Rebirth: I am in Jin-Cha-Ji

Song Zhiyuan suddenly asked.

Wei Hongjun nodded and said with a wry smile, "Since our Eighth Route Army crossed the Yellow River, we have lost many veterans in battle. The army has also expanded rapidly in recent months, resulting in a serious shortage of grassroots commanders. If our independent detachment had enough grassroots commanders, the size of the army could double.

In fact, there are a large number of officers who graduated from regular military academies and have rich combat experience in western Hebei, central Hebei, southern Hebei and other places.

"is it?

Wang Qiuyun and Wei Hongjun were very shocked.

Looking at Song Zhiyuan.

Song Zhiyuan nodded and said, "Yes. And there are more than a few. Many civilian anti-Japanese armed forces can be found among them, with more than a dozen junior officers who graduated from regular military academies, and dozens or even hundreds of veteran soldiers who have experienced many battles."

Chapter 096 Recruiting Military Cadres

Why are there so many junior officers and veterans there?

After the July 7 Incident, the 29th Army retreated from Peiping and Tianjin. To stabilize the situation in Hebei, the Nationalist government assembled the First and Second Armies in Baoding. These troops, comprising the 53rd Army of the Northeastern Army, the 29th Army of the Northwestern Army, the 38th Army of the Shaanxi Army, and the 52nd Army of the Central Army, totaling over 200,000 men, engaged in fierce battles in Baoding against the Japanese 6th and 14th Divisions.

The final result was that the troops retreated from the west of the wing all the way to the south of the wing, and then retreated from the south of Jiyi to the northern part of Henan.

Song Zhiyuan told everyone about the situation on the Hebei battlefield.

The Battle of Baoding is not well-known during the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, and many people are not even aware of it. Even many people in later generations only know about the Battle of Shanghai, the Battle of Xuzhou, and the Battle of Xinkou in the early stages of the war, but are not aware that major battles took place in Baoding. In fact, the Battle of Baoding was a very important battle. Although the results were poor, it was the largest battle to take place in Hebei.

Song Zhiyuan continued, "Of the more than 200,000 troops, a significant number were dispersed in western Hebei and central Hebei alone. Many officers and soldiers were unwilling to leave Hebei and wanted to remain in the area to fight the Japanese. Therefore, a significant number of officers were scattered across western Hebei, central Hebei, and southern Hebei. Our Northeast Army, in particular, had the largest number of officers. The 53rd Army had a large number of officers and soldiers who were unwilling to retreat, so they organized their forces in western Hebei, central Hebei, and southern Hebei to fight the Japanese."

Comrade Song Zhiyuan means that our independent detachment can attract these officers to join?

"Yes.

Song Zhiyuan said with certainty: "Among the anti-Japanese armed forces in western Hebei and central Hebei, many are organized Northeast Army troops. Because they are all regular troops, they have raised many armed forces of more than a thousand people in a short period of time. Not to mention a company, some are just a platoon of regular troops, but they have raised troops of thousands of people there. The anti-Japanese enthusiasm of the people of Hebei is very high. As long as you raise the banner of anti-Japanese in the local area, the people of Hebei will join enthusiastically. In the former western Hebei and central Hebei areas, there are countless such spontaneous civilian anti-Japanese armed forces. The largest number of troops are 7,000 to 8,000 or even tens of thousands of people, and the smallest number of troops are only a few hundred people.

The troops suffered repeated defeats, which was a huge blow to the officers of the National Army.

Including Northeast Army officers such as Song Zhiyuan.

But after seeing the anti-Japanese enthusiasm of the people of Hebei, many of them regained confidence because they saw the power of the Chinese people and the surge of the anti-Japanese movement.

It's fair to say that the anti-Japanese fervor in Hebei during the early stages of the War of Resistance Against Japan was unmatched by any other province. Across Hebei, people enthusiastically enlisted and participated in the war. This included workers, farmers, teachers, students, and even children as young as fifteen or sixteen.

Can you pull it over?

"able.

"from where?"

"Yi County, Laishui County, and Zhuo County.

Wei Hongjun frowned.

Yi County was the territory of the Independent Division, while Laishui and Zhuoxian counties were the territories of the Pingxi Detachment. Of course, the Independent Division had only just entered Yi County, and the Pingxi Detachment was primarily focused northward, establishing a base in the Wanping area. Therefore, there were currently no regular Eighth Route Army troops in the Laishui and Zhuoxian areas; the main anti-Japanese forces were the powerful civilian anti-Japanese armed forces.

Historically, the Independent Division, along with some local troops, had 1938 soldiers during the -way siege of the anti-Japanese army in , accounting for more than half of the Jin-Cha-Yi Military Region. Where did all these troops come from?

It was to reorganize the anti-Japanese armed forces in Yi County.

Furthermore, the reorganization of Yi County's anti-Japanese forces significantly enriched the Independent Division's cadre pool. Because Yi County was relatively developed, the local anti-Japanese forces had a large number of students. These students' anti-Japanese enthusiasm was extremely high, directly raising the cultural level of the Independent Division. These students later became important cadres in the Independent Division.

In addition to students, there are a large number of grassroots officers of the National Army among these civilian armed forces.

Are you going to poach people from the Independent Division and the Pingxi Detachment?

Although it was the territory of the Independent Division and the Heping West Detachment, Wei Hongjun could not resist the temptation and asked Song Zhiyuan: "Comrade Song Zhiyuan, do you have any way to get them to join our Independent Detachment?

"have.

Song Zhiyuan pointed to the area between Yi County and Zhuo County on the map and said, "Commander, Political Commissar, there is an anti-Japanese armed force active in this area, with a strength of between 4,000 and 5,000 men. This force is led by a former company commander of the Northeast Army."

Unwilling to retreat, he remained and raised the banner of resistance against the Japanese. Immediately, many people from Yi County, Zhuo County, and even Laishui responded, including young students from Yi County and the surrounding areas, who enthusiastically joined the army. Within a month of raising the anti-Japanese banner, the army swelled from a little over a hundred to over two thousand. After ambushing several Japanese logistics units and puppet troops, they gained even more support from the local people. The army expanded even faster, reaching this number in a matter of seconds.

Speaking of this Song Zhiyuan, I am full of praise.

The people of Hebei were so supportive of the anti-Japanese war that thousands of them joined the army simply by raising the anti-Japanese banner.

"Comrade Song Zhiyuan, let me be honest. Yi County is the base of the Independent Division, and Zhuo County is the base of the Pingxi Detachment. Our Independent Detachment can't afford to offend either of them. You can't ask me to go there to reorganize their troops? They have only four or five thousand people. How could they possibly look down on our Independent Detachment? Even if they want to join our Eighth Route Army, it will be done through the military region or the division headquarters."

“Commissar, I’m not talking about reorganizing this unit, I’m talking about taking this unit away.

Pull this team away? What? Are they having internal conflicts?"

Wei Hongjun seemed to understand what Song Zhiyuan meant.

Song Zhiyuan nodded.

Then he said: "In the beginning, their army really fought against the Japanese seriously and fought many beautiful battles. They ambushed Japanese convoys, ambushed puppet troops, and attacked puppet police stations. Otherwise, there would not be so many Northeast Army officers and local students participating. But after the expansion of the army, Lei Kun, who led the army, began to become negative. Not only did he have no interest in fighting the Japanese, but he also lived a luxurious life, smoked opium, and had a bad lifestyle. Not only that, after half a year, he married four concubines in succession, and forgot that this was an anti-Japanese armed force. He even confronted the student soldiers in the army because he wanted to force a female student to marry him. Although he took a step back later, Lei Kun's people had frequent conflicts with those students, and the relationship has been very tense. Those students joined the army to fight the devils, but Lei Kun's lifestyle.

The student soldiers were deeply disillusioned. Even the former Northeast Army officers who had joined the army were dissatisfied with Lei Kun's style, believing he was incapable of leading the troops in the continued resistance against the Japanese. They hadn't retreated with the main force because they didn't want to be far from their homeland in the Northeast. They wanted to fight the Japanese, but Lei Kun's style had caused many Northeast Army officers to lose confidence in him. The army was now on the brink of collapse.

Comrade Song Zhiyuan knows them?

I originally joined Lei Kun's army, and he made me his chief of staff. But as Lei Kun became increasingly rebellious, I left his army. I wanted to fight against the Japanese, so I couldn't continue to follow him.

If Lei Kun continued like this, the army would have no future. Later, I formed my own team in Yi County, the Yi County Anti-Japanese Guerrilla Detachment.

Wang Qiuyun and Wei Hongjun both nodded.

Song Zhiyuan was even more pleased. If he had stayed with Lei Kun, he would have been enjoying a good life, enjoying a few drinks and small dishes, perhaps even marrying three or four concubines. But he was determined to resist the Japanese and left.

Such people are exactly what the Eighth Route Army needs now.

Can Comrade Song Zhiyuan convince them?

After the independent division entered Yi County, I took my troops to find Commander Yang.

Because I was familiar with the Red Army, having fought against them in the northwest, and now that the Eighth Route Army was here, I thought it would be the most suitable force for fighting behind enemy lines. When my unit was undergoing reorganization, some people approached me. They wanted to leave Leikun but didn't know where to go. When they heard I'd accepted reorganization with the Eighth Route Army, they wanted me to visit it first. If the Eighth Route Army was worth joining, they were willing to join. Commander Yang had originally wanted me to study at the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Cadre School for a few months and then rejoin the army. I had originally planned to tell Commander Yang about this after I was settled.

I didn't expect Commander Yang to change his order and send me to the independent detachment, so I told the commander and the political commissar.

"it is good."

Wang Qiuyun was overjoyed.

I couldn't help but slam the table.

The Independent Detachment's biggest shortfall was grassroots commanders. If a large number of former Northeast Army officers could be recruited, they would quickly become the backbone of the Independent Detachment. Those officers who resolutely stayed in Hebei to continue the fight against the Japanese when the Nationalist forces were defeated and retreated were truly exemplary.

For example, General Lu of the Yi Zhong Military Region stayed in Hebei Province in this way.

In fact, during the Eighth Route Army's early expansion, it incorporated numerous disbanded Nationalist troops. For example, during the early stages of the Independent Division's expansion, it incorporated numerous Shanxi-Suiyuan Army units. After the fall of Datong, Yan Xishan sought a scapegoat and executed Li Fuying, commander of the 61st Army. This resulted in widespread discontent within the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army, with many believing Yan Xishan had gone too far. Li Fuying's thousands of subordinates felt he had been wrongly accused.

As a result, these officers and soldiers scattered and scatter around Datong.

As the 115th Division of the Eighth Route Army advanced eastward through Datong, it incorporated a significant number of troops from the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army. This instantly bolstered the 115th Division with thousands of battle-hardened veterans. If the military region and independent divisions could do the same, the independent detachment could do the same.

Wei Hongjun immediately asked: "Is there any channel to contact them?

"have.

"Okay, I'll write to the division headquarters right now. You contact them and have them connect with the people at the division headquarters. I believe the division commander will definitely not miss such a good opportunity.

The recaptured troops will be handed over to the division headquarters for reorganization and assigned to our grassroots commanders and some students. However, please note that they are all fighting against the Japanese. They must not act rashly or engage in internal strife. If a fight breaks out, it will not benefit us, and only the Japanese and puppet troops will be happy.

"Commissar, I know the seriousness of the situation."

“Okay, please.

End of the meeting.

Wang Qiuyun, Wei Hongjun, Han Wei, Guo, and Xiao Yongshi, who had just been appointed deputy commander of the independent detachment, remained. Wei Hongjun said, "Our independent detachment consists of five infantry battalions, plus a special forces battalion. The other battalions have commanders, but the fourth battalion has many problems. Currently, the deputy commander of the first recruit battalion is Wang Quan. It's fine for him to serve as deputy commander of the new recruit battalion and help train the new recruits, but I'm worried about him commanding a major battalion."

Wang Qiuyun nodded.

“That’s what I considered as well.

"It's not a problem to assign Wang Quan to the main battalion as company commander, as he served as a platoon leader in the Red Army and participated in the Long March. But it's not a good idea to assign him to the main battalion as battalion commander. However, we currently have a limited number of people who can serve as battalion commanders of the main battalion."

"Commander, Political Commissar, what do you think of Comrade Song Zhiyuan?

"Comrade Song Zhiyuan?

Yes. I carefully reviewed Song Zhiyuan's information at division headquarters. After the Great Wall War, the artillery units of his unit were withdrawn. He began commanding troops and served as an infantry battalion commander. After the failure of the Battle of Baoding, he refused to retreat and remained in Yi County.

By then, Lei Kun's unit had grown significantly, so he invited Song Zhiyuan to join him, appointing him Chief of Staff. However, a month later, Song Zhiyuan left Lei Kun's unit and formed his own guerrilla unit with a group of men. The unit's combat effectiveness was impressive, earning the division commander's praise. If the independent detachment hadn't needed artillery officers, the division commander wouldn't have allowed Song Zhiyuan to join.

Wang Qiuyun and Wei Hongjun didn't expect that Song Zhiyuan was such a versatile person.

Therefore, Wang Qiuyun said, "Then let him serve concurrently as the commander of the Fourth Battalion."

"it is good."

Wei Hongjun agreed with this arrangement; of course, talent must be used effectively. However, Wei Hongjun turned to Han Weiguo and said, "Director Han, please find out about Lei Kun's situation. If it's true, then send the information to division headquarters. Reorganize this unit quickly, otherwise, who knows what will become of it over time. It might even corrupt many of the students. My biggest concern is that Lei Kun has such a bad lifestyle that he could easily defect to the Japanese for pleasure."

"it is good.

Chapter 097 Japanese Evacuation

1938 2 Month 24 Day.

The Japanese army, which had occupied the county town for nearly two months, began to choose to withdraw from Sheng County.

The main reason was that they were completely out of food and couldn't stay in Sheng County. Bai had originally intended to raid Districts 1 and 2 for food, but not only did he not find any, he also suffered heavy casualties. Over 800 Japanese and puppet troops hadn't been able to secure food, and now, with only this small number of remaining soldiers, they were even less able to. Even now, Japanese troops were afraid to venture into the open air, as the Eighth Route Army was everywhere.

After the battle with the Independent Detachment, Asao Heishiro realized that he could not defeat the Independent Detachment with his own strength. Moreover, the National Salvation Army troops in the north, who had been obedient until then, began to stir up trouble after hearing that the Japanese army had suffered a defeat.

If the National Salvation Army and the Independent Detachment had not known that the county town was difficult to capture, they would have concentrated their forces to capture the county town long ago.

Asao Heishiro understood that staying in the county town now would be tantamount to waiting for death.

So the only option was to leave Sheng County.

More than 200 Japanese soldiers fled north from the county town under the cover of darkness.

By the time the independent detachment discovered them, they had already entered the National Salvation Army's Beilingzhuang territory. The Japanese didn't engage the National Salvation Army, but simply cleared a path north through Chunhua Fort and into Huailai territory. Facing the Japanese breakout, Feng Anmin didn't concentrate his main forces to stop them, but instead left a path open.

After all, there were more than 200 devils.

Feng Anmin didn't think the National Salvation Army could stop them.

"Gentlemen, I will soon be taking up the position of Administrative Director in the Third Administrative District."

Feng Anmin became famous again with Yan Xishan.

After all, he once again led the National Salvation Army to recapture the county town and drive away the Japanese troops.

In his report, Feng Anmin stated that he led the National Salvation Army in a desperate battle, annihilating over 600 Japanese and puppet troops while suffering 1,300 casualties. He forced the Japanese troops to withdraw from the county and flee north.

Feng Anmin had already registered with Yan Xishan. After the fall of Taiyuan, Yan Xishan issued a call to all county governors in Shanxi, urging them to remain in their positions and organize guerrilla forces, anti-Japanese regimes, and continue the fight against the Japanese. Seeing the Eighth Route Army establishing bases behind enemy lines, Yan Xishan hoped his governors would emulate them. Of course, another important reason was that Yan Xishan was deeply concerned about the Eighth Route Army taking control of Shanxi. Therefore, he urged these governors to remain in their positions to prevent the Eighth Route Army from taking control.