In the late winter of 1943, the soldiers of the Eighth Route Army and the New Fourth Army ushered in the most stable and lively New Year since the outbreak of the Anti-Japanese War.
The base area has developed and grown, and supplies are abundant. It no longer has to be crowded during the Chinese New Year like in previous years, and the soldiers can't even get a touch of meat.
In North China, large base areas such as the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Base Area, Shanxi-Suiyuan Base Area, Northwestern Shanxi Base Area, and Shanxi-Hebei-Luyu Base Area have been completely connected. They are connected with each other by relatively close communication lines and rely on solid external defenses.
The fortifications basically isolated the Japanese army from harassment and threats.
In the central and southern regions of China, the anti-Japanese revolutionary bases established by the comrades of the New Fourth Army behind enemy lines also sprung up like bamboo shoots after the rain, and quickly formed a large area to compete with the Japanese army.
The plan to advance northward achieved a complete victory in the initial stage.
The puppet western Manchuria base area was officially established.
After all the large base areas from north to south are completely connected.
Facing the forces of the Eighth Route Army and the New Fourth Army, which had completely twisted their forces into one, the dwindling little Japs had long been powerless and could only look back and sigh.
The Japanese were still struggling. After completely losing their advantage in the aggressive war against China, they changed their policy.
Within China, with the strategic purpose of holding on to the last county seat and communication lines and stalemate with the Eighth Route Army, the country officially entered the comprehensive strategic defensive stage.
Then they concentrated on actively seeking combat advantages in the Pacific battlefield and various battlefields in Southeast Asia, in an attempt to change the declining trend of the Sino-Japanese war.
Okamura, the commander-in-chief of China's Expeditionary Forces, suffered from premature gray hair. He has hardly had a peaceful day since he took office.
The Eighth Route Army in North China was making a lot of noise, and the New Fourth Army in Central and South China was making even more troubles. The steel defenses in Puppet Manchuria were completely torn apart, and the Eighth Route Army took root in the base area in western Puppet Manchuria.
Okamura knew very well that he had completely lost the chance to make a comeback.
As for the No. 1 battle plan, which consumed a lot of manpower and material resources and almost all the efforts of the three armed forces, it was considered a desperate move.
It seems to have achieved certain results at the staged campaign and tactical level.
In the Battle of Henan, Hunan and Guangxi, he defeated the Chinese army and restored some decline for the Japanese army.
But from a higher strategic perspective, it's still a little clever.
The Japanese army, which was already at the end of its rope and at the end of its rope, spent a lot of effort to open up the communication lines with mainland China.
But there was simply not enough power to stop the Eighth Route Army, New Fourth Army and even the Chiang Kai-shek Army's troops from attacking the communication lines.
The originally open mainland transportation line was quickly cut into sections and could not be kept open at all.
What's the use?
Army Red Deer is no match.
Even the Army Aviation Forces continued to lose in battles with the Eighth Route Army Aviation Forces, basically losing air supremacy on the Sino-Japanese battlefield.
Among the Japanese military systems, the navy, which has always been the most proud, may still have some advantages. Unfortunately, China's vast land environment is not a suitable stage for the Japanese navy to perform.
The Eighth Route Army would not sit back and watch the Japanese navy continue to be rampant.
Long before the operational plan to advance northward was launched.
As for the Shandong Military Region, Commander Xu applied to the headquarters to prepare for the establishment of a naval force belonging to the Eighth Route Army in the coastal areas of Jiaodong.
This has been a long-cherished wish for many years, but there is nothing that can be done. Commander Xu looks at the seaside every day, watching the little devil's ships being arrogant and domineering. He wishes he could immediately form his own navy, and also dreams of one day being able to sail his own warship and sail in the ocean.
Fierce battle with Japanese troops at sea.
Commander Xu also had the temperament to do whatever he said. After making up his mind, he immediately began to organize the troops and prepare materials to start the work.
Some Allied technical personnel were also invited to help.
As for the foundation for the Shandong Military Region to establish its own navy, it was only a few small shipyards and repair shops left over from the Japanese in the Weihai area of Jiaodong.
But Commander Xu's words were full of promise: "Comrades, as long as we have perseverance, we will be able to establish our own naval system in just three to five years!"
As a result, several Allied technicians confused Commander Xu as soon as they opened their mouths:
"Do you have relevant shipbuilding technicians? What types of sea-going ships have you built? Where is your supporting ship engine factory? How large is your Jiaodong Military Region's coastal defense force? Have the air defense concealment of docks and docks been done... If you even have these
Even if the conditions are not met, Commander, do you think it is really possible to build a decent naval force?"
Including Mr. Chen who was accompanying him and Political Commissar Tan, they all hesitated and couldn't say a single word for a long time.
There is no co-authorship!
The minesweepers, torpedo boats, and submarine hunting related equipment sent by Marshal Mai were sent to the headquarters, but after such a long period of integration, only some inland river armed patrol boats (15 tons) were produced to equip the New Fourth Army.
The Shandong Military Region is basically in a blank field in terms of naval construction.
The Allied technical staff were also speechless. They were invited from afar and worked on it for a long time, starting from scratch.
Commander Xu had no choice but to suffer the contempt from these Allied technicians, so he immediately called the Special Experimental Area Headquarters and asked Kong Jie to discuss a solution.
Kong Jie did not disappoint Commander Xu.
He immediately stated that although we do not yet have our own navy, we have already made preparations for the training of naval technical arms, including related naval system building, military production technology, etc.
"Let's take the shipbuilding technicians as an example. At the beginning, I specially found some water-trained shipbuilding workers to learn and train them. Many of our soldiers also began to learn in this direction.
In addition, I also recruited some naval engineering technicians from allied countries, including engineers.
Commander, even if you don’t tell me, I was thinking about starting to form our own navy, and you just brought it up, now we hit it off!”
With Kong Jie's help, the Shandong Military Region quickly launched the construction of its naval force.
Commander Xu lamented that Kong Jie had such a far-sighted vision. He seemed to have seen through events several years in advance.
From the initial construction of a team's base area, to the later development of the aviation force, to the current construction of the naval force, this has been proven.
The naval force of the Shandong Military Region was able to be built up, and it was really indebted to Kong Jie.
Political Commissar Tan also specifically asked the Director of Archives to record in the coastal defense construction diary: On August 30, with the strong support of Comrade Kong Jie of the Special Experimental Zone, the Jiaodong Coastal Defense Command was formally established and based in Weihai Port. The Acting Commander of Coastal Defense visited on foot
The military port inspected a traffic boat, the coastal defense heavy artillery regiment, the port anti-aircraft artillery regiment, and the fleet stationed in the port...
Although the initial naval construction was difficult.
But everyone is still very enthusiastic about the future prospects of coastal defense construction.
By the time the plan to advance northward had achieved a staged victory, in the winter of 1943, the Shandong Military Region, with the strong support of the Eighth Route Army's major bases, had successfully produced the first-generation armed minesweepers, and deployed enemy forces in the ports and offshore areas.
mines were cleared.
"In addition, Commander, we'd better build a solid defense line in the coastal port area in advance to prepare for a rainy day and be prepared!"
When Commander Xu was on the phone with Kong Jie, Kong Jie put forward his own suggestions.
Commander Xu had not reacted at first: "Indeed, our naval construction has just begun, and it cannot compare with the navy that the Japanese have built for many years based on their strong industrial foundation.
Build a defense line along the coast in advance so that you can be on guard against sneak attacks by the Japanese navy at any time!"
But then Commander Xu realized something was wrong: "Right now, Britain, the United States, the Soviet Union and other allied countries are attacking the Japanese army. Not to mention the Japanese army, which is suppressed to death in China and cannot move, and the navy is also
On the Pacific battlefield, it was defeated steadily by the United States.
It is not very likely that the Japanese will use the navy to land at this juncture and send more troops to China!
In China, the general situation in which the Japs are already at a disadvantage across the board will not change anything just because of the addition of a group of landing naval forces."
Kong Jie laughed on the other end of the phone: "Sure enough, the commander discovered it. In fact, my suggestion to build a warning system along the coast and build a defense line in advance is not to guard against the Japanese navy's surprise attack."
"I'm just worried that the Japanese army will be defeated and completely defeated, and they will definitely have to use sea transport to escape.
This is our motherland, our hometown. The Japanese invaders can come and run away whenever they want?
Let's build the cordon and interception line in advance. When the little devil escapes, if you can, jump into the sea and swim back to the Island of Life in one breath!
Those who are afraid of death will stay here honestly, and those who dare not surrender will be killed by our soldiers. As the old saying goes, blood debts should be repaid with blood.
How can they completely imprint this fear into the bones of generations to come if they don’t kill the little devil until he cries like a ghost?"
Commander Xu couldn't help but take a breath when he heard these words, but it really didn't sound like the honest Kong Jie said it.
But why does it sound so happy?
It is really exciting to think about building a defensive line in advance, intercepting and killing Japanese troops in coastal areas, and cutting off the enemy's escape route through the sea.
Commander Xu seemed to have seen a large number of Japanese soldiers defeated and fled. As a result, he fled to the sea but could not see a single escape ship. He could only look at the sea and sigh, his face ashen.
…
Puppet Manchuria.
After the establishment of the Western Anti-Japanese Revolutionary Base Area, it was actually divided into three areas. The northern area was the northern base area dominated by the Hailar Fortress Group.
The central region is the centerline base area, mainly around Qiqihar.
The southern area is the southern base area with Rehe as the main base.
Inside the Southern Front Base Area Headquarters.
It was still winter, with heavy snow falling outside. The Spring Festival had just ended, but the soldiers seemed to be still immersed in joy and excitement.
Kong Jie, Li Yunlong, Ding Wei, Li Wenjie, Zhao Gang, Xu Guoan and others gathered around the large stove in the headquarters, keeping warm and chatting.
Chief of Staff Xu Guoan couldn't help complaining: "This place is really cold. It's much colder than when we were in northwest Shanxi. Without some heating measures, it would freeze people to death!"
Li Yunlong on the side couldn't help but echoed: "Forget it, I peed outside just now. Guess what? Hey, damn, the urine turned into a popsicle as soon as I peeed it!
But it scared us, because we were afraid that the ice cube would come up the road again!"
Listening to Li Yunlong's description, everyone couldn't help but shudder. Even if they were gathered around the stove, they couldn't feel any warmth.
I also think of the anti-alliance forces of the past few years, who fought desperately against the Japanese invaders in such extremely harsh conditions of ice and snow, until they finally died heroically. How heroic and heroic this was.
After a few words of emotion, the topic turned to the naval construction of the Shandong Military Region.
Ding Wei lamented: "The development of the army in recent years is indeed remarkable. From the troops behind enemy lines with only shabby guns and artillery, they have grown step by step. Today, we have gathered all three armies of the sea, land and air force."
Kong Jie picked up the burning wood on the stove with a wooden stick to make the flames burn brighter.
"Be prepared for danger in times of peace. Our foundation is still too weak. The development of the army has just begun, the construction of the aviation force still has a long way to go, and the construction of the naval force has not even touched the threshold.
We still have a long way to go in building a strong military!"
Li Yunlong was much more optimistic: "I'm talking about Lao Kong, why do you always think so pessimistically? At least the situation has been settled now, our team has enough to fight against the Japanese.
After the comprehensive strategic counter-offensive is launched, we will blow away the ashes of the little devil in one breath!"
Kong Jie said earnestly: "Old Li, the situation on all battlefields is currently reversed. It is not just the Japanese army on the Sino-Japanese battlefield that is gradually declining.
In the Pacific battlefield and various battlefields in Southeast Asia, the Japanese army has basically entered a downward spiral.
Under the attack from all sides by the Allied forces, no discerning person would know that this little devil was destined to be defeated.
But the key to the problem now is no longer the question of when to defeat the little devil.
But after defeating the Japanese army, as the victor, can we, China, get the treatment and rewards we deserve as a victor?
The Anti-Japanese War in recent years has caused heavy losses to China. The domestic economy has declined, all industries have been destroyed, and the people have lived in dire straits.
They say that with the sound of guns, there is thousands of taels of gold, but look at how we fought this war. After the victory of the Anti-Japanese War, the country seemed to be even poorer, which is not the case."
Ding Wei asked thoughtfully: "Lao Kong, what are you thinking about?"
Kong Jie said: "Consider how to gain more benefits for our nation and country before this war is completely over."
His words were straightforward: "From this perspective, we not only have to defeat the Japanese army, but we also have to seize back all the resources that the Japanese have plundered from us over the years, as much as we can.
In addition, we must especially strengthen the long-range delivery and landing combat capabilities of our troops. As the situation develops, once the little devils are defeated, there will be more people coveting the island. Who doesn't want to take the opportunity to make some war wealth?
Even if we can't occupy the Island of Life, this little devil has bullied us for so many years and smuggled a lot of resources from China to the mainland. Let's take back, snatch, and fish what belongs to us. This is right, right?