Rebirth: I am in Jin-Cha-Ji

"Okay, well done."

Wei Hongjun mobilized his troops and prepared to attack Guisui.

Unexpectedly, Fu Zuoyi chose to evacuate Guisui on his own. Moreover, Fu Zuoyi's retreat was very fast, and Wei Hongjun also witnessed the marching speed of Fu Zuoyi's troops. No wonder Fu Zuoyi's troops were able to hold on and not let go, and their marching speed was completely comparable to that of the People's Liberation Army. Of course, the troops sent by Wei Hongjun were also very fast in pursuit. However, although Fu Zuoyi's troops continued to fall behind during the retreat, and more than 2000 people were lost along the way, Fu Zuoyi still successfully retreated to Baotou. Originally, Wei Hongjun wanted to organize troops to continue attacking Baotou and not give Fu Zuoyi a chance to regroup. Moreover, Wei Hongjun was very confident that in order to attack Baotou, Wei Hongjun was ready to pull all the cannons in his hands.

But the situation began to change.

With Japan's surrender, coupled with the recent military conflict between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party, the Nationalist army was facing obstacles at every turn. Chongqing immediately changed its stance and began sending "peace" signals. Despite the previous fierce fighting between the two sides, his current call for "peace" still had a significant impact. Chiang Kai-shek was, after all, the nominally legitimate leader of the Chinese government, and his prestige had soared after the victory of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. His calls for "peace" and "no civil war" still had many supporters. This stance was appreciated by the British, the Americans, and the Soviet Union. Therefore, Chiang Kai-shek had already sent two consecutive telegrams to Chairman Mao, requesting that he return to Chongqing for negotiations. Domestic public opinion was also abuzz with the idea of ​​"peace," and everyone's attention was focused on Yan'an. Consequently, Wei Hongjun, who was preparing to concentrate his forces to attack Baotou, received the order to halt his advance and not continue the attack. Wei Hongjun was quite disappointed. If it weren't for the order, his side, with its current momentum, could easily have captured Baotou and driven Zuoyi out of Baotou.

Now that he had received the order, Wei Hongjun immediately returned to Zhangjiakou to report on his work.

Marshal Nie went out personally to greet Wei Hongjun.

Wei Hongjun fought well in this battle and achieved brilliant results, driving the arrogant Fu Zuoyi back to Suixi.

"I heard that the troops sent by Fu Zuoyi entered the vicinity of Zhangjiakou. What were the losses?"

This is what Wei Hongjun is most grateful to Marshal Nie for.

If Marshal Nie had sent a telegram to himself, asking him to send troops to support Zhangjiakou, it would have posed a great challenge to Wei Hongjun. At that time, Wei Hongjun had no main force to deploy except for the local troops he had gathered around him.

Fortunately, Marshal Nie stabilized the situation and did not affect Wei Hongjun's command on the front line.

For this alone, Wei Hongjun didn't know how grateful he was to Marshal Nie.

“It’s a big loss.”

Speaking of this topic, Marshal Nie sighed.

He said: "The main reason is that too many crops were burned. It is the harvest season now, and we didn't expect Fu Zuoyi's troops to burn such a large area. The loss of grain is in the millions."

"Why did Fu Zuoyi organize so many bandits? These bandits burn, kill, rob, and do anything. Does he really not care about his reputation?"

Wei Hongjun was quite disappointed.

In Wei Hongjun's mind, doing good is still a relatively noble act.

After all, he was a famous anti-Japanese general. His peaceful uprising saved the city of Peking. After the founding of New China, he also made considerable contributions to water conservancy construction.

But what are we doing now?

Burning so many crops is something only the Japanese would do.

"Warlord, warlord, this is a warlord."

Marshal Nie patted Wei Hongjun on the shoulder.

He said: "What do you think a warlord is? A warlord is someone who cares about his own interests and doesn't care about anything. Fu Zuoyi is also a warlord now, so of course he considers things from the perspective of the warlord's interests.

Wei Hongjun smiled bitterly.

People will change. With the changes in environment and status, what they think, do and do will change.

The same is true of Fu Zuoyi.

With Chiang Kai-shek's appointment of Fu Zuoyi as commander-in-chief of the 12th War Zone, Fu Zuoyi's status changed drastically. Because Chiang Kai-shek gave the 12th War Zone too much power, Fu Zuoyi officially broke away from Yan Xishan and became a warlord.

As long as he can consolidate his position, it doesn't matter if he recruits a few bandits.

"Let's not talk about that anymore. Let me tell you something. The Jin-Cha-Ji Central Bureau just held a Standing Committee meeting and made a new appointment for you. The Jin-Cha-Ji Central Bureau has decided to appoint you as a Standing Committee Member of the Jin-Cha-Ji Central Bureau, Deputy Political Commissar of the Jin-Cha-Ji Military Region, and Deputy Commander and Deputy Political Commissar of the Jin-Cha-Ji Field Army. When there's no fighting, in addition to the affairs of the Third Field Army, you'll also be responsible for the daily work of the Jin-Cha-Ji Field Army Headquarters. This appointment has been reported to the Central Committee and has been approved. Your future responsibilities will be even heavier.

"Commander, I will never betray the organization's trust.

Wei Hongjun was not surprised much.

Marshal Nie had called him back from the Northeast to help with the situation, so he definitely needed an explanation. After all, he had a bright future in the Northeast, so returning at this time would definitely require some compensation. Even if Wei Hongjun couldn't be given the same position as the Northeast Bureau, as Deputy Secretary of the Jin-Cha-Ji Central Bureau, he still needed a certain official position.

Especially this time, Wei Hongjun successfully put out the fire, and was very successful. Marshal Nie and the Jin-Cha-Ji Central Committee must give Wei Hongjun a satisfactory answer.

Now Marshal Nie gave Wei Hongjun the position of Standing Committee Member of the Jin-Cha-Ji Central Bureau.

Wei Hongjun was quite satisfied.

Because Wei Hongjun's position as a member of the Standing Committee of the Jin-Cha-Ji Central Committee was a real one, he would be able to directly participate in important decisions of the Jin-Cha-Ji Central Committee and hold a significant voice. His position as Deputy Commander and Deputy Political Commissar of the Jin-Cha-Ji Field Army was even more prestigious, requiring him to oversee the daily work of the field army headquarters.

In comparison, many of Wei Hongjun's positions in the Northeast were somewhat hollow, essentially just for show. Titles like Deputy Secretary of the Northeast Bureau, Deputy Political Commissar of the Northeast Military Region, and Deputy Political Commissar of the Northeast Field Army were simply given due to the strength of the Yirecha Unit in the Northeast. In fact, after Wei Hongjun arrived in the Northeast, he never attended any of the Northeast Bureau meetings, the Northeast Military Region meetings, or the Northeast Field Army meetings, unless they were enlarged meetings. He simply led the troops from below alongside Wang Qiuyun.

"The Jin-Cha-Ji Central Bureau will soon hold an enlarged meeting, and your appointment will be announced at that time. Let's first discuss the organization of the columns under the Third Field Army.

"Commander, the military region and field army headquarters have given our Third Field Army a certain column number.

"Eighth Column, Tenth Column, Eleventh Column, Twelfth Column."

"Where's the front column?"

"The First Field Army was given five columns: the First, Second, Third, Fourth, and Ninth columns.

Yang Quanwu's team has already formed five columns and is making final adjustments. The Second Field Army has two columns, the Sixth and Seventh, which have also been completed. Now only your Third and Fourth Field Armies remain. Your Third Field Army will form four columns, and the Fourth Field Army will form one. Originally, the First and Second Field Armies would have been assigned the Eighth Column designation, but the military region and field army headquarters, considering special historical reasons, have retained the Eighth Column designation for you.

A total of 12 columns will be formed in Jin-Cha-Ji.

However, the designation was always 13th Column, because there was no Fifth Column in the middle. During the Spanish Civil War, the Fifth Column was notorious, so when the columns were established, Marshal Nie and his team deliberately avoided the Fifth Column.

"Commander, how can our Ji-Re-Cha Military Region have the strength to form four columns now?

Wei Hongjun smiled bitterly.

"If it were before, the Hebei-Rehe-Chahar Military Region would have had the strength to form four columns. But so many of our troops from the Hebei-Rehe-Chahar Military Region entered the Northeast, and the few troops left now simply can't form four columns. Also, can the Hebei-Central Military Region and the Hebei-Shandong Military Region really form five columns? Commander Huang brought three main brigades to the Northeast, and now the Hebei-Shandong Military Region still has so many troops?"

Why is Wei Hongjun so unconvinced?

The Hebei-Central Military Region and the Hebei-Shandong Military Region were large, controlling over 2000 counties in Hebei and a population of nearly million. But after Huang Yong led the three main brigades of the Shandong Military Region to the Northeast, why didn't Wei Hongjun believe that five columns could be formed there?

Yang Quanwu is an expert at expanding the military.

But why is the army expanding so much?

Marshal Nie smiled and said, "Do you think the columns we formed in Jin-Cha-Ji are the same as those in the Northeast? I heard that your Second Column has over 50,000 troops?"

"There weren't that many originally. But after we entered the Northeast, we recruited some new soldiers.

"We in the Jin-Cha-Ji region don't have the strength to form such a large column. The result of discussions between the military region and the field army headquarters is that the column we form here will be around 20,000 men. If it's a main brigade with 10,000 men, then two brigades will form a column. If it's a brigade with fewer men, then three brigades will form a column. Of course, there's no absolute limit on the number of men in a column; the military region is just giving you a suggestion. If you have the ability to form a 40,000-man column in the Ji-Re-Liaoning Military Region, the military region and the field army headquarters wouldn't object. Now, tell us what you think."

Wei Hongjun was not polite either.

Given the revolutionary friendship between Marshal Nie and Wei Hongjun over the years, there was no need for politeness on these issues. If it weren't for Marshal Nie's absolute trust, Wei Hongjun wouldn't have been able to hold the position of commander and political commissar of the Third Field Army of the Shanxi-Chahar Wing.

Wei Hongjun said, "Commander, our situation here is different from that in Hebei. The First Field Army can first form a column with two brigades under it. When needed, we can always add reinforcements from local troops to make it three brigades. This is because Hebei has a large population and many local troops.

As long as the organization remains, it's easy to replenish the troops. However, we have a small population and limited supplies. More importantly, our area is vast, making it suitable for mobile warfare. This type of mobile warfare requires each column to be able to operate independently. Therefore, I suggest that our Jin-Cha-Ji Third Field Army first form three columns, all of which must be large corps. As for the 12th column, we should retain its organization and form it later when we have sufficient troops."

Wei Hongjun believed that the two brigade columns lacked power and influence.

The Wei Hongjun hoped to build a large column corps like those in the Northeast. With 30,000 to 40,000 men per column, such a force could become a single combat unit operating in a single direction. Of course, the Wei Hongjun also had to consider the subsequent troop reductions in the Jin-Cha-Ji region.

Historically, the Jin-Cha-Ji region reduced its 20-strong field army to a 5-strong field army.

This thing is difficult to stop.

One reason was that Jin-Cha-Ji was too prominent, drawing everyone's attention. When the KMT and the Communist Party sought to disarm, Jin-Cha-Ji was bound to become a focal point for both sides, given its prestige. Another factor was Marshal Nie's misjudgment, believing that a peace agreement could truly be reached under US and Soviet oversight. Of course, another factor was the support of many officials at the time for the "peaceful nation-building theory," including many in Jin-Cha-Ji. They believed that the war of resistance was over and that the base areas should no longer bear such a heavy burden.

Historically, Yang Quanwu, Guo Tianmin, and others had tried to persuade Marshal Nie without success, and the leadership of the Jin-Cha-Yi Central Bureau generally supported disarmament. Therefore, the Wei Red Army needed to prepare in advance.

There were four columns organized, but one was empty.

There will be a good way to deal with this in the future.

"As I just said, the military district and field army headquarters don't have strict regulations regarding the organization of your columns. If you want to create columns with larger numbers, I don't object.

Marshal Nie is still very easy to talk to in this regard.

After receiving Marshal Nie's approval, Wei Hongjun immediately said, "Comrade Zhu Liangcai and I have discussed this matter. We want to form a column with the First Brigade, the First Self-Defense Brigade, and the Seventh Brigade. We will give them the designation of the Eighth Column. Comrade Zheng Weishan, commander of the First Brigade, will serve as commander of the Eighth Column. Comrade Zhang Liankui, deputy director of the Political Department of the Third Field Army, will serve as political commissar of the Eighth Column. Comrade Yi Yaocai, deputy chief of staff of the Third Field Army, will serve as chief of staff of the column. Comrade Feng Mulin will serve as deputy commander of the Eighth Column and commander of the Seventh Brigade. Comrade Chen Zuning, formerly deputy commander of the First Brigade, will serve as commander of the First Brigade, and Comrade Guo Yonghuai will serve as political commissar of the First Brigade."

Wei Hongjun has deep feelings for the designation of the Eighth Column.

Although it wasn't the same Eighth Column, the feeling it gave it was different. It was for this reason that Marshal Nie and his men left the Eighth Column to the Yirecha Military Region. Since it was the Eighth Column, Wei Hongjun naturally had to build it into a powerful force.

Therefore, the three brigades selected were all the top-tier main brigades of the current Hebei-Rehe-Chahar Military Region. Wei Hongjun had originally thought that the Eighth Column would not include the First Self-Defense Brigade, but in this battle, the First Self-Defense Brigade performed amazingly.

Song Yulin led the First Self-Defense Brigade and achieved amazing results.

That's why Wei Hongjun decided to incorporate the First Self-Defense Brigade into the Eighth Column.

"Yes. I also watched the Zhuozi battle. Comrade Zheng Weishan performed very well.

Marshal Nie agreed to Wei Hongjun's arrangement.

Zheng Weishan's battle this time was truly outstanding.

There is no problem in being the column commander. Moreover, Zheng Weishan has the qualifications to be the column commander, and no one will say anything.

"The 11rd Special Forces Brigade, the nd Self-Defense Brigade, and the New th Brigade form the th Column. I recommend that Comrade Zhang Zihua concurrently serve as Commander and Political Commissar of the th Column. Comrade Feng Linqi, Political Commissar of the rd Special Forces Brigade, be transferred to serve as First Deputy Political Commissar of the th Column. Comrade Zhang Chao will serve as Second Deputy Political Commissar and Director of the Political Department of the th Column. Comrade Cao will be appointed Chief of Staff of the th Column."

Too many military cadres from Hebei, Rehe and Chahar went to the Northeast.

Wei Hongjun couldn't find the column commander for a while, so he had to let Zhang Zihua lead the troops.

Zhang Zihua was the deputy commander of the Hebei-Rehe-Chahar Military Region and the deputy commander of the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Third Field Army. He was more than qualified to be a column commander.

Wei Hongjun continued, "The Sixth Brigade, the Security Brigade, and the Cavalry Brigade will form the 11th Column. Our Field Army Headquarters will directly lead the 11th Column, and I will serve as its commander and political commissar. I would like to ask the commander for two people."

"who."

"Comrade Tang Jie and Comrade Li Tianhao. Our Third Field Army is currently short of cadres. I would like Comrade Tang Jie to serve as the deputy commander of the 11th Column, and Comrade Li Tianhao as the deputy political commissar.

"You are trying to hollow out the Jin-Cha-Ji Field Army Headquarters."

Marshal Nie smiled.

Wei Hongjun did not explain.

Wei Hongjun actually suggested that Marshal Nie not focus too much on the field armies. His commanding abilities were indeed inferior to those of other generals. It would be better for him to focus on developing major strategies and then letting the field armies fight on their own. He should let go of military matters and focus more on the overall situation, on building bases and developing military logistics.

The better Jin-Cha-Ji develops, the more say Marshal Nie will have in the North China Bureau in the future.

Nor would he have been criticized so frequently at North China Bureau meetings. He was unable to intervene in many of the bureau's work. Even when the land reform work teams clashed with the field army, Marshal Nie was unable to intervene.

Nie Shuai thought for a moment and said, "They can give it to you."

"Thank you, Commander."

While Wei Hongjun was preparing for the deployment of the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Third Field Army column, a major event occurred in Yan'an.

"Go. This way we can seize complete initiative. We must fully anticipate the possibility that Chiang Kai-shek will force us into a surrender, but the signing hand is mine."

Besides, we have our own strength, the support of the nation, Chiang Kai-shek's own difficulties, and foreign intervention. This trip can solve some problems. So we must go.

1945 8 Month 10 Day.