Rebirth: I am in Jin-Cha-Ji

Han Weiguo's job was to do just that. Policies from above, as well as those of the column, all needed to be summarized by the Political Department and ultimately distributed to the troops below. The 16th Regiment's unauthorized decision to disperse its forces and develop the Huailai base was problematic.

In particular, there is no mobile force at hand.

This can easily lead to big problems.

Although Zhang Zihua had extensive experience and high rank, and the 16th Regiment was the column's leading main force, criticism was still warranted.

"But I want to discuss another aspect. It's about the coordinated development of the main force, local forces, and the militia. Our unit began as an anti-Japanese guerrilla army, later became an independent detachment, and now is the Eighth Column. Our unit has a small foundation, but it has developed rapidly and expanded rapidly. We have always tried every way to train cadres, but it is obvious that we can't keep up with the development of the unit. In particular, the main force is extremely short of cadres. The end result is that our main force has absorbed all the local cadres into the unit. Judging from the development of the unit, the temporary effect is still very good. Our Eighth Column now has three main regiments: the 16th, 18th, and 19th Regiments, as well as the 1st Detachment, the Guerrilla Detachment, and the New 1st, New 2nd, and New 3rd Regiments. The column headquarters also has a guard regiment and an artillery unit. However, we have neglected the training of local forces. The healthy development of local forces is the foundation for the future stability of the unit and the base area."

"Old Wei, what do you mean?"

"I think that since there are no Japanese raids now, we should calm down and develop our base while improving the combat effectiveness of our local forces. In the future, the main force may have to go out to fight on the outer lines, and then the local forces will be needed to hold on in the interior. Without sufficient combat effectiveness, they simply can't hold on."

Wang Qiuyun nodded.

He understands this principle.

In the early years of fighting in the Soviet areas, local forces often had to cooperate with the main forces. The Red Army and the Eighth Route Army, in particular, emphasized combined operations on both interior and exterior fronts. Local forces have always been the most advantageous supplement to the main forces.

"That's the truth."

"So my idea is that Sheng County, Xining County, Xuanhua County, Lu County, and Huailai County should all have county brigades, with a staffing roughly equivalent to a battalion. The main force should help with the formation and training of the county brigades. And this isn't just simple assistance. The 16th, 18th, and 19th Regiments, as well as the Guard Regiment, should all contribute a main company. The county brigade commander should at least be the main company commander, and each district squad must have a veteran to help with training. In this way, within a month or two, the strength of these local forces, such as the county brigades and district squads, will grow dramatically. Furthermore, we seized a lot of weapons during this anti-mopping-up operation. The main force's equipped weapons, as well as the weapons that were replaced, will be given to the county brigades and district squads to improve their weaponry."

Wang Qiuyun was silent for a moment and then said, "Will the Japanese army give us a month or two?"

"Yes, definitely. Right now the Japanese army's main target is the Battle of Wuhan, and their main opponent behind enemy lines is the Jidong Uprising. Compared to these, we are just a minor problem. Besides, the Second Independent Mixed Brigade was crippled by us, and it will take them a while to replenish their troops. Because of the Fourth Column and the Jidong Uprising, the Pingsui Road has been intermittent. It will take the Japanese army a month or two to settle these things. Even in the next two or three months, the Mongolian troops are unlikely to have any major mopping-up operations against us. At most, they will fight us for a while at the border with our base."

"Ah."

Wang Qiuyun listened to it.

That is, Wei Hongjun was the one who spoke. If anyone else said these words, he would definitely not listen. First of all, Wei Hongjun was the political commissar of the army and the secretary of the Chanan Special Committee. He was the highest-ranking official in the Eighth Column and had the final say.

Besides, the two have been working together for many years and have a good understanding of each other.

Seeing Wang Qiuyun listening intently, Wei Hongjun was delighted. It wasn't because of his position as political commissar that Wei Hongjun prioritized base area construction and the development of local troops. Rather, he understood that the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression was a protracted war, one that couldn't be ended overnight. Such a protracted war would put the construction of base areas and the accumulation of local troops to the greatest test.

Only when the base is well built and the local forces have sufficient combat effectiveness can we fight a protracted war with the Japanese. Only when the local forces have sufficient combat effectiveness can we directly draw personnel from the local forces to supplement the main force when the main force suffers too many casualties.

Of course Wei Hongjun can decide this matter.

But we still need the support of Wang Qiuyun and other column leaders.

If there is a problem in cooperation between column leaders, it will have a great impact on the combat effectiveness of the troops.

"What do you think?"

Wang Qiuyun asked several people.

Zhang Zihua was delighted. Although Wei Hongjun criticized him, he indirectly affirmed his own ideas. So he immediately said, "Our 16th Regiment resolutely obeys orders. We are willing to contribute a main company to support the development of the local forces."

“I support the idea of ​​developing local forces.

Political Department Director Han Weiguo expressed his views.

At the same time, expectations for the 8th Column rose. Han Weiguo had initially worried that Wang Qiuyun and Wei Hongjun, young and young, might become arrogant after such a brilliant victory against mopping-up operations. However, despite being so young, the political commissar, Wei Hongjun, remained remarkably composed. He did not become impatient with the victory. Instead, he was willing to focus on developing the base area and local forces. Although Han Weiguo was older and more experienced than Wei Hongjun, he still greatly admired him.

After all, I was a little impatient before.

I feel that the Japanese and puppet troops are nothing special.

"Okay, it's settled. Over the next month, the main force will train while supporting the development of the local forces. Some cadres from the main force will be transferred to the local forces.

Wang Qiuyun also made up her mind.

Wei Hongjun thought for a moment and added, "From now on, the army will not be allowed to arbitrarily transfer cadres from the local areas. If the army wants to transfer local cadres, it needs to report to the column's political department and obtain approval from Director Han."

Chapter 148 Reorganizing the Dark Horse Team

After Xiahou Wen returned, he immediately took a company of Zhou Chong and started to march north. Zhou Chong's company was specially transferred from the 16th Regiment when Xiahou Wen formed a new regiment.

Because the new regiment was composed of local village associations reorganized by Xiahou Wen, it lacked military cadres and even more so a strong force. Xiahou Wen's original idea was to use Zhou Chong's Third Company as a strong force to improve the combat effectiveness of the new regiment.

However, this time when going to open up the Haituo Mountain base, Xiahou Wen wanted to take his troops with him. The only relatively strong company in the New 1st Regiment was Zhou Chong's 3rd Company, so he specifically asked to take the 3rd Company with him.

high speed.

Xiahou Wen led the Third Company across the Pingsui Road. Previously, crossing the Pingsui Road required extreme caution, as it was lined with Japanese and puppet army bunkers. However, since the Fourth Column's attack on Yidong, which had taken away a large number of Japanese and puppet troops along the Pingsui Road, and the Eighth Column's victory in the anti-mopping-up campaign, the Japanese and puppet army defenses along the Pingsui Road were no longer as strong as before.

So Xiahou Wen led his troops to easily cross the Pingsui Road and entered the junction of Huailai, Yanqing and Longguan.

"Tap tap tap! Xiahou Wen had just entered the Yanqing area when suddenly a group of cavalry came charging towards him.

Zhou Chong was shocked.

This is cavalry.

Although it is said that cavalry will be eliminated after the heavy machine gun is introduced, during World War II, cavalry was still a very powerful branch of the army on the Sino-Japanese battlefield.

Especially in the plains, cavalry units came and went with a roar.

The role of cavalry units on the battlefield has always been powerful.

However, Xiahou Wen was very calm.

He asked Zhou Chong to put down his gun and then stood in front to watch the cavalry unit. This cavalry unit consisted of about fifty people and was moving very fast at first, but it did not slow down until it was only a few dozen meters away from Xia Houwen.

It stopped right in front of Xia Houwen.

Demonstrated very skilled riding skills.

"Hahaha."

"I've long heard that the Eighth Route Army is a capable fighter, causing unrest throughout Chahar. Seeing them today, I can see that hearing about them is truly invaluable."

A hearty voice came from the horse.

Then he jumped off his horse and stepped forward and said, "This is the commander of the Eighth Route Army, Ma Hongyuan."

Defeat Zhang Fei's horse.

Ma Hongyuan was dressed casually, with an untidy beard and a remarkably loud voice. He cupped his fists towards Xiahou Wen. Xiahou Wen stepped forward and extended his hand, saying, "Commander Ma, even our column commander and political commissar have heard of your name. We in the Eighth Route Army admire you greatly for your frequent attacks on the Japanese here."

"Sir, you're too kind. The Japanese troops you've been fighting lately haven't dared to leave the city. That's how powerful you are. I heard you launched a million-man riot in Yidong, and now the news has spread here."

They say the Eighth Route Army is a heavenly army."

Ma Hongyuan spoke with great admiration.

Rumors are always exaggerated. When the news of the Jidong uprising reached them, the number of people involved had already reached a million.

Why did Xiahou Wen propose entering the Pingbei region and establishing a base at this time, and why did both Wang Qiuyun and Wei Hongjun agree with this plan? Besides the recent shortage of Japanese troops on the Pingsui Road, more importantly, this was the peak of the Eighth Route Army's fame. Everyone in the Chahar region knew that the Eighth Route Army had recently defeated the Japanese, forcing them to retreat into the city. Little did they know that the Eighth Route Column had merely defeated a sweeping operation by the Second Independent Mixed Brigade.

Who doesn’t know that the Fourth Column had previously captured several cities in Pingbei and that a major riot had broken out in the Jidong region?

These things combined very cleverly, making the Eighth Route Army's reputation in Chahar soar. Now, in the entire Chahar region, who doesn't know the reputation of the Eighth Route Army?

Now is the best time to win over these anti-Japanese armed forces.

"It's just a small victory. The devils are still very powerful, and we in the Eighth Route Army dare not have any pride. Because in the future we will fight more battles with the devils until we drive them out of China."

"Well said, sir. You hit the nail on the head."

Ma Hongyuan nodded and said, "I am a rough man and don't understand too many things. But I know that this place used to be ours, and now it has been occupied by those Japanese devils. I just can't accept it.

"Captain Ma, what you said is the most true. Captain Ma, you don't have to call me 'Sir'. I'm the commander of the New Third Regiment of the Eighth Column of the Jin-Cha-Ji Military Region of the Eighth Route Army. My name is Xia Hou Wen. Although this is our first meeting, we feel like old friends. If Captain Ma thinks we can be friends, you can just call me 'Xia Hou'."

"Brother Xiahou, you're so good. Come on, I'll treat you to a drink."

This was not the first time Xiahou Wen had dealt with these outlaws.

Xiahou Wen knew how to deal with them. His ability to recruit so many armed forces in Huailai showed his immense personal charisma. He was cultured, but not aloof. Many outlaws harbored a strange admiration for the educated, yet also harbored a strange jealousy and, of course, a certain disdain. They respected the learned, yet simultaneously looked down upon those who were merely bookworms. It was a complex situation.

Xiahou Wen was just that kind of educated scholar who was able to humble himself.

As a result, the two of them quickly became brothers.

"Brother Xiahou, I want to ask you something. What exactly are you doing here this time?"

"Brother Ma, you might not be very familiar with the situation of our Eighth Route Army. Let me briefly introduce you to our Jin-Cha-Ji Military Region. Our Jin-Cha-Ji Military Region was established by a portion of the Eighth Route Army's 115th Division that remained in Wutai Mountain. When the Jin-Cha-Ji Military Region was established last November, the total number of troops in our region was . It's been over seven months now. Do you know how many troops our Jin-Cha-Ji Eighth Route Army now has?"

"How many?"

"The main force has over 30,000 troops, and the local forces have over 50,000, for a total of approximately 90,000. This does not include the Central Hebei troops under the leadership of the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Military Region. If they were included, the total would be around 150,000."

"so much?"

Ma Hongyuan widened his eyes.

He couldn't understand it at all.

Just now, Xia Houwen said that when the Jin-Cha-Ji Military Region was established, there were only 3,000 troops. It's only been seven or eight months, and now there are 100,000 troops?

Is it really possible to develop the army in this way?

Ma Hongyuan wasn't a true bandit. He was an officer in the Northwest Army. Later, when Feng Yuxiang established the Chahar Anti-Japanese Allied Army, he joined the troops in the battle against the puppet army. It was only after the Chahar Anti-Japanese Allied Army was disbanded that he fell into banditry.

He really couldn't imagine how the Eighth Route Army developed.

So he couldn't help but ask, "Where did you, the Eighth Route Army, get so many troops?"

"This is the Eighth Route Army's signature skill. We unite all available armed forces and recruit them into our ranks. Furthermore, the Eighth Route Army isn't a roving army; it has its own base. A base means that after we capture a place, we set up a government there, and from that point on, it's our territory. We promote and organize resistance among the people, and when that happens, large numbers of young people will join our Eighth Route Army. This is how we develop step by step. If you visit our base, you'll see how enthusiastic the people are about joining the army. Post a recruitment notice, and two to three thousand people will sign up in minutes. However, expansion is constrained by food, weapons, and ammunition. Without sufficient food and weapons, we can't recruit too many soldiers. Otherwise, it would be possible for us to have an army of 200,000 now."

"No wonder you, the Eighth Route Army, can play tricks with the Japanese devils."

Although Ma Hongyuan was not very clear about the specific development of the Eighth Route Army, it did not affect his admiration for the Eighth Route Army's expansion.

"Just now, Brother Ma asked me what I was doing here. I came here to meet heroes like Brother Ma and unite to fight the Japanese. I plan to rely on Haituo Mountain and open up our base in the surrounding area."

"Just like the military region you mentioned?"

Xia Houwen laughed heartily and said, "That's true, but I don't have that kind of ability. I was previously the commander of the New Second Regiment of the Eighth Column of the First Division under the Jin-Cha-Ji Military Region of the Eighth Route Army. I came here to open up a new base and form the New Third Regiment."

"Are you the only one with these hundred people?"

"Yes. The commander and political commissar of our Eighth Column originally established a base in Sheng County with about thirty people. Now, our Eighth Column's main force and local troops combined exceed ten thousand people. This time, I am leading a company of more than one hundred people, and we plan to quickly build a new Third Regiment of over a thousand people here."

"Brother Xiahou, are you sure?"

"Of course. I've already sent people to contact the surrounding village associations and plan to recruit and reorganize them. In less than a month, I'll be able to field a force of over a thousand people. After I establish the new Third Regiment here, I plan to clean up all the traitors in Yanqing, Longguan, and Chicheng. Brother Ma, how about you join our Eighth Route Army and fight the Japanese with me?"

Ma Hongyuan nodded without hesitation.

He said, "I, Ma Hongyuan, admire your Eighth Route Army for fighting the devils. When Marshal Feng formed the Chahar Anti-Japanese Allied Army here, we only fought against those traitorous troops. We never really fought against the regular Japanese army. In the past few years, I have been fighting the devils here, and at most I have fought some lone devils or some small convoys transporting supplies. Because fighting the devils is not easy. But your Eighth Route Army is much more powerful. I heard that you have captured more than ten counties along the way, so I wanted to work with you. Now that you are here, and you are in the right mood, I am willing to follow you to fight the devils."

"Great. Brother Ma, how about this? Your unit will be reorganized into the new Third Cavalry Battalion? You will be the battalion commander."

"it is good."