499 How much is personal honor and disgrace worth?
The mountain company led by Han Feng continued to deal with the Japanese army in the Zhongtiao Mountain area, let alone guerrilla warfare.
But on the other hand, after learning that the battle in southern Shanxi broke out, on the one hand, she was worried about her relatives in southern Shanxi, and on the other hand, she wanted to return to southern Shanxi to report the battle in Zhongtiao Mountain in real time. Shen Wenyue left the independent regiment base area.
Along the way, Kong Jie arranged for two soldiers to accompany him for protection.
One of the soldiers was Xiao Wu, the soldier who saved Shen Wenyue's life not long ago when Shen Wenyue and Second Battalion Commander Shen Quan were in an ambush.
Another soldier named Zheng Tian is a veteran who was part of Han Feng's company.
In this pairing, Xiao Wu is clever and Zheng Tian is experienced.
Kong Jie estimated that with the help of two people, Shen Wenyue and the others should be able to successfully pass through the checkpoints set up by the Japanese and puppet troops along the way and return to southern Shanxi.
The time it took to return to southern Shanxi was longer than Shen Wenyue and the others imagined.
Along the way, Shen Wenyue dressed up as a tomboy in order to pass the checkpoints set by the Japanese and puppet troops.
Fortunately, there was no danger along the way, but the Japanese army set up more checkpoints along the way, causing delays along the way. By the time Shen Wenyue and his party arrived in the southern Shanxi area, it was already a week later.
Then, the three of them rushed to a county town in southern Shanxi. Before entering the city, they saw Japanese and puppet troops already stationed at the gate.
Shen Wenyue was surprised. Not long ago, this was an area under the jurisdiction of the national army. How could the Japanese and puppet troops appear?
On the way, Zheng Tian grabbed a passerby who was in a hurry and asked in a low voice, "Fellow, let me ask, why are there Japanese and puppet troops at the gates of some counties?"
The passerby glanced at the Japanese and puppet troops at the gate of the county town. There was a trace of hatred in his eyes, but more of helplessness and fear. He replied: "What else could be going on? The national army at the front line was defeated, and the position was also destroyed. The Japs occupied it, and the Japs and puppet troops then occupied the county seat."
Zheng Tian's eyes were shocked. The three of them rushed from the base to the southern Shanxi area without stopping after receiving the news of the outbreak of the battle in southern Shanxi.
How long has it passed? Since the outbreak of the Anti-Japanese War, the Chinese army has defended the Zhongtiao Mountain position for more than four years. Now the Japanese army suddenly attacks. It has only been more than a week. Could it be that they can no longer hold it?
Shen Wenyue on the side suddenly heard the news, her face turned pale, and she asked nervously: "Fellow, are the counties such as Yuan County, Ji County, and Meng County also occupied by the Japanese army?"
The passerby shook his head and said with a wry smile: "I don't know much about other counties, but it seems that they have also fallen into the hands of the Japanese."
After that, the passers-by walked away with sighs.
Xiao Wu on the side heard some information from Shen Wenyue. Her family lived in Yuan County, and the newspaper office was in Ji County.
If Yuan County and Ji County have also fallen, the current situation of the newspaper office and Shen Wenyue's family may not be clear.
Seeing Shen Wenyue's ugly face, Xiao Wu, who had become very familiar with Shen Wenyue recently, comforted him: "Sister, don't worry too much. Even if the Japanese army occupied Yuanqu and Ji County, the Japanese would not harm civilians at will. It's just military affairs."
The control needs to be stricter. The front line should not be near Yuanqu and Ji County at the moment. It will not be difficult for us to enter the city."
Shen Wenyue thought for a while, cheered up again, and nodded.
The three of them hurried towards Yuan County.
Xiao Wu is right about one thing. Even during the war, whether it was the national army or the Japanese army in the occupied areas, they needed economic and military support. In addition, there were too many people, and they could not strictly control the people.
Therefore, they will also allow the circulation of people to a certain extent, but only strengthen military control.
The economic focus of the occupied areas is naturally in the cities, so the Japanese army mainly controls the cities, and the surrounding villages will also relatively control part of it. No matter how many, remote, and unable to control, they will be left to the Eighth Route Army.
With the gradual development of the Eighth Route Army base areas behind enemy lines.
Before the Hundred Regiments War, in the occupied areas, the Japanese army was not too strict in controlling the entry and exit of civilians. They would often allow entry into the city as long as they conducted a brief search to confirm that they were not carrying dangerous weapons such as guns.
It wasn't until the Hundred Regiments Battle that the Eighth Route Army suddenly showed its powerful strength. From then on, people who entered the city from rural areas outside the county without a pass permit or good citizen certificate began to be subject to strict interrogation by the Japanese and puppet army road cards.<
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At this time, the battle line had already crossed Yuan County and was near Ji County.
After Shen Wenyue and the others arrived at Yuan County, they were interrogated by the Japanese and puppet troops at the city gate and entered the city smoothly.
After entering the city, Shen Wenyue rushed to Shen's house. Shen Wenyue successfully met her parents. She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that her parents were safe and sound.
Shen's father, Shen Yousan, was originally a scholar, but he was also talented in business. After entering the business world, he quickly showed his talents and spent more than ten years building the Shen family into a famous wealthy family in southern Shanxi.
Not to mention, the Shen family is definitely the richest man in the vicinity of Yuan County.
When the National Army was in charge of the Zhongtiao Mountain area, it always relied on large gentry families. As a wealthy man of this generation, Shen Yousan also supported the National Army's anti-Japanese resistance. Although it did not destroy the family and provide relief, it provided many helping hands and gave a lot of help.
financial support.
Therefore, Shen Yousan, who is the money bag of the local national army, also has a certain face and connections in the military circles.
"Dad, since the army can't hold the front line, it should have arranged for the people to evacuate early. Didn't the army arrange for the transfer of you and your mother in advance?"
Seeing her parents trapped in the Japanese-occupied territory, Shen Wenyue couldn't help but feel a little worried.
Shen Yousan smiled calmly and said: "I studied for the first thirty years of my life and did business for the next twenty years. I read holy books, but in the end, I was useless as a scholar. I earned worldly money, which is actually He made a contribution to the nation and the anti-Japanese cause."
"People from the national army also informed me in advance that they could arrange for someone to escort our family away."
"But the war came suddenly, and our family's properties were not available for transfer. If I left, wouldn't I be benefiting the Japanese in vain? If I stayed, I could still deal with it secretly."
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Shen Wenyue said anxiously: "Dad, this is too dangerous."
Father Shen said with relief: "Don't worry, no one can ignore the temptation of money, whether it is the Chinese army or the Japanese army, as long as the Japanese want to get money from me, get more money, as long as they understand that they cannot kill the goose to get the eggs, Then you won’t touch my Shen family easily.”
At this point, Father Shen said somewhat reproachfully: "It's you, Wen Yue. I heard that you went behind enemy lines a while ago. Isn't this nonsense? My father is not blessed, and your mother only has a precious daughter like you. If you have How can I explain this to your mother?"
Shen Wenyue chuckled, how could she have the slightest awareness of being scolded by her elders?
"Hehe, dad, please don't be angry. Isn't your daughter back? You often say that reading thousands of books is not as good as traveling thousands of miles. This time my daughter has traveled thousands of miles and returned. The father should be proud of his daughter."
Saying that, Shen Wenyue obediently helped Father Shen's shoulders.
Father Shen couldn't laugh or cry for a moment, but he couldn't bear to continue blaming him, so he said helplessly: "Forget it, my father has pampered you since you were a child. If you are a son, why would I indulge you like this?"
"Fortunately, I am a woman!" Shen Wenyue patted her chest, feeling a little scared.
Father Shen's smile became more helpless and more loving.
The father and daughter chatted and laughed for a while, and then Shen's father asked: "Wen Yue, you said earlier that you were returning from a journey of thousands of miles. Can you tell your father what you learned after traveling thousands of miles this time?"
Shen Wenyue responded, full of emotion, not hiding much from her father, and told some of what she saw and heard after arriving at the Eighth Route Army base.
Father Shen listened carefully, and after listening, he sighed in admiration: "So, this Eighth Route Army is really a heroic force that resists Japan!"
Shen Wenyue said: "Of course, Dad, you have never seen with your own eyes how the Eighth Route Army fought when the Japanese army dispatched tens of thousands of troops to encircle and suppress the Eighth Route Army's base areas.
What a wonderful thing, with outdated equipment and scarce ammunition, it turned the tide of the battle abruptly and repelled the Japanese raids."
Recalling the situation when she left the Independent Regiment and went to the surrounding regiments formed by the Eighth Route Army to interview, Shen Wenyue said with emotion:
"The conditions for the Eighth Route Army to fight behind enemy lines were much more difficult than we imagined. They didn't even have enough to eat. No matter it was winter or summer, they always wore thin clothes. Not everyone had a gun, and some of them were old people. It was an old broken gun, and each person couldn't distinguish a few bullets. But even in such difficult conditions, even though most of them were born as farmers, and maybe they didn't know a few Chinese characters, they still wanted to fight the Japanese and protect their families. country.
The independent regiment was even more powerful. It relied on constantly fighting the Japanese behind enemy lines, seizing equipment, and developing the base area in a very impressive way.
Dad, maybe this is what you said. It’s better to see it once than to see it once after hearing it a hundred times. Only by experiencing it personally can I feel the purity of the Eighth Route Army’s beliefs. They are definitely not doing it for money, fame, or food. Just went to fight.
My daughter always thought that this kind of troops could only be found in books. It was as dreamy as "The Peach Blossom Spring" written by Mr. Wu Liu!
……
..."
Recalling what she saw and heard in the Eighth Route Army base area, Shen Wenyue said a lot with emotion.
Father Shen listened carefully until he finished, then he smiled and said: "It seems that my daughter has indeed seen a lot when she went to the enemy's rear this time. You seem to appreciate the Eighth Route Army in your words?"
"Dad, isn't this kind of army worthy of admiration?" Shen Wenyue asked.
Father Shen replied: "Anyone who throws his or her life and blood for the destiny of the country, whether famous or unknown, is a hero. These people are worthy of admiration."
At this point, Father Shen smiled and said, "If my guess is correct, the two friends who came back with you this time should be the Eighth Route Army, right?"
Shen Wenyue was surprised, "Dad, how did you know?"
Father Shen said: "As you said, the Eighth Route Army is an army of benevolence and righteousness. This time you come back and the journey is difficult and dangerous. It is common sense to send some people to escort you all the way.
In addition, when Uncle Xu brought the two of them in, I took a look at them from a distance.
Their eyes are not squinting, their bodies are upright, and their steps are steady and powerful. The two of them walk, but they subconsciously line up in a formation. This must be a habit learned from the army.
I concluded at that time that these two people were soldiers, but I was even more surprised. They said that the Eighth Route Army troops were fighting behind enemy lines and were mostly composed of farmers with little military literacy. It seems that this may not be true at the moment."
Shen Wenyue said: "Of course, the Eighth Route Army has been insisting on military training! Moreover, the army also has cultural studies. One side insists on fighting, and the other side sums up experience and conducts corresponding military training. I don't think there is any way to make progress faster than this method. The troops are here."
Father Shen smiled and said: "It seems that the Eighth Route Army troops are indeed very magical. Once my daughter went out, she never left the Eighth Route Army."
The father and daughter chatted and laughed for a while.
Father Shen said: "Now that you are back this time, you should be more obedient and stop running around. Now that the Japanese army has occupied Yuan County, there is danger outside at any time. You, a girl, are running around every house. How can you, as a father, rest assured?" If you have nothing to do, stay home and don’t go to the newspaper office.”
"Dad, I'm a reporter!" Shen Wenyue said.
Father Shen said: "I know you are a reporter. Now that the national army is losing ground, you little reporter should stop messing around."
"Old Xu."
"Master!"
"Take the lady back to the house, and be careful. Don't let this crazy girl run around again. This is a tense period."
"Yes! Miss, let's go, this is for your own good." Looking at Shen Wenyue who looked reluctant, Lao Xu said with a bitter smile.
With Father Shen watching him with eager eyes, Shen Wenyue had no choice but to follow Lao Xu and leave.
After a while, Lao Xu, who had settled Shen Wenyue, returned to the living room.
"Has everything been done?" Father Shen asked.
Lao Xu nodded, then shook his head and said, "Sir, those two people left, but they didn't take any of the money I gave them."
"Oh! It's quite interesting." Father Shen said thoughtfully.
Lao Xu said: "Sir, these two escorted the young lady all the way back, which is more or less a favor. Why don't you want to see them?"
Father Shen shook his head and said, "There's no need to meet. The Japanese are looking at me very closely right now. It might be a bad thing to have rash contact with them."
"Stop talking about this, after the Japanese army took control of the county, there were no problems with the shops and so on, right?"
Lao Xu said: "Don't worry, sir, there is basically no loss."
Father Shen nodded, looked at the gloomy sky on the horizon, and said: "Old Xu, everyone in this world says that I, Shen Yousan, am rich, famous, and powerful.
I stayed in Yuan County this time. Wasn’t it because I was in compliance with their words? It was for the money that I couldn’t take away. Also, was it because I wanted to collude with the Japanese and want my name and power?
Perhaps at this moment, in the eyes of the world, I, Shen Yousan, am somewhat linked to a traitor."
Lao Xu said: "Sir, the people are ignorant. I don't care what they think. After I have been with you for so many years, I know better than anyone else what you are like. What you care about is not money, power, or fame.
You have been in business for so many years, but after all, you have not been tainted by the businessman's nature of pursuing fame and fortune. Instead, you have maintained the righteousness you had when you were a student.
As for your three qualities, I think they are principled, shameful, and nationally sentimental. You have been secretly supporting the anti-Japanese team in recent years. You have also tried your best to help many victims caused by the war.
These things are obvious to all. As long as the common people are not ignorant, they can understand the master's good intentions."
Seemingly relieved, Shen Yousan couldn't help but smile, "Well, you old Xu, you are still so eloquent, but you made me look like a great hero who endured humiliation and shouldered heavy burdens for the country and the people."
"The master is a great hero in my heart!" Lao Xu said, "You are a man who does not hesitate to give up your personal honor and disgrace for the sake of the country!"
Father Shen was stunned and said, "How much is personal honor and disgrace worth?
If it can be exchanged for the interests and future of the nation, what's the harm in sacrificing it?
Although I am no longer a scholar, my pride and righteousness when I was studying have been the only things I have been proud of for so many years."
As he spoke, Father Shen laughed loudly, and the thoughts in his heart became more clear and firm...