Liu Ping, the new political commissar of the Independent Regiment, rushed to the division headquarters with the guards for a meeting before dawn, and coincidentally, today is still the day when Yang Longfei was discharged from the hospital and returned to the team. As soon as the two things clashed, the two missed the best opportunity to meet.

In order to welcome Yang Longfei back from injury, Zhang Shan, deputy head of the regiment, Lin Zhiguo, chief of staff, Jiang Dongfeng, director of the Political Department, and a number of staff officers and confidential personnel of the regiment headquarters all went to the entrance of the village to greet him.

Yang Longfei slid off the horse's back with ease, and easily threw the reins in the palm of his hand into the hands of the guard Li Shenshu. Zhang Shan, the deputy head of the regiment, clasped his fists with both hands and greeted happily: "Alas, my grand master, you can be regarded as coming back......"

"Nonsense, I have to come back to see how you kid is leading the team, don't think that I can relax my guard when I just come back from the team. I'm going to say it in the front, if I find out that the morale of the regiment has been lost by you, the acting commander, after a while, see if I don't beat you kid...... Alas, I said, isn't there a new political commissar transferred? Why didn't you see anyone? Shouldn't you still be sleeping under the covers? Yang Longfei said with a smile.

"Oh, the newly arrived political commissar Liu went to the division headquarters for a meeting early in the morning, it was the name personally named by the division commander, and the political work cadres above the regimental level basically went, the new political commissar has just been transferred from the Kang Da to the front-line troops, and it is not good to be late for the first time to participate in this kind of meeting, and he will leave before dawn. However, I listened to the messenger sent by the division headquarters, as if there was an urgent meeting, and I estimated that there might be a battle to be fought. ”

"it, if you want to fight, you should call all of us military commanders, and everyone get together to discuss and discuss, what's the matter with their political work cadres? Also an emergency regular meeting? I think it's a regular meeting, and the division department is looking at these talented people who are too idle on weekdays, so they find something to do. For example, the devil puppet army in the surrounding strongholds began to sweep the countryside again, and Yan Laoxi began to think about how to engage in friction again. Alas, then the division headquarters gathered these literati together for this reason, made a very sad appearance at the meeting, and then conveyed a few points of spirit afterwards, after the transmission, the three of them started a group of three to discuss, exchange experience, and when the division head saw that the time was almost over, he waved his hand, okay, let's get here today, it's not early, the comrades are tired, let's get ready to eat...... said so, that is also the division commander giving them face, and they really think that if they move their mouths, they should fight? Crotch lily huqin ———! Yang Longfei shot back mercilessly.

"Regiment commander, don't underestimate our political commissar Liu, he is much older than the previous political commissar Xiao, less than twenty years old is the deputy commander of the Red Fourth Front Army, and in the later stage of the Long March, he became the commander of the main division, it can be said that from the enlistment to the present, it is the first time to take over political work, I say something you don't like to hear, our political commissar is also a good hand at fighting, in terms of command ability alone, you and him can be said to be equal, it can be regarded as half a catty to eight taels."

As soon as Yang Longfei caught Zhang Shan's slip of the tongue, he said aggressively: "Really? Hearing you say this, this new political commissar really didn't start by selling dog skin plasters? Then tell me, who is half a catty and who is eight taels between me and him? ”

"Hey, Commander, don't be serious about this, didn't I make an analogy with you?" Zhang Shan said with a smile.

"An analogy? I don't see it. I said that my right eyelid was jumping early in the morning, and the people around me became traitors after making trouble for a long time. You kid, you have never been firm in your position, I will recommend you to the division teaching team another day, let the comrades of the teaching team give you a good lesson, it is best to arrange you to the division logistics department to feed the pigs, so that you can precipitate and precipitate when you are okay with dogs, don't shoot the leader's ass all day long, then again, you can't shoot the farts well......"

Since returning to the combat unit, Yang Longfei's mood has been in a state of excitement, and he has been in a state of military life for nearly half a year, and there is always an indescribable feeling in his heart. Although more than four months of recuperation and life are comfortable enough, this is not what Yang Longfei wants, compared to being surrounded by a group of yellow-haired girls babbling in the middle, it is better to carry a gun to the battlefield and play with devils. But his good mood was soon shattered by a very discordant scene......

The greeting team surrounded Yang Longfei in the middle of the crowd, and the big guy walked towards the regiment headquarters with a grin. At this moment, a column of ten soldiers suddenly appeared in front of Yang Longfei and the others. The leader of the team subconsciously bowed deeply to Yang Longfei and the others, and greeted him in Japanese: "Hello, sir!" ”

Yang Longfei's smile froze, and before he could recover his taste, the remaining nine soldiers of the Eighth Route Army bowed in unison and shouted in unison: "Hello sir!" ”

Yang Longfei's smile disappeared completely, and he muttered in his heart: Damn, this is a Japanese soldier? Why are you still wearing the clothes of the Eighth Route Army? Who took them in?

Yang Longfei turned his head and asked, "What's going on?" ”

"Commander, you really can't blame me about this. Last month, I led a team to ambush a stronghold established by the devils in Xishan, and captured ten devils and a Japanese military doctor...... Oh, the Japanese military doctor didn't send it to me, I heard that the division headquarters sent that guy to the division field hospital to be the chief surgeon. According to the comrades of the teaching team, after more than half a month of reform, these 10 Japanese soldiers not only repented of the bad things they had done before, but also jointly asked to join the anti-war alliance and share weal and woe with our Eighth Route Army. In the end, the comrades of the teaching team asked them which department they wanted to work in, and the result was that these little devils were really unambiguous, claiming that they did not want to go anywhere except for the front-line combat units. In the end, the division headquarters made the decision and reassigned these ten people to our independent regiment. Yes, as soon as these little devils came, our regiment grew again, and there was an extra squad system. ”

"You kid really take off your pants and fart to find verbose, what did I say at the beginning? Whenever you meet a Japanese, regardless of whether he surrenders or not, chop him up first. Since the day our independent regiment was founded, there has been no rule of leaving prisoners, especially Japanese prisoners! How many old comrades-in-arms around us have fallen under the knives of these bastards, are you kid not counting or what? It's good now, don't say anything about leaving them alive, you have to raise them, and you can't leave anything to eat and drink. ”

"Regiment leader, you can't put all the on my head, Commissar Xiao was watching from the side, and the little devil and the white flag are ready, in this case, I want to kill them again, then the political commissar has to go to the Political Department to beat me for a small report." I don't have as much face as you, and if you put the same thing on me, it's enough to shoot me three times. ”

"Then it's even more time to kill, this little devil doesn't even have the blood of a soldier, why did he surrender as soon as he was captured? This kind of person is also a scourge to stay, and one day when he will make trouble in the future, he will flee back to his duties under the feet of the Japanese emperor, if there is really one day, you kid will be an accomplice, and Lao Tzu will kill you......"

The group of people soon approached the training ground of the regiment headquarters, and Shi Chahai, the commander of the guard company, was standing under a pine tree to supervise the training of the soldiers. It is not difficult to hear from the roars of the soldiers that the morale and prestige of the independent regiment are still undiminished. Today's subject was assassination training, and the fighters were armed with a wooden gun and fought in an open space of less than 300 square meters, and the scene was particularly spectacular. The soldiers who fell into the "melee" can be said to have done their best, they unreservedly integrated the battlefield into the training, and the shot was a killer move, but they were able to control their strength well in the process of hitting, and tried to minimize the damage transmitted to the opponent.

Yang Longfei recognized it as soon as he saw the back in front of him, and he yelled: "Shi Chahai! ”

said that he was supervising training, but in fact, Shi Chahai, who had long since lost his heart and didn't know where to fly, trembled suddenly, and muttered in his heart before he turned around: Why is this voice so familiar?

"Alas, Commander, have you been discharged from the hospital? Hey, you're back, but you're going to kill us! Shi Chahai shouted in surprise, he quickly ran to Yang Longfei, stood up and saluted, "Report to the regiment commander, Shi Chahai, the commander of the guard company of the Independent Regiment, is leading the soldiers of the whole company to conduct assassination training, please instruct!" ”

"No instructions, let's take a break...... We haven't seen each other for a few months, and you've made a lot of progress. I've heard in the hospital that whenever there is a battle during this time, your guard platoon will always rush to the front of the line, dare to rush forward with a light machine gun, only recognize clothes and not people, and when you see the enemy, you will set fire to it, and fight wherever it goes. After a few battles, your kid has also succeeded. If it weren't for the scars on your kid's body, the regiment wouldn't have been able to expand your guard platoon into a guard company. Yang Longfei teased.

"Ahem, I'm alive. Commander, you know me, I was born with mud legs, and I can't tell the truth. But there is one thing, as long as the guns and cannons go out, you see, is it our guard company rushing to the front of the whole regiment, this is what I learned from the 29th Army broadsword team back then. We don't have any other skills, but when we see the little devil, our eyes are red, and the big blade is put on the neck, and we will earn one by cutting off the head of a devil, and we will not lose if we die. Shi Chahai replied angrily.

Yang Longfei nodded with satisfaction: "I love to hear this, and if I go far away, I will say that I am the head of the regiment, and you said that my subordinates, cut off a few more devils' heads to honor and honor Lao Tzu, that is what it should be." Let's get closer, we are fellow villagers, and we came out of Sijiu City seriously, if you kid hides in the fortifications like shrimp as soon as you hear the sound of gunfire and can't come out, it will be enough to shame the 29th Army and Lao Tzu......"

"To tell you the truth, regimental commander, our guard company has recently come out with another good fighter, who I only discovered recently, and he is not bad, and he doesn't know firearms. Would you like to be interested in my referral? Shi Chahai asked with a smile.

"Well, the person in your Shi Lian's appearance is definitely not a waste, since there are still individual masters in our group, let's call him over, it just so happens that I also know him."

Shi Chahai turned around and shook his hand violently and said, "Zhong Beishan, come here!" ”

In less than twenty seconds, Zhong Beishan climbed over the small dirt slope outside the training ground and ran to Yang Longfei and the others to stand up and salute. The starting action can be described as a one-stop, never muddy and watery.

Yang Longfei carefully looked at the soldier named Zhong Beishan in front of him, this person had a Chinese face, and deep nasolabial folds penetrated from both sides of the nose to the chin. He was a man of eight meters tall, thin but not weak, and his thin military uniform still could not hide the muscles on his body, especially his large calloused hands. Yang Longfei is a person who is good at observing details, and he found that the calluses on Zhong Beishan's hands were different from ordinary people, and these cocoon layers seemed to be worn away again not long after healing. The calluses on his hands fully prove one thing, this person is certainly not a new recruit, and his military experience must be at least four or five years old.

"You are the martial arts master that your company commander said? I don't think you're like a recruit, did you work in another army before joining the Eighth Road? Yang Longfei asked straight to the point.

Zhong Beishan straightened his waist and replied: "Commander Shengming, before I joined the army, I served as a soldier in the First Cavalry Division of the Jinsui Army for several years, and then the troops were scattered by the enemy in the battle, so I switched to the Eighth Route Army. ”

Yang Longfei said thoughtfully: "It's a good mix, the First Cavalry Division is a trump card of the Seventh Army under Fu Zuoyi, and I heard that those who can be qualified to enter the First Cavalry Division must be one in a hundred." Hmm, so you were a cavalryman before? ”

"Yes, I used to be a cavalryman, but those are old calendars. Since the outbreak of the Anti-Japanese War, the 1st Cavalry Division is no longer the 1st Cavalry Division before the Anti-Japanese War. During the Battle of Xinkou, a field wing of less than 4,000 Japanese troops smashed the 1st Cavalry Division, which claimed to have 20,000 horses, and the unit structure was crippled, all the officers below the brigade level were killed, and the division commander and chief of staff were also seriously wounded. If it weren't for that, I wouldn't have come to the Eight Roads. Zhong Beishan smiled bitterly.

Yang Longfei tilted his head left and right to look at Zhang Shan and Shi Chahai, and asked with interest: "Listening to what you mean, it seems that you are still reluctant to participate in the Eighth Road?" However, it is not surprising that basically all the soldiers of the National Army who participated in the Eighth Route had this idea at first. I admit that it is a fact that the conditions here are not as good as those of the national army in all respects, and we do not eat well here, we lack food and clothing, not to mention that we have no money, and it is inconvenient to go back and forth. But slowly it will be fine, people, only enjoy endless blessings, there is no unbearable sin, and it will be good to adapt. Alas, there is one thing I don't quite understand, you said that you broke away from the formation after the team was broken up by devils during the Battle of Xinkou. So where have you been all these days? It's been almost four years since the end of the Battle of Xinkou, and you are only coming to join the Eighth Route Army now, so you shouldn't run home to pick up your children in the middle, right? ”

Seeing that Zhong Beishan lowered his head and said nothing, Yang Longfei nodded sympathetically again, and said softly: "Since you have something unspeakable, then I won't force you to say it." I've heard from your company commander that you're pretty skilled, so I'm quite interested. To be honest, there are really few soldiers who can be favored by your company commander, and it seems that you kid does have some real skills. What do you think? When I have time to show me a few hands, they all say that there are two skins in the human mouth, whether it is a mule or a horse to come out for a walk. ”

As soon as Zhong Beishan heard this, he immediately came to his senses again: "This is no problem, as long as the chief is interested, I will teach it at any time!" ”

After lunch, Yang Longfei and Zhang Shan set up a table in the house to drink. In order to celebrate the regiment leader's return from injury, the elder of the cooking squad at the regiment headquarters specially prepared a pot of boiled peanuts, although it was not a big dish, but it was enough for the regiment commander to pass the time.

In addition to reminiscing about old feelings, military personnel always cannot avoid discussions about military issues. As soon as he was halfway through the wine, Zhang Shan's brain was a little dizzy. He has a problem, the words that are usually stuffed in his stomach will always come out of his mouth inadvertently after being drunk, and as soon as he confides, it will definitely not be finished, unless he can't stand the strength of the wine and faints, so he will give up.

During the banquet, Zhang Shan told Yang Longfei some ideas that he had only recently come up with. To be honest, he is not very optimistic about the current development trend of the Eighth Route Army, which is mainly due to a series of problems caused by the expansion of the troops.

First, the Eighth Route Army has recruited troops faster in recent years than originally envisioned. In just over three years, the Eighth Route Army has expanded from the 3rd Division, 6th Brigade and 12th Regiment in the early days of the Anti-Japanese War to more than 100 regiments at present. Although the recruitment situation is very gratifying, it also buries many hidden dangers. Although the just-concluded Battle of the Hundred Regiments was fought vigorously and turned the rear of the Japanese army upside down and was not peaceful, in the final analysis, it was still a battle behind enemy lines. After several years of competition with the Japanese army, the veterans with rich combat experience in the early days of the Eighth Route Army were almost completely killed and wounded. The military quality of the recruits itself cannot catch up with the veterans, and in addition, the training in all aspects cannot keep up, and it takes time to adjust both the combat ability of individual soldiers and the ability to coordinate troops. But can the enemy give us time? The little devil was eager to take this opportunity to deal a fatal blow to the living forces of the Eighth Route Army. Once the devils go to the countryside to clean up, the team will definitely suffer a big loss. Putting aside the so-called mobile troops and fire assistance, even the hard work between the last 200 meters, our Eighth Route Army may not be able to gain the upper hand. I don't know how much more intensive the training of the devil is stronger than ours, once the tip of the needle is against Mai Mang, I'm afraid I can only use the tactics of the sea of people, which will be a bloody way to kill with a wall of flesh and gritting teeth.

Second, due to the large-scale recruitment of troops, huge differences in the military quality and cultural level of the soldiers gradually appeared within the Eighth Route Army. This difference usually lies dormant invisibly, but once the battle starts, all problems are exposed. What if you put a peasant who had no culture or any combat experience as the commander of a company? Will he push all the soldiers of the company out of the fortifications at once and attack the enemy's center of defense, or will he crouch in the ditch with his neck bent and be a turtle with his head shrunk? All in all, with the gradual growth of the troops, a series of problems that need to be considered have also arisen, and if we ignore them, sooner or later we will suffer losses in the future, it will be useless to not implement them and not formulate effective handling policies after considering them, and it will be a headache to think about them.

Regarding the second question, Yang Longfei was noncommittal. But for the first question, Yang Longfei is also deeply touched. I don't know which military strategist once said that war is a huge meat grinder. Under the condition that their own equipment is primitive and backward and the military quality of their soldiers is extremely low, if they want to confront the enemy head-on with their own disparity, they can only rely on the tactics of crowds to advance and encroach forward step by step. No matter how capable you are, even if you are a monkey, you will not be able to stop the dense fire network composed of light and heavy machine guns and mortars of the Japanese army. In all fairness, Yang Longfei doesn't like to think about this aspect, he is a guy who wants to save trouble. In the past, when someone asked him this question, he would always kick the ball at others, and he often said that "go, go, don't ask me, go and ask the division commander and brigade commander to ......". But now it seems that this is indeed a thorny problem, and the superiors also have their own work every day, and it is impossible to always think about themselves. If you don't solve this hidden danger as soon as possible, once you start a decisive battle with the devil in the future, you will have to eat blood!

"In this way, starting tomorrow, we will recall some companies one after another, and the guard company and the direct team will conduct one-on-one teaching for a week, and we will give him a surprise attack, and strive to raise the military quality of each grassroots soldier to the same level within a week. We still have a short capital to practice aiming and shooting, but if we want to change to assassination and fighting, then we can hold the handle. Well, let's do it, put everything else aside for the time being, first organize the training subjects of the soldiers of each company, and from tomorrow, as long as there is no combat mission, we will put all the work on training, and we will not practice anything else, just practice the hard kung fu of the last 200 meters! ”

"No problem, head of the regiment, as long as you make a decision, I have the bottom in my heart. What you didn't say, resolutely complete the task! Zhang Shan replied with a red face.

Yang Longfei said with a wicked smile: "You kid, don't pick nice words to make Lao Tzu happy, I haven't settled accounts with you about the Japanese prisoners." One yard to one yard, you kid has been honest with me recently, don't have anything to do and just dangle in front of Lao Tzu, annoy Lao Tzu, so I kicked your kid into those devil piles to be the squad leader for them. You also give them lessons when it's okay, and you have to transform them mentally in your dog's life, and it's best to transform them into ...... Even the damn Japanese emperor is standing in front of him, and these little devils dare to slash through with a knife, this is called ability! ”

The two of them were drinking a cup of glass, and Liu Ping, who had returned from a meeting at the division headquarters, opened the curtain and walked into the room, and his eyes "swished" and "collided" with Yang Longfei, who was sitting cross-legged on the kang. Liu Ping observed the general appearance of this person: his facial features are not exquisite, but they are also very generous; The eyes as sharp as the "falcon" also stared at him with a puzzled attitude; His dark skin was rough, his cheeks were scarred that had not yet healed, as if they were penetrating wounds caused by shrapnel wounds, and the corners of his mouth were slightly raised as if to make some kind of demonstration to himself......

As soon as Zhang Shan saw Liu Ping, he woke up halfway, and he tugged at Liu Ping's shirt and introduced affectionately: "Yo, Lao Liu, are you coming back so soon?" Come, come, sit, I'll give you a seat...... Introduction, Lao Liu, this is the head of our independent regiment Yang...... Alas, regiment commander, this is Liu Ping, the new political commissar of our independent regiment, my old comrade-in-arms in the Fourth Front Army back then......"

Yang Longfei stared coldly at the newly arrived political commissar in front of him, his eyes full of contempt. He said in his heart that the teacher was very interesting to him, and he changed his partner as soon as he was discharged from the hospital. Former political commissar Xiao Zhiyuan is a master who loves teaching very much, and he used to like to teach himself at every turn, and he had to instill in himself a few points of spirit conveyed by his superiors in three days, or he took the lead in revisiting the glorious history and development process of the party. Even if he is impatient, he must act like a good student, otherwise the other party will murmur in his ear. It's good this time, just sent away a teaching gentleman, and invited a black-faced Zhang Fei? The kid in front of him looks like a master from top to bottom, and he has the meaning of riding on his neck and from the inside out. Is this worth it? Take the time to talk to this kid another day, otherwise this guy will treat Lao Tzu as a soft persimmon.

Liu Ping also saw the unkindness in Yang Longfei's eyes, he sneered in his heart and said, it seems that the master has really found a good job for himself, and the future partner in front of him does not look like a good person in terms of eyes and behavior. Before leaving, the division commander allowed himself to learn the golden mean, so as to neutralize the temper of himself and this partner, but it is not easy to achieve this goal according to the current situation. It seems that he had some quarrels with this regiment commander in the future......

I wanted to think about it, but out of politeness, Liu Ping still took the initiative to extend his "friendly" right hand to Yang Longfei: "Commander Yang, I have admired the name for a long time, I am Liu Ping, the new political commissar of the Independent League, and I am your partner in your future work." When we meet for the first time, if there are any unsatisfactory things in my work in the future, I hope that Head Yang can give me more guidance. ”

Yang Longfei shook hands with him symbolically a few times, and the corners of his mouth rose to reveal a cynical smile and said: "Political Commissar Liu is polite, you can't talk about pointing, it's not easy to understand each other." Since the superiors have brought us together, it can be regarded as fate, no matter what, we have to give the superior head some face, otherwise outsiders will say that I Yang Longfei doesn't know how to lift. ”

Liu Ping sneered and asked, "Hmm, listening to what Captain Yang means, it seems that I am not welcome to come to the independent group?" ”

"Since Political Commissar Liu likes to get straight to the point, then I don't need to hide it. I'll tell you the truth, it's a little bit interesting, but it's not for you alone. If you want to ask me the reason, it's very simple, I've been skinny since I was a child, and I'm most annoyed by being managed by others. There's no way, it's an old problem, I can't change it and I don't want to change it, if Political Commissar Liu can adapt to it best, if we can't adapt to it, we have to do business without benevolence and righteousness, try not to hurt the harmony. ”

"I heard it, Head Yang wanted to tell me that it was wrong when he came, and wanted to drive me away, is that what you mean?"

"Yo, if Comrade Political Commissar thinks like this, it will be a little difficult for me Yang Longfei, don't get me wrong, I'm just talking about what I think. First, you were transferred from the division headquarters to an independent regiment, and even if you really want to leave, you have to get the approval of the division headquarters. Second, I personally don't have any prejudices against you, but I've seen a lot of things like this, and I've suffered a lot of dumb losses in the middle, so I'm afraid that God won't open his eyes and give us such a show again. For example, this is like two people doing business together, and I got the capital and access alone, and you have neither the money nor the effort, so we won't say anything. But when the business is booming and you make money, you give us a knife in the back. Well, I'm good-tempered, and it's our fate to be stabbed and not die, but I feel uncomfortable. These days, honest people don't live long, everyone has a little bit of Jiujiu in their hearts, even if we have the spirit of sacrifice, we have to think about ourselves, don't we? The political commissar is a person who understands, so he should understand what I mean, right? ”

Liu Ping nodded and said in understanding: "I roughly understand, Head Yang wants to warn me in another way, let me do my job well, and divide everything in advance, so as not to cross the line, right?" ”

"That's what it means, but the words of Comrade Political Commissar are not very appropriate, you and I are at the same level, and we are partners in the future work, it is a bit serious to say that the warning is a bit serious, at most it is a kind reminder, after all, it is necessary to cooperate for a long time in the future, and it is not always the case that there is something to say in the stomach, so it is better to make it clear." Yang Longfei drank the wine in the wine cup again.

Liu Ping responded meaningfully: "Forgive me for taking the liberty of being presumptuous, since it is work, it is natural to avoid trouble, the weapons that have just left the factory need to be run-in, and the partners who have just formed a pair are also not exempt from vulgarity, if I want to say that friction is inevitable, the key is how to deal with friction between partners." I am ready for this, before leaving the division headquarters, the division commander also gave me a copy of "The Mean", and if you have time, you can also borrow it to read it. If I can't adapt to the status quo after reading the book, then I have to suggest that my superiors change our positions. To be honest, this is the first time I have served as a political work cadre, and I still like to lead troops to fight than to deal with government affairs. If Regiment Commander Yang is willing to be an adult, I will be happy to help you with the errand of this military commander. ”

"I'm sorry, but I don't have any plans to let Hyun yet. When I get tired of doing eight roads one day, I want to go back to my hometown to plant my two acres of thin fields, and then Political Commissar Liu wants to take over, I have nothing to say. As for that book of heaven, we really don't have much interest, I might as well go to the fields and listen to the crickets in the crops, you send me a comic book ...... about the same."

Zhang Shan saw that the atmosphere was a little tense, and immediately sandwiched between the two of them and said, "Cough, the butt hasn't been hot yet, so why don't you get on the bar first." Take it, take it, it's not an outsider, and you'll have to eat in a pot in the future. Come on, Lao Liu, I'll pour you wine......"

……

Lieutenant General Yoshio Iwamatsu helped the frame in front of him, and his eyes were all focused on the huge military topographic map in front of him, and his sharp gaze focused on the corner of the map, and two big characters were written impressively: Liao County.

"After nearly four years of fierce pursuit, the headquarters of the Eighth Route Army has changed almost every corner of Taihang Mountain. This time, they actually ran to Liao County. Kimura-kun, can you be sure that the headquarters of the Eighth Route Army is located in the area of Liao County? Yoshio Iwamatsu asked faintly.

"Yes, Your Excellency, I can be sure. Radio waves and signals are centered in Liao County, and then densely spread to the surrounding areas. Moreover, this place is also the location where Sergeant Hongxin is lurking, and I dare to use the head of Xiang Shang's head as a guarantee that the headquarters of the Eighth Route Army is undoubtedly in Liao County. Kimura said categorically.

"In that case, I think it's time to report to Commander Tada Jun and apply for the early implementation of Operation C......" Yoshio Iwamatsu turned to his desk, he picked up the microphone and said, "...... Hey, help me pick up the North China Front Headquarters, I'll find Commander Tadajun...... Hello Your Excellency, I am Yoshio Iwamatsu, commander of the First Army stationed in Jin, and I'm sorry to disturb your rest. I have important military information to report to you...... Yes, the horse's feet have been exposed, and the headquarters of the Eighth Route Army has been basically determined, and it is in Liao County in the Jinzhong region...... It is right that on the vast Loess Plateau in Shanxi, Liao County is just a very inconspicuous small place, and the location of this place cannot be found on the military topographic map of the entire North China, it is too small. To be precise, it is located in the southeast of the eastern part of the Shanxi Dynasty, and the west side of the middle section of the main vein of Taihang Mountain, sandwiched between Heshun, Yushe, Wuxiang and Licheng. My idea is that once the 'Operation C' is officially launched, it would be best for the North China Front Command to send aviation units to first carry out a large-scale air raid on the Liaoxian area. Afterwards, our colleagues from the First Army will sing the main drama and launch a 'nine-way siege' against Liao County. Of course, the scale of this battle should be unprecedented. I will directly command the main forces of our army and the troops of the Imperial Allied Army stationed in Linfen, Yangquan, Lucheng, and other counties, and cooperate with the main force of our First Army in carrying out operations. At that time, I will be on the front line of the battle to observe this grand occasion. If I'm lucky, maybe I can give him a big gift...... Well, what? Your Excellency, with all due respect, since the top level of the North China Command has already drawn up an operational plan against the headquarters of the Eighth Route Army, a battle may break out at any time. The fighter plane is fleeting, and it is really taboo for soldiers to replace the post of commander-in-chief of the North China Front Army in battle. The contemptible people dared to ask, can we ask Senior General Nishio Toshizo not to transfer personnel to the North China Theater for the time being, because at this critical moment, the transfer of a junior officer may change the situation of the battle, let alone replace the supreme commander of the North China Front. I implore the top brass of China's military dispatch to give careful consideration to this issue...... Well, okay, I see what you mean. Okay, take care, whatever the news, you can come to me directly, I'm always there. Okay, take care, Commander, I'm hanging...... Okay, goodbye......"

Kimura Jiwu asked with some confusion: "Your Excellency Commander, from the phone call between you and Commander Tadajun, I seem to have heard some not very good news, could it be that the situation at the top of the North China Front has changed?" ”

After Yoshio Iwamatsu slumped in his chair and was stunned for half a minute, he said with a solemn face: "The situation may change somewhat, according to Commander Tada, Senior General Nishio Toshizo is quite dissatisfied with his recent work, not only the government affairs and public order situation in the corner of North China, but also the strategic policy formulated by our North China Front Army against the local troops under the jurisdiction of the Shina government army. I think that if normal procedures are followed, it is very likely that the post of commander of the North China Front will change hands in the middle of next month. ”

"With all due respect, if this decision of the High Command cannot be reversed, who will replace Commander Tada? In other words, among the generals of the same rank, who is the most qualified, or who is the most qualified, to take over the post of commander of the North China Front? ”

“…… Former commander of the 11th Army, Lieutenant General ——— Ninji Okamura. ”

After hearing this, Kimura Jiwu seemed to be calm on the surface, but in his heart, there were waves one after another. He asked rhetorically in a skeptical tone: "As far as I know, Commander Okamura does not agree with the strategic policy of 'limiting the vast area of operations' as ruled by the General Staff of the base camp, and has repeatedly opposed and refuted it in person at high-level meetings of the General Staff. In particular, he criticized the 'policy of inducing surrender to China,' which was presided over by Senior General Seishiro Itagaki of the General Staff, and criticized it as useless. To be sure, this is a general who dares to tell the truth, and there are very few high-ranking generals who can have such courage in our contemporary Japanese military circles. On the other hand, Commander Okamura's straightforwardness offended many of his colleagues in the military circles, so he was not a likable general. I would like to ask a person with such a character, will Commander Nishio and Chief of Staff Itagaki feel comfortable replacing Commander Tada, who has been in charge of North China for two years? ”

Iwamatsu Yoshio slowly stood up from the chair, patted the dust that did not exist on his body, and said unhurriedly in an educational tone that comes with an elder: "Kimura-kun, it is not difficult to see from what you just said that your thinking has deviated. You must always remember that although General Nishio Shouzo is currently the supreme commander of the Chinese theater, you should not forget, who is behind the supreme commander? It's the emperor. If the emperor wants to reward or punish someone, even the prime minister has no right to intervene. To tell you the truth, I have an old acquaintance at the General Staff Headquarters, and just recently he told me on the phone that if nothing else, Okamura Ninji would be promoted to army general in the near future. As for the rest, needless to say, smart people can see at a glance that this is a decision made by His Majesty the Emperor after manipulating behind his back, and with it comes the throne of the supreme commander of the North China Front. ”

"So, Your Excellency, I wonder what to do next? We have already determined the location of the headquarters of the Eighth Route Army, and if the 'Operation C' cannot be started on time as expected, I will personally lead my secret service department to re-infiltrate the hinterland of the headquarters of the Eighth Route Army and deal a fatal blow to it! ”

"Kimura-kun don't be impatient, this matter is very important, and it still needs to be considered. Well, the Secret Service had a hard time traveling long distances to carry out reconnaissance missions a few days ago, so you should rest well these days and stop worrying about the above things. I will make a detailed report to the above as soon as possible, so that the 'Plan C' can be carried out as scheduled. If the heavens do not fulfill people's wishes, then the plan will have to be put on hold. There is no way, in the face of power and politics, we can only give way and obey, otherwise...... We will all die without a place to bury. ”