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Chapter 340: The Edge of the War Zone: Jidong

Battles were not isolated; different battlefields influenced each other. The Battle of Zhongtiao Mountain was like Itagaki Seishirō lifting a huge rock with all his might and throwing it forcefully onto the floating duckweed of Zhongtiao Mountain.

With a loud bang, a massive splash indeed erupted. The Nationalist army was crushed, completely neutralizing a major threat to the Japanese north of the Yellow River. The Nationalist army's large-scale battle zone in North China was completely eliminated, and the Eighth Route Army was also affected. After losing these hundreds of thousands of Nationalist troops, the Japanese army could, while still holding the Zhongtiao Mountains, withdraw two additional divisions to join the crushing and encirclement of the base area.

But what is the price of all this?

In a short period of time, the bases in North China all felt a sense of relief. The Japanese troops facing the enemy were mobilized to participate in the Battle of Zhongtiao Mountain.

The defending force was changed from the elite Japanese army to the puppet army and a small number of Japanese troops.

Even though the North China puppet army was considered to be the strongest among the puppet armies, could this group of guys compare with the regular Japanese army of 40?

What's more, the puppet army in North China was still in the process of being organized.

However, compared to the major bases and military sub-districts that seized the precious opportunity and actively launched operations, the Jidong base at this moment was breaking away from the norm.

He seemed calm, stable, and even "well-behaved".

The Jidong base area was an anti-Japanese base area with a tragic fate.

In the original history, since 17 years ago, this place has experienced setbacks and wrong blows such as wrong site selection, weak mass base, and failed workers' uprising. It was also subjected to high-intensity encirclement and suppression by the Japanese invaders, and suffered massacres, deaths of leaders and other disasters that were enough to destroy everything. However, in the end, it still miraculously persisted and became a model for our party and army to wage guerrilla warfare behind enemy lines.

If the Dabie Mountains during the Liberation War were a steel knife stuck in the heart of Chiang Kai-shek, then this area was a time bomb in the heart of the Japanese. Especially during this period, with the core base area correctly located and the main force of the Jidong Uprising successfully transferred, the Jidong base area surrounding Panshan, Yaodaishan, and Lujiayu was developing exceptionally vigorously.

The organizational activities of the Jidong base extended to Pinggu, Haidian, and even Tsinghua University and Dahongmen. It established close land channels with the Pingxi and Pingbei bases, and finally connected to our army's Jizhong and Beiyue bases, connecting to the constantly pulsating network of anti-Japanese bases in North China to obtain reliable support from the rear.

Even at a certain period in 39, the underground party of the Eighth Route Army could openly sell northern goods in Dazhalan, not to mention the 27th Division, which was originally used to intimidate the Jidong Military Sub-district, but was now transferred south by Itagaki Seishirō.

The Jidong base area, with its pressure suddenly reduced, actively carried out the struggle against the puppet army. After hearing that the central government already had more night flight crews and new night flights, the comrades who were addicted to making trouble once wanted to take the opportunity to build a front-line airport and radio navigation station to establish regular infiltration flight contacts with the Shandong base area.

However, all these unrestrained ideas were suppressed by the Party Committee group of the Jidong base area at that time, especially Zhao Baosen and Li Fangqi.

"If I want a motorcycle, that's fine. If I want a plane, that's fine, but not now."

Zhao Baosen comforted the soldier in front of him, "Kids, let's put it this way: when we can ride on motorcycles and fly airplanes depends largely on your efforts."

"Really? Commander Bao, don't lie to me."

"Of course, I'd be lying to you like a puppy. Can Commander Bao lie to anyone else?"

Li Fangqi's humorous tone elicited good-natured laughter from everyone present. Before them stood a group of capable soldiers and officials from Pingxi and Pingbei, not in uniform, but instead in long gowns and carrying suitcases. There were even several "cultured" figures wearing glasses.

They are another infiltration team that the base is preparing to send out.

Commander Bao would never lie. Even the Japs are afraid of him." The young man blushed. "I just don't understand. Aren't we trained by the Central Committee to fight elusive guerrilla warfare? Why are we selling waste paper to a little guy? Look at my clothes. If you don't understand, you might think I'm a general secretary!"

"Can't we just do the same as the comrades who went to the Northeast, selling cattail bags, working as wheat pickers, and doing manual labor... go to the train stations and villages to mobilize the masses for revolution?"

The young officer was referring, of course, to the several carts of "Manchukuo government bonds" they carried. These were various Xingnong bonds, Xingye savings certificates, and Bisheng debt certificates, forged by comrades on the intelligence line. They even included "prize bonds" issued by the puppet Manchukuo. Among the weapons and equipment they carried were only a few Japanese machine guns and pistols.

This time, the armed infiltration team's official identity was Manchuria's "Bond Distribution Team." It's no wonder the young cadre was so irritated and confused when the Eighth Route Army was asked to do this job. "Ha, kid, tell me, where is our destination this time? What are we going to do?"

"Commissar Li, this isn't a problem for me." The little guy cleared his throat and answered fluently, "Our destination this time is Rehe, where the Qing Dynasty princes once spent their summers. Our goal is to connect with our comrades who have been working there early on, contact our underground Party members, and work with them to mobilize the masses, form a guerrilla force, and provide military support to the comrades who are restoring the organization."

"Well, I'll test you again." Zhao Baosen nodded. "How are the conditions in Rehe different from those in the Northeast? Can you work as a wheat picker, a laborer, or work in the villages there?" "This..."

Because of the Chengjin Railway, Rehe was considered a precursor to Jincheng and the gateway to the Eastern Three Kingdoms. However, the mountainous terrain created numerous isolated counties and villages, making travel far less frequent than it was on the Shanhaiguan frontier. This made it less vulnerable to surveillance by the Japanese Army in North China and the Kwantung Army, making it easier for the Eighth Route Army to infiltrate. This was another mission of the Jidong Base Area in this time and space, in addition to persisting in the struggle and launching anti-Japanese wars.

"But this also hindered our work. When work teams suddenly arrived in villages and towns where we hadn't seen anyone for ten days or half a month, they were almost always arrested by the puppet Manchukuo police," Li Fangqi explained. "According to Comrade Rehe's report, the people who were able to travel from county to county and village to village, and go to the countryside everywhere, were actually 'members' of the Xingnong Cooperative, who were selling puppet Manchukuo bonds."

The political work person in charge of Jidong District briefly introduced the knowledge of the puppet Manchukuo bonds to everyone. After the Japanese army occupied the Northeast, in order to seize the resources of the Northeast,

Developing colonial agriculture and seeking personal gain, the "Monster of Manchuria" Nobuo Kishi

The government monopolized the financial industry in the three northeastern provinces and issued a wide variety of "bonds, savings certificates, and lottery tickets." Among these, the bonds issued through the grain control organization "Xingnong Cooperative Society" were targeted at rural areas. The intention was to plunder rural resources by issuing bonds and controlling grain trade.

"Damn your little nose, damn it." After hearing this, the young officer was already looking angry, "Oh! I really want to fight the Japs with real guns and swords, but I don't know how long I have to wait. Ah..." Although he said so, he also understood the complexity of the situation behind enemy lines.

"Little brat, the Japs are waiting for you to engage them head-on. If you charge forward recklessly, even if you're made of iron, how many shells can you withstand?" Zhao Baosen tapped the man on the head and laughed. "So, among the comrades who have been carefully selected and are preparing to go behind enemy lines, there's still a fool hidden there? Working behind enemy lines requires a calm and composed attitude."

"Ah."

"The comrades in the intelligence department must have gone to incredible lengths to infiltrate the Manchurian system and secure for you a bond distribution scheme." The young commander lowered his voice and instructed everyone, "This job of selling bonds for the Japanese may seem unlucky, but we must always understand that while the work group ostensibly sells Manchukuo bonds, they're actually engaged in anti-Japanese propaganda, gathering intelligence on the Japanese, and preparing for our military."

"We have to deal with the enemy and the puppet regime, communicate with the masses, engage in military struggles, and even be good dealers'" - if ordinary people really bought our bonds, they had to be registered and recorded - this could be regarded as supporting the War of Resistance. When the war was over and our regime was established, we had to redeem them.

"So, little brats, you have a heavy burden on your shoulders!"

After doing this work, not only the young staff member, but also all the members of the working group who were about to set off, had a deeper understanding of everything they were about to face and the mission they were responsible for. The staff member nodded and answered firmly,

"I understand, Commander Bao, Political Commissar Li, I will definitely work with everyone to successfully complete the task assigned to me by the organization." "Of course, as for the question of whether Old Bao would lie to you...

"I'm not lying, nor am I bragging. One day, one day!" Zhao Baosen shouted, "Our fighter planes will be in the skies above Jidong, and our tanks, motorcycles, and troops will be on the territory of Jidong. When that time comes, let us join our comrades and fight our way back to our homeland in the Northeast!"

Chapter 341: The Edge of the War Zone: Lunan

Compared with the front battlefield, the complex battlefield behind enemy lines has a wider battlefield space.

The Eighth Route Army responded by advancing into the enemy's rear, organizing guerrilla warfare, uniting the masses, and suppressing the Japanese army's economic and military space, thus bankrupting its attempt to support war with war. The active penetration of the Jidong base into the Northeast is another interpretation of Jin He's "Guerrilla Warfare" and "On Protracted War".

The Nationalist government was also quite envious of the booming guerrilla battlefields and anti-Japanese bases. During the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, they also organized many guerrillas to fight in the battlefields behind enemy lines. However, among these, it is not clear whether it was "everyone in the world is in favor of the Communist Party" or "all those willing to unite to fight against Japan are in favor of the Communist Party." Once you exclude the Nationalist guerrillas who have good relations with the Communist Party, surrendered to the Communist Party and accepted reorganization, and supported the Anti-Japanese National United Front, almost all the rest can be classified as "awarded troops."

Not only were these guys useless in the fight against Japan, they also exploited the people, arbitrarily levying taxes and conscriptions in the name of fighting the Japanese. Many of them even colluded with the Japanese and puppet regimes, acting as double-dealers. They were truly "wandering without fighting" bastards. It was even said that they were divided into factions within the army, and they wanted to fight and oppress other guerrilla groups of the National Army.

For example, after the Battle of Huangqiao in the history of this time and space, the first thing Han Chuzhen's troops did was not to seek revenge on the New Fourth Army, but to kill the commander of the Jiangsu Security Brigade 2, Zhang Yi, a former Red Army traitor, in order to embezzle his troops and equipment - in a sense, it was a good thing.

This kind of situation has almost become commonplace in the struggle environment of Shandong Province.

—―---——-

In a flash, the assassin pulled the trigger and launched a grenade toward Yu Xiaohou. Just as the grenade was about to explode, and the traitor was about to succeed, Commander Yu's guard, a skilled hand, whipped out his Horse Pike pistol and fired two shots. With a bang, the grenade exploded mid-air.

“Ohhhh!”

On a carriageway in the Lunan base area, a group of men escorted three rubber-wheeled carts as they slowly advanced. As they marched, they listened to the loud shouting of Han Xianwu, the driver and driver of the power-assisted carts. This militiaman, evidently engrossed in his conversation, glanced at the gearshift lever to the right of his seat, raised his thin whip, swung it in the air, and gently landed it on the donkey leading the way.

"There was no time to lose. I immediately protected the group of students from the anti-Japanese training class and attacked from behind, following the horseshoe mud. Taking advantage of the flash of the explosion, I raised my gun and fired! The gun went off, and the traitorous assassin fell backwards, breathless."

"Hey... Han Pingshu, you should just tell the story properly, why are you blowing it up?"

"You've only been using this 'horse hoof mud' for less than a month and a half! This gun is incredibly powerful. How could you hit the target in one shot in the dark?" "Yes, yes, you have the ability to shoot like this? I practiced shooting before going out today. We fired three shots at fifty meters, and only one of them missed the target!"

The crowd erupted in empty voices, obviously very dissatisfied with Han Xianwu's inclusion of personal opinions in the storytelling, and launched a denunciation against him.

He hurried forward, afraid that he might

Pull him off the stage and let him experience the audience's "passion and unrestrainedness".

This isn't just storytelling! This is a true story! I've said it before, I saw it with my own eyes! It happened just ten days ago! "Han Xianwu was clearly anxious, yanking his whip and pointing toward the sky. "You all know about the grenade that exploded in our anti-Japanese training class, right? I was there. It was that traitor who hid the grenade and threw it at us because he wanted to kill Commander Yu, who was fighting alongside us against the Japanese!"

After saying that, he turned around angrily and shouted to the captain of the district team who was marching nearby: "Captain Wang, Captain Wang! Captain Wang was there that night, he can testify!

"Haha, this thing really has a source. The assassin who did the evil thing was none other than the surrender faction in the Kuomintang, who wanted to destroy the anti-Japanese united front!"

Wang Liang, the district squad leader, removed his cigarette and gave Han Xianwu a hand. "Commander Yu, commander of the Nationalist army, has come to our anti-Japanese workshop to give a lecture on uniting all friendly forces, avoiding civil war, and resisting Japan to save the nation. This is a good thing, but it will displease Chiang Kai-shek in the mountain city. He will naturally kill Commander Yu and put this traitor in power!"

After the 115th Division, led by the unharmed 101st Division, entered Shandong Province, the Guofu Army also established the Jiangsu-Shandong War Zone in Shandong Province in 1938, with Yu Xiaohou as commander and Shen Chengzhang as deputy commander. In contrast to Yu Xiaohou's active attitude towards the united front and anti-Japanese resistance, Shen Chengzhang was an active anti-communist who colluded with the Japanese puppet regime.

In fact, after killing the assassin who suddenly appeared, the Eighth Route Army and National Army guards present found National Army documents on the assassin's body, as well as a letter stating that the National Army was colluding with the Japanese, conspiring with the puppet army, and preparing to murder Commander Yu.

The assassin's actions were truly unprofessional, as he actually carried his ID and contact letter with him. Captain Wang secretly complained. He didn't intend to go into too many details, so he switched gears and began to tease the boastful Han Xianwu:

"But, Han Pingshu, so many people were firing at the time, how can you say that you were the one who killed the assassin? You are usurping the fruits of your comrades' battle. This is not right. You should be criticized and write a self-criticism!" "Captain Wang, no, no, no, how dare I say that? Hey, hey, this is not allowed to be said..."

Han Xianwu, a militia soldier, was embarrassed by this, and he quickly tried to defend himself. However, his boasting had become the fodder for the entire transport team. Everyone burst into laughter, demanding that Han Xianwu treat them to tea and snacks after completing the mission. Otherwise, they would tell the whole village about this embarrassing incident, making it a topic of conversation and joke for a month.

After all this commotion, the fatigue of the militiamen, district team members and the masses in the transport team was greatly reduced.

"But, Captain Wang, what happened to this stubborn assassin?" After the laughter subsided, someone asked, "Which stubborn army unit did that traitor come from?"

"The assassin is dead, but the person behind it is not so easy to show up. The comrades of the Security Department followed the clues and found that the scum was from the 665th Regiment of the National Army.

After further investigation, it was discovered that the order was actually issued by Miao Kaiyuan, the commander of the 57th Army of the National Army.

—And he is responding to the request of that damned Chiang Kai-shek and the traitor Shen, contacting the Japanese and preparing to wipe us out together with Commander Yu who is fighting against the Japanese with us!"

The letter seized during the assassination attempt described how the Nationalist Army would maintain peace with the Japanese Army, a "joint anti-communist peace." It also stipulated how the two armies would identify and communicate with each other, and how they would eliminate Yu Xiaohou, the "obstructive communist collaborator." Clues vaguely pointed to Shen Chengzhang, Deputy Commander of the Su-Lu Theater and Governor of Shandong Province under the Nationalist Government, and Miao Kaiyuan, Commander of the Nationalist Army's 57th Army and Remote Governor of Rehe Province.

When this was mentioned, even Captain Wang became indignant.

"Scare you! They betrayed their country and gave birth to babies without an anus! These Chiang Kai-shek bandits have no good intentions!"

Han Xianwu started to curse. Although he had been fighting for a long time and was already familiar with the nature of preserved fruits, he still couldn't help but feel angry.

"It's really thanks to the underground party comrades who risked their lives to discover this in advance. If they had succeeded in collusion, many of our comrades would have been sacrificed!"

He imagined the thrilling struggle of the underground intelligence organization, and felt a little scared, but he couldn't help but be deeply moved - it was these brave and fearless secret fighters who silently protected the safety of the base and the anti-Japanese soldiers and civilians in the dark, so that he could avoid being framed by conspiracy and intrigue.

But in fact, the reason why Shen Chengzhang and Miao Kaiyuan's treasonous actions were exposed was not so tortuous, but rather a bit funny: when the traitor Miao Kaiyuan was preparing to send representatives to negotiate with the Japanese army, because he was worried that his confidant Dong Hanqing "was not eloquent enough and could not speak clearly, which would make the Japanese unhappy", Commander Miao Kaiyuan called on Yu Wenqing, the colonel section chief of the staff department of the Lunan Guerrilla Zone Headquarters.

Miao Kaiyuan asked Yu Wenqing to help him contact the Japanese, and flattered him: "(This matter) can only be done by someone with courage and knowledge, and it must be you."

Yu Wenqing, an active member of the Communist Party, pretended to be embarrassed but agreed. He then reported the matter to Wan Yi, commander of the 33rd Brigade, and further to Chang Enduo, commander of the 1⑾1st Division of the 57th Army. After a brief discussion, these officials decided to take the initiative, arrest Miao Kaiyuan, and disarm the troops that had surrendered to Japan.

Yes, similar to Yu Wenqing, the latter two Nationalist generals were also Communists.

Chapter 342: Edge of the War Zone: Coastal

The southern part of Shandong Province, Binhai Military Sub-district, is the combat area of ​​this anti-espionage operation.

After gathering sufficient evidence, Chang Enduo, commander of the 111th Division of the 57th Army, and Wan Yi, commander of the 333rd Brigade, launched a coordinated attack, swiftly arresting the defecting commander, Miao Kaiyuan, and seizing control of the entire 57th Army. They then issued a telegram publicly announcing the KMT's surrender to Japan. Because the February Incident had already occurred and the KMT and the Communist Party had effectively split, the 101st Division and Luo Shenzhen in Shandong Province issued a rather unsympathetic ruling—publicly trying and executing this non-Whampoa clique Fengtian Army remnant.

This time, because the Eighth Route Army was approaching and actually controlled Jinjing and the Guanzhong Plain, Chiang Kai-shek could do nothing except to get furious and have a fight with Niang Xi, and publish articles in newspapers to condemn the Eighth Route Army. However, after the 57th Army was actually controlled by the 101st, the Military Affairs Office issued Chiang Kai-shek's handwritten order, asking the Military Affairs Department to order the cancellation of the 57th Army's number, and then gave this organization originally occupied by the Northeast Army to Chi Chengfeng's troops around the Hubei-Henan-Anhui border area.

This directive upgraded the 30th Army to a group army, giving it the size of two armies. However, the newly added army would inevitably be led by Whampoa clique members. This nominal expansion would further dilute and control the former Northwest Army, making it more centrally-organized.

Anyway, the governor of Guoju Province killed by the Eighth Route Army was not the first one, nor would he be the last. With more expulsions and executions in the future, Chiang Kai-shek would probably get used to it.

Wang Liang, captain of the Ganyu County District Team of the Binhai Military Sub-district, continued to lead his team, together with basic militia and mobilized masses, to carry out his transportation tasks.

In the anti-traitor battle a few days ago, the troops borrowed a lot of door panels from the people to prepare hard stretchers for soldiers with broken bones. However, because the combat effectiveness of the Nationalist troops that surrendered to Japan was worrying, and no one wanted to be a traitor, after the main culprit was killed, the remaining former Northeast Army soldiers basically surrendered, and these hard stretchers were not used.

So now we have to return these door panels.

Ganyu County divided its jurisdiction into several zones, each assigned to a team. Virtually every door panel was numbered with paint, corresponding to the data recorded in the registers. This commitment to commitment was crucial for maintaining military-civilian relations in the base area, and Captain Wang took it very seriously.

Just as the team was marching on the road and gradually approaching its destination, several gunshots were suddenly heard in front of the team, followed by a burst of chaotic gunfire. Then, two flares rose into the sky, and the gunfire stopped.

Red + Red, it's the enemy, very close!

Although technically moving within the "Red Zone," the convoy still had a team of security personnel at the front and rear, responsible for keeping watch for possible enemy presence. Each team consisted of one district team member and two guerrilla fighters. However, compared to regular reconnaissance units equipped with "voice stations" with a range of up to 5 kilometers, the guerrillas lacked the luxury of radio transmission equipment; at most, they had cheap radios. For long-distance communication, they could only transmit basic information via flares.

"Everyone, don't panic! Team one, keep an eye on the people. Team two, prepare for defense! Han Pingshu, stop the car first!"

"it is good!"

As the backbone of the transport team, the off-duty district team and the trained militia immediately became the organizers of the team. They quickly stopped the team.

Calm the panicked crowd.

At the same time, District Captain Wang Liang took out the signal gun hanging on his waist, and together with another comrade, fired two red flares into the sky.

On the distant horizon, more flares began to rise, like waves of wheat blown by the breeze, rolling into the distance.

The message has been delivered.

Captain Wang Liang began to think about the enemy in front of him - before departure, the enemy situation report from his superiors did not contain any news about the Japanese and puppet troops' attack, and the friendly forces did not report anything, so at least it should not be a large-scale attack by the Japanese and puppet troops. Instead, it is more likely that they are very nomadic bandits who can roam to many places before the news spreads throughout the base.

From where the gunfire had just begun, there began to be a sound of trampling, and a cloud of dust rose high. The enemy was already approaching. In the distance, Captain Wang seemed to see a black flag, with a few bright colors fluttering. Black flag bandits... bandits... Captain Wang thought of a possible option, and he turned his head and shouted:

"Han Pingshu! Do you still remember the bandits flying the black flag? The ones who ran away from your second brother-in-law?" "What bandits? Huh? Oh! Which one!"

Han Xianwu, who had just turned off the engine of his moped, was stunned for a moment before immediately responding, "Isn't that the damned Liu? Damn him!" "Where's his lair?"

“Dongzhuzi Mountain!”

"Dongzhuzi Mountain? Isn't that east of Pingyang? Isn't Pingyang occupied by the Japanese..."

Someone shouted, but then stopped talking - the guard group was not very far away from the transport team, and this distance might be a little bit difficult for the infantry.

L time, but for the horse it is just a split second.

The indistinct figures had transformed into a motley cavalry. Besides the gradually clearer black flag, a flash of bright color revealed its identity—a red background with a blue sky and a white sun, topped with a ribbon. It was the flag of the Wang Puppet regime's "Peaceful Nation-Building Army"!

Han Xianwu gritted his teeth, making a clattering sound. The other party had already revealed their identities, and they were all cavalrymen. They were obviously the followers of the famous "Liu Motou" bandit, Liu Heiqi.

This bandit, originally named Liu Guitang, was so famous in Shandong and Henan provinces that he could practically stop a child crying at night. He plundered and murdered for over a decade, committing numerous brutal massacres, robberies, and kidnappings, his crimes too numerous to list. After the 115th Division entered Shandong, he repeatedly invaded the base area and caused rebellion, repeatedly facing attacks from the Eighth Route Army. However, Liu Heiqi, the leader of the group, with his core 200 cavalrymen, was able to escape thanks to their mobility and familiarity with the terrain.

Now, they had obviously found the Japanese as their backer. It was precisely because of this that they were able to pass through Pingyang, the core city of southern Shandong controlled by the Japanese, cross the Yi River and enter the Binhai Military Region!

The civilians in the small group, who had just been pacified, were beginning to stir. The enemy cavalry was approaching, and the entire transport team consisted of only a little over 100 soldiers, with the remaining dozens being untrained civilians. When the terrifying demon attacked, ordinary people were bound to tremble.