Age of Rebirth

When the troops led by Tong Batu caught up with Chief of Staff He Xigetu's brigade main force, it was already the evening of September [-]. The afterglow of the setting sun sprinkled on the gradually withered grassland, flowing with a poignant and beautiful texture , where the evening wind blows, the grass waves are surging, and the camp is like an island among the waves.

Seeing the dancing flames of the bonfire in the distance, Tong Batu suddenly had a very friendly feeling. He had never left the army since he got on his horse. This time, it was the longest parting, more than ten hours. It seems very long, where there are comrades-in-arms and brothers, it is home, and he has an urge to go home.

He Xigetu, chief of staff of the brigade who received the telegram, led a few guards, beat horses like flying horses, and greeted him a few miles away. When he met Tong Batu, he jumped off his horse in a hurry. All the soldiers hugged each other, beat each other's backs, and made a "dong dong" sound. All the soldiers who participated in the night attack reined in their horses, smiled, and looked at the two big men of the second brigade. The unique way of meeting .

He Xigetu wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes, and said: "Brigade Commander, I'm so worried. People are here, but their hearts are on the battlefield. You don't know that the troops have won the battle and taught the old man a lesson. After the news came back, the camp was boiling, and those soldiers who did not participate in the battle were waiting for you at the camp, saying that they would use the most solemn ceremony on the grassland to welcome the warriors who returned in triumph!"

He Xigetu flew on his horse and shouted loudly: "Soldiers, fragrant milk tea and soft boiled meat are prepared in the camp. Our comrades-in-arms who did not participate in the battle, in this way, welcome your triumphant return! However, no Alcohol, our army does not allow alcohol, this is the division commander's rule. After arriving in Kulun, I will definitely ask the brigade commander to give everyone a day off and have a good drink!" [

The soldiers cheered for a while, returning from the battlefield, the fragrant milk tea and meat can wash away the dust all over the body, what is more desirable than this!

Tong Batu smiled and said in a low voice: "Old man, I didn't notice it usually, are you good at doing ideological work? I see, after arriving in Kulun, I will report to the division commander and ask you to serve as the chief of staff and concurrently the chief of staff of our brigade. Director of Political Training."

He Xigetu grinned, and replied with some emotion: "It's not about driving ducks to the shelves. You threw thousands of troops to me, worrying about you. The mood of the troops is still a little unstable. The second battalion was almost wiped out." The shadow of the battle still remains in the hearts of the soldiers, but within a dozen hours, I feel like half my life has passed!"

The two looked at each other, laughed, and then.Walking side by side, Tong Batu told He Xigetu the details of the battle, and heard that there were no Soviet pursuers behind.He Xigetu breathed a sigh of relief.

When they arrived at the campsite, the scene in front of them made the returning soldiers a little shy. There were more than 4000 cavalrymen, divided into two long rows, with sabers in their hands raised to their chests, and they saluted in unison. , full of envy and dissatisfaction, this is the cavalry unit, the highest welcome etiquette, the sword is like a forest, and the afterglow of the setting sun reflects the bright blade, just like white waves turning up on the golden grassland.

Tong Batu yelled, "All the soldiers who participated in the war, return the salute!" Then, under the eager eyes of the soldiers, he was the first to ride his horse into the camp. Returning soldiers!

After dinner, Tong Batu ordered the radio station to report the battle in the early morning of this morning, as well as the casualties of the troops and the results of the annihilation of the enemy, to the division commander Tang Qiuli.

After the telegram was sent, Tong Batu was already mentally prepared to accept the division commander's punishment. After all, the troops were still on the way to retreat when the enemy was outnumbered. A battle involving a brigade-level scale did not ask the division commander for approval. This in itself is a violation of the order. Reporting after the fight is over, which means killing first and playing later.

On the evening of September 58th, in Kulun, the headquarters of the Outer Mongolian Frontier Army, Tang Qiuli's temporary headquarters, Colonel Wang Jun, Chief of Staff of the Outer Mongolian Frontier Army, came in excitedly with a telegram, and said, "Hello, Commander." The news is that the second cavalry brigade was on the way to retreat, in order to get rid of the pursuit of the Soviet army, it attacked an armored brigade of the Soviet army at night in the Habdor area. More than one hundred armored vehicles and trucks were destroyed!"

This is Wang Jun, who is deliberately trying to excuse Tong Batu. He cleverly did not directly mention the number of casualties, but only said the number of casualties, highlighting the results of the battle. No matter how many victories Tong Batu fought, without asking for instructions, To mobilize troops without authorization and organize a battle is in itself a violation of orders, suspected of being organized and disciplined, and what the division commander most dislikes and even hates is that troops do not obey orders and act without authorization.

Sure enough, Tang Qiuli frowned, looked at Wang Jun and said, "Oh! Tong Batu won a big victory without making any noise. Why didn't I know who approved him to fight this battle? Why didn't he win the battle beforehand?" Please, do not report?"

Based on his own understanding, Wang Jun explained: "Commander, I'm afraid the second brigade fought this battle for a reason. It should be that the pursuing Soviet army bit too hard. In order to retreat safely, Brigadier Tong had to take countermeasures. From the effect point of view, the goal of the battle was fully achieved, and according to the telegram from the Second Brigade, within eight hours of the march, no Soviet troops were found chasing after them."

Tang Qiuli didn't speak, took the telegram and read it again, then stared at Wang Jun for a while, and said, "Not bad, the ratio of one to twenty killed in battle, Tong Batu's return carbine, a good deal, according to your What do you mean, Tong Batu acted without authorization, because he had no choice but to fight this battle, would the Second Brigade not be able to safely retreat to Kulun?"

Wang Jun replied honestly: "Master, I think so. The situation faced by the Second Brigade is special."

Tang Qiuli sighed and shook his head. He knew why Tong Batu, regardless of the danger of being entangled by the Soviet army's chasing troops, fought this battle. It was not because the second battalion suffered huge casualties, which made Tong Batu unable to swallow this breath. , with Tong Batu's character, if he suffers a loss and does not retaliate, it is more uncomfortable than killing him. The root reason for not asking for instructions and not reporting is that he is afraid that he will not approve, so he simply beats him.

Tang Qiuli thought for a while, and said: "Chief of Staff Wang, record the order. First, the Second Cavalry Brigade of the Outer Mongolian Frontier Defense Army was able to assess the situation and actively look for opportunities during the retreat. At a slight price, it severely damaged a Soviet army. The armored brigade achieved a record of annihilating more than [-] enemies, and the special order rewards the second cavalry brigade for its heroic combat behavior, and the related officers and soldiers who have made meritorious service are awarded honorary titles."

"[-]. Major General Tongbatu, the brigade commander of the Second Cavalry Brigade of the Outer Mongolia Frontier Defense Army, in the process of carrying out the division's order to withdraw from Irkutsk, without asking for instructions, arbitrarily mobilized troops to participate in the battle, causing casualties Tong Batu was revoked from the position of brigade commander of the second cavalry brigade, acting as the brigade commander of the second cavalry brigade. Colonel He Xigetu, chief of staff of the brigade, failed to stop his risky action in time, and was given a written warning and deducted two months of allowances , this order, Tang Qiuli, the commander of the independent division."

After recording the order, Wang Jun gave a wry smile and said, "Master, you are really clear about rewards and punishments, but I'm afraid that Brigadier Tong will not be convinced in his heart! He won the battle and was dismissed. It's not good for anyone, sir. Will the dismissal be changed to a serious warning?"

Tang Qiuli smiled coldly and said: "Chief Wang, since he knows that rewards and punishments are clear, Tong Batu should accept this result. If he still acts without authorization, then the word "agent" on his head will not be kept. We There is a lack of a cavalry guard staff officer. Ask him if he is willing to come. Fighting a war cannot be based on a momentary fluke. What's more, using a cavalry unit to fight against an armored brigade of the Soviet army is an adventure in itself, an organized and disciplined unit , sooner or later you will suffer a lot!" [

Wang Jun grinned, and thought to himself: "The words of the commander are serious enough, especially the move of being transferred to the side as a staff officer, which makes all the leading generals fear like a tiger. In the entire army of the independent division, only the direct subordinates Major General Liu Hongzhang, commander of the First Brigade of the Corps, Major General Le Yiqin and Major General Liu Cuigang, commanders of the two major aviation groups of the Air Force, have enjoyed this kind of treatment. It is said that the three major generals dare not raise their heads in the division headquarters !"

By the time the telegram was sent to the headquarters of the Second Cavalry Brigade, it was already late at night, and Tongbatu had not yet rested. In the tent, with the help of a dim oil lamp, he was carefully looking at the map of Outer Mongolia. Draw various lines on the map, with a focused and serious expression.

The chief of staff of the brigade, He Xigetu, walked into the tent, put a telegram in front of him, and said: "The commander has replied to the telegram, and there will be rewards and punishments. Our second brigade has become famous in the whole army. You have been ordered to reward you and you will be withdrawn." Resigned from my post, acting brigade commander, I was punished in writing, and I was also fined two months' allowance, a few hundred yuan, well, next two months, I can count on you to eat!"

Tong Batu read the telegram carefully by the oil lamp, slapped his thigh, and laughed loudly and said, "I didn't expect that the teacher's punishment on our old Tong was so light. It doesn't matter whether you act as an agent or not. The second brigade is enough, but, old man, you can’t count on me to eat. My half-year allowance is used as a pension for the fallen soldiers. Within half a year, I will be poorer than you. Follow me!"

He Xigetu said mysteriously for a while, "Brigade Commander, do you know what was said in the telegram sent by Chief of Staff Wang?"

Tong Batu's eyes widened vigilantly, and he said, "I didn't see it again, so you know what Chief of Staff Wang said? Don't be fooled, just say it!"

He Xigetu said slowly: "In the telegram, the chief of staff, Wang, relayed the words of the teacher verbatim. If Tong Batu still acts without authorization, then the word "agent" on his head will not be kept. We There is a lack of a cavalry guard staff officer, ask him if he is willing to come?"

"Ah!" Tong Batu screamed, jumped up suddenly, almost knocked over the oil lamp.

(To be continued) (To be continued.)