When the Kuomintang authorities saw that Wang Jinxiang could not be counted on, they remembered his other lackey, Qi Zixiu.

In the winter of 1940, the Kuomintang Shandong Provincial Government appointed Qi Zixiu as Commissioner of the Sixth Prefecture and Commander of Security. After accepting the task, Qi Zixiu put the nine brigades in his hands, claiming to be 30,000 people (in fact, more than 10,000 people) to unscrupulously engage in anti-Japanese activities.

Generally speaking, after the Japanese army completed the first "sweep", Qi Zixiu then came to the second "sweep". Like Wang Jinxiang, he never fought the Japanese, and his main military goal was to fight the Communists.

As soon as the Qi recalcitrant regime was established, he cooperated with the Japanese and puppet armies and adopted the tactics of taking a step by step tactic to build additional strongholds in our base area and encroach on our base area.

Qi Zixiu was not satisfied with this alone, and instructed his subordinates to surrender to the Japanese army in a camp.

In 1941, Wang Kezhuang, deputy chief of staff of the 9th Brigade of Qi Zixiu's department, and Zhao Zhenhua, Zhu Yaowu, Fu Chonglu, the brigade commanders, led more than 300 people to surrender to the Japanese army in Liaocheng, and was organized as the "first detachment of the Luxi Suppression Communists". Wang Kezhuang served as the commander, and there were 1st, 2nd, and 3rd squadrons, with Zhao Zhenhua, Fu Chonglu, and Zhu Yaowu serving as the leaders of each squadron.

After the autumn, the department was sent to the area of Guoziwang, Persimmon Garden, Gaoho, and Zhouzhuang to build strongholds.

In the spring of 1942, Tian Fuzhou, the commander of the Eighth Brigade of Qizi's Xiu Division, led his first and second battalions, about 600 people, to surrender to the enemy. After the autumn of the same year, I went to build a stronghold in the area of Zhaozhuang and Weizhuang.

The third battalion of Tian Fuzhou remained in Liaoxi Lihai and was commanded by Tian Fuzhou's wife. At that time, Tian Tuan set up an office in Liaocheng, and called the stronghold he occupied in the area of Zhaozhuang in the east of the city the front, and Li Hai as the rear.

Qi Zixiu's Sixth Brigade Commander Wang Kuiyi's Regiment Commander Guo Peide also led more than 100 people to surrender to the enemy.

There are more than 1,000 troops in the three open surrenders of Qi Zixiu's troops, which has greatly exceeded the puppet army cultivated by the Japanese army itself.

Some of the backbone elements of the Japanese army not only did not feel ashamed of surrendering to the Japanese as traitors, but on the contrary, they thought that this was a good way to expand their power behind enemy lines. Because they have such spiritual guidance, they have behaved more cunning and ferocious in their battles against us.

There are still 9 brigades and more than 10,000 people in the Qi Zixiu Department who did not surrender to the Japanese invaders, and these people are clearly not anti-Japanese, but they are openly **, which has caused great harm to our anti-Japanese work. There are some people who are still ** veterans, and they have already fought with us on the battlefield before the Anti-Japanese War, so they are both experienced and extremely murderous.

But the Communist Party, the Eighth Route Army, and the masses of the people are fighting against them in various ways.

There is a Beiyangji village in the northeast of Liaocheng in seventeen or eighteen miles, and dozens of miles to the north is Boping County, and the geographical location here is very important. Some of the materials of the new Eighth Brigade were stored here, and for the sake of work, Han Xing wore civilian clothes and took Wu Xiaoming and Li Dazhong here on a business trip to discuss the deployment of materials.

The main reason why the materials of the New Eighth Brigade are stored here is that there is a party branch in Beiyangji Village, and Zhao Chunhua, secretary of the village branch, has made the mass movement in the village very effective. This is one of the earlier branches of the party in northwestern Shandong, and the mass foundation is relatively good, and the party's strength is relatively strong.

As early as 1937, Zhao Chunhua led the influential local struggle against the landlord Zhai Dongcheng for village-level power. That struggle thwarted Zhai Dongcheng's conspiracy, made party member Zhai Xiu'an openly serve as the village head of Beiyangji, and made the party branch legally and directly control the village power.

Han Xing found Zhao Chunhua in the village and saw that Zhao Chunhua was in his twenties, a young farmer who was not outstanding in appearance. The house where Zhao Chunhua lives is very dilapidated, and at first glance he is a typical poor middle peasant, and the house is basically poor, with only four walls.

Zhao Chunhua was also stunned when he saw Han Xing coming, although Han Xing didn't know Zhao Chunhua, but because Han Xing was a well-known person, he often appeared by Fan Zhuxian's side. Zhao Chunhua is often active outside, so he recognizes Han Xing. However, he really didn't know Han Xing's true identity now, whether it was his surname Gong, his surname Qi, or his surname Ri.

When Han Xing took out the letter of introduction, Zhao Chunhua learned Han Xing's true identity, smiled and let him go to the kang and said, "My family, my family, please sit down." ”

At that time, the peasants were poor, where were there any tables, chairs and benches, in fact, in the ordinary people's house, there was a stove, and there was a kang in the stove. When the distinguished guests came, the host had to let them go to the kang. Ordinary people, that is, standing and talking for a while, really have no place to go.

Han Xing and Zhao Chunhua chatted about materials and finished talking. Zhao Chunhua said to Han Xing: "Commander Han, I heard that you have fought countless battles in the south three times, and have made a lot of achievements. Tell me if you can build another army in the northeast area of Liaocheng. ”

Han Xing said: "No problem, you can report to your superiors." I'll find a way to solve the specific weapon matter for you. ”

Zhao Chunhua also said: "Since the problem of weapons has been solved, it will be easy to handle. But under what banner? ”

Han Xing thought for a while and said, "Is it okay, you are in the Northeast District of Liaocheng, it is called the Liaocheng Northeast District Working Committee, you should be the director, and take the lead in organizing this armed force." ”

After listening to Han Xing's encouragement, Zhao Chunhua was very excited, and quickly organized an armed group, and Han Xing allocated them some weapons through the New Eighth Brigade. They carried out their activities at the junction of Liaocheng, Chiping, and Boping, striking at the enemy's puppet and scattered personnel, eliminating traitors, smashing the puppet regime, and sabotaging the enemy's communications.

The commander of the Liaocheng Japanese army, Daben, was very annoyed by the "public order" in this area, and ordered Li Hanzhang, the puppet county magistrate, to find clues about the Communist Party's activities in this area within a time limit.

Li Hanzhang thought about it, the strong dragon couldn't suppress the head snake, so he thought of Zhai Dongcheng, the big landlord in Beiyangjizhuang, and secretly sent someone to contact Zhai Dongcheng and asked Zhai Dongcheng to find a way to find clues about the Communist Party's activities.

Otherwise, all the bad things are bad for the traitors. Zhai Dongcheng is a native of Beiyangji, he is very familiar with the situation in the village, and he has some Red Gun members.

Zhai Dongcheng was also flattered after being appreciated by Li Hanzhang, so he gathered these Red Gun members in the Buddhist hall in the village every day to burn incense, kowtow, draw talismans, and practice martial arts.

He also proudly said to Tang Qingyun, the leader of the Red Gun Society in the village: "Haha, there is a Zheng Zuoheng in Liaocheng, and another Li Hanzhang is here." What kind of person is Li Hanzhang, he is my brother. It's really immortal! I, Zhai Dongcheng, won't fall. Hmph, Zhao Chunhua, Zhao Chunhua, my four-fingered strip, I will call you to the West Heaven. ”

He and his Red Gun Society began a slow investigation. After the investigation was clear, he wrote a list of party members, activists, and various activities of Beiyangji, and secretly sent them to Li Hanzhang.

After Li Hanzhang received the information, he was very happy. On the one hand, he praised Zhai Dongcheng greatly, and on the other hand, he sent someone to find the puppet district head Zhang Hongen and asked him to send a letter to Zhao Chunhua, saying that he wanted to meet Zhao Chunhua.

That night, Zhao Chunhua found several party members in the village to discuss the matter together.

After everyone heard about this, they were all worried about Chunhua's safety and persuaded him not to go. But after careful consideration, Zhao Chunhua decided to go. He said: "If you don't go, you will arouse the suspicion of the enemy, and if you go, the enemy will not grasp any tricks, so there is no need to be afraid of him." ”

Han Xing happened to be in the village, and Zhao Chunhua told Han Xing about this, Han Xing felt that the matter was very serious, and said to Zhao Chunhua: "Chunhua, the reason why the party can work in the village is because the party is still in a secret state, and the enemy does not understand the organization of Beiyangji, so he has no way to start. Since Zhang Hongen has found you and asked you to go to see Li Hanzhang, it means that you may have been exposed. At this time, you go to see Li Hanzhang, what if Li Hanzhang detains you? ”

Zhao Chunhua thought for a while and said: "Commander Han, have you thought about it, if I don't go, it means that I have something in my heart and dare not go, isn't this even more exposed." I thought about it, it's better to go, the enemy doesn't hold the handle, I can still fight them. Besides, I'm going to find out what the enemy thinks. ”

Han Xing thought for a while and said, "You really want to go, it's really a very dangerous thing. However, if they can return, as soon as there is a disturbance, all exposed personnel will be evacuated immediately. ”

Zhao Chunhua nodded and said, "Okay! ”

The next day, Zhao Chunhua came to Liaocheng with Zhang Hongen and entered the office of the pseudo county magistrate.

After Li Hanzhang saw Zhao Chunhua, he was very polite, although he did not make tea and pour water, he also gave up his seat with a smile on his face. Zhao Chunhua didn't sit down, but stood and said to Li Hanzhang: "County Magistrate Li, if you have anything, just say it!" ”

Li Hanzhang said to Zhao Chunhua: "You are Zhao Chunhua, right?" ”

Zhao Chunhua nodded and said, "I am Zhao Chunhua." ”

Li Hanzhang asked again: "Someone sues you for being a Communist Party, do you know it?" ”

Zhao Chunhua said calmly: "I know, it's Zhai Dongcheng, because he wanted to be the village chief but didn't become it, so he slandered me as a communist." ”

Li Hanzhang smiled sinisterly and said: "When I am this parent official, I have to be the master of the people!" He said that you are a communist, and I had to call you in for questioning. Last time, the village head was elected, but Zhai Dongcheng was not elected, and he was angry in his heart, saying that you were cheating in the election. To prove that you are not cheating, can you choose again? ”

Zhao Chunhua argued and said: "Our election has been proved by people in the district, how can it be said that it is cheating." Why don't you ask District Chief Zhang, isn't it! ”

Zhang Hongen had no choice but to say: "Yes, yes, it is indeed a fair election, and there is no cheating." ”

Li Hanzhang said to Zhao Chuncheng: "Since there is no cheating, what are you afraid of, just choose again!" It's good to block Zhai Dongcheng's mouth, and I'm also good at talking. ”

Zhao Chuncheng saw that since Li Hanzhang said this, he couldn't tear his face and say that he didn't agree, so he had to nod and say, "Okay, let's give it a try and choose again." ”