Wu Zhiqing was Sun Beifeng's contact point with the Reorganized 67th Division, and also the model for Sun Beifeng's reports to the General Staff.
Preparation divisions, also called adjustment divisions, were an all-around upgrade of troops within the existing establishment. Their main work covered regularizing army organization, optimizing individual training, updating German equipment, training commanders in strategy and tactics, and operating and maintaining army supply lines.
These connected the meridian hubs by which German-equipped divisions would command armies and kill the enemy in the future Sino-Japanese War, forming a crucial foundation for facing the Japanese army's main divisions head-on.
In terms of establishment, taking the division level as an example and using the adjustment plan as the standard, a fully staffed preparation division numbered about ten thousand men, organized as two brigades and four regiments. Divisional direct units included one each of artillery, engineer, signal, and transport battalions, and one each of cavalry and special-service companies. The artillery battalion mostly used 75mm mountain guns, and the transport battalion had about twenty motor vehicles.
Brigades had no direct units and commanded two infantry regiments each. Below the regiment, all units followed the three-battalion, three-company system. A regiment's direct units included a mortar company plus an infantry-gun company, as well as a special-service company and a signal company; some units also had a pistol platoon. Every infantry squad was issued one ZB-26 Czech light machine gun.
Under ideal conditions, the adjustment division had a more modern command system than previous establishments, with firepower below regimental level fully optimized, greatly improving each infantry regiment's ability to fight independently.
"Everything else is available; rifles and sidearms are basically complete—only the artillery is a bit short."
Wu Zhiqing commanded a battalion-level unit. According to the plan, battalion headquarters should be assigned one machine gun company and one mortar platoon. The machine gun company had been formed, but the mortars had yet to arrive.
Sun Beifeng quietly noted it, then asked: "How is the situation in the division?"
"The division... isn't much different from my situation; now everyone is short of artillery."
In the original plan, each division was to have, according to scientific firepower ratios, even a 105mm howitzer battalion and an independent artillery regiment, but this could not be completed due to actual circumstances.
Meanwhile, the contemporary Japanese Type A divisions each had a reinforced artillery regiment attached, giving a clear idea of their firepower.
"How is the training situation?"
"Last year the brothers could hardly take it, but now they've adapted. The German army's standards are not simple—they can't be compared with previous training volumes. Our officers' training is mostly based on the military-academy foundation, mainly covering fire-position setup, flanking and counter-flanking, infiltration and camouflage, and so on."
"If this is to be promoted to all armies, do you think it will work?"
"It won't."
"Why won't it?"
"Individual soldier quality comes from training and from spirit." Wu Zhiqing said, word by word, his eyes blazing: "The brothers know why they've gathered, and they understand what may happen in the future, so they train in earnest. To spread this everywhere, I'm afraid there would be considerable resistance."
According to German army training standards, soldiers had to complete a forty-kilometer daily foot march. In addition there were forced marches, obstacle marches, mountain marches, and other subjects, with special military confrontations and simulated exercises scheduled weekly.
At the command level, the focus was on the all-around ability of grassroots commanders and fighters—specifically, snap decision-making, troop command, assessment of enemy situation and battle, and mutual support.
Of course, the German standards were so strict that applying them to the National Army would inevitably mean some concessions, but the great majority of training and drill forms would still be retained.
Zhu Shiqing mused and suddenly realized that China's problems ran through military and political affairs; the disunited, divided military-political system kept many things from being implemented.
Why station operational and training forces in Su-Hu? The answer was clear: strictly speaking, the Ping-Jin region was Northwest Army territory.
The bloody memories of warlord struggles were written into every faction; struggle and annexation remained the ultimate goal of contention everywhere. And Old Chiang especially favored the tactics of using another's knife to kill and of taking up the bridge after crossing the river.
This had been tried and true over the past few years against the Sichuan-Guizhou warlords.
Letting the Central Army into Ping-Jin? That would be inviting a wolf into the house—so North China would be very difficult.
Zhu Shiqing was lost in thought. In a daze, Sun Beifeng and Wu Zhiqing exchanged a few more words, but most of it didn't sink in. Only when the sound of meal preparations came from outside did he return to himself, looking out beyond the camp: the soldiers who had trained all morning had all returned.
The cook carrying the pot in camp caught Zhu Shiqing's attention. This fellow was short and fat, with fleshy cheeks, and he panted as he circled back and forth in front of Zhu Shiqing several times; shouts of "Fatty Wei" rose and fell in the distance.
Zhu Shiqing couldn't help but get up and look outside. Soldiers of the 351st Regiment chatted about family matters as they walked toward the mess hall behind the distant barracks.
"Jiuru, if you want to go out and have a look, go ahead. Sitting here all the time, listening to our tongues wag, you're not exactly having fun."
Sun Beifeng saw what was on Zhu Shiqing's mind and went along with it. As he spoke, he picked up the cigarette that had sat on the table untouched for a while and lit it again.
At mealtime the barracks were very noisy, full of people, with accents from all over the north and south—Minnan from not far away and Sichuan from far away. People said the Central Army didn't keep idlers, and today Zhu Shiqing was going to see for himself.
As he walked out of the barracks, that Fatty Wei staggered past again, but this time Zhu Shiqing grabbed him: "Brother? Brother, show me around, will you?"
As if only now coming to his senses from the rush, Fatty Wei shook his head, stopped, and looked at Zhu Shiqing:
"You're not from our battalion, are you? Oh, you came with Brother Sun. If you follow me, you won't get anything to eat—those guys are hungry as livestock, and if you're even a little late, there won't be any broth left."
"No problem. I just want to look around, but I don't have a particular destination."
"There's nothing to see in this army camp. If you really want to see something, I'm headed south of the mountain to deliver food to the Third Company. If you're willing to expend the energy, come with me." Fatty Wei spoke crisply and quickly, his chubby face shaking with each word.
Zhu Shiqing agreed. He was full of curiosity and anticipation at the prospect of things he had never seen before.
Following Fatty Wei out of the camp gate, five or six men of the cooking squad were already waiting at the side, shoulder-pole food buckets and three crates of firearms in hand, ready to set off at Fatty Wei's shout.
"Little brother, since you've come, why not take a share of the burden with us brothers?" Fatty Wei suddenly looked back and gave a hehe laugh.
Zhu Shiqing didn't mind. What was carrying something? He had known hardship since childhood, drifting from place to place. Without a second thought he agreed. Fatty Wei saw that he was thin and pale, and felt some concern, but in the end only let Zhu Shiqing share one crate of rifles with another man.
The moment he hoisted it onto his back, Zhu Shiqing regretted it. Damn it, was he carrying a coffin? It weighed a ton!
His hands, long used to holding a pen, trembled as he walked. But to put it down now would be too unmanly. Zhu Shiqing sighed bitterly in his heart, wore a relaxed expression on his face, but in fact his teeth were on the verge of cracking.
"Yo!" Fatty Wei was somewhat surprised. "You look fair and clean, but you've got some strength. That's great. Then let's go up the mountain!"
Chapter 9