Rebirth from the Ashes: Rebuilding the Red Soviet Area

"Who are you? If you don't stop, I'm going to shoot you."

A militia leader on the wall of Gutian Town's Lower Fort shouted loudly:

Li Yan took advantage of the night light and looked around. Gutian Town was very narrow and long, with mountains on the east and west, and divided into three parts: upper, middle and lower forts.

The three forts are connected, and each has its own gate and wall. No matter where you enter, you will face three layers of resistance.

There were two heavy machine guns on each wall, and about two squads were guarding it.

Gutian Town is exactly the same as Zhangdong, a natural military fortress, easy to defend and difficult to attack

Gao Xuan shouted loudly: "We are from the 83rd Division. We received an order from our superiors to return to Yongding. We passed by Gutian Town and wanted to rest here."

"Please open the door and let us in."

The militia leader raised his torch and looked at the people below, saying, "It's too late now. The city gates are closed. You'd better take a detour."

Zhang Dong stepped forward and shouted, "I am Zhang Dong, the company commander of the 83rd Division. I have met your commander Hua a few times. We need to take a detour of hundreds of kilometers to Yong'an. You see, we are exhausted. Brothers above, please help us."

While the militia leader on the city wall was hesitating, a soldier next to him said, "Boss, they said they are from the 83rd Division and they know our regimental commander. I think we should let them in."

"You know shit. It's so late now. Who knows if what they said is true or not? What if it's the Red Bandits? Thousands of our brothers died at their hands some time ago. Don't you remember?"

"Boss, the Red Bandits have been defeated by the Nationalist Army. How can they come to us?"

"We are different now. We are a militia. Even Commander Lu has defected to the National Army. If they are really the 83rd Division, which is a direct line of the National Army, and we don't let them in, then the higher-ups will blame us, and the commander may not be able to withstand it. Then the blame will be on us."

"Our fate may be..."

The militia leader hesitated even more and asked, "What should we do then?"

The soldier thought for a moment and said, "Boss, why don't we lower a basket down from the city wall and have them put their officer certificates in. We'll then show them to the commander."

"The commander ultimately decides whether to open the door or not. That way, even if something goes wrong, we won't be held responsible."

The militia leader laughed happily and said: "You are really a powerful military advisor. I will do as you say."

After a while, a basket was lowered from the city wall, and someone shouted, "Put your military ID cards in it and we'll check it first."

Zhang Dong pulled his officer's ID from his pocket and handed it to Gao Xuan. He then turned to Li Yan and whispered, "Captain Li, do you have any silver dollars?"

Li Yan immediately understood Zhang Dong's meaning and took out ten silver dollars from his pocket and handed them to Gao Xuan, asking him to put the silver dollars and his officer certificate into the basket.

"Boss, look what's in the basket"

The militia leader took out ten dollars from the basket, weighed them, took another dollar, blew on it and put it to his ear, then smiled and said to the soldier, "These soldiers are quite sensible. Take your officer's certificate and find the commander to see what he says. We'll go have a drink later."

The militia leader watched the soldier leave, then smiled and shouted to the people below: "Wait a moment, officers below. We will open the door to you as soon as our commander verifies it."

With the ocean, the soldiers' attitudes became more amiable. They trotted all the way to Huatai Mansion.

Huatai was in the living room of his mansion at this time, discussing something with someone.

A man with a face full of flesh nicknamed Tiger, with a guard team, is in charge of the factory and the business.

A dark-skinned man with tattoos nicknamed Black Wolf is in charge of the security team.

There is also a man with a pointed face and a pair of glasses, who is in his 50s. He used to go to a private school and was invited by Huatai to be a military advisor.

He is the one who plans many things at Huatai.

These three people are in cahoots with each other and have done all kinds of evil things. They are Huatai's confidants.

Tiger, with a face full of flesh, said: "Brother, those businesses are very disobedient now. They don't pay taxes, and they don't hire guards."

"And those untouchables, who are clamoring for a pay raise every day, or they're going on strike."

"Our profits have dropped by 40%. If this continues, the brothers will not have enough to eat."

Black Wolf slammed his stool and said, "This is a toast, but you don't want to drink it, so you have to drink the penalty. Big brother, if you let me take people to deal with them, they will behave themselves."

The master quickly stopped him: "Now is not the time to deal with them."

"We just came back not long ago and haven't found our feet yet. Besides, things are different now."

"We used to have Commander Lu to look after us, but now Commander Lu's team has been regularized. Even though Commander Lu has been transferred to the Nanchang headquarters as a councilor, this is actually a demotion in name only."

"This place is under the rule of the Nationalist Army now, so we should keep a low profile."

Huatai frowned and asked, "Then what should we do?"

The master thought for a moment and said, "We need to find another backer now."

Huatai said: "How can it be that easy? Those nationalist soldiers have always looked down on us. If we try to curry favor with them, we will end up in a cold shoulder."

"Report, a group of nationalist troops have arrived from Xiabao. They claim to be from the 83rd Division and want to rest for one night in Gutian Town."

"We don't dare to make a decision, so our platoon leader asked me to ask for instructions on what to do."

"This is the other party's military ID card."

The soldier on the city wall reported and handed Zhang Dong's officer certificate to Huatai.

Huatai took the officer's ID and opened it. "Zhang Dong, Zhang Dong"

"I remember now. I've seen him a few times at the Longyan base camp. He used to be in our 19th Army and was recruited by the Nationalist Army along with Commander Lu."

"He's from the 83rd Division now. Why is he here so late?"

The master's eyes turned: "Commander, this is good news."

"We are worried about not having the opportunity to find a backer. That Captain Zhang is from the 83rd Division, and the 83rd Division is a direct line of the National Army. If Captain Zhang can act as a bridge, we can get twice the result with half the effort."

Huatai thought for a moment: "We don't have any friendship with Zhang Dong, why would he help us?"

The master said confidently: "Please rest assured, Commander."

"Didn't the regimental commander just say that Zhang Dong was from the 19th Army? You've met several times. This is friendship."

Seeing that Huatai didn't understand, the advisor explained directly: "Before the Nationalist Army arrived, the 19th Route Army participated in the Fujian Incident together with Commander Lu's 52nd Division. Later, they were reorganized by the Nationalist Army together. That's why they have a certain bond."

"Everyone loves money. If we promise to pay Zhang Dong a thousand dollars every month, and work on both, I believe that with Captain Zhang's help and the support of the 83rd Division, we will have nothing to fear in the future."

After hearing this, Huatai laughed and praised: "You old fox are really quick to react."

"Inform everyone and prepare a grand banquet. Master, Tiger, and Black Wolf will come with me to welcome Captain Zhang."