Most of the members of the delegation accompanying He Yingqin into Shaanxi were representatives of the military. In addition to He Yingqin's personal guards, there are also reporters from several newspapers. Of course, these newspapers are all newspapers that are waving the flag for the Central Army.

Looking at the train used by the Eighth Route Army to greet them, many reporters who came to visit them felt a little surprised. Even they didn't expect that the Eighth Route Army would even have a train now.

Although it is not a new thing to travel by train after the Republic of China. But after the outbreak of the Anti-Japanese War, most of the railways built in China were controlled by the Japanese army. It's not easy to get around by train.

When I got on the train in the evening and arrived at Xi'an Railway Station, the entire railway station was already under martial law. Looking at the Eighth Route Army standing on the train platform, many reporters couldn't help but raise their cameras to take pictures.

He Yingqin, who got off the train, also looked a little surprised when he saw the deputy commander-in-chief and chief of staff of the Eighth Route Army coming to the platform to greet him. After all, when he didn't come, He Yingqin felt that it was already very good that the Eighth Route Army did not snub him.

At least He Yingqin believed that with the intelligence capabilities of the Eighth Route Army, it was not difficult to know that asking the Eighth Route Army to ask for Japanese prisoners of war came from his suggestion. Now that Lao Jiang sent him over to negotiate, the Eighth Route Army still didn't hate him to the core.

But the current situation, no matter how you look at it, doesn't look like snubbing him. On the contrary, He Yingqin felt that the Eighth Route Army gave him a very high welcome treatment for the Minister of Military Affairs, which made him feel that it seemed a little unreal.

After shaking hands with Mr. Peng and Zuo Quan, Zuo Quan also smiled and said, "Minister He, we have arranged a place for you in the city." In addition, the comrades of the delegation, you have been tired all the way, and please have a light meal later. ”

'I'm tired of General Zuo! ’

After a few simple chats on the platform, the national delegation from Chongqing, escorted by the headquarters guard regiment, smoothly settled in the guest house prepared for them by the Eighth Route Army in advance.

Looking at the arranged room and the prepared dinner, He Yingqin and the delegation felt very satisfied. As a landlord, Mr. Zhu also said with a smile: "Ladies and gentlemen, our Eighth Route Army has limited conditions and has not prepared too many good things.

These meals are more common home-cooked dishes, and I asked the kitchen staff to get a few more, and everyone will have a meal in the evening. There is no big fish and meat, but such a banquet standard is already our highest standard! ”

The delegation, who also washed up simply, looked at the eight dishes and one soup on each table, and the remaining eight dishes were still three meat and five vegetables, which was indeed not a sumptuous banquet. But for the delegation who was a little hungry, they still felt very satisfied.

It's just that when I heard Mr. Zhu say that this was already their highest-level reception, many people felt a little surprised. After all, such a banquet would be too shabby when the national government invited people.

On the other hand, He Yingqin said with a smile: "Brother Yujie, let you break the bank!" ”

'I can't talk about breaking the bank!' These pork and chicken are all raised by our troops, and these fish are also fished from the river. It's just that we are reluctant to eat these things in normal times, and most of them are only eaten when the troops have dinner or additional meals.

We have limited military spending, and we are happy that we can feed the officers and men of the troops. As for wanting to eat well, I'm afraid I can't do it. There is no way, we can only be self-reliant, and the things we raise occasionally beat our teeth. ’

In fact, Mr. Zhu's words were not fooled. However, at present, most of the meat used by the troops is raised by the troops, and it is also true. It's just that the army that raises these things is actually the military reclamation farm founded by He Zhengdao.

Mr. Zhu, who had visited Yulin, was tempted to see that these military farms, managed by disabled soldiers, were not only self-sufficient, but also able to relieve a lot of pressure on the troops' logistics and even create a lot of income.

After sending special personnel to study at the Yulin Military Reclamation Farm, he soon found some places in Xi'an and other places to establish the Military Reclamation Farm. Most of the officers and men who were wounded and retired from fighting on the front line were placed on military reclamation farms.

Although the army reclaimed the farm, he usually did more farming. But for these wounded soldiers, they still have guns and still wear military uniforms. Even in normal times, drills and other training are organized. For these wounded soldiers, they still feel in the army.

Even in order to let these retired disabled soldiers work in the military reclamation farm with peace of mind, the army also specially organized people to marry wives for some older disabled veterans. In this way, the disabled soldier is undoubtedly more loyal to the troops.

On the contrary, for the Eighth Route Army, these disabled soldiers were well accommodated, and the pressure on the troops was also reduced. Even as these military farms continued to be built and improved, the logistical pressure on the Eighth Route Army was greatly reduced.

In the past, they needed to be supplied with food and materials by the local government, but now that they have military farms, the living conditions of the officers and men of the army have undoubtedly improved a lot. The existence of the military reclamation farm has made many officers and soldiers have a lot less to worry about.

For many young people who serve in the military, they are not afraid of death. After all, after death, it is white, and the army will also give a pension to their families. But if you are disabled, it may drag down your family.

Now that they have the Military Reclamation Farm, even if they are injured and disabled on the battlefield, they can still find things to support themselves and even subsidize their families on the Military Reclamation Farm. Even now, many officers and soldiers are a little envious of the disabled veterans of the military reclamation farm.

It's just that Mr. Zhu's words fell into the ears of He Yingqin and others, but he said with some surprise: "Commander-in-Chief Zhu, do your troops still raise pigs and chickens?" ”

'Yes! It may sound a bit humiliating, but it's also something that can't be helped. Our Eighth Route Army was notoriously poor, and most of the materials and money captured on the battlefield in peacetime were not enough to spend. If you want to improve the food of the troops, you can't do it without money!

There is no way, so you can only arrange some soldiers who are not suitable for the battlefield to raise pigs and feed chickens. There is nothing surprising that the revolutionary division of labor is different. In this way, we can also reduce our military spending a little! ’

The troops used to fight the war also raise pigs and chickens sounds a bit humiliating. At least this kind of thing is rare in today's Republic of China troops. In the eyes of many soldiers, raising pigs and feeding chickens is not something that soldiers should do at all.

But after listening to Mr. Zhu's words, many people in the delegation did not laugh at anything. After all, they all knew very well that every military expenditure of the Eighth Route Army was self-raised. With so many troops, it would cost a lot to feed them!

Mr. Peng, who accompanied him to the meeting, also said in a timely manner: "Minister He, it is rare for you to come to inspect this time." Regarding the issue of the military spending of our Eighth Route Army, should you give some expressions! It's been too long, isn't it?

Although we of the Eighth Route Army have independent operational command. But our role in the anti-Japanese battlefield, I believe you should not be blind, right? In this battle of Xuzhou alone, we invested three main divisions to cooperate with you.

Although we know that it is not easy for the government, in the past year or so, you have not allocated a dime of military spending, which is a little chilling, right? No matter how poor the government is, it won't be able to get a dime, right? ”

According to the decision of the Central Committee and the Eighth Route Army Headquarters, they should be polite and welcome to the delegation of the Central Army this time. It's just that whenever there is an opportunity, I have to mention the matter of military spending.

I have said it many times, and I believe that He Yingqin cannot ignore the dissatisfaction of the Eighth Route Army. Since he wanted to take away the prisoners of war captured by the independent column, he had to show sincerity. This military spending, no matter what, it has to be allocated a little.

Even if you can get a month's worth of military expenses, it will be an extra profit for the Eighth Route Army. If the national government can really do nothing. When the time comes, don't blame the Eighth Route Army for making a fuss about this matter.

According to Mr. Zhu's suggestion, he still sings with a red face and Mr. Peng sings with a white face at the headquarters. After all, as the deputy commander-in-chief of the Eighth Route Army, it is well known that Mr. Peng has a bit of a temper.

Now Mr. Peng can always express enough welcome to He Yingqin and his party, which is already rare. Even if the military expenditure was mentioned at this time, Mr. Peng also held back the anger in his heart and did not directly ridicule He Yingqin's delegation.

Faced with Mr. Peng's talk about military expenses, He Yingqin also said helplessly: "General Peng, I believe you also know the situation of the national government." Regarding military spending, it is also difficult on the part of the government. After all, that unit is now paid.

Take the Battle of Xuzhou this time, most of the participating troops on the front line have not received salaries. Most of the money squeezed out by the government was exchanged for supplies and ammunition. I can understand your plight, but I also hope you understand the government's plight. ”

For the Eighth Route Army crying poor, He Yingqin was also prepared. Regarding the matter of repaying the arrears of the Eighth Route Army, He Yingqin, who had just arrived in Shaanxi, naturally would not let go. And at this point, the Eighth Route Army seems to be prepared.

Just when Mr. Peng was about to speak, Mr. Zhu waved his hand and said, "Xiao Peng, this matter will be discussed later." I believe that Minister He should not chill us. It's okay for us to suffer, but it's the officers and soldiers on the front line who are really suffering.

If the government really chills those troops who participated in the war of resistance, then we really don't know what to say. There are some things that I think are better in moderation. I also believe that Minister He and the government should have some plans! ”

A simple sentence seems to have given He Yingqin and others the stairs. But only He Yingqin knew that this time he wanted the Eighth Route Army to hand over the captured Japanese troops, and if he didn't give the Eighth Route Army a little sincerity, it was estimated that it would be difficult to do things.

In the final analysis, if the Eighth Route Army really pokes this kind of thing out, it will also greatly lose points for the government and Lao Jiang. After all, the most materials and funds for China's anti-Japanese war are undoubtedly the United States and the Soviet Union.

At present, with the Eighth Route Army's more and more victories, if they do not give a little bit of the materials and funds to China, I am afraid that the two countries will have opinions. I am afraid that Lao Jiang also knows this.

But this matter is not clear, and everyone knows it. If it is clear, even if the Eighth Route Army parted ways with the Central Army, others would only say that the government was too unparticular about doing things, and it would be difficult for others to say that the Eighth Route Army was not! (To be continued.) )