Not long after Chief of Staff Zhou took action, several more people came to the door. They claimed to be plenipotentiaries of the 53rd Army, and they solemnly handed over the stickers. Zheng Weiguo was taken aback when he saw the famous poster, because these people are not small, and the leader is Zhao Xiqing, chief of staff of the 53rd Army. Two companions, one is Jin Kuibi, the former commander of the 107th Division, and the other is Zhao Yi, the former commander of the 109th Division.

Political Commissar Cheng said in surprise: "Hey! It's really because of the momentum of the dock, and these big people are here. ”

Zheng Weiguo's mind was also a little confused, but since the other party had sent such a high-level delegation, it showed that he was still very sincere. As long as both parties sit down and talk heart-to-heart, there will always be something to gain. So he invited: "All the people who come are guests, let's go and meet together!" ”

Political Commissar Cheng waved his hand and said, "Don't worry, don't worry!" You go talk to them first and see what their attitude is. If I go, the problem will be complicated, and some things will not be easy to say. ”

Zheng Weiguo nodded and said, "Okay then!" He understood Political Commissar Cheng's concerns, because the Northeast Army had fought with the Red Army before, and although they were now fighting side by side under the banner of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the estrangement and misunderstanding of the past were not so easy to eliminate. In addition, the 53rd Army did not express its intention to move closer to the Eighth Route Army, and Political Commissar Cheng's rash move would inevitably arouse their suspicions.

When Li Fugui saw Zheng Weiguo coming, he hurriedly shouted in his throat: "The commander-in-chief has arrived!" ”

Originally, Zheng Huzi didn't like this, and felt that it was a bit like singing a big opera, but Chief of Staff Zhou said that this was a necessary etiquette. Because the guests are waiting inside, it is very rude for you to break in without a sound. Zheng Huzi had no choice but to follow the local customs. Let them toss.

Walking into the living room, several delegates were sitting upright on chairs drinking tea. The accompanying guards stood behind them, one by one straight. Although they were all dressed in civilian clothes, they knew at a glance that they were old soldiers.

Hearing the briefings and footsteps, the delegates hurriedly stood up to greet them. Zheng Weiguo strode in, and when he saw that they were not wearing military uniforms, he arched his hand and said, "Chiefs, you are neglected." I don't know if you are coming, but I hope to forgive your sins. ”

Chief of Staff Zhao Xiqing hurriedly said: "The commander-in-chief is polite. It's us who are abrupt. I should have visited earlier. Zhao Xiqing, who is lowly and is now the chief of staff of the 53rd Army, also asks Jun to take care of him in the future. As he spoke, he gave Zheng Huzi a military salute and introduced him to the accompanying Jin and Zhao.

Zheng Weiguo waved his hand and said, "Sit." Let's sit down and talk. Then he said to Li Fugui, "You retreat to the courtyard." No one was allowed to enter without notification. ”

Chief of Staff Zhao and Jin and Zhao glanced at each other. He also hurriedly drove the accompanying guards into the courtyard.

Zheng Weiguo pondered for a moment, decided not to go around in circles with them, and said straight to the point: "Chief of Staff Zhao." We are all soldiers, and I will say anything straight. ”

Chief of Staff Zhao hurriedly said: "Please also show Junzuo!" The posture of the subordinates is very sufficient, as if they are Zheng Weiguo's old subordinates. Because at that time, in the army, only the direct commander was called a certain seat. If you are from the first army, facing the commander of the second army, even if the other party is the commander, you can't call a certain seat.

Zheng Weiguo asked directly: "You sent someone to say that you want to come to me before, is it true or not, and what is your intention?" I want you to be honest with me. ”

Chief of Staff Zhao had a straight face, and said very seriously: "Junzuo, I am willing to vouch for my own reputation, and more than 10,000 soldiers of our 53rd Army are willing to take your lead and put out the fire!" As for the intention, I just hope that you will lead us back to the Northeast and rebuild our homeland! ”

The two division commanders Jin and Zhao also said in unison: "Yes, Junzuo, we originally intended to go to the national disaster under your command and fight back to the Northeast!" ”

If Zheng Weiguo had just arrived, maybe he would have been moved by them, but now that he is the deputy commander-in-chief of the theater, he has become much more mature. After listening to their speeches, he just smiled and said, "Ladies and gentlemen, with all due respect, I don't seem to have such a high prestige and ability, do I?" ”

Chief of Staff Zhao hurriedly said: "Jun Zuo must not be presumptuous. You are now a well-known meritorious general, slaying the enemy, and your reputation has long spread all over the country. What's more, apart from you, the Northeast Army can't find a backbone now. ”

Zheng Weiguo said with a smile: "The second half of the sentence is the truth. "Zhang Shaoshuai was imprisoned, General Wang Yizhe was killed, and Huang Xiansheng, who had a high reputation, was also applied by Chang Kai to go to prison. The remaining army commanders did not obey anyone, and each had his own plans, and he could not form a joint force at all.

Chief of Staff Zhao's face turned slightly red, and he laughed with Jin and Zhao. But the atmosphere was much more soothing, though the laughter sounded a little sad.

Zheng Weiguo thought for a moment and asked, "You chose me as the leader, whose proposal was it in the first place?" ”

Chief of Staff Zhao said: "To be honest, at the beginning, it was Division Commander Wang Qifeng who wrote letters to several army commanders, and our 53rd Army naturally received them. ”

Zheng Weiguo was a little surprised, and hurriedly said, "When did this happen?" Deputy Commander Wang never mentioned it to me before his death. ”

Chief of Staff Zhao nodded, sighed again and said: "It was when he was wounded that Deputy Army Commander Wang said in his letter that if the Northeast Army still has hope of fighting back to the Northeast, the only person who can count on it is Junzuo You, and I hope we can follow you and rebuild the glory of the Northeast Army." ”

He paused, and said with a little choked up: "To tell you the truth, we didn't agree with this point of view at the time, but now it seems that Deputy Commander Wang is right." Although he is a native of Hebei, he is the most loyal to our Northeast Army and the young marshal. ”

Zheng Weiguo was also a little sad, and said: "The sacrifice of Deputy Commander Wang is the biggest loss of our department since the Anti-Japanese War. He also said to the two division commanders Jin and Zhao: "You also received a letter from Deputy Army Commander Wang?" ”

The two nodded. Division Commander Jin explained: "You may know that although our Northeast Army is divided, there are still internal connections, and there are some special channels. ”

Zheng Weiguo smiled a little embarrassedly and said, "Well, this is really the first time I've heard of this." I used to be a platoon commander in the 7th Brigade, and then somehow I was transferred to the 53rd Army as a company commander. Later, then he quit. Hehe......" Speaking of the back, Zheng Weiguo couldn't help laughing, quite a little "How many things are going on in ancient and modern times." are all paid in laughter".

Master Jin complimented: "It's gold that always shines, and you were just a pearl in the dust." ”

Zheng Weiguo asked again: "Senior Commander Jin, where is your 107th Division stationed now?" Why did you leave the army alone, not afraid of accountability from the Military Commission? ”

The 107th Division was expanded from the Seventh Brigade of the Northeast Army, and it is still Zheng Huzi's old unit. In 33, in order to strengthen the military prestige, Chang Kaishen ordered to add 100 to the number of each division to bluff. The 7th Brigade became the 107th Division. However, Zheng Huzi was also transferred to the 53rd Army in that reorganization.

Master Jin's eyes suddenly turned red, his face showed heavy sadness, and he sighed and said, "Alas. There is no 107th Division anymore. Even the 67th Army is gone. The humble post is just an unemployed soldier, and he has long been no division commander. ”

During the Battle of Songhu, the 67th Army was ordered to cooperate with the 43rd Army to "seize Songjiang and hold it for three days". to cover the retreat of the Chinese troops on the main battlefield. After the completion of the term. Commander Wu Keren asked the remnants of the 43rd Army to withdraw first. As a result, by the time the 67th Army retreated, the Suzhou Bridge had been blown up. The 67th Army had no choice but to force its way across the Suzhou Creek at the risk of Japanese bombing.

At that time, in order to stabilize the morale of the army, Commander Wu Keren asked his subordinates to cross the river first. He was in command on the shore, but was suddenly attacked by the Japanese when the troops were about to escape. Commander Wu was killed on the spot, and Wu Tonggang, chief of staff of the 67th Army, died along with Commander Wu. In addition, in this battle, eight regiment commanders, including Deng Yuzhuo, chief of staff of the 107th Division, Liu Qiwen, commander of the 322nd Brigade, Zhu Zhirong, and Wang Xirui, commanders of the 321st Brigade, sacrificed their lives for the country. Casualties among officers at the battalion, company, and platoon levels were even greater. The entire 107th Division was almost wiped out, and the 108th Division also suffered close casualties.

Zheng Weiguo stood in shock and said with guilt: "I'm sorry, Master Jin!" Something so big happened, I, I don't even know what to do. ”

Master Jin burst into tears after speaking, sobbing and shaking his head, "No, you can't be blamed for this. You didn't hear it, and if you did, it wasn't a good thing. ”

Zheng Weiguo was confused, and the second monk was completely confused, so he had to look at Chief of Staff Zhao and said, "What does Master Jin mean by this?" ”

Chief of Staff Zhao sighed and said, "Junzuo, let me tell you!" He said to Master Jin again: "Old Jin, don't be too sad. Commander Wu, they sacrificed their lives for the country, and their deaths were worth it! Those dirty waters can't slander the innocence of Commander Wu. ”

It turned out that after the death of Commander Wu in battle, not only did he not receive the praise and commendation he deserved, but he was slandered by propaganda organizations with ulterior motives as "Wu Keren led his troops to rebel, and the 67th Army surrendered to the enemy", Chang Kaishen took the opportunity to cancel the number of the 67th Army, and only one remaining 108th Division was transferred to the 25th Army of Wang Jingjiu of the Central Army. What is even more shameless is that the Ministry of Military Affairs went so far as to order that pensions should not be granted to the soldiers of the 67th Army.

Zheng Weiguo's face turned blue with anger, and he walked around the room several times before suppressing his anger. No matter which faction the 67th Army is, how innocent are the martyrs? It must be known that many family members of soldiers have no financial resources, and they all rely on a meager "national disaster salary" to live. With these people dying on the battlefield and the Ministry of Military Affairs not giving them pensions, how will the families who have lost their breadwinners make ends meet?

There was silence for a while, and the breath in the living room became dull. Zheng Weiguo pushed open the window, and a warm breeze blew in, but it made people even more irritable.

Chief of Staff Zhao comforted: "Junzuo, don't worry about this matter. We have entrusted the people from the Northeast who are in the rear to run on our behalf, vowing to seek justice for Commander Wu and the officers and men of the 67th Army. ”

Zheng Weiguo smiled bitterly: "I can't do anything about this matter. I just want to do something for the families of the martyrs, do you know their whereabouts? ”

Chief of Staff Zhao said curiously: "Junzuo, what are you going to do?" Is it for the national government to give them a bereavement pension? ”

Zheng Weiguo shook his head and said with some regret: "I also hope to do this, but I don't have that much money, so I want to set up a factory in the rear of the big rear, let the families of the martyrs work, and distribute the money they earn to the families." ”

Chief of Staff Zhao clapped his hands and said, "Okay, this is a good idea." It is better to teach a man to fish than to teach him to fish, if this can be done, it will be of great merit! Those soldiers who died can rest in peace even under the Nine Springs. ”

Master Jin suddenly knelt down on his knees and cried bitterly: "I will thank the soldiers for the humble position first. ”

Zheng Weiguo hurriedly helped him up and said, "Why should Master Jin say thank you for the matter." He said to Division Commander Zhao again: "Is the 109th Division also gone?" ”

Division Commander Zhao Yi said sadly: "The 109th Division is still there, but there are no more children from our five northeastern provinces!" ”

The casualties of the 49th Army in the Battle of Songhu were also very heavy, and its 109th Division was basically wiped out, but the Ministry of Military Affairs did not pay any attention to its request for rectification after the war. In desperation, Commander Liu Duoquan took Zhao Yi, the commander of the 109th Division, to Wuhan in person, spent a lot of money to open up the door, and transferred all the unarmed pre-5th divisions to supplement the 109th Division.

After talking about the conditions in advance, Zhao Yi was still the commander of the 109th Division, and all the commanders above the regimental commander of the original 5th Division remained in office. Liu Duoquan equipped the division with some of the weapons left by Zhang Shaoshuai. The replenished Czech-style rifles of the 109th Division, with six Czech-style light machine guns per company, heavy machine gun companies in each battalion, and mortars in the regiment, can be called well-equipped.

However, Liu Duoquan and Zhao Yi were not happy for long, and when they gave the order to let the 109th Division be deployed, the four Huangpu regiment commanders who were left behind by the original 5th Division all took long leave, and the troops were completely under command. The matter was reflected to Chang Kaishen, who instead of punishing the regiment commander who deliberately made trouble, Chang Kaishen took the opportunity to remove Zhao Yi from his post and replace him with his descendant Li Shude, and other officers of the Northeast Army appointed by Liu Duoquan were also replaced, and then the 109th Division was assigned to the command of Liu Zhi in the 1st Theater.

"!" Zheng Weiguo couldn't help but curse, and said angrily: "What the hell is this called!" The suppression doesn't need to be so obvious! ”

Chief of Staff Zhao sighed and said, "Who let us lose the Northeast!" We made a mistake at the beginning, and now it's time for us to pay off our debts. (To be continued......)

PS: Thank you very much for the monthly ticket and the destined reward of an old farmer in the mountains, and at the same time I want to apologize to everyone, it's too late. However, the mountain man did not mean to, but the search for information in this chapter delayed too much time.