Draw the sword and cure the fear of insufficient firepower

The Labor Union vividly named this action "Moving Operation."

Following the order from the General Labor, all troops took quick action.

Although the labor general ordered to leave a regiment to guard the headquarters.

However, the chief of staff, the division commander, and all the cadres were strongly opposed.

General Lao had no choice but to leave a few more troops around the headquarters.

After all, the Japs kept trying to attack our headquarters, so we had to be on guard.

Although it's safe now, we still can't be careless...

386旅剩下的部队772团、771团，还有129师385旅的769团在旅长带领下奔赴曲城。

The First and Second Death Columns headed towards Fangcheng. After all, Fangcheng had been occupied and there was no enemy around.

Then all the main forces, county brigades, district squads, and militia along the line joined the "moving team"!

Then the troops mobilized the villagers from various villages, and everyone pulled animals and pushed carts. More and more people joined in this massive action.

Later on, the teams became like long dragons, stretching for more than ten kilometers.

When the people knew that the Eighth Route Army had won a great victory, they were all delighted.

"what happened?!"

"Why did the troops stop?!"

The brigade commander at the back of the team saw the chaos and commotion in front of them and stopped moving. He rushed over and asked.

"Commander, these... the villagers brought out food and eggs from their homes and asked us to take them..."

"The political commissar is evacuating the crowd...but we won't accept them. The villagers are determined not to let us. Please go and have a look!"

The head of the 772nd Regiment replied with a worried look on his face.

Upon hearing this, the brigade commander realized that this matter was not easy to handle as he could not hurt his fellow villagers’ feelings, nor could he accept their things.

Those grains and eggs are so precious that the villagers are reluctant to eat them themselves and instead save them for seeds for next year.

What's more, in this chaotic time, there's no telling when the crops might be destroyed by the Japanese. This little bit of food was saved by the villagers by tightening their belts, so they absolutely could not take it.

But time is precious, we can’t stay like this any longer.

If the Central Army learns that the 36th Division has been completely wiped out, they will definitely take the opportunity to occupy Qucheng.

The brigade commander now also knew the whole story.

It turned out that the elderly and children in the villages along the way who could not follow the main force brought food that they usually were reluctant to eat and drink to reward the Eighth Route Army.

At the front of the team stood two rows of fellow villagers, each holding baskets and jars in their hands.

It was filled with sweet potatoes, steamed bread, corn, and even flour and eggs.

Some of those who were a little wealthier even brought chickens, ducks and new shoes.

But the army has its own disciplines and cannot take anything from the masses.

This led to the situation where the people saw that the soldiers did not eat their own food and stuffed it into their mouths.

However, the Eighth Route Army strongly refused because of their strict discipline.

"Fellow villagers, we have rules. You can't take it! You can't take it!"

"Oh, old man, how can I accept your great gift? Get up quickly, get up quickly!"

"Auntie! The eggs are for my grandson's health. Please take them back!"

"Everyone listen to me, listen to me, we brought food! Enough!"

"Everyone go back, thank you! On behalf of the Eighth Route Army, I would like to express my gratitude to you! "

The political commissar was surrounded by a group of fellow villagers. He shouted for a long time and his mouth was dry and he felt like his throat was about to smoke.

As I talked about the latter part, I even felt a little short of oxygen and my head was dizzy.

"Commander, what are you talking about? You fought the Japanese for us. This little bit of food is just a token of our appreciation. Please accept it!"

"Comrade, I am 96 years old this year. I have suffered enough from the war since I was a child! This is the first time I have met a troop like yours that cares about us ordinary people. Please accept us. If not, I will not be able to get up!"

"Oh, my grandson is in great shape! He's a big fat boy! Take this egg and give it to the wounded to replenish their bodies! I know you are the leader! Give the order! Oh, give the order quickly!!"

Several old men and women surrounded the political commissar and talked in unison. No matter what, the things had been taken out and the Eighth Route Army had to accept them. If they didn't accept them, they wouldn't be able to sleep well when they returned home, and they would feel unhappy and ashamed.

"Fellow villager! Fellow villager! I am their leader, please tell me!"

"We really can't have this thing!"

"You will be punished if you go back, folks, go back, we fight the devils for nothing!"

"I will not take the food rations of the villagers!"

The brigade commander quickly squeezed into the crowd, pushed the political commissar out, and explained.

As soon as the political commissar went out, he quickly sat on the ground, unzipped his collar, and drank water in big gulps.

"You must be the boss! Give the orders!"

"That's right, give the order quickly!"

"You shed blood and sacrificed for us, what do we have to eat?"

When the villagers saw that a man wearing glasses had arrived, they thought he must be a high-ranking official, and immediately surrounded the brigade commander again. No matter what they said, it was useless and the soldiers must accept this thing today.

"Well... let's do this... let's buy... these things are ours!"

"Chief of Staff, bring the money. Let's buy it at a price 2% higher than the market price!"

The brigade commander really had no choice but to race against time and go back early to avoid any further complications.

"What?! Comrade, are we doing this for money?!"

"That's right, we treat you as our own children, we feel sorry for you!"

"Look at you, some of you are still wearing straw sandals, and some are even barefoot!"

"That's right, there are babies in your team. If you don't eat, give it to the babies! The babies are growing!"

"No money, we don't want money! Just give the order!"

When my fellow villagers heard that they had to spend money to buy it?

They were all unhappy and shouted.

"This……"

"If you don't charge us, we won't eat it even if we are beaten to death!"

"Yes! I would rather die than eat it!"

The brigade commander's head was buzzing, and he suddenly thought of Li Yunlong, this stupid guy, who was actually acting like a rogue.

"That……"

"Oh... okay then!"

"We also know that you have a mission. As long as you want to eat it, just buy it!"

An elder from the village stood up and said helplessly.

In this way, this unusually enthusiastic welcome finally came to an end.

The chief of staff gave the money to the fellow villagers, and only then did he accept the grain.

The villagers also dispersed automatically, laughing and shouting, to see the Eighth Route Army off.

Now the brigade commander didn't dare to let his troops pass through the village anymore, the villagers were so enthusiastic.

They had no choice but to go through uninhabited areas, send a few soldiers to the surrounding villages to mobilize people, and then lead people to catch up with the main force.

"We are ready to welcome the king's army with food and drink!"

"Bring food and drink to welcome the king's teacher!!"

The brigade commander was standing on a high ground at this time, tears welling up in his eyes, choking several times, and muttering to himself.

Then he saluted solemnly towards the village behind him.

This is the power of the people.

You keep the people in your heart, and the people hold you high!

If you treat the people like beasts of burden, the people will roll up their sleeves, take up sickles and hammers, and let you know what the power of the people is!