Torches were everywhere as far as the eye could see, and fierce faces flickered in the firelight. Before you know it, more and more horse bandits have been draining the surroundings.

Division Commander Zhang Zhankui glanced at Regiment Commander Ma, lowered his voice and said, "Do you see that piece in the south?" Wait and listen to me, and let's kill from the most crowded place together! ”

Captain Ma replied and went to prepare. The nearly 300 cavalrymen of these two companies are all veterans who have followed Zhang Zhankui for many years, and they don't know how many vicious and dangerous battles they have fought, and they don't need to give more orders, so they automatically put on a posture with a look and a gesture.

Don't look at the small change, it may just move a small step, or even just turn the horse's head, but the momentum immediately changes greatly. Originally, thousands of horse bandits surrounded more than 200 cavalry, but this change is like more than 200 cavalry surrounding thousands of horse bandits. The horse bandits lived a life of licking blood from the knife edge, and soon realized that something was wrong and stopped one after another.

Master Zhang pressed one hand on the horse's back, stood up with a pout, and arched his hand: "You have been following for most of the day, whether you are friends or enemies, draw a line!" ”

As soon as the words fell, dozens of leader-like horse bandits suddenly jumped off their horses, stepped forward, fell to the ground, and said in unison: "Please give the chief a bowl of rice to eat!" ”

"What?" Division Commander Zhang stood on Ma Bei and almost didn't react.

Well, when they came, there were less than 300, and when they returned, they had already broken 5,000 people--a small Mongolian tribe with their families and mouths also came. Division Commander Zhang Zhankui had no experience in government affairs, nor did he have this authority, so he decided to take them to the paddock first.

Halfway through. It happened that the main force of the newly formed 3rd Cavalry Division rushed to reinforce it. Seeing that Master Zhang and they were all right, everyone was relieved, and then they joined all the way and rushed back happily. It wasn't until the middle of the night that I arrived at the paddock. Fortunately, at this time, the county town of Weichang had already been captured by the 40th Army, and the logistics troops had also arrived in time, so there was no problem with the food and lodging of the troops.

Two days later, Zheng Weiguo personally arrived at the paddock. There is no way, there are some things, such as the handling of Li Shouxin, Bai Fengxiang and others and their subordinate troops. There is also the question of the command of the troops in Rehe and outside the Guan. It must be coordinated by him personally, otherwise there will be a big mess.

In a Mongolian tent, Zheng Weiguo met with Bai Fengxiang, Li Shouxin, Harbara (the representative of the horse bandits who surrendered to Cheng), and Bayin (the leader of the Mongolian tribe who surrendered to Cheng).

"It's a big mistake to be lowly and it's too late anyway. I hereby plead guilty to Commander Zheng. Please, sir! ”

As soon as Bai Fengxiang entered the tent, he knelt down on his knees. Zheng Weiguo hurriedly stretched out his hand to help him up and comforted: "Ruilin, I know your situation back then. It's wrong, but you're doing it with all your might. Compared to those who fled from the wind and preyed on the people, you have done more to contribute to the country! ”

"Now that I'm back anyway, I welcome you on behalf of the Second War Zone!"

Bai Fengxiang prostrate on the ground and choked up: "I am ashamed of my humble position, I only hate that I failed to learn from the Xinshan brothers (Liu Guiwu, the commander of the Fifth Cavalry Division who died in Inner Mongolia) to kill and become benevolent, leaving this infamy through the ages......"

Zheng Weiguo also sighed, and said: "Soldiers should have backbone, but the shame of the moment is not terrible, what I am afraid of is that there is no chance to make up for it." Now that the Japanese army has not been extinguished, Ruilin, are you willing to make up for your mistakes and make new contributions? ”

Bai Fengxiang was overjoyed when he heard this, wiped a handful of tears and said: "Thank you Jun Zuo for your success, I have lived for a few years in my humble position just to be ashamed one day!" ”

Zheng Weiguo nodded and said, "Okay, be ashamed and brave!" Ruilin, I now appoint you as the commander of the Fifth Army of the Steppe Front, and your subordinates are still under your own control, but you will have to accept the unified reorganization of the theater. ”

Bai Fengxiang hurriedly thanked him and said, "Thank you, Commander, for cultivating." It's just that what is the origin of this steppe front? ”

Zheng Weiguo explained that this steppe front army was newly divided from the northern front army and was directly under the jurisdiction of the second battle army. Because the Northern Front from Kamchatka Peninsula to the Mongolian steppe, the scope under its jurisdiction was too large to be managed, so Zheng Weiguo simply split it up and took the Trans-Siberian Railway as the boundary, with the Northern Front in the north and the steppe front in the south.

The Grassland Front Army has three armies, the fourth, fifth, and sixth armies, with Ma Zhanshan as the commander-in-chief and the Fourth Army as its headquarters, which is currently operating in the central and eastern parts of Outer Mongolia. Bai Fengxiang's division will be organized into the Fifth Army, which will operate in the eastern part of Inner Mongolia.

Bai Fengxiang frowned slightly, hesitated for a moment and said: "Junzuo, it's not that Bai doesn't know how to lift, it's just that Chief Ma has some misunderstandings about the lowly position, and the personal honor and disgrace of the lowly position is small, if it is because of this, Junzuo's counteroffensive plan will be ruined, and it will be ...... death."

The personnel relations within the Northeast Army are very complicated, and it is not uncommon for them to tear down each other, be hostile, or even fight among themselves. Like Ma Zhanshan and Bai Fengxiang, they are brothers in life and death with Liu Guiwu, but Ma and Bai are extremely discordant. Especially after Liu Guiwu died in Butter Ganzi (near present-day Baotou), the relationship between the two deteriorated rapidly. As a result, Bai Fengxiang could not gain a foothold in the back set and had to go far away to Rehe, and the final surrender of the Japanese army also had a lot to do with this reason.

Zheng Weiguo patted him on the shoulder and comforted: "Don't worry, Ruilin!" Commander-in-Chief Ma is also regretting what happened back then. Now that the Japanese invaders are still occupying the territory of China, you, me, and Commander-in-Chief Ma are all in the same vein of the Northeast Army, and they must help each other in the future. ”

Bai Fengxiang was greatly moved when he heard this, and hurriedly patted his chest and said, "Jun Zuo's words are humble, remember!" Please rest assured, Feng Xiang will never show his knife to his own people in the future! ”

Zheng Weiguo was overjoyed and said busily: "Okay, then Weiguo replaces wine with tea, and wishes the general to make new contributions to the country and the nation!" As he spoke, he asked the staff officers to find a map and make arrangements for the future operational direction and objectives of the Fifth Army. Then he asked Bai Fengxiang to go to He Zhuguo to discuss the reorganization of the troops.

According to the arrangements made by the General Staff Headquarters, the Fifth Army will be mainly responsible for operations in eastern Inner Mongolia for some time to come, and will also coordinate with the troops in Guannai and the Fourth Army in Outer Mongolia. Because it is mainly guerrilla and sports warfare, the training time is only arranged for one month, and in the future, it can be improved while fighting.

Soon after Bai Fengxiang opened, Li Shouxin was also brought in. This guy is so arrogant that he doesn't have the consciousness of being a prisoner at all. After entering the account, he arched his hand and said: "Li Mou has admired the name of Commander Zheng for a long time, but I didn't expect to be able to see the real face today!" As he spoke, he burst out laughing wildly, not taking Zheng Huzi in his eyes at all.

The two guards escorted him were furious, smashed him to the ground with the butt of his rifle, and angrily reprimanded: "Presumptuous! ”

"Dare to be disrespectful to the commander, be careful of your dog's life!"

Zheng Weiguo waved his hand and ordered: "Let him go!" He looked at Li Shouxin again and said with a smile: "Commander-in-Chief Li, you didn't expect us to meet in this way, right?" ”

Li Shouxin got up from the ground with an embarrassed face, and said stupidly: "It's just a matter of becoming a king and losing a villain!" He sneered: "Sir Zheng." Over the years, we have been very kind to you in the World War Zone. But it's good that you are playing yin behind Li Ye's back, and you are blackhanded, this is not righteous! ”

Truly. Among the "business partners" of the 2nd theater of operations. Li Shouxin is the most honest and moral one. War horses, furs, cattle, and meat supplies in the World War II zone in these years. A large part of it was obtained with the help of Li Shouxin, and even a large number of weapons and equipment. Of course, Li Shouxin did not collect less money. And there is an additional "intermediary fee" of considerable value for each business.

On the other hand, Zheng Huzi, while doing business with the other party, is secretly digging into the wall, and even swallowing all the "people and goods" of this business partner, it is no wonder that Li Shouxin is dissatisfied with him.

Zheng Weiguo smiled, stood up and walked a few steps, nodded and said, "You are right, if you talk about the morality of the rivers and lakes, there is indeed something wrong with the brothers." However, Brother Li should also understand that I am the commander of China's theater of operations, you are a lackey of the Japanese, and the first thing we need to talk about between us is the national righteousness! ”

Li Shouxin twisted his neck and said: "Hmph, I am a Mongolian, and the affairs of the Japanese and you Han people are about Lao Tzu's!" ”

Zheng Weiguo waved his hand and said: "The Mongolian people are also Chinese, and at this time when the country is dying, the people of all ethnic groups should work together and fight side by side." And your ancestors were Han Chinese who fled to Rehe in Shandong, how did you become a Mongolian? ”

Li Shouxin's old face flushed, and he said in surprise: "This, you, how do you know?" ”

Zheng Weiguo casually threw out a small notebook and said with a smile: "I have long been able to find out your details." ”

Li Shouxin took a look, and sure enough, the information about him on it was recorded in great detail, including how many aunts and wives he had, how many real estates, how many pastures, fields, how much family wealth, how many tobacco and soil, how many weapons he secretly hidden, no matter how big or small, all of them were memorized on it! Li Shouxin's face was red and white for a while, thinking that this Zheng beard was really insidious, and there were many things that the Japanese didn't know, but he found out.

However, after reading it, Li Shouxin breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that since Zheng Huzi had spent so much effort on himself, he should still take a fancy to his own use value. As long as he can keep his own power, who is not with him, Li Ye will have a day to make a comeback!

"Sir Zheng, Li is a cheerful person, so you can draw a line! If you want to kill or chop, Li will never frown at all! ”

Zheng Weiguo clapped his hands and said, "Okay, happy!" In that case, I won't go around in circles. Li Shouxin, I'll give you two ways now! ”

Li Shouxin arched his hand and said, "Chief Zheng, please speak!" ”

"First, as a Chinese, you are willing to be a lackey of a foreign race, and your crime is extremely evil, I will punish you with a canonical name, condemn your Li clan, and hang your body in the country to set an example!"

Li Shouxin's face changed slightly, and he said in a deep voice: "This is a dead end!" ”

Zheng Weiguo snorted coldly and sneered: "Not bad! There is only one way to live, and that is to listen to my orders and atone for your sins! ”

Li Shouxin knew that this would be the case, and said lazily: "Okay, who is not with you these days?" Li Mou will eat under Chief Zheng in the future, please take care of me! ”

Zheng Weiguo nodded and said: "As long as you abide by military discipline and state law in the future and make meritorious contributions to the enemy, I will naturally not treat you badly." ”

Li Shouxin struck while the iron was hot and asked, "What about my team and property?" ”

Zheng Weiguo muttered: "Your puppet Mongolian army will accept the unified reorganization of the second theater, and then it will be organized into the third army of the grassland front, with you as the commander, mainly responsible for the war in the central and western parts of Inner Mongolia." As for the property, it is all the people's fat and ointment that you have looted with the help of the Japanese power, and it must be confiscated in its entirety! ”

Unexpectedly, Li Shouxin said angrily: "What! All forfeiture? Your heart is too dark! That bullshit army elder is gone, you might as well shoot me! ”

Zheng Weiguo sneered: "It's really people who die for money, and birds die for food!" Well, the property can leave you a part. However, those 100,000 loads of tobacco and soil are a game that will bring disaster to the country and the people, and must be confiscated! ”

Li Shouxin glared at Zheng Huzi angrily, but this guy was cunning, and he knew that this was most likely Zheng Huzi's bottom line, so he didn't dare to be presumptuous anymore, so he had to nod and agree.

Zheng Huzi looked at him with a painful face, and his heart was so unhappy that he couldn't help laughing.

Later, Li Shouxin was taken to a tent, and Zheng Weiguo handed him an Oriental knife. Pointing to a man in Japanese military uniform, he said, "Go." Since you've chosen a way to live, cut this guy down for me! ”

Li Shouxin was puzzled: "What do you mean, who is this, it is my vote?" ”

Zheng Weiguo smiled: "Almost! ”

Li Shouxin is also the No. 1 ruthless character. Take the Toyo sword. The Japanese officer cut the Japanese officer in half with the knife in hand. When swinging a knife. Several reporters suddenly appeared inside and outside, crackling with a burst of flash, and they all filmed without landing at all.

Seeing Li Shouxin's face confused. Zheng Weiguo explained: "This guy is not small, he is a prince of Japan! After you cut him, there will be no way out, so let's fight the Japanese with me! ”

Only then did Li Shouxin realize that he had been fooled, and said angrily: "Okay, you really have you!" Zheng Huzi, count you ruthlessly, Li Ye is not wronged when he loses in your hands! ”

Zheng Weiguo didn't care, laughed, and instructed the guards: "You take Commander Li to take office!" ”

"Yes!"

Xie Peiran, the new director of the Adjutant Division, looked at Li Shouxin's departing back and said dissatisfiedly: "This guy is too rampant, why should the commander get used to him!" If you want me to say, it's better to shoot it directly! ”

Zheng Weiguo nodded and said: "It's not a pity that this guy died, but he has a lot of prestige in the Inner Mongolia generation, and if he can be used by me, it will greatly speed up the process of Inner Mongolia's recovery." We must now go all out to recover the Northeast, and we must not waste time in the small mysteries of North China. ”

Xie Peiran said admiringly: "It's still thoughtful, but this Li Shouxin is a repeated villain, and Bai Fengxiang is not very reliable, what if after the army goes north, they take the opportunity to rebel?" ”

Zheng Weiguo said meaningfully: "The road is all walked by people, it depends on how they choose!" ”

Subsequently, Zheng Weiguo personally came forward to settle the Rehippo bandits who surrendered to the war and the desperate small Mongolian tribes.

Zheng Weiguo asked with some curiosity: "Harbala, Bayin, I welcome your arrival very much, our anti-Japanese cause is the time to employ people, the more people come, the greater the hope of victory." But what makes me wonder is, why did you come to us? ”

Harbara and Bayin glanced at each other, suddenly knelt down on one knee, and said in unison: "All things look up to the sun, and strong men follow heroes......"

Zheng Weiguo hurriedly waved his hand and said, "Hurry up, there's no need for this!" He added: "Mongolian men have always been straightforward, and I also treat each other with sincerity, so there is no need to say polite words!" ”

Halbara said embarrassedly: "I can't hide it, the past two years have not been good, there have been great droughts on the grasslands one after another, and the Japanese have exploited them so badly, everyone really can't survive!" ”

Zheng Weiguo said in surprise: "I took a special look on the way here, and the drought on the grassland is not very serious!" He took a big turn on the plane, and when he looked down from the sky, there were still mostly green places.

Bayin smiled bitterly: "The good pastures that the chief sees are all controlled by the big tribes, and if our small tribes go to graze, they will be driven away, and maybe they won't even be able to keep the only sheep they have." ”

Zheng Weiguo was puzzled: "There are also many rivers in the north, why don't you irrigate them?" ”

Halbara and Bayin finally understood what irrigation meant, and hurriedly waved their hands and said, "The river water is a gift from the heavens, so how can it be used to water the pastures?" ”

Zheng Weiguo then remembered that the Mongolian people have a primitive worship of the river, and they are not even allowed to bathe in the river, let alone irrigation? And even if they break the "ancestral law", with their technology and manual level, it is difficult to irrigate a large area. Even if the river is really cut off, maybe the big tribes downstream will come to the door.

In addition, in the past few years, due to the brutal oppression and destructive development of the Japanese Manchurian and Mongolian Co., Ltd., it has brought immeasurable losses to Rehe - not long after the victory of the Anti-Japanese War, a large area of grassland in Rehe began to desertify. The big tribes can still survive on good pastures, and those small tribes, ordinary herdsmen, and Han people are all driven to a dead end. This is also the main reason for the sharp increase in banditry in the past two years.

Regarding the ecology of the grassland and the relationship between the various tribes of the Mongolian nationality, Zheng Huzi was also helpless, so he had to ask Yan'an to send Mongolian cadres to coordinate and deal with it as soon as possible.

As for the Rehippo bandits who came to take refuge, all of them were handed over to Bai Fengxiang to be absorbed, and the Mongolian tribe was placed in a pasture run by a war zone.

Unexpectedly, there were more and more horse bandits and herdsmen who rushed to take refuge after hearing the news, and many of them were whole families and tribes who came together. Fortunately, the second war zone has a big business, and although it is a little difficult, it is all properly arranged. Of course, the problem of cavalry and war horses was also solved by the way.

He Zhuguo suddenly hurried over and reported: "Commander-in-chief, I have just received a report on the enemy situation from the General Staff Headquarters, and the Japanese army is approaching the 2nd Brigade and the 35th Division of the Japanese Army. In addition, the 26th Division, the 27th Division, and the 4th Cavalry Brigade have all moved! ”

"Let's go, let's see!" Zheng Weiguo waved his hand, and everyone hurried to the war room.

Several staff officers were working on the map, which already marked the movements of the Japanese troops, and several arrows were pointing to the newly opened area centered on the paddock.

Xie Peiran looked at it and said with a smile: "The Japanese army is probably trying to rescue the Third Division of Chariots. ”

He Zhuguo was puzzled: "Could it be that the North China Front still doesn't know that the Third Chariot Division has been wiped out?" ”

Xie Peiran said with a smile: "We have been strictly blocking the news for the past two days, but the Japanese should have heard some rumors, and they may still be unwilling!" "In fact, the main purpose of the Japanese army is to recover those damaged tanks, otherwise Naosaburo Okabe and they really can't explain to the base camp.

Zheng Weiguo sneered: "I was thinking about how to solve these troops, but the little devil actually sent it to the door!" Well, since you're here, don't go! (To be continued......)

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