The journey back to the Huadian Military Secret Camp was not easy. The whole Huadian is the same as Dunhua. There were Japanese puppet troops everywhere. Almost all the entrances and exits of the mountain were tightly sealed by the Japanese puppet army. In particular, a large number of troops were deployed around Weihuling, Fuerling, and Mudanling, the main guerrilla areas of the First Army.

In order not to divulge their whereabouts, and in line with the principle of avoiding encounters with the Japanese puppet army as much as possible so as not to be exposed, the headquarters of the First Route Army and the reconnaissance company led by Dong Ping first entered Longgang Mountain south from the current station of Dadingzi in the Fuerling Mountains, avoiding the Japanese blockade line. Then it quickly marched eastward into Peony Ridge.

Along the way, he cautiously avoided the Japanese puppet army who searched the mountains everywhere, and traveled at night. Relying on Yang Jingyu's familiarity with the terrain and his rich experience in guerrilla warfare, under the full cover of Dong Ping, he arrived at the First Army Secret Camp at the Huangnihe River in the southeast mountainous area of Huadian without any danger.

Seeing that the commander-in-chief who had returned two days after leaving here to meet with the General Political Committee, Cao Yafan, the commander of the First Army, who had just returned from going down the mountain to attack Laojinchang in order to solve the problem of supplies, and who had not yet done a hot ass, couldn't help but be stunned. Seeing the political commissar following behind the commander-in-chief again, I couldn't help but secretly speculate in my heart: Is it because the shape of the big top secret camp has deteriorated, and the commander-in-chief and the political commissar have moved to his own meeting?

It wasn't until Wei Zhengmin opened his mouth that he knew that he had misestimated. Cao Yafan was silent when he heard the news that the commander-in-chief and political commissar had decided to move the main force of the First Route Army north to join the Second Route Army, and that he had been transferred to the command of the Second Front Army and commanded the Second Front Army to stay in the Tonghua area and continue to hold on.

Seeing that Cao Yafan didn't speak, Wei Zhengmin, who thought he didn't want to stay, patted him on the shoulder and said, "We don't want you to stay either." However, we cannot completely abandon the South Manchurian guerrilla zone, and the anti-Japanese banner of South Manchuria cannot be overturned. You are an old comrade, and your experience and ability are first-class, so you stay. ”

"The original commander of the Second Division is a comrade of Korean nationality, and the acting commander of the Seventh Army of the Second Route Army, oh, the commander of the Second Division, which is now called the Second Division, is also a comrade of Korean nationality. In addition, the secretary of the North Manchurian Provincial Party Committee, the chief of staff of the Third Route Army, and the commander of the Third Army are all Korean nationals. By transferring him over, he can have a good communication with the comrades in the DPRK. ”

Regarding Wei Zhengmin's explanation, Cao Yafan shook his head and said, "Political commissar, I don't have an opinion on staying. But why can't the First Front Army be left behind, and the Second Front Army behind? It is said that I was born as the political commissar of the Sixth Division, and there should be no problem in commanding the Second Front Army reorganized from the Sixth Division. But I have been away from the Sixth Division for two years, and I am not very familiar with many of the comrades who were promoted there. ”

"After all, it's been more than two years since we were separated, and many things and characters are already unfamiliar. Commissar, you and the commander-in-chief left me to insist, I personally have no opinion. But to transfer me to the Second Front, I have some opinions. The same is to stay and insist, why not stay in the old troops that I have been bringing for two years and are already handy? ”

After listening to Cao Yafan's opinion, Wei Zhengmin pondered slightly, and decided to tell the truth: "It is my idea to leave the Second Front Army behind, and the First Army created by the Commander-in-Chief is now only one aspect of this bit of blood." The reason why the first army was not left behind, you should be clear. ”

For Cao Yafan, a loyal general who fought against Japan, Wei Zhengmin felt that there was no need to hide it: "After the main force went north, the shape of South Manchu could only be worse. Last year's mutiny of the 1st Division, you should know the mood of the commander-in-chief. Since the defeat of the Third Division in the Western Expedition, its vitality has not been able to recover. There is only such a little blood left in the first army, and we cannot let the commander-in-chief's hard work for so many years be ruined. ”

Speaking of this, Wei Zhengmin groaned and said: "However, in order to ensure that you can take over the Second Front Army smoothly, I discussed with the commander-in-chief, in addition to leaving you the only radio station in our First Front Army, so that if there is any problem, you can report directly to me or the commander-in-chief, I also decided to make certain adjustments to the cadres of the Second Front Army." ”

"A few capable cadres were transferred from the headquarters and from the first side to supplement the second front army. Whether it's the headquarters or your front army, if you want that person, I'll give you that person. But there won't be too many, just three people. The headquarters and the first army also have to go on a long-distance expedition, and the troops are not familiar with it. ”

"With these three people, you can replace the cadres in the Second Front Army that you are not familiar with, or that you think you can't command. Lao Cao, this is already the best we can do. ”

The reply given by Wei Zhengmin, who was extremely principled, surprised Cao Yafan. It was the first time he had heard the political commissar make an exception for that unit, and the cadres should be deployed according to the commander's wishes, as he was doing now. This was almost impossible before.

Since Wei Zhengmin made an exception, Cao Yafan, who knew that he would not be too optimistic in the future, did not drag his feet, and simply said: "Political commissar, that's good, I want three people." On the one hand, Liu Wanxi, deputy director of the Military and Political Department, Huang Haifeng, political commissar of the First Regiment of the Guard Brigade, and Xuan Jisheng, commander of the Youth Battalion of the General Headquarters. ”

"As for the comrades of the Second Front Army, I don't think there is any need to transfer them. In order to cause any misunderstanding or bad thoughts in the hearts of these comrades, I only hope that these three comrades can be strengthened into the remaining units. ”

Hearing the three people Cao Yafan asked for, Wei Zhengmin smiled bitterly and said: "You are really good at picking people, these are all strong generals." Well, since I promised you, I'll give it to you. However, there is one thing to say, not all of the two fronts will remain. It is also necessary to transfer some cadres and troops to evacuate with the headquarters. ”

"The Second Front now has four regiments and more than five hundred men. If you put it all together, it will be difficult to raise supplies. After the withdrawal of the main force, the pressure of all the Japanese puppet troops in the entire South Manchurian army was pressed on the remaining troops. Without the supporting forces, your situation will be even more difficult. ”

"The transfer of some troops of the Second Front Army is not only to make the remaining troops more capable and flexible, but also to reduce the target. It's also to lighten your load. As for the transfer of those troops, you have the final say. You can rest assured that these troops are not drawn for nothing, all the machine guns are left to you, and there are other weapons to choose from, and the headquarters will leave the best weapons to you. Ammunition also leaves you seventy percent. ”

Not leaving all the Second Front Army, transferring some troops and cadres to accompany the headquarters and the First Front Army to the north, and at the same time transferring a few cadres of the First Front Army that Cao Yafan was familiar with to work in the Second Front Army left behind, these two things were not Wei Zhengmin's whim, but he and Yang Jingyu discussed them on the way to the secret camp in Huangnihe.

Seeing that the political commissar satisfied the several cadres he had transferred to work in the left-behind troops, Cao Yafan, who was already very satisfied at this time, didn't care much about the others. Regarding Wei Zhengmin's request to transfer some troops of the Second Front Army to the north with him, he said without thinking: "Political commissar, just leave seven or eight regiments." As for the rest of the troops, they can be taken away. ”

"As for the cadres, except for Lin Shuishan, the chief of staff, and Sun Changshen, the head of the Eighth Regiment, I have no opinion on your transfer." Although it has been two years since he left the Sixth Division of the Second Army, Cao Yafan still remembers very well the most brave and good fighters in the Sixth Division back then.

The conversation with Cao Yafan was very smooth, which made Wei Zhengmin obviously in a good mood. As for the transfer of those people by the Second Front Army, he still has to discuss with Yang Jingyu. Although he is the secretary of the South Manchurian Provincial Party Committee and the political commissar of the Second Route Army, this kind of transfer of cadres, especially military cadres, still needs to be discussed with Yang Jingyu.

After listening to Wei Zhengmin's account of the conversation with Cao Yafan, Yang Jingyu pondered for a while and said, "Old Wei, this matter will be discussed after the troops of the Second Front Army arrive. As for the cadres of the Second Front Army, the one who has the most say now is their teacher, the current commander. It's better for us not to overstep the bounds. ”

"There is just one thing you have to grasp, the cadres who stay must choose those who are not moved by adversity and can stand the test. Cheng Bin's matter must not be repeated in Huadian. After we went north, Cao Yafan's lone army stayed in the Dongbian Dao area to hold on, and there was not even a single response force, and the shape was far more critical than Cheng Bin at that time. ”

"Hu Guochen and An Guangxun can be regarded as long-tested cadres. But as soon as he was captured, he betrayed his comrades more ruthlessly than anyone else. Hu Guochen betrayed An Guangxun, and after An Guangxun was captured, he betrayed all the secret camps of the 1st Division in the Huanren area, and directly led Cheng Bin's rebellion. ”

"A moth can ruin a house, a traitor can ruin an army. We must pay attention to this point when selecting left-behind cadres. The second aspect is that the Sixth Division of the Second Army was formed as the main body, and you are more familiar with the situation of their cadres than I am. You have to take a lot of trouble in this matter and communicate well with their command. ”

After saying his opinion, Yang Jingyu, who had always seemed a little silent since he learned of Zhang Xiufeng's rebellion, fell silent again. I just looked at the mountains in the distance, not knowing what was going on in my mind.

Looking at Yang Jingyu, who had not been very interested in the past few days, except for the period when he learned that the Second Route Army was in contact with the central government, Wei Zhengmin, who had misunderstood him and was dissatisfied with Dong Ping's practices, persuaded him: "Old Yang, don't pay too much attention to the practices of the comrades of the Second Route Army. They were able to lay down such a large base area under the same sinister environment in North Manchuria, and they must still have their advantages. ”

"Although I don't agree with some of their practices, their sense of confidentiality from top to bottom is what we should learn the most. We can't learn their tactics, but we can learn from them that we can learn from. For the comrades of the Second Route Army, you should not be too cold, this is not good. It will affect the unity of the two route armies. ”

After listening to Wei Zhengmin's persuasion, Yang Jingyu was slightly stunned, then waved his hand and said, "Old Wei, where do you want to go." Their somewhat unscrupulous practices, to be honest, I really don't like it. But I also know that there are things that you don't want to do, but you have to do when necessary. ”

"Looking at Zhang Xiufeng, who grew up beside me since he was a child, the screams he made when he was interrogated by them were not human. To be honest, Lao Wei, although I hate traitors to the core. But that day, I didn't know what was wrong, but my heart was entangled. This kind of scream that sounds involuntarily oozing the scalp is the first time I have heard it in so many years of joining the army. ”

"I know Zhang Xiufeng, although he is a traitor, his bones are still relatively hard. Even if he knew that his treachery attempt had been exposed, he would not admit defeat as a light person. Because at that time, he didn't know that Cheng Bin, who came to meet him, had been wiped out. But as long as there is still a glimmer of hope, he will not confess. ”

"But just such a person, in less than three minutes, has become like that, what to say. When I saw him again, I was shocked. His fingers looked like they had been broken from the joints one by one. And that left leg, I don't know if you can see it clearly. Two kneecaps, I'm afraid they're broken? ”

"You know when I saw Zhang Xiufeng like that, I asked a soldier about them, and when I said what happened to him, what did they do to me?"

"That fighter of theirs told me that they didn't do anything, they just did a little bit of tricks on some specific parts of Zhang Xiufeng's body. When they were training, they had been trained specifically for those parts that made people feel the pain of the cone and the bone, but it was not fatal. This kind of training was specially used to interrogate the more tenacious Japanese prisoners of war. ”

"Their commander, oh, that Deputy Commander-in-Chief Yang once told him personally during training that in an emergency situation, when a confession was urgently needed, he could take the necessary means. He even taught them several methods of torture himself. ”

He also said that their commander had told them because of the unusual conditions in which they fought in the heart of the enemy's army. Therefore, when interrogating prisoners of war, the necessary means can be used. One qiē is mainly to get the information you want most in the shortest possible time. ”

After saying this, he regretfully told me. In the battle when they completely annihilated a reinforced wing of the Japanese army, when their battalion commander attacked the Japanese headquarters and killed the Japanese army's Major General Kuroiwa Yoshikatsu, it only took them one minute to make the two Japanese staff officers open their mouths. But this time, it actually took three minutes, but it was a bit of a regression. ”

These words touched me deeply. I've been wondering what kind of person their commander really is for the past two days. If you say that you are a cruel person, you can't get such heartfelt support from your subordinates. Those people in the Second Route Army looked proud when they mentioned their deputy commander-in-chief. ”

"It is even more impossible to be under the heavy encirclement and suppression of the Japanese army, not only not to be weakened like us, but to create a large world. It is simply impossible to do this by relying on iron-blooded wrists and without a way to stabilize the morale of the military. ”

Judging from the methods of his subordinates, which sound like he was teaching himself, he looks like an unscrupulous and even somewhat insidious and vicious person to achieve his ends. But from the descriptions of his subordinates, there is no such thing. What exactly is he and what kind of person is he? How can there be two extreme personalities that at least seem to be opposites? ”