In order to speed up the arming of the joint defense forces of various villages, Zhuxian County also established a small arsenal in West Taipingzhuang, which is responsible for refurbishing guns and manufacturing ammunition, and has a daily production capacity of 300 grenades.

Therefore, this Taipingzhuang has become a thorn in the enemy's heart and a thorn in the flesh.

It was the winter of 1941, and Han Xing was studying the affairs of the arsenal with Zhang Xia, the county magistrate and county captain. What Han Xing means is that it is possible to expand the production scope of some factories and produce some new weapons. Zhang Xia was very happy when he heard this, and said to Han Xing, but he lacked technology and equipment. Han Xing said that the director of the Wang Arsenal Factory in our area can come here to support the equipment and skilled workers.

At this time, the correspondent came to report: "The puppet army in Liu Daozhi, Zhoudian, Tanzhuang, Gaoxiangfang and other surrounding strongholds is gathering and preparing to encircle and sweep Taipingzhuang. ”

Hearing the news, Zhang Xia was serious, at this time, the county brigade and the district squad combined were less than 100 people, and there were no more than 20 joint defense backbone villages, and if there were 10 people in a village, that would be 200 people, to put it bluntly, that is, some ordinary people were holding some miscellaneous guns. The Yundong Brigade was also there, at that time there were only two squadrons, less than 200 people.

Compared with the enemy's thousand-strong team, such a team is indeed at a disadvantage.

Han Xing said to Zhang Xia: "I still have dozens of people here, and they are also cooperating, so I will ask County Magistrate Zhang to make a decision, right?" ”

Zhang Xia thought for a while, and immediately called the correspondent: "Immediately notify the people of the county brigade, the Yundong brigade, the district team, and the joint defense team of each village to come to the meeting." ”

The correspondent agreed, and ran out to give the order.

After a while, Li Cheng, deputy captain of the county brigade and director of the public security bureau, Bai Fengyi of the Yundong brigade, responsible persons of the squad in various districts, Wu Laosan, captain of the joint defense brigade, and several cadres from Dongxi Taipingzhuang arrived one after another. The two huts were packed, and everyone knew that the traitors were coming to sweep up, so the atmosphere was quite tense.

For a long time, no one said anything, and everyone focused on the county magistrate Zhang Xia.

Zhang Xia pondered for a moment and said solemnly: "Comrades, according to reliable information, the enemies of Tan Zhuang, Liu Daozhi, Gao Xiangfang, and Huaniu Chen's strongholds, under the leadership of the traitor captain Xie Jinluan, are about to encircle our Taipingzhuang. We only have two paths at the moment, fight or go? Hit, how to play? Go, where to go? How to move a small arsenal? How can the masses be transferred? Please consult with us. ”

Han Xing has no words, the people's war has to be fought by the people, see what everyone has to say.

Li Cheng, the deputy captain of the county brigade, thought for a while and said, "We only have a few hundred people, and the traitors have thousands of them. If we fight, we are at an absolute disadvantage. But if you don't fight, the team is easy to say, but if the arsenal is transferred and the people retreat, it will be a little troublesome, and if the enemy is asked to chase and fight, it will be very passive. ”

Bai Fengyi said: "Although the Yundong Brigade currently has only 200 people, I have ordered the remaining squadron to reinforce Taipingzhuang as soon as possible. At present, although we are not superior in numbers, we are familiar with people and geography, and besides, if we don't stop the prestige of these traitors, it will make them lose face. People can not be drummed, but I still advocate using our characteristics to fight a war with the enemy. If you really can't fight, it's not too late to retreat. ”

At this time, Zhou Maoduo, the old village chief of West Taipingzhuang, stood up and said: "County Magistrate Zhang, there are more than 300 people in our village, at least 200 people can take guys, what do you say?" ”

When Han Xing heard this, he felt very curious, and asked, "Old village chief, tell me, there are more than 300 people in total, how can 200 people take the guy?" ”

Zhou Maoduo saw that Han Xing didn't believe it, and said: "Needless to say, we also have a children's group, that is, half-grown children and half-grown girls over the age of twelve, they are holding red tassel guns, how can they send a letter, carry earth cannons, carry guns or something!" There are also women's rescue associations, eldest daughters, and little daughters-in-law, which are also the main force of the war, no worse than men. In addition to children under the age of 12 and old men and women over the age of 65, there must be more than 200 people participating in the war! ”

Han Xing was really surprised when he heard it, this is really the so-called all-people war, and the whole people participate!

The captains of the joint defense teams of other villages also shouted: "County Magistrate Zhang, Section Chief Han, we won't leave, let's fight the enemy here!" ”

After listening to everyone's words, Zhang Xia was greatly excited, and Han Xing was also enthusiastic, with such ordinary people and such anti-war emotions, why worry that the enemy could not be defeated.

Han Xing nodded to Zhang Xia and said, "According to the situation of both sides, you can fight." ”

Zhang Xia also said excitedly to everyone: "I completely agree with the opinions of the comrades, and it is not possible not to discourage the prestige of the dog and traitor." Be prepared for a bad battle. Comrade Zhou Maoduo said it well, we can go into battle regardless of men, women and children, and all the weapons that can kill the enemy will be taken out. ”

Zhang Xia briefly discussed it with Han Xing again. Zhang Xia said: "The county brigade here, the Yundong brigade, and the district squad were all pulled into the south alkali field to ambush, and the joint defense team was responsible for bringing the enemy into the alkali field and ambushing it. The machines, tools, and everything else in the arsenal were scattered and hidden, and the old and infirm villagers were immediately organized to move. ”

After the meeting was arranged, it was already more than 11 o'clock at night, Zhang Xia, Han Xing, Wu Laosan, the head of the joint defense team, and Zhou Maoduo, the village chief of Taipingzhuang, went to the village head of West Taipingzhuang to check the situation of the sentry. On the way, Wu Laosan asked Zhang Xia worriedly: "County Magistrate Zhang, can the county government go?" Are you going or not? ”

Zhang Xia smiled and asked Han Xing: "Section Chief Han, are you leaving?" ”

Han Xing smiled and said, "When I Han Xing was fighting, I always went where there was a gunshot, and when did I become a deserter!" ”

Zhang Xia said to Wu Laosan: "Section Chief Han, the past Commander Han can't go, can I go?" Those people in the county government who can't fight the war go, I don't go. ”

"Are you really not leaving?" Wu Laosan said to Zhang Xia and Han Xing in surprise, "County Magistrate Zhang, Section Chief Han, this is a vicious battle, you guys are too dangerous here!" ”

Zhang Xia knew that maybe Wu Laosan was not familiar with Han Xing, and he didn't know Han Xing's true identity, so he said to Wu Laosan: "This Han Section Chief was the commander of the three southern expeditions in the past, and he annihilated countless devils, and even Chiang Kai-shek, the boss of the Kuomintang, looked down on Han Section Chief. Not to mention these little puppet soldiers, no matter how many devils come, as Commander Han, it is Guan Gong who eats bean sprouts - a piece of cake! ”

Only then did Wu Laosan know that this was the famous commander of the Southern Expeditionary Army, so he had to say apologetically: "Oops, oops, I'm really cloudy today, I don't know gold and jade, and I ask Commander Han to bear with me." ”

Han Xing had no choice but to shake his head again and again and said, "Where, where1, I basically entered Cao Ying today by Xu Shu - without saying a word." The important thing is that today's main force is the people of Taipingzhuang, I want to see how the people fight this battle? ”

At this time, some cadres of the county government, even the deputy captain Li Cheng, were worried about Zhang Xia's safety. Li Cheng said to Zhang Xia: "County Magistrate Zhang, just stay and command the battle of the cadres of the county brigade. You want to be here, in case there is a good one, the political influence is too great, and we will not be able to deal with it. I see, you better go! ”

Zhang Xia was a little anxious at this time, and said to Li Cheng and the cadres: "Section Chief Han's official is not greater than me, and his influence is not more powerful than mine. But if he doesn't withdraw, how can I withdraw! To die, let's die together, to live, let's live together. Don't persuade you anymore about this matter. ”

After Wu Laosan heard this, he nodded and said: "If County Magistrate Zhang doesn't leave, Section Chief Han doesn't leave, and our county government doesn't leave, we will have the backbone, and our people won't have to be afraid." ”

The news that Zhang Xia, the county magistrate, had not left, and that Han Xing, who had come from outside, had not left, quickly spread to the vast number of commanders and fighters, the militia of the joint defense team, and the masses. Men, women, and children rushed to tell each other, deeply inspired, sharpened their knives and guns, and prepared to fight the enemy.

Han Xing and Zhang Xia had just returned from the checkout, and not long after returning to Taipingzhuang, they heard a commotion outside: "The enemy is coming!" The enemy is coming!" The surrounding joint defense villages also blew horns, and the sound of gongs and drums was also loud, "Bang Bang...... Knock knock knock ......"

Zhang Xia and Han Xing hurriedly pulled out their pistols and ran out into the street. Zhang Xia led some people from the county government, and Han Xing stood beside Wang Xiu'e, Wu Xiaoming, and Li Dazhong.

At this time, the sky was still dark, that is, there was four watches. All I could hear was the sound of footsteps everywhere and the noisy shouts of men and women. Zhang Xia hurriedly ordered: "All units act according to the original plan. ”

As a result, the county brigade, the Yundong brigade, and the district squad moved to the alkali field to the south. The old man, the young man, the eldest girl, the little daughter-in-law, and some of the children's regiments with all kinds of weapons in their hands also followed the main force to the alkali field.

The joint defense members of the villages quickly moved to the north of the village and took the initiative to approach the enemy.

Just north of Taipingzhuang, there is a large gap, and the enemy is advancing along the flat land of the big gap to the high post of Taipingzhuang.

Han Xing and Zhang Xia took some soldiers and joint defense team members to the traffic ditch in the north of the village, and looked north by starlight. The enemy had already pressed over from the northeast depression to the southwest on the high hill, and there were nearly a thousand men in the black press.

There was a sound of bolts pulling, and the soldiers and militiamen loaded their sons and placed grenades on the edge ......of the ditch.

Han Xing hurriedly said to Wu Xiaoming: "Assault rifles, light machine guns, and heavy machine guns must not be fired. Other miscellaneous weapons can ring. ”

Wu Xiaoming nodded, understanding what Han Xing meant, that is, don't startle the snake, so that the enemy knows that this is the main force coming up.

Some members of the joint defense team couldn't hold their breath and shouted angrily at Zhang Xia: "County Magistrate Zhang, fight, the enemy is coming!" ”

"Come closer." Zhang Xia stared at the enemy tightly and replied calmly.