Wangzhai Town, Xiao County, northern Anhui Province.
"The Japanese in Xuzhou promised that as long as we launch a riot and then allow each county to establish a joint assembly to govern itself, as long as military rations and taxes are handed over on time, there will be no harm done by either side."
"The Eighth Route Army will never be able to accomplish this. It will not only divide our property, but also revolutionize our lives. Can't we just wait to go to the guillotine?"
The Ge family in Wangzhai Town is a well-known local wealthy man. Since Xiao County is close to Xuzhou City, the Ge family also has a large business in Xuzhou and has close ties with the Japanese army.
There was a high-walled compound, with one sentry every ten steps. There were trenches set up outside the wall to keep out horses, and even bonfires were specially lit around to serve as lighting. The guards patrolling along the way were armed with live ammunition.
Ge Liuwei is a big landowner in Wangzhai Town. With an armed force of more than 200 people, he is a powerful local man. Whether it is the national army or the Japanese and puppet troops stationed in Xiao County, he must give the Ge family some face.
But the Eighth Route Army refused to give him face.
"Just because of a few mud-legged people, the Eighth Route Army is going to take me away for public trial? Otherwise, they are Tuba Road, and they really make the decision for the mud-legged people. I want the Eighth Route Army to understand that without the support of people like us, they are in northern Anhui
Can’t stay any longer.”
Under the illumination of the candlelight in the room, Ge Liuwei's face flickered, staring at the other people in the room with a solemn expression.
"You all have old debts, and now it's because I'm taking the blame. If one day I'm gone, will these idiots let you go?"
"Brother Ge, after all, this involves risking our lives and wealth, so let us think about it carefully!"
"Yes, there is no big mistake in being careful. Besides, our actions are just following the Japanese ideas. This will leave us with a bad name."
Ge Liuwei looked at the people in the room and suddenly sneered, which made other people's hair stand on end. He thought that everyone knew the policies of the Eighth Route Army, and he only needed to take advantage of the situation.
In fact, the few people present were all local wealthy people. How could they not complain about the policies of the Eighth Route Army? It was only the intimidation of force that forced them to submit.
"Everyone, we have discussed it many times, and there must be a result tonight. Since you are involved, there is no turning back."
"Now, please send your followers back to deliver the message. The escort teams of each family will move closer to our Wangzhai Town immediately."
After Ge Liuwei finished speaking, one of them glanced at the guards of the Ge family standing outside the house. He knew in his heart that if he didn't obey, he would be unable to do anything good. He bit the bullet and asked: "Brother Ge, I support you, but why are the guards here?"
Meeting? Wangzhai is too far away from the county seat, so it will take a lot of time to go back and forth."
"Brother Zhang seems to have had a plan in mind. He is dissatisfied with your suggestion that the king should be captured first. Yongcheng is the seat of the democratic government in northern Anhui. All guards must assemble before dawn."
A total of five families participated in the discussions in Wangzhai Town. The other four families were large households in several towns in the southwest of Xiao County. Their interests were consistent and they were the targets of Ge Liuwei's many attempts to win over them.
In the blink of an eye, it was late at night, when the Japanese troops of the 14th Division were already on their way to Shangqiu.
Although Doihara Kenji was sitting on a mountain in Xuzhou to watch the fight between tigers and tigers, it was not without any arrangements. After arriving in Xuzhou, he secretly sent personnel to sneak into the northern Anhui base area many times.
Xiao County is located in the northeast corner of the northern Anhui base area and adjacent to Xuzhou. It is naturally the most closely connected with the Japanese army in Xuzhou and is also the most resistant to the policies of the Eighth Route Army.
Zhou Weihan mentioned at the Northern Anhui Work Conference that the foundation of the Northern Anhui base area is not stable. In the final analysis, there is a conflict of interest between the large landlords and the Eighth Route Army, while the local people have not yet tied their interests to the Eighth Route Army.
This is a life-and-death struggle between two classes and a re-division of the means of production. Naturally, the Eighth Route Army will side with the working people, so it needs a reasonable excuse to liquidate these large landlords.
The entourage of the Zhang family in Dingli Town rushed back overnight, but the person who met him was a young man wearing the uniform of the Eighth Route Army.
"Master, this is the master's personal letter."
The letter was not sealed. Zhang Peishan asked while reading the letter: "Why are you the only one coming back? Where is my father?"
"I didn't see the master. The letter was delivered to me by the Wang family. They told me to come back immediately to deliver the letter."
Zhang Peishan understood that his father had been detained by Ge Liuwei, and immediately said: "Gather the guards at home immediately and wait for me to set off together."
The attendant responded, saying that he was an old man of the Zhang family. In ancient times, the family had children and was loyal to the Zhang family. However, when the guards of the Zhang family were assembled, he was stunned.
There were about a hundred people in the Zhang family's bodyguards, but the entourage could see that only a few of them were familiar to each other, and the others were all strangers, and they could not hide their aura of bravery.
"Brother, what are you looking at?"
The attendant smiled knowingly: "No, it's too much work to go back and forth. I'm a bit tired."
After Zhang Peishan came out, he changed into casual clothes and nodded to the crowd of guards. After everyone set off towards Wangzhai Town, two fast horses drove out from Zhang's house.
One ran toward the southeast of Xiao County, and the other headed south first, then turned west, heading towards Yongcheng.
Zhang Peishan was previously an underground member of the Northern Anhui Special Committee. After the Eighth Route Army recaptured northern Anhui, he served in the local government and performed well in internal rectification studies. Before the war, he was appointed by his superiors to secretly sneak back to Xiao County.
The Zhang family cannot be said to be rich and unkind, but their reputation in the local area is not much better. Fortunately, the family has a moderate cadre. After realizing the power of the iron fist of dictatorship, Mr. Zhang decisively chose to side with the people.
Zhou Weihan had long expected that someone would be restless, so while directing the battle, he was also waiting for some people to jump out.
These people may be local big business, or they may be from within the local government. There are always some people who cannot see clearly the situation and are unwilling to give up their interests.
Two regiments each from the Third Division and the Fourth Division of the New Fourth Army formed the westward detachment. They are now lurking in Xiao County. Before the war, Zhou Weihan deliberately transferred the 13th Brigade from northern Anhui to the north. Instead, he placed the 14th Brigade, which was unfamiliar with the local conditions, in Xia County.
Yap.
Counties in northern Anhui actually only have local armed forces commanded by local governments. This is when the base areas in northern Anhui are at their weakest, and it is also a good opportunity for some people to launch riots.
"Chief, the enemy is moving!"
Chief of Staff Peng of the Third Division of the New Fourth Army laughed: "Hey, Mr. Zhou is really good at predicting things. I was not convinced at first, but it is finally our turn to take the field."
There were four regiment leaders beside him, all of them looking excited. They were always feeding mosquitoes in the wilderness without catching any fish. Who could stand it?
"The Japanese troops in Xuzhou may cooperate with the action. A main force will be sent towards the county seat of Xiao County. The third regiment of the 10th Brigade will move closer to the north immediately, and the fifth regiment of the 11th Brigade will be deployed in the southern part of Xiao County."
"Two regiments of the Third Division are following me westward for reinforcements. This time the enemy must be rioting in many places. We must resolutely attack the main culprits and minimize the casualties of the rest."