Spy Wars: Red Shopkeeper

Chapter 164 Instructions
The three of them sat on the sofa and talked.

"I came to the Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Anhui region this time for two reasons: first, to convey new instructions from the organization, and second, to meet you, this legendary comrade."

When the news about cotton yarn reached Yan'an, Old Chen came to ask me if I wanted cotton yarn from Shanghai.

I was shocked when I heard this. Who would dare to think of transporting cotton yarn from Shanghai all the way to Yan'an?

I thought he came to tell me how many comrades in Shanghai cared about Yan'an, but after our conversation, I realized he was just there to show off.

"Haha." Shen Linshen couldn't help but laugh. "I was almost driven crazy with worry at the time. It wasn't just that they wanted to transport the cotton yarn to Yan'an, but the key was that there were still thousands of bales. I was racking my brains trying to figure out what to do and what to do. It was so difficult."

"Let bygones be bygones."

Gu Yansheng was a little embarrassed by the teasing, but he still had to explain a bit about it. "Because we were people directly sent from Yan'an, our idea at the time was to bring good things to Yan'an. We were prepared to overcome any difficulties, even though we knew it would be difficult."

Gu Yansheng recounted the origins of their group's initial idea and their subsequent experience of realizing it was a misunderstanding after coordinating with others to understand the situation.

Mr. Wu listened attentively. In fact, he already knew the whole story, but that didn't stop him from wanting to hear it again.

Some things may seem stupid or unrealistic at first glance, but once you understand them, you'll realize that this heartfelt desire to make Yan'an your home is the most precious quality of a secret agent behind enemy lines.

"It's difficult to do now, but it might be in the future."

After Gu Yansheng finished speaking, Mr. Wu took over the conversation and talked about Gu Yansheng's idea of ​​building their own transportation lines by relying on the Military Intelligence Bureau network and the Military Police network.

"Transporting large items like cotton yarn may take a long time, but I think that with your efforts, we can get it done very soon."

Mr. Wu praised Gu Yansheng for expanding the channels, and Gu Yansheng listened attentively. Then they discussed the issue and suggestions regarding how to develop the routes.

Although Mr. Wu did not say it explicitly, Gu Yansheng knew that the explicit mention of the route indicated that there were already organized stations in the area. As long as he directed the Green Gang to pass through the route, the existing transportation network could be connected.

Once he does that, Mr. Wu will naturally connect the remaining parts that haven't been connected yet in his subsequent work.

After discussing the smuggling routes, Mr. Wu took a sip of water and then moved on to something more important.

"My purpose in coming to Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Anhui this time is not only to convey the spirit of the organizational meeting to the New Fourth Army in southern Anhui and southern Jiangsu, but also to convey it to you at the same time."

After the fall of Wuhan, the war situation changed, and the War of Resistance against Japan was about to enter a new phase, shifting from strategic defense to strategic stalemate.
The meeting resolutely refuted certain arguments from outside the Kuomintang, particularly those advocating for national subjugation, a quick victory, and surrender.
In addition, the organization decided to abolish the Yangtze River Bureau and establish the Southern Bureau and the Central Plains Bureau. I will be in charge of the Southern Bureau, which includes the Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Anhui regions.

Regarding Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui, the organization studied the need to adjust the strategic direction, develop Central China, and required the New Fourth Army to mobilize the masses and independently carry out guerrilla warfare behind enemy lines.

After discussion, we decided on a twelve-character strategic policy: consolidate in the south, develop in the north, and fight in the east.
We must fully recognize our own strengths and the enemy's weaknesses. In the enemy's rear, we should wage more guerrilla warfare and ambush warfare, breaking up into smaller units and then regrouping them. During the strategic stalemate, we should launch continuous attacks on the Japanese army's rear, keeping them exhausted but unable to cope.

This allowed the forces behind enemy lines to become a crucial force in containing the main battlefield, shattering the Japanese army's dream of relying on the rich regions of Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai to provide a continuous supply of military resources.

While the defections of Kuomintang forces behind enemy lines like He Xingjian certainly posed new challenges to the anti-Japanese forces in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui, as long as the troops behind enemy lines effectively employed guerrilla warfare tactics and dispersed into smaller units, the Japanese gains from these rebels would absolutely be insufficient to offset their losses, thus turning them into a new force that would cripple their own logistics.

Gu Yansheng and Shen Linshen listened attentively. Shen Linshen raised specific questions about the twelve-character strategic policy of consolidating southward, developing northward, and fighting eastward. Mr. Wu provided clearer answers, which pointed the way for the future development of underground work.

"Comrade Yansheng, your speed of development, whether in the development of interpersonal relationships or the collection of resources, has greatly exceeded our expectations. Otherwise, Old Chen would not have come to me to show off."

On behalf of the organization, I would like to express my gratitude for your efforts. Thank you for your hard work.

"Thank you for your concern, organization. Actually, when we talk about hardship, it's not that hard. The ones who are really suffering are the soldiers fighting in the mountains. They even have trouble getting food and clothing. The effort they put in is far more than what I put in."

"And then you gave them a big surprise." Mr. Wu winked and smiled. "Lin Shen, you tell them."

Shen Linshen looked at Gu Yansheng and laughed, "Just last night, the guns that Sassoon transported were in the hands of the New Fourth Army!"

"Really?" Gu Yansheng's eyes lit up. Now that he had it, he could finally relax.

"Of course it's true, the New Fourth Army sent a telegram of thanks overnight!"

Let me tell you, when I looked at that telegram, all I could think of were the excited expressions of the New Fourth Army soldiers touching their new guns, each one with a gun! Can you imagine how they felt?

They must be itching to take their troops out and fight the Japanese right away!

"Hahahaha." Gu Yansheng and Mr. Wu both burst into laughter.

"We've been suffering from the Japanese devils' incompetence for too long because of these weapons!" Shen Linshen added.

"Good, it seems Sassoon is indeed quite good. We can give him some more orders in the future," Gu Yansheng said. "At least we definitely need to equip him with more light machine guns. Do you know how Sassoon transported them?"

"It wasn't mentioned in the telegram. Let's wait until our people come back. I'll ask them in detail then and see if there's anything we can learn from it."

Gu Yansheng nodded and said, "I feel much more relieved that this batch of weapons has been delivered. We are really lucky. I was a little worried that the Japanese would use the Loyal and Patriotic Army to fight against the New Fourth Army. Now that we have weapons, our survival ability will be much better."

"It's more than just much better; 'providing timely help' doesn't even begin to describe the importance of these supplies," Mr. Wu emphasized with a smile. "You're like sending 10,000 tons of coal into a pile of snow, or filling an empty rice granary with grain."

Especially at this time of low morale caused by the Kuomintang rebels, the arrival of this batch of firearms can greatly boost the overall morale of the army. You have made a good start for the twelve-character policy!

Gu Yansheng immediately looked at Shen Linshen, "Old Shen, write this down, write it down. You be a witness. After the war ends, have Mr. Wu write down the five characters 'A good start' and give them to me. I'll hang them at home."

"Hahahaha." The two of them burst into laughter.

Then Mr. Wu asked about the Wang Jingwei regime, and it was Gu Yansheng's turn to speak. Mr. Wu listened attentively.

Gu Yansheng explained the personnel arrangements he knew, mainly focusing on the factional struggles within the Wang Jingwei regime as revealed through these arrangements, and Minister Zhou's ambitions.

Mr. Wu asked questions from time to time, probably to confirm some information he knew.

(End of this chapter)