Canteen System Assistance Notes

A man wearing a mask and a dust cap faced the men and women before him, grabbed a metal measuring bowl, and scooped some out of a nearby barrel. He showed it to the men and women in front of him. "This is frozen egg powder, made from eggs. It can only be brought in from the back. The materials department will prepare these materials for you when you start working in Workshop 3. Remember to learn from the workers, they've been here a long time."

"After grinding the soybeans, add 5% egg yolk powder, 45% rice flour, 16.5% sucrose, 0.5% millet, 0.5% salt, and 1.5% crushed shell powder and degummed bone meal. Let me test you," the man asked the students below, as if he were teaching a class. "Does anyone remember how to prepare degummed bone meal? How does it differ from shell powder?"

Pork and beef bones are made using a high-pressure steam cooker, pressurized at 1625 pounds per square inch, and steamed for 10 hours. A young female student poked her chin with the end of a pen and quickly replied, "It mainly provides calcium and phosphorus. The active ingredient in shell powder is mainly calcium carbonate, which does not provide phosphorus."

"That's right."

The man, evidently a professor, carefully avoided the marked movement lines on the floor, trying not to disrupt the workers' work while explaining to the students. "After adding the above ingredients, add 3% oil and an appropriate amount of water, along with the preservatives specified on the scale, and mix the powder until evenly combined. The factory has a dedicated mixer that eliminates manual labor and is clean and hygienic."

The huge commercial food material mixer roared beside his ears, and the professor had to increase the volume. "After mixing evenly, put the powder into the mold and steam it again at 105 degrees Celsius for 35 minutes--"

"After taking it out of the oven, let it cool down, and finally add the most critical amount of complex vitamins, compact it into shape, and then package it." At the end of the factory workshop, the professor picked up an oil-paper package wrapped by a worker from the cargo box, opened it, and distributed it to everyone present to taste.

"This is the finished product: a milk substitute cake. It can temporarily replace breast milk for infants over two months old, can be part of the main meal for children over six months old, and can also be used as a nutritional supplement for adults."

"Is it delicious?" "Let me try it too." "Let's not eat too much, this is produced for the victims..."

Aside from Professor Zhou Qiyuan from Union Medical College, all present were young university students from Henan University, Northwest Associated University, and Zhejiang University. While not as orthodox as the students from Southwest Associated University, they were still considered "the chosen ones" at this time, possessing the youthful energy, curiosity, and impetuousness typical of youth.

In particular, most of them are college students majoring in mechanical and electrical engineering, medicine and food science, and they are considered "rare animals" in China at that time.

But even if they have made full mental preparation, some people still frowned after taking a bite: this milk substitute cake is almost not sweet, and under the slightly mellow taste, it is a highly water-absorbent compacted powder. Even if you eat a little bit, it will instantly absorb the moisture in your mouth, making people frown and find it difficult to swallow.

"This is much worse than the American milk powder sold in Shanghai..."

Someone said something without thinking, then quickly fell silent under the glares of everyone else, shrinking back and apologizing as he shrank, "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I really didn't mean it..."

Professor Zhou Qiyuan did not blame the student, but only said that this kind of packaged rice cake needs to be mixed with boiling water into a paste before it can be fed to babies. It would be particularly difficult to swallow if eaten directly dry.

Next, he briefly analyzed the nutritional components of this milk substitute cake, pointed out the problem that the vitamin A and vitamin C in it almost entirely rely on expensive "multivitamin additives" to supplement, and assigned the task of reducing costs, improving formulas, and improving processes while ensuring nutrition to the college students as homework.

After the students dispersed and went to the cafeteria of the milk cake factory for group discussions, Zhou Qiyuan finally breathed a sigh of relief. He turned and walked towards a man standing at the end of the assembly line, also wearing work clothes, a mask, and a dust cap, and said respectfully:

"President Hou, I'm sorry to have embarrassed you with my student."

"That's nothing. You might not have realized it in America, but in China right now, those who can go to university, especially medical students, are likely from relatively well-off families and haven't experienced hardship, which is quite normal."

Hou Xiangchuan, founder of the Chinese Physiological Society, former professor of Peking Union Medical College and famous nutritionist, glanced at the record board in his hand and answered calmly that the students of Peking Union Medical College had previously studied in Peking. Although their lives were turbulent, they were able to eat and dress warmly. It was difficult for them to have a personal experience of the current famine. The students of Zhejiang University and Northwest United University were better off, as they had indeed gone hungry.

"I had only read about the disaster in the newspapers until a Communist Party comrade took me to Nanyang for a tour." Professor Hou looked up at the food and fuel being loaded and unloaded outside the factory. He wanted to say more, but in the end, he settled on a flat statement: "It's hell on earth."

"The Communist Party doctors and cadres over there have tried almost every possible solution—grinding 90% of wild vegetables, mushrooms, and acorns into flour, mixing 10% with flour and cornmeal to make a porridge, growing pumpkins locally, and cooking porridge... They even had to worry about fuel for the disaster victims. There wasn't a single tree in the entire area, and the coal for our fires had to be brought in from behind...

"It seems as if the whole world has forgotten us, the whole country has forgotten us, and only I and my comrades in the Communist Party are fighting bravely." Hou Xiangchuan paused.

Finally, he continued, "After the successful development of this milk substitute cake, at least

It can reduce infant mortality. ".....In short, I would rather these children never have the opportunity to experience this knowledge in their lifetime."

"Disasters are getting worse, national affairs are getting worse, and millions of people have sacrificed their homes for the country, but ended up like this..." Zhou Qiyuan was silent for a long time and could only sigh, "We are hiding in the safety of the rear, with no worries about food and clothing. If we don't make more contributions, we will be sorry for the millions of people.

"Now that I'm here, I won't leave—I should at least play my part in overcoming the malnutrition that plagues the Chinese people."

Extra preserved fruit as disaster relief food

In the original time and space, the government agencies produced relief food during the famine in Henan Province:

1. Soybean and Sesame Pills: Based on an ancient recipe, soybeans and sesame seeds are steamed and sun-dried three times to form dried pills. It's claimed that one serving can sustain seven days (it needs to be supplemented with Zhima tea). 2. Red Date, Persimmon, Chestnut, and Soybean Cake: Based on an ancient recipe, red dates, persimmons, chestnuts, and soybeans are mixed into a paste. It's claimed that one ounce of this paste can sustain a day. 3. Soybean and Sesame Flour: Based on an ancient recipe, soybeans and sesame seeds are mixed in a ratio of 7:3, stir-fried until crispy, and ground into a flour. One ounce of this paste is claimed to last a day, supplemented with willow leaf tea.

4. Beef, Bean, Date, and Sesame Balls: Take 15g of beef and 4g of black beans. Steam the beef and black beans three times and dry them in the sun. Then, take 4g of sesame seeds and 3 red dates, soak and peel them. Soak 100 peanuts or walnuts, peel them. Add 2 parts honey and make meatballs weighing 3 qian. Eat one ball three times a day. Marinate with 1 part coarse salt for preservation.

Whether it is reasonable or not, effective or not, it is a bit of a headache for the author; but historically, even a small amount of this thing can save lives - which makes people feel even more uncomfortable.

The source material is from the dissertation "A Study of the Famine in Henan Province in 1942-1943." Although it's a master's thesis, the original text does provide a source. The relief grain in this section comes from the "General Report on Disaster Relief Work of the Henan Provincial Government," compiled by the Henan Provincial Government at the time, pages 6-67. The production and distribution of this relief food was attributed to "local self-help."

It's definitely better than having nothing (expletive).

Chapter 678: To Live (3) I Can’t Bear It Anymore

The scene of thousands of miles of barren land was already extremely tragic, but June 1942 was far from the end of the disaster in Henan Province.

In the original time and space, after the summer grain harvest was almost complete, because Henan Province had a few small rains, many people still held on to the idea that "they could survive as long as the autumn grain could be harvested". They relied on the last bit of stored grain and grass roots, leaves, wild vegetables, etc. to survive, hoping that they could harvest grain, redeem their land, pay off their debts, and fill their stomachs.

But the rain did not continue, the drought returned, and the autumn crops in Henan Province continued to fail - and two consecutive seasons of poor harvests were enough to destroy the lives of most families.

However, this was not fatal enough - in this situation, the farmers could sell their land, sell their children, and flee from famine to survive. Rich farmers and small landlords with a little financial resources could also sell their property to buy food and cook porridge to make a living, so as to avoid such a terrible famine.

Unfortunately, in August 1942, the Nationalist government issued a grain requisition order.

First, it was kindly reduced to 380 million dan (1 dan is 60 kilograms), then further reduced to 250 million dan, but then increased to 250 million large bags (1 large bag is approximately equal to 1.43 dan, about 85 kilograms). And this did not include various transportation fees, transshipment fees, provincial grain, education funds, and other miscellaneous taxes. Oh, no, when the order was issued to the provincial government, Henan Province had already exceeded the grain collection quota by 30 dan (about 2.8 tons). Congratulations! Congratulations!

Moreover, the people still have "remaining strength"!

Please note that in October 1943, Li Peiji went to investigate and said, "The wheat seedlings are lush and abundant, so it will rain. It was God who blew a yellow wind that dried up the wheat seedlings overnight." He also requested that the number of "about 50,000 people who starved to death" reported by Xuchang County be too high and need to be "re-reported."

You see, Zhang Ji, a member of the Central Supervisory Committee of the Communist Party of China, and Zhang Lisheng, secretary-general of the assessment committee, also said that these disaster reports were "faked by the local authorities for us to see", "the situation in various places is still good, the cultivated land has increased a lot, the thunderstorms are timely, and a good harvest next summer can be predicted", and declared that "military rations cannot be reduced".

You see, even American journalist Theodore White, who reported the disaster truthfully, enjoyed a feast at a reception in Zheng County in March 1943. He enjoyed lotus seed soup, spicy pepper chicken, beef stewed with chestnuts, fried spring rolls, hot steamed buns, rice, tofu, fish, and more. In addition, there were two soups and three sugar-dusted pies, making up a hearty feast!

In this time and space, in June of 42, when the natural disasters had not yet reached their peak, the "man-made disasters" seemed to be even worse.

Compared to the original time and space, in this altered historical trajectory, Henan Province experienced the devastation of the Southern Henan Campaign in advance. After this battle, Zhengxian, Xuchang, and Luohe, previously occupied by the preserved fruit, were occupied by the Japanese and puppet troops. Tang Keqin's most productive grain-producing areas in Henan Province were also controlled by the Japanese, along with the vast amounts of grain and property he had plundered through his "fortified defenses and clearing the fields" campaign.

Although this kept "Tang 7" in the "Flood, Drought and Locust Soup" away from Henan Province, it did not bring much good news to Henan Province. With the defeated "chief culprit" Tang Keqin being transferred to the mountain city of "Ling to listen to the president's teachings", the remaining troops of the First War Zone were reorganized under the command of the deputy commander-in-chief of the Fifth War Zone, and nominally came under the unified command of Li Zongren. The National Army finally completed the reorganization of its organization in eastern Henan Province - but the reorganized troops needed soldiers, and the deputy commander-in-chief of the Fifth War Zone, who had lost the grain-producing area in central Henan, was eager to obtain food to expand the size of his troops.

However, the various provinces and war zones in the Kuomintang-controlled areas were already deeply at odds with each other and were unwilling to provide support. Furthermore, the once grain-rich Guanzhong Plain was largely controlled by the Eighth Route Army. The newly appointed Song Xilian then continued to extend his hand to the remaining Kuomintang-controlled areas in Henan Province.

At the same time, inspired by the Eighth Route Army's record of annihilating more than ten divisions in a row during the counterattack in Shanxi Province, the Nationalist Army in Shancheng began to strengthen the so-called "Qinling Defense Line" and planned to launch a "counterattack campaign" against Japan to "set the record straight and return to orthodoxy." As a result, the grain collection standards in Henan Province, which had been slightly reduced in history, were almost maintained at the original standards under Chiang's orders. Shancheng Guofu even ordered the Fifth War Zone to seize the opportunity to "recruit the elite and strong men and recruit them into the army."

Japanese troops occupying part of the Pinghan Line, struggling to secure food supplies in North China, began reaching out to Henan Province, a Japanese-occupied area where the Eighth Route Army was relatively scarce. While using puppet troops to plunder food supplies, they also personally engaged in trafficking Henan's labor force through deception, coercion, and even "collaboration" with bandits in the Kuomintang-controlled areas. This labor was then used to fill the farms, factories, and mines they organized in North China, Northeast China, Korea, and mainland China, fueling Japan's invasion.

As for the Eighth Route Army, although it organized rescue operations in eastern Henan, southern Henan (the 5th Division of the New Fourth Army) and Guanzhong areas, eastern Henan was, after all, the Yellow River flood area, and fewer victims fled there; the environment in southern Henan was better, and there were not many victims; western Henan, where the most victims were, was separated from the liberated areas by the National Army troops along the Luoyi-Fangcheng-Nanyang-Laohekou branch, making it impossible to carry out direct disaster relief.

Even the relief teams and envoys sent by our army to the Kuomintang-controlled areas were deliberately harassed and obstructed by the Kuomintang. The working group sent to the Nanyang area to carry out united front work, persuade Song Xilian's troops to prioritize human lives, and coordinate the evacuation of refugees met with this busy man, but was repeatedly evaded and blocked on key issues.

After Song Xilian met with the Eighth Route Army in Nanyang, where the 36th Division was stationed, he loudly announced in the newspaper that he would actively mobilize his troops to participate in disaster relief and allocate military rations to feed the victims. However, in reality, the military leaders and soldiers of other factions under Song, such as the Zhensong Army and the Tang faction, did not change at all, and everything remained the same.

The working group can only conduct investigations locally and take photos before sending them back.

They reported: "Along the Ohai Railway, disaster victims climbed onto trains hoping to escape the famine westward. However, due to disorganization and lack of supervision, many victims fell, were killed, or were hit by vehicles. Those who did not board the trains continued westward in the traffic trenches along the railway. Numerous Kuomintang checkpoints and roadblocks along the route obstructed the refugee groups. In addition to extortion, they also captured young, healthy, and able-bodied men and conscripted them into the army, resulting in the destruction of many families and the loss of many lives..."

"How can this be justified? Is this even fair?"

Zhang Boying, a former Shaanxi Army general, veteran Tongmenghui member, and Northern Expedition general, grabbed the glass and was about to throw it down. Seeing it was made of glass, he controlled his temper and placed it back on the table. In front of him was Luo Qing, director of the Gaojing Social Affairs Department's Xi'an office.

Just now, Luo Qing briefly briefed Zhang Boying on the attitude of the National Army towards disaster relief after he "went to the meeting alone".

A few days ago, at the invitation of the Eighth Route Army, Zhang Boying went to Luoyi to meet with Song Xilian. In his capacity as the acting chairman of the Military Senate, he lobbied the other party to open the passage to allow the victims to enter Guanzhong to facilitate the Eighth Route Army's disaster relief. In his capacity as the former acting chairman of the Henan Provincial Government of the Kuomintang and the president of the Shaanxi and Henan Provincial Association, he asked the other party to restrain the troops and give the folks a way out.

Although he is not completely selfless, he is indeed doing disaster relief.

As a result, although the National Army shouted slogans loudly, the behavior of the subordinates remained the same. Song Xilian even moved his headquarters south to the Nanyang area.

Hiding in the protection of the 36th Division of the direct line - he and the recruiting of the Guangxi troops in the Fifth War Zone

The organization reached an "agreement" of "able-bodied men in exchange for food" and openly began to kidnap people for business, acting like human traffickers.

"I haven't even mentioned reducing or exempting military rations yet... The army of this country is actually engaging in human trafficking. How shameless!"

"Mr. Zhang, you must have seen the inhumane things that happened in the Fifth War Zone along the line from Luoyi to Taolinsai." Luo Qing pushed a newspaper forward.

The Ta Kung Pao published an investigative reporter's report: "At this moment, in Henan

What happened in the province was not just a natural disaster, but a man-made disaster!"

"Man-made disaster...man-made disaster, ah!"

Zhang Boying sighed. He had been a warlord himself. Although he no longer had an army under his command, he clearly knew what a typical warlord's army would do in such a situation. "You have done the utmost to help with disaster relief, putting aside past grudges. However, although I am now the Acting Chairman of the Military Senate, it is a nominal position with no real power."

...How can we do anything under such circumstances?"

"Under the current circumstances, if we continue to rely solely on goodwill and public support, it will be difficult to save Henan Province from disaster. Mr. Zhang, for the sake of the people of Henan Province, we must take decisive measures!"

Chapter 679 Special Rescue Operation

As a qualified political party and a modern government, the long-term experience of the Communist Party of China and the Eighth Route Army has shown that when it comes to making decisions involving many issues, one must always seek truth from facts, conduct investigations and analyses, and make prudent decisions. Although this may sound a bit inhumane, a mature political entity is the last one to be influenced by emotions and impulses in its decision-making.

However, once a plan passed collective decision-making and became a final decision, it was necessary to abandon the cautious and cautious mentality and implement it without hesitation. Therefore, before deciding to "take it to the limit", the Eighth Route Army still conducted careful and thorough consideration.

The more you think about it, the more determined you become.

Henan Province currently presented a situation where the Japanese invaders occupied the center and the Nationalist army occupied the west. Several troops from the Fifth War Zone occupied the Luoyi-Fangcheng-Nanyang-Laohekou line, blocking our army's relief efforts from Guanzhong from south to north. Our base areas in Hebei, Shandong, and Shandong Province were separated from central Henan by the Yellow River floodplain, hindering movement. Therefore, to truly provide assistance to Henan Province, the Eighth Route Army had to march out of Taolin Pass, pass through Shangyang, and reach Luoyi, establishing substantial relief operations at the destination where the victims were gathered.

This is also the requirement with the highest priority and the most urgent reality.

If we look at it from a purely military perspective of the subsequent liberation of North China and the entire country, controlling Luoyi as a starting point can also facilitate our army's eastward attack, open up the Longhai Line, recapture Zhengxian, strategically close the Yellow River, connect the various bases in East China, and seize the initiative in attacking the Japanese army in central China and transporting supplies to support other battlefields - in any case, it is much more valuable than if the National Army occupied it.

Later, as for diplomatic considerations, although they were not the primary consideration, through reports from journalists such as Theodore White and diplomatic information channels of embassies of various countries, Britain, the United States, and the Soviet Union all knew about the disaster in Henan Province and that the Eighth Route Army was working hard to provide disaster relief.

Within the Allied system, Britain generously offered the United States a helping hand at the Harrisburg Conference, bypassing preserved fruit and using relief supplies to invite the Eighth Route Army to send troops to Iran and participate in the BCATP program. The Soviet Union had established regular exchanges and meetings with the Eighth Route Army, providing them with raw materials while also receiving some high-tech equipment and logistical supplies. The United States, on the one hand, declared that relief supplies would not be included in the Lend-Lease Act, and on the other hand, designated the Shandong Province airport as one of its highest priorities in the war against Japan. After investigation, the Americans even believed that if the Longhai Railway could be controlled by the Eighth Route Army, Shandong Province's aviation operations would be effectively improved.

Or to put it bluntly, as long as these matters are not interfered with, what's the big deal if the Eighth Route Army makes a fuss in "some desolate corner of the Far East"?

Back home, the disaster in Henan Province had long been widely known. Reports in numerous newspapers and radio broadcasts, with the exception of the Central Daily News, had spread the story of "bones lying exposed in the wild, with no roosters crowing for miles." Many political forces and democratic figures had spontaneously organized rescue efforts, calling for ration reductions and the opening of warehouses for relief. Meanwhile, the Nationalist government, as usual, loudly declared, "The situation in Henan Province is not that bad," "Not collecting rations would be tantamount to surrendering to Japan," and "(collecting rations) is a necessary price to pay for the war of resistance and counterattack."

Of course, "traditional skills" such as corruption, violent robbery and robbery are still common and rarely appear in newspapers. Whether it is the people of Henan Province or any other people who still have a conscience, they all hope that someone will emerge who can truly uphold justice and save the people from danger.

Therefore, the only obstacle or "disadvantage" of this "special rescue operation" was Mr. Jiang's "face" - after all, Luoyi was once the secondary capital.

It is the core of Henan Province under the rule of the National Government. If it is like the capital of Shaanxi Province, it will be occupied by the Eight

The road is occupied, and I feel completely humiliated.

But can his face be worth the lives of the people of Henan Province?

Once the order was issued, the three armies moved. After the Central Military Commission voted and approved the resolution to launch the armed disaster relief operation in Henan Province, the intelligence, external relations, and propaganda systems, as well as the Eighth Route Army in Guanzhong and southern Shanxi, quickly took action.

The first to be mobilized was the now highly effective external propaganda system. The Jiuwang Daily, Xinhua Daily, and Jiefang Daily, published in both the Kuomintang-controlled and liberated areas, took the lead in coordinating with the "R Shi Zhi Sheng" radio station to publish an appeal signed by Zhang Huhe's fellow townsmen association in Shaanxi and Henan Provinces. The letter, written in earnest, called on the people of the country to pay attention to the natural and man-made disasters in Henan Province, exposed the atrocities of the Kuomintang troops in Henan, such as extortion and disregard for human life, and called on the central government to quickly restrain the troops and effectively carry out disaster relief.

Many democratic parties, such as the China Democratic League, also voiced their support, hoping that Guosu would correct its mistakes as soon as possible and save the victims.

Even General Yang, who once had deep conflicts with the Henan Provincial Army, stood up and spoke out, urging everyone to put the overall situation and their lives first. In the face of the disaster, he said that regardless of whether they were from Shaanxi or Henan, they were all Chinese people and should put aside their differences and work together to save lives.

At the same time, a letter penned by Zhang Cobalt, General Zhu, and the Premier was sent to Song Xilian, a Nationalist general in eastern Henan. This letter, delivered in an undeniable tone, offered a "final exhortation" to prioritize people's lives and disaster relief. Of course, this propaganda campaign failed to compel Guofu to repent and mend its ways. The central government-affiliated media outlets, represented by the Central Daily News and the Saodang Newspaper, simply regurgitated the message that "Henan Province is completely fine," denouncing the Ta Kung Pao and Zhang Cobalt as collaborators and bandits, accusing them of reporting on the situation in Henan and "shamefully alleging soldier atrocities." They also demanded that grain reductions undermine the war effort, blackmail the national government, and commit unforgivable crimes, showing no remorse.

At this moment, the last bit of good fantasy in everyone's heart was finally extinguished by Guo Si himself. Anyone who was willing to open their eyes could see clearly the face of the Kuomintang-controlled government that ignored the people in the disaster area.

Afterwards, following the central government’s telegram that said “this is intolerable and what is not,” the Eighth Route Army, which had already completed mobilization and preparation, quickly took action.

Three field divisions, reorganized from the National Revolutionary Army's 38th and 96th Armies (which defected to the Eighth Route Army after the Battle of Zhongtiao Mountain), began forcing a crossing of the Yellow River at Fenglingdu, Pinglu, and Yuanqu. The Nationalist troops, long degenerated into security forces due to trade, smuggling, and drug trafficking, were completely unable to resist the Eighth Route Army, which was laying field pontoon bridges and rushing ashore in motor transport boats. Even when our troops conducted test fire on the riverside, they abandoned their positions, shouting "The Japanese are attacking!" and "The Reds are sending their troops!" and fled in all directions, ceding their river defenses to the Eighth Route Army.

There were also troops like Li Jiayu's Sichuan Army, which had been in close communication with the Eighth Route Army for a long time, and they retreated as a whole to make way.

At the same time, our troops in Guanzhong also shifted from disaster relief to combat mode, beginning their eastward advance from Dali and Huayin. Faced with cries from our accompanying armored vehicles, "Either clear the road and allow us to relieve the disaster, or be bombarded and filled with ammunition," the former Nationalist troops of the First War Zone, who were confronting our troops at Taolin Pass, decisively laid down their weapons and surrendered, quickly completing the handover of defense with the Eighth Route Army.

Nonsense! They had seen how the Eighth Route Army violently bombarded the "indestructible" Haojing City in 40. Seeing that the Eighth Route Army had no intention of fighting, they gave the steps down.

They don't want the "Eight O'Clock Cannon" shells to fall on their heads!

Immediately, having completed the river crossing and the breakout, the Eighth Route Army quickly changed direction and, with astonishing speed, completed the encirclement of Xin'an, Longmen, and Yinchuan. Along the way, the Nationalist troops almost invariably fled at the sight of our army's flags or artillery test firings. However, these Nationalist troops were unable to escape and were often quickly caught up by our troops, whose weapons were confiscated and placed under guard.

The few exchanges of fire that occurred primarily occurred as our troops approached Yichuan County. For example, a company-sized unit of the Zhensong Army, taking advantage of the chaos to loot, encountered our advance reconnaissance platoon. Instead of relenting, they attempted to charge our lines and opened fire. After repeated warnings failed, the accompanying reconnaissance platoon's two vehicle-mounted 107mm recoilless rifles fired white phosphorus smoke incendiary bombs at the unit to force them to disperse. These two "smoke bombs" caused the company to collapse, and all its members were ultimately captured.

In less than a week, before the entire preserved fruit system could react, our army controlled the entire Luoyi-Tongguan line, except for Luoyi City itself. With the Eighth Route Army's railway and infrastructure corps taking over the Luoyi section of the Longhai Line, the entire route for the disaster victims in Henan Province to evacuate westward was completely opened!

Our army also issued an ultimatum to the Central Army in Luoyi City: In the face of this disaster, your troops must either leave the city in full force, collect rations, and retreat south, or wait for us to repeat the siege of Haojing in 29!

Comment!

"Damn it!"

In the tranquil and elegant Huangshan official residence, Chiang Kai-shek smashed another large vase in the corner with his cane, frightening the attendant before him. "This Li Xingcun is incompetent and shameless. He deserves to be killed!"

The stinging pain from the cane's powerful blows pierced his heart, and his hands trembled uncontrollably. "They actually opened the city to the Communist bandits like that, and talked about a peaceful handover and joint disaster relief. Changing the city defenses and administration requires the joint approval of the Executive Yuan and the Military Affairs Office of the Nationalist Government! Li Xingcun actually gave Luoyi to the Communist bandits like that. Where does that leave the dignified Party-State Central Government?! He deserves death!"

"I read in today's newspapers that the Red Bandits are ransacking homes and exterminating families in Luoyi. They're setting up a public trial! Even a respectable gentry official had his family treasury smashed open by the Red Bandits, giving grain to the mob! They're aiding and abetting the evil, colluding with the wicked! They deserve to die!" Chiang Kai-shek threw away his crutches and paced around the room with his hands behind his back. "Isn't he a corrupt official himself? I don't believe he has nothing to lose with all this money and grain!"

Offering a pledge of allegiance, thinking it could save one's life, but then they would all be caught and taken away by Zhu Jiande.

Shit!"

"Humph!"

After lashing out at Li Xingcun, the Administrative Inspector and Security Commander of the Tenth District (Luoyi) of Henan Province, Chang collapsed into a chair, gasping for breath before finally calming down. The incident had already occurred, and he diligently began to think about his next move.

"How many Communist troops are coming this time?" he asked.

"President, there are reportedly three divisions," the attendant said, having done his homework beforehand, quickly relaying the information gathered by the intelligence system. "They've all crossed over from the other side of the Yellow River."

The First Division of the Red Bandits has only ten thousand men, and the Fifth War Zone has the 71st Army stationed in Nanyang and Fangcheng... You! Go get He Yaozu and that newcomer Xiong Huiquan! I need to arrange military operations—no, wait! Have the telecommunications room contact Hu Qinzhai first and have the Hanzhong defense line put on combat readiness!"

A Communist "division" is essentially equivalent to a Japanese "regiment." This is an unspoken rule that has been established within the Nationalist Army since the 1940s. Although the intelligence held by the Military Affairs Office is not comprehensive, the mere exposure of the three Eighth Route Army divisions has completely rendered the Nationalist Army unable to deal with them. On the front lines, the Nationalist Army would have to use three army groups to counter the three Japanese divisions!