General Chief of Staff of the 44th Army. Zhang Su, the former Deputy Commander of the 167th Division, is appointed as the Major General Commander of the 167th Division of the 44th Army. Chen Shaotang, the former Chief of Staff of the 23rd Army, is transferred to the position of Major General Chief of Staff of the New 19th Army. Liu Zhaohua, the former Commander of the 168th Division, is promoted to the position of Major General Deputy Commander of the New 19th Army. Furthermore, the above two divisions are to relocate to Baokang and merge with the 44th Army into the 17th Corps within one month from the issuance of this order.

What should I do? Just do what needs to be done

Order No. 187 of the Northwest National Defense Military and Political Committee, Year 27 of the Republic. The order is as follows: A. The 23rd Army is disbanded, and the 167th and 168th Divisions under its command are transferred to the 17th Corps

I believe this should be a review meeting specifically aimed at enhancing the combat effectiveness of the Sichuan Army

He De Yu shouted loudly

Brother Wu Yi, you have arrived just in time

The Sichuan Army fought many hard battles in Henan, Shanxi, Shandong, and Anhui, and they have made certain sacrifices. However, what are the results? What are the achievements? The situation is truly disheartening! They are few and far between! Does such a force need to be reorganized? Should those who have made contributions be rewarded, while the incompetent be dismissed?

Zhou Guang was responding with a rhetorical question

Zhou Guang did not give anyone a chance to oppose him and continued to speak to himself

In addition, the 32 counties in Eastern Sichuan, including Kaixian, Wuxi, Wushan, Fengjie, and Chongqing, as well as the 16 counties in Hubei such as Lichuan, Xianfeng, Enshi, and Yichang, the 10 counties in Hunan including Shimen, Cili, and Sangzhi, and the 5 counties in Guizhou such as Songtao, Yanhe, Wuchuan, Daozhen, Zheng'an, and Tongzi, will be merged to form the Eastern Sichuan Province, with Brother Jinkang serving as the provincial governor. Furthermore, the special status of Zigong and Chengdu will be revoked and incorporated into Western Sichuan Province, while the 3 counties of Chishui, Xishui, and Huairen from Guizhou will be compensated to Eastern Sichuan Province. As for the governor of Western Sichuan Province, it will be temporarily assumed by the former commander of the Southern Group Army, General Peng Yuefeng.

Who wants to bet on you, what nonsense are you talking about

Leng Yindong's expression instantly fell, yet he could not ascertain whether this was the intention of the Northwest or Liu Wenhui's efforts to prevent himself, the deputy commander of this war zone, from becoming a mere figurehead. Therefore, he merely huffed through his nose, ultimately bowing his head in submission and handing over the greatest trump card of the 10th Corps.

The commander Jun has finished his discussion with Deputy Commander Liu

At this point, it is already irretrievable for them; the only thing that can be done now is to hope that the strong stance of the powerful figures in Sichuan can compel the high-level officials in the Northwest to waver in their determination to rectify the situation

Please

This appointment relieved Sun Zhen and his subordinates greatly

A sharp reprimand echoed over, and He Deyu was taken aback as the head of the theater chief of staff, Zhou Guangyou, emerged.

Let's go, we will talk about it when we get back

Liu Cuncheng's face instantly turned pale, yet Ma Kang did not even spare him a glance as he continued speaking to himself

Having said that, a dining cart was pushed in from outside, and the attendant poured tea for each person, then placed pastries, candied fruits, peanuts, dried fruits, and even seasonal fruits on the table.

What do you want to do, what are your intentions?

B. The designation of the 41st Army is revoked. The 161st Division of the 41st Army is incorporated into the 45th Army, the 160th Division is incorporated into the 66th Army, and the 156th Division is incorporated into the new 6th Army. Sun Zhen, the former commander of the 41st Army, is appointed as the deputy commander of the 9th Group Army, acting as the commander. Wei Bangwen, the former deputy commander of the 41st Army, is reassigned as the deputy commander of the 66th Army, and Yuan Changzhu, the former chief of staff of the 41st Army, is promoted to deputy commander of the new 6th Army

Ma Kang, feeling somewhat parched as he read, passed the paper to Zhou Guangyou. Zhou Guangyou took it, glanced over it, and then continued.

Leng Yindong is not a fool; Liu Cuncheng does not seek Yang Sen or Sun Zhen, yet he specifically approaches me. How could I possibly be deceived

The designation of the 1st Reserve Army has been revoked. Former Commander Liu Yuanzhang of the 1st Reserve Army has been promoted to Deputy Corps Commander of the 15th Corps. Former Deputy Commander Su Huazhou of the 1st Reserve Army has been reassigned as Deputy Commander of the 24th Army and concurrently as Commander of the 18th Reserve Division. Former Deputy Commander Xia Shouxun of the 24th Army and Commander of the 18th Reserve Division has been promoted to Deputy Corps Commander of the 10th Corps. Former Chief of Staff Huang Ao of the 1st Reserve Army has been transferred to serve as Chief of Staff of the 47th Army. Former Chief of Staff Xiong Cihou of the 47th Army has been promoted to Chief of Staff of the 10th Corps.

The Deputy Commander of the 24th Army, Xia Shouxun, questioned in this manner

Alright, the meeting is adjourned

Zhou Guang waved his hand, and the guard soldiers stepped aside

Upon seeing Zhou Guang's demeanor, Yang Sen and the others had no choice but to sit down as well. They returned to their places, and the group of instructors and deputy instructors naturally did not dare to cause any more commotion, thus they also took their seats.

Officer Ma is waiting for Gaolan's call

The commander of the 15th Legion attempted to make a definitive statement to Yu Ren, but as soon as he finished speaking, he could not help but take out his pocket watch

Watching Ma Kang and Zhou Guang walk out the door, the unwilling Liu Cunchen approached Leng Yindong.

Everyone take a seat, there are important instructions from the leader that need to be conveyed, so I cannot leave. Considering that you may have thoughts on this matter, I have come over to accompany you first

Yang Sen pointed at the food that had been delivered and the soldiers outside

The commander of the 1st Army, Liu Yuanzhang, felt increasingly uneasy as he listened, so he interjected. Upon his remark, everyone's ears perked up.

What is meant to come will eventually arrive, but it seems that the cost of Liu Wenhui's reassignment was not in vain; aside from the reduction of one army's designation, the losses of the two corps do not appear to be too significant.

Brother Junda, why not send a telegram to Lord Zhong? I also need to seek an explanation from Lord Qian.

This series of changes astonished all the Sichuan army officers present

The major first saluted everyone, and then continued.

Ma Kang, on what grounds do you detain me here? I have fought against the Japanese, and I still carry their shrapnel in my body. If you have the guts, come at me openly.

Upon hearing this, everyone could not help but feel a significant question mark in their hearts. Taking advantage of the National Government in Guiyang being preoccupied, they might carve out a large portion of land from Hubei and Hunan, or it could be said that it is to better confront the invading Japanese army. However, to cede several counties of Guizhou, is it not akin to cutting flesh from the heart of the Jiang faction, which has already regarded Guizhou as their last stronghold? Would the other party agree to this?

The commander of the 11th Corps holds the highest rank among the Sichuan Army, while the commander of the 9th Group Army, Deng Xihou, who has already been transferred to the Henan-Anhui battle zone, did not attend the meeting. Therefore, it is only natural that he occupies the foremost position among the Sichuan Army. However, his status has not been recognized by everyone; at least, the recently spoken 10th Corps commander, Leng Yindong, is one hundred and twenty percent dissatisfied with him.

Ma Kang walked to his seat and pressed down with his hand

Then let us wait; in a while, we will naturally know.

You ask me, whom should I inquire? Who knows what kind of schemes are being concocted in the northwest, bringing us all together

I was just thinking of asking someone about it

The designation of the 170th Division of the 23rd Army has been revoked, and the troops are to be transferred to the 20th Army effective immediately. The former commander of the 170th Division, Wei Kejian, has been promoted to the position of Deputy Major General of the 20th Army, while the former Chief of Staff of the 170th Division, Colonel Wang Jie, has been promoted to Major General Chief of Staff of the 20th Army. The former Deputy Commander of the 20th Army, Yu Mengqun, has been promoted to the position of Deputy Lieutenant General of the 11th Corps, and the former Chief of Staff of the 20th Army, Major General Yang Jianli, has been promoted to Major General Chief of Staff of the 11th Corps. The former commander of the 23rd Army, Liu Cuncheng, has been promoted to the position of Deputy Major General of the Mengbian Group Army and has been granted permission to attend a one-year advanced study program at the National Defense Academy of the Northwest Army College.

The old cadres of the 23rd Army furrowed their brows, daring to be angry but not expressing it. As for the Yang Sen faction of the 20th Army, they also seemed to feel a certain pressure, each with a face as dark as water, creating an extremely oppressive atmosphere in the conference room

"Old man Laozi, Brother Decao, you have a mouth like a crow; it seems you have spoken the truth. A banquet without good food, a meeting without good discussions."

General Sun Zhen of the 41st Army seemed to have an unsettling feeling

At this point, Leng Yindong stood up and exchanged a glance with Liu Yuanzhang and Yang Yuren

Please take a seat

Zhou Guang walked over and sat down in the position of the deputy.

Esteemed officials

However, compared to the ease of the generals of the 41st Army, the generals of the two corps and three armies under Liu Wenhui's system felt quite uneasy. No one knew exactly what Liu Wenhui discussed with Dai Jiliang. However, Liu Wenhui even resigned as the Chairman of Sichuan Province, presumably to preserve his military power. It is likely that the Northwest would take this factor into consideration. Yet, as long as the trump card remains undisclosed, no one can feel assured.

What are you arguing about

So, does this mean that the theater is indeed preparing to take action against the Sichuan army

Ma Kang's voice came from outside the door, and Zhou Guang immediately stood up. Following his lead, the members of the Sichuan army stood up in a disordered manner.

Although General Liu Cuncheng of the 23rd Army was also unsure in his heart, he still pretended to respond with confidence.

Certainly, everyone understands that Sun Zhenbu's ability to achieve such an outcome is due to the fact that Deng Xihou and Tian Songyao are essentially one entity, complementing each other. It is also because the 41st Army and the 9th Group Army indeed exerted their utmost effort during several battles, which can be considered part of the reward for their contributions in the Northwest

After each department has been instructed to reorganize, it is essential to effectively streamline personnel, strengthen frontline combat troops, and expedite tactical training to respond to the advancing Japanese forces

Major General He Deyu, the deputy division commander of the 161st Division, walked towards the door upon hearing the sound, but several armed guards blocked his way.

However, unlike the lively commanders in the back row, the faces of several corps commanders and army commanders sitting at the long conference table were either solemn or peculiar, clearly indicating that even they were somewhat at a loss.

This is not right. They said the meeting would start at 10:00 AM, and now it is already 10:15. Why can't we even see a shadow of Officer Ma and the others?

The reason for the alert outside is also my intention. Although the theater command is not large, it is not a place that can be entered recklessly. As for anyone who cannot hold it in, they may report to me, and I will approve it, but they must go one by one.

However, Makang did not provide any answers to these questions, nor did he elaborate much on the fates of Tian Songyao and Liu Cunhou; instead, he took out a piece of paper and began to read.

What does it mean to take action

The 151st Division of the Tang Ying Unit was transferred to the 15th Corps, while the original artillery regiment of the 10th Corps under the direct command of Xu Sipin was reassigned to the directly governed Xiang-E-Ba-Shu Theater of Operations

Brother Zihui, what meeting are we gathered for today? Why does it seem like all our colleagues from Sichuan are here?

Ma Kang's remarks provided a conclusion to today's meeting content

The crowd was in an uproar, but the major's words were not yet finished

Although the 41st Army has been disbanded, it is indeed not easy for each division to be fully integrated into the 9th Group Army, and it seems that Sun Zhen has been promoted as a result. Although there will inevitably be some adjustments when he takes command of the 9th Group Army, it is still a thousand times better than the situation of Liu Cuncheng's troops

The conference room of the Command Headquarters of the Zhengxian Jiluzhong War Zone has now turned into a marketplace, with a group of Sichuan army generals sitting there, chattering away and engaging in animated discussions. As they spoke passionately, their arms flailed about and saliva flew everywhere, creating a scene reminiscent of a chaotic dance of demons

Do Chairman Liu and Mayor Tian know about this matter

How dare several legion commanders make such a commotion in the theater command office!

When it comes to the insufficient strength of the Sichuan Army, the primary reason is, of course, that various units of the Sichuan Army have suffered significant losses in battles against the Japanese army. Additionally, the interception of new recruits and returning personnel from the Sichuan Army in the northwest has also contributed to the difficulties in replenishing the Sichuan Army. However, the fundamental reason lies in the insularity and exclusivity of the Sichuan Army, which has led to a reluctance among its units to accept new recruits from outside Sichuan. This issue has now been brought to light by Zhou Guangyou, leaving several corps commanders and army commanders at a loss for words.

After the adjutant finished speaking, the group of Sichuan army officers exchanged glances with one another. After a long while, Chen Guangzao, the commander of the 47th Army, let out a sigh

I have just finished a call with Junzuo. According to the results of the negotiations between Junzuo and Brother Ziqian, Brother Ziqian will resign from the position of Chairman of Sichuan Province and will be appointed as the Deputy Commander of the Xiang-E-Bashu War Zone. Brothers Guangxiang and Zhongshan will also respectively resign from their positions as mayors of Chongqing and Zigong.

Then it would be strange, could it be that Ma Kang is preparing a feast at Hongmen?

As soon as he spoke, the noise in the room suddenly fell silent. Just when everyone was at a loss, the door of the conference room was pushed open. The crowd assumed it was the theater commander, Ma Kang, arriving, and they all stood up, straightened their clothes and hats, and showed great respect. However, to their surprise, it was a major aide who walked in, causing a slight stir in the room.

Yang Sen walked over

"By keeping us all confined here, it is easier for them to launch an attack on our troops outside"

Brother Xunnan, the northwest has taken action, what shall we do

The kitchen of the theater command has prepared tea and snacks, and lunch is also being prepared. Please be patient for a moment, gentlemen.

Furthermore, regarding the military, despite the fact that each of you holds the titles of corps commander, army commander, or division commander, how many soldiers, how many guns, and how many artillery pieces does a division actually have? In light of this situation where there are many officers but few troops, should we consider streamlining the organization and reinforcing the frontline units?