Chapter 2: Countercurrent (Part I)

The spring "fair" of 1939 lasted for 12 days. The curtain came down because of a belated spring rain. Due to the relative tranquility of the road. Good organization and low tax collection and many other factors. Almost every vendor involved in the transaction. have made profits that were difficult to achieve in previous years. In particular, some merchants from the Central Plains who came with tea, cloth and Western medicine. Due to the hunger of the local consumer market for a long time and avoided the exploitation of entering and exiting the city gates. Everyone was smiling when they left.

The happiest. He also belonged to the guerrilla leader of the Eighth Route Army, Red Beard. Since the accounts have been sorted out. He was so happy that he barely closed his mouth. Seven hundred and thirty oceans. Deduct the cost of market construction and management. Guerrillas in just half a month. I made seven hundred and thirty dollars. Although a large part of it is the sales revenue of pearl refined salts and high-grade bath salts. It's not something that can be produced in a dozen days. But after all, it opened up a relatively independent source of funding for the guerrillas. In the future, even if I didn't lose the patronage of Queen Siqin. It will not face the embarrassing situation of no rice in the pot.

"People who read a lot. It's just a lively brain." Drink water and think of the source. In addition to being happy. Wang Huzi has not forgotten who came up with the two best treasures of making salt and opening a market. In front of all the partisans. praised Zhang Songling fiercely. Call on all cadres and fighters to learn from him. Actively contribute to the development and growth of the guerrillas. Think of the guerrillas as your home. Do what you can to contribute to this home. Only by building this home well. It can shelter everyone in the house from the elements. And whether the guerrillas will be able to take the initiative to break the current stalemate in the future. Drive the little devils out of the Black Stone Village completely. It also depends on everyone in the team. How much effort has been put in.

As a junior officer of the former Northeast Army. The heroes of the rivers and lakes who have been amazed by the grassland for many years. His words weren't very exciting. But it's very inflammatory. The wrap-up meeting has just ended. The old and new fighters of the guerrillas screamed and screamed. It has been put into a new round of training and production. Even the spring rain in the sky. None of them can extinguish the enthusiasm that everyone has just been ignited.

And take advantage of this rare respite. The Red Beard also raised the issue of the grassroots organization building of the guerrillas. Quietly put it on the agenda. That unexpected encounter in the depths of last winter. The guerrillas suffered unprecedented losses. A deputy captain. Two deputy squadron leaders and more than a dozen combat backbones spilled blood on the wasteland. The entire cadre team has been reduced by more than half. When convening an organizational meeting. Two-thirds of the chairs were empty. Let people see it. I can't help but want to flow out of my tears.

It's not just the sacrifice of his old partner Lu Feng. Makes Redbeard feel sad. What made him even more uncomfortable. The future of this team in hand. All of a sudden, it becomes full of uncertainty. Although Lu Feng, the deputy captain and deputy political commissar who was directly sent from Yan'an, was a bit old-fashioned. Stingy. The level of decision-making in battle is not too high. But after all, he can support the little half of the sky for the guerrillas. Even if Redbeard was unfortunately wounded in one of the battles. Or an unfortunate death. It is also safe to hand over the command of the guerrillas to his old partner Lu Feng. Close your eyes and take a good rest or even forever.

But for now. But he found that he was empty behind him. In case one day you are unfortunate enough to fall. The team that you have worked so hard to bring out can fall apart. And the Lama Gou guerrillas faced a difficult living environment and poor medical conditions. This assumption is highly likely to come true. In the second half of last year, several battles came down in a row. Half of the guerrillas had new faces. No one can guarantee it. I will always be one half of those who survive.

Redbeard is not afraid of death. He has always jokingly called himself this old life. It's time to account for the 918 incident. I can hold on to it and still haven't died. It's kind of a good job. But he was afraid that his team would fall apart. This team is more than just a spark sown on the grassland. And it was the only bloodline left on the grassland by the Northeast Army back then. If after his death . The team was broken up by the little devils. Or wiped out. His soul is not just faceless to see Lao Lu. And under Jiuquan, he met Wu Junsheng, who was in trouble with the old handsome, and was promoted to Wu Dashuai. I couldn't muster up the courage to give the latter a military salute.

To avoid the worst-case scenario. He's exhausted. Since last year, when I heard the bad news of Lao Lu's heroic sacrifice. And he endured grief and weariness. One person does the work of several people. In order to find a stable economic source for the guerrillas. He led his brothers in braving the cold wind of minus 40 degrees. Go to the dam and dig salt sand in the big salt lake. In order to generate income for the partisans . He knew that his actions might not be in line with the spirit of the guidance above. still supported Zhang Songling to organize the spring trading conference on the shore of Crescent Lake. In order to pass on the torch in hand. He didn't even hesitate to abandon his preconceptions about Baiyin. Instruct Zhang Songling to open the salt field to the territory of this treacherous and fickle Mongolian prince. Even if he was severely criticized by the higher organization in a telegram afterwards. There are no regrets.

He's in his fifties this year. I don't expect anything more politically advanced. I don't have the luxury of dying in my bed peacefully. The big husband is shrouded in horse leather. I haven't read much in my life. But he yearns for the kind of military ending that the ancients said. But before the day when the end comes. He had to give what he had to say. What should be passed on to the next generation. Otherwise. He believed he would die without a blind eye.

After these months of covert observation. He has found the best person to inherit his mantle. A little rushed. And certainly does not comply with organizational procedures. But the living cannot be suffocated by urine. The situation of the Lamagou guerrillas. It's very special. Special time and special environment. Of course, you have to do something special. Moreover, he did something that set a precedent for the guerrillas of the Eighth Route Army. It's not the first time. I believe this time is the same as the previous exceptions. After explanation. Able to get the understanding of the superior organization.

Hold must be in a hurry before he goes to see Lao Lu. Arrange the mentality of the new leader for the guerrillas. Redbeard found a chance to rest in the evening. I asked Zhang Songling to my room." Fatso. When you were on the old twenty-sixth road. Have you joined the Kuomintang?" Try to use a calm voice. He asked casually. in the eyes. But there were two flames. Quietly burning. Burn.

Note 1: The hardship of the battlefield behind enemy lines in those years. Far beyond people's imagination. A fierce battle is coming. It is very common for a certain anti-Japanese team behind enemy lines to be completely destroyed. Especially in the plains. Since there is no modern means of transport. Usually there is not even a chance to retreat. The Japanese launched a large-scale sweep. It will be possible to "eradicate" all the anti-Japanese guerrillas of both the Kuomintang and the Communist Party in a certain area. Even more desolate is . Soldiers who died on the frontal battlefield that year. Anyway, you can leave a rough number. And the heroes who died on the battlefield behind enemy lines. Usually you can't even leave a number.