784 The two parties are preparing for a war to begin.
This lively mass meeting seems simple, but in fact it has far-reaching significance.
In such a turbulent era, information is blocked and rumors are everywhere. Most of the people know some news through hearsay or even based on rumors.
Therefore, the Eighth Route Army troops serve as soldiers of the people.
Proper publicity is absolutely necessary to establish an image and win the hearts and minds of the people.
Then, the meeting of all parties continued.
At the welcome meeting, the brigade commander and leaders from the headquarters personally shook hands with representatives of the victims one by one.
Every one of the representatives burst into tears of gratitude, and one of the older representatives even said with tears in his eyes:
"I'm getting older, and I originally thought I'd just starve to death on the way. It was us Eighth Route Army comrades who carried our foreheads all the way to the base area.
In this calamity year, we have no food to eat, and we Eighth Route Army comrades have to fight the Japanese and farm the land, so we also don’t have much food. But here we are, and the Eighth Route Army comrades are giving us food to eat and taking care of the place to live. When I came here, I saw with my own eyes that some comrades took the wild vegetables dug from the mountains back to eat, but left some of the vegetables and grains they grew for us victims.
Folks, our hearts are made of flesh, don’t we understand who is really kind to us?"
At the commendation meeting.
Those people who actively assist the main force in fighting, including those who save food and clothing by scrimping on food and clothing, will also give it to the Eighth Route Army to use to fight the Japanese.
All are commended.
The cadres of the Independent Regiment also personally distributed rewards to everyone - money, food, cotton-padded clothes, and some necessary daily necessities.
This is a real benefit. After seeing it, many people secretly made up their minds to actively assist the Eighth Route Army in the future.
In addition, the brigade commander gave red flowers to those people who had outstanding performance in self-rescue after arriving at the base area, and wore them on their chests with his own hands.
Kong Jie, who was standing by when the award was presented, introduced it this way: "Uncle Li, who is forty-four years old this year, arrived at the base area three months ago. After arriving at the base area, Uncle Li was hardworking and capable, and reclaimed nearly five acres of wasteland in three months.
.
Crops have also been planted in the fields and are growing vigorously. If this autumn harvest goes well, Uncle Li will be able to feed dozens of people by himself through the hard work and sweat shed by his hands.
Therefore, as long as everyone is willing to work and work hard, there is no reason to go hungry.
Let’s talk about this, Uncle Li, if we don’t commend him, who else can we commend?”
Applause crackled.
When Uncle Li came on stage, Kong Jie gave him money, the oil he pressed in the mill, and a few bags of grain.
Uncle Li, who was filled with emotion, could not help but say a few words even though he had no education:
"Folks, I am a dumbass and can't speak. What I want to say is that if you are here, as long as you are willing to work and cooperate with our Eighth Route Army comrades, you will not be hungry, cold, or poor!"<
/p>
There was another round of crackling applause.
The victims of the disaster have actually seen that these were once victims of the disaster, but they took root in the base area, even lived and worked in peace and contentment, and were willing to put in hard work and sweat, and finally achieved fruitful results.
The seeds of self-rescue and self-prosperity took root and sprouted in the hearts of the people who witnessed all this.
There were also those people who had been adjusted in the base areas and were preparing to return to their hometowns to farm, and they also received the food they needed on the way, distributed by cadres.
The cadres also made it clear that the Eighth Route Army will be responsible to the villagers to the end, and those who are willing to return to their hometowns to farm will be escorted by the escort team after the number is gathered.
And help the villagers farm and survive in their hometown.
This gives hope to many villagers who have left their hometowns, feel lonely, and still miss their roots.
……
In addition, this meeting included not only the host Kong Jie, but also the leaders of the headquarters and brigade.
Many heads of other regiments also came, including Li Yunlong.
Lao Li likes such lively occasions the most, so naturally he has to go on stage to say a few words.
When you open your mouth, what do you say?
"In those days, we, Lao Li, were also farmers in the Dabie Mountains. Not only could we farm, we could also weave baskets. We, Lao Li, could only understand the pain of people leaving their hometowns."
"Back then, my family was bullied by those bully country squires so much that I couldn't survive. There was nothing I could do about it! Later, I gritted my teeth and joined the Red Army."
"Those sons of bitches, can they live a good life if we don't overthrow them?
..."
Then the leaders of each group took turns to take the stage, and each took advantage of the atmosphere to say a few words to express their feelings.
After the meeting, the stage directly turned into a stage.
Kong Jie arranged for comrades from the Literature and Art Department to perform some dramas for the villagers.
Most of them are short anti-Japanese stories and some anti-Japanese songs.
Show some situations where the anti-Japanese army and civilians helped each other and worked hard for national independence.
They even showed some photos to the people on the stage.
Eighth Route Army troops killing Japanese soldiers, some photos taken by reporters accompanying the army.
The cadres who presided over the meeting even said loudly:
"Today is a happy day. Let's stay up all night tonight, set up a big stage, sing a big show, let's have a good time, and work hard together from tomorrow to welcome a new life!"
This joyful scene naturally fell into the eyes of the spies hiding among the victims.
"How are things going?"
Kong Jie, who had already left the venue, asked while making secret arrangements.
Shen Quan, who was responsible for sealing off and guarding the entire Dafeng Village, replied: "Don't worry, Captain, everything has been done according to your instructions.
We deliberately left some holes in the blockade, and sure enough, a few guys dressed as disaster victims escaped quietly.
The news about Dafengzhuang should soon reach the ears of the little devil."
Kong Jie nodded, raised his wrist, and looked at his watch with the help of moonlight. It was already around one o'clock in the morning.
The excited people were not sleepy at all.
It’s not easy to watch a show. The Eighth Route Army comrades performed in various interesting plays for free, and the people were naturally reluctant to leave.
"There are still five or six hours before dawn. After the Japanese get the news, if they want to attack Dafengzhuang, they should do it at dawn."
"We also have to be prepared."
"In two hours, the outside of the venue will be completely sealed off, and then people will be arranged to move immediately."
"We comrades are here to stay, and the drama will continue. Even if there is no audience, we still have to sing for the little devils, right?"
"In addition, contact the direct driving troops of the New Regiment and the tank troops of the New Second Regiment in advance, the attack is about to begin!"
"Yes!" Shen Quan responded.
……
...a large amount of food, people from all directions, commanders of various regiments of the Eighth Route Army, and even some high-ranking officers of the Eighth Route Army.
There are also the main forces of the Eighth Route Army that appeared in Dafengzhuang.
Setting up a stage and singing big plays, day and night.
This news spread to the Japanese headquarters, and the old Japanese Yoshio Shinozuka could no longer sit still.
Every piece of news coming from Dafengzhuang seemed like Kong Jie was mocking him.
Yoshio Shinozuka no longer hesitated and issued the order to launch a surprise attack on Dafengzhuang.
At exactly three o'clock in the morning, two Japanese regiments, with nearly 6,000 troops, mixed with artillery troops, armored troops, and automobile troops, set out secretly from two counties with the assistance of the Eighth Mixed Brigade of the puppet army.
From the left and right wings, we used a pincer-shaped encirclement offensive and quickly approached the area around Dafengzhuang, the guerrilla area outside the Independent Regiment.