The War of Resistance Against Japan: Starting with a Calm View of Life and Death

Zhou Jindong took the note, unfolded it, and saw that the handwriting was messy and obviously written in a hurry: "Comrade Xiao Zhou, I have taken Comrade Liu Meng to the hinterland of Taihang Mountain to find the main force of the Eighth Route Army."

The situation in Dongzhai Town concerns the safety of over two hundred people. I will do my utmost to persuade the various departments to send a battalion of troops to provide support within five days.

During this period, the guerrillas are advised to utilize the terrain to their advantage, employing guerrilla tactics to avoid direct confrontation and strike when the enemy is exhausted and retreating. Holding Dongzhai Town will be a victory. — Li Guoan

After reading it, Zhou Jindong's brows furrowed tightly.

He clutched the note in his hand.

"Five days... five days and the daylilies will be too cold! We'll have to rely on ourselves!"

Zhou Jindong crumpled the note into a ball and stuffed it into his pocket. "Minister Li really thinks highly of our guerrilla force! We can't let him down! Although the enemy is a large battalion, we'll only know if we can defeat them after we fight!"

Wang Yuan paused for a moment, then scratched his head: "We definitely can't win, right? I think Minister Li is right, let's hide! Once the main force arrives, we'll be out of trouble."

"Brother Yuan, we can't put our hopes on others when it comes to matters on the battlefield." Zhou Jindong walked to the truck, patted the hard side of the truck, and made a dull sound. "Putting aside his nephew, Okada Tomohisa lost a squad of Imperial Army soldiers and so many supplies. This is not just a slap in the face, it's like tearing his heart out."

He will definitely send out his entire force, and the Japanese army will surround Dongzhai Town completely by tomorrow at the earliest, or the day after tomorrow at the latest.

"By then, the main force will still be over a hundred miles away. We might be able to dodge the first day of the month, but can we really dodge the fifteenth?"

Wang Yuan's expression also changed. Although he was brave, he wasn't stupid.

He looked at the villagers still continuously transporting supplies up the mountain, gritted his teeth, and said, "Then what do you suggest? We'll do as you say! If you say fight, we'll fight! If you say retreat, we'll retreat!"

"We definitely have to evacuate, but we can't do it now." Zhou Jindong turned around and stared intently at Wang Yuan. "The villagers are still being evacuated, and the supplies haven't been transported yet."

We need to bleed Okada Tomohisa a little here, let him know the pain, and make him afraid to pursue us too closely.

"Once the villagers have gone deep into the mountains, we'll play hide-and-seek with them."

"Fine! I've been waiting for you to say that!" Wang Yuan spat angrily on the ground. "So what do we do now? Ambush them on the way?"

"No, to do a good job, one must first have the right tools! Moreover, one must have a legitimate reason for doing so!"

Although our guerrilla force is still far behind the Japanese, it's a significant improvement over what we used to have!

With Minister Li's note added to the mix, I think it's time to reorganize the team, and it needs to be done immediately!

Zhou Jindong waved his hand and said, "Gather all the people who can fight, including those puppet troops who surrendered, and those eleven Japanese soldiers."

Half an hour later, the town hall's large playground was filled with people.

The original twenty-five guerrillas stood on the left, all looking spirited. Although their clothes were worn out, their eyes revealed a fierce determination.

Thirty-two puppet soldiers stood in the middle. They had just helped move supplies and had done a lot of work. Now they seemed a little uneasy. Some were looking down at their toes, while others were secretly observing the guerrillas around them.

On the right are eleven Japanese soldiers who have changed out of their Japanese military uniforms and are now wearing cotton-padded jackets borrowed from local people.

Kosuke Ogawa stood in front of the group of Japanese soldiers, speaking loudly in Japanese, trying to calm them down.

Zhou Jindong stood on the steps, his gaze sweeping across the entire room.

"Listen up, all of you!" Zhou Jindong's voice wasn't loud, but it was extremely penetrating, and the playground instantly fell silent. "I know some of you are scared, some regretful, and some want to run away."

But let me make this clear: once you're through this door, we're all in the same boat.

If you want to live, you have to follow orders! If you want to go home, I'll give you travel expenses after this battle!

But now, if anyone dares to cause trouble, don't blame me, Zhou Jindong, for firing shots indiscriminately!

He paused, then pointed at the group of puppet soldiers: "You used to be dogs for the Japanese devils, but you had no choice, you just wanted to make a living."

But today, you helped carry grain and fought the Japanese invaders; that's your pledge of loyalty.

From this moment forward, you are no longer traitors, but soldiers of the anti-Japanese guerrilla force!

As long as you're truly committed to fighting the Japanese, the past is wiped clean! But if I find anyone still colluding with the Japanese, I'll be the first to shoot them!

The thirty-two puppet soldiers looked at each other, then all turned to look at the tall man standing at the front.

This man is called Xie Chuan. He used to be a squad leader in the puppet army. He's quite strong and was the one who worked the hardest just now while moving things.

Jie Chuan swallowed hard, took a step forward, and said in a loud voice, "Captain Zhou, we were foolish before, doing a lot of despicable things with the Japanese devils. Now that we're following you, our lives are yours! Wherever you point, we'll fight! No hesitation!"

"Good!" Zhou Jindong nodded. "I guess you're a man."

Then he looked at the eleven Japanese soldiers.

Of the eleven men, four were grenade launcher soldiers, four were infantrymen, two were messengers, and one was a medic.

"Xiao Chuan!" Zhou Jindong called out.

Kosuke Ogawa immediately ran over, stood at attention, and bowed: "Captain Zhou, we are all willing to cooperate. As long as we can live, we will do anything you ask."

Zhou Jindong walked up to the Japanese soldiers and said in Japanese, "Your lives are now in my hands. I will not kill prisoners indiscriminately, but only if you are of use."

Those who can shoot, keep using guns. Those who can fire artillery, fire on the guerrillas from now on. Anyone who wants to die, step forward now, and I'll grant their wish.

The Japanese soldiers were terrified and none of them dared to move.

"Very good." Zhou Jindong nodded in satisfaction, turned around and returned to the center of the steps, and began to announce the reorganization order.

"Start reorganization now! The entire guerrilla force, including those who surrender, will consist of 68 people. Ten guerrillas will remain in the valley to handle logistics and care for the elderly and weak, along with two Japanese messengers and one medic, for a total of 13 people. Sun Erniu will be the squad leader."

"The remaining fifty-five men, along with Wang Yuan and me, will form a combat unit. We will reorganize them into five infantry squads and one artillery squad."

"First Squad! Squad leader Zhang Fang! Twelve members, all former guerrilla fighters, responsible for the assault! This is our spearhead, they must be the most capable!"

Zhang Fang, a lean and wiry man, always the elder brother of the team, stepped forward and saluted: "Mission accomplished!"

"Second Squad! Squad Leader: Wang Quan! Twelve members, with original guerrillas as the main force, supplemented by seven physically strong puppet soldiers."

Wang Quan was a man of few words; he simply nodded emphatically, "Yes!"

"Third Squad! Squad Leader: Shuisheng! Eleven members. Original guerrillas as support, supplemented by eight puppet soldiers."

Shui Sheng replied loudly, "No problem!"

"Class Four!" Zhou Jindong's voice rose a few decibels. "Class leader: Kosuke Ogawa! Twelve members!"