The 30th, the last day of April, is already the tenth day since the end of the Japanese army’s spring sweep.
After ten days of rest and recuperation, the Independence Regiment base area has basically restored its original stability. The houses and buildings destroyed by the Japanese army during the sweep have all been rebuilt, and the villagers have returned to live in the village.
Everything is back to its original appearance.
The struggle against the Japanese behind enemy lines seemed to take this form.
During the Japanese raids, the people moved and evacuated under the cover of the Eighth Route Army. They waited until the Japanese troops retreated and then returned to live in the villages.
More is a sense of self-confidence.
Even though the Japanese army launched large-scale raids again and again, they could not wipe out the heroic fighting Eighth Route Army troops.
When the enemy advances, we retreat, and when the enemy retreats, we advance. One day we will be able to bring down the Japanese army.
Niukou Village.
Independent regiment, regiment headquarters.
In the past few days, news has been coming from various companies and battalions, and basically it is all good news.
Since the end of the local military conference on the Japanese counterattack held not long ago, troops from each company and platoon of the independent regiment have gone out to fight, and have achieved certain results.
The scope of the independent regiment's base area is gradually expanding outwards while being stabilized, and the guerrilla area is also expanding outwards.
It's like a tug-of-war between the Eighth Route Army and the Japanese Army.
At this time, with the attacks of various units of the independent regiment and the struggle for villages, the Japanese army's control over the vast countryside was gradually eroded.
In the room, Second Battalion Commander Shen Quan was reporting to Kong Jie on the ambush of the Japanese transport squadron.
The seizure was quite generous, including a large amount of military supplies, including more than a dozen mule carriages used by the Japanese transport team, and two transport trucks, all of which were captured by the soldiers.
After all this was reported, Shen Quan changed the topic and turned to the reporter Shen Wenyue who was following the troops and conducting field interviews.
"Captain, you said that Reporter Shen is really not afraid of death. The battle had just ended, and she ran to the battlefield to take pictures. If Xiao Wu hadn't reacted quickly, the little devil who was still alive could have stood up and shot her.
”
Shen Quan's words were filled with fear: "Please send someone to keep an eye on Reporter Shen!"
Kong Jie wondered: "What does it have to do with me?"
Chen Quan smiled and said: "Captain, please tell the truth. If such a beautiful woman as Miss Shen died on the battlefield, wouldn't you be heartbroken?"
Kong Jie scolded: "You boy, do you really think that I can't walk when I see a woman?"
"Why should we protect Reporter Shen? Except she is a member of the public.
"This is even more considering that reporter Shen is from southern Shanxi and is a well-known reporter from Shannan newspaper. This time, since she witnessed the anti-mopping up process of our independent group, she also filmed us taking the initiative to deal with the Japanese.
battle.
If Shen Wenyue can publish these reports after returning to the Jinnan Newspaper Office, public opinion will be of great benefit to our Eighth Route Army."
"Those rumors about wandering around but not attacking, avoiding war and being timid can be disproven."
Chen Quan smiled and said nothing.
He thought: I understand, Captain, please explain it carefully. Anyway, explanation is just a cover-up. I don’t believe it. With such a beautiful woman in front of you, Captain, you are not moved at all.
Kong Jie glanced at Shen Quan, who didn't know what this brat was thinking, and immediately cursed: "Okay, hurry up and get busy. If you are really free, feed my horse."
"No, Commander, I suddenly remembered that there are still many things waiting for me to deal with at the battalion headquarters!" Shen Quan said and hurriedly left.
As a result, as soon as he reached the entrance of the regiment headquarters, he bumped into Shen Wenyue, who was approaching. Shen Quan immediately raised his voice and said, "Hey, Reporter Shen, are you here to see the regiment leader?"
Shen Wenyue was startled for a moment, probably not understanding what the Second Battalion Commander was doing with such a loud voice, but she still nodded and replied: "Well, Second Battalion Commander, I'm here to interview Commander Kong."
"Then go quickly, our team leader is waiting for Reporter Shen in the room!" Shen Quan added with jealousy, and then walked away without looking back for fear of being scolded.
Inside the house, Kong Jie: "..."
Entering the courtyard, she met the monk again. Shen Wenyue greeted the monk.
As for what Shen Quan had just said, Shen Wenyue didn't take it too seriously. The cadres of these independent regiments seemed to get along quite well with Commander Kong, and they would occasionally make jokes about her and Commander Kong.
When she first came here, Shen Wenyue couldn't stand it, and she even made herself red-faced several times.
Regarding this, Kong Jie expressed relief: "Reporter Shen, please don't mind. Most of the troops in this army are rough guys. They tense up during combat training and it becomes too much for them after a long time. They just like to make some jokes.< /p>
Especially among the thousands of soldiers in the regiment, they are all single and have never seen a girl.
There is also a joke in the regiment that our soldiers have been single for a long time, and when we look at the sows raised by Lao Wang in the cooking class, we feel that they are a bit pretty.
When you suddenly see a beauty like Reporter Shen, it’s good if you can take your eyes away.”
Under the humorous explanation, Shen Wenyue even laughed along with Kong Jie, feeling relieved about these things.
Returning to the present, Shen Wenyue asked, "Captain Wei, are Commander Kong still busy with military affairs at the moment?"
After the big sweep, Shen Wenyue came to the regiment headquarters to interview Kong Jie. He came very frequently and he was already an acquaintance.
The monk chuckled, scratched his head, and replied: "I'm not busy. I'm free now. If you go, Reporter Shen, the team leader will definitely have time for you to interview."
"Yes!" Shen Wenyue nodded, took out a pen from his pocket, handed it to the monk, and said with a smile: "Captain Wei, I have to trouble you every time I come here, and I don't know what gift to give you.
I heard that your cadres have to study every week. I give this pen to you. I hope you like it."
"Given to me?"
The monk was stunned for a moment, and then he became very happy. He was about to reach out to take the pen, but felt that his hands were too dirty, so he quickly rubbed them and wiped them on his body, and then carefully took the pen.
After playing with it for a while, I remembered the elegant way the instructors in the regiment put a pen in their jacket pocket with the tip of the pen half exposed. The monk also followed that example and put the pen in his left jacket pocket.
He even patted it proudly.
Now I, the monk, am also a cultural person.
Here is some information about the independent regiment. In the regiment, both commanders and soldiers do not wear military rank. Soldiers usually identify cadres mainly by their faces.
Company commander, platoon leader, and squad leader are all familiar to the soldiers in each company, platoon, and squad.
So if it is a cadre from another battalion, or even a cadre from another regiment, how should we identify it?
At this time, it’s time to look at the pockets. Generally speaking, except for the briefcases that cadres sometimes carry, the military uniforms worn by cadres have four pockets, or four pockets.
One on the left and right sides of the chest, one on the left and right below.
Soldiers generally only have two pockets under their clothes.
The culture of learning culture is particularly popular in the Independent League. At this time, as a cadre, whoever can wear a pen in his jacket pocket is a symbol of a cultured person.
It’s no wonder that the monk’s mouth is almost crooked with laughter at this moment.
"As long as Captain Wei likes it!" Shen Wenyue said with a smile.
Regarding monks, Shen Wenyue has heard many stories since she came to the Independent Group.
A martial monk from the Shaolin Temple, he possesses unique skills and strong martial arts. He is Commander Kong's personal bodyguard and also serves as the commander of the guard company. He once led the guard company to block the Japanese Yamazaki Brigade in Lijiapo and persisted until reinforcements arrived, and jointly destroyed the Yamazaki Brigade.
.
During the recent counter-mopping up, Monk even led a guard company to boldly lurk at the Japanese army's forward positions, cooperate with the main force, and annihilate the Japanese Ishii Regiment in one fell swoop.
Throughout the independent group, Monk Wei's name is well-known.
Unparalleled in martial arts, with numerous military exploits.
In Shen Wenyue's view, Wei Dayong, who is just over eighteen years old, is straightforward, cheerful, perseverant, and clever. He always likes to giggle when he opens his mouth, and his cuteness when scratching his head is very endearing.
No wonder he can serve as Commander Kong’s bodyguard.
The monk said happily: "I like it, I like it so much!"
As the saying goes, if someone is short-tongued, he will be soft-hearted. As he said this, the monk led Shen Wenyue and walked all the way into the house.
Inside the house.
Kong Jie actually didn't think much about Shen Wenyue. Now was the critical period of the Anti-Japanese War. Kong Jie could still figure out what was light and what was heavy.
As the leader of an independent regiment, thousands of soldiers in the entire regiment are looking at him. At this time, it would be a bit too much for the leader to not focus on the military and talk about the love between children.
Therefore, Kong Jie has always thought nothing of anything and has nothing to seek when it comes to relationships, and just lets nature take its course.
At this moment, Kong Jie is lying on the small square table on the right side of the earthen bed in the regiment room, writing and drawing on a piece of white paper, studying the next plan to deal with the tactical strategies that Okamura Neiji may adjust.
"Captain, Reporter Shen is here to interview you again!"
The monk opened the curtain. Before Shen Wenyue could speak, the monk spoke first.
"Captain Kong!" Shen Wenyue greeted.
Kong Jie smiled and said: "The army is a crude and vulgar place. Reporter Shen, don't be polite. Please take a seat!"
"Okay!" Shen Wenyue responded.
The monk on the side quickly rushed to the left side of the kang, used his sleeves to sweep away some debris on the earthen kang, and then said: "Reporter Shen, sit here!"
Kong Jie: "..."
Damn it, this guy, Monk, never takes care of me so carefully.
Seeing Kong Jie's eyes glaring over, the monk helped Shen Wenyue clean the seat, and quickly smiled at Kong Jie and said: "Hehe, leader, then you talk to Reporter Shen, I'll go and get busy first!"
After saying that, he quickly ran away.
Soon, only Kong Jie and Shen Wenyue were left in the room. Kong Jie folded the white paper on which he was writing, pressed it on the right foot of the small square table on the kang, and asked: "Count the time, Miss Shen will come and let us be independent. Have you been in the group for a while?"
Shen Wenyue nodded, "It's been almost two weeks."
Kong Jie said: "How is it? Are you still used to living like this? The food is pretty delicious?"
Shen Wenyue smiled and said: "It's all good. Before I came, I heard that your Eighth Route Army troops had a hard life in the war behind enemy lines, and the food was very difficult. But after I got to the Independent Regiment, I discovered..."
"Did you find that the food eaten by the soldiers of our independent regiment is really good?" Kong Jie asked with a smile.
Shen Wenyue hummed and said: "When I first came here, the soldiers brought me meals every day. At that time, I thought it was Commander Kong who took special care of me.
Later, after asking the soldiers, I found out that the food was brought from the cooking class and was the same as the other soldiers.
I went to some companies to interview, and the food was basically the same as the food here at the regiment headquarters.
It can be seen that the food of the soldiers is very good.
There are rice, noodles, vegetables, and even meat every day, and there are many varieties.
It's hard to imagine that in such a difficult environment behind enemy lines, the food for the soldiers can still meet such standards.
In southern Shanxi, this kind of food is probably only available to some wealthy families."
Kong Jie smiled and said: "In addition to food, Miss Shen should also have discovered a lot about other aspects, right?"
Shen Wenyue said: "Well, there is a stove for boiling water in the house. I asked the soldiers and I heard that this kind of stove also has something called honeycomb briquettes burned in it. Commander Kong invented it."
"When I went to the company to interview again, I found that the soldiers could even drink hot tea after returning to Tongpu after training!"
Speaking of this, Shen Wenyue said with emotion: "After seeing all this, if I hadn't witnessed with my own eyes that Commander Kong led the soldiers to conduct anti-mopping operations, wiped out a large number of Japanese invaders, and then took the initiative to launch a counterattack, uprooting Japanese strongholds and ambushing Japanese troops, , I would even think that such a force came purely out of pampering."
Kong Jie laughed loudly after hearing this, and changed the topic and asked: "Reporter Shen, do you want to interview our independent regiment alone this time, or do you want to interview our entire Eighth Route Army unit?
Do you want to know about the living conditions of our independent regiment soldiers, or the living conditions of our Eighth Route Army troops as a whole?"
"Of course it's the latter, the overall reaction is the norm." Shen Wenyue said.
Kong Jile said: "Then Reporter Shen is in the wrong place. If our Eighth Route Army units are compared to every household in a village, then the hundreds of households in this village are basically poor and poor.
There is only one family that is a wealthy landowner, and that is our Independent Group.
Since Reporter Shen wants to know the whole picture of our Eighth Route Army, isn’t it wrong to come to our independent regiment?”
Shen Wenyue was dumbfounded. Is there such a thing?
Kong Jie said: "Don't believe it, Reporter Shen. We won't tell you even if it's far away. Let's just say a year ago. If Reporter Shen came to our independent group for an interview a year ago, let alone inviting Reporter Shen to eat meat every meal, it would be just one day." For two meals, half a bowl of rice would be good."
"A stove is used to heat hot water for drinking and make tea? Don't even think about it. If you can have clean well water to drink every day, it will make you feel good."
"If Reporter Shen really wants to know how difficult it is for our Eighth Route Army to resist the war behind enemy lines, you might as well take some time to visit other surrounding units, and you will know clearly."
Shen Wenyue nodded thoughtfully, and then asked doubtfully: "Will there be such a big gap between the Eighth Route Army troops who are also fighting behind enemy lines?"
Kong Jie smiled and said: "Among the children born to one father and one mother, there are some who are promising and some who are not. Is this so strange?"
Shen Wenyue said: "But why is there such a gap in the army?"
Kong Jie said: "Then it naturally depends on the leaders of each regiment."
"With a regiment leader who knows how to live, the soldiers will be well fed and clothed. If you follow a regiment leader who cannot live, then go hungry!"
"Speaking of which, our independent group can live the life we have today thanks to the little devils."
"Thank you to the Japanese army?" Shen Wenyue was stunned.
Kong Jie said with a smile: "Of course I have to thank the Japs. The soldiers of my independent regiment can have enough food and live warmly. Where do these supplies come from? Of course they were captured by the Japs. Without the Japs, there would be no source of supplies?" Reporter Shen, tell me, if you don’t thank the little devil, who can you thank?”
Shen Wenyue was speechless for a moment. She used to interview mostly the National Army troops. Every time she mentioned the Japs, the officers would either gnash their teeth with hatred or tremble with fear.
How are they like the soldiers of the Eighth Route Army, from the regiment commander to the battalion commander, company commander, and even the soldiers at the bottom?
One by one, they mentioned the Japanese, not as enemies, but as relatives. Their eyes even glowed green. To use a metaphor, they were like hungry wild wolves seeing a big oily fat meat.