Rebirth: I am in Jin-Cha-Ji

Any carelessness would result in heavy casualties. However, with the outbreak of the Pacific War, this spirit was lost and people began to become complacent and careless.

This will cause heavy losses to the revolution.

"I'll write an article criticizing the complacency and carelessness currently spreading within our Party and military. Then I'll convene a meeting to specifically discuss this issue. This trend must be stopped. And I'll spread the word downwards, so that all the military commands below will severely criticize this complacency and carelessness."

"As soon as possible."

The commander-in-chief nodded.

This must begin in Yan'an. Rectify thoughts in Yan'an, and then rectify thoughts at the Eighth Route Army headquarters and in various military regions.

The Chairman suddenly smiled and said, "Those of us who have been engaged in revolution for decades, yet not even a young person can see things as clearly as this one. Comrade Wei Hongjun possesses a determination beyond his years, seeing things directly to the core. This comrade is a rising star on our Party's political front."

"Yes. Look at Comrade Rong Zhen's report. Many of our cadres are still considering how to resist the mopping-up operations and how to win the war of resistance. This kid is already thinking about how our party will manage the city after the victory of the revolution."

Wei Hongjun is a well-known figure on the side of the Chairman and the Commander-in-Chief.

This time, Wei Hongjun not only criticized the current complacency of the Eighth Route Army, but also his ideas about Zhangjiakou were beyond the scope of most Eighth Route Army generals' thinking. This made the Chairman and the Commander-in-Chief even more pleased.

"There's a lot going on in the Eighth Column right now. When this period is over, let this kid come to Yan'an and we'll meet him.

"Have it."

The commander-in-chief nodded, for he too wanted to see the young man who had opened up the Chahar base. He looked at the Jin-Cha-Ji report and said, "Old Mao, what do you think of the Jin-Cha-Ji Eighth Column's plan to form a mobile corps? They're preparing to attempt sieges, improving their offensive capabilities. They're shifting from a strategic stalemate to a strategic counteroffensive."

"Boss, what do you think?"

"I think there's some truth to that. When the Mongolian Garrison was established, it consisted of only the 26th Division and the 35nd Independent Mixed Brigade. However, in recent years, it has suffered heavy casualties from successive attacks by Fu Zuoyi's 120th Army, the Daqingshan Detachment of our 35th Division, the st Division of the Shanxi-Chahar Wing, and the th Column. Due to insufficient manpower, the Japanese army allocated the Mongolian Garrison Cavalry Group and the th Independent Mixed Brigade. Even so, the Mongolian Garrison remained at a disadvantage in the Chahar, Suiyuan, and Yanbei regions. In the Baotou Campaign launched by Fu Zuoyi's th Army in June, with the cooperation of our Daqingshan Detachment, it completely annihilated the Japanese st Cavalry Brigade. The Xuanhuai Campaign launched by the th Column at the same time, as well as the previous ambush at Huaian, annihilated over troops from the nd Independent Mixed Brigade. Previously, some troops from the st Division were even operating in Dongdatong, but now it's troops from the th Division operating there. It can be said that in the Suiyuan and Chahar regions, we are a classic example of our strength and the enemy's weakness. Furthermore, this region is extremely large, miles from east to west and miles from north to south, making it ideal for mobile warfare."

The Eighth Column’s battle record is brilliant.

So even the central leadership in Yan'an knew about it.

Of course, this is mainly because the current situation in Suiyuan and Chahar is very optimistic. It is the only place in the Eighth Route Army's military regions where we are strong and the enemy is weak, suppressing the Japanese and puppet troops.

The Commander-in-Chief continued: “Currently the North China Front Army is short of manpower.

If we were to take the lead in completing a strategic counteroffensive in Chahar at this time, it would certainly impact the entire Jin-Cha-Yi Military Region. If the Eighth Column could truly form a mobile corps with strong offensive capabilities, it would have the opportunity to completely annihilate an entire Japanese regiment. This would rapidly change the balance of power between the enemy and us in the area.

"Makes sense."

The Chairman stood up, walked over to the map, and said, "In the current anti-Japanese war situation in North China, overall, we are still at a disadvantage. The enemy is still strong, and we are still weak. However, the strength of the North China Front Army has also declined significantly compared to before, and in some areas, we are already strong and the enemy is weak. Although such areas are rare, this trend is already evident. The North China Front Army's mobile forces are seriously insufficient, and we no longer have enough troops to overcome the localized disadvantages. Therefore, at this time, we should launch a strategic counteroffensive in these areas to expand our local advantages. By expanding our advantages from these points, we may be able to completely shift North China into a strategic counteroffensive. Of course, this is just a wishful thinking. However, even if such an attempt fails, the general trend will not change. The Eighth Column is a heroic unit, a unit that excels at creating miracles. Let them develop freely. I want to see what these two young men, Wang Qiuyun and Wei Hongjun, can achieve."

The decline in the strength of the North China Front Army is visible to the naked eye.

This situation was felt in Yan'an, at the Eighth Route Army headquarters, and even in the subordinate military districts. However, no one was completely certain. The Chairman also wanted to conduct a test with the Eighth Column to see if the North China Front Army's strength had truly declined significantly, whether the Eighth Route Army could gradually change its current fighting style, and whether China's War of Resistance Against Japan had entered a new phase.

However, the Chairman was not sure whether the Eighth Route Army could now gradually shift from guerrilla warfare to mobile warfare and fight a big battle with the Japanese army.

If the Eighth Column successfully transitioned from guerrilla warfare to mobile warfare, then the Chairman could decide to have the various military regions of the Eighth Route Army form mobile corps and declare that the Eighth Route Army could transition to a strategic counteroffensive.

"These two dolls have already created many miracles. Maybe they can create even more miracles."

After the Chairman and Commander-in-Chief were confirmed, the Chairman immediately published an article. He denounced the complacency and carelessness currently prevalent within the Party and the military, and once again emphasized the protracted and arduous nature of the War of Resistance Against Japan. He also demanded that both the Party and the military remain vigilant.

Then several meetings were held in Yan'an.

They are all aimed at this matter.

The Commander-in-Chief also sent a telegram to the Eighth Route Army headquarters and all major military regions, urging them to abandon complacency. All Eighth Route Army units, as well as local troops in the base areas, were urged to remain vigilant. Although fighting in the Pacific had broken out, the threat from the Japanese army remained.

Starting in Yan'an and continuing throughout the Eighth Route Army headquarters, its various military regions, local troops in the base areas, and even the local governments of the base areas, a massive campaign to unify thought was launched. Because this event happened just before the Yan'an Rectification Movement, many historians even believe it was a prelude to the Yan'an Rectification Movement.

Chapter 399 Preparations for Siege

The Chairman and Commander-in-Chief personally led and initiated the work to unify the thinking within the Party and the military and to get rid of complacency.

The effect is quite good.

Starting in Yan'an, the outbreak of the Pacific War was celebrated by the Eighth Route Army headquarters, its various military regions, and its sub-districts. Many even saw it as a foreshadowing of victory in the War of Resistance Against Japan. Even many senior Party leaders believed that China's war against Japan had passed its most difficult phase. Starting in 1942, the Eighth Route Army's situation would begin to improve. In their view, the Japanese army no longer had much strength to launch large-scale sweeps against the Eighth Route Army bases.

Even senior leaders within the party have such thoughts, let alone the various bases below.

However, as the Chairman and the Commander-in-Chief personally addressed this ideological issue, the major military regions of the Eighth Route Army quickly unified their thinking, and tensions began to rise throughout the base area. If previously everyone had begun to underestimate the Japanese army and was very optimistic about the situation, now everyone was taking the Japanese army more seriously than before, and some even showed some pessimism.

Many people are like this.

Easy to go to extremes.

From one extreme to another.

But overall, the effect of this ideological rectification is very good.

Historically, after the outbreak of the Pacific War, the Eighth Route Army experienced a period of paralysis. Many bases were not overly concerned about the Japanese raids in 1942, believing them to be routine operations.

Unfortunately, they did not expect that, because of the outbreak of the Pacific War, the Japanese army paid more attention to the battlefield behind enemy lines, and the Japanese army became more brutal. They invested more troops to mop up the Eighth Route Army troops active behind enemy lines.

The result was huge losses for the Eighth Route Army.

While this was due to the Japanese sweep, it was also due to the Eighth Route Army's tendency to underestimate the enemy, being overly optimistic about the situation and failing to properly prepare for counter-sweeping operations. Because the higher-ups were optimistic about the situation, the lower-ups became even more optimistic. This was a chain reaction.

Now, regardless of what the leaders of the various military regions of the Eighth Route Army think, no one outside dares to say that the situation will improve in the future. This is a political issue.

There is not much happening in Jin-Cha-Ji.

After all, this is a report from Jin-Cha-Ji.

After Wang Qiuyun and Wei Hongjun returned from the meeting in Fuping, they considered the next siege. They chose Xuanhua as their first target, as they were very familiar with the 8th Column in Xuanhua.

The Japanese troops in Xuanhua had long been frightened.

Since the 500th Column launched the Xuanhuai Campaign, the number of Japanese troops left in Xuanhua was less than . Although Xuanhua was not captured, all the strongholds and bunkers around Xuanhua were eliminated by the Chanan Detachment.

At present, Xuanhua is standing there alone.

"This time the column has decided to dispatch five regiments to participate in the siege."

Xiahuayuan, the 8th Column held a meeting in Xiahuayuan.

The leaders of the Cha'nan and Cha'dong detachments were present. They were all eager for their troops to be selected. This was not the first time the Eighth Column had attacked a city, but it was the first time the Eighth Column had attacked a city with only about 1000 Japanese and puppet troops.

It can be recorded in the anti-Japanese history of the Eighth Column.

Of course, this was also related to the 8th Column's upcoming establishment of a mobile corps. Wang Qiuyun and Wei Hongjun had already discussed this with the leaders below, preparing to create a mobile corps affiliated with the 8th Column.

Specially responsible for fighting big and tough battles.

The elite troops from each detachment would be drawn. The commanders from the Chanan and Chabei detachments were aiming for the position of commander of this mobile corps, so they all wanted to perform well in this siege.

"Next, Deputy Commander Xu will announce the combat orders."

Xu Luomin stood up and read the order.

Everyone looked at him.

At this moment, Xu Luomin was very grateful for his choice. If he had chosen to go to Jireliao, although his rank might be higher.

After all, the Ji-Re-Liao Advance Army was only half a level lower than the Jin-Cha-Ji Military Region, and half a level higher than the Jin-Cha-Ji 11st, 12nd, rd, and th Military Sub-regions. And the current th Column, namely the Jin-Cha-Ji th and th Military Sub-regions, was half a level lower than the old military sub-regions like the Jin-Cha-Ji st.

But if he went to the Jireliao Advance Army, his room for maneuver would definitely not be as good as that in the 8th Column.

While the Ji-Re-Liao Advance Army appeared to have made decent progress over the past three years, it was far slower than expected, and its achievements were not commensurate with its status. Many initially expected the Yi-Re-Liao Advance Army to become the second Ji-Central Military Region, standing alongside the Jin-Cha-Ji, Bei-Yue, and other three regions. However, the Ji-Re-Liao Advance Army's development lagged far behind not only the Bei-Yue region, but even the Yi-Central Military Region.

The leadership of the Hebei-Rehe-Liaoning Advance Army, local cadres in eastern Hebei, and the cadres of the 115th Division were not able to maintain unity. The leadership of the former th Column of the Eighth Route Army (Deng Hua, Song Shilun Column) was largely unable to gain a foothold in the Hebei-Rehe-Liaoning Advance Army and left the army, directly affecting its strength.

If it weren't for the fact that other military regions in the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei region were strong in the past two years and tied down a large number of Japanese troops, the Hebei-Rehe-Liaoning Advance Army would have found it difficult to grow to its current size.

But the Eight Verticals are different.

Xu Luomin, the deputy commander and chief of staff of the 8th Column, has witnessed rapid development in recent years. Of course, Xu Luomin's contribution is also evident. After arriving at the 8th Column, he began helping train its grassroots commanders.

After Zheng Weishan arrived, he was the full-time chief of staff, responsible for the column's combat plan. Just like this time, he also participated in the formulation of the 8th Column's siege plan.

Among the current Eighth Route Army troops, how many dare to storm a county town with a thousand Japanese and puppet troops?

Thinking of this, Xu Luomin suddenly felt heroic.

"The 18th Regiment will cut off traffic between Zhangjiakou and Xuanhua, blocking reinforcements from Zhangjiakou. Furthermore, if any Japanese or puppet troops in Xuanhua attempt to flee to Zhangjiakou, they will be annihilated.

"Commander, Political Commissar, our 18th Regiment is ready to attack the city. Deputy Commander Xu, since its establishment, our 18th Regiment has always been the vanguard of our column, leading the way in tough and difficult battles. Did you make a mistake when making the plan?"

The commander of the 18th Regiment, Guo Lin, was very dissatisfied.

The 16th and 18th Regiments are the two most powerful units of the 18th Column. The th Regiment's predecessor can be traced back to the Special Service Battalion of the Independent Detachment, which was the first-class main force of the Independent Detachment at that time.

Over the years, the 18th Regiment has fought so many tough and fierce battles and has never failed.

Now the column was about to attack the city, and they were actually sending the 18th Regiment to block the attack. Guo Lin couldn't accept this and directly stood up to question Xu Luomin's battle plan. Arrogant and brave generals, that's what they were referring to.

Xu Luomin was the leader of the column, serving as deputy commander and chief of staff. His rank was much higher than Guo Lin's, but Guo Lin didn't take it seriously.

Although Xu Luomin was a regimental-level cadre and Guo Lin a company-level cadre during the Red Army era, after the outbreak of the Anti-Japanese War, Guo Lin became the commander of the 18th Regiment, fighting on the battlefield. Meanwhile, Xu Luomin continued to teach at the Anti-Japanese Military and Political University.

So Guo Lin expressed his dissatisfaction directly.

Wei Hongjun's face immediately fell.

These people have been fighting guerrilla warfare outside for many years and are used to being the boss.

They came to the column meeting and brought with them the practices they had adopted in their own units and bases. Not only did they openly question the column's orders, but they also showed such disrespect to the column's leaders. So Wei Hongjun slammed the table and angrily shouted, "Guo Lin, what is the first of the Three Disciplines and Eight Points of Attention?"

"Obey orders and follow instructions."

Guo Lin immediately stood at attention and shouted.

Wei Hongjun snorted coldly, "So you still know. I thought you'd forgotten you were an Eighth Route Army cadre. You've been leading the 18th Regiment in independent combat all these years. Do you think God is boss and you're second? How about you become the column commander?"

"Commissar, that's not what I meant."

Guo Lin was very anxious to explain.

After all, it is rare for Wei Hongjun to lose his temper in such a meeting.

Guo Lin could bully Xu Luomin because he was a member of the Eighth Column and a later cadre. But facing the angry Wei Hongjun, Guo Lin dared not say anything.

Wei Hongjun waved his hand and said, "I know many of you have previously led troops in independent operations, calling the shots in your own areas. This is dictated by our actual situation. During counter-sweeping operations, communication between us can easily be interrupted, making it impossible to contact one another. Therefore, you often have to fight alone. In such situations, you are required to take independent responsibility and independently formulate counter-sweeping plans. Many of you are accustomed to issuing orders in your own units and bases. These columns understand this. However, as the anti-Japanese war situation develops, our troops must gradually move from guerrilla warfare to mobile warfare and then to large-scale, regular operations. To achieve this, the first thing our troops must abandon is some of the habits they have acquired during guerrilla warfare. When operating in large-scale, regular operations, it is especially important to remember to 'obey orders and follow directions.' After Deputy Commander Xu has conveyed the complete battle plan, any of you may have any comments. But for now, listen carefully to the battle orders he issues."

Xu Luomin breathed a sigh of relief.

Xu Luomin certainly knew that he arrived at the Eighth Column a little late.

When I arrived at the Eighth Column, it had already become a force to be reckoned with, and its various detachments had already been established. It was not easy to convince the proud and brave generals of the Eighth Column, who had made great military achievements, to submit to me.

After all, they all participated in the formation and development of the Eighth Column. Although they had a lot of experience and high ranks, sometimes military affairs could not be suppressed by seniority and rank.

If Wei Hongjun hadn't spoken up, he would have been embarrassed.

Xu Luomin continued, "For this siege, the column has decided to adopt a tactic of surrounding three sides and leaving one side vulnerable. We will cede the west gate. The 25th Regiment will attack the south gate, the 16th Regiment will attack the east gate, and the 26th Regiment will attack the north gate. The 25th and 26th Regiments will provide assisting forces, with the 16th Regiment serving as the main assault force. The column's artillery and the Chanan Detachment's artillery will be assigned to the 16th Regiment. The 37th Regiment will remain on standby as a reserve force."