Songhu: Never Give Up

When Yue Wanli visited the Wang family for the second time, he was treated completely differently from the first time. Wang Jiazhi and his family came out to greet him in person, including the eldest daughter, Wang Wenyuan, who gave him enough face.

After exchanging a few polite words, the two sides sat down as host and guest. Yue Wanli glanced at Wang Wenyuan, who was standing beside Wang Jiazhi, and nodded slightly at her.

This scene was seen by the old fox-like Wang Jiazhi, who then started gossiping:

"I heard that Commander Yue graduated from the Central Army Officers School and was a student of the emperor. He has a bright future. I wonder where his hometown is? What does his family do for a living?"

Yue Wanli came to the Wang family with a mission. In order to get closer to each other, he simply explained the family situation, saying that the family had a few acres of land and that farming and studying were passed down from generation to generation.

The smile on Wang Jiazhi's face became even wider. Isn't this the same as the Wang family? They are of the same class, so the following words made them feel much closer.

Wang Jiazhi knew that Yue Wanli would not come to visit him for no reason, so he deliberately chatted with him about some family matters and then tried to find out about Yue Wanli's family background indirectly.
Except for hiding the matter about Yue Qianli, Yue Wanli told everything else truthfully and had no intention of being on guard against Wang Jiazhi.

If you want to gain someone's favor, you have to gain their trust first. After the two sides chatted for a while, at least on the surface, Wang Jiazhi was very happy about Yue Wanli's visit, and he introduced Wang Wenyuan to him at the right time;
Yue Wanli didn't know what he was up to. He had a lot of things to do and didn't have time to keep beating around the bush with the old fox, so he took the initiative to talk about the guerrilla detachment's plan to establish an anti-Japanese democratic government in Cao County, and then he got straight to the point:

"The composition of the democratic government will include 30% of enlightened gentry, who will have a certain say. All affairs within the government will be discussed by the tripartite committee, and the guerrilla detachment will not have a one-man show."

Wang Jiazhi was delighted after hearing this, thinking that this was an attempt to win over the Wang family. After realizing this, he did not show his joy on his face, but only praised this policy as a good one, saying that everything should be discussed together.

Wang Jiazhi showed his interest but did not respond. He was just waiting and watching because the Japanese were still hanging over his head.

He was on the fence about whether the guerrilla detachment could persist in western Shandong for a long time, fearing that the guerrilla detachment would run away once the Japanese came back, and then the local prominent families like them would be the ones to suffer.

Yue Wanli did not expect to reach a conclusion on the first try, as long as there was no clear rejection. He also understood the Wang family's caution, and they would not place a bet until they saw the true strength of the guerrilla detachment. He was not in a hurry now.
The matter was over, and the meaning was conveyed. Just as Yue Wanli was about to get up and leave, Wang Wenyuan anxiously shook Wang Jiazhi's arm. Wang Jiazhi could only laugh and said:
"Okay, I'll tell Commander Yue!"

Then he told Yue Wanli about his eldest daughter Wang Wenyuan's desire to join the guerrilla detachment, and then he put forward his own opinion:
"Commander Yue, Wen Yuan wants to do something for the war of resistance, and I can't stop her, but she is a girl after all, and it is not convenient for her to be with the militia all day long.

Besides, she studied medicine in the provincial capital, and she is weak and can't do much on the battlefield. Does your army have a suitable position for her?"

Yue Wanli thought for a moment and said:
"Our detachment has a special medical team responsible for treating the wounded evacuated from the front line. They stay with the detachment headquarters for a long time, so their safety can be guaranteed.
In addition, our brigade is also planning to set up its own clinic and is in need of a chief physician. If Miss Wang is willing, she can go there too."

After the two looked at each other, Wang Jiazhi said:
"I think I should go to Commander Yue's clinic and be the attending physician. I am a little worried about the unfamiliar place at the detachment headquarters.

I just have one request, can you keep Wen Yuan's matter low-key?"

Yue Wanli understood after hearing this. He was worried that the Japs would cause trouble for the Wang family after knowing this, so he nodded and said:
"If Miss Wang is willing, you can change your name and participate. We will keep everyone's files confidential, and not too many people will know about it."

Wang Wenyuan finally couldn't help but interrupt and said:
"Commander Yue, every citizen has a share of responsibility for the fate of a country. I, Wang Wenyuan, do not need to hide my identity when I participate in the fight against the Japanese. Since you have taken confidentiality measures, that is even better. After all, the Wang family is my home, and I do not want to bring trouble to them."

Yue Wanli expressed his deep understanding and immediately agreed to the Wang family's request. He also agreed that he would take Wang Wenyuan to the brigade headquarters when he left Shitang Village.

After Yue Wanli left, Wang Jiazhi said to Wang Wenyuan with a serious face:
"Wen Yuan, since you are determined to fight the Japanese, I will help you.

I think the man named Yue is also a reliable person, and his family background is comparable to my Wang family, which I have learned about;

This man was promoted from platoon leader to team leader within a year after graduation, and is in charge of the entire Cao County. He is considered young and promising, and has a bright future. He is still unmarried—"

Wang Wenyuan immediately protested:

"Dad, what are you talking about? I'm going to fight the Japanese, not to get married. Besides, I just met him today, so don't match me up with him!"

Wang Jiazhi remained unmoved and said:
"Girl, Daddy is doing this for your own good. It is a time of turmoil, and a young and beautiful woman like you can only survive by relying on a strong man.

Yue Wanli has thousands of elite soldiers and several thousand militias under his command. He happens to have some connections with my Wang family. I will only feel at ease if I get his protection."

Wang Wenyuan also felt her father’s love and care. She just called him “Dad” and said nothing more. Wang Jiazhi also did not continue talking. Children and grandchildren have their own blessings.

Looking at Wang Wenyuan's departing back, Wang Jiazhi said to himself:
"Girl, Dad has already paved the way for you. Good or bad luck is up to you. It all depends on your own luck in the future."

Wang Jiazhi seemed to have aged a lot. Wang Zhongxin appeared quietly behind him again and whispered:
"The young master seems to be a little uneasy, and he wants to go fight the Japanese. Should we take him to Chongqing as well?"

Wang Jiazhi waved his hand and said:

"When a son grows up, he is no longer under the control of his father. If he can't be raised, let him go wherever he wants." Wang Zhongxin didn't quite understand Wang Jiazhi's change of attitude, so he asked:
"Master, weren't you very opposed to young masters and young ladies interfering in the disputes of the world? Why?"

Wang Jiazhi sighed and said:

"The general trend of the world is that those who follow it will prosper while those who go against it will perish. Separation and reunion have their own destiny. If this is the case for a country, what about a family?

After all, the Japanese are foreigners. They are not of our race and their hearts must be different. It is common for families to be destroyed and clans to be exterminated under their rule.

The Zhao family’s incident woke me up. There would be no good end if I defected to the Japanese. So, I might as well just go with them.

In this chaotic world, everyone has their own choices. Those who survive are the continuation of the Wang family's bloodline. I will quietly watch them in Shitang Village and guard the foundation of my ancestors. "

Wang Zhongxin now understood completely. The Wang family did the same thing during the Five Barbarians Invasion of China. Some people stayed in the north, while others moved south and spread out, eventually preserving their bloodline in the chaotic times.

The Wang family is just an inconspicuous branch of the Wang family. They have been drifting to southwest Shandong for thousands of years and have experienced too many turbulent times.

Cutting off one's tail again and again to survive is also a kind of wisdom. On that day, Wang Zhongxin and Wang Wenhu left Shitang Village, taking away a large number of gold bars. It was said that Wang Wenhu's wife Liu was pregnant when she left.

A few days later, Wang Wenyuan followed Yue Wanli to Cao County and became a military doctor of the guerrilla detachment, while the fourth son Wang Wenyi went to Wuhan and joined the Central Army. He looked down on the small-scale guerrilla warfare.

At this point, Wang Jiazhi's four sons and one daughter all left home and pursued their own careers, leaving behind only two underage daughters;

A few days later, Wang Jiazhi sold half of the land to the guerrilla detachment at a low price, and sold most of the grain that had been stored for many years to Yue Wanli to support the guerrillas through the lean season. Even if they had no money, they still owed them.

No one could figure out the real intention of Wang Jiazhi's action, especially those gentry like him. They privately rumored that the guerrillas forced him to do it, and there were also rumors that Wang Jiazhi was old and confused;

After this series of operations, the Wang family was no longer one of the largest landlords in Cao County, and became indistinguishable from the crowd.

As a result, the Wang family's reputation in the village was greatly improved, the guerrilla detachment also vigorously promoted it, and Wang Jiazhi became a representative of enlightened gentry. The call for him to serve as the county magistrate of the Cao County Joint Government became louder and louder.
However, he publicly denied many times that he had any idea of ​​entering politics, and only wanted to work in the countryside and spend the rest of his life there. The Wang family would not get involved in the disputes in the world.

"Old fox! Since he is unwilling, let's find someone else."

Deputy Captain Deng Zhijie said very dissatisfiedly that compared with the mature Yue Wanli, Deng Zhijie, who graduated from the 7th Infantry Department of Whampoa Military Academy, was still a little lacking.

Yue Wanli saw through Wang Jiazhi's thoughts and said after a slight laugh:
"Didn't Liu Bei have to visit Zhuge Liang three times? No rush!
This old fox is still waiting and watching. He is worried that our makeshift team will not last long. After we have won a few victories on the battlefield, we will go back to visit him three times, and then everything will be done naturally. "

Deng Zhijie shook his head and said:

"Old Yue, I think you still have to fight this old fox. Our coalition government can still function without Wang Jiazhi."

Yue Wanli raised his voice and said:
"That's right, even without Zhang the butcher, we can still eat mixed-hair pigs. At worst, this seat can be left vacant for now.

You will concurrently serve as the captain of the Cao County garrison. Representatives of the fellow villagers should be recruited first to set up the framework and temporarily implement a more efficient military control.

The army and the land will be separated when conditions are ripe. The autumn harvest is coming soon. This is the first harvest season since the base area implemented the policy of reducing rent and interest.

The government must organize well and ensure that all grain is stored so that the villagers have enough food to live on after paying their rent.

Only when our fellow villagers can truly benefit from our work will they support us wholeheartedly.”

Deng Zhijie nodded in agreement, and then said worriedly:

"From the latest battle report, it seems that the outcome of the battle in Wuhan is about to be decided. Once the battle in Wuhan is over, the Japanese will turn their attention back to the rear. We don't have much time left!"

After listening to this, Yue Wanli said confidently:
"What are you afraid of? If an enemy comes, we will stop him with our soldiers. If a flood comes, we will block it with earth. As long as we have the support of millions of fellow countrymen, we will have the people and food. Even if we fight for ten or eight years, China will still be China!

The Japanese are a small country with limited output, and they have to transport food over thousands of miles. If they are not allowed to fight to support themselves, they will not be able to hold out for more than a few years.

Besides, our main force will also return. The northern area is more than a thousand miles away. As long as the guerrilla column takes root, it won’t be difficult to mobilize hundreds of thousands of soldiers! "

Deng Zhijie was a little dazed. He seemed to see the shadow of Lao Yue in Xiao Yue. (End of this chapter)