Song Xiaoniu did not get too much advantage this time. In addition to seizing a large amount of artillery, ammunition, and more than 600 horses of Manchu and Mongolian origin, he suddenly armed a cavalry out of thin air.

"God help me, I didn't bring a single war horse for this crossing of the sea. No, there is a ready-made cavalry reinforcement camp." Song Xiaoniu laughed heartily, and Feilai, Zeng Xin and other chief officers were also very happy.

More than 200 war horses were shot and killed on the spot, allowing more than 10,000 soldiers to eat braised horse meat, stewed horse meat, and barbecued horse meat for two days, which greatly improved their lives with little meat these days.

After the occupation of Haizhou Prefecture, Song Xiaoniu received the latest military order from the Republican Army Headquarters, ordering him to cut off the retreat route of the Huai'an Prefecture defenders to Xuzhou and work with Yangzhou troops to sweep the area under the jurisdiction of Huai'an Prefecture.

Immediately, Song Xiaoniu's troops advanced in three groups. In more than a month, the troops under his command attacked Taoyuan, Andong, Shanyang, Yancheng, Qinghe, and Funing, a total of six counties in Huai'an.

The county defenders knew that Haizhou Prefecture had been lost, that Lu Jiawen was defeated and killed, and that even the elite General Wang Zhanyuan of the Beiyang Army was ambushed and almost died, but they were so frightened that they either abandoned the pass or surrendered to Kaicheng.

From then on, in less than two months, Song Xiaoniu effortlessly regained the six counties of Huai'an and surrounded the isolated city of Huai'an.

At the same time, Chen Tianhua ordered Li Xinghong's troops to attack in two directions from Jinling and Anqing to sweep across the entire northern Anhui region.

In this way, the Republican Army completely occupied the entire Anhui Province, while Su Province only had two isolated cities, Huai'an and Xuzhou, which were temporarily surrounded and not attacked, waiting for Luo Erhu and Luo Longyun's northern offensive.

Luo Erhu's northern line was full of tough guys, and the difficulties were much more than expected. In addition to his old rival Zhang Biao, there were also famous generals from the Beiyang Department, Wang Yujia, and elite troops under Li Chun's command.

In addition, there are many mountain ranges such as the Dabie Mountains in the southeastern and central Henan areas, which makes marching very inconvenient. The key is the logistics supply line, which is not as convenient as in northern Jiangsu. Therefore, their progress is less impressive than Song Xiaoniu's.

Much slower.

Regarding this point, the headquarters where Chen Tianhua and Ji Chunsheng worked were well aware of this. They did not urge them, but kept giving Song Xiaoniu and others new tasks.

Yancheng, this is the end point of Song Xiaoniu's sweep of six counties in Huai'an, and three groups of people gathered here.

By reaching this point, he had completed the original mission assigned to him by the headquarters.

Next, the headquarters officially appointed him as the commander of the 10th Field Division of the Republican Army, responsible for the vanguard of the southern offensive.

By the time Song Xiaoniu's 10th Division and Chen Tianhua's regular army establishment had 150,000 elite troops, plus the remaining troops, the total army strength exceeded 200,000, and there were still hundreds of thousands of reserves in training.

While appointing him, he was also given a new task:

Before the republican government can take over the power and defense of these regions, he must clear out all the bandits and remnants of the Northern Army, and then assist the local government to take over and establish a new regime.

There was no way, Song Xiaoniu had to accept this military order. For him, doing this was similar to defense and security. It was a big-headed problem, and he was not good at it.

With his current elite strength of 10,000, plus absorbing and digesting prisoners, recruiting and expanding troops, according to the regular establishment, his 10th Division only has 15,000 troops.

But he occupied the entire northern Jiangsu region. In addition to the two isolated cities, he also had three jurisdictions: Xuzhou Prefecture, Huai'an Prefecture and Haizhou Prefecture, nearly fifteen counties, as well as Hongze Lake and other large and small lakes.

Do you want to engage in defense like a paprika?

Play the piano randomly!

At this time, Felay, who was quite knowledgeable and had been officially promoted to brigade commander, gave him a plan called the Sparking Fire Task Force Plan.

After some face-to-face discussions, Song Xiaoniu summoned company and platoon-level officers selected from each battalion, a total of more than thirty people, to sit down with him to drink and discuss matters.

"Everyone, our division has basically completed its combat mission in northern Jiangsu. All that's left is to besiege the isolated city of Huai'an and wait for new orders. The remaining missions will depend on you, the elites selected from more than 10,000 troops.

"Song Xiaoniu's eyes swept over every team member.

"Our 10th Division is the Tiger Division. It is the elite of the elite in the Republican Army. It is invincible. It is undoubtedly the leader of the 150,000 Republican Army. And you are the elite and the seed among our Tiger Division."

A team of more than 30 junior officers could drink and talk with generals and division commanders at close range, and everyone was so excited that their faces turned red and their blood boiled.

Being chosen to sit here and drink is the greatest honor in itself.

"I am willing to die for the commander-in-chief and serve for General Song!"

The low voices of more than thirty people sounded in the back hall of the headquarters. They did not shout loudly, but they seemed more solemn and solemn.

"Although we have occupied the northern Jiangsu area, in many towns and villages, the remnants of the Northern Army still exist, and they are intertwined. There are also many bandits who take advantage of the fire to rob and occupy the mountains as kings."

"It can be said that these places are full of dangers now. If there is no army nearby, there is a possibility of rebellion at any time. Are you afraid?" Song Xiaoniu asked.

"Don't be afraid!" The team members' eyes flashed with anger. They thought the word "afraid" was an insult to them.

The officers and soldiers of Huben Division never know how to write the word "fear".

"Each of you can only lead a squad or a platoon, enter various parts of the jurisdiction, and go to the areas designated for you. The tasks you have to complete cannot be accomplished by bravery alone, but also require you to use your brains and wisdom to complete them.

.”

Song Xiaoniu stood up solemnly, walked past the rows of team members, and looked at the determined faces.

"Some time later, when the officials who take over come to this land, if the bandits and militia groups in your area have been integrated and reorganized, and there are more than a hundred people in the team, you will be the company commander, and there will be a team of more than 500 people.

Then you are the battalion commander, or even the regimental commander." Song Xiaoniu said:

"In short, you go in in the name of a work team to recruit and rectify the remnants of the bandits. The purpose of the militia is to ensure the safety of a party. As many people as you can recruit, you will get the corresponding position. Of course, what I ask for is a disciplined team.

A strict, well-trained team, not a bunch of homeless bandits."

After speaking, his tone became more serious.

However, he asked Felai to personally check this group of people. They were educated, well-educated, poor people with good roots and had no bad experiences.

"Everyone, we are sending you down not only to build up a team, but also to occupy territories, and to digest these territories so that both the gentry and the people in these places can live and work in peace and contentment and support the republic."

"This is a test of your ability and wisdom. This is by no means an easy task. When you are able to completely occupy a place, we will send you corresponding civilian personnel to assist you in governing the place."

"During this period, I will place a cavalry company in each prefecture for emergency response, and provide you with weapons and rations regularly. The spies from the Military Adjustment Department and the Internal Security Department will provide you with some help. Everyone,

Good luck to you!"

Song Xiaoniu raised the wine in the bowl.

More than thirty team members raised their bowls of wine one after another, drank it with their necks raised, and after performing military salutes, turned around and left the headquarters.

In the next day, groups of work teams, led by their captains, rushed to their respective areas.
Chapter completed!