The first thousand two hundred and forty-nine chapters
At dawn the next day, Zhang Liechen and the others took action according to their assigned tasks.
Deputy battalion commander Wang Dongming led a company of officers and soldiers to carry dry food and replenish ammunition, then turned back and built an outpost camp at the dangerous Black Wind Pass.
Their main task is to monitor the road into the mountains. Once the Japanese and puppet troops encounter intruders, they will use the terrain to block the attack and at the same time warn the rear, leading the enemies into the mountains to avoid damage to the Xiaoqingshan camp.
There are early warning outposts on the periphery. Once the Japanese and puppet troops invade, the camp in Xiaoqingshan will definitely get the news, so Zhang Liechen and the others are not worried about safety issues in the short term.
It is not an option to crowd tens of thousands of military families and civilians into Xiaoqingshan. After all, if you build houses in a large area, it will be easy to be discovered by the reconnaissance planes of the Japs.
The result of Zhang Liechen's meeting was that tens of thousands of military dependents and civilians were dispersed to more than ten villages around Xiaoqingshan and resettled.
In order to facilitate management, Zhang Liechen organized these tens of thousands of civilian soldiers and civilians according to the military model and established ten civilian camps.
The task of the private battalion commander is to be responsible for the settlement of the people in the camp and the adjustment of conflicts in all aspects.
Under Zhang Liechen's order, the civilians and military dependents of these ten private camps were evacuated to surrounding villages to settle down. Only the ninth and twelfth private camps with a smaller number of about 4,000 people remained in Heilang Village in Xiaoqingshan.
Although the number of people staying in the two private households in Heilang Village in Xiaoqingshan is relatively small, housing is scarce and is still not enough.
Under Zhang Liechen's call, the people of the Ninth and Tenth Private Battalions showed the Chinese nation's hard-working spirit and built their own houses.
In just one day, shacks that were enough to protect them from wind and rain were built in the forest near Heilang Village.
These shacks are constructed by temporarily cutting down some trees, and are covered with some compacted thatch and raincloth, so you don't have to worry about it even if it rains.
"This will be our long-term war camp in the future. Just building shacks is not enough. Next, we have to build more solid houses to become everyone's new home."
Zhang Liechen saw that in just one day of concerted efforts, countless shacks were built, and he was very pleased. At least the people had a place to sleep, and they no longer had to live in the open.
"Sir, don't worry. We will organize people to cut down trees and build houses next, ensuring that every common person can live comfortably, just like before."
The people who served as the commanders of the private battalions were all highly respected people in the original hometown. After hearing what Zhang Liechen said, they all agreed one after another.
"When building a house, you must also consider it comprehensively. First, pay attention to the concealment of air defense, and second, prevent flash floods and landslides and mudslides..."
Zhang Liechen has been staying in Huaiyin to take charge of civil and logistical affairs since deputy commander Yuan Guangtao parachuted into the Northern Jiangsu Guerrilla Corps. Now he is able to do these things at his fingertips.
"We must follow the commander's instructions."
Seeing that Zhang Liechen spoke clearly and eloquently, the squires in these places also admired Zhang Liechen very much and did not dare to violate him.
Zhang Liechen inspected these shacks in the forest and gave corrections and suggestions on the safety, drainage, and sanitation of these shacks.
"Now that we have shacks that we can live in temporarily, we just arrange for people to build the houses. There are more important things that you need to do now."
"Please give me your orders, sir."
"Spring plowing is coming to an end now. Although we have some grain in reserve, it won't last long. What I mean is that we need to organize people to rush to plant the grain quickly, otherwise we will be hungry by then."
After hearing what Zhang Liechen said, these private camp commanders and squires were all in trouble.
As far as the eye can see, most of Xiaoqingshan is covered with lush forests, and there is not even a piece of arable land. How can we grow food?
"Sir, there isn't even a piece of land in this place where birds can't poop. I'm afraid I won't be able to grow food."
They all came from the plains and were used to growing food in the plains. Facing these mountains, they were helpless.
"Who said there is no land? I see there is land all over the mountains and plains." Zhang Liechen pointed to the hillside and said: "As long as we spend some time clearing away weeds, stones and trees, and surrounding them with terraces, we can grow food.
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"But there is no water for irrigation." Someone asked the question.
"It's simple. We can build some irrigation canals along the hillside to divert water from the upper reaches of the valley. We have a large number of people now, so it won't take much time to do these things."
Zhang Liechen's words were like enlightenment, and everyone suddenly realized that this method was feasible.
"We can grow some drought-tolerant crops in areas without water." Some people also put forward their own ideas.
"This idea of yours is very good." Zhang Liechen immediately verbally praised this person.
It is said that the three cobblers were better than Zhuge Liang. After everyone's discussion, the plan to open up wasteland and grow grain was quickly finalized.
What the Chinese people have never lacked since ancient times is hard work. Now that they are temporarily safe, they naturally have to consider their future food supply.
Under the unified planning of Zhang Liechen and others, except for some people who continued to cut down trees and build houses, most people began to open up wasteland and grow food in the mountains, striving to plant the food to avoid starvation.
Zhang Liechen knows the principle of self-reliance very well. If you rely on grabbing food, you will not be able to survive for a long time. If you want to be self-sufficient, you have to take action yourself.
On the third day after Zhang Liechen and others arrived at Xiaoqingshan, everyone ignored their fatigue and started a vigorous campaign to open up wasteland and grow grain.
There are people busy everywhere on the hillsides and river valleys where food can be grown. The weapon repair shop of the Northern Jiangsu Guerrilla Corps has also changed its occupation and temporarily built a batch of agricultural tools and distributed them, greatly improving everyone's efficiency.
In a short period of time, the entire area near Xiaoqingshan was filled with lively scenes. Both men and women joined the battle, making the entire area completely changed.
While Zhang Liechen and the others were busy opening up wasteland and growing grain in Xiaoqingshan, the surrounding bandits also sent people to inquire for information.
Zhang Liechen and others entered the mountainous area of Lunan and fought with the pursuing puppet troops in the mountains. They did not escape the spies planted in various bandit villages.
When the news was reported to the leaders of each village, the bandits were all panicked for a while, thinking that the Chinese Communist Party had entered the mountain to encircle and suppress them, and were ready to run away.
But as time went by, they got more information and learned more about Zhang Liechen and others who entered the mountain.
They calmed down when they learned that they were not being targeted, but were being chased into the mountains by the Japanese.
After all, they were local snakes, and Zhang Liechen and the others were cross-river dragons. As long as the Japanese stopped chasing them, they would have to leave the mountains sooner or later, so the bandits were not too worried.
But as time went by, when they learned that Zhang Liechen and the others were opening up wasteland to grow food in Xiaoqingshan, the bandits couldn't sit still anymore. What did they want to do? Stay here for a long time?