The first thousand two hundred and sixty-five chapters prisoner camp
The vast mountains make this mountainous area criss-crossed with ravines. Thick thorns and vines grow around the logs. Dotted villages are located in these mountains.
Compared with the northern Jiangsu area with dense water network and abundant cultivated land, the mountainous area of southern Shandong is at the other extreme, lacking water, land, and villages, resulting in a sparse population.
Even though the Northern Jiangsu Guerrilla Corps withdrew into the mountains and settled in Xiaoqingshan, followed by tens of thousands of military relatives and civilians, which made the place full of vitality, the base of the Northern Jiangsu Guerrilla Corps was still weak.
Although many people followed the troops into the mountains, most of them were old, weak, women and children. What's more, people were needed to open up wasteland for farming and various factories, which led to a shortage of young and strong labor force.
The Northern Jiangsu Guerrilla Corps suffered heavy losses after breaking through the siege of Huaiyin, and were in urgent need of additional troops. However, the population in the mountainous area was sparse, and the difficulty of recruiting troops became a problem that troubled Yang Ling and the others.
If they want to counterattack the Japs, they will inevitably need well-trained troops with strong combat effectiveness. But without soldiers, everything is in vain.
The two reinforced battalions currently planned to be reorganized each have only more than 300 people. Even if these people are trained to the point where one is as good as ten, it will still be difficult to defeat the Japs and take back Huaiyin.
Just when Yang Ling and others were worried about the shortage of troops to expand the army, the blacksmith, the commander of the first battalion, found the commander-in-chief, hoping to recruit the captured bandits into the army.
There were more than 600 bandits captured in the battle at Xiaoqingshan, all of whom were strong and strong, because the bandits' cottages would not support idle people, and they would not recruit the old, weak, sick and disabled to join them for food.
It's not like Yang Ling has never thought about integrating these bandits, but he also has a hidden worry, that is, the bandits are unruly and he is worried that they will rebel.
After all, the current regular troops of the Northern Jiangsu Guerrilla Corps in the mountains are not much more than these bandits, and this is the time when they are weak.
Once these bandits are allowed to regain their freedom, there is no guarantee that they will not cause trouble. Once there is a backlash against the Northern Jiangsu Guerrilla Corps, the consequences will be disastrous.
"We can reform them in batches, and give some bandits who have performed well a chance to reform and absorb them into our army, and resolutely punish those stubborn diehards."
Deputy Captain Zhang Liechen also understood Yang Ling's concerns, so he put forward a suggestion to treat them differently.
Now the Northern Jiangsu Guerrilla Corps is in urgent need of replenishing soldiers to restore its combat effectiveness, but it will not be able to recruit soldiers for a while. It can only be used as a living horse doctor. Yang Ling agreed to absorb some bandits into the army to enhance the combat effectiveness of the army.
"Let's recruit 150 people into the army as the first batch, and let's see the effect first."
Yang Ling nodded, and the blacksmith of the first battalion commander received the Shang Fang Sword. After saluting, he went straight to the prisoner camp with the order signed by Yang Ling.
The prisoner camp was built in a steep mountain col, with steep cliffs on three sides. Only one side leads in and out of the col, surrounded by officers and soldiers with loaded guns and ammunition, and the camp was heavily guarded.
Two Type 92 heavy machine guns were set up on the cliff at the commanding heights. The black barrels of the guns were able to beat anyone who dared to make any move into a sieve.
Although more than 600 prisoners were disarmed, they were all bandits after all, and Yang Ling and others did not dare to be careless.
Although Yang Ling and others did not cut off the food of these bandits, the mental state of the bandits was not very good when faced with the stern-looking officers and soldiers around them.
Bandits and soldiers have been enemies since ancient times. Now that they have fallen into the hands of these soldiers, one can imagine how the bandits feel.
Although the Northern Jiangsu Guerrilla Corps has not bothered to deal with them for the time being, this has made them even more worried about their own fate and worried about being killed directly.
The bandits no longer had the majesty they had when they attacked Xiaoqingshan that day. Each one of them had their heads drooped and looked lifeless. However, they still gathered together according to their respective villages and were clearly differentiated.
"Huang San, what do you think these soldiers will do with us?"
Looking at the heavily armed officers and soldiers of the Northern Jiangsu Guerrilla Corps, a haggard-looking bandit looked worried.
"Either let us go or kill us."
The thin, yellow-faced man with a piece of grass in his mouth looked like he was malnourished. Compared to the bandits who were worried about them, he seemed a little careless.
"You didn't say anything. It's really a waste of time to ask you." The bandit who asked the question was obviously not very satisfied with this answer.
"You know I don't know, so why are you asking me?"
Huang San gave the bandit a roll of his eyes and lay down in a comfortable posture leaning against a stone.
"It's hard to explain why a scholar encounters a soldier. Besides, we are bandits and have been sworn enemies with them since ancient times. I estimate that most likely, they are thinking of some way to kill us." The bandit sat down next to Huang San.
, said speculatively.
"Then how do you want to die?" Huang San turned sideways and supported his chin with his arm, looking at the bandit and said: "Shot? Or buried alive?"
"Go, go, crow's mouth, I don't want to die." The bandit cursed angrily, appearing to be in a bad mood.
After a long silence, the uneasy bandit looked around and found that no one was paying attention to them. Then he lowered his voice and said to Huang San: "We can't sit still and wait for death. The longer the time drags on, the slimmer our hope of survival will be."
"What do you think?" Huang San asked.
"When I went to relieve myself, I overheard that the Wangjiagou gang was preparing to escape from prison." The bandit answered mysteriously.
"So what?" Huang San didn't seem very surprised to hear the news.
"What I mean is that we should also prepare and escape while the chaos is happening."
"We can't escape."
"I said do you really want to die or something, but you don't want to run away?"
The bandit became a little angry when he saw Huang San's heartless look.
"Have you seen those machine guns on the top? They swept down a large number of people and no one could escape." Huang San said to the machine gun nest on the top of the cliff.
"I know there is still a chance to escape. If I don't escape, I will be waiting for my head to be chopped off and die in vain. I am not willing to do so." The bandit said bitterly.
"You are wrong. Escape is a dead end, but not escaping is a way to survive." Huang San shook his head.
"I think you are confused. You are waiting for death if you stay here." The bandit argued with Huang San.
"Have you seen those houses in the distance?" Huang San asked, pointing into the distance.
"I don't have time to talk nonsense with you, so I just want to ask you, do you want to escape with me?" The bandit seemed very impatient.
"Those houses were built by soldiers who helped the common people. These soldiers are not evil-minded and may not necessarily kill us." Huang San said to himself, as if talking to himself.
The bandit then raised his eyes and saw the houses covered with camouflage nets in the distance, showing a thoughtful expression.
"If you don't kill us, why don't you let us go and keep us locked up here?" the bandit asked.
"Ask me, I'll ask who." Huang San rolled his eyes at the bandit again, closed his eyes and began to fall asleep.
The bandit looked at the people who were plotting to escape in the distance, and then at the house in the distance. Finally, he sighed and closed his eyes distractedly, trying to calm down.