Chapter 15: Huang Ping Reorganizes the Independent Regiment Once More
In the dead of winter in southeastern Guizhou, the biting wind cut like a knife. The vast, rugged mountains stood silently beneath a leaden sky, while along the winding mountain path, a serpentine column of people trudged with great difficulty. Wang Lin walked amid the middle of the line, his breath instantly shredded by the fierce cold. His straw sandals crunched steadily over the thinly iced stones beneath his feet.
Leading this swelling force of nearly 1,200 men, Wang Lin followed the route map relayed by the Fifth Army Corps radio, threading through the deep valleys and mountains of southeastern Guizhou. The "paths" marked on the map were often mere animal trails worn by wild beasts or precarious cliffs climbed by herb gatherers. The heavy mule and ox carts of the supply units had to be pushed and hoisted over steep places, while the stretchers carrying severely wounded men made each step perilous on the icy stone steps. Fortunately, Political Commissar Cheng Cuilin could now handle some simple affairs on the stretcher, and the division commander’s spirit was steadily recovering. The two had become the steadfast pillars of the entire force.
The impoverished mountain villages along the way were like faint sparks upon a parched land. The arrival of the Red Army, disciplined and scrupulous, with no transgressions, coupled with the quietly spreading slogan of “Smash the landlords, divide the land,” stirred hope among the long-oppressed villagers. Bent under the burden of excessive taxes and hardened by the cruelty of landlords and local tyrants, these men’s eyes gradually ignited with fiery resolve. From Liping to Jinping, from Jianhe to Taigong (now Taijiang), the ranks swelled like rolling snowballs. Ragged yet spirited young men, carrying simple bundles, eagerly halted the column, pleading, “Officer, take me with you! I have strength—I want to join the Red Army!” After seven days of arduous travel, nearly eight hundred new recruits had joined the cause—poor farmers seeking a new destiny.
On the early morning of January 2, 1935, the sky was black as ink, and the wind pierced like needles. The force silently entered Gulong Town, nestled in a valley surrounded by mountains in southeastern Huangping County. This remote township, predominantly inhabited by the Miao ethnic group, was small and built along the mountainside, its stone-paved streets sleeping quietly under the night sky. Compared to Huangping’s county seat—likely heavily guarded by Central or Guizhou provincial troops—this place was a hidden haven, ideal for the Red Army’s secret gathering.
At the town’s entrance, a contingent of about four hundred stood solemnly in the cold wind, waiting. At their forefront was Zhao Dashan, a cadre sent by the Central Committee, accompanied by several liaison officers left behind by the Fifth Army Corps. Upon spotting Wang Lin, Zhao immediately approached, lowering his voice and speaking rapidly:
“Comrade Wang Lin! You’ve endured much hardship! I’m Zhao Dashan! The situation is urgent! Three days ago, the main force of the Fifth Army Corps crossed the Wu River to the north, covering the Central Column! Along the line from Huangping city to Shibing, Shiqian, and Yuqing, Xue Yue’s Wu Qiwei Column and Zhou Hunyuan’s troops are fiercely engaged with our rear guard! Gunfire and artillery from the county seat rage day and night! Commander Dong has issued strict orders: First, Division Commander Chen and Commissar Cheng are to be withdrawn by my unit with the finest reinforced platoon—thirty men with medical supplies—to be secretly escorted immediately to the Central Base! We cannot remain here long! Second, your 'Independent Regiment' must reorganize covertly here in Gulong, with a strict two-day deadline! Third, the Fifth Army Corps will allocate an additional one hundred logistics, medical, and engineering technical cadres to strengthen your regiment!” He gestured behind him, “This is the ‘steel backbone’ specially approved by the Central Committee for you—three hundred battle-hardened veterans and one hundred squad and platoon leaders! From now on, they belong to your Independent Regiment!”
Wang Lin’s gaze swept over the four hundred weathered yet resolute faces—a warm surge of emotion and a heavy sense of responsibility welled up within him. This was the Central Committee’s trust and support! He took a deep breath and turned to Commander Chen and Commissar Cheng on the stretchers.
Chen Shuxiang struggled upright. Though still pale, his eyes regained their former sharpness and commanding aura. Slowly scanning the vast force his 34th Division had nurtured and grown, his gaze finally settled on Wang Lin and Zhao Dashan. In a hoarse yet crystal-clear voice, he declared, “…Comrade Cheng and I will obey the Central Committee’s arrangements and go to the Central Base to recuperate. The flag of the 34th Division… has not fallen! Comrades Wang Lin, Wang Guangdao, Zhong Guangbang, and all the officers and men of the Independent Regiment! You are the bloodline of the 34th Division! The flag of the Independent Regiment… must fly higher and louder! The revolution… will surely triumph!”
His voice was low but carried immense weight, striking each heart like a thunderclap.
Political Commissar Cheng Cuilin also nodded with effort. Weak but resolute, she said, “Comrade Wang Lin… take the reins! The Central Committee has given you the royal sword—use these cadres well… and lead the Independent Regiment… into an ironclad force! We… await your victorious news!”
A simple farewell spoke louder than a thousand words.
With the leaders seen off, Wang Lin had no time to rest. Two days—only two days! At this temporary base in Huangping, he had to swiftly integrate and reorganize this complex, massive force—about 2,500 strong—into a unified, battle-ready regular Red Army regiment.
The regimental headquarters was set in an ancestral hall, oil lamps burning through the night. Wang Lin, newly appointed Political Commissar Wang Guangdao, Regimental Secretary Zhong Guangbang, and Zhao Dashan gathered around a map table strewn with hastily prepared rosters and organizational drafts. Heated discussions lasted well into the early hours.
“The backbone must be solid! The core combat force must be pure and elite!” Wang Lin’s fingers struck the draft emphatically. “My reorganization plan is: the 1st Battalion as the mainstay; the 2nd and 3rd Battalions to be mixed and rebuilt; expansion of specialized companies; the supply battalion to be completely absorbed and transformed!”
His plan quickly took shape with precise personnel calculations:
Independent Regiment 1st Battalion (Core Battalion, 750 men):
- Battalion Commander: Chen Ahai
- Deputy Commander: Li Gang (Central Committee dispatch, former main company commander of the First Red Army Corps, known for toughness)
Core Composition:
- Elite core from original 3rd Battalion (Red 3rd Battalion): 500 men (retaining the most essential combat forces)
- Strong elements from the original Supply Battalion: 100 men
- Selected new recruits: 150 young and robust men (priority to skilled hunters, physically strong, with combat potential)
Subordinate Units:
- Three infantry companies (each with 180 men, total 540 men):
- Infantry squads: 9 riflemen, 1 light machine gunner, squad leader and assistant, total 12 men
- Infantry platoons: 3 squads plus a grenade-throwing squad and platoon leaders, total 50 men
- Infantry company: 3 platoons plus cooking, supply, communications, heavy machine gun squads (1 heavy machine gun), and company staff, totaling 210 men
The entire battalion included three infantry companies plus battalion communications platoon, supply platoon, cooking squad, heavy machine gun platoon (3 heavy machine guns), and command cadres—totaling 750 men, the elite battalion of the Independent Regiment, fully equipped.
Independent Regiment 2nd Battalion (Mixed New Elite Battalion, 750 men):
- Battalion Commander: Huang Musheng (originally core commander of 2nd Company, steady and reliable)
- Deputy Commander: Sun Zhenhua (Central Committee dispatch, former excellent political instructor of the Red Third Army Corps, strong political work skills)
Core Composition (thoroughly mixed):
- Strong elements from original Supply Battalion: 250 men (selected from 580 men, physically fit and promising)
- Central Committee dispatched forces: 100 veterans + 50 squad and platoon leaders (core backbone brought by Zhao Dashan)
- New recruits: 250 young men
Subordinate Units: same structure as 1st Battalion, basically fully armed but lacking heavy weapons.
Independent Regiment 3rd Battalion (Mixed New Elite Battalion, 750 men):
- Battalion Commander: Zhou Zhiming (former Guizhou army battalion commander turned troop, outstanding ability, firm ideology, excellent in reorganization)
- Deputy Commander: Wu Tiezhu (Central Committee dispatch, veteran company commander of the Red Fifth Army Corps, rich combat experience)
Core Composition (thoroughly mixed):
- Remaining forces from original Supply Battalion: 150 men
- Central Committee dispatched forces: 100 veterans + 50 squad and platoon leaders (focused on political work, logistics, training and management at squad and platoon level)
- New recruits: 450 young men (largest number, focused on training and consolidation)
Subordinate Units: same as 1st and 2nd Battalions, insufficient weapons, only half equipped, no heavy weapons.
Regimental Direct Special Companies Expansion:
Reconnaissance Company (180 men):
- Company Commander: Zhang Hongtu
- Core of original reconnaissance platoon: 40 men + Central reconnaissance elite: 30 men + selected new soldiers: 110 men (agile, familiar with mountainous terrain, bold and cautious). Well equipped with rifles, submachine guns, binoculars, and compasses.
Guard Company (180 men):
- Company Commander: Zheng Shuisheng
- Core of original guard platoon: 40 men + Central guard elite: 30 men + loyal, physically strong new soldiers: 110 men. Best rifles, submachine guns (some captured), and broadswords. Responsible for regimental headquarters, commanders, radio station, arsenal, and important prisoner security.
Artillery Company (60 men):
- Company Commander: Liu Gensheng
- Deputy Company Commander: Chen Dapao (Central Committee dispatch, former artillery platoon commander)
- Core of original artillery platoon: 20 men + Central artillery elite: 15 men + strong, quick-witted, semi-literate new soldiers: 25 men. Equipped with ten 82mm mortars and all captured ammunition.
Regimental Headquarters and Direct Units (about 110 men):
- Regimental leadership and staff (about 20 men): Regiment Commander Wang Lin, Political Commissar Wang Guangdao, Regimental Secretary Zhong Guangbang, operations staff, communications staff, reconnaissance staff, etc.
- Communications Platoon (30 men): Responsible for radio (with Zhong Guangbang directly managing the codebooks), telephones, and couriers. Includes Central-dispatched radio operators and telephone operators.
- Medical Team (40 men): Integration of original medical team, Central-dispatched medical personnel, and some new soldiers with medical experience. Responsible for medical support across the regiment.
- Logistics Department (20 men): Head: Lin Huowang. Responsible for clothing, main grain, meal coordination, mule and horse management (some allocated to battalions). Remaining artisans and specialists from the original supply battalion incorporated here or into battalion supply platoons.
Regimental Total:
- 1st Battalion: 750 men
- 2nd Battalion: 750 men
- 3rd Battalion: 750 men
- Reconnaissance Company: 180 men
- Guard Company: 180 men
- Artillery Company: 60 men
- Regimental HQ and direct units: 30 men
Grand Total: 2,700 men (the shortfall supplemented by over 200 new recruits recruited locally in Huangping).
With the plan settled, there was no time to lose. Gulong Town instantly transformed into a vast reorganization ground. Commands, roll calls, and weapon exchanges echoed continuously.
1st Battalion Area: Chen Ahai and Deputy Commander Li Gang’s voices rang clear as they rapidly inspected the veterans from the original 3rd Battalion and the newly reinforced strong men, integrating them into existing squad and platoon frameworks. The veterans’ steady gazes and standard weapon handling naturally straightened the new recruits’ posture.
2nd Battalion Area: Huang Musheng and Sun Zhenhua worked in close coordination. Sun organized the new recruits for brief sessions of airing grievances and Red Army ideological education, while Huang led the Central veterans and cadres to quickly reorganize the mixed forces into new units, emphasizing discipline and coordination. The atmosphere was serious yet efficient.
3rd Battalion Area: Zhou Zhiming demonstrated excellent organizational skills. The Central veterans brought by Wu Tiezhu quickly became the backbone of each company and platoon. Though the new recruits were numerous, under the firm guidance of capable cadres and veterans, their formations began to take shape. Zhou personally demonstrated the Guizhou army’s bayonet techniques, while Wu humorously showed the standard Red Army posture, drawing knowing smiles and creating a harmonious atmosphere.
Reconnaissance Company: Zhang Hongtu led a group of lean, agile soldiers outside the town, practicing rapid and stealthy movement and terrain reading. The silent communication gestures demonstrated by Central reconnaissance elites amazed the new recruits.
Guard Company: Zheng Shuisheng meticulously tested the soldiers’ weapon handling, thrusting, and hand-to-hand combat basics. The Central guard cadres’ grappling skills elicited rounds of applause.
Artillery Company: Liu Gensheng and Chen Dapao circled the mortars, one explaining the structure, the other emphasizing operational principles and safety protocols. The new recruits looked at the dark cannon barrels with a mix of reverence and excitement.
Wang Lin and Wang Guangdao toured the bustling reorganization ground. Seeing the four hundred Central cadres embedding themselves like steel reinforcements into the Independent Regiment’s framework, watching the new recruits rapidly integrate under the leadership of veterans and cadres, observing Liu Gensheng’s fondness for the mortars, and witnessing Zhou Zhiming and Wu Tiezhu working shoulder to shoulder, their hearts brimmed with confidence.
“Notify all battalion companies!” Wang Lin’s voice cut through the biting wind. “During reorganization breaks, strengthen basic training! Drill formations, loading, aiming, grenade throwing, and field fortifications! Veterans and cadres, teach your battle-hardened life-saving skills to the new comrades! In two days, we must become a unit ready to take to the field and fight!”
The transformation had begun—and victory was the only option.