The effect of killing Qiao Sheng was immediate.

When the news spread, Zhao Jiayu's parents and villagers immediately changed their attitude towards the independent regiment.

Zhao Jiayu's father also fully supported the request of the independent group to rent a house, and Zhang Laohan, the first household in the village, gave up the entire north house and rented it to the independent group.

The independent group finally no longer has to eat and sleep in the open.

The regimental headquarters, guard company, communications platoon, artillery platoon and wolf tooth squad were stationed in Zhaojiayu.

Four infantry battalions and cavalry platoons were stationed in five villages around Zhaojiayu.

In the blink of an eye, half a month passed, and the time had come to the end of July 1942.

In the past half a month, the independent regiment has basically gained a firm foothold in the northwest of Shanxi, at least the local people no longer resist the existence of the Eighth Route Army.

But it's a long way from opening up the situation.

It is an obvious fact that the number of young adults who signed up for the Eighth Route Army was very small.

No matter how much the local comrades try to propagate it, they will not be able to arouse their enthusiasm for joining the Eighth Route Army.

So in the past half a month, the independent regiment is still more than 1,500 people, and it has not grown at all.

Li Yunlong was not in a hurry, but Zhao Gang was in a hurry, and once again called the members of the party committee of the group to discuss countermeasures.

"Lao Li, Lao Wang, it can't go on like this." Zhao Gang has lost weight in the past half a month, he is almost thin and out of shape, the corners of his mouth are also foaming, and he said, "The work of the new first regiment and the new second regiment can be done, and the enthusiasm of the people in their jurisdiction to participate in the Eighth Route Army is also okay, I heard that the new regiment has grown to nearly 1,500 people!" ”

"The new second regiment is not bad, and it has grown from 500 to more than 800 people."

"There is no movement in our independent regiment, and there are still more than 1,500 people."

Li Yunlong smiled and said, "Lao Zhao, don't worry, don't look at our independent group for more than half a month, we haven't done anything, but we are actually doing a very important thing!" ”

Zhao Gang said: "What's the matter?" Why didn't I know? ”

Li Yunlong said to Wang Yan: "Old Wang, you tell the political commissar. ”

"Rest!" Wang Yan said, "We are recuperating. ”

"That's right, we're resting and recuperating!" Li Yunlong said, "When the soldiers have enough energy and physical strength, and then let them out, it will be the little tiger who has come down the mountain, and it will be screaming!" ”

"Makes sense." Zhao Gang said, "After all, the soldiers are also flesh and blood, and they also need to rest. ”

Li Yunlong said: "This is called sharpening knives and not cutting firewood, our independent regiment does not compete with the new first regiment and the new second regiment for a while, they are in a hurry to engage in development, we are not in a hurry." ”

"When the soldiers are well-healed, let's fight a few more big victories."

"When the time comes, there will be no need to do work at the local level, and the enthusiasm of the people to join the army will be mobilized."

"When we first arrived in the southeast of Jin five years ago, our 129th Division did just that, and the effect is not to be said, so Lao Zhao, you really don't have to worry."

Wang Yan said: "Commander, there is a sentence I don't know whether to say or not? ”

Li Yunlong said: "Lao Wang, if you have anything to say, just say it, don't be so outside." ”

"Then I'll be straight to the point." Wang Yan nodded and said, "The head of the regiment, and the political commissar, it's not five years ago, five years ago, the devils just entered Shanxi, and everywhere they went, they burned, killed, plundered, and did all kinds of evil. ”

"The common people have had enough of the devil's suffering, and of course they are willing to join the Eighth Route Army."

"Because our Eighth Route Army is solid to resist Japan, unlike the Jin Sui Army, which is passive to resist Japan."

"Ordinary people joining the Eighth Route Army are protecting the safety of their lives and property."

"But now it's different, now the policies implemented by the devils in Shanxi and even in the whole of North China are extremely deceptive and confusing, the people's sense of crisis is not so strong, and the willingness to join the Eighth Route Army has become weaker."

"That's it." Li Yunlong said with deep understanding, "In the past two years, the development speed of our Eighth Route Army is obviously not as fast as the three years when we first arrived in Shanxi. ”

"Especially in the first year."

"In less than a year, our 129th Division has grown to 30,000 people!"

"The size of the army has increased by three times, three times! Can you imagine? ”

"But in the past two years, our Eighth Route Army has basically not developed much."

Wang Yan said: "This is the harm caused by the devil's adjustment of North China's public security strategy!" ”

"So at this time, just winning the battle is no longer enough to mobilize the enthusiasm of the people."

"We have to bring tangible benefits to the people in order to be able to mobilize their enthusiasm."

"Then, in order to protect their vested interests, the people will actively join the army and fight devils."

"To give a simple example, the northwest of Shanxi Province is barren, with many mountains and little land, and it can't support too many people at all, so since ancient times, Shanxi people have been forced to go to the west to make a living."

"But if we can make sure that the people in the northwest of Shanxi Province are well fed, clothed, and have houses to live in."

"You say, do they support our Eighth Route Army, or do they support the devil, the puppet army, or the Jin Sui army?"

"And if the devil puppet army wants to sabotage all this, do you think the common people will take the initiative to stand up and join our Eighth Route Army to fight devils together?"

Zhao Gang said: "Lao Wang, do you mean to develop the local economy? Let the common people live a good life? ”

"Yes, that's the reason." Wang Yan said in a deep voice, "Develop the economy and let the people live a good life." ”

"But we can't do that." Li Yunlong scratched his head and said, "It's no problem to let us fight, but let us engage in the economy, this is not our strength at all?" ”

Wang Yan said with a smile: "It is not so difficult to develop the economy. ”

Li Yunlong said: "Then you say, how to develop the economy?" ”

"There are three main types of economic activities, agriculture, industry and services," Wang said. ”

"Needless to say, the service industry is impossible to engage in in a poor and remote place like the northwest of Shanxi."

"There is no way to develop agriculture, the northwest of Shanxi is too barren, the mountains here are cleaner than bald, and there are not a few rains throughout the year, so there is no way to engage in agriculture."

"So the only thing we can do is industry."

"Or rather, light industry."

"For example, textiles, tobacco and alcohol, food processing, and so on."

"The northwest of Shanxi is barren, with many mountains and very little flat land, which was originally a disadvantage."

"But if it's used to grow cotton and tobacco, it's an advantage, because there's enough light!"

"If the economy of northwest Shanxi really develops, and the people live a good life relying on our policies, then they will definitely desperately defend the Eighth Route Army."

"Textile? Alcohol and cigarettes? Foodstuff? Li Yunlong muttered a few times, and then said, "But the question is, how to start with this matter?" ”

Zhao Gang also nodded and said: "Yes, now we have nothing, neither start-up capital, nor relevant technicians, nor experience to learn from." ”