Rebirth: I am in Jin-Cha-Ji

"Are they really guerrillas? Not pretending?"

"No."

"it is good."

Wei Hongjun felt a little relieved.

Their unit was accidentally dispersed and arrived at this place by accident. Therefore, it is impossible for someone to know in advance and deploy fake guerrillas to fool them. So, Zhangjiagou Village did have underground party guerrillas.

This is a good thing.

About twenty minutes later, two people followed Zhang Shan up the mountain.

One of them looked to be in his mid-thirties, wearing an old gray-blue robe and glasses. He must have been a scholar. The other, in his mid-twenties, walked with a swift, sharp gaze. Although he didn't glance left or right, he was constantly observing his surroundings with his peripheral vision, maintaining a vigilant look.

When Zhang Shan saw Wei Hongjun, he immediately said to the scholar in an old gray-blue robe, "Teacher Li, this is the leader of the Eighth Route Army."

"I'm Wei Hongjun, a company instructor in the Independent Regiment of the 115th Division of the Eighth Route Army. Our unit encountered the Japanese and got lost in the mountains for several days and nights."

Wei Hongjun knew that the teacher Li in front of him should be an underground party cadre.

The guerrillas and militias currently being established behind enemy lines are rarely formed by troops dispatched from the main Eighth Route Army units. The main Eighth Route Army units have not yet been divided. Therefore, these guerrillas and militias are all organized by local Party organizations.

Therefore, he immediately saluted and extended his hand. Teacher Li shook Wei Hongjun's hand firmly with both hands and said, "So it was the 115th Division that fought at Pingxingguan. Comrade Wei Hongjun, the Battle of Pingxingguan greatly enhanced the reputation of our Eighth Route Army. I am Li Shiping, currently in charge of Sheng County. Before our county committee was destroyed by the enemy, I was in charge of student affairs in Sheng County. Three years ago, a traitor betrayed us, and the county committee office was destroyed. Comrades suffered heavy casualties, and the Sheng County Committee has never recovered. After the cooperation between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party, the provincial committee required our local area to resume work as soon as possible, so I temporarily took charge of Sheng County."

"Teacher Li, who are the guerrillas in Zhangjiagou Village?"

"Our Party's roots in Shanxi are relatively shallow, and the underground Party in Sheng County suffered a blow a few years ago, so our Party's strength here is relatively weak. Although I want to form an anti-Japanese guerrilla unit, I don't have many options. It just so happens that several of my former students are from Zhangjiagou Village and enjoy considerable prestige among the young people there. Zhangjiagou Village also has a good geographical location, so I chose it. Comrade Wei Hongjun, this is my student Zhang Dahu, the instructor of the Zhangjiagou guerrilla unit."

"Brother Dahu, it seems like I'm from the military."

Wei Hongjun looked at Zhang Dahu.

Just by looking at his straight back, you can tell that he comes from a military background.

"I spent several years in the 29th Army."

Compared with Li Shiping, Zhang Dahu's attitude is tough.

"No wonder."

Wei Hongjun didn't care about these.

In the current fight against the Japanese, veterans are the most needed. It's a good thing that veterans like Zhang Dahu are willing to join the anti-Japanese army. Especially when it comes to forming a guerrilla force, military cadres are the most needed.

"Humph."

Zhang Dahu snorted coldly and said dissatisfiedly: "Instructor Wei, can the people you deployed on both sides come out now?"

"Haha."

Wei Hongjun, exposed by Zhang Dahu as the ambushes on the northern and southern heights, didn't feel embarrassed at all. Instead, he was delighted. He hadn't expected Zhang Dahu to discover them. This was a good seedling.

Wei Hongjun waved his hand.

Soon, several people who were lying in ambush on both sides came out.

"This is…………"

Li Shiping was surprised.

Zhang Dahu sneered, "Teacher, they don't trust us. They're treating us like enemies."

"Teacher Li, our troops have fought several battles with the Japanese army and walked in the mountains for several days and nights. We are in an unfamiliar place, so I must be vigilant. I want to make sure you are not local bandits or Japanese spies. I hope Teacher Li can understand."

"Understand, understand, caution is right. When working behind enemy lines, caution is the most important thing."

Li Shiping did not blame him, but instead admired Wei Hongjun's caution.

The underground party organization in Sheng County was destroyed because the leaders at that time were not cautious, or even too aggressive. If the Sheng County underground party had not been destroyed a few years ago, it would not have been so difficult to form a guerrilla force.

"Teacher Li, our troops have quite a few wounded soldiers, four of whom are in poor condition and have high fevers. I wonder if there are any medicines or doctors here to see if they can be treated."

"Yes. We took some medicine when we evacuated the county town. There is also a doctor in the village."

"Great. Big guy, take people to find Tao Laifeng immediately."

"Yes."

Li Shiping watched Gao Wei walk south and was stunned for a moment, but he quickly figured it out. So he smiled and said, "Instructor Wei is really cautious."

"I'm sorry to have made you laugh, Teacher Li."

"Instructor Wei, where are you going next?"

"No decision has been made yet. By the way, Mr. Li, what is the current situation in Sheng County?"

Chapter 003: Sheng County Situation

The underground party in Sheng County was not strong.

But after more than a decade in Sheng County, he still had some intelligence capabilities and was familiar with the basic situation of Sheng County. Zhang Dahu drew a map of Sheng County on the ground. Although it was just a simple drawing, it made Wei Hongjun see Zhang Dahu's excellent skills.

Zhang Dahu's simple map is the most basic military map. The important places in Sheng County are clearly marked, showing his profound skills.

This is no ordinary soldier of the 29th Army.

The Republic of China's military was largely illiterate. Even many of the lower-level officers were illiterate. Zhang Dahu's exceptional draftsmanship must have been due to formal military training.

Wei Hongjun's interest is growing.

After Zhang Dahu finished drawing the map of Sheng County, Li Shiping said, "Instructor Wei, Sheng County currently has five military forces. The strongest are the Japanese devils, who occupy the county seat and now Yangquan Town. Then there are the remnants of the 29th Army and the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army that retreated from Wanping County and are currently stationed in Beishuigou Town. The third military force is the former Sheng County Security Corps, currently stationed in Xiaquan Town. The remaining two forces are our guerrillas and the anti-Japanese guerrillas in Caoyangzhuang."

"There are guerrillas in Caoyang Village too? Are they the armed forces led by our Party?"

"It's not an armed force led by our Party. The Caoyangzhuang guerrillas were formed by a group of students led by Yang Yonghui, the principal of Shengxian Middle School."

"What are the specific strengths of these military forces?"

"The Japanese have an infantry squadron, a machine gun squadron, and a traitor unit of about 200 men in Sheng County.

Those traitorous troops were formed by a group of ruffians who defected to the Japanese after they entered Sheng County. From one of the Japanese units, two infantry squads and part of a machine gun squadron are currently stationed in Yangquan Town.

Wei Hongjun looked at the map of Sheng County carefully.

Sheng County was located in the east of the central part of the county, and Yangquan Town was located northwest of the county. Further west from Yangquan Town was Xiaquan Town, where the Sheng County Security Corps was stationed, and further northeast was Beishuigou Town, where the remnants of the 29th Army and the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army were stationed.

The Japanese stationed two infantry squads in Yangquan Town, eyeing the Sheng County Security Corps and the remnants of the National Army.

As for the fact that the Japanese army had a machine gun squadron in addition to the infantry squadron, Wei Hongjun could understand it. After all, this was a combat unit, so adding some strength to them was possible. It could be considered a reinforced squadron carrying out combat missions.

"Why are the 29th Army and the remnants of the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army together? How many people are there?"

"This Japanese squadron pursued the remnants of the 29th Army from Wanping County into Taohuabao and then into Sheng County. As for the remnants of the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army, they were originally stationed in Sheng County and were defeated by the Japanese troops entering Sheng County. The combined number of these two forces is not large, probably around 300."

"continue."

"The Sheng County Security Corps is nominally a security corps, but it has only a little over a hundred members. It was formed by the Zheng family, the largest landlord in Sheng County, and its leader is the eldest son of the Zheng family. The Zheng family is very wealthy and is one of the richest families in Sheng County. They have connections with some people in the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army, so although they are small in number, their weapons and equipment are not bad, all of them are made in Shanxi. However, when they heard that the Japanese were coming, they were so scared that they fled all the way from the county town to Xiaquan Town. Now the Security Corps is negotiating with the Japanese about reorganization. It is estimated that before long, the Sheng County Security Corps will probably become a traitorous unit."

Wei Hongjun nodded.

Judging from the map, once the Japanese army incorporated the Security Corps, only the remnants of the Nationalist army would remain in the central and northern parts of Sheng County. The two Japanese infantry squads and machine gun units, plus the Security Corps and their puppet troops, would number around 400 to 500 people.

The remnants of the Nationalist army are certainly no match.

"As for the Caoyangzhuang Anti-Japanese Guerrilla Force and ours, they are both in their infancy and have little combat effectiveness. However, compared to us, the Caoyangzhuang Guerrilla Force is more powerful and has more members. Principal Yang Yonghui is a celebrity in our county, and many local scholars in Sheng County are his students. Upon hearing that he was organizing an anti-Japanese guerrilla force, more than half of the teachers and students at Sheng County Middle School joined the Caoyangzhuang Anti-Japanese Guerrilla Force. Moreover, his family is a wealthy family in Caoyangzhuang, and the Yang family also supports it. There are wealthy and powerful families in Caoyangzhuang, and those with money have contributed money, and those with guns have contributed guns. I heard that the Caoyangzhuang Anti-Japanese Guerrilla Force now has nearly 300 people."

"Where are the guns?"

"Better than us. The firearms we have now are all old hunting rifles used by Zhangjiagou Village. We have a few Hanyang rifles, and the rifling is almost worn out. But Principal Yang has money, and many local landlords have donated a lot of guns. According to the information we have received, Principal Yang's anti-Japanese guerrillas have more than 70 or 80 guns. And among them are many fine guns such as Jin-made and Hanyang-made."

After Li Shiping's introduction, Wei Hongjun had a preliminary understanding of Sheng County.

Sheng County is a place that is not valued.

It's fair to say that during this period in 1937, this region was largely neglected. The Japanese army's primary goal was to defeat the main Nationalist forces. Consequently, they advanced rapidly, neglecting the territory they had already conquered. They were even less likely to be interested in Sheng County, a poor and geographically disadvantaged county, and waste troops there.

According to Li Shiping's introduction, this Japanese squadron chased the 29th Army all the way and arrived in Sheng County.

Therefore, the Japanese army only had one reinforced squadron in Sheng County.

Furthermore, given Sheng County's strategic importance, the Japanese army wouldn't be stationing many troops there for a long time. Even in a county as important as Laiyuan, the Japanese army historically only stationed one battalion year-round. Not to mention Sheng County, whose strategic location is far inferior to Laiyuan's, it's estimated that few large troops will be stationed there for the next two to three years.

Of course, it was a reinforced squadron of devils. According to their combat effectiveness, they were not afraid of a regiment of troops in a frontal battle. Now Sheng County itself did not have many troops, and a reinforced squadron of the Japanese army was indeed the strongest.

It's just an infantry company. Even if the machine gun company is included, there are only about 300 people, no more than 400.

But what about Sheng County?

The area exceeded five million mu, stretching nearly two hundred miles from east to west and about one hundred and sixty miles from north to south. What could a mere three hundred men accomplish in such a vast area? To rule Sheng County, the Japanese army had to rely on local traitors. Without their help, even a single Japanese battalion would have been unable to completely control such a vast area.

this is a good chance.

A good opportunity to develop a base.

Although Sheng County has a small population, it still has over 100,000 people, nearly 200,000. In Shanxi, it is a relatively populous county. Moreover, if a major war breaks out nearby, a large number of people will flow into seemingly useless places like Sheng County. Before the Japanese army recovers, they can develop two to three thousand troops, or even four to five thousand troops. Then, they can expand in all directions. Perhaps this place can become an important base for the Eighth Route Army in northeastern Shanxi. To the south, they can support the Jin-Cha-Ji Military Region. To the east, they can continuously harass the capital region. To the north, they can threaten Chahar and Suiyuan. To the west, they are the important military town of Datong.

Wei Hongjun has been thinking about the future of the troops these days.

If they chased the main force, there was no telling what might happen along the way, whether they would encounter the Japanese. Even if they successfully caught up with the main force, as a half-crippled company, it would take some time to recover its combat effectiveness. Moreover, in the main force, their company was just a company of the main force and would not be able to play a role beyond that.

Too many restrictions.

But once you stay in Sheng County to develop a base, the world will be yours.

Taking advantage of the current gap in the Japanese rear and vigorously developing bases is the only way to seize the initiative. The Eighth Route Army was able to grow and develop behind enemy lines by developing bases there. However, the Eighth Route Army troops have just entered Shanxi. Although the Central Committee had already decided at the Luochuan Conference to open up the battlefield behind enemy lines and develop anti-Japanese bases there,

However, the main force of the Eighth Route Army had not yet implemented this on a large scale. It was not until the 115th Division was divided and the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Military Region was established that the main force of the Eighth Route Army began to truly open up anti-Japanese bases behind enemy lines.

This is a great opportunity.

The Japanese army did not pay attention to these places, and the Eighth Route Army had no time to establish a base.

Therefore, Wei Hongjun's eyes became brighter and brighter as he looked at the map of Wei County.

"Instructor Wei, there's more news. The Japanese are negotiating with the defense corps, and the eldest son of the Zheng family has put forward a condition: the Japanese army must recognize that his defense corps has a strength of 500 people. The Japanese don't agree. After all, the defense corps currently only has about a hundred people, and they're unwilling to give it such a large strength. However, the latest news we've received is that the two sides are almost at an agreement and will soon be finalized."

"Is the news accurate?"

"Yes."

Chapter 004 Judgment

"Is the Zheng family a wealthy family in Sheng County?"

"They are the largest landlords. Their family made their fortune in Xiaquan Town. One-third of the arable land in Xiaquan Town belongs to them. They also own land in other places. Not only do they have a lot of land, but they also have a lot of property in the county town.

There are even rumors that his family has shops in cities like Peking, Taiyuan, and Datong. Otherwise, it would be impossible for his son to be the head of the security group."