This is a division of the Third Army that is to be set up in the newly opened Fengshan and Tonghe areas. It was Yang Zhen who had already prepared to establish it after he had just taken it. It's just because of the stubbornness of Division Commander Chen of the Second Army and the Fifth Division, and there is no suitable candidate for the time being, so it has been shelved for the time being.

Although this position is somewhat low and excessively compared with Zhao Shangzhi's previous position as commander-in-chief of the North Manchurian Anti-Japanese Allied Army. But Yang Zhen thinks that there is still a blank job, which is very suitable for a pioneering, courageous, and self-made cadre like him. Although this appointment has not been discussed with the commander-in-chief and Li Yanping, Yang Zhen thinks they will agree.

However, although he welcomed Zhao Shangzhi's desire to work in the Second Route Army, Yang Zhen felt that it was better to ventilate some words in advance: "Old Zhao, although I am much younger than you and my work experience is far less abundant than yours, I think it is better to say it in advance with some advice." ”

These words are not spoken by a superior to someone who is about to be his subordinate, but by the advice of a little brother to a big brother. These words can be understood as advice or as exhortation. ”

"I hope you can control your temper and temperament, and don't get too stiff with your superiors and comrades. When encountering problems, consult with each other more and consider the opinions and ideas of others. For problems at work, don't go online at every turn. ”

"I once heard that before, didn't you get along well with the current Commander-in-Chief Li of the Third Route Army? The reason why I am so happy now is only because of the understanding of the so-called central directives at that time. I'm not in favor of buttoning hats, but a lot of the time, there are things that need to be considered from several aspects. ”

"Moreover, our Second Route Army now has many cadres from the former Third Route Army working here, so don't be too stiff because it involves past matters. I hope that you will be able to handle their relationship well in your future work and battles. ”

"As for the reason why the cadres of the Third Route Army are cold to you, I think there must be some reason in the middle, is someone deliberately sowing discord? The files of the puppet Manchurian Sanjiang Metropolitan Police Department that we seized in Jiamusi show that Chen Shaobin, who deceived you into going to Jiangbei and was detained, had already been arrested and betrayed in Tangyuan County in 37 years. After interrogation, it has been proved that he acted as a Japanese puppet agent after his arrest. The fact that you went to Jiangbei and was detained was his ghost. ”

"In addition, according to the seized files, Shang Liansheng, the political secretary who returned to China at the same time as you, was also a spy of the Japanese army. According to my subordinates, after you finished talking last night, he approached the cadres of the Third Route Army several times and talked secretly for a long time. Although it is not clear what exactly he reported, judging from the attitude of the Third Route Army towards you this morning, it will definitely not be a good thing. ”

"I have entrusted this situation of Shang Liansheng to the commander-in-chief and asked him to transfer it to Feng Zhongyun, the political commissar of the Third Route Army. If they find out, I think they will be dealt with in accordance with military discipline. I think this information may also be of some benefit to change your environment. Of course if you want to go back. ”

After listening to Yang Zhen's extremely sincere words, Zhao Shangzhi shook his head and said a little disheartened: "I don't want to go back to the Third Route Army." Before I came, I had already told your commander-in-chief that I would work in your Second Route Army. As long as you can fight devils, you can be a squad leader, even an ordinary soldier. ”

"He agreed, but let me talk to you privately when I return home. Since you said that I should be the commander of this military division, I have no opinion. For me, it doesn't matter how high or low the position is, as long as there are devils to fight. ”

Regarding Yang Zhen's arrangement, the commander-in-chief really did not express any objections. Not only did he express his support, but he even discussed with Yang Zhen to let Zhao Shangzhi concurrently serve as the deputy commander of the Jidong Military Region, so that when Yang Zhen was carrying out external combat tasks, he could replace him in commanding the troops of the Military Region.

Now the base area has been expanded, and it has shifted from the mountainous area to the combination of the mountainous area and the plain, and even now occupies several county seats. The scale of the arsenal has also expanded after the arrival of the equipment in Jiangbei. Except for military issues, Yang Zhen basically did not interfere in local work.

Except for the occasional suggestion of some constructive opinions on local work, the whole style of a hands-off shopkeeper. Dumped the entire work of the region to the commander-in-chief. I rarely ask, of course, except for the absence of the commander-in-chief and when it comes to the needs of the main force, I will take a hand, and I can't say that I don't ask about anything else, but it is also very rare. ”

However, under the circumstance that both Li Yanping and Guo Bingxun both focused their energies on the work of the field troops, the commander-in-chief, who lacked helpers, had to manage local party and government affairs and be responsible for the overall work of the military region, and his energy was really too busy.

Moreover, in the areas that have just been liberated, the task of opposing special forces, eliminating enemy and puppet forces, and carrying out local work is very heavy. The Commander-in-Chief really needed a competent man to assist.

Zhao Shangzhi has enough qualifications and abilities, and he has rich experience. Since he can no longer return to the Third Route Army, and he has personally expressed his willingness to stay in the Second Route Army, he should be allowed to serve as the deputy commander of the military region in addition to serving as the commander of the Third Division.

In addition to assisting the commander-in-chief in doing a good job in the construction of local base areas, he is fully capable of undertaking the task of commanding local troops in combat with his outstanding ability. This can allow Yang Zhen to focus his main energy on the main force without delaying the construction of local troops.

It was only on the selection of the political commissar of the three divisions that the commander-in-chief resolutely opposed Yang Zhen's proposal that he himself should serve as both commander and political commissar. Only agreed to him as a full-time commander. Moreover, the post of first secretary of the sub-district party committee also resolutely disagreed with him to take the position. The attitude of the commander-in-chief was obvious, that is, to let Zhao Shangzhi make use of his command ability to take charge of the military work of the local armed forces in the sub-region and even in the entire military region.

In the words of the commander-in-chief, he has not been able to command operations, but he also has his own unique set of operations. However, his understanding of the spirit of the Central Committee is still a little worse, and sometimes he is too arbitrary, and he must send a political commissar who can restrain him.

Regarding the commander-in-chief's desire to reuse Zhao Shangzhi's own excellent ability, but also somewhat guarded against it, Yang Zhen shook his head, that is, he did not pick it out, nor did he express any objections.

According to the history known to Yang Zhen, when Zhao Shangzhi was expelled from the party for the second time, it was the strong opposition of the commander-in-chief that made the North Manchurian Provincial Party Committee reduce his punishment. He will be expelled from the party forever and expelled from the party instead. When he was cornered, he was invited to serve as the deputy commander-in-chief of the Second Route Army.

As for why the last two people turned their faces and why Zhao Shangzhi was driven out of the Second Route Army, the history of the Anti-Japanese Federation, which was originally a confused account, was not explained, and Yang Zhen did not know. But after getting along with the commander-in-chief for so long, Yang Zhen believes that this will definitely not be the responsibility of the commander-in-chief alone.

Regarding the attitude of the commander-in-chief, Yang Zhen had a vague feeling that the commander-in-chief was at least in favor of the Third Route Army's criticism of Zhao Shangzhi's so-called opposition to the central line. What he opposed was the style of certain leaders of the Third Route Army who completely beat people to death with a stick.

It's just that this confused account, a few parties don't say it, and Yang Zhen can't ask. I could only express my acquiescence to the commander-in-chief's handling opinions. Because Yang Zhen knows that it will take a long time for some things to be resolved. Fortunately, now that I have established a straight line with the central authorities, I do not have to pay unnecessary costs in the face of the blind orders of some people.

However, although it was acquiesced, the selection of this political commissar was a bit of a headache for Yang Zhen and several people. According to Zhao Shangzhi's qualifications, the most suitable candidate is the commander-in-chief. However, the commander-in-chief, who is already concurrently serving as the political commissar of a military region, simply cannot concurrently serve as a separate political commissar of a military sub-district.

The commander-in-chief believed that the political commissar of the Third Division, who had been selected from among them, would not only not be able to restrain him, but would very likely indulge him in a certain aspect. That would have done him a complete harm.

As for Gao Yumin, the current deputy political commissar and director of the divisional political department, as soon as he heard that he was temporarily serving as the political commissar of the Third Division, his head shook like a drum, and he would rather voluntarily demote to the Second Regiment, which still lacks a political commissar, as a political commissar, or even the director of the Political Division, rather than go to the Third Division to partner with him.

Others are either not qualified enough, or they are incompetent. Under the circumstance that the qualified political workers themselves are a little stretched, Yang Zhen can only put his idea on the central delegation. Just when Yang Zhen was hesitating how to speak to the central delegation, he suddenly remembered someone.

Didn't the central government decide to transfer Yi Jianping and his wife to work in the Anti-Japanese Federation? Yi Jianping is not only a college student, but also has a high level of education. When he was working in Guannei, he served as a deputy political committee member of the Independent Regiment of the Fifth Subdivision of the Southern Hebei Military Region, and he also engaged in underground work in enemy-occupied areas for a long time, so he can be said to have rich experience.

Let him serve as a member of the newly established Third Sub-district as a member of the political committee, so that he can make full use of his work experience in the local military region and assist Zhao Shangzhi in opening up the situation to the best of his ability. He can also use his status as a person from the central government to meet the criteria of the commander-in-chief.

Although the deputy political commissar of the independent regiment was suddenly promoted to the post of political commissar of the military sub-district, it was regarded as a bit of a promotion beyond the ranks. However, in Yang Zhen's view, Yi Jianping's transfer from the Guannai army to the work of the Anti-Japanese Federation is somewhat like those central cadres sent by later generations. However, isn't the so-called temporary training of the central cadres sent to the localities by later generations also promoted to one level before they are dispatched?

No matter what the effect of transferring Yi Jianping to the Third Division to partner with Zhao Shangzhi is, Yang Zhen's original plan to be appointed as political commissar of Yi Jianping's Second Regiment and replace Wang Xiaoming, who has been promoted to political commissar of the military division, can only be revoked first. As for the political commissar of the Second Regiment, let's find a way to deal with it.

When Yang Zhen said his scheduled candidate, the commander-in-chief, who really had no suitable candidate, finally nodded and agreed after hesitating for a long time. However, although he agreed, he left a tail and only agreed that Yi Jianping would act first for the time being. As for when it will turn positive, it depends on its appearance.

Obviously, if Yi Jianping had not been a person from the central government, who had always been stable and had no understanding of his personality and work style, the commander-in-chief would not have agreed to him to serve as a member of the political committee of the Third Division. It's just that the later development of the shape shì made both the commander-in-chief and Yang Zhen feel happy about this choice at the beginning.

As it turns out, the duo is not perfect, but also at odds with each other. But it really built a strong fighting collective. Under the combination of Zhao Shangzhi's military talent and Yi Jianping's outstanding organizational, propaganda, and agitation abilities, as well as his rich experience in local armed forces, the basic regiment of the three subdivisions, which was composed of all temporarily transferred units from various units, formed a combat effectiveness in a short period of time.

The troops of the 3rd Division, which was mainly composed of the newly formed backbone regiment of the 3rd Division, performed extremely well in the early autumn and several major battles in the beginning of winter. Not only has it repeatedly undertaken heavy responsibilities, but it has also achieved quite brilliant results. The third division, which was the latest of the three military subdivisions, became the first local unit to be upgraded to the main division after the expansion of the Jidong Military Region. The two big brothers who were formed before them were far behind.

When Yang Zhen first transferred two infantry platoons from each of the three regiments of the main force, plus three independent companies drawn from each of the three supplementary regiments to form the three-division backbone regiment, he did not expect much from the combat effectiveness of this basic regiment for at least a short time.

The districts under the jurisdiction of the three divisions are all newly opened areas, and the troops have just been formed. Although six infantry platoons were transferred from the main regiment at the time of formation, this basic regiment was different from other divisional backbone regiments formed with the anti-coalition forces as the main body. He did not have a single veteran anti-United Nations force. Almost all of them from top to bottom are newcomers with clear water.

The unfamiliar environment, the unfamiliar troops, and the unfamiliarity made it almost impossible to understand any partners before. Yang Zhen believes that it will take at least three to five months to smooth out this relationship alone. When the combat effectiveness is formed, the troops that are still skeletons will be fleshed out at least until the end of the year.

And no one thought that this unit, which was almost brand new from top to bottom, would develop so rapidly under the tutelage of Zhao Shangzhi, who was good at guerrilla warfare, that the speed of improvement in combat effectiveness could even be described as a thousand miles a day. By the time of the big battle in early autumn, the appearance of this army could almost be described as refreshing.

Almost no one believed that it was a local unit that had been formed for less than three months, mainly with recruits who had completed full training but had little combat experience.

Of course, that's all for later. For Yang Zhen, what he needs most now is a helper who can stand alone. Under the circumstance that the main force could not be stationed in the newly opened areas for a long time, and the newly opened areas were in urgent need of competent manpower to stabilize the country, there was no doubt that Zhao Shangzhi, who had outstanding ability and was unwilling to return to work in the Third Route Army, provided him with the best candidate.

It was he who was convinced of the ability of this famous anti-joint general, whom he later became known. After Zhao Shangzhi said that he did not want to return to the Third Route Army, Yang Zhen immediately decided to let Zhao Shangzhi go to the new area to serve as the commander of the military division in charge of the military. He knew that this famous anti-Japanese general in North Manchurian would never let himself down.