Songhu: Never Give Up

Chapter 136 Public Opinion War

Yue Qianli had to sigh that this world was too small. After going around in circles, he met another "familiar person". Zheng Pingru was relatively good. She was a member of the Blue Shirts Society, so it made sense that she was assigned by her old classmate Dai Yunong to the 527th Regiment to be responsible for liaison work.
The person sent by the Political Department to follow up on the report was Duan Yulin's sister Duan Yaqin. After not seeing her for several years, she had grown into a graceful professional woman. She smiled at Yue Qianli and said:
"Captain Yue, long time no see."

"Yaqin, why are you being so polite? Just call me Brother Yue. Your brother is fighting the Japanese in Hongkou. If he knew you were coming, he would definitely jump for joy."

Yue Qianli still has a good impression of Duan Yaqin. After experiencing the cruelty of war, he has been relieved and has completely integrated into this era. He is no longer averse to women.

"Brother Yue, you don't seem happy that I'm here. I was ordered to work in the 527th Regiment. I can't show my dissatisfaction on my face."

Yue Qianli immediately put on a smiling face and said:

"How could that be possible? Whether it's the Political Department, the Blue Shirts Society, or the CC, they are not people that a small regiment leader like me can afford to offend. I am here on behalf of the 527th Regiment to welcome you to work here."

Duan Yaqin still had some feelings for Yue Qianli. As a girl, she had her own pride. She was resentful about the letter Yue Qianli wrote to her before he went to West Point, and then there was no news from him. She blamed it all on her brother for matchmaking.

After graduating from university, she went to work in the Political Department and is now a reporter there. This time she came here to publicize the 527th Regiment's anti-Japanese war in the urban area.

The National Government retreated militarily to the south of Suzhou River and gave up the urban area of ​​SH. Many people could not accept this and thus suffered tremendous public pressure.

This time, they wanted to take advantage of the 527th Regiment's anti-Japanese war in the headquarters building to create momentum, harvest a wave of public opinion, and divert people's attention.

Lin E glanced at Yue Qianli warily. She seemed to have never had any contact with this Central Army Commander, but she was sensitive enough to notice that Yue Qianli looked at her in a special way, which made her suddenly alert.
Yue Qianli's expression quickly returned to normal, and Lin E reported to him very naturally that the Central Bureau of Investigation sent her here to serve as a liaison officer.

Yue Qianli didn't know whether Lin'e was a character in a movie or TV series, or if she really existed. Or maybe she just had the same name, but they looked almost exactly like each other.
Since he came here, he has met so many celebrities that he doesn't mind having her as one of them. He just doesn't know if Lin E will disappoint him in terms of secret messages. He is in need of such a secret message expert.

He decided to handle the matter impartially. The most dangerous of the three was Zheng Pingru, who must not be allowed to stay in the regiment.

Duan Yaqin is now a reporter in the Political Department. These people often have camps, either the Red Camp or the Blue Camp, or they may even be enemy spies. A few years is enough to change a person, so you have to be cautious before you understand the other party's position;

On the contrary, he was not so guarded against Lin E. In order to get a talent, one always has to take some risks.

So he arranged for the three people to send Zheng Pingru to the first battalion, and Duan Yaqin and Lin E to stay in the regiment headquarters, and then asked inquiringly:
"What else do you think about this arrangement?"

Zheng Pingru actually wanted to stay in the regiment headquarters, but it was difficult to refuse Yue Qianli's arrangement. Going deep into the front-line troops to fight was also one of the duties of the Blue Shirts Society action team members.

Instead, Duan Yaqin proposed to go to the front line to interview the troops, but Yue Qianli rejected her proposal domineeringly, and then said coldly:
"Since you are here at the 527th Regiment, you must obey orders and follow instructions. I don't care which department you come from. Anyone who doesn't follow instructions is not welcome at the 527th Regiment."

Seeing someone change his attitude as quickly as turning the pages of a book, Duan Yaqin pouted in grievance and wisely closed her mouth. Zheng Pingru patted her best friend on the shoulder to comfort her. Only Lin E's face was as calm as water.

“Secretary Lin, I see from your information that you studied radio communications, so you must be an expert in secret codes;

The secret coders in the regiment are all half-baked. You should instruct them on their business in the next two days and train them to be qualified secret coders. Is it difficult?" Lin E answered loudly:

"Guaranteed to complete the mission!"

Yue Qianli immediately put on a smiling face and said to Duan Yaqin:
"See? This is the awareness that a soldier should have. In the 527th Regiment, all actions must be carried out under command."

Duan Yaqin really wanted to say, "I am not your soldier," but when she saw that someone seemed to have changed his attitude and was about to call for help, she wisely shut her mouth.

Yue Qianli's smile widened, and he nodded at her with satisfaction.

"Yaqin, I have to make some rules with you. The 527th Regiment has a lot of military secrets, so I have to check every manuscript you send out--"

"Why? Journalists have the freedom to report news, but they must ensure authenticity. This is the soul of journalism, and I will not compromise on this."

Although Duan Yaqin looks weak on the surface, she becomes tough when it comes to her profession and will not give in on matters of principle.

Yue Qianli also said without question:
"No one asked you to tell a lie, but you can't tell what you shouldn't tell. If you leak the military secrets of the 527th Regiment to the devils, the soldiers will have to pay with their blood.

So some things can be reported and some things cannot be reported. This is military discipline. If you cannot abide by it, you can leave now."

Yue Qianli put away his smile again and glanced at Zheng Pingru intentionally or unintentionally. Zheng Pingru immediately stated that she would enforce the military discipline of the 527th Regiment and would never report anything that should not be reported, because she knew that the Blue Shirts Society did not have too many secrets from the Japanese.

Yue Qianli looked at Duan Yaqin indifferently, waiting for her attitude. If she insisted on her position, he would have to send her away and let the Political Department replace her with someone else.

"I'll show it to you, but you can't change my manuscript. If you cross out anything, I won't publish it."

Duan Yaqin finally compromised. She didn't want to be driven away. She knew Yue Qianli could do it.

Yue Qianli's face once again showed a friendly and easygoing smile. After solving the big trouble, his mood became better;
He welcomed the Political Department. Public opinion, if used well, can be very lethal. He needed the Political Department as his mouthpiece. He could speak out when appropriate, such as when the Tenth Army landed in Hangzhou Bay...

The stage has been set up, it's time to start the show. There are only a few days left before the 10th Army lands in Hangzhou Bay, it's time to disrupt the enemy's rhythm!

"Tian Yuanxi, send a telegram to the Second Battalion, the Third Battalion, and the Artillery Battalion, ordering them to complete the encirclement of the Seventh Regiment before dawn, launch the attack at 5 a.m., and resolve the battle before 8 a.m."

Duan Yaqin could hardly believe her ears. She had only been here for a day and already she had caught up with the main event. The encirclement and annihilation of the Seventh Regiment was definitely explosive news. She couldn't help but get excited to try it out.

(End of this chapter)