The day after returning to Shannan County, Ye Feng convened a meeting of officers above the company to hold a meeting.

Before nine o'clock in the morning, the conference room of the Shannan County Independent Brigade Command was very lively. This large conference room that can accommodate 200 people was almost filled with seats. Everyone was brand new and straight military uniforms, just like the New Year, and everyone's faces were full of joy.

The officers attending the meeting have already received news that their independent brigade has been expanded into an independent division, and they must have risen, and it is certain that they will be promoted to a higher level.

Some company commanders thought that they would become the major battalion commander in a short time, and their hearts were filled with passion. Some veterans who came with Ye Feng last year were even more excited.

At the beginning of the establishment of the Independent Brigade, Ye Feng brought back 500 veterans from the Third War Zone. These veterans had the highest military rank at that time, namely the company, the platoon leader, and some were even big-headed soldiers.

However, in just over half a year, the former company commander is now the battalion commander, and it seems that it will not take long to become the regiment commander. The former platoon leader is basically the company commander and is about to be promoted to battalion commander.

When did these veterans experience such a thing? In the past, they were born and died on the battlefield. After several years, they were company commanders or platoon commanders. In the independent brigade, how long did they take to become regiment commanders or battalion commanders?

Everyone was full of anticipation and excitement, and they looked at the entrance of the conference room from time to time, waiting for Ye Feng and other senior executives to appear.

It was exactly nine o'clock in the morning.

Ye Feng finally appeared at the entrance of the conference room. Ye Feng was wearing a straight lieutenant general's uniform. Behind Ye Feng were Guo Weiquan, Chu Tianyuan, Zhao Long, Qian Hu, Liu Yongyan and others. Everyone was also straight lenght major general's uniform.

The appointment of the senior executives of the Independent Division was entirely based on Ye Feng's opinion, which may have been acquiesced by Chiang Kai-shek. This may be one of the contents of the secret talks between Ye Feng and Chiang Kai-shek.

Ye Feng certainly had a clear mind on how to appoint a group of senior executives of the Independent Division. Guo Weiquan, the chief of staff of the Independent Brigade, and the deputy division commanders are Chu Tianyuan, Zhao Long, Qian Hu, and Liu Yongyan. Among them, Zhao Long also serves as the captain of the Lijian Special Forces Team, and Qian Hu also serves as the commander of the recruit brigade. Liu Yongyan is mainly responsible for logistics work.

The list has been reported and sent to the Third War Zone for filing at 8 o'clock this morning. At this time, Guo Weiquan, Chu Tianyuan, Zhao Long, Qian Hu and Liu Yongyan were all wearing major general uniforms. They were promoted from former colonel to major general.

The officers sitting in the conference room couldn't help but feel a little dazzled when they saw the stars shining. At the same time, the passion in their hearts was ignited instantly. They thought to themselves that as long as they do their best, they will definitely be able to wear the major general's uniform in the near future.

Several former regiment commanders were even more enthusiastic. If nothing unexpected happened, they would immediately become the brigade commander, or the major general.

Everyone saw Ye Feng coming in. At the same time, they stood up with a whisper, and their movements were neat. Everyone saluted and shouted loudly: "Hello, Master!"

Ye Feng replied with a military salute, waved his hand, and signaled everyone to sit down. Then Ye Feng slowly walked up to the rostrum in the middle, sitting in the middle, and following Guo Weiquan, Chu Tianyuan, Zhao Long, Qian Hu, and Liu Yongyan behind Ye Feng, sat on both sides of Ye Feng.

Ye Feng looked around and saw that the conference room was very quiet. Everyone was looking at him seriously. Ye Feng couldn't help but nodded, and then said seriously: "Hello brothers, brothers, our Independent Brigade has achieved great military achievements with everyone's joint efforts. Our Independent Brigade has also been expanded into an independent division accordingly. Everyone who is sitting here will be promoted to a corresponding level."

As soon as Ye Feng finished his words, thunderous applause suddenly erupted in the entire conference room.

Ye Feng raised his hand and pressed down. The thunderous applause stopped abruptly. Everyone sat upright again, looking at Ye Feng eagerly, waiting for Ye Feng to continue talking.

Ye Feng was full of energy and continued: "Our independent brigade expansion work is about to start, and the three infantry regiments are expanded into infantry brigades. Each brigade has three infantry regiments and one artillery regiment. Each artillery regiment will be equipped with 24 105mm American howitzers."

"The tank regiment was expanded into a tank brigade, with three tank regiments under its jurisdiction, each tank regiment was under its jurisdiction, one mechanized infantry battalion and one air defense battalion. Each tank battalion was equipped with m4 medium tanks, and the armored vehicles were American armored vehicles."

"In addition, we will also set up a mechanized infantry brigade with three mechanized infantry regiments. The officers at all levels of this mechanized infantry brigade will be openly selected for the entire division in three days, and everyone can sign up."

"Our original Independent Brigade Artillery Regiment will be expanded into a heavy artillery brigade, with two artillery regiments under its jurisdiction, all equipped with 155mm American howitzers, each regiment is 24 155mm heavy artillery, and there is also an air defense regiment equipped with German 88mm anti-aircraft guns and 25mm machine guns, as well as a certain amount of anti-aircraft machine guns."

"Our Shannan County's guard battalion has also been expanded into a guard regiment. Each regiment has three battalions under its jurisdiction, responsible for the defense of Shannan County, and is mainly equipped with light weapons."

"Our new recruit regiment in Milin County will be expanded to a new recruit brigade temporarily. The temporary plan is to recruit five new recruit regiments, and the new recruit brigade is temporarily under the responsibility of Deputy Commander Qian. In addition, the cavalry battalion in Milin County will not be expanded for the time being, and the organization of one battalion will be maintained."

“…”

Ye Feng told the story on the rostrum and drew a grand blueprint for the independent division. The fully-packed independent division is expected to exceed 30,000 people, more than 100 mm heavy artillery, hundreds of tanks, thousands of large trucks, and hundreds of off-road vehicles, jeeps, etc. are also equipped with hundreds.

All units have been expanded from the previous regiment to brigades, with only the cavalry battalions not being expanded. Ye Feng knew that with the emergence of armored troops, a large number of automatic weapons and the cavalry army was already on the decline.

Why the cavalry battalion is still in place? It is mainly because of the characteristics of its own territory and terrain. Whether it is Shannan County or Milin County, it is all mountainous terrain, and cavalry has a certain place to use it.

The conference lasted for a whole morning, not only was the newly established independent division planned, but it reached the scale of three infantry brigades, one artillery brigade, one tank brigade, one mechanized infantry brigade, and one guard regiment, but it also included some auxiliary troops, such as communications, transportation and supply units, and even hospitals.

The expansion of the Independent Brigade into an Independent Division is not a problem with equipment. Before going to Chongqing, the meritorious value in the "Nuwa" system reached more than 300,000 points, and another Japanese fleet was sank in Nanjing. The merit value in the system has exceeded 400,000 points.

Equipment is not a problem, what is lacking is personnel. Ye Feng currently has only more than 7,000 people, and the independent division will reach 30,000 after the full squad. Ye Feng also said at the establishment meeting just now that in the next stage, the key task of the independent division is to recruit soldiers.

Recruiting is divided into several stages. First, recruiting five regiments of new recruits, about 10,000. These recruits conduct basic military training in the recruit brigade for two months, and then supplement each unit and conduct a series of professional training.

For example, if you are assigned to the tank regiment after two months of training in the recruit brigade, you will naturally conduct a series of tank training in the subsequent process, including driving, maintenance, and even actual combat. If you are assigned to the artillery brigade, you will become a real artillery and conduct artillery-related training.

In addition, at the conference, Ye Feng also proposed a plan to build a simple highway, building roads between three counties, building two-lane sand and stone roads for trucks, off-road vehicles and other vehicles.

Building a highway requires a lot of cement. The current cement plant is still under construction and will take at least two or three months to start production. First, build sand and gravel roads between counties. After the cement plant is put into production, the road surface will be hardened, then covered with cement, and converted into cement highways.

In addition to building roads, a large number of barracks are needed to build. The number of independent divisions will reach 30,000. At present, the seemingly spacious barracks will soon become crowded, and a large number of new barracks need to be built immediately.

In fact, Ye Feng has many plans in his mind and a big blueprint. However, Ye Feng currently controls only three counties, with a small territory and a small population, so many things cannot be realized for the time being.

After the meeting, the entire Independent Division started to operate at high speed. In the morning, the meeting ended and in the afternoon, an announcement was posted in various counties to inform the general public that the Independent Brigade had been officially expanded into an Independent Division. At the same time, large-scale recruitment would be carried out in the three counties again.

This time, the recruitment plan reached a total of 10,000 people. As soon as the notice was released, the general public rushed to tell each other, and many young and middle-aged people who wanted to join the independent division suddenly became excited.

Ye Feng's troops were not only well treated and equipped, but also had very little casualties. The general public knew this and tried their best to enter the Independent Division.

A few days after the founding of the Independent Division, the Independent Division began a large-scale recruitment work. The population of Shannan County, Milin County and Pingyuan County was about one million (including rural areas), and 10,000 new recruits were recruited, with a sufficient number of troops.

Therefore, on the first day of recruiting, each recruiting station was crowded. Some middle-aged people in their forties and fifties also came to join the fun and wanted to join the independent division to fight the Japanese. However, there are strict age restrictions on recruiting this time, and they must be between the ages of eighteen and thirty.

"Uncle, are you sending your kids to join the army?"

"No, I want to come and give it a try myself. I heard that once I join the independent division, I can get ten yuan of settlement fees."

"Ha ha......"

Many people around laughed kindly when they heard this.

"I said his uncle, he has regulations that he must be between the ages of eighteen and thirty. You are in your forties and come to join in the fun."

There are many uncle-level figures like this, but they were all politely declined by the soldiers who recruited the troops. In order to build a high-level team, Ye Feng had strict regulations on recruitment, and not everyone could be recruited.

***
Chapter completed!