Chapter 43: A Fierce Tiger Takes Root, Pooling Wisdom and Effort

Wang Lin, carrying the earnest expectations and clear directives of the Central Committee, hastened back to the temporary regimental headquarters of the Independent Regiment stationed at Wuqi Town. He immediately issued an order: convene a meeting of all officers at the squad level and above throughout the regiment!

The order was swiftly communicated to each battalion and company. Although the cadres, having just emerged from a fierce battle and currently resting and clearing the battlefield, were somewhat fatigued, upon hearing that the regimental commander had brought back instructions from the Central Committee, they immediately perked up and rapidly gathered at the cave courtyard housing the regimental headquarters. The small courtyard was soon packed with the core backbone of the Independent Regiment, ranging from experienced battalion and company commanders to spirited newly appointed squad and platoon leaders, every single one of them wearing expressions of anticipation and mild curiosity.

Wang Lin stood on the high platform in front of the cave dwelling, his gaze sweeping over the familiar and resolute faces below. Political Commissar Wang Guangdao, Deputy Regimental Commander Li Yunlong, 1st Battalion Commander Chen Ahai, 2nd Battalion Commander Huang Musheng, 3rd Battalion Commander Zhou Zhiming, 4th Battalion Commander (formerly in charge of the recruit battalion, now commanding a frontline main force battalion), Artillery Company Commander Liu Gensheng, Reconnaissance Company Commander Zhang Hongtu, and Logistics Battalion Commander Zhong Guangbang, among other core members, stood at the very front.

"Comrades!" Wang Lin's voice was resonant, piercing through the cool autumn wind. "First, let me report a piece of good news! The Party Central Committee, Comrade Teacher, Comrade Xiangyu, and the Old Chief have all highly praised the outstanding performance of our Independent Regiment in the Battle of Wuqi Town! Cooperating with the main forces, we cleanly and neatly severed the tail of the pursuing enemy, displaying the majestic bearing of the 'Iron-Blood Rearguard Tiger Regiment'! The Central Committee and the Military Commission extend their warmest congratulations and most sincere thanks to all commanders and fighters of the Independent Regiment!"

"Clatter—!" A wave of enthusiastic applause and proud cheers instantly erupted from the crowd below. The soldiers involuntarily puffed out their chests, and the exhaustion from days of campaigning seemed to vanish in an instant.

As the applause gradually subsided, Wang Lin's expression turned serious: "However, past glories belong to the past! The Party Central Committee has assigned our Independent Regiment a new, even more arduous and glorious strategic mission!"

The entire assembly instantly quieted down, all gazes focusing entirely on Wang Lin.

"The main force will soon move south to rendezvous with the Red 15th Army Corps, concentrating our forces to smash the enemy's 'encirclement and suppression campaigns,'" Wang Lin stated clearly. "And our Independent Regiment is ordered to remain behind in the Northwest! Our mission is no longer to serve as a mobile rearguard, but to act like the hardest nail, firmly driven into the northwestern gateway of the Shaan-Gan Soviet Area!"

He detailed the strategic intent of the Central Committee: to use a powerful military presence and combat capability to deter the "Three Mas" of Ningxia (especially Ma Hongbin's faction), preventing them from easily advancing eastward, thereby greatly relieving the pressure on the main force along the southern front. He emphasized that this was not being relegated to a secondary role, but rather undertaking the heavy responsibility of a global strategic deterrence—a brilliant tactic of "subduing the enemy without fighting."

Next, he emphatically conveyed another important instruction from the Central Committee: "The Central Committee also demands that we must never simply act as a garrison force! We must fully utilize this relatively stable period to transform our garrisoned area from a military buffer zone into a consolidated Soviet base area! While gripping our gun barrels tightly, we must simultaneously pick up writing brushes and hoes, mobilize the masses, strike at local bullies, divide the land, establish political power, and develop production! We must drive our roots deep into this soil and turn this northwestern frontier into one of the most solid rear fortresses for our Party's Central Committee!"

Wang Lin looked at everyone with burning eyes: "Comrades, this mission is a new battle—a battle concerning the hearts of the people! There may be no charge bugle, but it is equally arduous and carries the exact same significance! Now, I have conveyed the commendations and orders of the Central Committee. Exactly how should we go about this? How can we act as both 'gate guardians' and a 'seeding team'? My brain alone is not enough. Today, I have gathered you all here precisely to hear your thoughts! Speak up, everyone, and share your views freely!"

After a brief silence, Deputy Regimental Commander Li Yunlong stood up. Instead of shouting in his usual loud voice, his expression was steady, and his resonant voice carried a kind of settled certainty.

"Commander, Commissar, this move by the Central Committee is brilliant! Old Li has no objections whatsoever." He first affirmed the decision, then abruptly shifted his tone, his voice turning solemn and filled with the essence of real combat experience: "However, we must think things through thoroughly. 'Deterrence'? That is the ultimate goal. But to achieve this goal, can we rely on that old fellow Ma Hongbin to simply catch a glimpse of our banner and obediently shrink back? Impossible! This is warfare, not putting on a show on a stage."

He pressed both hands on the table and leaned forward, radiating the unique, battle-hardened conviction of a veteran: "I dare bet that from now on, our entire northwestern defense line, especially facing the directions of eastern Gansu and Ningxia, will never have a moment of peace! The cavalry scouts and small harassing units of the Ma Clique will soon swarm over like flies. They need to probe our bottom line, testing our firepower, deployments, and response speed. Small-scale probing contacts, outpost skirmishes, and friction will be everyday occurrences from now on!"

"Therefore, our deployment must never be built upon the fantasy of 'peace and quiet.' It must be grounded on fighting! Prepared to fight every day, likely to fight at any moment!" Li Yunlong said decisively, his eyes burning brightly. "Based on my experience dealing with Kuomintang warlords in the Hubei-Henan-Anhui base, to handle this situation, we must adopt the method of 'active defense':

First, frontline control must never be lost. Each battalion and company must push forward to occupy key terrain and construct solid supporting points. But just squatting inside fortifications won't work; it's too passive. My opinion is to organize streamlined combat squads at the platoon and company levels and send them out every day! This isn't an armed parade; it's genuine armed reconnaissance and patrol control. We must push our actual line of control as far forward as possible and turn the buffer zone into our alert zone. When encountering small enemy units, do not hesitate—annihilate them decisively if you can, and if you can't, drive them back! Make them pay a price for every single probe, and let them know our Independent Regiment's defense line is not made of paper; getting close means getting beaten!"

Second, intelligence and reaction must be fast. Every hill and intersection on the frontline must have observation posts arranged, combined with the activities of the reconnaissance company to form an early-warning network. Once the enemy situation is discovered, we must quickly judge their scale and intentions. For small units, nearby forces will handle them decisively; for slightly larger units, the reserve force must be able to move up quickly. We must make Ma Hongbin's men feel as though they have collided with a thorn-covered net, getting pricked everywhere."

Third, our fists must be hard, and our strikes must be ruthless. On the premise of ensuring the security of key points, we can appropriately engage in some 'petty operations,'" a sharp glint flashed in Li Yunlong's eyes. "Select elite detachments to occasionally push forward at night, creeping near enemy strongpoints to potshot, plant landmines, or ambush their transport teams and communications personnel. The goal is to continuously consume them, exhaust them, and keep them restless day and night, making them never dare to entertain the thought of massing troops for a major invasion! This is called 'using offense as defense,' keeping combat controlled within our predetermined small-scale, low-intensity parameters, accumulating small victories into major ones, and ultimately achieving strategic deterrence."

He paused and returned to the construction of the base area: "Of course, the high-pressure military posture is the prerequisite for us to focus on construction with peace of mind. Striking local bullies, dividing land, and building political power—these tasks must follow immediately, but while carrying them out, the outer military cordon must be raised to the highest alert level! We must make the common people feel that following the Red Army not only brings fields to farm, but also a sense of security! In the direction of our 4th Battalion, I plan to do just this: greeting Ma Hongbin with cold guns and artillery while mobilizing the masses to consolidate the rear."

Li Yunlong's speech lacked flashy slogans, but it was well-organized, every sentence reeking of seasoned, practical experience forged in real combat, instantly winning the approval of many cadres who were former Red Army veterans, who nodded in succession.

Wang Lin and Wang Guangdao exchanged glances, both of their eyes filled with appreciation. Wang Lin thought to himself: Old Li, after so many trials, is truly developing the demeanor of a major general capable of holding his own ground, no longer that reckless hothead who only knew how to charge blindly.

"Good! Old Li spoke wonderfully! These are all solid, practical experiential lessons!" Wang Lin affirmed. "The successful experience from the Hubei-Henan-Anhui area is of great reference value for our work here! Everyone heard it—just like Deputy Regimental Commander Li, we must combine practice and think of concrete methods!"

1st Battalion Commander Chen Ahai, who was relatively steady, added: "I agree with Deputy Commander Li's opinion. Militarily, we must deploy forward, control key passes and commanding heights, and form a-echelon defense. But we cannot rely solely on our own defense; as Chairman Mao said, we must mobilize the masses. I suggest that every company should select politically steadfast and patient veterans and literary cadres to form mass work teams, led by political cadres, to divide the area into sectors and go deep into every village and courtyard to mobilize the masses. We can start by contacting the folks who previously carried stretchers and delivered grain for us."

2nd Battalion Commander Huang Musheng, who was meticulous, said: "Relying merely on verbal persuasion to mobilize the masses might not be enough. Many of our soldiers are southerners and do not understand northern Shaanxi customs or dialects. I suggest whether the regiment can run a short-term training class, inviting local Party comrades or soldiers familiar with local conditions to brief everyone on local customs and teach a few commonly used dialects, so as to avoid good intentions leading to negative outcomes. Moreover, helping the masses restore production is very important. With winter approaching, helping the villagers mend their cave dwellings and prepare firewood for the winter might be more practical than merely shouting slogans."

3rd Battalion Commander Zhou Zhiming, responsible for mobile operations, thought and said: "As a mobile force, besides providing support, can our battalion also undertake patrolling and liaison tasks? This will ensure smooth communication among various battalions when they disperse, allowing them to support each other in time. In addition, for building the base area, transportation is also crucial; we can appropriately repair the main thoroughfares."

Reconnaissance Company Commander Zhang Hongtu immediately requested orders: "Commander, our reconnaissance company can break up into smaller units, scouting not only enemy intelligence but also public sentiment! We will figure out which village is poorest, which landlord is worst, and which baochang colludes most deeply with the warlords, providing accurate intelligence to the work teams!"

Logistics Battalion Commander Zhong Guangbang considered practical matters: "Commander, Commissar, with so many people garrisoned dispersedly while also carrying out work, consumption of grain, uniforms, and medicine will be huge. Relying solely on capture and purchase is not enough; we must launch production-for-self-salvation as soon as possible. Our logistics battalion can organize people to reclaim some wasteland near the garrison sites and grow potatoes and vegetables. We can also organize skilled soldiers to establish repair stations, helping the villagers fix farm tools in exchange for grain."

Artillery Company Commander Liu Gensheng also spoke: "Although our artillery company cannot disperse, our garrison points can help train the Red Guard, even teaching them landmines and explosive packages, which can cooperate with the main force in future battles."

The newly appointed Cavalry Company Commander, Shamaerge, said excitedly in accented Chinese: "Our cavalry company is fast! We can patrol a huge area, and upon seeing small enemy units or bandits, we can directly eliminate them! We can also protect the safety of the work teams! And we can help the villagers deliver letters and transport small items!"

Platoon leaders, squad leaders, and company commanders from various units also spoke one after another: some suggested strengthening discipline education, vowing never to take a single needle or thread from the masses; others proposed organizing literacy classes to teach both soldiers and masses; still others suggested singing Red Army songs and performing living newspaper plays for propaganda...