Chapter 33 Yu Xuezhong's Gift

  Someone said: Military salute is the most simple yet the most powerful language among soldiers.

  Ouyang Yun only understood the meaning of this sentence today.

  Yu Xuezong returned him a military salute, then said seriously: "Commander Ouyang, the National Army has withdrawn from Hebei Province, and the situation in North China will become critical. Beiping is a place where dragons and snakes are mixed together, and the Japanese have been operating here for several years, with deep roots. You must be careful when you go to Baying, and avoid being reckless. If things really don't work out, come find me, the 51st Army's doors will always be open to Xue Bing's troops."

  Chen Shaohua followed, "Ouyang, do you still remember what I said to you in Caiyuan? As long as you can repair those Mark IV tanks, the 51st Army will be your home from now on. This promise will never expire, and in the eyes of the military leaders, you and the training brigade are equivalent to the children of the 51st Army. When the child suffers outside, don't worry, there are people from their hometown who can help them."

  The soldiers, especially those from the guard company, were all sighing in amazement. Several of them, who had thought they were abandoned by the 51st Army, even had tears in their eyes, and only now did they put their minds at ease: Commander Yu hadn't abandoned us after all! We can still return to the 51st Army in the future.

  Ouyang Yun nodded and saluted the two again, saying: "Thank you for your concern, Ouyang and all the recruits have taken note!"

  Yu Xuezong nodded, pulled him to the side, pointed at the truck full of guns and ammunition, and said: "Ouyang, I have a favor to ask you. In Wing East, there are still two special police squads from our 51st Army. Once we leave, their supplies will become a problem. These five trucks of military supplies, after Xuebing Troop is settled down, I hope you can find a way to transfer some to them."

  Ouyang Yun initially thought that this batch of military supplies was all given to the student army, and he felt a bit disappointed when he heard it. However, after hearing Yu Xuezong say that Zhang Qingyu's Jidong Special Police First Column and Zhang Yantan's Special Police Second Column had been openly and secretly fighting against the Japanese in Wing East for a long time, he thought to himself that this way, he could use the delivery of supplies as an opportunity to let new recruits gain combat experience in the column. This would not only provide material support to the anti-Japanese forces and create a buffer zone for Beiping and Hebei but also give the student army practical combat training, which was a clever move that killed two birds with one stone. He became excited and readily agreed to take on the task.

  Yu Xuezhong wanted to come to the learning brigade in person, precisely to examine Ouyang Yun face-to-face and see if he was worthy of entrusting him with the special police team's supplies. After a conversation and contact, Ouyang Yun's performance made him very pleased. So before leaving, Yu Xuezhong thoroughly entrusted this small commander, handing over the 40 gold bars used as the vanguard's silver to him for safekeeping, while also telling him several meeting points and passwords between the vanguard and the 51st army in Wingchak to remember.

  After finishing this matter, Yu Xuezong hurriedly prepared to leave. Before he got on the car, Ouyang Yun, out of respect, organized all members of the Xuebing Corps to collectively give a military salute to this patriotic general.

  Yu Xuezong led his men in a military salute, then shook hands with Ouyang Yun. He looked up at the sky, then around at the fields, his face filled with a somewhat desolate expression, and said solemnly: "I'm about to leave Hebei, but I don't know when I'll be able to return!" After finishing speaking, he got into the car and disappeared in a cloud of dust.

  Ouyang Yun involuntarily raised his hand again, quietly watching the car drive out of the recruit barracks, out of sight. After a long time, he put down his hand and began to arrange matters for the 25th Division.

  Yu Xuezong General is the most straightforward and patriotic general he has seen since crossing over. In his heart, he silently said: General Yu, this day will not be too long!

  See off Yu Xuezong, and suddenly there were so many military supplies and more than a hundred old soldiers. Ouyang Yun was no longer so afraid of the Japanese, thinking that if the little devils wanted revenge, they could come over! Hmph, I'd love to slap them in the face again! At this time, the sky had already started to darken, he didn't know whether the Japanese would definitely come or when they would come. He arranged for guards first and then prepared to take people to the 25th Division. However, just as he was gathering his men, Chu Tiange rode a bicycle from outside, stumbling and staggering into the camp. His whole body was covered in dust, with salt grains stuck to his hair, looking extremely disheveled. As soon as he entered the camp, the bike fell over, and he collapsed to the ground, opening his mouth and sticking out his tongue, panting heavily.

  Ouyang Yun hurried over to help him up and asked: "Tiangē, what happened?"

  "Let me lie down, I'm exhausted, I'm going to die!"

  Ouyang Yun had no choice but to put him on the ground, then grabbed his legs, massaging them while telling Liu Zhe Liang: "Zhe Liang, go get some water, mix it with cold water and salt."

  Liu Zhe Liang brought water, and Chen Shichang and others also gathered around. Chu Tian Ge got up and drank the water in one breath, then gasped a few times before he could speak.

  The historical records about Shi You San and others starting a riot in Wanping to make Beijing autonomous are very vague. Ouyang Yun only knew that there was a place called Wanping, but he didn't know anything else, such as the process or where Wanping was exactly. He sent Chu Tian Ge and others to that place with the mindset of a blind cat catching a dead mouse - since Shi You San and others were able to gather a traitor army of over 3,000 people, they must have made a big commotion, otherwise it wouldn't have been known throughout the country. Similarly, since this matter was spread throughout the nation, it couldn't have lasted for too short a time, so the Student Army had ample time to operate.

  Chu Tian Ge and Chao Hong Le arrived at the county seat of Wanping, initially without noticing anything unusual. However, this morning, a motley crew of around 300 people suddenly appeared out of nowhere. Their clothes were a mishmash, and their weapons were equally diverse, including Han Yang rifles, Type 38 rifles, and Zhongzheng machine guns. What made them even more formidable was that they had several Czech-made light machine guns, two Maxim guns, and two mortars. Starting from this afternoon, groups of people, ranging from a few to dozens to over a hundred, began to join in one after another. By the time Chu Tian Ge left, the group had expanded to over 1,000 people. They first occupied the Wanping County Government, then took control of the county police station, and deployed troops to guard each entrance of Wanping. It seems that their next step might be to march towards Beiping.

  Ouyang Yun cleared up the current situation in Wanping through Chu Tian's mouth, and summoned all the cadres above the rank of squad leader. In a tone of inquiry, he said: "Chu Squad Leader has just brought back the latest intelligence from Wanping, Shi You San and others are making a move under the banner of Beiping autonomy, they have not yet made a big show, they should be accumulating strength. It is clear that Shi You San and others have Japanese backing, otherwise it would not be so coincidental. Everyone knows that all National Army troops in Hebei and Beiping will withdraw before 12 o'clock tonight, I estimate it won't take long for them to openly march into Beiping. To crush the wolf-like ambitions of the Japanese, I think we should do this: first expose Shi You San's traitorous face through the media, then try to defeat them on their way to Beiping, Zhe Liang, bring over the map."

  Liu Zhe-liang took out the map from his pocket, unfolded it and spread it on the table. Ouyang Yun had studied it before, pointing to a place called Wan Cun between Wanping and Beiping, saying: "Everyone please look at the map, Wan Cun is right on the must-pass route from Wanping to Beiping, there's a small hill on the left side of the village, according to the familiar terrain of the local soldiers, the trees are dense and there's also an earth temple, hiding hundreds of people is no problem. I estimate that Shi You-san and others will need several days to prepare for their march towards Beiping, we'll set out early tomorrow morning and should arrive by evening, once we get there, we'll act accordingly - what do you all think?"

  Li Tieshu said, "Comrade Commander, why don't we rush to Wanping overnight? Shi You San and the others just gathered in Wanping today. Taking advantage of their unstable footing, we can launch a night attack. With those disorganized troops of theirs, they will definitely collapse at one blow."

  Ouyang Yun said with approval: "Li Lianzhang is indeed a seasoned veteran, and his battle skills are quite impressive. This suggestion of yours is great, if it were just a simple battle, this move would surely succeed, however..."

  "But what?"

  "Has Chen Lianchang ever thought that with such a large territory as Beiping and Hebei, can the student army alone take care of it?"

  Li Tieshu asked inexplicably: "What does this have to do with Shi You San and others?"

  Ouyang Yun smiled and looked at him, saying: "How can there be no relationship? Don't forget, the Student Army is now part of the 29th Army's organization. As long as we make good use of the stage set up by Shi You San and others to put on a good show, then the problem of the emptiness of Beiping and Hebei's national defense can be solved at once."

  Li Tie Shu wasn't stupid and immediately understood: "You mean, by creating momentum in the media, then facilitating the 29th Army's entry into Wei?!"

  "Yes."

  Li Tieshu fell silent, and the three platoon leaders under him also became quiet. Although they had a premonition from the beginning that once they left the 51st Army, they might not be able to return, but Yu Xuezong's words before he left gave them hope. Only when the 29th Army was getting closer and closer to them, and their relationship with them became more and more intimate, did they realize that now they could only rely on the 29th Army.

  Ouyang Yun discovered their abnormality, thought for a moment and said: "Li Lianchang and all the comrades of the original guard company, I know you have deep feelings for the 51st Army and General Yu. Let's do it this way, after the situation in Hebei stabilizes, if you want to leave, I will definitely help you achieve your goal."

  "No, since Commander Yu has put us under your command, we have no reason to leave on our own," Li Tieshu said in a low voice. He thought that leaving the 51st Army would also mean not having to endure the scorn of the people while "suppressing bandits", and his tone became more resolute: "As long as it's fighting against the devils, it's all the same wherever we go, Captain. My brothers and I will put the greater good first."

  Ouyang Yun nodded, thinking that it was no wonder he came from the Northeast Army, and his hatred for the Japanese was indeed stronger than that of ordinary Nationalist soldiers. He thanked him solemnly, then looked up and glanced outside, seeing that the sky had already completely darkened. Remembering what Chang Zhilin had entrusted to him, he jumped up and said: "Not good, I have to hurry to the 25th Division, otherwise it would be a waste if the cooked duck flew away." He announced the dispersal of the meeting and walked out the door, seeing the ten trucks left behind by Yu Xuezong, and couldn't help but feel worried, muttering to himself: "Suddenly I have ten more trucks, it seems that tomorrow I'll still have to ask Song Jun for a few drivers."

  Li Tieshu followed behind and heard the words, stepped out to say: "Comrade Tan, don't worry about the driver's matter, we all learned it when we were guards, should be able to take on the task."

  Ouyang Yun was overjoyed, and with a happy expression, he patted Li's shoulder heavily, saying: "That's great, ah, if I had known earlier, I wouldn't have asked General Jun for troops." Lowering his voice, he spoke in a sincere tone: "Brother Li, although the training battalion belongs to the 29th Army's roster, but our main goal is to develop and expand ourselves. Look, we suddenly have so many military supplies, and the 25th Division will also give us many more. If the officers and soldiers of the 29th Army see this, they'll definitely be jealous. Choose four brothers who can drive, and bring ten reliable ones, let's go to the 25th Division together."

  Li Tieshu's face lit up with joy, he nodded and arranged for someone to take care of it.