Songhu: Never Give Up

Luxi, guerrilla detachment headquarters
The vigorous anti-bandit campaign in western Shandong came to an end. Deputy Branch Chief Zhao Tianci said with a beaming smile:
"Old Wang, Ai Jian has already compiled the results of the battle. During the one-month bandit suppression campaign, the various units fought hundreds of battles, large and small, and wiped out dozens of bandit armed forces, basically wiping out the bandits and horse thieves that had plagued western Shandong for hundreds of years.
More than 5 bandits of all kinds were killed or wounded, and more than 2 were captured. The remnants all fled to central Shandong, eastern Shandong, and eastern Hebei, thus achieving the strategic goal of eliminating bandits in western Shandong.

We seized more than ten artillery pieces of various types, more than 2 long and short guns, floating wealth worth millions of silver dollars, and a large amount of food and supplies. These bandits are really rich!"

Wang Jianfei was also very excited after listening to it, and said with a smile:

"These bandits have been causing trouble in western Shandong for hundreds of years, so they must be very wealthy. Instead of letting them grow hair in caves, why not use them to fight the Japanese?
Captured bandits must be strictly examined, and those whose hands are stained with the blood of the people must be executed on the spot, with public trials held, allowing fellow villagers to expose their crimes;

The rest will be given more education, and after that they will all be incorporated into the army and made to fight the Japanese to atone for their sins."

Zhao Tianci immediately agreed:
"I think it's okay. It's a bargain for these bastards. When the country is in crisis, they should be allowed to fight the devils.
Many of these bandits are good at fighting on the edge of a knife. With just a little training, they can go to the battlefield and are much more useful than rookies who have never seen blood."

Wang Jianfei thought for a moment and said:

"This is simple. Lao Yue once said that in order to reduce the pressure on the base, a three-level armed system of main force, garrison force, and militia can be implemented;
The main force is only responsible for fighting, while the garrison troops are not only responsible for local defense, but also for land reclamation and self-support.

The militia produces in peacetime and assists the garrison troops in protecting local people during wartime. If needed, the garrison troops and militia can provide reinforcements to the main force."

Zhao Tianci immediately praised:
"This is a good idea. I don't know what's wrong with my eldest brother's brain, but he can think of everything.

How big do you plan to limit the size of the main force?"

Wang Jianfei already had a plan in mind, and when Zhao Tianci asked, he said directly:
“I decided to expand each battalion to more than 1 men, with three infantry companies and one artillery company;
The platoon level was expanded to 6 squads, each squad still had 13 people, so each platoon increased to 80 people, and each company plus the 20-person company headquarters increased to 260 people;
The battalion consisted of 3 infantry companies and 1 machine gun company of 160 people. Together with the battalion headquarters, the total number of people was about 1100. It was equipped with 3 infantry guns, 3 mortars, and 6 flying thunder guns, matching an infantry battalion of the Japanese.
The battalion has three infantry battalions of 3 men each and an artillery battalion of 1100 men, plus the battalion headquarters, for a total of about 600 men;
The detachment has three infantry battalions and a direct artillery battalion, a baggage battalion, a reconnaissance battalion, a teaching battalion, a medical team, a guard company and other units, which are the main forces.

Each county has a garrison battalion of 500 people; each city has a garrison battalion of 1500 people; each town has a garrison company of 150 people, and each village has a militia platoon or company of varying numbers.

Zhao Tianci thought about it in his mind and said:
"With this calculation, there is still a big gap in equipment."

Wang Jianfei waved his hand and said:

"If there is a gap in equipment, we'll think of a solution first. We'd rather have people wait for equipment than have equipment wait for people!"

Changling Town, Heze, Southwest Shandong
Captain Yue Wanli once again came to Shitang Village, a pilot village, to focus on inspecting the militia training.

The Shitang Village militia company was established first and had the largest number of personnel. After a period of training, it gradually took on the appearance of a military unit.

The one who greeted him was the 1st Company Commander Cheng Han, who was also the Shitang Village Militia Company Commander. After the two greeted each other, Cheng Han introduced the militia training situation to Yue Wanli, who nodded repeatedly:
"According to the unified arrangement of the detachment, Heze will form a garrison battalion, and Caoxian will form a garrison brigade. We were given 300 prisoners, all of which were the results of the bandit suppression;
The other two hundred people will be drawn from the militia companies of each village. As long as they have strong ideological qualities, you can recommend some to me when the time comes.

As long as you are selected as a militiaman of the garrison brigade, you will be considered to have joined the team, and you will have the opportunity to join the main force in the future. This must be voluntary and cannot be forced. "

Cheng Han took over and said:
"Captain, don't worry about this. The militiamen are very enthusiastic about joining the army. As long as the troops need them, there is no need to mobilize them. Thirty or fifty people will be no problem."

Yue Wanli nodded and said:
"Has the Wang family caused any trouble recently?"

When Cheng Han saw Yue Wanli asking about serious matters, he put away his smile and said:

"Since the Zhao family incident, these wealthy families have become much more honest, especially Wang Jiazhi, who is very cunning;
Seeing that the militia had a shortage of training equipment, he took the initiative to donate 20 rifles and 3 rounds of ammunition, and occasionally sent a few pigs as a reward for the troops.

By the way, his daughter Wang Wenhuan asked to join the militia to fight the Japanese several times, but I refused. I heard that she used to study medicine. Considering the agreement between us and the Wang family, I did not accept her. "

When Yue Wanli heard that he was studying medicine, he immediately became interested. This was the talent the guerrilla detachment needed most. He planned to visit Wang's family when he had time, so he said:
“Old Cheng, the Wang family is different from the Zhao family. They can be the object of our unity. Our democratic government also needs to absorb gentry like the Wang family to join;
The three-three system means that our people account for 40%, the common people account for 30%, and the enlightened gentry also account for 30%. This is the general direction for establishing an anti-Japanese government. "

Cheng Han would implement every new word that Yue Wanli came up with without any compromise. As long as he held on to Yue Laosan's support, his future in the guerrilla column would be limitless.

The two entered the village while talking. When they entered the village, they were checked and questioned by the militia. Even the sentry stood out and saluted him.

Cheng Han knew that something bad was going to happen, and sure enough, Yue Lao San stopped smiling. Cheng Han took the initiative to admit his mistake, and Yue Wanli said coldly:
"Remember, the sentry must not be exposed no matter who comes. The position of the sentry must be constantly changed, and it must be placed outside the village entrance. If you find the enemy, you can directly open fire to warn them. This is wartime, and you must not be careless!"

Cheng Han quickly said that the rectification would be made immediately. Then he inspected the militia training on the spot and visited the Women's Rescue Association. Only then did his expression look better.

He personally supervised the militia training in Shitang Village. Cheng Han led a group of soldiers there for more than a month, and the overall effect was quite good.

Shitang Village is a large village, so there are more than 200 militiamen, equipped with a Czech light machine gun, more than 130 rifles, more than 50 bird guns, and more than 30 red tassel guns. Each militiaman using the red tassel gun was also issued a grenade, which can be regarded as a hot weapon.

Yue Wanli rarely came here, so naturally he wanted to mingle with the militia. At first they were very reserved, but gradually they relaxed;
Militiaman Tiedan said in a hoarse voice:
"Captain, we have been training for so long. When will the Japanese come? If they don't come, then all our training will be in vain."

Yue Wanli was not angry after hearing this, but said seriously:

"Brother Tiedan asked a good question. I can't tell when the Japanese will come. It's best if they never come!
But this is a daydream. The reason why the devils haven't come yet is because their main force is still fighting in the south;
Once the outcome of the battle in Wuhan is decided, the large number of troops previously transferred from the north will return, and they will have to steal our food and drink.

Can we rob them?"

After hearing this, everyone's faces changed drastically, and they all answered:
"cannot!"

"If anyone tries to steal our food, we will fight them to death."

"That's right, the guns in our hands are not fire sticks!"

Yue Wanli was very satisfied with the militia's answer and raised his voice and said:

"This year's autumn grain is about to mature. This is the first autumn harvest since the rent and interest reduction campaign was launched. Once everyone has grain, the Japanese will definitely be thinking about it.
So we have to take up arms and fight the devils. If they want to harm us, they will have to pay with their lives!

The devils are a group of vicious wolves. When the vicious wolves come, they will be greeted by hunting rifles. Only by killing all the devils can we live a peaceful life. "

Cheng Han immediately took the lead and shouted:
"Down with the devils!"

"Fight to the end!"

"Kill all the devils..."

The slogans were heard one after another, and the news of such a big movement soon reached the Wang family. The housekeeper Wang Zhongxin lowered his head and said to Wang Jiazhi:
"Master, Commander Yue is here."

Wang Jiazhi nodded thoughtfully and said:
"At first I thought the guerrilla detachment was just a small-scale operation, but now it seems that Wang Jianfei has a lot of ambitions;

The entire Luxi region became their territory, and they wiped out all the bandits and strongmen in Luxi, killing many people. "

Wang Zhongxin followed up on his words and said:
"Master, the Japanese spent a lot of effort to conquer the territory, and they will not give it up to others easily. Once they have time, a fierce battle between the two sides is inevitable. We have to plan ahead to avoid being too passive after the change of the Queen."

Wang Jiazhi nodded and said:
“In times of turmoil, it is inevitable that the flags on the city walls will change, but my royal family will never get involved with foreign races.
Just like the Zhao family, even after being destroyed they still had to bear the label of traitors, a label that could never be washed away from generation to generation.

Now the whole north has become the world of the Orientals, and in the vastness of China there is only this piece of quiet land in Shuzhong;

I am planning to let my second son go to Chongqing, but I am worried about him going, so I have to trouble you to go.
If Shuzhong can no longer be saved, you can go to the West, to the United States. As long as the second brother is there, the Wang family will be there."

Wang Zhongxin immediately understood what Wang Jiazhi meant, bowed deeply and said:
"Master, if that's the case, why don't we go together?

Let's all go to the West and take care of each other. It won't be too late to come back when the world is at peace."

Wang Jiazhi said with a deep gaze:
"The Wang family's roots and ancestral graves are in Shitang Village. Even if I die, my old bones will be buried here."

Wang Zhongxin knew that Wang Jiazhi had made up his mind, so he stopped talking and asked directly:

"Master, when are we leaving? Should we take the fourth young master and the young ladies with us?"

Wang Jiazhi shook his head and said:
"You should leave immediately. This land belongs to my Wang family. Our ancestors are all here. If it is really destroyed, there must be a few descendants to guard the ancestral hall."

Wang Zhongxin turned and left, but returned a short while later and reported in a low voice:

"Master, Commander Yue is here to visit you." (End of this chapter)