On the evening of his arrival in Yulin, He Zhengdao, in the name of the commander of the independent division, invited He Yingqin and his delegation to attend a welcome banquet. Although it is not formal, at least it gives the delegation a good feeling.

Even when visiting today, He Zhengdao made it clear that he would not let them take the prisoners easily. But tonight's reception banquet still gave He Yingqin and his delegation enough face, so that the delegation could not say anything.

At least they all knew that if the Eighth Route Army sent a delegation to Chongqing, or even some places under their control, they visited and exchanged. It's already good to be able to avoid stumbling. Not to mention, to hold such a welcome banquet.

Originally, I wanted to talk to He Zhengdao about the transfer of prisoners while I was eating. As a result, He Zhengdao said with a smile: "Minister He, let's wait until tomorrow when we sit down to talk about this kind of business!" Eat and drink well tonight, and everything will be fine. ”

In the face of He Zhengdao's reply, He Yingqin didn't say much. At least the secret telegram sent to the government in the afternoon made him feel a little better. Lao Jiang's side didn't seem to be as stingy as he imagined, and he was willing to give some sincerity.

It's just that in the reply, Lao Jiang also clearly told He Yingqin that he could not let the Eighth Route Army gain an inch. Although the government has some money now, this money is more used for the preparation of the next anti-Japanese war.

If the cost was too great, Lao Jiang would rather not have these prisoners than give the Eighth Route Army too much money. At least Lao Jiang knew that being able to get these prisoners of war would indeed help enhance the image and influence of the national government in the War of Resistance.

However, the success of the Eighth Route Army's telegram has to some extent made many people and people who are concerned about the War of Resistance known to them. The troops that really fought the 12th Division surrendered were not their Central Army, but the Eighth Route Army in Shaanxi.

What the Central Army could not do, the Eighth Route Army, which was regarded as a local army, did it. The southern parts guarded by the Central Army, even if it consumed a lot of strength of the Japanese army, it was still difficult to hide the fact that the control area was constantly lost.

In contrast, the Eighth Route Army eliminated no fewer little devils than the Central Army on the battlefield of resistance against Japan, and even recovered most of Suiyuan and Shanxi, as well as some of the occupied areas that have been Jinchaji. Compared with the two sides, the Central Army has lost a lot of color.

Even the newspapers now controlled by the Central Army accuse the Eighth Route Army of only knowing how to conduct guerrilla warfare. The battle between Suiyuan and most of Shanxi, as well as the anti-encirclement and suppression this time, can be described as a frontal large-scale battle.

Their accusations, in the face of such a victory, seem to be somewhat untenable. At present, they want to use the prisoners of war captured by the Eighth Route Army to do anti-Japanese war propaganda, and what others will think of them really needs to be tested!

Snatching the fruits of other people's victories is somewhat regarded as a less upright thing!

After a night of entertaining both guests and hosts, He Yingqin, who came to the headquarters of the Independent Division again the next day, also realized that he needed to have a real negotiation with the Eighth Route Army today. What the final result will be, he really has no bottom in his heart.

Even when he was drinking last night, He Zhengdao seemed to be able to talk well. But for He Yingqin, he only saw that He Zhengdao was beyond ordinary people's maturity and sophistication. Not at all, as he knew, the young man was in his early twenties.

A guard was born, and in just over three years, he reached the rank of lieutenant general, commanding the most powerful independent column in the Eighth Route Army. This kind of achievement is enough to show that He Zhengdao is different.

Dealing with such a young person, He Yingqin is indeed a little bottomless. What surprised He Yingqin the most was that at the reception banquet last night, He Zhengdao's understanding of the current situation and even the international situation was far beyond what he knew about the generals of the Eighth Route Army.

At least in He Yingqin's view, He Zhengdao, a young red general, is not just a simple military general. This young man, like many others, has more than just an eye on the current situation.

For some current situations at home and abroad, He Zhengdao will have some different views, but people feel that they need to think deeply. Dealing with such a young person, He Yingqin feels that no matter how cautious he is, he can't be too cautious!

Considering that this meeting is also a confidential matter for both sides. The only people who are eligible to participate in the negotiations are the other two representatives that He Ying brought. On the side of the Eighth Route Army, it is naturally Zhou Enlai, He Zhengdao and Chief of Staff Zuo Quan.

As the main person in charge of this negotiation, Zhou Enlai still politely invited He Yingqin and the three to sit down. The two sides sat on either side of a long table and prepared to begin negotiations on matters related to the transfer of prisoners of war.

After chatting for a while, He Zhengdao also said in a timely manner: "Minister He, you are a national general, and you are also the minister of military affairs of the national government. I think your time is also precious. In the same way, we are also people with responsibilities.

Here, there are no outsiders, and we are still open to say anything. If we can talk, let's just talk about it. If we can't talk, then let's not delay each other's time. I'm a soldier, and I'm pretty straightforward in my words and actions.

As I said before, if these prisoners are handed over, it will be beneficial to our unification of the War of Resistance, and our Eighth Route Army will fully cooperate. It's just that it's not easy for us to capture these prisoners of war, and you have to show some sincerity after all.

I think that when Minister He came to our side this time, Chairman Jiang should also give instructions. Therefore, I would like to ask Minister He to tell us about your sincerity, and we should also be mentally prepared in advance. After all, everyone is not too idle people! ”

Faced with He Zhengdao's directness revealed again, He Yingqin also smiled and said: "Okay, I didn't expect that Master He is also a refreshing person. Then I can say that this time the government has rewarded you for your contribution to the war of resistance.

In view of the victory of the independent division and the record of recovering Suiyuan, Chairman Chiang decided to promote the meritorious soldiers. Speaking of which, I would also like to congratulate Senior Commander He, you are about to become the youngest national general in our two armies. ”

As soon as these words came out, not to mention He Zhengdao was stunned for a moment, even Zhou Enlai and Zuo Quan were also stunned. After all, in today's Eighth Route Army, there is only one person who has been awarded the title of National General, and that is Mr. Zhu, the commander-in-chief of the Eighth Route Army.

The promotion of He Zhengdao to lieutenant general last time has already made some people in the Eighth Route Army feel that he was promoted too quickly. Now that He Zhengdao has been suddenly promoted to general, how can the other main division commanders who are still major generals be embarrassed?

Zhou Enlai and Zuo Quan, who thought about these things clearly, their first reaction was that the Central Army would make trouble for the Eighth Route Army again. To be precise, it is still the old routine, planning to kill He Zhengdao and make him jealous of other generals of the Eighth Route Army.

He Zhengdao, who also understood that there was no good intentions in this promotion, sneered in his heart but smiled and said, "Oh! It seems that I have to thank Chairman Chiang again! The twenty-two-year-old national general, this is really an unprecedented award.

It's just that I still appreciate such kindness. As a matter of fact, I am very grateful to Chairman Chiang for his promotion to lieutenant general or general. But I think that whether it is a lieutenant general or a general, in fact, it can't be eaten.

If Chairman Chiang really has a heart, I think he should give me a sticker for the lieutenant general who owes me more than a year, and I am personally afraid that he will be even more grateful. After all, our Eighth Route Army is poor, and I believe Minister He also knows it.

For this reward for being promoted to general, I think it is still exempt. Give something practical, maybe I'll be more grateful. As the saying goes, people are poor and short-sighted, and I already feel very honored to be a lieutenant general. This promotion to general is better excused! ”

As a result, when He Zhengdao's voice fell, a representative of the Central Army said coldly: "Division Commander He, please pay attention to the words." The promotion of the chairman of the committee is an affirmation of your merits, and how can you bargain. ”

'Oh! This means, I can't help but receive the promotion you gave, right? Well, since your chairman has such good intentions, why don't you let him make up the salary owed to us first?

As the old saying goes, isn't the emperor short of hungry soldiers? Just use a promotion order, a military rank is an affirmation. Such an affirmation is a bit too cheap for Chairman Jiang, right? What is the effect of such a promotion?

Let's not talk about it from afar, let's just say that the current commander-in-chief of our Eighth Route Army, Mr. Zhu, is also the general personally awarded by Chairman Jiang to the national general, right? But except for the first month he received the military salary belonging to Shang Jiang, why is there nothing behind?

Even now, the wife of our commander-in-chief still has to work in Yan'an to grow vegetables and farm to support the family. Let me ask, in your Central Army, is there such a cheap national general? Does such an admiral make sense?

What's more, I am only a division commander of the main division, and I can actually have the same rank as the commander-in-chief of my army. Minister He, it seems that Chairman Jiang's sincerity really makes me feel a little useless! ’

'What do you mean by that?' Do you want to openly defy Chairman Chiang's orders? ’

It was the previous representative's questioning, but He Zhengdao, who was still sneering before, suddenly said with a calm expression: "If I remember correctly, should Your Excellency be the remaining staff officer of the Ministry of Military Affairs?" To be clear, you should be a major general staff officer, right?

Minister He, in your army, what punishment should a major general receive for contradicting his boss like this? Not to mention, according to the agreement signed by our two parties, we are only cooperating with your party and army to fight a joint war of resistance, and we are free in both combat and politics.

Take my current status as a lieutenant general, you are a staff officer of a major general, or a staff officer without a commander, where do you put me if you contradict me like this? What is the difference between a lieutenant general who is not recognized by you and a general?

If Minister He thinks that this is the sincerity that you have brought to Shaanxi this time, then I can only say that I am grateful and not. I can't afford such a generous gift. Vice Chairman Zhou, I would like to withdraw from the negotiating team, please approve it! ”

The staff officer of the major general of the national government, who was reprimanded by He Zhengdao on the table, also felt that his face was hot. There is a saying in the army that 'staff officers don't have a commander, and they don't make a sound', and He Zhengdao's 'staff officers without a commander' really made him feel humiliated.

But although He Zhengdao's words were sharp, he didn't say anything wrong. If the other party really regards He Zhengdao as a national lieutenant general, he is afraid that he will not dare to be so presumptuous. If He Zhengdao is not a lieutenant general recognized by the government, then what is the difference between a lieutenant general and a general? (To be continued.) )