Chapter 8: Fierce Strife and Identity Exposed

Yu Genshan raised his head and looked at Huang Zhongde in surprise, and asked in confusion:

"Huh? Something big is going to happen? What's going on? Don't be shocked here, you have to explain clearly in front of everyone. Sit down and talk. ”

Huang Zhongde sat down and asked, "Regiment Commander, just now you said that Fang Jiren joined the army and enlisted in the army, and we are less than two months away from replenishing the regiment, right?" ”

"Yes, that's what I said. That's what Francis told me. ”

"Regiment Commander, just now you also said that in this morning's battle to cover the retreat of the troops and the masses, Fang Jiren was calm, witty and resolute, commanded correctly, and had proper tactics, and his combat skills were strong and his martial arts were outstanding. Right? ”

"Yes, I said that. I've seen it with my own eyes, what's wrong? Director Huang, what exactly do you want to say? Don't beat around the bush here. ”

"Commander, don't worry, listen to me. Just now, the comrades saw and heard. What does it mean that Fang Jiren was able to accurately judge the direction of the battlefield, estimate the strength of both sides, and speculate on the battle situation in the noisy and indistinguishable sound of gunfire, especially when he could clearly and affirmatively say the specific models of weapons and equipment of the Japanese army and the Kuomintang army. The regiment commander also praised and affirmed Fang Jiren's combat skills and outstanding martial arts, what does this mean? Comrades, this shows that Fang Jiren is definitely not a recruit who has been in the army for two months, he is a veteran, but he is not a veteran of our Eighth Route Army. Fang Jiren could hear the weapons and equipment of the Japanese army and the Kuomintang army, which showed that he had seen and was familiar with these weapons and equipment, and even used them. So can we infer from this that Fang Jiren was a soldier of the Imperial Allied Army or the Kuomintang Army before? Why and how did he come to our supplementary group? Comrades, please also use your brains to analyze and analyze. ”

Huang Zhongde's words were like a boulder falling into the water, causing an uproar and causing everyone to discuss.

"Director Huang's analysis is very reasonable."

"Regiment commander, political commissar, this matter must be investigated as soon as possible."

"Francis is a dangerous person, and if you don't find out, something big will happen."

......

Yu Genshan: "Don't be noisy! Don't make any noise! Political commissar, Director Huang, what do you say?! What should be done with Francis now?! ”

The political commissar said decisively: "Immediately remove and suspend from office!" Get under scrutiny from the organization! ”

"Yes. The decision of the commissar is correct, and I support it. Francis should be immediately held in solitary confinement and thoroughly reviewed. Huang Zhongde added.

Yu Genshan said in surprise: "What? Evacuation of generals? Still being held in solitary confinement? This is a taboo for soldiers! Listen to how intense the gunfire and explosions were in the east of the village this time. While you were saying this, Fang Jiren was leading his troops to fight the devil to the death in the east of the village, and it was unknown whether he would come back alive, but you were sitting in the house and making hasty decisions about what to do with him. Political Commissar, Director Huang, what are you doing here?! Do you have to do this?! W-That's too much, isn't it?! ”

The commissar resolutely said: "Yes, it must be done!" Have to! ”

"In the face of major rights and wrongs, when life and death are at stake, we must not be merciful and hesitate! It has to be decided on the spot. Director Huang resolutely added.

Yu Genshan retorted unconvinced: "Political commissar, Director Huang, now is the current enemy, heavy troops are pressing the border, the enemy is outnumbered, the enemy is strong and I am weak, and our army is outnumbered, the ammunition and food are exhausted, the situation is difficult, the situation is critical, we have encountered unprecedented extreme difficulties, at this time we must not mess with ourselves." It is a pity to remove Fang Jiren from the position of company commander, and this will also be a big blow to the morale of the sixth company, and the soldiers must not understand and be convinced, how can we explain it to them? Do you think that's going to work? We can put him under organizational scrutiny while he works. ”

The political commissar was resolute and said in a firm tone: "No! Absolutely not! ”

"That's right! Absolutely not! I support the decision of the commissar. Huang Zhongde echoed.

Yu Genshan suppressed the anger in his chest, glared at Huang Zhongde and said angrily:

"Director Huang, I see that you have a problem with Fang Jiren's attitude, do you have to put him to death? According to what you said, Fang Jiren used to be a soldier of the Imperial Allied Army or the Kuomintang Army, so it is very likely that he was forced to become a soldier by the capture of Zhuangding, and he had to be reluctant, otherwise how could he join the Eighth Route Army? In our ranks, there are quite a few people who used to be soldiers of the Imperial Association Army and the Kuomintang, some of whom took the initiative to defect, and some of whom came from prisoners. Moreover, some people joined the party and became excellent commanders of the Eighth Route Army. Wouldn't Francis be such a person? If there was no country hating the family feud, how could he desperately kill the devil in battle? ”

Huang Zhongde retorted disapprovingly: "Commander, this doesn't mean anything. Francis is different from the people you mentioned, there are many things about him that we don't know, and even some things that may be dangerous to us. The mere fact that he participated in the Eighth Route Army does not prove that he is a strong-willed revolutionary, and which of us soldiers of the Eighth Route Army does not have a national hatred and family hatred? Which one is not sacrificing his life to kill devils? ”

Yu Genshan explained: "Director Huang, you are right. However, the role of each fighter in our revolutionary ranks is different from one big to the other, and some people can play a crucial and decisive role, and Francis is such a person. Yu Genshan took a sip of water and then asked: "Let's just talk about you, Director Huang, in the past two months since the May Day Sweep, have you ever led the soldiers to charge into battle with the devils to fight bayonets?" Have you ever been hurt? I fought with the chief of staff with bayonets, the political commissar also went into battle with machine guns and charged, the staff officers and officers of the regimental headquarters all went into battle, and the cooks rushed up with kitchen knives and flat poles, what are you? Where were you at that time? What are you doing? And Fang Jiren rushes to the front every time, that is a life of birth and death. Hum! To put it mildly, the supplementary regiment can do without you, and it can't do without Francis, what we lack most now is a brave and resourceful, combat-ready, and commanding leader like him. ”

Everyone watched Yu Genshan and Huang Zhongde arguing back and forth, feeling that what both sides said was reasonable, but they didn't know how to dissuade them, and they felt that it was not good to persuade anyone, so they had to say nothing.

Huang Zhongde's face turned red when Yu Genshan said it, and he said emotionally and unconvinced:

"Commander, do you call me a coward who is greedy for life and afraid of death? I'm not! I admit that what you said is the truth, I did not charge into battle and fight with bayonets, it is only a difference in the division of revolutionary work, not that I am afraid of death. ”

"Shh Yu Genshan snorted disdainfully. "Different division of labor? You're talking so lightly. The devils are heavily encircled and suppressed, and the two armies are wrenched together and killed, do you have to talk about the division of labor at this life-and-death juncture? ! Not being afraid of death is the minimum requirement for each of our Eighth Route Army soldiers, but we have to kill more devils. ”

The political commissar raised his arm, waved his palms downward at Yu Genshan and Huang Zhongde, and said, "Okay, okay." The head of the regiment and Director Huang, don't say it anymore, the more you talk about it, the farther it goes. Francis's affairs will be done according to what I just said, and it will be decided. ”

Yu Genshan said angrily: "Then you might as well shoot Fang Jiren directly!" Wouldn't that be crisper and more thorough?! What are you still censoring him for?! ”

"I can do this when necessary, at critical moments."

Yu Genshan and the political commissar did not give in to each other, each said their own reasoning, and quarreled loudly and fiercely. The crowd gradually divided into two factions and argued noisily.

"Quiet! Be quiet! Don't make any noise! Wang Fujiang, secretary of the county party committee, stood up and shouted to stop it, and the quarrel in the house gradually subsided. Wang Fujiang looked around at everyone, and finally his eyes fell on Genshan and the political commissar seriously: "Regiment leader, political commissar, now the current situation of the great enemy is sinister, in such a harsh and difficult time, what does it look like for your two leaders to argue endlessly in front of everyone?" On behalf of the Lin'an County Party Committee, I would like to criticize you. In order to facilitate the work in the future, I propose that from now on the county party committee and the party committee of the supplementary regiment form a temporary joint party committee to jointly lead the current struggle against the enemy. The supplementary regiment focuses on military struggle, and the county party committee and county government focus on building new party building and government and mass work, and conscription, food, and material collection can be done together. Commander, political commissar, what are your opinions? ”

Yu Genshan loudly agreed: "Okay! I agree, no opinion. ”

Political commissar: "Great, I completely agree with the formation of a provisional joint party committee." Comrade Wang Fujiang, with the help and cooperation of your county party committee and government, our work will be much smoother in the future. ”

Wang Fujiang: "What are your opinions and suggestions?" ”

The crowd was unanimously in favor.

Wang Fujiang said loudly: "Okay, today's enlarged meeting of the party committee will be held here." The regiment commander, the political commissar, and the county magistrate Lu have left behind, and we must discuss and study the matter of forming the joint party committee and the division of labor, and the other comrades can go. ”

Everyone got up and left the regimental headquarters.

After Wang Fujiang sat down, he smiled and pointed at Yu Genshan, and the political commissar said angrily;

"Alas! You two big leaders, you are both old revolutionaries, why are you still arguing like children? It's not like that, but it's not allowed to do that in the future. ”

"Hey, hey, hey." Yu Genshan smiled awkwardly.

The political commissar smiled and sighed, pointed at Yu Genshan and shook his head.

"There is a very important and urgent matter that we need your help to complete, and there is nothing we can do." Wang Fujiang said in a serious voice.

Yu Genshan realized that the situation was serious, but he said in a resolute and confident tone:

"Secretary Wang, just say it, no matter how difficult or big it is, we will definitely do everything we can to help you complete it."

Political commissar: "Yes, what Commander Yu said is also what I want to say, and we are duty-bound!" ”

"Good, good. With the support of both of you, we're half the battle. County Magistrate Lu, you can tell the two chiefs in detail about the specific situation. ”

The thin county magistrate Lu, who was in his thirties, said with an anxious and sad expression:

"Okay. That's how it goes. Half a year ago, we received instructions from our superiors to purchase a batch of Western medicines and surgical instruments as soon as possible, mainly penicillin, anesthetics, quinine, sulfonamides, and hemostatic drugs, as well as alcohol, iodine, medical cotton, and bandages. In late April this year, we basically completed the task and reported to the superior in a timely manner, and a few days later the leader replied that the person receiving the medicine had set off and would arrive in Lin'an County in mid to late May. However, I don't know which link went wrong, and I was discovered by the enemy, and a frenzied search began. In order to transfer and protect this batch of precious medicines that our troops urgently need, we sacrificed a total of seven excellent comrades. Alas! ”

"County Magistrate Lu, how is the situation now? Where's this batch of medicines? Yu Genshan asked anxiously.

"Alas!" County Magistrate Lu was full of grief, and sighed heavily and said:

"Now the whereabouts of this batch of medicines are unknown, we only know that they are still hidden in the county seat of Lin'an County. Several comrades in charge of this batch of drugs were one-line contacts, but they all sacrificed. The county seat of Lin'an County is so big, the enemy is watching it closely, and it is too difficult and difficult to find this batch of medicines now, so we ask for help from the Eighth Route Army. ”

The political commissar patted County Magistrate Lu on the shoulder comfortingly: "County Magistrate Lu, don't say that, it's not your help, it's our common responsibility." This batch of medicines is too important and precious, and it is related to the lives of many of our soldiers. ”

"Secretary Wang, County Magistrate Lu, do you have any clues? How should we find it? Where do you start? It's not enough to just know that you're in the county. ”

"Alas! That's where the difficulty lies. I don't have any clues with County Magistrate Lu. ”

"Regiment commander, political commissar, this matter is only known to me and Secretary Wang, we only know the contact code and a set of backup code words. But where to go to the joint? Who to connect? But I don't know anything. I'm really anxious. ”

Yu Genshan thought for a while and said, "Don't worry, County Magistrate Lu, you tell me the two sets of code words, and I will send someone into the city to find them immediately." ”

County Magistrate Lu took out a piece of paper from his pocket and solemnly handed it to Yu Genshan.

A courtyard house in a small mountain village. The headquarters of the Eighth Route Army is located. The telecommunications room of the headquarters was full of announcements and telephones, and people were busy nervously. Mr. Peng, the head of the headquarters, held the phone in his right hand and asked anxiously: "How is the situation there?" Report it now. ”

Eighth Route Army Divisional Headquarters. The division commander replied with a phone: "Except for the supplementary regiment in Yugenshan, which is still fighting fiercely with the Japanese army, the rest of the troops have been out of battle and withdrawn to a safe area to rest and stand by. Now I don't know where the supplementary group is, and I can't get in touch for a while. ”

Mr. Peng said eagerly: "How did you do it? Send someone to find it! ”

The division commander replied: "Yes, I will send someone to find it right away." Please rest assured, Yu Genshan has a great life, and he can fight tough battles and evil battles, he will not be glorious, I will definitely be able to find them. ”

Morikura Village Ancestral Hall. The Eighth Route Army supplemented the regimental headquarters.

In the afternoon, Yu Genshan, political commissar, chief of staff, and others sat around a square table and read a map to study the enemy's situation. A spirited Fang Jiren and two disheveled, disgraced Kuomintang officers argued loudly and walked into the ancestral hall.

One of the officers, wearing the rank of lieutenant colonel of the Kuomintang army, shouted in front of Yu Genshan and the others, "Which of you is the highest commander here?" Please come out and speak. ”

The crowd looked up at him in disgust and said nothing. Yu Genshan walked quickly in front of him and asked sternly, "Who are you?!" Report your name and unit number! ”

"Report to the commander, I am the lieutenant colonel battalion commander of the 639th Regiment of the 71st Division of the National Army, my name is Zhou Qiwei, and this is my subordinate captain and company commander Yao Jian. Our unit was on a special mission, and was suddenly attacked by the Japanese army, thank you for risking your life to save you, please send back our radio, weapons, ammunition, food, cook for my soldiers, take in and treat the wounded, after dark, I will lead my troops out of here to continue the mission, please order your army to cover and cooperate with our army's actions, and please help our army find and collect the scattered soldiers. ”

Yu Genshan smiled contemptuously and asked sternly, "Are you giving me orders?!" ”

Zhou Qiwei insisted: "Don't dare." I am on a special mission, and now the situation is urgent, so I have to ask your army for help. Pls sir, your rank? ”

Yu Genshan replied loudly: "Yu Genshan, the commander of the Eighth Route Army Supplementary Regiment. Hum! I'm not interested in any of your special assignments. Company Commander Fang, what's going on? ”

Fang Jiren said mockingly: "Commander, when we rushed over, they had already been scattered by the devils, and they were crushed and suffered heavy casualties, and if we arrived a little later, the devils would have wiped them all out." We fought hard and rushed at the devils and withdrew, and the radios, weapons, ammunition, and food supplies were captured from the devils by fighting desperately on the battlefield. ”

Zhou Qiwei: "Company Commander Fang, I am very grateful to you for leading the troops to come to the rescue in time. However, the weapons, ammunition, food provisions, and radio stations were indeed our army's. Sir, please return it to us no matter what. ”

Fang Jiren: "Camp Commander Zhou, this account is not your algorithm. Your troops have been defeated and scattered by the devils, and the devils have seized your things, which are not yours. Our army defeated and ran away the devils, and captured these things back, they are our trophies, and they have nothing to do with your national army, why do you still say that it is yours? Why are you embarrassed to ask for it back? What were you doing then? ”

Yu Genshan said approvingly: "Yes, our company commander has calculated this account correctly, and we have no reason to return it to you." ”

Zhou Qiwei glared at Fang Jiren and said, "You, you are arguing with strong words and quibbles. ”

Fang Jiren said mockingly: "Battalion Commander Zhou, it's useless for us to return the weapons and equipment to you, you soldiers still have to lose the battle." Hum! You are good at engaging in friction, playing black guns, and bullying the common people, if you have real skills to fight little devils. ”

Zhou Qiwei lowered his head in embarrassment and shame, speechless. Suddenly, Zhou Qiwei raised his head and looked at Fang Jiren carefully, and suddenly said, "Huh? It's you? I remember, aren't you a reconnaissance staff major at the regimental headquarters? Don't you know me? We participated in the Battle of Taierzhuang together. Ay? Y—Why are you here in the Eighth Route Army now? ”

Fang Jiren was stunned for a moment, secretly surprised in his heart, looked at Zhou Qiwei with a puzzled face and said:

"Y-You recognize the wrong person, right? I don't think I've ever seen you before. ”

Zhou Qiwei said with certainty: "That's right, it's you, I didn't recognize the wrong person, Major Fang." ”

All the people in the ancestral hall also looked at Fang Jiren and Zhou Qiwei in confusion and surprise.

Yu Genshan said impatiently: "Take them out!" Let's settle down first, and don't mess with me here. What kind of bullshit is this! ”

The political commissar said softly: "Battalion Commander Zhou, please stay, I still have something to say to you, Company Commander Yao, you go back first to settle the troops, eat and rest." ”

The political commissar took Zhou Qiwei to a room behind the front hall of the ancestral hall. Yao Jian glanced at Zhou Qiwei, turned around and followed a warrior out of the ancestral hall.

Huang Zhongde got up and chased out, stopped Yao Jian outside the ancestral hall and asked:

"Company Commander Yao, please stay, I have something to ask you."

Yao Jian stood up and saluted: "Sir, please ask." ”

"Company Commander Yao, what special mission are you performing? Where are your troops going? How did you get involved with the devil? ”

"Report to the commander, I don't know what special tasks are being carried out and where the troops are going, only our battalion commander Zhou knows it alone. We marched south from the station, and we didn't know why we encountered a large Japanese army heading west, and we wanted to avoid the Japanese army and go around to Morikura Village and then go south. Unexpectedly, the Japanese army suddenly launched a fierce attack on our unit, which caught us off guard. Thankfully, your army came to the rescue in time, otherwise we would have been wiped out. Sir, your company commander Fang is really amazing, the big knife in his hand is extremely powerful, slashing devils is like killing pigs and sheep, no, like chopping melons and vegetables. Company Commander Fang was surrounded by seven or eight devils and was not afraid, and after a while, three strikes and five devils divided by two devils fell to the ground and died. It was a thrilling scene, and we were all thrilled to watch. Sir, I made a rough calculation, after this battle, Company Commander Fang alone will kill at least 30 devils, your Eighth Route Army is really amazing. ”

"Yes, all the soldiers of our Eighth Route Army are like Company Commander Fang. Company Commander Yao, why did Battalion Commander Zhou say just now that our company commander is a major staff officer of your national army? What's going on? ”

"Sir, I don't know what's going on."

"Oh, you don't know. Okay, Company Commander Yao, you go and rest quickly. ”

Yao Jian stood up and saluted: "Yes!" Thank you, sir. With that, he turned and left. Huang Zhongde turned around and walked into the ancestral hall, walked to the table of the Eight Immortals and sat down.

Yu Genshan returned to the Eight Immortals table and sat down: "Company Commander Fang, come and sit down and talk about the situation." ”

Fang Jiren sat next to Yu Genshan, and everyone gathered around to look at Fang Jiren with strange and alert eyes.