"Turning from active to reactive? If you don't go into the mountains to clear it, what do you mean? "Ishihara, who dared to act as a staff officer of the Kwantung Army, was bold enough to launch the 918 Incident without authorization behind Tokyo's back, and he was not stupid. Sasaki's thoughts were only slightly revealed, and he understood.

Sasaki nodded and said, "Yes, I mean to use the strict blockade to force them out and force them to show up." Since these people are good at ambush warfare, it is impossible for us to mobilize a large number of troops when we go into the mountains, and in a situation like North Manchuria, where the population is sparse and the mountains are high and the forests are dense, going into the mountains to clear the troops means dividing the troops, so it is easy to create a certain number of fighters for them. ”

"There are fewer people, which is to add to the achievements of others. I went too much, but I couldn't draw so many troops. The most important thing is that we don't know anything about what is going on inside them, at least until now. Therefore, my plan is to use siege tactics to force them out. ”

"It's already October, and the weather in North Manchurian is about to enter winter. The winter in Manchuria, especially in northern Manchuria, is cruel. The extreme cold of minus thirty or forty degrees can ruin a qiē. These Chinese people are deep in the mountains and old forests, without winter clothes and food, how can they survive this harsh winter? There are not enough winter clothes, and even if they freeze, they will freeze to death in the reckless mountains of North Manchuria. This is not the warm South China. ”

"Even if they got some of the food in Weihe County, after they left Weihe County, they continued to fight, and in order to maintain the mobility of the troops, this food could not carry much. Now that the plan has been completed, the people in the mountains have all moved out, and they have nowhere to supply in the mountains. ”

"Even if some of the grain is seized, how long can it last when there is nowhere to replenish it? It won't be long before they come out of the mountains on their own initiative. Wouldn't that be better than if we went into the mountains to clear them up? ”

"As for the scope of the blockade? Since Ishihara-kun had already carried out a dragnet-like search of the Wuchang, Acheng, Zhuhe, and Weihe before I took office, we will focus the blockade on the mountainous areas west of the Mudanjiang River, south of the Binsui Railway, and east of the Ant River. ”

"In view of the fact that the life of every imperial soldier is precious, I have decided that this encirclement and suppression will continue to be dominated by the Manchukuo army, and only two squadrons of infantry and cavalry will be used as a battle supervisor. My opinion is to transfer one regiment of the Xing'an Army and one regiment of the Jing'an Army's infantry cavalry in the Manchukuo Army, which are relatively strong in combat effectiveness, to be deployed in Ning'an County and Weihe County respectively as mobile forces. ”

In addition, two mixed brigades of the Fourth Military Region of the Manchukuo Army, as well as four military police companies stationed in Harbin, the Ning'an Military Police Regiment, plus two regiments of the Ning'an Forest Police and the Binsui Road Protection Police stationed in Wuchang and Maoershan were transferred to block every pass in the mountainous area that could lead to the outside world. It is strictly forbidden to enter the mountains with a grain of grain, a tael of salt, a pound of cotton, or a piece of cloth. Part of the forces of the Fifth Independent Garrison was transferred to participate in the blockade in order to closely monitor the movements of the Manchukuo Army. ”

"In addition, an order was issued to collect all the grain and salt from the strongholds of the Guitun and the households, except for the three-day ration, and to concentrate them in the large market towns where heavy troops were stationed. Every three days, they will be collected by the police at the base and then distributed. I told these people that even if they broke through our blockade and landed a stronghold or two, they would not get enough supplies. ”

"Not only here, but all areas in North and South Manchuria where anti-Manchu and anti-Japanese elements are active must be handled in this way. Strictly control the amount of grain stored in the hands of the local people, and all materials such as cotton, cloth, and kerosene are supplied according to the capitation, and no excess can be left. ”

"Even if all the Manchurians in the entire mountainous area of North Manchuria are frozen to death and starved to death, these anti-Manchu and anti-Japanese elements must not be allowed to get a little supply."

Regarding Sasaki's plan to strictly control the grain, Ishihara agreed without thinking about it. It's just that after hesitating for a while about other plans, Ishihara Wan'er said again: "Your Excellency, I don't know how much food is in the hands of these bandits, but on the military column in Weihe County, in addition to some of the weapons and ammunition allocated by the Kwantung Army to the Korean army, there are also 3,000 complete sets of winter clothes that are ready to be transported to the border garrisons. ”

"It's just that this column of troops was blown up by the bandits when they were about to leave, and how much of the materials on the army column were transported away, because these bandits were tightly sealed when they retreated, and it is now impossible to count them."

"You should be clear about the warmth of these winter clothes, specially developed by the Imperial Army for the Kwantung Army. Once these people have taken all these winter clothes away, I don't think it will be a problem for them to survive the winter. ”

"These people had hired a large number of animal transport wagons in the county town of Weihe. It was only after arriving at the first line of Wei'an Mountain that these people paid five times the price of these carriages, bought those carriages, and sent all the coachmen back. ”

"The drivers who had been hired by him had been driven back prematurely, so it was not clear where they were hiding or what was on board. The only thing they know is that these people are very generous, and although their attitude is very kind, they are very strict in their management. And these people can also be said to be the best army of military discipline that these coachmen have ever seen. ”

"Because when they loaded the truck, these people did not have a fake hand or anyone, and they all loaded it by themselves. The car was covered with oilcloth again, and it was tightly covered. Even during a break, it will never be opened. ”

"So we don't know exactly how much supplies these people have carried, but one thing is for sure, the amount will definitely not be low. On that column, there were more than 100 light and heavy machine guns and 10,000 shells that were allocated to the DPRK army as supplementary equipment. This is not enough to equip the mortars of two mortar squadrons, as well as a large number of small arms ammunition. All of these weapons were produced by the Mukden Arsenal as standard weapons for the Imperial Army. ”

Hearing another bad news from Ishihara Wan'er, who was like a crow's mouth, Sasaki Toichi, who was already numb now, was not angry, but said lightly, but in an unusually firm tone: "No matter how many supplies these Shina thugs have seized in Weihe County, can they sustain them through this winter." If Admiral Kenkichi Ueda still decides to be in command with me, that's my opinion. ”

"With the railroad as the pillar, the Manchurian defense highway that has been built as the chain, and the pillbox as the lock, these people were trapped, starved to death, and frozen to death in the deep mountains and old forests. No matter how much material they seized, it was impossible to hold out for too long. ”

"Those Manchukuo troops stationed there are stationed, and changing places is nothing more than moving another place. However, the blockade is a blockade, but the specific location of its so-called secret camp still needs to continue to be reconnoitred. And the total number of their troops, how well they are equipped, I need first-hand information. ”

Seeing that Sasaki Zhiichi insisted, Ishihara Waner did not stick to his opinion, but bowed deeply to Sasaki Zhiichi and said: "Since His Excellency the Lieutenant General insists, then I will convey your opinion to General Ueda Kenkichi." ”

"Rest assured, I will convince Your Excellency to accept your plan. In addition, I will do my best to provide you with the support you request. I will transfer the troops you have designated as quickly as possible. I'll leave the matter here to Your Excellency, the Kwantung Army really can't afford to lose this person. ”

Sasaki put down the baton in his hand, waved his hand and said, "Ishihara-kun is polite, you and I are both serving the Imperial Holy War, it doesn't matter if you ask or not." I asked Ishihara-kun to go back and tell Commander Kenkichi Ueda that it would take time to deal with these cunning bandits, and that there should be no rush. ”

Ishihara and Sasaki, who rushed back to report to the Kwantung Army Headquarters, left as soon as they finished talking. Looking at Ishihara's back, Sasaki took a hand on the table in advance and got the thick stack of information on the epidemic prevention materials brought from the Kwantung Army Headquarters to all the escaped prisoners of the Ministry of Water: "That person? I didn't expect those people in China to have such courage after laying down their arms. ”

After flipping through the information, Sasaki rang the electric bell on the table, summoned the adjutant who had followed him for many years, pointed to the information on the table and said, "Sue the technical department, copy and enlarge all the photos on the data, and then organize the data." ”

Watching the adjutant take away the information, Sasaki moved a chair and sat in front of the map, pondered for a long time, and drew a big circle on the map with the red and blue pencil in the southeastern mountainous area of Ning'an to the north of Dunhua, and put a big question mark in the circle.

As for the situation of Sasaki, who is known as the father of the puppet Manchukuo Army and has brought huge losses to the Anti-Japanese Federation, to Harbin to take over the commander of the Fifth Independent Garrison and the commander-in-chief of the North Manchurian bandits, Yang Zhen, who is still in the deep mountains and old forests at this time, and has basically lost all contact with the outside world, naturally does not know. I don't know anything about Sasaki's plan to trap himself in the mountains and forests.

In the evening, after the Japanese plane, which had been hovering over his head for half a day, finally flew away, Yang Zhen immediately ordered the troops to prepare three days' worth of dry rations. At the same time, the barracks and warehouses in the secret camp were camouflaged again to ensure that they would not be discovered by Japanese aircraft.

Yang Zhen, who didn't believe that the Japanese army's reconnaissance operation would end in such a hurry, checked it very carefully, and didn't dare to be negligent at all. This secret camp is now its own foundation, and it has enough supplies to survive the cold of winter. Once exposed, it means losing the support to recuperate during the long and bitter winter, and the threat to the troops will be fatal.

Yang Zhen, who once conducted winter survival training in the Xing'an Mountains in the north, remembers the cold of the Beiman Mountains vividly. In the greenhouse climate environment of his later life, it is still common to have more than 30 degrees below zero, not to mention that there is basically no pollution now?

Because the safety of the secret camp involves the survival of the troops in winter, Yang Zhen attaches great importance to the concealment of the secret camp. Although the Japanese puppet spies did not necessarily have the courage to go so far into the forest area. However, for the Japanese army, which has modern equipment, the means of reconnaissance are not just spies. Aerial reconnaissance, a reconnaissance method that consumes little and has a great effect, presumably the Japanese army will not use it. Isn't that a good example today?

Although the taste of dry food is not good. The taste of fried rice is not good, but Yang Zhen used sorghum rice to make fried rice according to the method used by the volunteers known to later generations, and the taste of fried rice can almost be described as difficult to swallow. But in the case of not being able to make a fire, it can be used to allow the warrior to basically fill his stomach.

Although a large amount of grain was seized in Weihe County, only one-third of it was rice, and the rest was mainly sorghum rice, soybeans and corn, the traditional staple foods of the Northeast people. When purchasing supplies, they also focused on salt, medicines, and other necessary materials for the troops.

The amount of sugar that can be adjusted in fried rice is not very large, and with the part given to the commander-in-chief of the Second Route Army, the amount of sugar that the troops have on hand now is very small. There is no sugar, only salt is added, and the fried rice made with sorghum rice ginseng, soybeans, and corn can be imagined.

Yang Zhen ordered a small amount of fried rice made of rice and sugar to be left for the wounded and sick, and except for Patten Dingjie, who was seriously injured in the stomach due to torture, the rest of the people ate fried rice made of sorghum rice for three days, just like ordinary soldiers.

Looking at Yang Zhen, Li Yanping, and Guo Bingxun in their mouths, they chewed the jerky, hard-to-swallow sorghum rice fried rice with cold water, and then looked at the rice fried rice with sugar in the lunch box in his hand, and the milk powder poured out of the enamel jar with the only warm pot in the secret camp, and He Yi's box of opened cans, Peng Dingjie really couldn't eat it.

Peng Dingjie, who really couldn't eat it, grabbed Yang Zhen and several people's Japanese pork kidneys lunch box with the same Japanese pork kidneys in his hand, and wanted to pour his own rice, fried rice and canned food into their lunch boxes.

When Yang Zhen saw Peng Dingjie's actions, he hurriedly snatched his lunch box back and said, "Old Peng, you have a stomach injury, you can't eat coarse grains, you must ensure nutrition." We're not sick or hurt, as long as we can fill our stomachs, it doesn't matter what we eat. Hurry up and eat it, the milk powder will be cold in a while. ”

Yang Zhen doesn't want it, and Li Yanping and Guo Bingxun can't ask for it. After the two snatched their lunch boxes back, they both persuaded Peng Dingjie to eat their meals quickly.

Seeing that several people didn't want their own fried rice, Peng Dingjie sighed and said to Yang Zhen: "Commander, haven't you always emphasized the equality of officers and soldiers?" I am the director of the political department and a political cadre of the army, and I should take the lead in this for the army. You and the soldiers all eat this sorghum rice fried rice, and I am the only one who eats the fried rice made from this rice, as well as this milk powder, how do you let me eat it? ”

Speaking of this, Peng Dingjie raised his head and looked at Yang Zhen and said: "In the past few days since you retreated to the secret camp, you have avoided me when you eat, but I know that you didn't make delicious food by yourself when you avoided me. Did you eat the same rice and cornmeal as the soldiers, but the rice and canned food that I got me? ”

"Lao Yang, you have always emphasized that officers and soldiers share weal and woe, why do you only specialize me? Don't forget, I'm a member of the party, and for the fighters, I'm their chief. The more times of crisis, those of us who are party members and leaders should play a leading and exemplary role. ”

Hearing Peng Dingjie's words, Yang Zhen smiled slightly and said, "Old Peng, you are not special." Our sick and wounded are fed the same as you, and don't forget that you are not a wounded, but you are a sick man. ”

"Oh, except for these powdered milk. There's no way, that's all we have for our kettle. It's not enough to guarantee all the sick and wounded, and now you can only be guaranteed first. However, the difference is only in this day or two. When the devil's plane is withdrawn, we can make a fire, and the rest of the wounded and sick will be just like you. ”

Guo Bingxun also persuaded on the side: "Lao Peng, you have to treat them differently according to the specific situation, and you can't be emotional." The commander is right, you are a sick man, unlike us. The diet has to be based on your body. We still have a long way to go in the future, and only when we have a good body can we continue to fight devils. As for the equality of officers and soldiers mentioned by the commander, wait for the little devils, we will have enough rice. This Tohoku rice is much better than Kannai's. Hehe, we eat rice, not at this time. ”

After that, Guo Bingxun walked to the door of the headquarters with his lunch box and looked at the Japanese reconnaissance plane still hovering in the sky, turned his head to Yang Zhen and said: "Commander, this little devil's plane has been tossed from yesterday afternoon to today, it seems that the little devil is unwilling to find out if we find out." ”

"Last night, if you hadn't foreseen it early, taking advantage of the gap between the little devil's plane retreating, we made enough dry food and ordered the troops to prohibit lighting fires at night, and we were really discovered by the little devil's night plane. No one thought that the little devil would actually spend such a big amount of money this time, and even send planes out to reconnoiter at night. ”

Yang Zhen rubbed his cheeks that were a little sour because of chewing sorghum rice and fried rice, and said: "This piece of mountain is high and densely forested, and there are no people within a radius of dozens of miles. If people don't come in, it's the same with sending planes. ”

After that, Yang Zhen stood up and walked to Guo Bingxun's side, looked at the Japanese planes hovering on the mountain, frowned and said: "We are well hidden, and as long as there is no fire at night, the little devils will not be able to find us." But their planes are always hovering over our heads, one is that it will affect the feelings of the fighters. The second is to affect our training. Three always eat this thing, and not eating some hot meals, it also affects morale. ”

Speaking of this, Yang Zhen smiled bitterly and whispered to Guo Bingxun: "It's okay to eat this thing, but it's really heartburn if you eat too much." And this cheek gang can't stand it, it's almost sore. ”

Looking at the fried rice in the lunch box in his hand, Yang Zhen secretly admired the volunteers who should now be said to be the future generations. I can't stand eating two meals in a row, and the volunteers of later generations will eat this thing for years and months as long as they are fighting, not to mention anything else, this alone is enough to plug the mouths of those ignorant.

Guo Bingxun was silent for a moment, raised his head and looked at the devil plane in the sky and said, "Commander, I think the devil's plane should be withdrawn after one more day of reconnaissance at most." This piece of mountains and forests is so big, it is impossible for devils to involve their energy on one point. ”

"The devil didn't even get anything for a day yesterday when he even knocked on the mountain and shook the tiger with reconnaissance, and today he sent a plane not so much as reconnaissance, I think it is better to say that he is not giving up. Yesterday, the devils sent seven or eight reconnaissance planes and light bombers, but today there are only two. I think they're about to toss. ”