Objectively speaking, if we purely consider the risk of taking sides, the risk of the puppet North China Security Army siding with the Japanese is relatively low.
This is not only because the Japanese are powerful in China, but also because they threaten the families of the puppet North China Security Army.
Take Ning Jie's 23rd Regiment, for example. Most of the troops in this unit come from Datong and the villages surrounding Datong.
This is easier for the devils to control.
If any soldier violated military regulations and deserted or "colluded" with the Eighth Route Army, the Japanese would directly use the joint-seat system to arrest his family members.
In other words, the Japanese used the puppet soldiers' family members as hostages to make it easier for them to surrender, escape or mutiny.
But at this time, the Eighth Route Army had occupied Datong, which meant that the puppet army's family members were no longer under the control of the Japanese, and the Japanese could no longer threaten Ning Jie and the others with their families.
On the contrary, the Eighth Route Army could not do this. That is to say, the Eighth Route Army could not use the puppet army's family members as hostages like the Japanese... Just kidding, the Eighth Route Army is an army from the people. They even have strict discipline and must treat prisoners with preferential treatment.
It also includes Japanese prisoners who kill without blinking an eye, so how can they take the families of the puppet soldiers as hostages?
The puppet soldiers of the 23rd Regiment also knew this, so they did not worry about the safety of their families at all after escaping.
During the break, Deputy Commander Xiang Li'an walked to Ning Jie who was sitting on the stone, squatted down while eating steamed buns, and said: "Commander, you see, the Eighth Route Army is getting better and better as it fights..."
"Shh!" Ning Jie glared at Xiang Li'an, looked around cautiously, and then lowered his voice and said, "Are you desperate for your life? If the Japanese overhear this, they will label you as a collaborator!"
Xiang Li'an was a little helpless. He didn't expect this. He just wanted to discuss the enemy's equipment and combat effectiveness normally.
But it makes sense to think about it. If you say a few words to praise the Eighth Route Army or envy them, does that mean you want to follow the Eighth Route Army?
This is the tragedy of being a puppet army. They are always in fear. Not only do they have to look at the faces of the Japanese, but they also have to be careful about what they say.
Xiang Li'an chewed the steamed bun fiercely and said angrily: "I'm not afraid, Datong has been captured by the Eighth Route Army anyway!"
Although these words were said without any beginning or end, Ning Jie understood the meaning.
If the 23rd Regiment had to sacrifice its life for the Japanese because its family members were in the hands of the Japanese, it no longer has this worry at all now.
If you don't have this worry and you still have a gun in your hand, then why are you afraid of the Japanese?
As a result, many of the puppet soldiers who were used to being bullied by the Japanese had somewhat changed their eyes when looking at the Japanese.
Ning Jie sighed.
He thinks more comprehensively than others.
It can be said to be a good thing or a bad thing for the family to escape from the control of the Japanese.
The good thing is of course that my family is safe.
Bad thing... If there is no clue in the hands of the Japanese, will the Japanese suspect that the 23rd Regiment is going to rebel?
Ning Jie's worries are not unreasonable. One of the important reasons why Japanese commanders such as Okamura Neiji became suspicious of the 23rd Regiment so quickly and decided that the 23rd Regiment had different intentions was because they believed that the 23rd Regiment had different intentions.
The control of the regiment (family members) is no longer in their hands, so it is only a matter of time before they lose control of the 23rd Regiment.
However, Ning Jie thought about it and felt that it was not necessary now, because the Japanese were in short supply of soldiers and they still needed the 23rd Regiment to fight for them.
As for surrendering to the Eighth Route Army... It's not that Ning Jie never thought about it, but he and the 23rd Regiment killed so many people in the Eighth Route Army, and he also did many evil things with the Japanese. Can the Eighth Route Army just let it go? Can the people spare them?
?
Ning Jie mechanically ate the so-called "canned beef" in his hand, thinking that given the current situation, it would be better to take it one step at a time!
At this time, Ning Jie felt that the world was so big but there was no place for him.
But if you say you regret it... Ning Jie shook his head slightly.
Ning Jie didn't want to do anything that would hurt his father and fellow villagers, but in these troubled times, especially in the area controlled by the Japanese, if he wanted to survive and support his family... he had no right to choose at all.
At this moment, a correspondent reported: "Guanzu, Boss Qian of Lingxiu Villa wants to see you!"
"Boss Qian?" Ning Jie was stunned for a moment, then immediately said, "Yes!"
Boss Qian has businesses in several cities including Datong and Zhangjiakou, and he usually gives Ning Jie and his gang a lot of benefits.
In Ning Jie's opinion, Boss Qian wanted to rely on their big tree to do business, so he felt at ease.
This time he met Boss Qian on the road, which surprised him a little.
But then I thought about it, maybe I escaped in a hurry because I was worried that my property would be confiscated by the Eighth Route Army.
It seems that the Eighth Route Army did not blockade the eastern side. Encircling Sanjueyi did allow them to occupy Datong at a lower cost, but at the same time they also lost a lot of wealth!
Boss Qian is in his forties, wearing a gray gown and a popular round-brimmed hat, and a pair of round gold-rimmed glasses on the bridge of his nose. You can tell at a glance that he is a wealthy man.
"Hey! Group seats!" As soon as Boss Qian saw Ning Jie, he bowed his hand to him kindly.
Because Ning Jie was depressed, he didn't even bother to stand up. He just raised his hands and asked, "Boss Qian, why are you here too?"
Boss Qian laughed and said: "To be honest, Mr. Qian came to see you specially this time!"
Ning Jie's expression turned serious, and he immediately realized something.
In a state of war, a businessman would actually come to see him as the leader, especially when they were still on the way to escape...
Aren't you afraid of death?
Aren't you afraid that your property will be confiscated under some pretext?
Aren't you afraid of being held hostage and demanding money?
Although Ning Jie wouldn't do it himself, he couldn't control his subordinates.
Therefore, ordinary businessmen have no time to hide from such an army, but Boss Qian actually comes to them?
unless……
Thinking of this, Ning Jie felt a little confused. Boss Qian was most likely an intelligence officer of the Eighth Route Army. His past interactions with him were not for the purpose of gathering intelligence.
Ning Jie smiled bitterly and said, "Boss Qian, I can't tell! I, Ning, am mistaken!"
Boss Qian knew that his identity had been discovered by Ning Jie, but he actually had no intention of hiding it from Ning Jie.
Boss Qian calmly said to Ning Jie: "Master, I am here to tell you some news because of our previous friendship. I wonder if you are interested in knowing?"
Ning Jie expressionlessly squeezed out one word from between his teeth: "Speak!"
Boss Qian looked at the Japanese a dozen meters away, then stepped forward and whispered a few words. Ning Jie's face suddenly lost all color.