Rebirth from the Ashes: Rebuilding the Red Soviet Area

The results of the assessment basically achieved the purpose of Li Yan's training this time.

There are also many happy events at the station

During these ten days, with medicine and adequate nutrition

The six lightly wounded soldiers have all recovered and returned to the team, and the remaining four seriously wounded soldiers can also walk.

On the prisoners' side, all the soldiers joined the Red Army

As for Zhangdong, although there was no result, under the continuous political offensive of the old squad leader, the attitude towards the Red Army has changed greatly.

In the command tent, Li Yan was discussing with the old squad leader how to better receive prisoners.

A voice came loudly, with joy and haste

"Captain, good news, good news"

Li Yan and the old squad leader stood up at the same time and looked at a group of people rushing in from outside the tent. Song Tao was at the front.

Li Yan asked: "What good news is it that alarmed so many people?"

Gao Xuan hurriedly urged, "Yes, Old Song, if you have any good news, tell us quickly. What are you all waiting for?"

Song Tao said happily: "Hey, Captain, guess what?"

Li Yan laughed and scolded: "When did you, Old Song, learn to sell lawsuits? Tell me quickly, or I'll punish you."

"Report to the company commander, we found a town 10 kilometers north of Meishan, where there are no white dogs guarding it."

Li Yan quickly asked: "Which town is it? What's the situation in the town? Why is the enemy not guarding it?"

"Gutian Town. At that time, we saw that Gutian Town was only guarded by the militia, so we didn't dare to alert the enemy. We went to a nearby place called Yuanjia Village and asked around."

"The villagers said that there are indeed no white dogs in Gutian Town. There is only a security group. The leader of the security group is a bully named Huatai. He is involved in land grabbing and hooligans occupying Gutian Town."

"They say it's a security team, but in reality, there are only about a hundred people."

"As for why the White Dogs didn't enter, some say Huatai has the support of the Nationalist Army, while others say Huatai bribed the local county magistrate. The local people don't know either."

"We'll report back first."

The old squad leader said: "This is good news. We are hiding in Meishan. We are not afraid of the enemy's encirclement and suppression, but we are afraid of the enemy's blockade. Once the blockade is carried out, our survival will be in jeopardy."

"We have discovered a gap, which may be our opportunity, but the situation is unclear and we dare not act rashly."

Li Yan kept repeating in his mouth: "Gutian Town, Gutian Town"

He seemed to have thought of something, and suddenly his eyes lit up: "I remember, Gutian Town is a place that is famous throughout the country for its papermaking industry. It is a town at the junction of Liancheng County and Yong'an County."

"Gutian Town should be under the jurisdiction of the enemy's 83rd Division. Isn't Zhangdong part of the 83rd Division? Call him over and ask him, and we'll know."

"Yeah, why didn't I think of that? I'll go call him now."

Gao Xuan ran out after he finished speaking

Li Yan stopped Gao Xuan and said, "Why are you always so nervous? I don't know if Zhang Dong is willing to talk about it."

The old squad leader smiled and said, "I don't think it's a big problem. Recently, although Zhang Dong hasn't explicitly stated that he wants to join the Red Army, his attitude towards us has changed a bit."

"I think if I ask for some information, it won't be a big problem."

Li Yan nodded and quickly ordered: "That's great, Gao Xuan, go and invite Zhang Dong, and be nice to him."

"Shi Tou, go run for the old squad leader and tell the kitchen staff to start cooking. Make some braised pork and rice, and some fish soup. Let the soldiers eat and drink well, and then have a good rest."

"Everyone else go get ready, maybe we'll have a big operation tonight."

The people in the command tent immediately dispersed and began to get busy

Soon Zhang Dong was invited over

Before Li Yan could speak, Zhang Dong said, "Team Leader Gao told me something on the way."

"I know the situation in Gutian Town."

"Gutian Town is located at the junction of Liancheng and Yong'an. Because of its famous papermaking industry, it attracted many businessmen and made a lot of money every day. However, it was occupied by a group of land thugs organized by a man named Huatai."

Gao Xuan asked curiously: "Huatai is just a bully, and there is money here, why doesn't anyone dare to occupy it?"

"Is this Huatai powerful?"

Zhang Dong shook his head: "Why do you say that?"

"This Huatai is ruthless and cunning, and his methods are very clever."

"Hua Tai worked as a servant in a paper mill at the age of 12, and joined the army at the age of 16. Within two years, he and his companions fled back to Gutian with guns and organized a group of guards to protect the business transactions of various businesses."

"At first, these businesses didn't agree to the guards' protection because the fees were too high. After one trip, almost half of the profit was gone."

"Huatai will join forces with local bandits and rob anyone who disagrees with the escort."

"Over time, those businesses had no choice but to pay for peace in order to continue their business."

"Later, Huatai opened several paper mills of its own, becoming increasingly powerful and aggressive."

"Local women who were even slightly attractive were raped and sent to brothels. Men aged 12 to 40 were sent to his paper mill, where they worked like animals every day. Almost every day, people died of starvation or were beaten to death."

"Local people call Huatai 'King of Hell,' and the paper mill 'the devil's den.'"

"The local tyrants and business owners in Gutian Town are also targets of Huatai's oppression. If they set their sights on any business, land, or property, they will definitely find a way to destroy the other party's family."

"In the end, he even ignored the government and drove out all the government officials in Gutian. He managed the business himself and collected taxes himself, becoming a local tyrant."

"The whole town of Gutian is filled with complaints and is in a state of chaos."

"The local government joined forces with these business owners and formed a 'punitive force' of several hundred people to attack Huatai."

"But Gutian Town is located in a narrow area between two mountains. It has been a place for military garrisons since ancient times. Three forts, upper, middle and lower, were built. The terrain is complex and easy to defend but difficult to attack. In addition, Huatai has people with guns and cannons."

"The final "punitive team" ended in failure"

"From then on, Huatai's reputation spread far and wide, and land thugs from a hundred miles around rushed to join it. At its peak, there were more than 2000 people."

"Gradually, Huatai monopolized the paper production in Gutian Town and also sold timber, making huge profits."

"Then your Red Army arrived and dispersed this group. Huatai was shot and fled. I don't know what happened, but later Huatai flattered himself with Lu Xingguo, the commander of the 52nd Division."

"After the Red Army left, with the support of Lu Xingguo, they returned to Gutian Town with a hundred or so people, continued to occupy Gutian, secretly built an arsenal, and started the arms business again."

"Even the 83rd Division in Yong'an and the 45th Division in Liancheng were unwilling to offend the 52nd Division, the local tyrant."

......