"Will this spread too widely? Once the situation deteriorates and results in uncontrollable consequences, many people will be involved."
"These people may not have a firm stance, but as long as we patiently guide them, they can change their stance."
Luo Benzhong expressed concern about Zhou Weihan's idea, feeling that it was a bit exaggerated. Although the situation in northern Anhui was not satisfactory, governance should be slow and prudent.
"Lao Luo, this is a life-and-death struggle. We need time now and must concentrate all our efforts to develop northward. We cannot waste time in northern Anhui and eastern Henan."
"Human nature cannot withstand the test, but the right to choose is in their own hands. What choices they make must be based on their inner decisions."
The Hebei, Shandong, and Yu columns moved southward to northern Anhui and eastern Henan, just like the People's Liberation Army crossing the Yangtze River and quickly establishing rule in the south. Although the process was fast, it laid many hidden dangers, so there was later suppression of rebellion.
The above conversation took place after Luo Benzhong went north from the Wanbei base area, and ultimately did not hinder the implementation of the plan.
Yongcheng.
After receiving the information from Zhang Peishan, several key officials of the Wanbei District Government were not surprised, and even breathed a sigh of relief.
Several people looked at each other, and the middle-aged cadre at the head said: "Inform us and let the comrades prepare to evacuate."
"What if someone doesn't want to leave?"
"It depends on their own ideas. If their position is not firm, we cannot force it."
The 13th and 15th brigades seized a lot of weapons and equipment in the process of establishing their base areas. With the approval of Zhou Weihan, three basic regiments were established in the two base areas respectively, with a strength of about 4,000 people.
It's just that the Wanbei base area governs eight counties, which results in too scattered troops. Yongcheng is the capital of the base area and has only one battalion of garrison personnel.
At dawn, Ge Liuwei personally led more than 600 guards to the county seat, and the originally closed city gate suddenly opened wide.
"You arrived late. The Eighth Route Army withdrew before dawn. You must have leaked the operation."
After hearing this, Ge Liuwei relaxed and occupied Yongcheng, the capital, without spending a single soldier. This was a good start, and he would be able to gain more bargaining chips in his negotiations with the Japanese in the future.
The Yongcheng riot was indeed just the beginning. On that day, people from all the counties and towns in the eight counties in northern Anhui responded. At the same time, Doihara Kenji sent more than a thousand Japanese troops to advance into Xiao County.
Suddenly, the city wall changed into a King's Flag, and many internal personnel who had newly joined the Wanbei Region Government took off their military uniforms in the blink of an eye. Many local armed forces and militiamen from various places also left their ranks.
Chenjiacun, Xiayi, stayed in the village briefly after Zhou Weihan first came to northern Shaanxi.
The second eldest son of the Chen family had a short gun slung around his waist. As a militia captain, he was very powerful in the village before, but now he begged his father to let him out.
"Dad, if you ask me to go out, everyone has to gather at Mr. Liu's house in Huqiao Township. Will we be late?"
The door of the Chen family was closed. Chen Laoshuan moved a mazaar and sat in the courtyard. Hearing the words of his second son, he couldn't help but roll his eyes.
The cigarette pot in his hand knocked against the sole of his shoe, and then he said: "I eat more salt than you eat rice. As a militia captain, you are not qualified at all. You even took off your military uniform? Don't even think about it today.
Take a step outside the house.”
"The 14th Brigade of the Eighth Route Army is in Xiayi. There is a possibility of causing trouble in other places, but there is no possibility at all in Xiayi. What can a group of rabble accomplish?"
"Your brother is in the Eighth Route Army, and our family belongs to the military. No matter how chaotic it is outside, as long as the door is closed and no trouble is caused, it will not affect your brother's future."
In the final analysis, the old is the wiser. Although Chen Laoshuan was unclear about the policies of the Eighth Route Army before, he could still tell who had the toughest fists. The chaos was only temporary.
The Chen family belongs to the military, and there are many similar situations in northern Anhui. The existence of the military family can effectively reduce chaos and maintain stability to a certain extent.
Objectively speaking, not all major landowners participated in the riots. There were many people who could clearly understand the situation and were willing to give up some of their interests, but more people could not understand the situation clearly.
The main personnel of the Wanbei District Government evacuated all the way west to Bo County, which is adjacent to eastern Henan and is more secure.
After arriving at the place, after taking inventory, it was discovered that there were actually a quarter less people in the entourage. I don't know when they left the team.
"It's also a good thing. Keeping elements in the team due to speculation is also a hidden danger. I want to see how many monsters and monsters can pop out!"
The speaker was Dong Zhicai, director of the Wanbei District Government, and one of the few insiders within the local government. Luo Benzhong had specifically explained to him before going north.
However, at this time, many people who stayed behind saw something fishy, and the main leading cadres were not in a hurry, which shows a big problem.
"Comrades, since I have followed you all the way to Bo County, I trust your comrades, but during the next period of time, please do not evacuate at will without my order."
"Everything will pass. It's just a little storm. It's much better than being chased around by the Japanese in enemy-occupied areas."
At the same time, a regiment of the Fourth Division of the New Fourth Army exchanged fire with the Japanese troops coming out of Xuzhou north of Xiaoxian County, while another regiment, based on the intelligence provided by Zhang Peishan, captured the lair of Ge Liuwei and others.
At noon, two regiments of the Third Division of the New Fourth Army, led by Chief of Staff Peng, slowly arrived at Yongcheng County. In just half a day, Ge Liuweishang was immersed in a sweet dream.
Zhang Peishan led his men to open the city gate, and the two regiments of the New Fourth Division marched along the street in a mighty manner, and the rioting people dispersed.
It was only then that Ge Liuwei finally woke up. The riot he planned was a joke in the face of powerful force.
"You Eighth Route Army are unpopular. Now there are uprisings all over northern Anhui. What use can you do with just the few people you have?"
Zhang Peishan was not polite to Ge Liuwei at all. When he arrested him, he was very embarrassed: "Ge Liuwei, no matter what others do, you are in our hands. You represent only a minority and do not need your support."
"Colluding with the Japanese, what you have done is enough to make the Ge family in Wangzhai Town notorious. You should think carefully about how to explain it to the ancestors of the Wang family."
Yongcheng returned to peace in an instant. In addition to leaving some personnel to garrison the county seat, the main force of the two regiments moved south from Yongcheng, joining the basic regiments, local armed forces and militia scattered in various places along the way, and their momentum became stronger and stronger.
The New Fourth Army's actions depended on the propaganda in the towns and villages where it passed, and some even directly uncovered the leaders who planned the riots.
Wu Qin's 14th Brigade sent a regiment to counter the rebellion in Xiayi and the north of Yongcheng. As Chen Laoshuan said, they were just a bunch of rabble. A few rounds of 50-gun cannons were enough to make them realize the reality.
Ding Wei's 15th Brigade sent a regiment to Bo County, Luyi and other areas west of Yongcheng to frequently eliminate those who participated in the riots.
