Under Yang Zhen's repeated losses, Li Yanping's grievance conference was quite successful. Not only did he succeed in winning most of the prisoners of the puppet Manchu army to join the army, but he also successfully dug up a big fish and caught a puppet Manchurian colonel brigade chief of staff.

After conducting a strict and detailed interrogation of these puppet Manchurian officers, especially the chief of staff of the old Northeast Army brigade commander, Yang Zhen and Li Yanping jointly signed the execution letter after relying on the fact that the top adviser of the Japanese army stationed in the brigade was the teacher of the Japanese Army Non-commissioned Officer School as the backstage. Execute them all.

This grievance meeting not only caused most of the captured ordinary puppet Manchu soldiers to volunteer to participate in the anti-Japanese resistance, but also publicized it through the mouths of those puppet Manchu military and police personnel who had found various reasons and did not want to stay, giving a great deterrent to those puppet Manchu traitors. It's just that while everything has a good side, there are often some negative effects.

Yang Zhen was not mistaken, the commander-in-chief was extremely angry that Yang Zhen executed the captured officers above the company level of the puppet Manchurian army without asking for instructions, and even included some squad and platoon-level officers, especially the chief of staff of a brigade.

It's just that in this matter, out of the maintenance of Yang Zhen's prestige, as the commander-in-chief's old subordinates, Li Yanping and Wang Guangyu both concealed it from the commander-in-chief. And the rest of the cadres and fighters, not to mention the old backbones who have been following Yang Zhen, even those who were born in the Anti-Japanese Federation, also out of hatred for traitors, also worked together to help conceal it.

When the commander-in-chief received a report from his own guards and rushed over, he only saw the corpses of a dozen puppet Manchu officers who had been picked by bayonets all over the ground. For these traitors, Yang Zhen will not be willing to give up precious bullets.

The commander-in-chief pointed to a corpse and said angrily to Yang Zhen and Li Yanping: "What are you doing here? Do you still want the party's policy? Do you still want discipline? You are not bandits, you are revolutionary soldiers. Do you know how passive you will be in the future in the fight for pseudo-personnel? ”

After the collective criticism, the commander-in-chief named them one by one. The first person to be named was Yang Zhen. The commander-in-chief, who knew his old subordinates Li Yanping and Wang Guangyu very well, knew that they did not have the courage to execute the prisoners without asking for instructions. I am afraid that the only person who made this decision was the bold young regiment leader in front of him.

"Commander Yang, kill prisoners without permission, this is what you learned from the Party Central Committee? Is this how our Party Central Committee conducts its work against the enemy? I don't believe in our party, that's what the captivity policy does? ”

"You're someone who worked around the center, no matter what your reason for coming to Tohoku. But do you know that although you were just an ordinary grassroots cadre before, in the hearts of many Anti-Japanese League soldiers, what you did represented the Party Central Committee. You know how it affects them if you do that? ”

Seeing that the commander-in-chief was the first to aim the cannon at Yang Zhen, Li Yanping, who was about to do the explanation work, breathed a sigh of relief slightly: "The commander-in-chief still understands people and knows who did this." It's just that Li Yanping still has to think about how to defend Yang Zhen to the commander-in-chief.

It's just that before Li Yanping, who racked his brains to think about how to defend Yang Zhen, came up with a way, he didn't expect that the commander-in-chief who criticized Yang Zhen would target him again: "And you, Li Yanping, you are an old party member and a senior cadre of the Anti-Japanese Federation." It's not that you don't know our policy of fighting against the enemy, who gave you the audacity to do so? ”

"You are his commissar, and when he makes mistakes, why don't you stop him? He's young and vigorous, and you're young and vigorous too? This is the level of you, the commissar? That's how it works? If so, what's the use of you as a political commissar? ”

"And you, Wang Guangyu, you are my old subordinate, or someone who has served as the political commissar of the division, and you are the only one among the five of you who has really been a senior political work cadre. When this kind of thing happens, why don't you stop them and help them hide it together? Where have you learned about your policies? ”

Among Yang Zhen's command team, except for Guo Bingxun, who was not a party member and was from a friendly army, the commander-in-chief was a little taboo and did not criticize, and Patten Dingjie did not show up because he stayed in the secret camp, and the other three people were all named and severely criticized by the commander-in-chief.

Regarding the commander-in-chief's anger, Yang Zhen put on an ostrich posture, and he shouldn't say anything at all, but turned his eyes to Li Yanping, who was reprimanded by the commander-in-chief, and straightened his mouth, motioning for him to explain.

Seeing Yang Zhen's signal, Li Yanping could only smile bitterly. He knows the character of the commander-in-chief very well, but he doesn't dare to explain it when the commander-in-chief is angry. Although the commander-in-chief's words were very heavy, he was a little worried that Yang Zhen would not be able to accept it. But he really didn't have the courage to persuade at this time, so he could only wait for the commander-in-chief's anger to subside for a while before he said the words he had discussed with Yang Zhen.

In fact, Yang Zhen was not angry about the commander-in-chief's criticism, but was very happy. The commander-in-chief's outspoken criticism to his face shows that the commander-in-chief is a fair and upright person, and that he does not make small moves behind his back when he has anything to say.

Whether you see it as a real superior, or a nominal superior. There is such a superior who is always much stronger and safer than those who specialize in making small moves behind their backs, going online at every turn, not being able to fight, but doing small things at a very good time. At least when you're fighting in front, you don't have to worry about someone behind you making ghosts.

It is no wonder that in the history known to later generations, although the reputation of the commander-in-chief of the Second Route Army was not the loudest among the Third Route Army of the Anti-Japanese Alliance, he was much more highly evaluated in the army, especially among the armies of the Second Route Army, than those who claimed to be Marxist-Leninist experts in the Third Route Army. It is also more popular. The political struggle in the Second Route Army was also the least. Having such a superior will always be much more reassuring.

After listening to Li Yanping's explanation, although the commander-in-chief's gloomy face was still gloomy, it was much better. After his face softened, the commander-in-chief also knew that his tone was a little heavy, and he was still a little worried that Yang Zhen was young and vigorous, and he couldn't accept his criticism.

It's just that I didn't expect that after being criticized, Yang Zhen neither showed that he couldn't accept it, nor did he show that he had a deep understanding of the strict mistakes he had made, but instead looked triumphant.

looked at Yang Zhen, who looked triumphant after being criticized, and the commander-in-chief, whose anger had subsided somewhat, almost didn't jump like thunder. If it weren't for Li Yanping next to him secretly and gently pulling him, I'm afraid Yang Zhen would be criticized again. can make the commander-in-chief, who is gentle and elegant, always calm, and rarely angry, like this, Yang Zhen is at least the first in the Second Route Army.

Seeing that his criticism didn't play much role in this guy, and it was not good to continue criticizing, the commander-in-chief, who always wanted to save some face for this young general, had no choice but to point at Yang Zhen with a wry smile and said: "You guy, you can fight a war, but your cheeky skin is thick enough." ”

"Your ideas are good, but I don't agree with the methods you have taken. Since several principal leaders of your regiment have formed a unified opinion on this matter, I will not pursue it further. You are still young, and according to your abilities, you will go far in the future. Whether or not I will see you the day you step into the position of senior general. But I still have some pieces of advice, you have to remember. ”

"Whether you think this advice is the advice of an old soldier, an old party member, or the kindness of a big brother, I hope you can remember him."

"The struggle against the enemy is a very complicated matter, and it cannot be solved by killing alone. You are a military commander and the military commander of the troops. What you do should play a good role model for the following, and you can't just rely on will. In everything, we should think more about other aspects, especially the work against the enemy. Thanks to you, you have become an enemy department. ”

"If you had been working like you had done against the enemy, I am afraid that all those you were fighting for would have been killed by you. Unfortunately, those who are eligible to be won over by you are within the scope of your execution. ”

"As a senior commander, you have to be calm in any form. Only by being calm can we consider things more comprehensively. There are many times when military means alone cannot solve all problems. As for the military and political personnel who are puppet Manchurians, as long as they are not extremely heinous, we will try to win them as much as we can. You know better than I do about the party's current policies. I hope you have time to learn more. ”

Speaking of this, the commander-in-chief sighed and said, "I have decided to send the director of the political department of the Third Division of the Fifth Army, as well as a political commissar of the regiment, to go to Shandong and Hebei to find the Party Central Committee in accordance with the method you said. Hopefully this time it won't disappoint us again. ”

Yang Zhen still listened to the commander-in-chief's advice. He still knows that killing people is not the only way to solve the problem. But Yang Zhen has always believed that with the current grim form of the Northeast, he must not be soft on those traitors who act for the tiger.

If you want to break the enemy's tight rule and fight for the environment your troops need to survive, you can only take serious medicine. It's just that these words, when the commander-in-chief says them now, I'm afraid they have to preach again. After hesitating for a moment, Yang Zhen swallowed back the words that had already reached his lips. was somewhat unconvinced, but Yang Zhen was still very modest on his face.

Looking at Yang Zhen's humble appearance, the commander-in-chief shook his head, he didn't know how much Yang Zhen could listen to these exhortations of his own. But there was no further investigation of this matter.

It's just that after getting the interrogation records of the puppet Manchu military and political personnel, the commander-in-chief's face is ugly. After receiving a confession to the prisoners of the 8th Wing of the Japanese Army who participated in the liquidation of the Xiajiang area, the commander-in-chief's face turned from ugly to Tie Qing.

From the results of the interrogation of the Japanese puppet army, the commander-in-chief knew that the troops left by his Second Route Army in the Xiajiang area were still persisting in the struggle except for a very small number of troops who hid in the deep mountains and old forests, and most of the rest of the troops were killed except for a few who were captured and surrendered to the enemy.

The troops of the Seventh Army, which had withdrawn to the Fujin and Tongjiang areas, and the few remnants of the Fourth and Fifth Armies, had almost fallen into a desperate situation after being hit hard, and they had been surrounded and intercepted by the Japanese puppet army, which had an absolute superiority.

Since the defeat of the Western Expedition, the whereabouts of the commander of the Fifth Army and some units of the Fifth Army led by him have also been verified from the mouths of these prisoners. Under the pursuit of the Japanese puppet army, they had no choice but to cross the river and retreat into the Soviet Union for temporary refuge.

In order to break the purge of the Japanese puppet army, the main force of the Third Route Army, which also carried out the westward expedition, was also hit hard. Although the losses were smaller than those of the Second Route Army, they were similarly in trouble. Although the Western Expedition was partially successful, it did not allow the Third Route Army to completely get out of the predicament, but it suffered heavy losses on the way to the Western Expedition because of cold and hunger.

Although the Third Route Army's westward expedition, which was relatively strong, avoided the huge losses of the Second Route Army, the total strength dropped sharply from more than 2,000 before the westward expedition to less than 800. A number of division and regimental cadres were sacrificed, and they lost the ability to fight continuously in a short period of time. The losses of the remaining units were even heavier. The two division commanders mutinied one after another, causing hundreds of ** units of the Third Route Army to stay in Xiajiang to die. The few units that survived were forced to retreat into the territory of the USSR.

Now facing the remnants of the Second Route Army, which was dominated by the Seventh Army, which had retreated to the Fujin and Tongjiang areas, was facing an extremely grim situation in which there was a shortage of food and ammunition, no supplies, and the loss of friendly forces. Whether to die in battle, or to find another way out and give the troops at least some time to recuperate, has almost become the most difficult choice for the commander-in-chief.

I didn't expect that the shape would change so drastically, and the Second Route Army and the Third Route Army operating in North Manchuria failed one after another. In addition to some troops of the Third Route Army retreating to the Heinen area, most of the anti-Japanese coalition armies that were originally active in the Xiajiang area were killed and some defected, and only a small number of troops retreated to the territory of the Soviet Union. It can be said that the anti-Japanese struggle in the Xiajiang area was close to defeat.

Although he had always wanted to know about the situation of the Third Route Army and had been looking for the lost troops of the Fifth Army, when he learned from the enemy that he wanted to know the commander-in-chief of Yiqiē, he suddenly became much older because of the rapid deterioration of the situation.

Regarding the change in the commander-in-chief's face, Yang Zhen, who had already read the interrogation records, naturally knew it. But the matter has come to this point, and under the situation that he cannot get in direct contact with the Seventh Army, Yang Zhen is also beyond the reach of the Seventh Army. He was even more powerless about the predicament faced by the Third Route Army.

After pondering for a long time, Yang Zhen raised his head and said to the commander-in-chief, who had suddenly aged more than ten years: "Commander-in-chief, it's time to make up your mind." ”

What Yang Zhen said was determined, the commander-in-chief, who had had a long conversation with him, naturally knew it. It's just that this determination is really difficult for the commander-in-chief to make.

After hesitating for a long time, the commander-in-chief shook his head resolutely and said, "If they withdraw across the river, you will really become alone in the entire Xiajiang area." It's hard to stand alone. They left the Xiajiang area, although their strength has been greatly reduced, but they are still a support to you. At least some of the attention of the Japanese puppet army can be drawn. ”

Speaking of this, the commander-in-chief raised his head, looked at Yang Zhen expectantly, and said, "Xiao Yang, this is the first time I have called you that." I know you have a lot of ideas, I'm not in the name of the commander-in-chief today, I'm just asking you as an ordinary veteran of the Anti-Japanese Federation, do you have any way to deal with the plight of the Seventh Army? ”

Although he couldn't bear the desire of the commander-in-chief, Yang Zhen finally shook his head and said: "Commander-in-chief, I understand the truths you said, and I know even more about what awaits us after the withdrawal of the Seventh Army?" ”

"But the commander-in-chief, we are really beyond the reach of the whip now, and there is nothing we can do. If the Seventh Army can hold out for another half a year, the shape may be able to improve. But now time waits for no one, and the situation of the Seventh Army waits for no one. If you persist and do not need to be encircled and suppressed by the Japanese puppet army, you will be frozen and hungry, and the Seventh Army will be frozen. ”

"Even if we can attract some Japanese puppet troops by attacking, our strength is limited after all. It's covered in iron, and how many nails can you hit? There are more than 100,000 Japanese puppet troops in the North Manchurian region, how many can we attract? Moreover, the Japanese army is still increasing its troops. ”

Speaking of this, Yang Zhen looked at the commander-in-chief's disappointed expression of loss, although he was expected, gritted his teeth and said, "Commander-in-chief, don't be too disappointed, we can't do anything about it." I promise you that as long as the Seventh Army can hold out for half a year, no, as long as it takes three to five months, I will try my best to save the anti-Japanese situation in the Xiajiang area. But what I need now is time. ”