Although the Japanese are too ambitious, they have to admit that their precise process and meticulous attitude still need to be learned. The weather forecast brought by Michitake Yamaoka can be said to be quite accurate.

On the third day of Sasaki's arrival at the next order, a snowfall of a scale reaching the level of a blizzard accompanied by a sharp drop in temperature hit the Ning'an and Dunhua areas. This blizzard not only postponed Sasaki's plan to adjust the deployment, but also made Yang Zhen have no choice but to terminate his training.

There is no way, when the opposite side cannot see people clearly, to carry out shooting and actual combat training, that is not training, but because there are too many people in their own troops. In addition, when the snow has reached waist-deep depth, and the speed of snow removal cannot keep up with the speed of snowfall, it is impossible to carry out any training.

When Yang Zhen, who was on guard duty at night, personally felt the severe cold of more than minus 40 degrees, he realized how warm it was in the winter when he was stationed in Nanmanchu and Liaoning in later generations when the minimum temperature was more than minus 20 degrees. Even the more than minus 30 degrees Celsius experienced during winter wilderness survival training in the Daxing'an Mountains, which is further north than here, is already a very cold winter, and it is far worse than now. Yang Zhen now knows how happy people living under greenhouse gases should be in the future.

Even though Yang Zhen is now wearing winter clothes with excellent warmth specially developed by the Japanese army for the Kwantung Army, Yang Zhen still feels that he can't stand the cold outside. Looking at the winter clothes on his body, Yang Zhen had to admire the meticulous Cheng dù of the little devil's work.

Compared with the winter clothes of the People's Liberation Army decades later, although the technology limited to the times is much heavier, the thermal insulation performance is not much different, and it is even more humanized. Yang Zhen now knows that in the last century, the People's Liberation Army in the cold region was equipped with old-fashioned winter clothes that imitated the Japanese Kwantung Army.

The cotton hat with ear protectors can be removed to protect the face from frostbite, the two-fingered cotton gloves are warm and do not affect the use of weapons, and the cuffs of the coat sleeves can be removed for knee pads if necessary. Although the style is a little ugly, it is very warm.

Not only is the coat designed to be extremely scientific, but even the high-waisted toe shoes ensure that the thick snow does not sink into the shoe shell, ensuring that the feet are not frostbitten. Although the size of winter clothes is generally shorter for soldiers enlisted in the Northeast, it is better than nothing.

Yang Zhen really couldn't imagine what would have happened to his thinly clothed troops in this mountainous area where the water was dripping into ice at minus 40 degrees in Weihe County. A few days ago, it was more than 30 degrees below zero, and many old backbones from the south felt a little unbearable. And now the temperature is at least below minus 40 degrees, if there is no such winter clothes, I am afraid that this unit will freeze and collapse, let alone training and combat.

After checking the sentry and returning to the war room, looking at Guo Bingxun, who was sitting in front of the bonfire and didn't know what was being written on his knees in addition to wearing a thick coat, Yang Zhen threw a few pieces of wood into the bonfire to make the bonfire burn more vigorously, and said with a smile: "Why hasn't it been better?" ”

After listening to Yang Zhen's words, Guo Bingxun put down the pen in his hand and smiled: "It's a shame that I have lived in the Northeast for so long. I can't imagine that after only seven or eight years of work away from the Northeast, it is not suitable for the climate of the Northeast. ”

"Maybe it was because I stayed too comfortable in France and the Sichuan army in the early years, and I couldn't bear hardship. As soon as the temperature dropped, a fever began. Fortunately, I got much better after taking medicine, and just now Zhang Ting came over to take my temperature, and it has come down. My illness has delayed a lot of things. ”

Yang Zhen reached out to the bonfire and roasted his fingers, which were almost frozen, and said, "Don't talk about you, even I'm a little uncomfortable." went out to check a round of whistles, isn't this also freezing enough? He didn't wear gloves, but after a while, his hands were freezing. The severe cold of more than minus 40 degrees Celsius is really dripping into ice. ”

"The cold and hunger of this northern Manchurian are more difficult to deal with the enemy than the Japanese army in many cases. If it weren't for the large amount of winter clothing and ammunition captured by the Japanese army and the large amount of food collected during the attack on Weihe County, I am afraid that we would have been dragged down by freezing and starvation, not to mention the battle. ”

Speaking of this, Yang Zhen stood up, went out to see that it had been raining outside for a whole day and a night since the night before yesterday, and now although the snowfall has decreased, it has turned from a blizzard to a heavy snowfall, but he can't see the trend of stopping, turned around and returned to the wooden flute and said: "If this snow goes down like this, the snow in this mountain is getting thicker and thicker, not to mention our training, even the action will be terminated." ”

Looking at Yang Zhen, who was a little anxious, Guo Bingxun smiled and said, "Commander, don't be in a hurry too early. I asked Zhang Ting, this mountainous area in the south of Ning'an was originally known as the Northeast Snow Town, and it was the area with the largest snowfall in the entire Northeast in winter. This snow is a bit rare, but it's not unusual. ”

"Although the snow was heavy and limited our movements, it also caused a lot of inconvenience to the Japanese army. At the very least, we're not the only ones who have trouble moving in waist-deep snow. Even if the devils carry out a net sweep in the mountainous areas north of Dunhua, I am afraid that they will be delayed for a lot of time because of this blizzard. In any case, as long as the devil does not act for a day, it can be regarded as buying us an extra day. ”

After that, Guo Bingxun looked at the vigorous bonfire in the brazier, but said: "Compared with the weather, I am more worried about Li Mingrui and them now." The temperature dropped so much at once, they were in the wilderness, and in the whole day of marching, it was impossible to build a wooden flute to keep out the cold. Their winter field training has not yet begun, and if they are careless, they are afraid that there will be large-scale frostbite. The radio signal has not been able to reach them for the past two days, and I am very worried about them. ”

"No, it won't. Among them, there are many hunter-born fighters who have lived in the mountains for many years, and Dong Ping, who has been fighting guerrillas in the mountains for many years. Lao Guo, you have to believe in the old subordinates who have been with you for many years. Regarding Guo Bingxun's worries, Yang Zhen has high confidence in Li Mingrui's appearance.

For Yang Zhen's consolation, Guo Bingxun shook it with a wry smile: "Commander, this is not the Sichuan Plain with a warm climate, but the Beiman Mountains with more than minus 40 degrees. This is the first time for Mingrui to go to the Northeast, and he doesn't have any experience in the cold. If they are combined with Dali and Dong Ping, and there is an experienced Dong Ping, I will not be worried. But they are still looking for Dong Pingzhong. It is unclear whether they joined Dong Ping or not. ”

Knowing that Guo Bingxun was worried about his old subordinates, Yang Zhen couldn't say anything for a while. Yang Zhen knew that Guo Bingxun and Li Mingrui had a deep relationship. If he is in Sichuan, no matter how dangerous the situation is, Guo Bingxun will not worry about Li Mingrui, because he believes that with Li Mingrui's ability, there will definitely be no danger.

But this is more than minus 40 degrees in the North Manchurian Mountains, for Li Mingrui, who has no experience in living in cold areas, or even experience in marching after snow, there are countless crises hidden in this snow.

It's just that people have already set off, and now the radio station can't be contacted for a long time, so even if you are worried, you can only wait patiently. However, although the radio station has been unable to be contacted for a long time, Yang Zhen still has confidence in Li Mingrui, and he believes that Li Mingrui will definitely be able to find Huang Dali and Dong Ping, who are operating in Dunhua, safely. He still has a lot of confidence in Li Mingrui.

glanced at Guo Bingxun, who was worried about Li Mingrui's safety, and thought for a while, but Yang Zhen, who didn't know how to persuade him, diverted the topic and said: "Old Guo, do you think the Japanese army will be fooled?" ”

"Yes. Whether or not the little devils believe the bait we have cast, I think they will mobilize their forces to launch a clearance of northern Dunhua. The reason is simple, as long as it is certain that we are not hiding in the mountainous areas north of Dunhua, then they can target the Anshan Mountains of Nanning, the only and last place where we can hide, the Binsui Line. ”

"As a result, the scope of their search is much smaller. Whether this information is true or not, but for the Japanese army, they have always touched the traces of our army, right? With a general goal, there is no need for the Japanese army to blindly touch the elephant and look for it in the hundreds of miles of deep mountains and old forests. ”

"However, I estimate that in the usual style of Japanese generals, when they search and suppress the mountainous areas north of Dunhua, they will also send small detachments or aviation units to reconnoiter the rest of the area. No matter how hidden we are, there will always be traces of our activities in the mountains after the snow. The snow in the mountains certainly restricted the movement of the Japanese troops, but it was also extremely easy to reveal the whereabouts of our troops. So, Commander, I build yì we still have to be ready for battle. ”

"At the same time, after Li Mingrui and the others returned, I immediately let them out, seize the time to find out the weak places of the Japanese blockade line, and find out the weak positions of the Japanese blockade line, so as to prepare for the breakthrough when the last resort is necessary."

Speaking of this, Guo Bingxun hesitated and said, "If they can come back safely." ”

Regarding Guo Bingxun's analysis, Yang Zhen nodded and said, "My thoughts are similar. However, regardless of whether the devils will once again send a reconnaissance plane to conduct aerial reconnaissance in the mountainous areas south of Ning'an, as soon as the snow stops, the troops must immediately carry out actual combat training. Just as you said, after the devils have failed to clear the territory of Dunhua, they will definitely turn their target to the mountainous areas southwest of Ning'an. ”

After that, Yang Zhen took the map and said, "However, I don't think we should do this actual combat training here." It is better not to expose this secret camp as much as possible, to fight the devils, we need a base to house the wounded and supplies. We only have this secret camp, and once it is exposed, we will have no further place to find it. ”

"Lao Guo, you see that from Lao Heidingzi Mountain to the southwest is the intersection of Zhang Guangcai Ridge and Lao Ye Ridge, which is less than twenty kilometers away from here in a straight line. I went there a few days ago to see the terrain, the area is about 500 hectares, the terrain is good, the whole altitude is about 1,000 meters or more, there are two peaks at an altitude of more than 1,700 meters. There are also small flatlands in the mountains. I think it's possible to carry out actual combat training. Moreover, this is at the junction of Dunhua and Ning'an, and the actual combat training ground is chosen here, and Li Mingrui and them can also be picked up. ”

Regarding Yang Zhen's thoughts, Guo Bingxun pondered for a moment and said: "Commander, you pulled the troops there for training, have you ever thought about how to deal with the Japanese puppet army that entered the mountains to clear and suppress it?" And the main force is pulled away, what should I do if there is a situation here in the secret camp?

"You know, all our supplies are stored here. If the secret camp is lost, then we will lose our only support. And the commander-in-chief is also here, if the commander-in-chief is lost, how should the entire Second Route Army view us? Running a dead horse on the mountain, twenty kilometers on the map, and walking in the mountains, this distance should be added by at least half. Not to mention the waist-deep mountainous hinterland where the snow is not as deep as it is waist? Once there is a situation in the secret camp, it will be too late for the main force to rush over for reinforcements. ”

"Commander, we can disperse the supplies. The entire Laoheidingzi area is so large that there are many places where materials can be hidden. In the past few days, I have talked a lot with the cadres of the Second Route Army who came with the commander-in-chief, and I have learned a lot from their experience. I think we can follow the guerrilla experience of the Second Route Army, disperse some of the supplies, and build a few more secret camps. With the commander's ability, I think it is good to conceal these supplies. ”

"It's true that we're ready to fight, but we can't be too cautious. For us now, the most important thing to do is to set up more hidden points and secret camps, so that all the materials, except for the necessary ones, can be dispersed and hidden. At the same time, it can also be used as a shelter for the sick and wounded. ”

"The second is to do everything possible to make the troops form combat effectiveness. We've been hiding here for two months. After two months of hard training, the troops' tactical literacy and the use of various tactics, except for the operation of weapons, have made great progress from before. We are not without the ability to fight the Japanese army. ”

"Combat training doesn't take long. The veterans of our unit who have participated in the battle already have actual combat experience, and all they need to strengthen is all kinds of firepower coordinated training to ensure that there will no longer be a situation in which a few heavy machine guns cannot suppress the devil's two light machine guns. ”

"Compared to veterans who have fought several battles and are more lacking in various types of collaborative training, these trainings are mainly for new recruits. Take some necessary training, so that the recruits who have not undergone training will not panic under the fire of the Japanese puppet army, and just feel the atmosphere of the battlefield in advance. And this kind of training doesn't take too long, I think five or six days is enough. ”

"The snow will reveal some of our whereabouts, but if we are prepared, we should be able to hide our tracks. We can see the camp as our reliance, but we can't hang ourselves in a camp. As the saying goes, the cunning rabbit still has three holes, let alone us? ”

"Commander, I think it's better for this training to be near the secret camp. First, it allows the fighters to get a quick rest after training fatigue. It is extremely cold at minus 40 degrees, and it is impossible for people to live in the wild for a long time. The second is also convenient for supply. There are more than 1,000 people in this army, all of them are pulled there, how to solve the problem of provisions? You can't carry all your provisions, can you? ”

Speaking of this, Guo Bingxun raised his head and looked at Yang Zhen and said, "Commander, what is the purpose of our training troops?" It's not to stay here and be a personal guard for us. It's to fight the devils, and we have to fight it sooner or later. Since the troops are about to take shape, it is necessary to fight early and late. ”

"The actual commander should know better than me that the three-month training for a unit is more just for them to develop the most basic military qualities and lay some tactical foundations, and it will take quite a long time for other necessary training."

"Under the circumstance that it is impossible for us to give us so much time, the basic training of the troops has actually become our only option. So, Commander, judging from the current situation, I think we should be able to attack in half a month at most. Instead of passively waiting for the devil to come to the door, let's take advantage of the heavy snow to attack. ”

"Commander, after you told me that day that day that I was asked to prepare a contingency plan, I have been pondering for the past few days, why should we sit back and wait for the devils to come to the door to beat us after they have finished sweeping the net in northern Dunhua?"

"Now that the basic tactical training of the troops has been completed, why can't we take the initiative to attack and take advantage of the fact that the devil is dividing his troops to clear up? The best way to protect the secret camp is to defeat the forces that the devils may be besieging us. Simply diverting their attention is not the best way to do it. Although we can't keep the enemy out of the house, we can't let them touch our door smoothly, right? ”

"The devil has cleared the net in the north of Dunhua, and we can take this opportunity to beat him for a time difference. After conducting simple combat training for the troops, the materials here were dispersed and hidden, and then quickly concealed and went south. Strive to fight a few battles in the north of Dunhua, attract some devils to blockade the troops, and then advance eastward. Either jump out of the outside line to fight, or seek an opportunity to go into hiding again. ”

Regarding Guo Bingxun's initiative to attack, Yang Zhen pondered for a long time and said: "Old Guo, I'm a little too sharp. You're right, if you want to keep the secret camp, simply diverting your attention is not the best way. It's time to give them a guy. ”

"In this way, if you have not been in good health recently, don't lead the team to train. You come up with a battle plan, and we'll study it. When the snow stopped, we hurried up to conduct five days to a week of actual combat training, and when Mingrui and the others came back, we looked for an opportunity to go south to find the devil's bad luck. However, after this battle, you should carefully ponder where we are going. ”