862 Rural areas are the foundation and treasure—Supply and Marketing Cooperatives
…
Taiyuan City, the headquarters of the Japanese First Army in Shanxi.
News came from the direction of Yangquan, Shouyang and Tanxian.
According to the plan launched by the Japanese headquarters to forcibly collect military rations, it did not go as smoothly as expected. It did not collect sufficient food and materials as planned to supply the needs of the defending troops.
News reported by the headquarters of Shouyang, Yangquan, and Tan counties:
Through this forced food collection plan that nearly covered the entire city, the final amount of food collected was only enough for the defenders to hold on for a little more than half a month.
Most of the grain was collected from the homes of some large pro-Japanese households, wealthy businessmen, and gentry in the county.
In this way, the little devil has completely offended the only remaining pro-Japanese faction in the three main counties of Yangquan, Shouyang, and Tan County.
"General, if this food collection operation is not going smoothly, there must be something fishy in it.
Perhaps those unscrupulous people had colluded with the Eighth Route Army and deliberately hid the food at home, unwilling to hand it over to the imperial army!"
Beichuan, the Japanese chief of staff, was naturally not that easy to fool, so he directly put forward his speculation.
Yoshio Shinozuka said: "This is an obvious thing.
However, Mr. Beichuan, if our army wants to maintain stable public order throughout North China and even more occupied areas, the policy of gentleness cannot be abandoned.
For the sake of the safety of the three cities of Yangquan, we cannot destroy the image of our empire that is friendly to the people.
The forced requisition of military rations this time is already a coercive measure. We cannot kill the goose that lays the goose to lay eggs, and directly force all the obedient people in the three cities of Yangquan who surrendered to our Japanese Empire to leave the city and hand them over to the Eighth Route Army.
In addition, I heard that after a notice was issued in the three cities of Yangquan, all the blame was placed on the Eighth Route Army.
The Eighth Route Army is quite arrogant, and they actually directly promote it to the outside world:
They said that the food and materials in the three cities of Yangquan were burned to deal with our Japanese army.
As for the innocent people who were affected by the disaster, they can leave the county and rush to the base area of the Eighth Route Army detachment. The Eighth Route Army will provide shelter, food, and even jobs for the people!"
Beichuan cursed with some disdain: "General, this Kong Jie has such a loud tone.
The three cities of Yangquan, Shouyang and Tan County have more than one million people. If they are all sent out, can his team eat them all?"
"Confused! This is Kong Jie's way of provoking generals!"
Shinozuka Yoshio said: "If all the people in the three cities of Yangquan really ran away, wouldn't it be a panic?
What is the use of our empire occupying three deserted empty cities?
It is said that after the notice on the Eighth Route was spread, many people in Yangquan, Shouyang, and Tan counties had a tendency to leave the county.
This matter must be taken seriously. Although most of the Chinese people are unruly people, after all, they are in the occupied areas of our Empire of Japan and they are the property of our Empire of Japan.
We must not let them leave the county easily and go to the territory of the Eighth Route Army!"
The reason why Yoshio Shinozuka said this was helpless.
By the end of the year, many places in the area originally occupied by the Japanese army were affected by drought, with almost no harvests. A considerable number of people became victims of famine because they could not eat.
The Japanese military's financial system was already on the verge of collapse, and it had to support a huge army. It didn't pay attention to ordinary people at all.
Naturally, the little devils would not be kind enough to provide relief and resettlement to the large number of victims, so they simply passed them on to the Eighth Route Army.
The Japanese even forcibly drove a large number of victims to the Eighth Route Army base areas.
The original plan was to use this large number of disaster victims to bring down the Eighth Route Army troops alive.
Especially the First Anti-Japanese Detachment of the Eighth Route Army in Northwest Shanxi.
According to the investigation by the relevant Japanese intelligence departments, the number of victims who poured in from the Japanese-occupied areas may not be less than hundreds of thousands.
But what happened next was something Shinozuka Yoshio never expected.
I thought that with so many victims, they needed food, shelter, and supplies, so they might wear down a team.
The Japanese army can destroy a team's base area without a single blow.
As a result, Kong Jie was able to successfully settle the huge number of disaster victims in the first team base area, and according to the blueprint of demographic dividend, all the labor force of hundreds of thousands of disaster victims was used for the development and construction of the first team base area.
.
On the contrary, it has further promoted the rapid growth of the entire team.
At this point, Yoshio Shinozuka was completely confused.
Only then did he realize that once a large number of people were transported to the Eighth Route Army base area, the Eighth Route Army base area would become a population center.
For the Eighth Route Army, this is not necessarily a bad thing. For example, a unit of the Eighth Route Army quickly developed its economy with the help of a large population.
This would even cause the overall economy of the Eighth Route Army base areas to crush the counties and towns in the imperial-occupied areas.
That's no joke.
Isn’t this an act of supporting the enemy?
From then on, Yoshio Shinozuka no longer dared to push civilians to the first team base area casually.
In order to retain the people in the occupied areas, this little devil even actively implemented many policies to encourage the people to live and work in peace and contentment in the Japanese-occupied areas.
I'm afraid that Kong Jie will take away all the people's base.
"Hi! General, please rest assured. The three cities of Yangquan, Shouyang and Tan County have issued military orders to close their city gates throughout the day and will not reopen until early spring next year.
In this way, we can prevent people in the county from secretly moving to the Eighth Route Army base areas."
Beichuan, who also knew about the situation of a team growing with the help of disaster victims, responded.
……
……
Detachment Headquarters of the First Independent Anti-Japanese Detachment of the Eighth Route Army in North Shanxi Province.
"The notice can be sent directly, and the content is very simple, just one sentence:
As long as the people who have no food to eat or have no shelter in Yangquan, Shouyang and Tan County are willing to come to our Eighth Route Army First Team base area.
I, Kong Jie, take care of everyone’s food and drink, and I can provide jobs for everyone if they are willing, so that they can live in the long term!”
Captain Kong Da’s words were quite heroic.
Why?
In Kong Jie's words, "Our team now has this confidence!"
"These days, the little devils are in Yangquan, Shouyang, and Tan County, forcibly confiscating military rations, exploiting our people, and pouring dirty water on the heads of our Eighth Route Army.
Although our people are simple, no one is a fool and would believe the lies of the little devil.
Having said that, we, the Eighth Route Army, should also express our attitude.
The above words mean that I, Kong Jie, represent the attitude of all the Eighth Route Army officers and men in our team!
Didn’t the little devil say that our Eighth Route Army harmed the common people?
Then open the city gate and let the people out.
We want as many people as there are people affected by the disaster!"
Xu Guoan, the chief of staff on the side, couldn't help laughing and said: "Old Kong, what you said is so domineering. A few years ago, given the conditions in our Eighth Route Army base area, I wouldn't even dare to think about it.
Aren't you afraid that the old devil Yoshio Shinozuka will get tough and push all the victims from major counties to our team?"
Kong Jie said with a smile: "The Japs are not idiots. If he really dares to do that, do you believe it or not, we, Lao Kong, can turn all the major counties in the Japs-occupied areas into empty cities?
Look at what he, the little devil, is using to support the troops and what he is using to fight our Eighth Route Army!"
"That's the truth!" Xu Guoan agreed with a smile, and then he changed the topic: "It's just Lao Kong, since our notice was posted, even though the little devil closed the city gate and strengthened the blockade.
However, some people still took the opportunity to escape from the county through some hidden mountain roads and arrived at our base area.
And the number is quite large, and there is even a trend of increasing.
Aren't you afraid that too many people will come and overwhelm our base area?"
In response, Kong Jie smiled very confidently: "Old Xu, you are overthinking this.
First, these victims come in waves, not all at once, otherwise we would really be unable to bear it.
In addition, I also asked Wenjie and Xu Qingnian, based on the current material situation of our team, if we can receive another 100,000 or 80,000 victims, there will be no problem at all.
When it is time to receive the disaster, we will reasonably allocate the labor force in the entire base area. After it is operational, we can continue to accept more disaster victims without fear of being dragged down by the people and the economy will be brought down.
Second, as our winter counterattack unfolds, the territory we occupy is getting bigger and bigger.
This is really a vast land with sparsely populated areas, so much wasteland and fertile farmland that even the manpower is not enough.
We are short of manpower now, so that little devil came to give us benefits!
When the common people came, they all invested in farming and economic production, and continued to invest in the construction of the entire base area in accordance with our demographic dividend plan."
After such an analysis, what else can Xu Guoan say?
Full of admiration, he smiled and said: "Old Kong, Old Kong, I finally understand why the brigade commander would have said that about you as early as a year ago!"
"What evaluation?"
"The brigade commander said that when it comes to the combat effectiveness of the troops and the command ability of the commanders, Kong Jie and the combat troops led by Kong Jie cannot be overestimated.
But when it comes to the rapid development of the army and the economic construction of the base area, the team led by Kong Jie can really be regarded as the first regiment of our Eighth Route Army in North China!"
Xu Guoan said with a smile.
"Is there still such a thing?"
Kong Jiele is bad, such a high praise from the old brigade commander, the gold content is beyond words.
Then, Captain Kong Da detachment boasted rather "shamelessly": "The old brigade commander still has a vicious look. What he said is really not wrong at all!
Not to mention the entire North China, our entire Eighth Route Army, and the entire New Fourth Army, if we really talk about the rapid development of the army and economic construction.
I, Kong Jie, admit to being second, who dares to admit to be first?”
As soon as I finished speaking...
"Kong Jie, Kong Jie, I haven't seen you for a while, have you, an honest man like you, learned to brag?"
Hearty laughter suddenly came from outside the yard, and the words that followed were very familiar to Xu Guoan and Kong Jie.
Kong Jie and Xu Guoan looked at each other and did not dare to stay. They rushed to the door and greeted the visitors warmly.
Kong Jile said: "No wonder there were two magpies chirping non-stop on the plane tree at the entrance of the courtyard early this morning. I just said, there must be some big happy event. Then, old brigade commander, you will come
Got it!"
However, he said that the person who broke into the courtyard with a horsewhip in a furious manner was not the old brigade commander of the 386th Brigade, who else could it be?
The brigade commander smiled and said: "Why, I finally came to your team, and this is how you entertain me?
In this cold weather, do you still have to stand in the yard and talk to your detachment leader Kong?"
Kong Jie hurriedly said: "Old brigade commander, look what you said. If you come, of course, all the good meat and dishes will be served to you. Brigadier, hurry up and invite us in the room!"
The three of them entered the house together.
Kong Jie closed the door and entered the room with a heated kang from the freezing weather outside. As the temperature soared, he immediately felt warm.
The brigade commander was envious again. Looking at the spacious, bright and warm environment in the detachment headquarters, he sighed with emotion: "Kong Jie, Kong Jie, you are a kid who knows how to enjoy things. You can live in such a comfortable place while fighting on the front line."
The house, in this cold weather, can’t even freeze you at all!”
Kong Jie immediately replied: "Hey, I'm not the old squad leader of the cooking class. I was afraid that I would freeze, so I made this kang boiling hot.
Brigadier, if you like it, I will arrange for someone to build your brigade headquarters for you exactly according to the layout of my room!"
"Hehe, you've got your heart set on it, so my trip is not in vain!"
While joking, Kong Jie invited the brigade commander to take the main seat on the kang.
The three of them sat on the kang, studying the battle map of Yangquan, Shouyang, and Tan County spread out on the wooden table.
Chief of Staff Xu Guoan reported the situation to the brigade commander: "Brigadier Commander, so far, it has been more than half a month since our winter counterattack officially launched.
The first phase of the operation went quite smoothly, and the second phase of the operation is now nearing completion.
The third phase of the battle is about to begin.
Target some small and medium-sized mines and private enterprises owned by the Japanese to completely destroy the economic construction of the Japanese-occupied areas and bring the Japanese economic system closer to collapse."
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading!
The brigade commander said clearly: "Okay, everyone has been trained, and I can really stand on my own.
This winter counterattack spearheaded by your team was indeed a brilliant one. It reversed the inherent defensive situation of our Eighth Route Army troops.
It can even be called a large-scale local counterattack by our Eighth Route Army troops since the Anti-Japanese War..."
Then, the topic turned to the development and construction direction of the base area after the first team's winter counterattack.
The brigade commander said: "This heavy snow has completely melted. After the winter is over, the vengeful little devils will definitely launch an attack on your team.
The four townships and three towns occupied by your team will also become the primary target of the Japanese attack.
Kong Jie, what do you think about the subsequent troop construction of a team and the economic development of the base area?"
This is also the situation that the brigade commander personally rushed to the headquarters of a team this time to find out thoroughly.
Kong Jie answered truthfully: "Old brigade commander, what you said is absolutely right.
Our team took advantage of the heavy snow to launch a major winter counterattack this time, and captured the four townships and three towns in one fell swoop. Whether we can firmly control it depends on whether we can successfully fight this defensive battle after next spring.<
/p>
But please rest assured that there will still be some time before this winter is completely over. All the soldiers of our team have already invested in the defense construction of each township base area.
I am still very confident about the subsequent defensive operations."
The brigade commander smiled and said: "If Kong Jie can say that, I will feel relieved."
At this time, Kong Jie suddenly remembered something and said: "Old brigade commander, I have an idea about the construction of our base area. I originally wanted to report it to you. You happened to be here, and I wanted to take advantage of it.
I will take this opportunity to discuss it with you."
"Oh, tell me!" the brigade commander became interested.
After three days, we should look at each other with admiration.
Today's Kong Jie is not the honest tiger general he remembered in the past who can only enforce orders and prohibitions, but also fights bravely.
Kong Jie said: "Brigadier Commander, Lao Xu, this is the situation. We all know that the foundation of our Eighth Route Army is this vast mountainous area, vast suburbs, and this vast rural foundation in remote locations.
Encircling the cities with rural areas and finally seizing the national power with armed force is also the grand strategy we have always adhered to.
From a local analysis, those important counties, towns and towns are often a region, the center of economic construction, and the center of military construction, so they are tightly controlled by the little devils.
Although our Eighth Route Army has a very broad rural base, the vast rural areas are too scattered.
There is a lack of close contact and cooperation between villages.
This is equivalent to completely spreading out the limited power.
The inability to concentrate on dealing with the Japanese army is always a big drawback.
So I was thinking that if we could integrate all our huge rural areas, the total amount of resources we have would not necessarily be lost to those little devils.
Take our team as an example. With the gradual expansion of the base area, the number of rural areas under the jurisdiction of the base area is also increasing.
How can these thousands of scattered villages integrate all their forces and become the most powerful backing and cornerstone for us to deal with the Japanese army?"
This question is really well-posed.
Xu Guoan's eyes widened when he heard this.
The brigade commander said thoughtfully: "Keep talking!"
Kong Jie said: "Brigadier, I have an idea.
Led by our Eighth Route Army, we pooled resources from the vast rural areas to establish a multifunctional organization composed of farmers, the military, and local governments.
And what is this organization for?
Mainly two major functions.
1. Centrally supply the vast rural production materials, daily necessities, etc.
For example, the vegetable seeds and various crop seeds that the villagers need for farming, as well as the oil and salt they usually eat, the cloth they use, etc.
It can be provided by this joint organization and find ways to raise and purchase it.
2. Purchase and sell agricultural and sideline products produced by the people.
Ensure that the villagers have planted the land and have excess food, which can be sold through convenient and stable channels and converted into other means of production.
This would be much more convenient for us people. Otherwise, it would be much more difficult for each household to save a small amount of food and have to rush to the county town dozens of miles away to sell it.
The sales channels of individual people are naturally inferior to those of joint organizations.
In summary, it is an economic organization that supplies production materials and daily necessities, purchases grain from farmers, and helps farmers sell agricultural and sideline products.
I think we can give it a pretty vivid name."
"What?"
"Supply and Marketing Cooperative!" Kong Jie said loudly.