The person who came was none other than the political commissar Deng of the 129th Division. Although he was not in the 129th Division for a long time, he was known for his prestige and quickly gained a firm foothold. Interestingly, in the 129th Division, he usually plays the role of blackface (generally speaking, the division commander plays blackface, like Lin Shuai and He Shi, and the political commissar distributes candy, like Nie Shuai and Luo Shuai), so his subordinates are a little afraid of him.

The various units of the Eighth Route Army are now developing from the mountains to the plains, and the center of gravity has shifted eastward, so these bigwigs often haunt the southern Hebei area. If it weren't for the sharp deterioration of the situation later, it is very likely that the Eighth Route Army would have moved its headquarters to Nangong.

Political Commissar Deng smiled and said: "Commander Zheng, I am uninvited, don't be surprised!" ”

Zheng Weiguo hurriedly stretched out his hand to show welcome, and said in his mouth: "How dare you, how dare you, please come inside." I don't know if you have arrived in Nangong, otherwise you will definitely come to visit. ”

Political Commissar Deng smiled heartily: "Then I don't dare to be it!" Commander Zheng, I know that you are very busy, so let's just say it, what are you going to arrange for the base area in western Hebei? ”

The ownership of western Hebei is indeed a problem, which was first pioneered by the western Hebei guerrillas led by Yang Xiufeng, and the 129th Division and Zheng Weiguo's headquarters also contributed a lot. In particular, after the package was handed over to the 33rd Division, the anti-Japanese situation in this area developed rapidly. Many county brigades even dared to fight against a squadron of Japanese troops, and the Western Hebei Independent Regiment developed from a second-class basic regiment to a first-class main force.

But now Zheng Weiguo is going to Jizhong with the main force of the 97th Army, and the two places are far apart, so there are fewer places to take care of. Once there is a change, there is no time to rescue.

Zheng Weiguo pondered the words for a moment and said, "Jixi, please ask the 129th Division to send someone to take over." However, Ping'an County is the logistics base of our 97th Army, and we hope to develop independently. ”

Political Commissar Deng said: "Okay! However, the local troops that you have developed in the counties of western Hebei must stay, because we don't have so many mobile troops now. If you withdraw, the land will be empty. ”

The after-effects of the Eighth Route Army's rapid expansion had already appeared, and the combat effectiveness of the troops was almost plummeting due to a serious lack of officers and training. Even then, the army was not enough. Some base areas have begun to recruit bandits and local guerrilla forces, but the situation is not satisfactory. The discipline of these units was lax, and there was an independent battalion in southern Hebei that was even co-opted by Japanese spies to become a puppet army.

Zheng Weiguo nodded and said, "Please rest assured about this." We're not going to be mountaineering. Moreover, the better the development of the counties in western Hebei. Ping'an County will also be safer. It's a matter of mutual benefit. ”

Political Commissar Deng said happily: "Okay, in this case, I will be relieved." When you develop well in Jizhong, Jizhong, southern Hebei, western Hebei, and southeast Shanxi will be able to be connected. The anti-Japanese situation in North China is bound to change greatly. ”

Zheng Weiguo said with a smile: "I think this goal will definitely be achieved." But. We can't rush it. It's still a step at a time. ”

Political Commissar Deng glanced at him and said with a smile: "Do you think that the expansion of our Eighth Route Army is a bit fast?" ”

Zheng Weiguo nodded and said honestly: "It's not a little fast." It's already a little outrageous. I think that such a drastic development model may not be conducive to the healthy growth of the troops. ”

Political Commissar Deng smiled bitterly: "What you said is very reasonable, but we have no way to spread it." ”

With the retreat of the Nationalist army to the south, the Japanese army shrank to large and medium-sized cities and railway lines, and a huge power vacuum appeared in North China. The left-behind armed forces of the national army, local forces, bandits, Huidaomen and puppet armies are all desperately developing and grabbing territory. In this carnival of sharing cakes, the Eighth Route Army would be eliminated if it did not actively participate. This is absolutely not allowed on the Chinese side of G, so knowing that there are hidden dangers in the road, they have to fight desperately.

Political Commissar Deng said half-jokingly: "If you leave, we will be even more troublesome." Especially you, Commander Zheng, didn't say anything about running away by yourself, and kidnapped Director Yang too, who should we talk to to reason? ”

Zheng Weiguo smiled a little embarrassedly, and then changed the topic and said, "Has your army ever thought about establishing a military academy to cultivate reserve talents?" ”

Commissar Deng said: "Why not? Yan'an had long established the Anti-Japanese Red Army University, and now it has been upgraded to an Anti-Japanese Military and Political University, and the Eighth Route Army Headquarters is also preparing to build a branch school. But Rome wasn't built in a day, and it will take time for this group of students to come in handy! ”

Zheng Weiguo had long wanted to help the Eighth Route Army embark on the road of regularization, but he lacked an opportunity. So he took the opportunity to put an advertisement on his school, and said demagoguously: "Political Commissar Deng, I have revealed a secret to you." Our 97th Army has now formed a battalion school. If you are interested, you can send someone to study, but at least the initial level of Chinese. ”

Political Commissar Deng said in surprise: "How much more education does a school need to have? Kang Da doesn't have such a requirement! Can your conditions compare to Kang Da's? ”

Kang Da is indeed the pride of Yan'an, and it has trained more generals than Huangpu. Moreover, the school's philosophy is very practical and not comparable to ordinary academic schools. For example, the Central Army School run by the Nationalist Government did not know how much tuition fees were paid on the battlefield.

Zheng Weiguo smiled and said: "With all due respect, although the scale of our school is not large, the quality of running the school must be far greater than that of Kang Da. The difference is as big as that between the Chinese and German armies. ”

Political Commissar Deng didn't believe it at all, and said with a smile: "You just blow it, watch you blow the cowhide to the sky!" A mouthful of Sichuan words amused everyone.

Zheng Weiguo said very seriously: "This is not bragging. Our instructors were brought in from Germany and are already on their way. ”

Political Commissar Deng was taken aback and said, "German instructors? I heard that Germany is about to sever diplomatic relations with the Nationalist Government, where did you get it? ”

Zheng Weiguo said with a smile: "Apologize, I can't say this for the time being, and you will know it in the future." ”

Political Commissar Deng thought for a moment and said: "I know the strength of the German military. They engaged in regular warfare, like Chairman Chiang's former advisers, weren't they Germans? At that time, we suffered a lot in the Soviet area, but it was mainly our strategic missteps, otherwise we might not have been able to defeat us. ”

At that time, Chang Kaishen's military adviser was Hans? Feng? Seckert, Germany's most famous military strategist at the time. Known as the "father of the Wehrmacht". Although the fort advance tactics he proposed were costly, they well limited the Red Army's ability to maneuver, causing the Soviet zone to become smaller and smaller, losing room for maneuver, and finally being forced to go on a long march.

Director Song, who was hiding on the side, was fascinated by this, and also interjected, saying, "Where can we afford to play regular warfare now?" In my opinion, it is best to fight guerrillas. ”

Zheng Weiguo explained: "The regularization of the armed forces and the fighting of regular warfare are two different concepts, and guerrilla warfare also requires commanders to systematically receive formal military education in order to give better play to the advantages of guerrilla warfare. ”

Director Song was still angry just now, and deliberately raised the pole and said, "You just talk nonsense, when did our Eighth Route Army learn formal military education?" Guerrilla warfare is not still well fought! The Kuomintang is regular. was beaten by the devil and cried his father and called his mother. ”

Zheng Weiguo said with a smile: "The Eighth Route Army has indeed done a good job in guerrilla warfare. But in my opinion, it is still far from enough. There are indeed advantages in strategy and will to fight, but there are still many areas for improvement in tactics. ”

Political Commissar Deng was also interested, and hurriedly said: "Oh, please also ask Commander Zheng to make it clear." ”

Zheng Weiguo said: "Okay. Let's analyze how many battles the Eighth Route Army had. Look at the gap between the Eighth Route Army and the regular army. ”

The first thing he analyzed was the battle of Pingxingguan. It was the first major victory since the outbreak of the all-out war of resistance. This battle fully embodied Mr. Lin's tactical sense and the super personal will of the Eighth Route Army, but at the same time, many problems were exposed.

First, the troops marched without prior reconnaissance. I just found a general direction on the map and set off, but I encountered a flash flood on the way, and a main regiment was isolated from the battlefield and could not participate in the battle.

Second, the mountain warfare actually did not deploy firepower at the commanding heights (i.e., the Lao Ye Temple). Even if the firepower is insufficient, observation posts should be arranged. However, Mr. Lin did not make arrangements, and the staff officers did not remind them, and the Japanese army occupied the place first, causing great trouble to the Eighth Route Army.

……

Zheng Weiguo listed eight areas that need to be improved in one breath, and explained them in simple terms and spoke very carefully. The cadres of the Eighth Route Army were dumbfounded, and although they were very unconvinced in their hearts, they couldn't refute it.

Political Commissar Deng frowned and said, "Hearing you say this, we seem to have some problems. ”

Director Song glanced at the leader and didn't dare to make a sound. The 115th Division is the number one main force of the Eighth Route Army, and Division Commander Lin is the chairman's favorite general, and he also served as the principal of Kang University. His level is too far off, and he doesn't dare to talk nonsense.

Political Commissar Deng saw his thoughts, waved his hand, and said: "We are discussing military issues, and we are not fighting for anyone, so we don't have to worry too much." Commander Zheng, what you just said is quite right, tell us about the problems of the 129th Division? ”

Zheng Weiguo joked: "Okay, but don't be upset when you say it." ”

Director Song said: "Cut, are they all like you with small belly chicken intestines?" ”

Zheng Weiguo smiled: "Look at it, what am I talking about?" ”

Director Song spread his hands helplessly and said, "Okay, okay, I'm silent, see what flowers you blow out!" ”

To be honest, compared with the 115th Division, the 129th Division has bigger problems and more problems. To give a simple example, the 115th Division was able to fight hard with the Japanese army almost for the first time on the battlefield, but the 771st Regiment of the 129th Division was attacked by the Japanese army in Qiqian Village and the whole army was scattered.

Fortunately, after the careful training of Division Commander Liu, the unit grew rapidly. When it came to the battle in Changle Village, the 129th Division fought very beautifully, and its combat effectiveness was not inferior to that of the 115th Division.

Director Song said: "That's it, don't be three days, you should be impressed." What kind of regular military thought, what's so strange? Our 129th Division studied war in the war, and still trained its soldiers well! ”

Zheng Weiguo said: "Experience can be learned in war, but the experience mastered by people who lack basic military literacy is narrow. I have experience in the same environment, but I have to pay tuition fees in a different environment. ”

The battle of Yangmingbao is a very classic example in the history of the Anti-Japanese War, but this battle was not strictly reconnoitred, and no combat plan was formulated before the war. Although the troops successfully stormed the airfield, the next mess ensued, many of the planes were not completely destroyed, and the commander was killed.

So have these deficiencies been improved in subsequent battles? Unfortunately, no! For example, in the first battle of Shentouling, the staff officer who formulated the battle plan did not even know whether the road was on the ridge or under the ridge. If it weren't for Chen Geng who felt uneasy and ran to the scene to reconnoitre, he didn't know what kind of chaos Lu Dao would have caused.

There are also battles like Changle Village, where the troops obviously occupied the advantage of the home field, but did not actively reconnoitre, causing the Japanese to run for several hours before they found out. If you can prepare in advance, will you still be so passive in the future?

Unfortunately, these regrets have not been resolved. In the following history, mistakes like the Red Temple and Guan Jiayuan will be made again. This is a manifestation of a lack of basic tactical literacy, just now getting up in one pit and falling into another.

Director Song scratched his head and said depressedly: "It seems to make some sense, but why is it uncomfortable to listen to?" Dare to love that all these years of war have been fought in vain? It's all a narrow experience? ”

Political Commissar Deng smiled and said, "This is called loyalty against the ear!" Commander Zheng analyzed it very well just now, and everyone will think about it after they go back. ”

He said to Zheng Weiguo again: "Commander Zheng, let's just make up our minds, and we can't turn our students away when the time comes." It would be nice to get us more places. After exchanging views with Zheng Weiguo on some details, he went back in a hurry.

After some friendly negotiations, Zheng Weiguo gave up all the territory except for Ping'an County, but retained the 10th district in Shanxi. In this way, the left-behind troops will have an additional way back, which may come in handy at a critical time.

After Commissar Deng left, Ren Zhuzi quietly asked, "Military seat, we are also short of officers." I can't be busy, so why do I have to help the Eighth Route Army cultivate. ”

Zheng Weiguo shook his head and said, "You don't understand. North China is so big, our 97th Army alone can't support it. The Eighth Route Army is now our allies, and when they are strong, they can share the pressure for us. ”

Chief of Staff Zhou said: "Junzao, what you said makes sense. But I don't think you should have said that. Although you say that you are telling the truth, people may not appreciate it, and you will not offend people. ”

Zheng Weiguo sighed and said, "I know all this, but if I don't say these words, it will be even more uncomfortable to hold it in my heart." ”

It will take a long time for the materials to be transported from Hubei to North China, and Zheng Weiguo can't wait. After resting for a week in southern Hebei, he led the main force of the 97th Army to continue northward, and soon crossed the Deshi line and entered the central Hebei Plain.

Chief of Staff Zhou looked north from the side of the highway and said with emotion: "Military seat, a new world, we will fight here in the future." ”

Zheng Weiguo stretched out his hand and said, "Let's join hands and create a new situation!" ”

Chief of Staff Zhou hurriedly stretched out his hand to hold it, and said with a smile: "Okay!" (To be continued......)