However, as the troops began to camp. With a force of 20,000 people, an incredible situation suddenly appeared. Because, within a radius of more than ten miles. Whether it's a village or a wilderness, it's hard to find a clean source of water that people can use.

"Junzao, it's not good, it's not good" Just when the army commander Shi Yousan squinted his eyes, dragged his body and lay on the marching bed for less than half an hour. The deputy commander, who had arranged for the camping of various units outside, rushed into the headquarters with a worried face and exclaimed loudly.

"Deputy commander, what's wrong, is the little devil calling" Hearing the exclamation of the deputy commander, Shi Yousan's first thought was that the little devil called. Suddenly he jumped off the marching bed, asked with the same panicked face, and was ready to retreat.

'No, no, it's not the little devil calling. Seeing the commander with a panicked face, the deputy commander hurriedly explained.

"Damn, it scared the hell out of me. Since it's not the little devil who called, what else is there that makes you so panicked, if it's wrong, see how I clean you up" Shi Yousan breathed a sigh of relief and tidied up his general's uniform. Sitting back on his camp bed, he asked with an unhappy expression.

"Report to the military seat, we searched all over the radius of more than ten miles, but we couldn't find a drinkable water source. Now the whole army, waiting for water to cook? Even the soldiers had no water to drink. The deputy commander said.

"There is no water, what are you kidding, just when I first entered the village, I also found two wells, how can there be no water source?" After listening to the deputy commander's answer, the army commander Shi Yousan replied in disbelief.

"Commander, it's true. Although we found a lot of wells in the village, all of them were filled with a large number of dead animals, and they were not drinkable at all. Even a small river a few miles away was thrown into a large number of dead animals. Now the entire army is in a state of water shortage, and the cooking squads, because there is no water, have not yet cooked. The deputy commander explained with helplessness on his face.

"What, how could this be. It's not good, it must be the communist army, it must be them who are calculating us again. Damn, Lao Tzu doesn't believe it, such a big Jindong, they can destroy all the water sources. The troops were ordered to dig wells in low-lying areas, while search units were sent to continue the search for water. Shi Yousan didn't panic and ordered loudly.

"Yes, Commander" the deputy commander took the order and left.

Eventually, the troops spent almost half the night next to the creek and finally dug several wells next to it. And the entire army of more than 20,000 people, knowing this, finally drank clean well water and ate hot meals.

But what's worse to come? Just two days later, more than 20,000 people from Shiyou's three divisions finally completely took over the vast countryside in the sunset area. However, a more serious problem was once again placed in front of Shi Yousan. That is, in such a large area that he occupied, he didn't find a single common person, and all the villages were empty. More importantly, without ordinary people, it means that there is no food. Then his troops of more than 20,000 people will lose any opportunity to replenish in the next time.

"Chairman, something happened, it seems that this reader really has a plan" Receiving Shi Yousan's telegram asking for help, Chen Cheng and the others did not dare to slack off, and immediately came to Chiang Kai-shek's official residence again.

"Cixiu, what's wrong, so flustered" Seeing the three people in front of him, Chiang Kai-shek asked suspiciously.

"Chairman, it's a telegram from Shi Yousan asking for help. Although the Shiyou Third Division occupied a vast area in the eastern part of Jindong, when the Reading Division retreated and transferred, it took almost all the ordinary people in the base area with them. According to Shi Yousan's report, the entire Xiyang area is now empty. What's more, they destroyed all the water sources in the area as they left. Chen Cheng was shocked.

"Now there are more than 20,000 people in Shiyou's three departments, and they have fallen into a situation of lack of food and water. According to the telegram sent by Shi Yousan asking for help, the water source problem has now been solved. However, we have to find a solution to the food problem. Chen Cheng hurriedly handed the telegram in his hand to Chiang Kai-shek in front of him and replied in a low voice.

"Niang Xipi, this reader really has a conspiracy. Isn't it just food? Let Yan Xishan in the second war zone allocate 500,000 catties of grain to Shi Yousan. I want to see how this reader and hundreds of thousands of ordinary people are going to fight, and where they are going to get a foothold. Chiang Kai-shek frowned and ordered fiercely.

"The chairman is wise, in this case, the reader has no territory. Even if the common people are willing to follow them, they can only starve to death and die of poverty in the end, and there is no help for them. Hearing Chiang Kai-shek's order, Bai Chongxi breathed a sigh of relief and quickly patted Chiang Kai-shek's ass.

"Well, do it like this, if Zhu Huaibing encounters the same problem, it will be handled accordingly." Chiang Kai-shek continued to order.

"Yes, Chairman," several people took the order and left.

With Chiang Kai-shek's personal order, Yan Xishan in the second theater did not dare to slack off. He hurriedly allocated 500,000 catties of grain from his logistics reserve and marched to the sunset area several hundred kilometers away under the escort of a regiment of Jin Suijun. However, as soon as the 500,000 catties of military rations had just left the defense area of the Jin Sui Army, their whereabouts were already completely in the hands of the Intelligence Department of the Reading Division. A piece of information about 500,000 catties of grain was sent to Liu Hua in the shortest possible time through the radio.

"Staff Officer Wang, immediately send a report to Captain Liu Xiaogang of the Special Operations Brigade that the fish has taken the bait and started to act." After reading the telegram in his hand, Liu Hua nodded with satisfaction. Facing the communications staff in the temporary headquarters, he ordered loudly.

After receiving the order, Liu Xiaogang immediately followed the deployment of division commander Liu Hua before the war. The nearly 1,000 members of the entire special operations brigade have all changed into the costumes and equipment of the little devils. Under the leadership of Liu Xiaogang, the group quietly ambushed on the road of the Jin Sui army's grain transportation team, waiting for the arrival of the entire grain transportation team.

As the two-kilometer-long grain transport team slowly drilled into the ambush circle of the special operations team, the result was no surprise. The nearly 2,000-strong Jin Sui army was completely wiped out under the frantic shooting of the special operations brigade. As for the remaining soldiers of the Jin Sui Army, they faced the "elite imperial army" of a brigade that had already rushed towards them. They all threw away their weapons, food and grass, and under the leadership of the regiment commander, they fled back to their war zone in embarrassment.

When Yan Xishan, the commander of the Second War Zone, learned that his 500,000 catties of grain had not yet been handed over to Shi Yousan, he was robbed by the little devil. Looking at the regiment commander who fled back in embarrassment, he almost had the heart to kill him. Of course, the scheming Yan Xishan couldn't just listen to the regiment leader's words. After the on-the-spot observation of the General Staff, I saw a deep rut mark and drove into the county seat of Jinzhong. I finally believed that it was the little devil who robbed him of his food.

After sending a telegram to Chiang Kai-shek in Yucheng, no matter how Chiang Kai-shek persuaded Yan Xishan, Yan Xishan still refused to continue to send grain. Because, in his eyes, if he continues to send it, there is no doubt that the final result will be a sheep in the mouth of a tiger.

At this time, there was indeed laughter and laughter in the headquarters of the rapid reaction brigade. The political commissar who had already arrived in the headquarters had already learned of Liu Hua's deployment, although he felt that it seemed a little unkind to do so. But when he thought that Chiang Kai-shek had come to seize his base at this time, he had no idea. In particular, the 500,000 catties of grain obtained out of thin air made the political commissar happy for several hours.

There are happy people and there are unhappy people. At this time, Chiang Kai-shek's official residence once again appeared gloomy a few days ago, and several bigwigs, after being reprimanded by Chiang Kai-shek, were quietly standing in front of Chiang Kai-shek with their heads down. No matter how Chiang Kai-shek scolded, he always stood there without saying a word.

"Jiansheng, this is a good idea you came up with, two armies and 40,000 troops, all of them are now trapped in the base of the Reading Division, in a dilemma, and they are about to face the crisis of food shortage." Chiang Kai-shek scolded loudly at Bai Chongxi in front of him.

"Yes, Chairman, I didn't think it through, please ask the Chairman to punish him" Bai Chongxi, who was extremely familiar with Chiang Kai-shek's temper, did not have any argument and bowed his head to admit his mistake.

"Respectfully, Yan Xishan still refuses to give Shi You three transports of grain?" Seeing Bai Chongxi, who bowed his head and was silent, Chiang Kai-shek shifted his gaze to He Yingqin, who was standing in the middle.

"Yes, Chairman, we have sent several urgent telegrams, and promised that the axe would be bought with money, and he will not transport grain again. In addition, he also reported that now the army in Taiyuan and Jinzhong has already set their sights on his defense area, and as long as the troops carrying grain are dispatched, they will be robbed by the little devils immediately. Looking at Chiang Kai-shek, who was full of anger, He Yingqin replied in a low voice.

"Niang Xipi, they are all a bunch of warlords, a bunch of warlords who have been targeted by Yu himself, they are all excuses, they are excuses. Dai Li, is there any latest information from the base area of the Reading Force? Also, about whether 500,000 catties of grain was snatched away by devils, whether this matter is true. Chiang Kai-shek couldn't help but scolded again, and asked Dai Li, who was also trembling beside him.

"Report to the Principal that all of our contact with the intelligence agents in the Reader's base area was cut off five days ago. There has been no connection until now. However, according to the report of the intelligence officers of the Jin Sui Army, it is true that the army is robbing grain. Because all the 500,000 catties of grain have been transported into Jinzhong County, which is heavily guarded by the army, there is absolutely no mistake. Dai Li hurriedly reported.

"What? All lost contact.,Niang Xipi.,It must be this ghost of the reader again.,It must be.。 Jiansheng, tell me, what should we do now, how should we solve this endgame" Chiang Kai-shek, who had no ideas, once again put his hope on Bai Chongxi, who had just been scolded by himself.

"I don't have anything I can do about it. Now there are more than 40,000 people in the two armies, and there is no military rations, and they can't grab it. If you want to keep two armies, there is no way but to withdraw the troops immediately? Listening to Chiang Kai-shek's question, Bai Chongxi also shook his head.

"Niang Xipi, not only did the two armies do nothing, but also lost 500,000 catties of military food in vain, which is a month's combat supplies for an army, all of which are cheaply given to the little devil such a large base area, and it is also Yan Xishan's territory, I am really unwilling" Chiang Kai-shek couldn't help but sigh and said unconvincedly.

"Chairman, there is no way now, if you don't order the two armies to retreat immediately, it will be a matter of time before the troops mutiniate because of the lack of food. By then, it will be too late for anything. Chairman, give the order right away! Chen Cheng, who didn't speak, also reminded him.

"It's better to count people than to be counted by heaven, it seems that this reader has to help him all the time. Cixiu, you immediately send a report to Shi Yousan and Zhu Huaibing, and say that you agree with their retreat" Chiang Kai-shek ordered with a sigh.

"Yes, Chairman, the Chairman is wise."

However, at this time, the military headquarters of the two armies had already become a pot of porridge because of the lack of food for the troops. There are even many troops, because of the lack of food, all blocked the entrance of the military department.

"Deputy commander, how much of the army's food stock is still on the ground, send it out to all the troops, and send away the chaotic soldiers at the gate of the headquarters in the shortest possible time." Looking at the large number of languishing soldiers sitting at the door of the headquarters, the army commander Shi Yousan couldn't help but feel annoyed, and ordered to the deputy army commander beside him.

"However, the military seat, now there is less than 5,000 catties of food left in the logistics department, and if it is divided, one person can only eat one meal, which has no effect at all. Besides, all the parts are out, and there is no food left in the military headquarters. Thinking of the little food that the logistics department had left, the deputy commander hurriedly reminded.

"You're confused! Let these rebels stop here again, I don't know what will happen to them because they are hungry. In addition, he sent a report to Chairman Chiang in Nanjing, saying that our army had run out of food and that the troops could not retreat. He asked the chairman of the committee to ask for support from the Reading Division of the Eighth Route Army for the sake of the 20,000-strong troops. Let the Eighth Route Army Reader send us some military rations, go quickly. Listening to the words of the deputy commander, Shi Yousan was annoyed for a while and ordered loudly.

"Yes, Commander. But, Commander, is there really food in our neighborhood? Hasn't the Eighth Route Army already withdrawn from the Jindong region, is it hiding near us? However, why didn't our reconnaissance team find out?" asked the deputy commander suspiciously.

"Damn, what do I want you for. You've been here for so many days, haven't you noticed that everything here is a trap set by the Eighth Route Army's readers, a trap against us. Do you think that the Eighth Route Army will really give us the base area they bought with their blood, just because of Chairman Chiang's order. They won't. Shi Yousan paused for a moment and continued.

"I tell you, ever since we entered the base, we have entered a trap set for us by the Reading. Their purpose is very clear, to get us out of their strongholds, and to make us unable to find any reason to attack them. I really didn't expect that we had calculated everything, and we didn't count the teacher of the reader, a hairy boy who had not dried up. Shi Yousan looked at the deputy commander in front of him and said loudly.

"But, Commander, though we have fallen into a trap set for us by the Reader. But we can't be sure that the Reader is all around us! Listening to the commander's words, the deputy commander ruoy6ou nodded thoughtfully, but his face was still full of doubts.

"Alas, let's just say you're confused. You don't want to think about it, no matter how strong the combat effectiveness of his reading division is, can they take hundreds of thousands of ordinary people with them, marching and fighting at the same time? If nothing else, where might the Eighth Route Army's Reading Force Reader be in the corner, looking at us with fierce eyes? "I heard that the deputy commander didn't understand what he meant. Shi Yousan couldn't help but scold, and explained unhappily.

"Ah, that's right! The military seat is wise, I will send a report to Yucheng" After listening to Shi Yousan's explanation, the deputy military commander immediately reacted, turned around and ran to the radio room behind him.

"Jiansheng, what do you think of Shi Yousan's telegram, do we really want to ask for help from the Eighth Route Army Reading Force Master now? A few days ago, we asked him to withdraw from his base area, and now we have to ask him for help, and at the same time ask him to accept his base area. Looking at the telegram for help sent by Shi Yousan in his hand, Chiang Kai-shek, who had never thought of bowing his head to [***], couldn't help frowning.

"Chairman, now we have no other choice. If we want to bring back these 40,000 troops safely, we must bow to the readers. In addition, we must also hurry up, according to the content of Shi Yousan's telegram, now his troops have run out of food" Bai Chongxi, who was not very cold to Chiang Kai-shek, replied without any tone after listening to Chiang Kai-shek's words.

"Niang Xipi, now is the critical period of the Sino-Chinese war, and 40,000 troops can play a very important role at a critical juncture. Respectfully, no matter what, we must ensure that the 40,000 troops are safely withdrawn. If these 40,000 troops mutinied in the base area of the Eighth Route Army, we would not only lose two corps. More importantly, the political axe has lost face. Chiang Kai-shek shook his head and continued.

"Forget it, even if we lose to [***] this time, we lose to that stinky hairy boy who is not dried by the reader. Immediately send a telegram to Liu Hua, the reading master, informing them of the situation of our two armies, and ordering them to send 50,000 catties of grain to each army. In addition, let them play their base and continue to fight against the little devils in Shanxi. Chiang Kai-shek shook his head helplessly and said.

(To be continued)