When the soldiers returned from cleaning up the battlefield, it was already dark. The people of Hejian City and the villagers in the nearby villages carefully opened the windows or cracks in the doors to see what was going on outside.

To be honest, the fierce fighting in the middle of the night had frightened them. Especially the people who stayed in the city, listening to the sound of fireworks and cannons, the whole family was so frightened that they hid on the kang and trembled, for fear of blowing them up along with the devils.

The people outside the city knew some about the situation, but they were also afraid, mainly because they were worried that Commander Meng would not be able to fight Hejian, after all, the strength of the Japanese army a few days ago left a very deep impression on them. If the Japanese occupy Hejian City and run out every day to harm the villagers, the people in the nearby villages will not be able to live.

Because the soldiers went after the devils, the streets were quiet. Everyone looked at the empty street and was at a loss for a while. Fortunately, the staff of the anti-Japanese government of Hejian County soon began to beat gongs along the street, shouting as they tweed: "Folks, don't be afraid, come out!" Commander Meng has already led people to drive the devil away! ”

The villagers poked their heads out and looked at it, and when they saw that it was indeed someone from the county government, a hanging heart finally let go. The young men began to cheer loudly, and some even clamored to join the army. In the past few days, they have tasted the taste of slavery in the country, and instead of sitting and waiting to die, it is better to fight!

The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were happy and complained, saying: "Thanks to Commander Meng for driving the devil away, otherwise you will suffer!" Hey, we shouldn't have blown up the roof of our house, what if it rains? ”

Many of the fireworks fired last night landed on the roofs of residents, although the power was not great. But blowing up a few purlins is not a problem. Many families were affected by this, but fortunately, the grenades did not penetrate much and caused no casualties to the residents.

Daddy happily smoked a hookah and rebuked, "As long as you can drive the devil away, what are a few purlins?" Junior, go to your second uncle's house to find two pieces of wood, and fix the roof in a while! ”

Xiao San'er hesitated for a moment and said, "Dad, I want to sign up for the army!" ”

The little daughter-in-law who had just passed the door was red-eyed when she heard it, but she didn't dare to stop it. I had to ask my mother-in-law for help. The mother-in-law is also reluctant to give up her son. He glared and said, "Don't go!" As soon as Xiu'er passed the door, you left her alone? ”

Xiao San'er said angrily: "Your thinking is backward!" If you don't go to be a soldier, he doesn't go to be a soldier. I'm not going to be a soldier either. When the devils come, who will drive them away? Who will protect the villagers? ”

Daddy coughed. Say, "If you want to go, go there!" ”

When the mother-in-law heard this, she was anxious and said, "San'er is his father! ”

The old man stood up with his waist bent and said, "I can work for a few more years with this body." It's not a big problem to have you and Xiu'er at home. When the child is older, let him go if he wants to! ”

San'er pounced on the second elder and knelt down, saying: "The second elder is above, since ancient times, loyalty and filial piety cannot be both, and children can't always accompany their knees, so they will serve the country and join the army!" ”

These words of his life were pieced together from the drama, and he said them because he thought it was funny. I thought I was quite stylish, but my mother-in-law and daughter-in-law couldn't help but turn their heads and secretly burst into tears when they heard it.

Dad said: "San'er, your ninth uncle is a battalion commander in the second regiment of the first road of the guerrilla army. Go to him, and you'll have something to take care of. Your uncle and nephew should also help each other a little. ”

San'er rolled his eyes and said, "Dad, I don't want to go to Uncle Jiu, I want to go to the fire army!" ”

Everyone was dumbfounded when they heard this, thinking to themselves whether you joined the army to fight devils, or did you want to eat donkey meat and burn it?

As soon as San'er saw everyone's expressions, he knew that Lu Dao had misunderstood, and hurriedly explained: "You don't know Lu Dao, this burning army can eat and fight." I heard someone say when I went out to inquire about the news just now, Commander Meng just drove the devils out of the city, and it was the people who really burned the army to eliminate the devils! The battle was fought, tsk! What a word! ”

As soon as Xiu'er heard the three words of the Fire Army, she couldn't help but sneer, and glanced at San'er with resentment. I thought to myself, it's only been a few days since you got married, you're going to burn the army, leaving me at home alone, how can you live this life?

San'er softened her heart for a while when she saw Xiu'er's delicate appearance, but when she thought that she could kill the enemy and serve the country in the future, the blood became hot again. A good man has ambitions in all directions, how can he stay at home with his daughter-in-law?

Daddy was smoking a hookah, and the wrinkles on his face seemed to be much deeper. He coughed violently and suddenly, his back hunched.

San'er was taken aback, hurriedly came over to support his father, and said, "Dad, what's wrong with you?" ”

Dad sighed and said, "San'er, Dad also knows that the Dao Fire Burning Army, I heard that people are orthodox." But they will fight in the south and the north in the future, and they may not necessarily return to Jizhong. You went to the guerrilla army, maybe you will have a chance to come back; If you go to the Fire Army, it will be difficult to go home! ”

When the mother-in-law heard this, she hurriedly said: "His father, where is that!" San'er, just listen to your father, go to your ninth uncle, ah! Where to be a soldier is not to fight devils! ”

San'er was a little unhappy when he heard this, and he lowered his head and went out. In his mind, to be a soldier is, of course, to be the best soldier in the best army. If you don't go to the fire army, how can you be a hero after you go to the guerrilla army? But he couldn't bear to make his father and mother sad, so he had to walk out with his head down.

By this time, the streets were already lively, and there were crowds of people celebrating the victory. There are those who twist Yangge, sing big operas, brush slogans, and female soldiers engage in propaganda under Allegro...... San'er watched it for a while, grinned happily, and went to the crowd with the crowd.

At the gate of the city, the anti-Japanese government of Hejian County is organizing the people to hold a ceremony of liberation. Cadres, activists, and young students from various sub-districts began to welcome the guerrillas and the 331st Regiment into the city at the south gate under small flags.

The villagers inside and outside the city also rushed over when they heard the news, and they were sincerely grateful to the soldiers for driving away the Japanese devils. Of course, there are not many group activities these days, and there are many people who come to join in the fun. In addition to ordinary people, there are also powerful spies from all sides in the vicinity.

The battle between the rivers brought a great shock to the surrounding forces. Many of them have always looked down on the guerrillas, believing that they are nothing more than guerrillas who cannot fight or resist Japan. But this time, they recaptured RiverCity from the hands of the devils, which really blinded their titanium dog's eyes, and also made them have to re-examine their relationship with the guerrillas.

For example, more than 10,000 Lianzhuang armed forces in the Hejian area did not accept the leadership of the guerrilla army, and they sent people to fight for it and were driven back. However, after the First Battle of Hejian, they were convinced, and soon accepted the reorganization and strengthened the anti-Japanese armed forces.

This battle not only brought out the prestige of the guerrilla army and smashed the enemy's plan to open up the Pingda Highway, but also encouraged the anti-Japanese enthusiasm of the army and people in central Hebei, and the prestige of Commander Meng Qingshan and the Hebei guerrilla army was unprecedentedly enhanced. The fathers and elders in Jizhong praised the bravery and tenacity of the soldiers and soldiers, and the argument that "the guerrilla army cannot resist Japan" disappeared, and the common people saw hope and saw the day of their future.

The gentry, who had been hostile to the guerrillas, also changed their attitude and visited the troops with large quantities of condolences. As a result of this war, the internal and external environment of the guerrilla army has been much better, and it is no longer the situation in which it fought alone.

Commander Meng Qingshan and Zheng Weiguo rode into the city on a freshly captured Oriental horse, and they also wore a big red flower on their head. The villagers in the river beat gongs and drums at the city gate, twisted Yangge, stepped on stilts, and played slogans, warmly welcoming the soldiers of the two armies into the city, and this scene was more lively than the New Year.

The old men and women on the street were so happy that they couldn't keep their mouths shut, and they talked everywhere about the embarrassing image of our army heroically killing the enemy and the devil. In fact, the vast majority of them did not see the war scenes with their own eyes, some of them listened to others, and some simply said it based on their own imagination. The villagers also know that what they say is unreliable, but they like to listen to it.

Looking at the lively scene in the city, Duan Shuanghu said excitedly: "This river is really rich, it is much higher than Nangong and Suning!" ”

The commissar of the guerrilla army said happily: "Of course! This Hejian City has a long history, starting from the Eastern Zhou Dynasty and has a history of 2,700 years. In the past dynasties, counties have been set up here, the country, the state, the government, is the political, economic, cultural, military important place in the south of Beijing, known as the "first capital in the south of Beijing" reputation! ”

Zheng Weiguo was a little emotional and a little regretful when he heard it. This place can be described as an outstanding people, rich in products, what a good land, but unfortunately it soon fell into the hands of foreign enemies. It is impossible for the guerrillas alone to hold the river. The Japanese army is not free at present, and once Wuhan falls, it will have to turn around and deal with these forces behind enemy lines.

As for Zheng Weiguo himself, it is impossible to be stationed in Jizhong. After completing Tianjin's material plan, he will return to western Hebei, and then move to Henan, and then there will be a series of encirclement and counter-encirclement and suppression, and I am afraid that there will not be many opportunities to return to Jizhong, and the role he can play is very limited.

A few days later, the Japanese puppet radio station in Tianjin expressed condolences to Yamaguchi Daizo and his subordinates through a broadcast: "The Imperial Army's Yamaguchi Wing fought fiercely with the enemy chieftain Mengqing Mountain in the river, and achieved great results. The Shina army transferred more than 100,000 people to help, and Yamaguchi Daisa was outnumbered and unfortunately sacrificed his life for the holy war......"

Interestingly, Taizu, who was in Yan'an, happened to hear this broadcast and said with a smile: "100,000 people! Even if there weren't that many, there would have to be 30,000 or 50,000 people......

Due to the fierce expansion of all the departments of the Eighth Route Army, even Taizu did not know how many people there were in Ludao. After all, a large number of local armed forces are incorporated every day, and a very large number of people come to join the army.

After Mr. Zhu heard about it, he thought for a moment and felt wrong, and said: "Chairman, almost all of Meng Qingshan's troops are recruits, how can it be possible to completely annihilate the Yamaguchi United?" ”

The chairman explained: "It was Zheng Huzi who helped fight it, but Hejian City was taken by Meng Qingshan alone!" ”

Mr. Zhu looked at the war report and said happily: "Meng Qingshan fought this battle beautifully!" The guerrilla army has only been formed for a short time, and in time, it will definitely be a strong force! ”

The chairman couldn't stop nodding his head and said happily: "Well, there are a lot of ghost ideas, brave and strategic, worthy of the old Red Army!" (To be continued......)