The Flames of Resistance Against Japan in Jiangnan

The scouts inside the room stared intently, some even itching to make a move. Seeing this, Luo Jinsheng quickly sternly surveyed them, trying to calm them down and warning them to stay calm and not let small things ruin the division's operational plan.

The first soldier stepped forward and stabbed the deserter in the thigh with his bayonet, causing the deserter to scream in agony. The second soldier's bayonet struck the deserter in a non-vital area, and the deserter screamed again. A company of soldiers, using the most cruel method of bayonet killing, had chosen the most unbearable death for the deserter.

After the officers and soldiers finished stabbing each of the deserters, they leisurely walked over to check the deserters' pulses and reported to the opium-addicted chief:

"Reporting to the section chief, deserter Sun Erwa has died."

The quartermaster took off his snow-white gloves, wiped his hands, threw them on the ground, and gave a harsh order:

"Bury this deserter face down; cowards should never see the light of day again!"

Seeing everyone's gloomy faces, the sycophant assumed they were scared and suddenly felt quite powerful, so he said with no small amount of boasting:

"This isn't the worst; deserters can suffer even worse fates!"

Luo Jinsheng already knew that beatings were commonplace among soldiers in the White Army. There was a popular saying among officers: "No soldiers are made without being beaten!" He never imagined it would be this cruel.

On the way out, everyone remained silent, secretly making a vow in their hearts:

"We must defeat the Kuomintang reactionaries and establish Soviet power!"

Back at the town hall, following Battalion Commander Luo Jinsheng's instructions, Wu Guisheng called the fat town mayor and the sycophantic battalion commander into a private room and began questioning them:

"Old Ma, how many people are in your militia?"

The militia captain, a sycophant, beamed at being called "Old Ma," realizing that his advisor was treating him like family. He quickly perked up and began to give a detailed account of the Shahe militia:

"Wu Gaocan, our militia brigade has more than 300 people, divided into three companies. Two of the companies were taken away by the Wenzhou Prefecture Militia Command a few days ago. There is still one company in the town with about 100 people."

"How's their combat strength?"

The sycophant started complaining:

"A battalion only has a dozen or so guns, the pay is too little and often not paid, so many soldiers don't want to do it. What kind of combat effectiveness does it have?"

Upon hearing this, Wu Guisheng decided to offer them a pie in the sky to stave off their hunger:

"Old Ma, Mayor Song, you both know my mission here. After driving out the Jiangxi army next door, I'll be mainly responsible for the cleanup. So as long as we work together sincerely, I won't treat you two unfairly!"

Upon hearing this, the two generals, Heng and Ha, were immediately intrigued and pledged their loyalty on the spot.

Wu Guisheng pretended to think for a long time before finally speaking:

"The higher-ups' plan is a surprise attack, to drive out their people and forcibly confiscate all their supplies. The exact quantity will be up to us!"

"Advisor, please speak frankly if there's anything we can do for you!"

These two are also spiritual people. They know that there is no such thing as a free lunch. There are no free lunches or easy gains. They also have to give something in return.

Wu Guisheng became serious and said in a solemn tone:

"Now I command:"

Mayor Song immediately prepared food and meat for a division of 4,000 people.

"From now on, Captain Ma, you must secretly dispatch the militia to all the intersections bordering this town, to establish a strict blockade, and not allow a single man from western Jiangxi to escape!"

The two greedy fellows agreed and turned to leave. Wu Guisheng suddenly called them back, giving them a sarcastic, menacing rebuke:

"Gentlemen, let me remind you one more time: if word gets out, it will ruin everything, and you should know the consequences!"

"Yes, yes, please rest assured, Senior Advisor, we will definitely keep this a secret!"

The two of them nodded their heads like chicks eating rice.

Wu Guisheng knew that the sycophant was familiar with the supply depot, so he quickly sent him back in to carefully observe the Jiangxi army's firepower and manpower, and to compare it with the information gathered by his own reconnaissance team, so as to avoid any mistakes.

The sycophant, hearing that it was such a simple matter, naturally agreed without hesitation and hurriedly left.

Seeing that there were no outsiders in the room, Luo Jinsheng quietly discussed his concerns with everyone:

"Bringing these two guys in would be beneficial for resolving the supply depot issue, but news of our Red Army's capture of Wenzhou will reach here very quickly. What do you all think we should do about this?"

"As soon as Wenzhou was captured, the 3rd Battalion of the 57th Regiment sent men disguised as Zhejiang soldiers to guard several intersections leading to the surrounding areas. The news couldn't have spread that fast, could it?"

Wu Guisheng asked, puzzled.

"We must not let our guard down or take any chances! Our commanders often emphasize: it's better to be safe than sorry!"

Battalion Commander Luo Jinsheng said without hesitation:

"Now we need to prepare a response plan. Everyone should think carefully about how to resolve this matter."

A moment of silence fell over the room as the scouts racked their brains for a solution. Suddenly, Wu Guisheng slapped his thigh and said:

"Let's go all the way and strike first. Before they even ask, let's tell those two guys that we're here to drive out the Jiangxi army and prepare to take back Wenzhou."

"This is a good idea. We can impose martial law, strictly prohibit people from entering or leaving, and at the same time order them to shut up anyone who knows anything, saying that it is necessary to keep it a secret!"

Reconnaissance battalion commander Luo Jinsheng also thought this was a good idea and a feasible solution.

Let's take another look at the situation in Wenzhou city.

Back at the former headquarters of the 19th Red Army Division, located at the site of the former headquarters of the Zhejiang East Garrison Division, Xu Wenqing was still thinking about buying needles for the orchid.

The soldiers of the 19th Division of the Red Army had been wearing only one uniform since they set off from the Central Soviet Area on the Long March in the summer. After several months of arduous fighting and marching, the soldiers were practically naked. With winter approaching and the weather getting very cold, most of the comrades still did not have cotton-padded clothes. In order to keep warm, everyone wore all sorts of strange and varied clothes. Now that there was time, and Wenzhou was a big city, it was necessary to solve this problem as soon as possible.

Xu Wenqing was always decisive and efficient; once he made up his mind, he acted on it. So, he immediately arranged for a messenger to notify the political commissar and the head of the logistics department to come and discuss the matter.

Not long after, Political Commissar Yao Hutou and Logistics Director Cheng Piguang arrived one after the other. When Xu Wenqing expressed his idea, Logistics Director Cheng Piguang was both annoyed and regretful, and quickly made a self-criticism:

"Commander, this is my dereliction of duty. I was so focused on seizing enemy supplies that I forgot about the important matter of cotton-padded clothes for the soldiers!"