Rebirth: I am in Jin-Cha-Ji

But no matter how few he has, he still has the main force.

For example, the 115th Division's Independent Regiment had several Red Army companies, all composed of veterans of the Long March. When Yang Quanwu formed the First, Second, and Third Regiments, he retained a Red Army company in each. These companies became the elite units of these regiments. In battle, they were the most powerful, driving the combat effectiveness of the other units.

So at the end of last year, the independent regiment swept through seven counties within a month.

In comparison, the independent detachment does not have such combat effectiveness. Therefore, the small team development model is suitable for the independent detachment, but it is not suitable for the powerful Jin-Cha-Ji Eighth Route Army.

"Ah."

"But this is not without merit. For those troops we send out, after establishing a base, if they plan to expand into the core areas under the control of the Japanese army, they can adopt this small-unit model."

"That makes sense. The military district and these frontline troops have different missions and employ different methods. You should study them and come up with a more comprehensive small-team tactic. I'll hand it over to headquarters so that many of our Eighth Route Army frontline troops can learn from it. The 120th Division in Suiyuan, in the Daqingshan area, also lacks a mass base. Using this small-team model to quickly expand the Eighth Route Army's influence in all directions is a good idea."

Marshal Nie is an expert at developing bases.

Marshal Nie originally had limited resources. However, the Jin-Cha-Ji base area developed the fastest, becoming a renowned model base area. During the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, Marshal Nie's ability to develop base areas was clearly demonstrated. Of the issues reported by the independent detachment, this was not Commander Nie's primary concern.

What he cares most about are food issues and the development of party members.

"What do you think of these two?"

Commander Nie asked the Political Department Director Zhan Tong.

"That's a good slogan. Do it yourself and you'll have enough food and clothing. Our Eighth Route Army is expanding rapidly, and so are our logistics agencies. Our bases are primarily located in mountainous areas with underdeveloped economies and low grain production. If we rely entirely on the public grain provided by the people in the base areas, it will be difficult to feed the troops and staff."

If the Japanese raids happen, the troops and staff will be even more short of food. Although the establishment of the Jizhong Military Region can solve many of our food problems, having enough food is the only way to truly feel at ease. I think Comrade Wei Hongjun's ideas are very forward-looking. Look at the report here, it says that a cunning rabbit has three burrows, and plans to build secret warehouses in the mountains to store food. This is a very thoughtful idea. When there is plenty of food, store it. When there is a shortage of food, use it for emergency use.

"You think it's good too?"

"It's more than good. Ever since we collaborated with the Kuomintang for the second time to fight the Japanese, many in our party seemed to think that if we cooperated with the Kuomintang, the Kuomintang would be kind enough to provide us with military pay, weapons and ammunition. That our future development would depend on the Kuomintang, and that the Kuomintang would help us solve all our problems. How naive this was.

They have completely forgotten how Chiang Kai-shek raised his butcher knife against our comrades during the April 12 Incident, and how many of our good comrades died under the enemy's butcher knife. I don't know what these people are thinking.

Even grassroots commanders like Wei Hongjun knew to stockpile food and understood the principle of 'making their own living'. We knew we couldn't rely on anyone, but some of our leaders were like possessed.

Zhan Tong couldn't help but get angry.

He harshly criticized some current situations within the Party. He simply couldn't understand why some people couldn't grasp such simple truths, which even grassroots cadres like Wei Hongjun understood.

Marshal Nie coughed and said, "Stop complaining like that. This isn't something we can discuss."

Since the return of the Comintern's special envoy at the end of last year, the past few months have been marked by profound ideological confusion within the Party. Even many Central Committee leaders believe the special envoy was right. They openly oppose the Chairman's strategic thinking of "independent mountain guerrilla warfare" and instead support the view that "everything is for the united front." This chaotic thinking within the Party has even spread to the front lines.

As a result, under the chaotic thinking, it was not uncommon for frontline officers of the Eighth Route Army to defect to the Kuomintang. Many of them were even senior Red Army cadres who had gone through the Long March.

It affected the development of the Eighth Route Army's front line.

This is the result of ideological confusion within the Party. After all, if the central leadership is also confused, how can it not affect the cadres below?

But this cannot be discussed below. This involves a significant number of central government officials, many of whom are Party leaders. After the imperial envoy arrived in Wuhan, he gained control of the Yangtze River Bureau, directly standing on equal footing with Yan'an. The Yangtze River Bureau even became a second central government.

The reason why he dared to be so arrogant, apart from his status as an imperial envoy, was because he had many people within the central government supporting him.

"I'm going to report this to headquarters. This is how we should all behave in the Eighth Route Army base area. Only with food in hand can we fight the Japanese. Where's this party member recruitment plan?"

“This Wei Hongjun, really…” Zhan Tong shook his head.

Don't know what to say.

Marshal Nie, however, smiled and said, "That young man, Wei Hongjun, is truly a material for a political cadre. Ever since the KMT and the CCP resumed their cooperation in the anti-Japanese war, many within our Party have forgotten about developing the Party organization and have put it aside. They believe that the only way to fight the Japanese is to develop the army, which is a profound misunderstanding. This erroneous thinking existed during the Red Army era, when everyone focused solely on fighting the war, neglecting Party building and the establishment of base areas. We resolved this issue at the Gutian Conference, but it has resurfaced since the outbreak of the Anti-Japanese War. Currently, many of our armed forces behind enemy lines are in disarray in this regard, prioritizing military development while neglecting Party and base area construction. Only with a strong Party organization can our army have a strong core. Only with a strong base area can our army maintain a strong rear support, preventing us from becoming bandits behind enemy lines. In this current environment, that young man, Wei Hongjun, not only recognizes the importance of developing the Party organization, but is also bold in doing so. He is principled yet flexible. No wonder the anti-Japanese war in Sheng County has achieved such a successful outcome."

"Commander, is it possible to recruit student party members on such a large scale?

Will there be any mistakes?"

Although Zhan Tong agreed with Wei Hongjun's report, he still had some concerns.

Marshal Nie waved his hand.

He said directly, "There won't be a problem. Our army is developing so rapidly now, and we're seriously short of cadres. Where can we find so many cadres? It just so happens that so many students have come to Yan'an and entered the base area. The Central Committee can't possibly reject them all. The Central Committee has already recruited a large number of student party members in Yan'an, but it hasn't been documented. The anti-Japanese situation is so severe now, it's even less likely that the Central Committee will reject these students who want to fight against Japan. Although Wei Hongjun is bold, he's not aimless. The military region is too big a target, so we need to be cautious. But Wei Hongjun and his independent detachment is just a small county-level anti-Japanese base area. No one will be watching them. Let them develop freely."

Even if the Shengxian Anti-Japanese Base Area recruited student party members on a large scale, how many would there be?

There are only about one or two hundred people. How many more can there be?

The Jin-Cha Military Region had a much bigger goal. If they really let it go, recruiting one or two thousand student Party members in a short period of time would not be a problem. Therefore, Marshal Nie was willing to give Wei Hongjun and his men special care.

"That Wang Qiuyun, who used to pretend to be the main force in the Soviet area to deceive the enemy, is well-known throughout the entire army. Whenever they need to lure the enemy, they will call on Wang Qiuyun to lead the troops."

“A perfect match.”

Marshal Nie agreed repeatedly.

Looking at the independent detachment's report, he couldn't help but say, "If they weren't needed for the anti-Japanese war in southern Chahar, I'd really like to transfer that brat Wei Hongjun to the military district. Sheng County has been struggling on its own to develop before, and the military district hasn't given them much help. I think this time, the Jin-Cha-Ji Military District Military and Political School should give them ten places for the independent detachment and the Sheng County Anti-Japanese Base Area."

"it is good."

"Commander, a telegram from the Pingxi Detachment."

"say what?"

"They wiped out a Japanese transport unit in the Chunhuabao area. This unit had only a small amount of weapons and ammunition, and the rest was food. They captured a Japanese translator, who said he was replenishing supplies for the Japanese troops in Sheng County."

"Spring Flower Castle? Map."

Commander Nie looked at the map and said, "Pass the message to the Independent Division and have them send someone to notify the Independent Detachment."

Chapter 086: The Devil's Food Famine

"Commander, Political Commissar, this is the information from division headquarters."

"say what?"

After Han Weiguo took over as director of the political department, the independent detachment's security and intelligence work developed very well.

Professionals do professional things.

Although Wang Qiuyun and Wei Hongjun had established the Shengxian Anti-Japanese Base Area, they didn't know everything. There were some things they had never done before, and it was too late to learn them.

As an old underground party member who has established underground transportation lines, Han Weiguo is a true professional.

After arriving at the independent detachment, he quickly established a security unit there. He also began to educate officers and soldiers at the base, including the local government, about security measures. Before Han Weiguo arrived, Wei Hongjun also wanted to prioritize these areas, but didn't know where to begin. Therefore, Wei Hongjun mostly adopted a military-like approach, employing strict enforcement of orders in many areas.

But the effect is not very good.

In comparison, although Han Weiguo had just arrived, he quickly got the hang of it.

Even the order in the base has improved a lot.

Then comes building intelligence.

The independent detachment was no longer a small unit, and its base was also substantial. They couldn't rely solely on intelligence from the military region and division headquarters; they needed their own intelligence channels. Han Weiguo immediately began negotiations with the local Party committee, seeking to reclaim some of the underground Party's management lines. From then on, those underground Party organizations were no longer affiliated with the local authorities, but with the independent detachment's political department. They became the independent detachment's own underground personnel.

Then we are also looking for some available people to develop into intelligence personnel for the independent detachment.

The time is short now and I can’t see anything.

But this will become something very important for the independent detachment in the future.

"Division Headquarters is relaying intelligence to the military district. News has come in from the Pingxi Detachment that they've just ambushed a Japanese transport convoy at Chunhua Fort. They captured a Japanese translator, and according to his confession, this transport convoy was the Japs from Huailai resupplying supplies to the Japs in Shengxian. Judging from the items captured, apart from a small amount of weapons and ammunition, the rest was food."

"Spring Flower Castle?"

"Correct."

Wang Qiuyun and Wei Hongjun immediately looked at the map.

Wang Qiuyun pointed at Chunhua Fort and said, "The Pingxi Detachment is advancing very quickly. Their troops have already reached this place.

It seems we also need to work harder.”

"that's right."

The main reason why Sheng County is closed is that it has many mountains.

The route south to the Independent Division required a mountainous route. The route through Xiaonan Mountain to Laiyuan was not easy. East to the Pingxi base area was also separated by a mountain. Northwest to Xining County, another long mountain route was required. The previous ambush at Yexionggou took place along this mountainous route.

Going north to Xuanhua also requires crossing mountains and ridges. Although there are not many mountains here, the hilly areas are full of small hills.

There was only one important road connecting to Huailai in the northeast. In the middle was a famous place called Chunhuabao, which connected Huailai to the north, Shengxian to the south, and Wanping County, the west side of Beiping, where the Pingxi base was located, to the east. It can be said that this place connected three important places and was a military stronghold in this area.

Now the Japanese transport troops appeared in Chunhua Fort.

The Pingxi Detachment ambushed the transport troops and seized all the food.

This is very interesting.

The more Wei Hongjun read, the more interesting it became. So he smiled and asked, "Old Wang, what do you think?"

"It seems the Japanese troops in the county are having a hard time."

"Ok.

"They are now in a serious food shortage. Otherwise, the Japanese in Huailai would not have ignored the Pingxi Detachment and instead sent food to the Japanese troops in Sheng County. If the Japanese troops in the county town run out of food, they will definitely take action next."

"What do you think we should do?"

"Send someone to guard the county town and observe the movements of the Japanese army. I estimate that if the Japanese army comes out, their targets should be Districts 1 and 2."

Wang Qiuyun and Wei Hongjun both understood that they could hold out without weapons and ammunition, but they could not hold out without food. The Japanese army was now short of food, and either the Japs in Huailai continued to send them food, or they could only come out to rob them.

Judging from the current situation, Districts 1 and 2 have the largest grain reserves in Sheng County.

Because this is Sheng County's area with the best quality and largest arable land, it also boasts the highest grain production. Nearly half of Sheng County's grain comes from Districts 1 and 2. More importantly, the rest of Sheng County is largely mountainous. Even those areas that aren't mountainous are hilly. Only Districts 1 and 2 have some hills, but they're few and far between, with the majority being flat land.

For the Japanese army, it was easier to attack Areas 1 and 2. It was much easier to seize food here than to attack other mountainous areas.

"Old Wang, if the Japanese army really sends troops to seize the food in Districts 1 and 2, then we will have no choice but to confront them head-on."

Wei Hongjun has a headache.

Districts 1 and 2 are neither mountainous nor hilly areas.

If you want to stop the Japanese army from looting food, you will most likely have to fight a tough battle with them.

"Our independent detachment has been established for more than four months. We can't always win easy battles. Some tough battles must be fought. Only by fighting tough battles can the army be transformed. This time, we must not let the Japanese army seize the food. As long as the Japanese army has no food, we can trap them to death. If the Japanese army in Chahar wants to rescue them, we can either send them food or send troops to attack our Sheng County. At present, the Japanese troops in Xuanhua and Huailai are insufficient. As long as their troops move, we can advance."

Wang Qiuyun became furious.

The food must not be allowed to be taken away by the Japanese army.

"You mean if they go in, we can go in too?"

"Correct."

Wang Qiuyun looked at the map and said, "Look, Sheng County is mountainous and densely forested, making it very suitable for guerrilla warfare. As long as the Japanese army is not a regiment, even if a battalion of devils comes in, even if we suffer some losses, we can still maintain our base. Even if a regiment of devils comes in, at most our life will be difficult. As long as we persist, we can still deal with the enemy in Sheng County. But if the Japanese dare to send a large force into Sheng County, their already insufficient forces will be further depleted. At that time, our Heping West Detachment will attack from both the east and west, and we will be able to expand our base in this vast area. What do you think is more important to the Japanese army, Xuanhua, Zhuolu, Huailai, or Sheng County?"

"Lao Wang, your idea of ​​inside and outside is very good."