With a face full of reluctance and great anticipation, the special combat team returned to the column headquarters, and looked at Xu Mingyuan, the commander of the first regiment of the third division of the column, who had already come over, and He Zhengdao, who had not eaten in the arsenal, and directly asked the guards to bring the meal to the office.

Regarding the command of the column this time, Xu Mingyuan was guessing all the way about what order He Zhengdao called him over. But as the commander of the third division said, it should be a good thing, not a bad thing.

Looking at Xu Mingyuan, who looked confused, He Zhengdao, who asked the guards to make a dinner for him, said with a smile: "Eat first!" Let's talk while eating, and I have an important task to call you here this time. It's a good thing and a stress for you. ”

A simple sentence made Xu Mingyuan relax a little: "Yes, please also ask the commander to issue a task!" ”

Also dining in He Zhengdao's office was political commissar Xiao Jinguang. In any case, as the first main force of the column to be dispatched behind enemy lines, as a political commissar, it is also necessary to ask questions.

After sitting down and eating, He Zhengdao smiled and said, "Mingyuan, if I'm not mistaken, your hometown is Zunhua, right?" How long has it been since you went back to your hometown? Do you have any relatives at home? ”

Faced with such a smiling question, Xu Mingyuan suddenly said in his heart: "Commander, are you going to send me back to my hometown to fight the war?" In the twenty-second year of the Republic of China (1933), I joined the party and went to the southern Jiangxi Soviet District, and I have not returned home for almost five years.

I didn't have any relatives in my hometown, and when I made a revolution, it was because my family members were forced to die by the landlords, so I killed them at night before I embarked on the road of revolution. However, there are some relatives in the village, uncles and other relatives. ”

Talking about this matter, Xu Mingyuan felt a little sad in his heart. But there are some things about his participation in the revolution, many of the old Red Army members know. It's just that when he was in the Battle of Xiangjiang, he was only a deputy company commander.

Later, after being rescued by He Zhengdao, he was gradually promoted to the position of the main commander of the main division. Speaking of which, he can also be regarded as He Zhengdao's descendant. After all, most of the officers of the independent column today are the backbone of the independent regiment period.

After hearing this, He Zhengdao said slightly apologetically: "I'm sorry! I didn't expect you to participate in the revolution and have such a sad thing. You also guessed correctly before, the column is planning to send you to eastern Hebei to create a base behind enemy lines.

In view of the fact that you are a native of eastern Hebei, you have a good understanding of the situation there and a certain mass base. I will recommend you to the Central Committee and the General Headquarters as a candidate for the independent column to go to eastern Hebei to establish a base area.

All the regiments you command will go with you when the time comes. And your position is the commander of the anti-Japanese column in eastern Hebei, and you are also the commander of the eastern Hebei army division. The political commissar of the column is also concurrently held by the current regimental political commissar.

As for the chief of staff, Hu Youliang of the special operations detachment served as the chief of staff. At present, the second special operations detachment has already gone one step ahead of you to explore the way, contact the local underground party organization, and will also accept you when the time comes.

Give your three regiments time, carry a certain amount of combat supplies, and it is best to arrive in eastern Hebei before the Spring Festival. I called you here to announce this order to you, and also to give you some tasks. ”

Although there are many main commanders of the independent column, only Xu Mingyuan is the commander of the regiment from eastern Hebei. As a veteran party member and veteran of the Red Army, Xu Mingyuan's loyalty is still trustworthy, and his combat command ability is also good.

Pulling the three divisions and one regiment under his command to eastern Hebei is believed to be able to cope with some situations. Even if the combat effectiveness of the Third Division is slightly worse than that of the First Division and the Second Division, as the main regiment of the main division, the combat effectiveness of the Third Division and the First Regiment is still good.

Even this time, He Zhengdao also prepared a thousand Type 38 rifles for Xu Mingyuan. In this way, after arriving in eastern Hebei, his troops can be expanded, and it should not be a problem to expand to 5,000 people in a short time.

Knowing that he had the opportunity to lead the troops back to his hometown to fight behind enemy lines, Xu Mingyuan naturally felt full of joy. This kind of thing is something to be happy about for anyone. After all, this is the real defense of the territory!

"Thank you to the commanders and political commissars for their trust, and to the leaders of the Central Committee for their trust, and I will do my best to establish the base area." And strive to open up a new situation in the war of resistance in eastern Hebei as soon as possible. ’

Listening to Xu Mingyuan's assurance, He Zhengdao smiled and said, "You sit down first!" I also sent you over because I am a native of eastern Hebei, and if you engage in mass work, I believe it will be easier to gain the trust and recognition of the local people.

I just called you here on purpose, and there are some things that need to be explained to you in advance. After arriving in eastern Hebei, your first task is to establish an anti-Japanese base behind enemy lines and fight against the Japanese puppet army that occupies them.

However, it should be emphasized that unless you have absolute confidence and certainty, do not attract the attention of the Japanese army too much. First of all, we must lay a solid foundation for the masses, and when recruiting soldiers, we must also do it in the same way as the regular army.

According to the information we have received, there are also armed forces of the Central Army behind enemy lines in eastern Hebei. It's just that at present, their strength there is only afraid that they are not even as good as our guerrillas. When you go, you need to work with them as well.

There is only one thing you should keep in mind, that is, you must establish your anti-Japanese dominance in eastern Hebei. In the future, the second detachment of the Saber Special Combat Team will also cooperate with you in combat and training work.

As an old Red Army, you should know that the current strength of our army is not enough to start a full-scale counterattack against the Japanese army. Therefore, digging deep holes, storing grain extensively, and training more troops are the things that your column needs to focus on in the future. ”

'Yes, Commander! ’

After saying these words, Xiao Jinguang, as the political commissar, also continued: "Mingyuan, according to the information sent to us by the central government about eastern Hebei, the enemy and puppet forces there are very rampant, and the common people are having a very hard time.

After you have passed, you will focus on developing rural base areas, and cities and towns will not be left to worry about for the time being. Just as the commander said, the first thing you should do is to expand the strength of the column and lay a good foundation for a future counteroffensive.

After the Chinese New Year, the column will send a unit to enter the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei border area and form an anti-Japanese base behind enemy lines. In the future, this base area will form a joint war of resistance behind enemy lines with you, and will connect the base areas as soon as possible.

Although this task is difficult to complete in a short period of time. But the column still hopes that you, after arriving in Jidong, can open up the situation as soon as possible. Let the people of eastern Hebei know that after we pass, we can implement a certain degree of protection for them. ”

As the political commissar of the column, Xiao Jinguang also talked about this matter with He Zhengdao earlier. Clear instructions were given for the main tasks of this anti-Japanese column. That is, to expand the troops as low-key as possible and prepare for a full-scale counteroffensive in the future.

If you really want to make the movement too big, let the little devils gather heavy troops to encircle and suppress. With only one main regiment, I am afraid that it will still be difficult to resist the comprehensive elimination of the little devils. Therefore, it is also necessary to avoid the enemy's edge.

According to the information He Zhengdao has seen, the current situation in eastern Hebei is very grim. The Japanese army, which focused on the south, seemed to be very relieved about such a large rear, and most of them sent Japanese puppet troops to garrison and control the local situation.

It is just at the gap between the North China Front Army and the Kwantung Army, and the strategic position here is self-evident. Originally, in history, there would be a large-scale riot here, so that many counties in eastern Hebei once became the control area of the Eighth Route Army's armed forces behind enemy lines.

But in the end, this huge rebellion was extinguished at a very alarming speed, not to mention the loss of many anti-Japanese forces, and also made many soldiers and civilians who participated in the war of resistance pay the price of their lives.

In He Zhengdao's view, this time Xu Mingyuan was sent to lead the war behind enemy lines, and he hoped that Xu Mingyuan could endure loneliness. The gains and losses of one city and one place will not change much of the overall situation in terms of today's situation.

If we can reserve more counterattack forces, perhaps at the right time, this anti-Japanese column that has penetrated into eastern Hebei can play an unexpected role. Therefore, He Zhengdao hoped more that Xu Mingyuan would carry out the war of resistance steadily, rather than rushing for success.

After eating, He Zhengdao specially found a map of eastern Hebei and discussed with Xu Mingyuan the location of the base of the anti-Japanese column in eastern Hebei. In the face of such a detailed explanation and advice, Xu Mingyuan also knew that He Zhengdao attached great importance to him.

'Mingyuan, the specific situation, we have to wait until you get over there to deploy according to the actual situation. You are also an old man of the column, and I believe you are also familiar with the formation of the guerrillas and the martial arts team behind the enemy lines of the column.

After arriving in Jidong, you can also follow the side of the column, fighting small battles to accumulate victories. Weapons and supplies were seized from the Japanese puppet army, and the local poor children were recruited to expand the army.

My request to you is that if the main force of your column does not reach a regular division, try not to attack the county seat of the Japanese army. Instead, we must find a way to compress the control area of the local Japanese puppet army and take over the countryside in eastern Hebei.

Regarding the operational policy of our army this year, I believe you have also received the corresponding documents. The general premise is that we will not make any major moves this year, but will go all out to develop the construction of base areas behind enemy lines and expand our troops behind enemy lines.

I also hope that when I see you again in the future, you will be the commander of the column that truly shocks the side. As the main commander of the Eighth Route Army from eastern Hebei, I gave you this opportunity to protect the territory and the people, and I hope you will not let me down. ’

'Please rest assured, commander, Mingyuan will promise to complete the task and live up to your trust! ’

Looking at Xu Mingyuan, who looked very serious, He Zhengdao also nodded and said: "Now the Central Committee and the headquarters still have great expectations for you, the anti-Japanese column. When you leave tomorrow, I'll ask the government to prepare some money for you.

Although it is not too much, whether it is materials or money behind enemy lines, it can only be captured by capturing. If you don't have some money, I guess it will be difficult for you to get the work carried out smoothly. But I hope you will hand it over tenfold in the future! ”

Not only is there enough weapons and ammunition, but a certain amount of development funds are also given. Hearing this, Xu Mingyuan also felt that if he couldn't open the situation in Jidong like this, he really couldn't explain to He Zhengdao! (To be continued.) )