Rebirth: I am in Jin-Cha-Ji

At present, the main forces of both sides are resting, and more and more conflicts are occurring between local troops and Japanese garrison troops and puppet troops.

At this time, Wei Hongjun focused all his energy on the Jidong troops.

How to stabilize their emotions and get them to willingly accept training and reorganization—these were Wei Hongjun's most pressing tasks. Wei Hongjun decided not to be secretive but to speak frankly. When dealing with the Jidong troops, concealing them or forcefully reorganizing them would only leave too many hidden dangers. It would be better for everyone to be open and honest and lay bare all the problems.

So the guerrilla corps and all cadres above the company level were summoned.

Hundreds of people came at once.

"Political Commissar, everyone is saying that we are going to stay here and not return to Jidong. Is that true?

"We want to go back to Jidong."

"Correct."

The people in the guerrilla corps are all native to Jidong.

The sense of localism is very strong.

From the moment they left their hometown, they missed it. Many of their friends and family remained in eastern Hebei, and their well-being was a source of deep concern. This sense of local identity led to thousands of people leaving the guerrilla corps and returning to eastern Hebei during their westward retreat. Others followed the main force to the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Military Region, but they were only there to follow orders. They, too, wanted to return to eastern Hebei.

Now all kinds of rumors are spreading within the army, all indicating that the Jidong troops will stay here and be reorganized to become the Jin-Cha-Ji troops.

Many people are unwilling to do so.

Wei Hongjun waited until everyone finished talking before asking, "During your westward retreat this time, the ones coming to meet you are our New 1st and New 3rd Regiments of the 8th Column. Tell me, how are the combat effectiveness of the New 1st and New 3rd Regiments?"

How do I compare to you guys?"

"The New First and New Third Regiments are both capable and skilled fighters, and their combat effectiveness is much greater than our Guerrilla Corps."

Gui Jiu, commander of the First Column of the Guerrilla Corps, is very honest.

No one else objected.

Because it is obvious. When everyone retreated from the mountains of Yanshan, the soldiers of the New 1st and New 3rd Regiments were strictly disciplined and were able to maintain their battle formation even after such a long distance.

During the break, the New 1st and New 3rd Regiments were responsible for setting up guard posts.

The guerrilla corps was far behind in this regard. Their retreat was disorganized. Even when they were divided into smaller units, they encountered numerous problems. Furthermore, after retreating for a while, they would stagger about exhausted during rest periods, unable to focus on the enemy.

The First Column of the Guerrilla Corps was the main force of the Guerrilla Corps. However, when the New First and New Third Regiments swept through the surrounding traitorous armed forces, the gap between the two sides became even more obvious. Whether in terms of troop deployment speed or attack speed, the New First and New Third Regiments were no match for the Guerrilla Corps.

It is obviously the difference between the main force and the mob.

"So what do you think of the New 1st and New 3rd Regiments' combat effectiveness compared to the Japanese?

When asked this question, it’s hard to say.

After all, this is the territory of the Eighth Column.

Seeing that no one spoke, Wei Hongjun continued, "My Eighth Column has three main regiments, namely the 2500th, th, and th Regiments, while the New st, nd, and rd Regiments are additional organizations. In terms of combat effectiveness, the New st, nd, and rd Regiments cannot compare with the main regiments such as the th, th, and th Regiments. But even our main regiments have more than people. But we will not rashly ambush a Japanese battalion, because it is impossible to bite it off. If we want to ambush a Japanese battalion, we usually dispatch two or three main regiments. Because the strength of the Japanese army is so strong. And the New st, nd, and rd Regiments, even if they are concentrated, it is difficult to ambush a Japanese battalion. Because even if we ambush a Japanese battalion, it is difficult to eat them.

Everyone was silent.

Because there is nothing wrong with what Wei Hongjun said.

This is the situation now.

Wei Hongjun pointed at the large map and said, "Everyone, look, this is the current base of our Eighth Column. Our Eighth Column's main enemy is the Japanese Second Mixed Brigade and five garrison battalions, with a total of about 10,000 people. In order to deal with these Japanese troops, our Eighth Column's main force alone has over 10,000 people, plus the county battalions and district squads, which total 20,000 people. On this basis, we have developed militias in every village. Because now we can only use our numerical advantage to fight the Japanese. Let's take a look at Jidong."

"Chahar is vast and sparsely populated. If it weren't for the Pingsui Railway, it would be a neglected place. But Jidong is the throat of Northeast China and North China. Before the Battle of Xuzhou and the Battle of Wuhan, there were usually 70,000 to 80,000 Japanese and puppet troops stationed here. Even if the Japanese army will not deploy so many troops in Jidong in the future, it is certain that they will leave 10,000 to 20,000 troops. Because Jidong is so important. Neither the Kwantung Army nor the North China Front Army will ignore Jidong and let it become the base of our Eighth Route Army.

"Even if we put all the troops of our Eighth Column there, it would be very difficult to hold on. I want to ask you, what confidence do you have that you can hold on in Yidong and fight the Japanese in Jidong?"

"Political Commissar Wei, I object to your statement."

Feng Linqi, director of the political department of the First Column of the Guerrilla Corps, stood up.

This person was also assigned to the guerrilla corps by the Hebei-Rehe Border Special Commission. The most abundant thing in the Gyeonggi region was intellectuals. Feng Linqi had previously worked in the student movement at Peking University and was also a Peking University graduate.

"Political Commissar Wei, when the Jin-Cha-Ji Military Region was established, there were only a little over 3,000 people. But now the Jin-Cha-Ji base area has a population of 10 million. I've inquired about the history of the 8th Column. Back then, Commander Wang Qiuyun and Political Commissar Wei Hongjun arrived in Sheng County with an Eighth Route Army unit of about 30 people. In just one year, they built the 8th Column, which has nearly 10,000 main forces. The enemy is strong, but haven't you also developed? The enemy in the Jidong region is strong, but we have a very good foundation in Jidong. The Jidong uprising has the support of the people of Yidong. We have such a good foundation in Yidong, why can't we persist in Jidong and fight the Japanese in Jidong?"

Feng Linqi is worthy of being a political cadre who graduated from Peking University.

He said all sorts of things.

Wei Hongjun nodded.

At this meeting, Wei Hongjun wasn't afraid of the Jidong cadres' questions. Because if he wanted to reorganize the unit, he had to accept their questions. But Wei Hongjun was more worried about them not questioning or speaking out during the meeting.

But when reorganizing the troops, doing everything possible to obstruct it is the most terrifying thing.

It's actually a good thing that some people are questioning it now. So Wei Hongjun said, "Some of what Director Feng said is right, but some is wrong.

Talk about my Eighth Column, it has indeed grown from a few dozen people to what it is today. Including the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Military Region, it started with a force of less than 3,000 people. But the situation is different. When we first established our base, the Japanese army had limited manpower in China, and the large forces were attacking cities and seizing territories. Therefore, at that moment, the Japanese army was seriously short of manpower in many places behind enemy lines. In some counties, the Japanese army had only a small team, so that there were no Japanese troops at all in the vast towns and rural areas. It was precisely such a good opportunity that gave us a godsend opportunity to develop our base, allowing the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Military Region and our Eighth Column to develop rapidly. The same is true of the Yidong uprising this time. It happened that the Japanese army's large forces were fighting in the Battle of Wuhan, and Yidong was short of manpower, which created the opportunity for a major uprising. But now that the Battle of Wuhan is over, Japan has been sending new troops to China. Under such circumstances, Yidong will once again become a focus of the Japanese army. The Japanese and puppet troops will not give Jidong another chance for a major uprising."

"So what Political Commissar Wei means is that we can never return to Yidong?"

"Do not."

Wei Hongjun shook his head.

"Our goal is to defeat the Japanese invaders. Jidong is our Chinese territory, how could we not go to Jidong? But we must have a plan and steps to do anything, rather than blindly. The consequence of blindness is sacrifice. As for how the troops can return to Jidong, we believe that two steps must be taken.

"The first step is to improve our own strength. The guerrilla corps, including the Jidong troops currently in other bases, should not first consider how to fight back to Jidong, but to improve their own skills. Improve the ability to kill the enemy and improve their own combat effectiveness. What is the biggest problem of the Jidong troops now? That is the lack of formal military training, so their combat effectiveness is relatively poor. After the Yongguan, where will the troops go? Will they stay in our 8th Column or return to Jidong? At the very least, they must learn real skills. Skills are something that you own once you have learned them. In this way, no matter where you are, you will be able to fight the devils well. Therefore, the training of troops and the learning of troop cadres are the most important things at present.

Chapter 193 Unified Thoughts 2

"I support the commissar's words."

Hong Man, who had been silent since the meeting, spoke.

He said: "The organization will decide the future direction of our unit. But before that, improving the combat effectiveness of the unit is the top priority. If the combat effectiveness of our guerrilla corps is the same as that of the main force of the Eighth Route Army, then we don't need to evacuate east. The reason we chose to evacuate east Hebei was because our guerrilla corps' combat effectiveness was poor and could not withstand the encirclement and suppression of the Japanese and puppet troops. Therefore, no matter what everyone thinks, the training of the troops and the learning of the cadres are the top priorities. When the combat effectiveness of our Yidong troops is improved and we have the ability to compete with the Japanese and puppet troops, we will return to east Hebei and will not be wiped out by the Japanese and puppet troops."

In fact, Hong Man also wanted to hear what Wei Hongjun would say next.

Hong Man was from Jidong, so he naturally hoped to continue the war of resistance there. But Wei Hongjun's words made perfect sense. The most important task for the Jidong troops at this stage was to learn the skills to kill the enemy.

Furthermore, Wei Hongjun stated that there were two steps to take to reclaim Jidong. The first step made sense, and he wanted to hear Wei Hongjun's second plan. If Wei Hongjun's plan wasn't satisfactory, he would definitely report it to his superiors.

"Yes. Regardless of the future of the troops, hard training is the most important thing. Rectification of the troops is the most important thing at the moment."

Sui Twelve spoke in support.

Many of the core members of the guerrilla corps came for these two people.

Now that the two of them have expressed their views, many people are silent.

Seeing that everyone was relatively calm, Wei Hongjun continued, "Our party originated from the workers' movement, so we have always believed that occupying cities is the most important thing. But then, after ten years of revolutionary war, we finally determined the strategy of 'surrounding the cities with the countryside.' The reason for proposing this strategy was that the enemy was very powerful in the cities at that time, and we could not capture and control the cities in a short time. So the method we adopted was to first control the vast countryside and establish bases in the countryside. Then we accumulated strength in the countryside, developed the army, and finally captured the cities. The current War of Resistance Against Japan has not escaped this rule.

"Let's talk about our Eighth Column. The biggest enemy in our Eighth Column base is in Zhangjiakou. Not to mention Zhangjiakou, Zhangjiakou is surrounded by Japanese defensive strongholds. If we can control Zhangjiakou, then the entire Chahar Anti-Japanese situation will change dramatically. But our Eighth Column cannot go directly to Zhangjiakou. Why? Because the Japanese army in Zhangjiakou is strong, and we are not their opponent. So should we leave Zhangjiakou alone? Of course not. Our solution is to establish bases in Cha'nan, Cha'dong, and Cha'bei, occupy the vast rural areas of Chahar, win the support of the rural people in Chahar, and develop the strength of our Eighth Column. When the strength of our Eighth Column is sufficient to deal with the Japanese army in Zhangjiakou, we will attack Zhangjiakou and occupy Zhangjiakou. This is not only true for Zhangjiakou, but also for the big cities around our Shanxi-Chahar Military Region. This is how we will recover big cities like Peking, Baoding, and Datong. First control the vast rural areas, then slowly surround these big cities step by step, and finally conquer these big cities."

"Let's talk about Jidong. Jidong's problems are the same as Zhangjiakou's. Jidong is located between several important cities, including Peking, Tianjin, and Tangshan. It is also the throat of Northeast China and North China. The Kwantung Army, the North China Front Army, the Puppet Manchukuo Army, the Puppet Mongolian Army, and the North China Security Army will all deploy heavy troops here. Its position in Hebei is the same as Zhangjiakou's position in Chahar. Faced with such a place, we cannot act blindly. We must take Jidong step by step and have a plan."

Sui Shier listened to Wei Hongjun's words with great interest.

Sui Shier had numerous contacts with CCP organizations. However, most of the members were underground members working in urban areas, student movements, and labor movements. These individuals were skilled in organization and propaganda.

But they are different from the party members in the army.

Just like Wei Hongjun in front of him.

Despite being the political commissar of the column and secretary of the Chanan Special Committee, his speaking style was very simple. There was nothing difficult to understand, no profound truths. He managed to make many people understand what he said. Even someone like Sui Shier, who had no knowledge of military affairs, understood Wei Hongjun's meaning.

Avoid the powerful Japanese army and occupy the vast rural areas.

Accumulate strength and finally defeat the powerful enemy.

Therefore, Sui Twelve couldn't help but ask, "Political Commissar Wei, then tell me, what should Jidong do?"

This is the problem of all the Jidong cadres present.

What should Jidong do?

"Everyone, look, this is Jidong. In order to maintain the passage between Northeast China and North China, the Japanese army deployed heavy troops here. But the Japanese army's manpower is always limited. It is impossible for it to occupy all places. So what we have to do is to constantly open up bases around Jidong and disperse the Japanese and puppet troops in Jidong. Only when the Japanese and puppet troops in Jidong are dispersed and the number of Japanese and puppet troops in Jidong decreases, the pressure on the anti-Japanese armed forces currently remaining in Jidong will be reduced. With fewer Japanese and puppet troops encircling them, they will be able to open up more bases in Jidong. So, tell me, the troops that opened up bases in Jidong are fighting against Japan in Jidong. So, have the troops that opened up bases around Jidong and attracted the Japanese and puppet troops in Jidong made any contribution to the anti-Japanese war in Jidong?

Wei Hongjun took out a large map.

This is a large map made by the Eighth Column Headquarters.

After hearing Wei Hongjun's words, many Jidong cadres fell silent. They understood Wei Hongjun's meaning. The troops remaining in Jidong to fight the Japanese had made contributions. So, did the anti-Japanese forces in Jidong, which dispersed the Japanese and puppet troops in Jidong, contribute to the anti-Japanese war in Jidong?

Of course there is a contribution.

Without the restraint of the surrounding anti-Japanese forces, how could the anti-Japanese forces in eastern Hebei establish a base?

Wei Hongjun saw that the Jidong cadres were thinking, so he pointed to the map and continued, "At present, the new third regiment of my Eighth Column is making smooth progress in opening up the Chicheng, Longguan, and Yanqing bases. We have decided to send the new first regiment there to strengthen the armed forces here. Our next step can be to cooperate with the Fourth Column to open up the Huairou and Miyun anti-Japanese bases. As long as the Huairou and Miyun anti-Japanese bases are opened up smoothly, then the road between our Eighth Column and Jidong will be opened up. By then, the Japanese troops in Yidong and Rehe will inevitably send troops to mop up the area, which will greatly disperse the Japanese troops in Rehe and Yidong. This is what our Eighth Column and Fourth Column have to do. Let's look at the southeast of Jidong. This is the Jizhong Military Region of my Eighth Route Army. They are also constantly developing northward and towards Jidong. The Japanese army will inevitably send troops to stop their development. In this way, the Japanese and puppet troops in Jidong will be further dispersed."

"Let me now talk about the problem of the Jidong troops. If the Yijidong troops return to Yidong regardless of the consequences and fight against the powerful Japanese and puppet troops, what will be the final result? They will be defeated by the powerful Japanese and puppet troops, suffer heavy losses, and may even be completely wiped out. I would like to ask all comrades, what effect will such an outcome have on Jidong's anti-Japanese resistance? Apart from showing bravery, how much help can it provide to Jidong's anti-Japanese resistance? No, absolutely not. According to folk sayings, such behavior is the act of a fool."

"The Jidong troops have been reorganized into six regiments this time. Where can they play the greatest role? That is to open up anti-Japanese bases around Jidong, draw out the Japanese and puppet troops in Jidong, and then slowly advance into Jidong from the periphery. Only then can they play the greatest role. The result of our discussion at the Eighth Column Headquarters is that after the guerrilla corps is reorganized into the 34th and 35th regiments, the troops will develop bases in Huairou, Miyun, and Rehe. At the same time, we will contact the troops remaining in Jidong, and everyone will cooperate internally and externally to promote the anti-Japanese war in Jidong.

"This is the idea of ​​our Eighth Column. We believe that after the troops have been reorganized and trained, returning directly to Jidong to engage in battle with the large Japanese and puppet troops is not a good idea. Instead, it would be a risky and foolish action. The best way is to advance towards Jidong step by step in a planned and step-by-step manner.

"Of course, this is what we, the Eighth Column, think. Everyone has their own ideas, and they can express them openly.

Feng Linqi raised his hand.

Wei Hongjun raised his hand and said, "Director Feng, you go first."

"I understand what Political Commissar Wei said. But our soldiers are all from Jidong, and their relatives and friends are all in Jidong. Many of them even have their wives and children left in Yidong. Emotionally, they all hope to return to Jidong as soon as possible."

"This is indeed a problem."

Wei Hongjun nodded.

"And I understand this problem very well, because I am from western Fujian. I joined the army at the age of fifteen and followed the troops to fight in Fujian and Jiangxi. Later, I followed the troops on the Long March and came to Shaanxi. When the Anti-Japanese War broke out, we reorganized the Eighth Route Army and crossed the Yellow River to Shanxi. It's not just me. Many old cadres and soldiers who have gone through the Long March in Jin-Cha-Ji are from western Fujian like me. We also miss home and want to know that our family members left behind are safe. We hope to be able to fight back home tomorrow. But this is simply impossible. I can understand the feelings of the officers and soldiers of the guerrilla corps who miss home and want to fight back home. But as an Eighth Route Army cadre and a party cadre, I am against it."

"Everyone wants to return to their hometowns to participate in the revolution, and they all want to fight back to their hometowns. Then our party and our army will fall apart, and become a loose sand. Our party and our army are disciplined. Many cadres in our Eighth Column are from the former Northeast Army or are exiled students from the Northeast. For example, Comrade Lü Zhengchao, commander of the Hebei-Central Military Region, is from the Northeast Army. They also want to fight back to the Northeast as soon as possible, but they will not say, 'I want to take the troops to the Northeast to fight the Japanese now.' Because this is completely absurd."

"If we all only care about our own hometowns, then will Jidong's anti-Japanese war not need support from people from other places in the future? Jidong's anti-Japanese war is only for Jidong people, Northeast China's anti-Japanese war is only for Northeast China's people, and Shanxi's anti-Japanese war is only for Shanxi people. Everyone, tell me, can we fight against Japan like this? Anti-Japanese war is a matter for all of China. If everyone only cares about their own things, then how can we cooperate to fight against Japan? We must have a concept, that is, on the battlefield of anti-Japanese war, the development of any base area will ultimately benefit the development of our base area and benefit the anti-Japanese war of all of China. Because we are a whole."

"Of course, this isn't something that can be accomplished with just a few words. The reason I'm holding this meeting with everyone is to first unify the cadres' thinking. Only when the cadres' thinking is unified can we slowly work on the soldiers' thinking."

Chapter 194 Headquarters Training Order

Wei Hongjun is really busy.

It's not just Wei Hongjun; the entire political cadre of the 8th Column is currently extremely exhausted. They have to appease the officers and soldiers of the Guerrilla Corps. As the political commissar of the 8th Column, Wei Hongjun visits the grassroots companies of the Guerrilla Corps almost every day to talk with the officers and soldiers.

Of course, this is impossible just by talking.

After Wei Hongjun discussed with the leaders of the 8th Column, he selected 500 cadres and students from the Guerrilla Corps to form a temporary teaching brigade.

All of them were sent to Chanan Cadre School for study.

It is divided into two parts: military and political.