Resistance against Japan: Starting with the local militia

Chapter 41 Post-War Meeting

For several days in a row, Company Commander Zhou trained intensively alongside Tang Xiaohu. That afternoon, Tang Weiguo's communications officer ran over to Tang Xiaohu and said:

"Reporting to Battalion Commander Tang, the regimental commander has notified company and battalion commanders to attend tonight's meeting. Please arrive promptly at 7 p.m. tonight."

"receive."

"Company Commander Zhou, you're here too. No wonder I couldn't find you when I went to your quarters earlier. The regimental commander also asked me to inform you that there's a meeting at 7 p.m. sharp tonight," the communications officer said, looking at Zhou Liansheng standing next to Tang Xiaohu.

"Received and I'll be there on time."

"Alright, Battalion Commander Tang, Company Commander Zhou, I'll be going now. I need to notify the others first." After saying that, the communications officer ran away.

"Looks like we have something big to announce tonight," Tang Xiaohu said to Company Commander Zhou.

"Oh, I see. Thank you for your guidance, Battalion Commander Tang."

"It's not really guidance; you'll understand once you've spent more time with them."

It wasn't even 7 p.m. yet, and all the members of the militia who had come to attend the meeting had arrived and were chatting quietly.

"Xiao Hu, it seems this meeting tonight is very important. Director Wang and Dean Chu are both here. Hey, why is Professor Zhao here too? Xiao Hu, what are you going to announce?" Tang Dazhuang nudged Tang Xiao Hu next to him.

"I guess it's about the newly joined Sichuan soldiers. They've been at Wolong Mountain for a while now, but there haven't been any specific arrangements yet. Recently, those Sichuan soldiers have been training with me."

"How is their training going?" Tang Dazhuang asked, somewhat curious.

"Their combat awareness is very high, after all, they crawled out of piles of dead bodies on the battlefield. It's just that their combat skills are not good enough, they can't compare with us. So we've been exchanging and learning from each other recently," Tang Xiaohu replied.

"Then it seems I'll have to exchange combat experience with Company Commander Zhou more often in private." Hearing Tang Xiaohu say this, Tang Dazhuang also became interested. He was willing to do anything to improve the combat effectiveness of the troops.

Before long, Tang Weiguo walked over from the door.

Good evening, everyone. Thank you all for coming to the meeting tonight.

"It's not hard."

"Tonight, I've called everyone here for a meeting to announce a few things." After Tang Weiguo finished speaking, everyone below sat up straight, holding notebooks to take notes.

"The first thing is for everyone to unify their thinking and raise awareness. Now that the Japanese have occupied Taiyuan, our Wolong Mountain is within the Japanese sphere of influence. We are now in a situation where the enemy is strong and we are weak. We may fight the Japanese at any time, and we must be prepared for the worst at any time."

"Our battle with the devils won't end in a year or two. I hope everyone can prepare for a long-term war of resistance. We must fight until the day the devils get out of China."

"Down with the Japanese! Drive the devils out of China!" Tang Xiaohu shouted, leading the way.

"Down with the Japanese! Drive the devils out of China!"

"Good, seeing everyone's determination, I firmly believe that sooner or later the Japanese devils will be able to get out of China."

"In order to prepare for a hard struggle, I ordered the logistics department to collect supplies to the best of its ability, and the arsenal to do everything possible to increase production."

"Yes, Commander, we guarantee to complete the mission," Bi Shoucai and Wang Qiang replied, standing up.

"The other units must intensify their training and do everything possible to improve their combat effectiveness," Tang Weiguo said again.

"It's the regimental commander."

The second thing is about the Sichuan soldiers who joined us this time. They are veterans who survived many battles fighting the Japanese. We must pay them the highest respect.

Tang Weiguo gave Zhou Liansheng a standard military salute.

"Thank you, Commander." Company Commander Zhou returned the salute.

"I plan to organize the Sichuan soldiers into a battalion, with Zhou Liansheng personally serving as the battalion commander. If the personnel are insufficient, we will supplement the troops from the supplementary regiment. Zhao Zhu will cooperate in handling this matter."

"Zhou Liansheng, you are now the battalion commander of the Fourth Battalion of the militia," Tang Weiguo ordered.

"Yes, Commander. Thank you for your trust. I will certainly live up to your expectations." Zhou Liansheng solemnly accepted the battalion commander's appointment.

"Okay, you can ask Director Bi of the Logistics Department to take care of the weapons and ammunition you need."

"Yes, Captain."

"Now that we've resolved the issue of the newly recruited Sichuan soldiers, only the last and most important problem remains. I plan to carry out a comprehensive construction of the Wolongshan military camp, with Professor Zhao personally serving as the chief designer to guide us in its construction."

"I plan to transform Wolong Mountain into a military fortress full of fangs. Even if the Japanese send a large force to attack us, we will make them suffer a crushing defeat."

"In order to better meet the construction needs of the Wolong Mountain military fortress, I plan to establish an engineering regiment and personally carry out the construction. Professor Zhao will be in charge of commanding the engineering regiment."

"Zhao Zhu will continue to be in charge of the recruitment work for the engineering regiment."

"Yes, Captain, I promise to complete the mission."

"I have only one request for you: speed is crucial. We need to race against the Japanese to build the Wolong Mountain military fortress as quickly as possible. We need to make the Japanese think twice before attacking us."

"Professor Zhao, do you have anything to add?" Tang Weiguo asked Professor Zhao.

"There's only one thing: materials for the fortress construction, including things like cement, need to be prepared in advance," Professor Zhao said.

"Director Bi, are you having any difficulties preparing the supplies?"

"Commander, other supplies are fine, but cement is currently difficult to purchase." At this point, Bi Shoucai had no choice but to tell the truth.

"Commander, we don't need to buy cement. I've heard that the Japanese are building bunkers and pillboxes. If we try to take advantage of them, we can solve the problem of cement and other weapons," Niu Dali said.

"Good. This task is assigned to your reconnaissance battalion. Go and gather information about the Japanese army's construction of bunkers."

"Once the reconnaissance battalion has gathered information, the entire regiment will prepare for battle."

"Yes, Captain, I promise to complete the mission."

"Alright, meeting adjourned."