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This was a major military victory, but its political significance far exceeded its military significance.
Extensive propaganda was carried out in the rear area, which greatly boosted the morale of the anti-Japanese soldiers and civilians. The British, American, German and other foreign media also reported extensively, which dealt a heavy blow to the morale of the Japanese army.
Xu Dalong listened to some news reports on the radio. The content of the reports was naturally to promote the heroic invincibility of the anti-Japanese soldiers and civilians, the incompetence and weakness of the Japanese army, and the greed for life and fear of death. These were for propaganda purposes and also reflected the true emotions of the anti-Japanese soldiers and civilians. Xu Dalong was also very fond of this.
understand.
However, such propaganda went against Xu Dalong's original intention of forcing these Japanese troops to surrender and undermined his efforts to disintegrate the enemy. The Japanese army suffered such humiliation, and it will be even more difficult to get those Japanese officers and soldiers to surrender in the future.
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After careful consideration, Xu Dalong drafted a telegram. He first sent the contents of the telegram to Representative Wang of the Eighth Route Army Office and asked him to submit it to his superiors for review.
After Representative Wang read Xu Dalong's telegram, he felt very unhappy. He believed that Xu Dalong was reasonable in terms of dismantling the enemy. He could not make the final decision on this matter, so he sent the original text of Xu Dalong's telegram to the headquarters, asking for
The head of the headquarters conducts the review.
The policy level of the head of the headquarters, chief of staff and division commander was much higher. They were far-sighted and believed that what Xu Dalong said made sense. In order to fully understand Xu Dalong's intentions, they entrusted the brigade commander to talk to Xu Dalong.
Xu Dalong received the telegram from the brigade commander and immediately set off for the brigade headquarters with his special team.
After meeting Xu Dalong, the brigade commander said happily: "Xu Dalong, you did a great job this time. You were able to force a Japanese regiment to surrender. This is a major victory both politically and militarily.
I have seen all the messages you sent, please tell me your specific thoughts."
The content of Xu Dalong’s telegram is:
"The officers and soldiers of the 81st Regiment of the Japanese Army performed extremely well in the battle. They are not cowards afraid of death, but brave and fearless warriors. As their opponent, I have full respect for their brave and tenacious fighting spirit.
This time the officers and soldiers of the 81st Regiment were forced to lay down their weapons and surrender, not because they were greedy for life, but because their commander deceived them. When they were besieged, their commander lied to them in order to let them continue to work hard.
Reinforcements will arrive, but in fact no reinforcements have been sent at all.
The officers and soldiers of the 81st Regiment still maintained a good fighting spirit despite running out of ammunition and food. In the end, when they were exhausted and had no combat effectiveness at all, they chose to live with dignity and held a
Solemn surrender ceremony.
The Mawushan guerrillas also gave them full respect, allowing them to keep the regiment flag, the officers to keep their weapons, and provided them with food and treatment for the wounded. They did not subject them to any corporal punishment, beating or scolding, nor said any insulting language.
, and let them go back immediately.
Commanders of the Japanese army, the 81st Regiment has not insulted the honor of the Japanese army. I hope that after they return, you can treat them kindly and not punish or humiliate them, let alone implicate their families. They have passed through their tenacious fighting and heavy sacrifices.
, proved that they are brave soldiers.
Commanders of the Japanese army, you have failed this time. Please do not punish your subordinates to vent your dissatisfaction. If you have the ability, go to the battlefield and wash away your shame with victory.
Xu Dalong, captain of the Mawushan Guerrilla Brigade."
The brigade commander said: "On the surface, this message is suspected of praising the Japanese army. I'm afraid it will be difficult for the anti-Japanese soldiers and civilians to accept it. Tell me, why do you say that?"
Xu Dalong said: "As the Anti-Japanese War has been going on for many years, it has been difficult to capture Japanese prisoners on the battlefield. Even if it is a wounded soldier or even a medical staff, they will choose to fight to the end on the battlefield, and our army has paid a heavy price for this."
If on the battlefield, once the Japanese army runs out of ammunition and food, they can choose to surrender, it will be easier for our army to win during the battle, and therefore many casualties will be reduced."
The brigade commander had fought countless battles with the Japanese, and he knew deeply how tenacious the Japanese army was on the battlefield.
There was a very typical example in this attack on the Shitai Railway. A battalion of our army surrounded a Japanese stronghold. At the end of the battle, there was only one soldier left in the Japanese army. He ran to the top of a gun tower.
, covered the stairway leading to the roof, and kept shooting down and throwing grenades. He persisted for two hours, and there was nothing he could do. Finally, as Japanese reinforcements arrived, the underground party troops were forced to
Evacuated. This story is recorded in the history of the Anti-Japanese War.
There is a more extreme example. It has been 30 years since the Japanese surrender, and there is still a Japanese soldier who continues to fight in the jungles of the Philippines. His tenacity is unimaginable.
If according to what Xu Dalong said, the Japs could surrender on the battlefield, it would greatly undermine the Japanese army's will to fight, and it would be easier for the anti-Japanese soldiers and civilians to win the battle, thus reducing casualties significantly.
Seeing the brigade commander deep in thought, Xu Dalong paused for a moment.
When the brigade commander nodded to him, Xu Dalong continued.
He said: "On the surface, this telegram seems to praise the Japanese army's tenacious fighting spirit, but in fact it has the effect of disorganizing their will to fight.
The Japanese army believes that it is impossible to win on the battlefield and when they run out of ammunition and food, they can choose to surrender with dignity. Many Japanese soldiers will do so in the future. If things go on like this, a habit will be formed, and the overall fighting will of the Japanese army will be greatly reduced.
To be honest, in my eyes, the little devils are all beasts and not worthy of respect at all. The reason why I say this is to fool them. No matter what, as long as I can trick them into surrendering."
Hearing this, the brigade commander nodded slightly and said, "What you said makes sense. Go on."
Xu Dalong said: "The reason why I released the captured Japanese soldiers is equivalent to handing a hot potato to the Japanese army. If they kill these people who surrendered and rebelled, they will be hated by the majority of ordinary Japanese officers and soldiers. If they let go
After these Japanese officers and soldiers, other Japanese officers and soldiers will follow suit and choose to surrender when the situation is at a disadvantage on the battlefield in the future.
No matter what the outcome was, it would be a heavy blow to the morale of the Japanese army.
The more we praise those Japanese officers and soldiers who surrendered as brave warriors, the more difficult it will be for the Japanese army to deal with. I dare say that putting these Japanese officers and soldiers back is more significant than annihilating a Japanese brigade."
The brigade commander was an extremely shrewd person. He believed that what Xu Dalong said was reasonable, and he would have handled it in the same way if it were him.
The brigade commander said: "Your idea is very good. I agree with it. I will report this matter to the head of the headquarters. Once the bosses approve it, you can publish this message publicly."
After listening to the brigade commander's report, the bosses believed that Xu Dalong's approach was correct, and that Xu Dalong sent this telegram in his personal capacity. At the same time, he was a direct party to the Japanese surrender incident. His status was very suitable and he could play a role.
Therefore, Xu Dalong was agreed to publicly send this message.
The brigade commander modified and polished Xu Dalong's telegram to make the surrender of the Japanese officers and soldiers look more tragic, and then sent a clear telegram to the brigade headquarters.
Clear code telegrams are translated using internationally accepted code books. Any unit with a radio station, or even a person with a radio, can translate the contents after receiving these telegrams.
After Xu Dalong's telegram was sent out, it immediately caused a sensation, even stronger than the Japanese surrender incident itself.
All independent groups.
Xu Dalong's telegram aroused strong dissatisfaction among the officers and soldiers of the Independent Regiment. After reading the telegram, Li Yunlong cursed angrily: "What's going on with this kid Xu Dalong? Why are you praising the little devil? I have to give him two slaps when I see him."
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Zhang Dabiao was also very unhappy and said: "Isn't this the ambition of a young devil to destroy our prestige?"
Zhao Gang's political level is much higher than the two of them. Although he was a little unhappy at the beginning, after thinking about it carefully, he basically understood Xu Dalong's routine.
He said: "Lao Li, Lao Zhang, don't be impatient. Xu Dalong is definitely not flattering the Japanese by doing this. He must have his own ideas."
Li Yunlong said angrily: "What kind of idea is this? Isn't this just flattering the Japanese?"
Zhao Gang said: "Old Li, what you said is too much. To be honest, Xu Dalong killed many more Japanese than you, Old Li, and even these Japanese were captured by Xu Dalong and the others.
I've already guessed the general meaning, let's put it this way. Xu Dalong is not a reckless person. He must have asked his superiors for instructions when he sent this clear code telegram. Without the consent of his superiors, he would not have sent this clear code message.
Telegraph. Aren’t the policy levels of the chief ministers lower than yours, Mr. Li?”
After hearing this, Li Yunlong felt that he had gone too far, but he was still angry and said, "Why does this kid do this?"
At this moment, the brigade commander called.
Li Yunlong took the call, and the brigade commander's first words were: "Li Yunlong, are you scolding Xu Dalong again because of Xu Dalong's clear telegram?"
When Li Yunlong heard this, he smiled awkwardly and said, "It's nothing."
The brigade commander said: "The clear-coded telegram sent by Xu Dalong was approved by the head of the headquarters, and the content of the message was modified by me. Don't make wild guesses, but tell the soldiers that Xu Dalong sent this clear-coded telegram because it has important military and political implications.
The meaning of the above. The detailed situation will be conveyed to you at the cadre meeting. Do you understand?"
Li Yunlong said loudly: "Yes, Brigadier, I understand."