In the next few days, Xu Rui sent Digua to protect Smedley's safety, and then allowed her to come and go at will on the territory of the Chahar Independent Regiment, whether it was the cavalry training base, the barracks or even the regiment headquarters.
They are all completely open. Xu Rui wants to show her a real Chahar Independent Group.
Xu Rui knew better than anyone else that Smedley was full of sympathy for China's war of resistance, so they only needed to show the true situation of the Chahar Independent Regiment in front of her, and that was enough, because they
The situation is indeed difficult. The biggest difficulty is lack of funds, and we can't even afford food.
This is really not about crying for poverty. Yes, the independent group did collect a sum of money from Guisui and Baotou, but this money must first ensure the construction of Baotou Industrial Zone, and the donations promised by Baotou merchants have only been paid in part. They did not say
No, we have to wait until the tea trading company has revenue before paying the remainder.
Obviously, the merchants in Baotou are not stupid, and they also understand the principle of not letting go of the eagle before it sees the rabbit.
Therefore, the life of the Chahar Independent Group is indeed very tight right now, and they can't even afford to eat.
Of course, it must be noted that except for the dignitaries in Chongqing, most Chinese people in this era hardly have enough to eat. Whether it is the Eighth Route Army or the National Army, it is normal for frontline soldiers to go hungry to fight against the Japanese. Therefore, it is difficult to
It’s not just the Chahar Independent Group. Xu Rui also didn’t deliberately cry about poverty.
The day before yesterday, Smedley suddenly had a whim and wanted to have a big meal with the soldiers of the Independent Regiment. Then, despite Wang Husheng's objection, she went straight to the cavalry battalion station. However, she was shocked by the sight in front of her. The meal prepared for her by the Independent Regiment was white flour.
Steamed buns, but the officers and soldiers of the first cavalry battalion ate black-faced steamed buns with a little pickles.
Smedley grabbed one from the basket and took a bite, but found that it was too rough to swallow. As a result, Ma Fei, commander of the 1st Cavalry Battalion, said quietly: "Miss Smedley, we can't eat black-faced steamed buns like this all day."
I only eat two meals a day, sometimes intermittently. Only when I'm fighting can I eat three meals a day and still feel full."
After a pause, Ma Fei continued: "So, the brothers are all looking forward to the war, because only in the war can we be full. People who have never been hungry can't understand how bad that feeling is."
Smedley burst into tears because she had just been to Chongqing. When she was in Chongqing, she followed Mrs. Sun to various social occasions almost every day, including senior government officials and celebrities from all walks of life.
The food, drinks, clothing and entertainment were extremely luxurious, and sometimes one meal would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars!
There was also a high-ranking general who spent more than 5,000 yuan just to prepare a birthday gift for his new concubine, not to mention the expense of a grand banquet! It was extremely extravagant!
However, the anti-Japanese soldiers on the front line were hungry to fight against the Japanese invaders!
After that day, Smedley insisted on canceling her Xiaozao and insisted on eating black-faced steamed buns with the officers and soldiers of the Independent Regiment.
Xu Rui is not too pretentious. Of course, he will not really let Smedley eat black-faced steamed buns all the time. Taking advantage of the opportunity to train the king and the macho man every day, Xu Rui will still take the opportunity to beat him up.
Sheep or a few hares were offered to improve Smedley's food as much as possible, and Smedley did not refuse.
After a few days, Smedley had almost collected the materials.
Then Xu Rui and Wang Husheng had a long talk with Smedley.
Smoot came to take out his notebook, then took out his ballpoint pen and prepared it. First he said to Xu Rui: "Captain Xu, first of all I want to say thank you, thank you for your trust in me, and thank you for giving me such a great gift."
This opportunity to experience military life gave me a deep understanding of the hardships of the Chinese army in fighting against the Japanese invaders."
Wang Husheng suddenly felt a sore nose.
Wang Husheng was not feeling sad for the hardships before him, nor was he feeling sad for himself. He was feeling sad for his comrades who starved to death during the Great Revolution.
After the Central Red Army left the Soviet area during the Long March, only a small number of the Red Army and the wounded remained, insisting on staying in the Soviet area to fight guerrilla warfare. Those three years were really a purgatory memory. At that time, let alone black-faced steamed buns,
Many times they can't even eat wild vegetables and bark grass roots, they can only eat Guanyin soil!
How many comrades in arms died in pain after eating Guanyin soil, with bellies as big as drums?
Looking back now, Wang Husheng still feels deeply sad.
Xu Rui said: "Miss Smedley, for us, not having enough food is nothing. We can still overcome such difficulties, but what we can't overcome is the lack of weapons and ammunition! So
Over the past few days, you must have seen a lot. Our Chahar Independent Regiment is a cavalry regiment. There are more than 2,000 commanders and fighters, but there are only more than 800 useful horses. Many warriors ride them.
They are all old, weak and sick horses, or they are simply pack horses or even mules. How can they be considered cavalry?"
After a pause, Xu Rui added: "There are also weapons and equipment, including medium and formal ones, made in Hanyang, the Japs' 38 big cover, and Belgian Mauser guns. They are of all kinds, both in terms of money and caliber. That's it.
If you can't get one shot per person, at least half of the warriors can only use knives!"
It must be said that what Xu Rui said is a bit exaggerated.
It is an indisputable fact that the weapons and equipment of the Chahar Independent Regiment are diverse, but it is pure nonsense to say that half of the soldiers do not have guns. More than half of the weapons seized in the Wuyuan Battle fell into the hands of Xu Rui, but this
Some guns are enough to equip the Chahar Independent Regiment.
Smedley recorded it carefully and then asked: "Is there any more?"
"Of course." Xu Rui nodded and said, "Actually, the lack of guns is not the real difficulty. The real difficulty is ammunition. We are in urgent need of ammunition now! Miss Smedley, you should have seen that our Chahar Independent Regiment
During training, our officers and soldiers only practiced aiming and never engaged in live ammunition shooting."
"Yes." Smedley nodded and said, "I have never seen you conduct live fire."
"Actually, it's not that we don't want to engage in live ammunition shooting, and we don't have the conditions." Wang Husheng continued, "Right now, the average ammunition for each rifle in our regiment is less than five rounds, which is not even enough for a small ambush battle, and we can't eat.
We can overcome it, even if we don’t have enough guns, we can overcome it, but if we don’t have bullets, we really can’t overcome it.”
What Wang Husheng said is the actual situation. The Chahar Independent Regiment is indeed facing a severe shortage of ammunition. When the Chahar Independent Regiment was first established, Yan'an supported part of the ammunition, and later seized part of it in Hetao. However,
This ammunition was already exhausted in the Battle of Wuyuan.
Among the seizures in the Wuyuan Battle, there were many guns but very little ammunition.
This is also reasonable, because at the end of the Battle of Wuyuan, the Japanese ammunition reserves were running low, and there was no extra ammunition to be captured.
Therefore, the Chahar Independent Regiment is indeed facing a shortage of ammunition.
Moreover, the actual situation is similar to what Wang Husheng described.
Smedley said: "I heard that your Eighth Route Army mostly relies on seizures to replenish ammunition?"
"That's what happened." Xu Rui nodded and added, "But this can only supplement part of it, and just relying on seizures cannot support a large-scale campaign. Although the Japanese have temporarily withdrawn from Suiyuan, they will not be able to support it until next summer at the latest.
, the Japs will definitely launch a counterattack against Suiyuan, and by then, the Baotou Tea Road will face a fatal threat!"
Wang Husheng said: "If there are not enough ammunition reserves, Baotou will definitely fall. Then, the Baotou Tea Road, which can bring a steady stream of financial revenue to China's Anti-Japanese War, will be interrupted again, which will cause heavy damage to China's Anti-Japanese War."
"My God." Smedley kept crossing himself on his chest and said, "Baotou cannot be lost, it must be defended."
Xu Rui said solemnly: "To defend Baotou, we must have sufficient ammunition reserves, so we tried every means to get a bullet production line from the Soviets and tried to produce bullets ourselves, but the problem is that we don't have enough money.
You must have enough money to build this bullet production line."
Smedley asked: "How much does it cost? After this interview is over, I will fly directly to Chongqing. After arriving in Chongqing, I can help you raise donations. If necessary, I can even ask Mrs. Sun to help you raise donations.
I dare not say how much it will be, but I think we can still raise tens of thousands of yuan."
"Miss Smedley, we appreciate your kindness." Xu Rui shook his head and said, "What's more, tens of thousands of yuan is just a drop in the bucket, because the cooperation we have negotiated with the Soviet Union is a package of cooperation plans. If this plan can pay
Through implementation, the weapons and equipment of our Eighth Route Army will be greatly improved, and China's anti-war strength will also be significantly strengthened, but the problem is that to realize this cooperation plan, a large amount of capital investment is required."
After a pause, Xu Rui continued: "From the improvement of roads to the establishment of horse teams and camel teams, from the introduction of machinery and equipment to the mining and transportation of raw materials, to the preparation of factories, the recruitment and training of workers, all require money. Conservative
It is estimated that it will cost at least more than five million yuan, and it is possible that it may even cost tens of millions of yuan."
Industrial construction is indeed a bottomless black hole that swallows up funds.
Even after the founding of the People's Republic of China, a nationwide effort was made to engage in industrial construction and the country's 600 million farmers tightened their belts. It still took more than five years to barely build some industries! Therefore, if Xu Rui wants to build some industries in Baotou,
Building an industrial zone, even if it is a small, pocket-sized industrial zone, is definitely not an easy task. The biggest difficulty is the lack of funds!
God! Smedley exclaimed and said: "More than five million, I'm afraid there's nothing I can do about it."
Xu Rui said: "I only hope that Miss Smedley can truthfully report the situation in Baotou to Mrs. Sun."
"No problem." Smedley nodded solemnly and continued, "I will definitely report the situation in Baotou and the actual situation of your Chahar Independent Regiment to Mrs. Sun truthfully. Oh no, no, I will also
You must tell the whole world about the actual difficulties of your Chahar Independent Group through Western media such as Miller Review."
