Rebirth: I am in Jin-Cha-Ji

Yang Yonghui was in a very low mood.

Although Wei Hongjun had said this before, Yang Yonghui didn't really believe it. After all, Shanxi had many dangerous passes, and the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army and the Central Army had over 200,000 men. As a result, the Battle of Xinkou was lost, and Taiyuan was lost.

There are not many large Kuomintang troops in the area east of the Yellow River in Shanxi.

An army of over 200,000 couldn't stop the Japanese. Was Shanxi truly doomed? Was there still hope for China's war of resistance? The fall of Taiyuan was a heavy blow to Yang Yonghui.

Yang Yonghui had many questions in his mind.

"Is there still hope for our war of resistance? Are we really going to become slaves of a conquered nation?"

"Principal Yang, you are too pessimistic. Have you forgotten that the 115th, 120th, and 129th Divisions of the Eighth Route Army are still in Shanxi, persisting in the fight against the Japanese."

"But how many people are there in the Eighth Route Army? The Central Army and General Yan's Shanxi-Suiyuan Army, over 200,000 strong, were defeated. Since the July 7 Incident, including the Battle of Shanghai, the Nationalist Army has deployed over a million troops. And yet, they're still losing ground and are no match for the Japanese."

"The defeat of the Central Army and the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army does not mean that the Eighth Route Army will also be defeated. Look at me, I brought 30 people to Sheng County. How many people are there in the Sheng County Anti-Japanese Guerrilla Army now? Including the independent team, there are more than 700 rifles alone. We 30 people have recruited so many people in less than two months. The same is true for other Eighth Route Army units. Don't look at the fact that the three divisions of the Eighth Route Army only have tens of thousands of people, but we have expanded several times in these few months. Principal Yang, believe me. As long as our Eighth Route Army is here, Shanxi will not perish, and China will not perish."

Wei Hongjun encouraged Yang Yonghui.

During the early years of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, a wide range of ideological trends emerged. The capitulationist faction, led by Wang Jingwei, argued that China was inferior to Japan in every way, and therefore would inevitably be quickly defeated if it entered into a war of resistance, thus refusing to fight the Japanese. This view was shared not only by high-ranking government officials like Wang Jingwei, but also by many prominent Chinese scholars. While these scholars did not become traitors during the war, they nonetheless negatively influenced public opinion in the early stages of the war. These individuals exemplified the theory of quick defeat.

Of course, some also believed that China, with its vast territory, large population, and vast military, could defeat the Japanese in a short period of time, provided the Chinese troops were not afraid of sacrifice. This line of thought was widely held within the Nationalist government after the Battle of Taierzhuang, even affecting Chiang Kai-shek's judgment. Even Chiang Kai-shek was influenced by this line of thought, and he wanted to achieve a major victory. This was the argument for a quick victory.

Both the theory of quick defeat and the theory of quick victory are due to the failure to accurately grasp the situation between China and Japan.

In reality, the theories of quick defeat and quick victory are two sides of the same coin, and they can change at any time. When the situation improves slightly, they start advocating for a quick victory. When the situation becomes slightly unfavorable, they immediately switch to the theory of quick defeat. The existence of these people does not contribute anything to the anti-Japanese war.

Obviously, Yang Yonghui is a little pessimistic at the moment.

Wei Hongjun couldn't let Yang Yonghui become pessimistic. The next step in reducing rent and interest rates would still require Yang Yonghui to take the lead.

"Is it really so?"

"Of course. Principal Yang, think about it. Sheng County is so large, why does the Japanese army only have a squadron of troops in Sheng County?"

"There aren't enough troops to fight on the front lines."

"Yes. The Japanese army seems to be making great strides now, but think about how big Japan is and how many Japanese troops there are.

As the Japanese occupied more and more territory, they had to manage more and more places. The Japanese army didn't have enough troops. By the time the Japanese occupied many counties, the situation would be the same as Sheng County. The Japanese army would only need a squadron of troops to manage, and the rest would depend on those traitors. As long as the Eighth Route Army in each county develops like us, then the Japanese army will be unable to do anything. Even if the Japanese army has a battalion in some important counties, we don't have to be afraid. In other words, time is running out now. As long as we give ourselves enough time, we won't be afraid of even a battalion of the Japanese army.

"Can the Eighth Route Army really have so many troops?"

Yang Yonghui was a little skeptical, but also a little expectant.

The development of the Shengxian Anti-Japanese Guerrilla Army is truly astonishing. If all Eighth Route Army units were able to expand their forces in this way, then the Eighth Route Army in Shanxi would not be too small.

"My abilities are nothing compared to this. Our Eighth Route Army has many commanders who are both military and politically proficient. They have built bases and developed the army far better than I can. My old commander, the commander of the Independent Regiment of our 115th Division, was the regimental political commissar at the age of seventeen, the division political commissar at twenty-one, and he's only twenty-three this year. Compared to him, my abilities are completely insignificant. I estimate that he has nearly ten thousand troops under his command right now."

"so smart?"

"Of course. Once I contact the main force, you'll know how powerful they are. We in the Eighth Route Army are best at rural work. Just think about how many farmers there are in Shanxi, and how many farmers there are in China. As long as we get their support, there will be no shortage of manpower for the expansion of the army."

Wei Hongjun was not bragging.

Although he has memories of later generations, Wei Hongjun never thinks that he is more powerful than the big guys of this era.

Take, for example, the regimental commander of the Wei Hongjun Army. He was a truly powerful figure. Within three months of crossing the Yellow River, he had increased his force from a little over a thousand to seven or eight thousand. At his peak, he swept through seven counties in a month, causing a sensation throughout Shanxi.

The military force that Wei Hongjun has developed now is just enough to show off in Sheng County.

"I'm relieved now that Political Commissar Wei has said that. Political Commissar Wei, I've made up my mind. Now that everyone has learned almost the same thing, I want to start with our Caoyang Village and reduce rent and interest, starting with our family."

Chapter 038 Preparation

Yang Yonghui was really anxious.

Seeing the front lines losing battles one after another and the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army and the Central Army beginning to withdraw east of the Yellow River, Yang Yonghui briefly believed that Shanxi and China were finished. However, after a conversation with Wei Hongjun, Yang Yonghui regained some confidence.

But Yang Yonghui knew that the end of the fighting on the front line would increase the pressure behind enemy lines.

So he was more anxious than anyone else.

He had been communicating with Wei Hongjun quite a bit lately. He understood that rent and interest reductions would be extremely beneficial to farmers, and that as long as they were implemented, they would undoubtedly win their support. This was especially true given that there were provisions regarding previous land rents and interest payments.

Especially rural usury.

After the maximum interest rate is set, previous usurious loans will not be abolished, but the interest will be recalculated. In other words, the previous usurious loans will be converted into loans with normal interest rates. This is very good news for many self-cultivating farmers, semi-self-cultivating farmers, poor and hired peasants, and even some rich and middle peasants.

Those who lend money at high interest rates in rural areas are all big landlords, and they are rich and powerful.

They were not only powerful in the countryside, but also had connections in the county town. Without connections, who would dare to lend money at high interest rates? As a result, many rich and middle peasants were bankrupted by usury.

In fact, if you borrow money at high interest rates in rural areas, you will never be able to pay it back. The purpose of lending money at high interest rates is not for money. They are after the land in your hands and your indenture.

The current rent and interest reductions will transform these high-interest loans into loans with normal interest rates. Many wealthy households, middle-class peasants, and self-employed farmers typically borrow money during lean times, and could repay them in better times. However, because these loans are high-interest, the interest compounding can ultimately lead to bankruptcy. Now that interest rates are lower, many of these people don't have to sell their land or lose their freedom.

This is the most popular among rural people.

Of course there is also land rent.

Reducing land rent will allow farmers to keep more food.

Yang Yonghui also knew this, which is why he planned to accelerate the rent and interest reduction. Yang Yonghui was a man of great influence, well-known in Sheng County, and a top celebrity in Caoyang Village. Yang Yonghui first gathered the Yang family landlords in Caoyang Village.

Although Yang Yonghui was not the head of the Yang family, he was the most promising and learned one in the family. After Yang Yonghui came forward, the landlords of the Yang family quickly responded to him.

This is why Li Shiping recommended Yang Yonghui to Wei Hongjun.

After Yang Yonghui's intervention, the rent and interest reduction work in Sheng County's Fifth District went very smoothly. The students who were in class were also dispersed. Sheng County's Fifth District included over thirty designated administrative and natural villages.

They need to investigate each village one by one to see the composition of the villages.

Yang Yonghui has an absolute advantage in this regard.

Caoyangzhuang was primarily populated by the Cao and Yang families, and was also the most central area of ​​Sheng County's fifth district. When Yang Yonghui emerged, the landlords of Caoyangzhuang responded, while other rural landlords, with limited financial resources and reputation, dared not oppose him.

Now the rent and interest reduction work in Caoyangzhuang can be carried out without much resistance.

"We can prepare to kill Baldy Pan now."

Although Wei Hongjun attached great importance to the work of rent and interest reduction, he even gave lectures to the working group in person.

But Wei Hongjun's main job is still the political commissar of the guerrilla army.

Therefore, they still had to deal with the guerrilla army's work every day. On this day, several key leaders of the guerrilla army gathered together to discuss the fight against Pan Tuzi. Even the captains and other leaders were present.

As the captain of the independent team, Li Wanfu also attended the guerrilla army meeting for the first time.

"How was the inspection? I heard that this Baldy Pan was once a soldier and he occupies a hilltop. We can't afford to suffer heavy casualties by fighting a bandit. This time, we're fighting Baldy Pan, not only to eliminate the bandits who are plaguing the village and give a welcome gift to the people of Songjiazhuang and the surrounding villages, but also to train our troops. Let our new recruits see the battlefield. But it's just training, not to cause heavy casualties."

Wei Hongjun spoke.

Eliminating a bandit should be done cleanly and efficiently. If too many casualties are caused by a bandit, then the gains will outweigh the losses.

"Political Commissar, don't worry. I've personally inspected Jitou Peak. Baldy Pan is a military man, so he's also very attentive to its defense. However, Jitou Peak isn't a place that's easy to defend and difficult to attack militarily. Besides, although the rural areas around Songjiazhuang have fought against Baldy Pan several times in recent years, they don't know how to fight after all. So Baldy Pan has been the king there for the past few years and hasn't encountered any danger. Over the years, he's lost his previous vigilance, and the number of people standing guard is decreasing. The people in Songjiazhuang are all farmers, so even if they discover us, they can't take us down. But we are different."

Zhang Dahu has fought in major battles and many regular battles.

Both Wang Qiuyun and Wei Hongjun need to learn from this aspect.

Zhang Dahu simply constructed a small sand table, presenting Jitou Peak in three dimensions. He then said, "Jitou Peak is quite dangerous, but its front is very wide, making it very easy for us to deploy our forces. That's why Pan Tuzi's main force is stationed at this front. Therefore, my plan is to split into three teams and attack from these three fronts, drawing out most of the bandits' main defense. Then, we'll send an elite force to attack from the side and rear, attacking from both sides and completely annihilating this bandit group."

"The road to the rear is quite dangerous. Are there any fortifications at this location?"

"Have."

Wang Qiuyun pointed to the assault position on the side and rear that Zhang Dahu mentioned.

"Although it's a bit dangerous, it's not a very important place. It just controls a few high points and is easy to defend. For the people in Songjiazhuang, this place is difficult to jump over. But for us, this place is nothing. Bring grenade launchers and deploy heavy machine guns, and we can rush over in just one round. Regardless of whether they used to be soldiers or not, they have been bandits for so many years and are no longer the same. The firepower of grenade launchers and heavy machine guns will be unstoppable."

"How many bandits are there in this group?"

"We caught a traitor. According to him, there are quite a few people on Jitou Peak right now, over 400 people. However, there are over 30 abducted women, and over 50 people who were captured and used to farm on the mountain. The rest are involved in robbery, but about 100 of them are specifically responsible for carrying things up the mountain. The remaining 200 or so people are also involved in robbery on a regular basis."

"How many guns are there?"

"Over 130 rifles, long and short, and one light machine gun. But no other heavy weapons."

"How do they have so many weapons?"

"Many of them were captured during battles with local peasant armed forces."

Wang Qiuyun looked at the sand table and fell into deep thought.

Wang Qiuyun wasn't afraid of these bandits. Zhang Dahu was right. Even if some of them were former soldiers, their combat effectiveness would inevitably decline after years of being bandits. With no armed forces around to threaten them, they would surely become careless.

But Wang Qiuyun was worried about the guerrilla army.

The guerrilla army had few veterans; most were new recruits. This kind of offensive was inherently disadvantageous to new recruits. The bandits also had a light machine gun, and using the difficult terrain would cause significant trouble for the guerrillas.

"Old Wei, what do you think?"

"We must fight. Only by defeating this group of bandits can we gain the support of the local people and develop District 4 into our base. Besides, this group of bandits is causing trouble to the village. Now that we have the Eighth Route Army here, how can we allow this group of bandits to continue to survive?"

Unlike Wang Qiuyun, Wei Hongjun also has to consider political issues.

Taiyuan fell, and the Jin-Cha-Ji Military Region was established. In the future, the Japanese army would intensify its sweeps against armed forces behind enemy lines. It was necessary to develop bases and armed forces behind enemy lines before the enemy launched its sweeps. Therefore, Pan Tuzi had to be defeated.

Wang Qiuyun nodded, making up his mind. "Okay, let's fight. Team One, Team Two, and the Independent Team will launch a feint attack from the front to draw out the main force of the bandits. Although it's a feint, each unit has many new recruits, so we must let them go up and get a feel for the battlefield. But your troops must be careful; new recruits are easily frightened and prone to collapse. We absolutely cannot let that happen."

"Yes."

Captain Gao Wei of the first team, captain Tao Laifeng of the second team, and captain Li Wanfu of the independent team accepted the order.

"The political commissar and the chief of staff are in charge of the front."

"it is good."

"I will personally lead the special forces team and attack from the side and rear."

Chapter 039 Songjiazhuang

"Teacher Li, why are you here?"

"I came to visit the old man."

After the decision to attack Pan Tuzi was made, the various guerrilla units began to deploy personnel. The guerrilla army now had a large number of men. For example, the former Zhangjiagou Village guerrilla unit, while not having the same success in recruiting, had managed to recruit nearly 300 men, bringing its total strength to around 500.

Then came the Caoyangzhuang guerrillas.

With the implementation of the rent and interest reduction campaign, many farmers in Sheng County's Fifth District became aware of the Eighth Route Army's policies. Many young people were also willing to join the guerrilla army. Within a short period of time, nearly one hundred young people joined the Caoyangzhuang guerrilla unit. As a result, the independent unit now has nearly four hundred members.

It is impossible to bring everyone with us to fight this time.

Therefore, each team was assigned 70 men, with the special forces team being the largest, with 100 men. Adding two grenade launchers and a heavy machine gun, the total number was around 350. Before eliminating Pan Tuzi, Wei Hongjun decided to meet the old man of Songjiazhuang first.

He has the highest seniority and is the most respected in Songjiazhuang.