I saw Xiaohuzi in front of him a full box of military lunch rice, a box of fungus roasted roe deer meat, a box of canned beef, and most of the lunch box of mushroom pheasant soup. Knowing that for his arrival, Yang Zhen probably didn't bother to think about it, and the commander-in-chief, who was still a little melancholy just now, said with a smile on his face: "It seems that your life is good." ”

"Although the delicacies of roe deer, pheasants and mushrooms in this mountain are not fresh, this rice is a very strict material controlled by the devil. Even among the puppet Manchurian officials, except for high-ranking puppet personnel, those who are idle cannot eat. ”

Li Yanping, who had completely calmed down at this time, heard that the commander-in-chief had misunderstood, so he smiled and said, "Commander-in-chief, this is specially prepared for you by Commander Yang." As for us, except for Lao Peng, who has stomach problems, we eat no different from other soldiers on weekdays. The same is sorghum rice, and some pickle gnocchi from Weihe County are made. When Lao Peng squatted in the devil's prison, his stomach was broken, and he couldn't stand eating coarse grains. ”

"But this meat is all the same. In order to ensure the nutrition of the cadres and soldiers, the commander managed to organize a group of people from hunters to form a hunting team, which was specially responsible for hunting and providing meat for the troops. ”

"Zhang Guangcailing is a treasure trove, although it is all mountain, it is very raw, we have no seeds, we can't grow food, but this ready-made meat is available. Beat the roe deer with a stick and scoop the fish. Especially in winter, all kinds of beasts are very fat. ”

"A wild boar weighs two hundred pounds. The idea is that two wild boars will be enough for the troops to eat meat for a day or even two days. There are also pheasants, after the snow, you can get a dozen, or even dozens of pheasants, with some food and a set. Just like the commander said, we can't guard Baoshan and not even eat meat, can we? Dry gnawing this pickles, sorghum rice is not. We train a lot on weekdays, and we can't guarantee it without the body of a carnivorous unit. ”

"You can rest assured, we have already arranged the cadres and fighters who have been transferred with the General Command. It's just that I'm worried that the fighters will be hungry for a long time and eat too much at once, and their stomachs will be broken. So all we offer is sorghum rice porridge with stewed wild boar and this pheasant soup. As for this roe deer, it was accidentally shot by the troops during training yesterday. The commander said that the roe deer meat is more delicate than wild boar, and what nutritional value is high, and he specially explained to you to keep it to replenish your body. ”

"If it's special, only this rice and canned food are specially prepared for you. The commander said that you are from Yunnan and are used to eating rice. I knew that you were here today, so when I was preparing a meal for Lao Peng, I asked the cooking class to cook some more. Said that I would give you a tooth sacrifice first, and it would be considered a catch. ”

Hearing Li Yanping's words, the commander-in-chief carefully looked at Yang Zhen in front of him, and sighed slightly: "Commander Yang is bothered. Although I am a native of Yunnan, I have been fighting in the south and north for so many years, and I have long been accustomed to following the customs of the country. I am used to eating sorghum rice and flatbread. Now that the situation is difficult, it is better for us high-ranking cadres to share weal and woe with ordinary cadres and soldiers. ”

Yang Zhen didn't care about the little unfamiliar words in the commander-in-chief's politeness, but just smiled and said: "Commander-in-chief, it is difficult to form a difficult shape, and it is appropriate to share weal and woe with the soldiers, and several of us have been doing this." ”

"But sometimes you have to have special circumstances, special treatment. You are the supreme leader of all the anti-Japanese forces in the entire East Manchurian region, and everything is as small as a grain of food for the troops, a supplement for winter clothes, and as big as how to break the encirclement and suppression of the Japanese puppet army, these are all things you need to consider. ”

"When the fighters are resting, you have to think, study, and figure out how to solve problems. When the warriors march, you march too. If the conditions don't allow it, there is no way. But when the right time comes, it's still necessary to supplement with some nutrients. You know, mental work can consume much more energy than physical work. ”

"Commander-in-chief, sometimes to maintain the morale and morale of the army, it is not that those of us who are commanders must share weal and woe with the soldiers. Of course, what I'm talking about is not for us to marry young, spend all day drinking, and go alone. At some time, certain things, such as diet, should be taken care of. After all, many of us who are commanders are very old and still have injuries on our bodies. ”

"The key to maintaining the morale and morale of the soldiers is to let the soldiers see hope and see the hope that we will eventually achieve victory. The morale and morale of the army must be maintained by winning battles continuously. Yang Zhen's last sentence was a bit heavy.

Hearing Yang Zhen's words, the commander-in-chief put down the dishes and chopsticks in his hand, sighed and said, "Yes." If we can win battles regularly, all cadres and soldiers can see the hope of victory. Some of our comrades, even those who have been tortured by devils, will not betray the faith they have sworn to because they see the hope of invictory. ”

For the commander-in-chief's long sigh, Yang Zhen knew that he was still for the former beloved general who betrayed the Anti-Japanese Federation when the Western Expedition was at its most severe. After Yang Zhen unexpectedly took Weihe County, he was recaptured and shot to death after being recaptured.

After pondering for a while, Yang Zhen raised his head and said to the commander-in-chief who looked a little sad: "Commander-in-chief, don't be too sad. For us, the more severe the moment, the more it is time to test people. Only the strongest-willed will see our victory. The big Lang pans the sand, and what is inexhaustible is the real gold. ”

"Okay, Commander Yang said this well. The big Lang pans the sand, and what is inexhaustible is the real gold. As long as we stick to what we believe in, and we don't compromise, we keep fighting, and I believe that we will see the day when we will be victorious. After listening to Yang Zhen's words, the spirit of the commander-in-chief obviously seemed much better.

However, perhaps it was the deterioration of the situation that made the commander-in-chief seem to have no appetite. The commander-in-chief just ate a few bites hastily and put down the dishes and chopsticks in his hand. After waving his hand and signaling the guards behind him to take away the endgame in front of him, the commander-in-chief was silent for a moment and said, "What does Commander Yang think of the current shape." ”

Yang Zhen pondered for a moment, stood up, walked to the map hanging behind him, thought about it, pointed to the map, and said: "Commander-in-chief, we have been fighting alone, except for some information obtained from interrogating prisoners in several battles, we don't know anything about the situation in Xiajiang. So commander-in-chief, we also need you to give us a brief introduction to the current situation in Xiajiang. ”

The commander-in-chief walked to the map and looked at it carefully, and said, "To be honest, we don't know much about how many troops the devils have dispatched so far. The underground organization in Xiajiang has been destroyed so badly by the devils that we can hardly get any useful information from the outside world now. ”

"Just from what we are currently experiencing in the various departments of the Second Route Army. Judging from the number of troops of the Japanese puppet army blockading the Xiajiang area, so far there are at least 20,000 to 30,000 Japanese puppet troops concentrated in the Xiajiang area. This is not counting the puppet Manchurian police and puppet self-defense regiments and other miscellaneous puppet army forces in various places. ”

Speaking of this, the commander-in-chief looked at Yang Zhen and smiled slightly: "Speaking of which, I would like to thank you." If you hadn't taken the initiative to capture Weihe County and mobilize part of the Japanese puppet army to move westward, our current situation would have been even more dangerous. You must know that before you attacked, the Japanese puppet army mobilized by the devils in Xiajiang was at least more than 40,000. ”

"Under the intensive cleaning of the Japanese puppet army's nets, we basically lost embers in various secret camps in Xiajiang. The troops that remained in Xiajiang after the Western Expedition were in trouble and suffered heavy losses. The only three divisions left after the Fifth Army's westward expedition, the two division commanders died before and after, and more than half of the troops suffered casualties. ”

"And after the Ninth Army surrendered to the enemy, the only remaining main force, the Seventh Army, also suffered great losses, and there were less than 200 people left, and it had lost its combat effectiveness. The most important thing is that under the various means of the devils, there is a shortage of food and ammunition, and it can almost be said that the ammunition is exhausted. ”

"Now the departments of the Anti-Japanese Federation in the Xiajiang area, after the main force of the Third Route Army marched westward, in addition to the Seventh Army, only the small troops left behind by the Third Army and the Sixth Army remained. At present, he is trapped in the deep mountains and old forests, and he is no longer able to support it. ”

Listening to the introduction of the commander-in-chief, Yang Zhen stared at the map, his brows furrowed deeply. After being silent for a long time, Yang Zhen said: "Commander-in-chief, say something not very polite." If the Second Route Army and the Third Route Army cooperate in the operation, although they cannot completely change the current passive situation, at least they will not fall into such a predicament. ”

"There is a big gap between our strength and the Japanese puppet army, as the two main forces of the anti-Japanese alliance operating in the Xiajiang area, they cannot fight together in the current situation of the great enemy, but they are fighting separately and are broken by the devils. If we had beaten someone with a fist, the result would have been much better. ”

Regarding Yang Zhen's thoughts, the commander-in-chief shook his head and said, "How can we not know what you said. It is always more powerful to beat someone with a fist than to slap someone, but with the concentration of troops, we simply cannot solve the problem of provisions. ”

"Ever since the devils began to merge their households, we have fallen into passivity. Every grain of food, every bullet must be exchanged for blood. Not to mention that the large troops are concentrated together, even when there are many small troops, they have to be half hungry and half full. ”

"When a large army is concentrated, let alone fighting, even if you are hungry, you will die of hunger. Besides, there is too much difference between the combat effectiveness of our troops and the devils, and they are not their opponents at all. Together, they can only be wiped out by them faster. Avoiding the enemy's edge can only be our best and only choice. ”

Yang Zhen nodded and said, "Yes." The devil's return to the tun and merge the household is very vicious. The fortified wall was supposed to be our means of dealing with them, but now they are being used against us in turn. We have a fish-water relationship with the people, and if we are fish, then the people are water. Fish can't live without water. ”

"I don't understand, when the devils carried out the return to the tun and the households, why did you honestly let the devils drive the people into the cluster tribes, and didn't want to destroy them? We're in a predicament. ”

Regarding Yang Zhen's question, the commander-in-chief could only smile and shake his head, but he couldn't answer it. This is a decision made by Moscow, and how can he, who has a strong party spirit, oppose it?

Seeing the wry smile on the commander-in-chief's face, Yang Zhen somewhat understood. As for the command ability of this representative to the Comintern, Yang Zhen also knew something from later books. If it is said that he is scheming and engaging in political conspiracy, he is indeed a good hand. But when it comes to coordinating the overall situation and commanding operations, he is much worse than the founding leader.

Since the commander-in-chief had a difficult face and didn't want to answer, Yang Zhen, who could roughly guess the reason, wisely skipped this question and did not continue to entangle. But for Xiajiang's current form, Rao is that he has lived for decades longer than everyone here, but he is helpless.

It was not only the Second Route Army's westward expedition that suffered great losses, but also the Northern Manchurian Third Route Army's westward expedition. Although there were not many battles, the non-combat losses were also very large. Relying on the current strength of the Anti-Japanese Alliance, coupled with the fact that it has been divided by the Japanese puppet army in many places, it can be said that it is basically powerless.

After hesitating for a moment, Yang Zhen said: "The commander-in-chief is the Second Route Army, which is still remaining in the Xiajiang area, especially the remnants of the Seventh Army, the Fifth Army, and the Fourth Army that have been withdrawn to Tongjiang, Fujin, and Fuyuan, and are currently temporarily retreating into the Soviet Union. And here we are, to continue to recuperate. The key is the reorganization and training of the troops. ”

Regarding Yang Zhen's idea, the commander-in-chief was a little hesitant. For him, who had crossed the border many times to meet with the Soviet army, he could not have known too well the outcome of the retreat of the various units of the Anti-Japanese Union into the territory of the Soviet Union. The result is almost equal to permanent loss. Those anti-union soldiers did not sacrifice on the battlefield to kill the enemy, but they were made alive by the big brother in their hearts, and they did not see their bodies. At the beginning of the year, the ending of the Third Army and the Sixth Army made him unforgettable. And there dare to let the troops withdraw from the territory of the USSR for rest?

Regarding the hesitation of the commander-in-chief, Yang Zhen naturally knew it. Yang Zhen smiled and said, "Commander-in-chief, do you remember when you were in Yidong, I gave you the last telegram?" I know what you're worried about. ”

Seeing that the commander-in-chief nodded, Yang Zhen continued: "Even if our troops crossing the river are disarmed by the Soviet army, I believe that their safety is at least guaranteed. As long as our people survive, there will be a chance to return to the battlefield one day. Besides, commander-in-chief, do you think they will not retreat to the other side, how long can they hold out in this icy and snowy place, the Japanese army is heavily surrounded and suppressed, and they themselves are short of food and ammunition. ”

"Commander-in-chief, it's still the same sentence, people have a way to live. Moreover, I don't think the attitude of the other side of the strait will remain unchanged due to changes in the situation. Now the shape of Manchuria is no longer comparable with the beginning of the year, and the devil has mobilized a large number of Japanese troops to station in Manchuria in just one year. I think that under the threat of hundreds of thousands of heavy Japanese troops, it is absolutely impossible to have no pressure on the other side. ”

"Judging from the little information we have, the devils not only upgraded the Kwantung Army, but also increased the strength of at least a few divisions. The Devil Army that we ambushed in Weihe County was carrying the Fourth Division, which had just been mobilized from the Japanese mainland. This is the first batch of regular four-unit field divisions formed by the devils. ”

"At the moment, at least in Manchuria, the Japanese army has no opponents. And our army in the Guannai will not be able to pose any threat to Manchuria at all, at least for a short time. The devils are constantly increasing their troops in Manchuria, I don't think they are here to fight soy sauce after all, right? ”

"This year's Manchurian-Soviet border is not just a small-scale conflict, just a battle of Zhang Gufeng, if it weren't for the fact that both sides have their own minds and don't want to expand the conflict, I think I'm afraid it would have been lively a long time ago. Let's not talk about the international form. The situation on the Manchurian-Soviet border alone is enough for the Soviet army to change its attitude towards us. ”

"Of course, large-scale arms aid is impossible. But at least it will give us a place to recuperate. However, there is one thing that the commander-in-chief must mention, the Soviet army is to support us, but the ultimate goal is definitely not an international obligation, but to make us serve them. ”

"Therefore, even if we retreat into the territory of the Soviet Union, we must send competent cadres, and we must keep the troops firmly in our hands. We must not let them consume us little by little. That would be counterproductive. ”