The battle order for the second attack on Anqing included the division headquarters of the 104th Division, two regiments, and the division artillery regiment. Half a year ago, everyone walked back to Fengtai County from Anqing by land, and this time the marching route chosen was the previous road. The long marching column threaded through the foothills of the Dabie Mountains. The summer scenery was very beautiful; blue sky, white clouds, mountain forests, and cool breezes made everything feel very pleasant.

But the grassroots cadres of the 4th Regiment had no mind to look at the scenery. The 4th Regiment was a new unit, and soldiers who had enlisted for only two months could be found everywhere. Compared with the old units, the basic military training of these new comrades was not in place. "Lift your legs when walking! Don't drag your feet, lift your legs!" Grassroots cadres had to correct the comrades' basic marching movements.

Long-distance raids stress scientific marching most: how to allocate physical strength most effectively, and how to adopt the most effective movements. This is all science. Chen Ke liked hiking in the 21st century and specifically consulted many experts, especially military experts. The PLA in history was known as "Iron Feet," not because those revolutionary predecessors were genetically modified people, but because they accumulated great marching knowledge in long-term military struggles. This knowledge from practice was unreservedly taught to the Workers' and Peasants' Revolutionary Army in 1907.

Lifting legs to walk seems very tiring, but in fact, most of the movement is borne by muscles, and the wear and tear on joints is precisely much smaller than dragging legs to walk. Dragging legs to walk puts most of the bumps on the joints. Incorrect marching posture for a long time is not only inefficient and tiring but, more importantly, very harmful to the body. There was a famous saying in the 21st century: "Attitude determines everything." Chen Ke naturally used this saying. Doing anything requires a progressive attitude. Marching with the strength of the thighs makes the posture look full of vitality. Chen Ke felt this might be the manifestation of an "upward attitude."

As the Regiment Commander, Mao Taiping couldn't go up personally to criticize the soldiers. The army stresses not "skipping levels" most. This "skipping levels" not only means subordinates cannot report skipping levels, but superiors normally cannot command subordinate units skipping levels either. So regarding the command of middle and lower-level officers, Mao Taiping just watched and listened; he didn't say a word about the soldiers' performance.

Not speaking didn't mean having no thoughts. Mao Taiping was also observing his troops. Which soldiers mastered military knowledge and skills better? This stuff couldn't be grasped by just listening to reports, and watching drills might not be useful either. As the saying goes, "Laymen watch the excitement, experts watch the knack." The so-called knack is precisely best reflected in this seemingly boring march.

After looking at many units, Mao Taiping finally gave up the idea of selecting special talents from among them. No matter how he looked, the level of the old units far exceeded that of the new units. The marching movements of the old units were always the most standard, and the marching attitude of the old units was also the most correct. Chen Ke repeatedly emphasized in the military academy, "The first cry of a genius will absolutely not be a good poem." Without sufficient training, everything is useless.

The gap between old and new units within the 4th Regiment was obvious. The 1st Regiment marching together was entirely an old unit. Most of them had participated in the last Battle of Anqing, so in terms of basic military skills, the 1st Regiment was even better. When many soldiers of the 4th Regiment were already panting heavily from exhaustion, the soldiers of the 1st Regiment still had enough spare energy while marching.

"After this Battle of Anqing ends, we must increase training in the regiment." Looking at the two units with vastly different performances, Mao Taiping made up his mind.

Comparison kills; goods compared must be thrown away. While Mao Taiping was full of introspection, there was another group of people in the team setting off for Anqing who were even less good at marching than the soldiers of the 4th Regiment. They were the guide troops sent by the Yue Wang Society. As soon as the Battle of Hefei ended, the "liaison officers" of the Yue Wang Society in the People's Party troops immediately brought the news of the annihilation of the Hubei New Army back to the Yue Wang Society. Those who could stay until now were the backbone of the Yue Wang Society. They dared not believe that the People's Party annihilated the Hubei New Army in only two days. And clever guys like Chang Hengfang had already thought that the next target of the People's Party was Anqing. They immediately sent people to recommend themselves to Chen Ke, asking to lead the way.

Logically speaking, these people were the elites picked out from the remaining three hundred or so people of the Yue Wang Society. As a result, the guides were thrown from the front of the main force to the end of the team in only half a day. These people were not unhardworking either; they were high-spirited at the beginning. But the Workers' and Peasants' Revolutionary Army rested regularly to maintain marching speed. The Yue Wang Society people could hold on for the first few hours, but in the afternoon, their legs couldn't move as if filled with lead. Watching teams of Workers' and Peasants' Revolutionary Army soldiers pass them, their small team unknowingly turned from the head of the marching column to the end. The more anxious they were, the slower they walked. At the earliest, they secretly laughed at the People's Party for resting too much, but later they found that they couldn't recover no matter how much they rested.

Shi Dekuan was considered very good at walking among them. The reason he was left behind was to maintain team consistency with his Yue Wang Society companions. With such a long queue, one could be washed away if not careful. Seeing his companions really couldn't walk anymore, Shi Dekuan quickly grabbed a People's Party soldier walking outside the team. This soldier's epaulet was a second lieutenant; he should be a platoon leader. Shi Dekuan asked, "Comrade, when do we rest?"

"Walk another twenty *li*." The platoon leader said. Looking at the crooked team behind Shi Dekuan, the platoon leader couldn't help advising, "You should also support each other. Those with strength help others more. Otherwise, everyone will be thrown behind." Just after saying these few words, the platoon leader found himself falling from the front of his platoon to the back. He said quickly, "Support each other, right." After speaking, this platoon leader ran all the way back to the head of his team.

Shi Dekuan agreed with this platoon leader's words very much, but he dared not say so to the group of Yue Wang Society comrades behind him. Today, with more than three hundred people left in the Yue Wang Society, there were more officers than soldiers. He, an "inspector," was far from being able to give orders to his comrades. Shi Dekuan's gaze couldn't help falling on Chen Duxiu, the supreme commander leading the way this time.

Chen Duxiu was also panting, but his spirit was better than other comrades. Hearing the platoon leader's words, Chen Duxiu quickly said, "Let's support each other." The Yue Wang Society crowd all thought this was good, and they gathered together extending their hands to each other. Then they stared at each other. Who supported whom was a very realistic problem. A very strange thing appeared here: those who wanted to support others were mostly carrying more luggage and looking more tired. While many of those waiting to be supported walked empty-handed and looked not bad in spirit.

If it were before, the Yue Wang Society itself didn't care too much about this practice. Marching with the People's Party, everyone in the People's Party carried a marching pack. Those who didn't carry packages were officers with ranks, and these officers ran back and forth in the team, busy like happy dogs. They obviously didn't need support. Chen Duxiu had walked such a long way, and his face was originally very ruddy. Seeing his comrades behave like this, his face instantly turned from ruddy to purple. Not long after, Chen Duxiu suddenly went limp, as if collapsing. The Yue Wang Society people immediately went up to support Chen Duxiu to sit down.

Chen Duxiu rested for a good while before catching his breath. He looked up, his eyes first stern, then quickly turning sorrowful. The Yue Wang Society crowd all participated in the march; they knew what Chen Duxiu's attitude meant. Many people lowered their heads in shame.

"Comrades, the People's Party is revolution, and we are also revolution. Why can't we compare to the People's Party? Everyone knows now, right?" Chen Duxiu's voice was trembling when he spoke. Shi Dekuan even suspected that Chen Duxiu might cry next. Anyway, every time comparing the People's Party with the Yue Wang Society, Shi Dekuan always wanted to cry depressedly. Chen Duxiu wasn't as fragile as Shi Dekuan thought. If it weren't because Chen Duxiu himself was immersed in shame, he would want to fly into a rage now. Shi Dekuan looked at other cadres again. Bai Wenwei, Chang Hengfang, Xiong Chengji—these people all looked ashen-faced, looking disheartened.

In the People's Party's retaking of Anqing this time, although many people in the Yue Wang Society wanted to mention the matter of the Yue Wang Society governing Anqing again, at least these people were not that shameless. They were defeated completely in Anqing last time, and none of them wanted to repeat the same mistake. Chen Duxiu showed the demeanor of a leader; he actively proposed organizing a "guide team." If the Yue Wang Society didn't go to Anqing this time and shrank in Hefei, then the Yue Wang Society would absolutely have no future. If they did nothing, the Yue Wang Society wouldn't even have an excuse to return to Anqing.

Chen Ke generously agreed to the Yue Wang Society's request. The Yue Wang Society crowd brought weapons when setting off this time. Their own plan was to perform well in the battle and prove themselves. Chang Hengfang, Xiong Chengji, and others all stated that even if they died in Anqing this time, they couldn't shame the Yue Wang Society anymore. These people actually had a feeling of "the wind rustles, the water is cold" (a hero going on a suicide mission) in their hearts. Their plan was to rush to the front, not afraid even if they sacrificed. If they sacrificed themselves, it might win some reasons for the Yue Wang Society to share power in Anqing.

The tragic mood of these people was beyond reproach, but today's march clearly showed a result: the Yue Wang Society's marching ability was too poor. According to the current situation, by the time these people of the Yue Wang Society arrived in Anqing, it was estimated that the People's Party would have finished fighting. The Yue Wang Society people were not so shameless as to do nothing themselves and then ask the People's Party for Anqing with empty words. It is already not easy for people to achieve "viewing death as going home," but when the mentality of "viewing death as going home" meets the fact of "seeking death but unable to," no wonder Chen Duxiu and the senior cadres of the Yue Wang Society looked pale one by one.

The Yue Wang Society people didn't know what else to say at this time. Everyone felt that saying anything would only add more shame to themselves. But sitting here was not a solution either. The People's Party troops didn't stop a step, and the marching speed of each unit was almost the same as when they just set off. Everyone's steps were steady and light. The team passed by the Yue Wang Society "guide team" stopped in place in an orderly manner like a winding dragon. Every People's Party officer and soldier marched with rapt attention, not even looking at the Yue Wang Society people by the roadside. This attitude of near indifference made the Yue Wang Society crowd even more ashamed.

"Why did we end up like this?" Chen Duxiu said a sentence. This was not questioning his comrades, but questioning himself.

At this point, Shi Dekuan didn't care about so much anymore. He said bluntly, "Because the People's Party practiced. In the few days I was with the People's Party, I asked a lot of things. The People's Party didn't know how to do it naturally either. They told me that everything they did had been practiced long ago. Any seemingly insignificant small matter, they practiced hundreds of times."

Shi Dekuan's status was not high. If he didn't want to bury his head in the ground out of shame at this time, he wouldn't speak so bluntly.

Chang Hengfang had always been a hardliner; he was most unwilling to bow to the People's Party. Hearing Shi Dekuan's words, he didn't retort as usual but said with a crying tone, "Then how did the People's Party know what to practice? There are so many things to do in the world; how come everything they practiced is useful? And everything we did is useless?"

No one picked up this sentence. If an explanation must be given, it could only be said that the leader of the People's Party, Chen Ke, commanded well. Although this was a fact, no one was willing to refute Chen Duxiu's face to his face.

"It is I who delayed everyone." Chen Duxiu took over the conversation.

Chang Hengfang knew he said the wrong thing. He hurriedly said, "Grand Commander, I didn't mean that."

Chen Duxiu stood up and pulled Chang Hengfang, who was full of shame and remorse. "No, Hengfang, your words are correct. I am not worthy of being called Grand Commander either. A battalion of the People's Party has more than a thousand people, and they only dare to call themselves Battalion Commander. We only have more than three hundred people; if I call myself Grand Commander again, this is too ungrateful."

Chen Duxiu was a famous talent in Anhui, and everyone always respected him. Hearing Chen Duxiu so depressed, Chang Hengfang wished he could slap himself twice. Why didn't his mouth have a gate?

Chen Duxiu scanned the crowd, then breathed a sigh of relief as if putting down a thousand *jin* burden. "Everyone don't think so much either. If we can't walk, then rest first. Hengfang, take people to distribute the luggage to everyone. We don't want useless luggage for now. Everyone bring guns and dry food. Let's also learn from the People's Party, stride forward. Rest when tired, continue walking when leg muscles relax. Even if we can't lead the way, we can't let others leave us eating dust at the end."

At this time when people's minds were fluctuating, if Chen Duxiu quit and felt sorry for himself, this team would fall apart immediately. At this critical moment, Chen Duxiu looked like a leader instead.

Chang Hengfang didn't say much and immediately started distributing luggage.

When the Yue Wang Society regrouped, the main force of the People's Party had already passed, and the baggage carts left at the end came over. Chang Hengfang didn't want to waste things either. He packed the luggage that the Yue Wang Society crowd didn't need into several large bundles and stuffed them forcefully onto the carts. How could the logistics unit commander dare to let them stuff things onto important baggage carts casually? But the logistics unit commander also knew that these guys walking with him were from the Yue Wang Society. And hearing Chang Hengfang say with a look of burning his boats, "We give the things to you; if you don't want them, just throw them away."

Those in the Logistics Department had to deal with people. The commander knew this group of people couldn't carry these things anymore. He took out a pencil and wrote a receipt. Chang Hengfang resolutely refused the receipt, so the commander came over directly and asked, "Who is the commander of the Yue Wang Society?"

Chen Duxiu hurriedly answered, "I am."

The commander handed the receipt to Chen Duxiu. "We can transport luggage for you, but keep the receipt well. After arriving in Anqing, you still have to rely on this receipt to give you the things. Everyone is cooperating; please don't make it difficult for us. You must come to us to pick up the luggage after arriving in Anqing. Our Workers' and Peasants' Revolutionary Army has a system; if no one takes these extra things, I will be held responsible."

Chen Duxiu hurriedly expressed his thanks. The commander didn't say much either; after saying goodbye, he immediately returned to his team.

Bai Wenwei knew why Chang Hengfang was unhappy. Chang Hengfang didn't want to owe the People's Party a favor. If the things were unwanted, the Yue Wang Society and the People's Party would be even. But if he took the receipt, this favor would be a big deal.

Watching the figure of the logistics unit commander, Chen Duxiu sighed, "I have only read in books that there are troops with such strict discipline and such reasonable soldiers."

Shi Dekuan had always respected Chen Duxiu. Hearing this, he asked, "Grand Commander, what is special about this person?"

"Dekuan, managing baggage is the place where embezzlement happens most. Even if there are enough things, those managing baggage always say supplies are insufficient; where is there anyone afraid of surplus supplies? If he worries that having extra things will be investigated, it means that the discipline of the People's Party is strict to the point of enforcing orders and prohibitions. And under such strict discipline, everyone thinks avoiding trouble is better than causing trouble. It is common to throw away our luggage directly. That person just gave us a receipt; it seems he is very considerate of our difficulties. Such a person is reasonable; I really haven't seen one before. According to Confucius, this person is simply a gentleman (*junzi*)."

Shi Dekuan was young and hadn't seen many people. Moreover, most of those he associated with were those who called themselves Jianghu heroes. Jianghu heroes should act like this as long as they talk about "morality." Shi Dekuan didn't think owing the People's Party a favor was a big deal; on the contrary, that receipt seemed superfluous to him. Chen Duxiu's high praise for this People's Party commander really puzzled Shi Dekuan.

But with the luggage settled, everyone also reorganized their mood. The Yue Wang Society crowd continued to march. Along the way, everyone held a breath in their hearts. At this time, it was no longer to die heroically, but for a more realistic purpose: to be able to keep up with the People's Party team and rush to Anqing city together. In the current Yue Wang Society team, no one wanted others to work for themselves anymore; everyone hurried on wholeheartedly. Without distracting thoughts in their hearts, their steps seemed lighter. When resting at night, they followed at the end of the infantry battalion and surprisingly didn't fall behind.