Rebirth: I am in Jin-Cha-Ji

Chapter 149: Winning over Zhou Yuanming

After reaching an agreement with Ma Hongyuan, Wei Hongjun left his troops with Ma Hongyuan, one for rest and the other for the two troops to have some contact, and also for Ma Hongyuan to understand some of the policies of the Eighth Route Army.

Ma Hongyuan's troops were bandits after all, and it was not easy to reform them. They needed to slowly understand the policies and discipline of the Eighth Route Army.

Wei Hongjun rode at full speed to Haituo Village.

Did not enter the village.

Instead, he met with the Haituo Village Association and its leader Zhou Yuanming at a secluded spot on the mountain.

The two parties have already contacted each other privately.

After Zhou Yuanming became the chairman of the Lianzhuang Association, he secretly moved the families of those killed by the Japanese army to some secret bases on Haituo Mountain, fearing that the Japanese army would kill them all.

When the representatives of the Eighth Route Army came over, Zhou Yuanming was also cautious.

He is not alone.

He had over 29 soldiers from the Lianzhuang Association under him, and he also had several other villages nearby. Therefore, he couldn't afford to be careless. He knew that if he did, he could be killed by the Japanese like his older brother. Zhou Yuanming was years old and tall.

He looks gentle, but he is actually a ruthless person.

When the puppet Manchukuo army besieged the Lianzhuang Association, he led the people of the Lianzhuang Association to fight a fierce battle with the puppet Manchukuo army and beat them back.

Although the puppet Manchukuo army's combat effectiveness was not as good as that of the Japanese army, it was still considered to be quite capable among the puppet armies at present. However, Zhou Yuanming fought hard and inflicted heavy casualties on the puppet Manchukuo army, forcing them to withdraw.

It was clear that Zhou Yuanming was a bold man, and it was even more evident that the fighting power of his Lianzhuang Association was not weak. After all, this place was plagued by bandits year-round, and the Lianzhuang Association here had fought more battles and was more experienced than those in Xuanhua, Huailai, and Zhuolu.

Of course, what made Xiahou Wen even more satisfied was that this person was adaptable.

Although he was in the deep sea of ​​blood, he was able to bribe traitors and preserve the military power of the Lianzhuang Association.

"Hello, Commander of the Eighth Route Army. I am Zhou Yuanming."

"Hello, Chairman Zhou. I am Xia Houwen, commander of the New Third Regiment of the Eighth Column of the First Division of the Jin-Cha-Ji Military Region of the Eighth Route Army."

Xiahou Wen deliberately mentioned the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Military Region, the First Division, and the Eighth Column just to let people know how powerful the Eighth Route Army was.

He was the regimental commander, but he was under the Eighth Column, and above the Eighth Column was the Jin-Cha-Ji Military Region.

For those who are not familiar with the Eighth Route Army system, when they hear this, they will definitely think that the Eighth Route Army is very powerful.

"Sir, were the troops that occupied Yanqing, Changping and other places recently yours?"

"That's our Fourth Column of the Eighth Route Army."

"Whose attack caused the heavy casualties to the Japanese Army's Second Independent Mixed Brigade?"

"That's our Jin-Cha-Ji Eighth Column."

Zhou Yuanming is a scholar.

Moreover, his family was quite wealthy, which was why his brother was able to become the vice president of the Lianzhuang Association. Therefore, he still had a lot of channels and got some information. Of course, he couldn't distinguish the difference between the Fourth Column and the Eighth Column mentioned by Xia Houwen.

The Fourth Column was the Eighth Route Army's Fourth Column designated by Yan'an and the headquarters, while the Eighth Column was simply the column designated by the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Military Region itself. Those unfamiliar with the Eighth Route Army's organization would find it difficult to distinguish these.

"You also have an army that has captured Kangzhuang?"

"It was me who led the New Second Regiment to capture Kangzhuang."

After hearing Xia Houwen's answer, Zhou Yuanming stood up, bowed to Xia Houwen, and said, "Excuse me. You are the Eighth Route Army hero who conquered Kangzhuang."

"President Zhou, you are too polite."

Xiahou Wen immediately stepped forward to help Zhou Yuanming up

"No, I mean this sincerely. My Zhou family has been doing good deeds for generations. Because this area is full of bandits, we have cooperated with several other villages to form a village association to defend our hometown. When people talk about my Zhou family in this place, everyone gives us a thumbs up and says that my Zhou family is a kind family. We have never oppressed the people here, nor have we ever loaned money at high interest rates like other landlords did. But these Japanese pirates came here and forced us to hand over our weapons. For this matter, they killed the president, vice president, and seven other senior members of the village association. This hatred is irreconcilable. The reason I endured it is because I had no way to take revenge. The millions of national army troops could not stop the Japanese pirates, so what can civilians like us do? My brothers in the village association, as well as my fellow villagers, all have families, so I can only compromise. But how can I let go of national hatred and family feuds? It is never too late for a gentleman to take revenge. I have been waiting for an opportunity. Today, I finally got the opportunity.

Commander Xiahou, what is your purpose in coming here?"

"Unite all forces that can be united to build an anti-Japanese armed force behind enemy lines."

"Commander Xiahou, I wonder how many people you brought with you?"

"One company, more than a hundred people."

"Only one company?"

Zhou Yuanming's originally excited expression suddenly dimmed. Xia Houwen saw Zhou Yuanming's expression and said with a smile, "President Zhou, are you disappointed?"

"Commander Xiahou, I'll be honest. There aren't many Japanese troops in Longguan, Chicheng, and Chongli, but the puppet Manchurian and Mongolian troops frequently come here. Plus, there are the village associations that have defected to the Japanese, and the local police. With only a hundred or so of you, you can't change the situation here."

"Chairman Zhou, you're overestimating the enemy and underestimating our strength. I only brought about a hundred men, but I've already agreed to cooperate with the Black Horse's leader, Ma Hongyuan." The Black Horse will be reorganized into the cavalry battalion of my new Third Regiment, giving me nearly five hundred men. If Chairman Zhou is willing to join us in the fight against the Japanese, we'll immediately have over eight hundred men. I'll continue to search for armed forces to unite with, and in less than a month I'll be able to mobilize a thousand-man force here. I've only ever fought against the Japanese, so I don't care about the puppet Manchukuo and Mongolian armies. Both were very ineffective. As long as we use the right tactics, annihilating them won't be a problem."

Zhou Yuanming's complexion became better again.

Xiahou Wen knew that persuading Zhou Yuanming was actually very simple.

Because he has a family feud, and it's a blood feud. As long as he is given confidence, he will be able to join the Eighth Route Army. Xiahou Wen continued: "Chairman Zhou, you should know. The Japanese army is not enough in Pingsui Road now, but this is only a temporary situation. In just a few months, the Japanese army will quickly regain control of Pingsui Road. But these few months are our opportunity. Before the Japanese army regains control of Pingsui Road, I will recruit soldiers here and wipe out the traitors and their armed forces here. Only in this way, even if the devils regain control of Pingsui Road, we will have the strength to fight them. So every minute and every second of my time is very precious. I need to contact all the armed forces here that are committed to anti-Japanese. And I also want to promote anti-Japanese resistance here, so that more young people can join our anti-Japanese torrent."

Zhou Yuanming thought about it and nodded slowly.

Then he said, "I may not have the courage of my brother to directly reject the Japanese's demands, even if it means death. But I am definitely not a coward. I remember the national hatred and family feuds in my heart. Before, I could only lie dormant because I saw no hope. Now that the Eighth Route Army has come to fight the devils, I will not fall behind. Commander Xiahou, as long as it is to fight the devils, the people within a hundred miles of us will support it. Since the devils came here, who in the village within a hundred miles has not been oppressed by those traitors. If necessary, I will personally contact the surrounding village associations and let them join the Eighth Route Army together."

"Thank you, President Zhou."

"Commander Xiahou, please come with me. I want to show you something."

Zhou Yuanming took Xia Houwen on a walk for about half an hour.

They are all mountain roads.

Arriving at a cave, Zhou Yuanming said to the people he brought with him, "Take out everything."

Seven or eight people walked into the cave and quickly carried things out.

Xia Houwen walked over and opened the box. He saw that they were all Soviet rifles. They were all in good condition. Zhou Yuanming said, "When the Chahar Anti-Japanese Allied Forces fought in this area, they left behind a lot of rifles. We have always been plagued by banditry here, so my brother and his men spent a lot of money to buy a lot of weapons and ammunition. The Japanese forced us to hand over our weapons. I bribed the traitor leader in Longguan and handed over some old rifles and a light machine gun to cover up the matter. Because of the traitor leader's relationship, the Lianzhuang Association only had 50 rifles on the surface. In fact, I hid more guns."

"How many guns are there?"

"130 rifles. I hid 130 rifles at the time. In addition to the rifles, I also hid seven light machine guns."

"Seven light machine guns?"

"Yes."

"Okay."

Xiahou Wen nodded repeatedly.

Zhou Yuanming is truly a far-sighted person.

So many guns were hidden right under the noses of the Japanese army. Together with the weapons held by the Lianzhuang Association, they possessed over 180 rifles and seven light machine guns. This was enough to form a reinforced company.

"Are there any bullets?"

"Yes. We now have a total of more than 12000 rounds of ammunition. They were all stored by my brother and others back then."

Chapter 150 Haituo Mountain Village Association

Zhou Yuanming is indeed a far-sighted person.

He seemed to have forgotten his family feud and mingled with the local Han people. However, he never forgot his hatred, but kept it in his heart. Historically, Zhou Yuanming endured it until the end of 1939.

When the Eighth Route Army's Ji-Re-Cha Advance Army arrived in Pingbei, he and his men defected to the Eighth Route Army. At that time, he had stockpiled even more weapons and ammunition than he does now, because he had been making preparations.

While bribing Han Hao, he used this channel to purchase weapons and ammunition.

He hid all these weapons and ammunition in the back mountain.

When the Eighth Route Army arrived, he led his troops to join the Eighth Route Army and made great contributions to the establishment of the Haituoshan base by the Eighth Route Army. Now the Eighth Route Army arrived more than a year earlier than in history.

After speaking with Xiahou Wen, Zhou Yuanming immediately began contacting others. Within a few days, he had gathered nearly every leader of the village association within a hundred miles. Tong Xiyue from Dongzhuangzi Village, Li Changji from Caomiaozi Village, Chen Sheng from Shipankou Village, Xu Xiufeng from Changzhuangzi Village, Zhang Quanyou from Donghongzhan Village, Zhang Yuanzheng from Ganzhuangzi Village, and Jiao Deyi from Yangjia Village—all of them had arrived in Haituo Village.

When they saw Zhou Yuanming, they all greeted him warmly.

Xia Houwen could sense Zhou Yuanming's prestige among these people. These people were all presidents of the most powerful village associations within a radius of 100 miles.

"You all came here today to give me, Zhou Yuanming, face.

I am here to thank you all for your kindness.”

"President Zhou, you are too polite."

"Yes."

"President Zhou, we don't need such polite words between us."

Everyone was talking about it.

Zhou Yuanming listened to everyone's words and nodded. "Since you've given me face, I won't be polite. Everyone here knows that I have a blood feud with the Japanese. My brother was shot by the Japanese. Although I, Zhou Yuanming, don't dare to call myself a hero, I'm definitely not the kind of person who dares not even avenge my family. I, Zhou Yuanming, have been waiting for an opportunity to take revenge. Today, I finally got that opportunity."

"President Zhou, are you going to rebel?"

"President Zhou, you should have done this a long time ago."

Those who could become the leaders of the Lianzhuang Association were either those who invested in the association or those who were military men with some prestige in the local area. The people in the Chahar region were very tough, and many people were very dissatisfied with the rampant traitors.

The Japanese forced each village association to hand over their guns and killed many people who were unwilling to do so.

Public resentment is deep.

But everyone is scattered and can't accomplish anything. For this kind of public resentment to erupt, it requires an opportunity and a leader to organize them. Everyone has been watching Zhou Yuanming.

Because Zhou Yuanming is smart and knows how to deal with traitors.

Everyone present had surrendered their weapons, but they had only broken guns to fight the Japanese. Zhou Yuanming's ability to defeat the Japanese was due to his bribery of the traitorous leaders. Therefore, everyone admired Zhou Yuanming's methods.

Now that they heard that Zhou Yuanming wanted to fight the Japanese, everyone supported him.

Everyone has a grudge against the Japanese and puppet troops.

When the guns were surrendered, many people from the village associations died.

For the local village association, guns are life-saving weapons. For years, they have relied on these guns to defend their hometown and guard against bandits.

How could they possibly agree to hand over their guns when the Japanese arrived?

So many conflicts broke out at that time, and many people died. It should be said that the village association here had a blood feud with the Japanese and puppet troops.

"You've probably all heard about this. Some time ago, the Eighth Route Army won a great victory, forcing the Japanese to retreat into the cities. There aren't many Japanese around us now; they're just the same traitors who usually bully others.

Our combined strength may not be enough to match that of the traitorous armed forces, but I am confident that we can destroy them. Are you willing to join me in destroying these traitors who don't even recognize their ancestors?

"President Zhou, we all believe in you."

"That's right. You defeated the puppet Manchukuo army back then."