Dabie Mountain, Tiantang Village, 32nd Army Headquarters.
Wan Xiangyun, Commander-in-Chief of the 32nd Group Army, has been troubled recently because the pay cut-off date is coming soon. Although the National Army's military pay has been reduced again and again, from the initial eight yuan per month to the later one.
It was four legal tenders a month, then it was reduced from four legal tenders to three legal tenders, and then it was reduced to two legal tenders two months ago.
But even if it is reduced to two yuan, a group army with more than 70,000 people is still 140,000 yuan!
This is just for the soldiers. There are also military pay for seven to eight thousand officers, which is almost 100,000 yuan!
This is only one month. What's worse is that the six divisions under the 32nd Army have not been paid for eight months. Although the 32nd Army has just been formed, these six divisions
However, they were all part of the original organization, and now they were placed under the 32nd Army Group. Naturally, these salary arrears were left to him, Wan Xiangyun, to settle.
When the letter of appointment was first issued, Minister He made it clear that he would settle the payment arrears.
In other words, from the day he took office, Wan Xiangyun owed two million military pay!
But now, the Thirty-Second Army can't even get out three thousand legal coins in its account. Of course, it's easy to get out one hundred and eighty thousand from Wan Xiangyun's small treasury, but as Wan Xiangyun is an official, the main thing is
In order to make a fortune, how could he use his private wealth to confiscate the public salary? What's more, even if he donated a small treasury, one hundred thousand French currency would not be enough to cover the ball, and it would not even be enough to cover a month's military salary.
What's the use of eggs?
Wan Xiangyun has been very anxious these days because of the lack of military pay.
Seeing that Wan Xiangyun's brows were furrowed and he could hardly eat his breakfast, Li Mutang asked with concern: "Maintendent, are you feeling unwell? You don't have to catch a cold, right?"
"Caught a cold?" Wan Xiangyun said with a bitter smile, "I am worried about military pay."
"Military pay?" Li Mutang nodded and said, "Yes, tomorrow will be the day to pay for the war again."
"But there is no money in the army account." Wan Xiangyun said, "Brother Motang, how about we sell some of the military rations and pay this month's salary first? If the salary is always in arrears, it will inevitably happen.
It affects the morale of the troops. If the morale does not improve, the combat effectiveness will not improve. If it continues in the long run, this will not be a problem."
"Selling food?" Li Motang said, "The main seat, you can't do that."
After a pause, Li Motang added: "If the military pay cannot be paid, the brothers can only complain a few times. After all, whether you have money or not, you can still live your life as usual. But if the trouble is so great that you can't even eat, it will be serious. Mutiny is still a minor matter."
Yes, surrendering to the enemy is troublesome, especially after Wang Jingwei's treason, many armed forces behind enemy lines have surrendered to the enemy!"
Just a week ago, Wang Jingwei left Chongqing and secretly fled Vietnam. On the way to Hanoi, he published an infamous "pornographic message" advocating compromise with Japan and openly treason! Wang Jingwei's rebellion had a negative impact on the anti-war morale of soldiers and civilians across the country.
This caused a huge setback, and for a time, capitulationism became rampant.
Especially on the battlefield behind enemy lines, anti-Japanese armed forces surrendered to the enemy every day.
"You can't even eat?" Wan Xiangyun said, "Brother Motang, this shouldn't be the case, right? It's only been less than two months since the autumn grain collection came up. I remember you told me that this year's harvest will be great.
It’s not bad, the harvested autumn grain is enough to last until the end of next year, so why are you running out of food so soon?”
Li Motang smiled bitterly and said: "Chief Commander, don't you look at how much our army's expenses are. Just the cotton-padded clothes for the winter, which is a major item, consumes almost half of the food inventory. In addition, the office work of each unit of the army
Funds and ammunition supplies for each division all require money. Where does this money come from? We all have to sell grain for cash. Even if we have a Taicang, we can't afford such consumption."
Since Damei Mountain has been very poor since ancient times, mountain residents have paid taxes in kind since ancient times, and rarely pay in cash.
However, since the fall of Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, and Jiangsu provinces, the Dabie Mountains have become an isolated island. It has been unable to obtain supplies of various materials from the rear. As a last resort, the 32nd Army had to obtain supplies through smuggling. However,
Smuggling requires paying a higher price than the market price.
Therefore, it is useless to rely on the autumn grains in the Dabie Mountains.
Wan Xiangyun scratched his head and said depressedly: "I'm really worried. Think about it, how great would it be if we had a gold mine in Tiantangzhai? If there was a gold mine, we would no longer have to worry about having nothing to eat or wear.
, there is no need to worry about military supplies, these days, as long as you have gold, you can buy anything, even the little devil's arms."
Li Mutang smiled when he heard this, but said in his heart, let alone the gold mine, as long as you and others are less greedy, the life of our 32nd Army will be much easier. Don't think that I don't know who the director of the munitions department is.
If you are someone's brother-in-law, don't think that I don't know the little tricks the director of munitions plays when reselling military rations.
Wan Xiangyun suddenly said again: "Brother Motang, we have to find a way to capture Damei Mountain. Damei Mountain now needs industry and commerce. It is said that there are tens of thousands of industrial factories. That small
Life is extremely rich. If Damei Mountain belongs to our group army, then we really don’t have to worry about anything."
Li Mutang shook his head and said: "The Ministry of Military and Political Affairs has already sent a note, asking the New Fourth Army to withdraw to the north of the Huaihe River and hand over all the base areas south of the Huaihe River to the National Army. But the problem is that they don't listen at all. They take it forcefully.
, we are not sure, Xu Rui’s Dameishan Independent Group is not vegetarian.”
"There will always be a way. Sooner or later, Xu Rui will fall into my hands. It will be up to me how I deal with him." Wan Xiangyun snorted, and then said, "Speaking of Xu Rui and the Dameishan Independent Group
, I almost forgot, how is the Japanese raid on Damei Mountain? Has the Osaka Division sent troops? Are you still pretending to be injured?"
Li Mutang shook his head and said, "I really don't know this. I'll find someone to ask later."
As soon as Li Motang finished speaking, he saw a communications staff officer with the rank of major on his back rushing in panting, snapping his feet back and standing at attention, and reported to the two of them: "The chief, the counselor, we have just received a secret message from the military commander.
The Dameishan Independent Regiment completely wiped out one of the three Japanese troops participating in the sweep, the Iida detachment, at the Huangnipu stronghold!"
Wan Xiangyun had just picked up the chopsticks to eat breakfast. When he heard this, the chopsticks in his hand clattered to the ground.
Li Motang also suddenly stood up from his chair and shouted, "What did you say? The Dameishan Independent Regiment completely wiped out the Iida detachment at the Huangnipu stronghold? Totally wiped out?!"
"Yes." The communications staff officer nodded heavily, "It's total annihilation!"
"Oh my God!" Wan Xiangyun finally recovered and said in a loud voice, "How did Xu Rui fight this battle?"
"Yes." Li Motang also said with some disbelief, "The previous annihilation of the Kawaguchi Detachment and the heavy damage to the Hamura Detachment, to the later annihilation of the Fifth Division and Dameishan Independent Regiment were all internal operations, relying on the understanding of the terrain.
They are familiar with it, and they are taking advantage of the Japs' underestimation of the enemy, but this time, they are fighting from the outside! How did Xu Rui's Dameishan Independent Regiment do it? This is completely illogical and contrary to common sense!"
"It's not clear what exactly happened." The communications staff officer shook his head and added, "But the military commander is already investigating. I believe there will be detailed reports soon."
Li Mutang suddenly said: "Chief, this may be an opportunity for us!"
"Opportunity?" Wan Xiangyun was stunned for a moment after hearing this, and asked with some confusion, "What opportunity?"
Li Motang said in a deep voice: "Isn't the commander-in-chief worried about military pay? Perhaps, we can make a small fortune by taking advantage of the Dameishan Independent Regiment."
When Wan Xiangyun heard this, his eyes suddenly lit up and he said, "Brother Motang, please speak quickly."
Li Mutang said: "Chief, what do you think Hebian Zhengsan will react now?"
"That goes without saying." Wan Xiangyun said in a deep voice, "He must have become so angry that he immediately ordered the Kumamoto and Osaka divisions to attack Damei Mountain at all costs!"
Li Mutang added: "Then, how will Xu Rui react?"
Wan Xiangyun said: "Xu Rui must be tit for tat and send troops to stop it."
Li Mutang coughed dryly and said, "Chief, what I mean is, which Japanese army will Xu Rui choose to target next?"
Wan Xiangyun thought for a moment and said, "It must be the Osaka Division."
"My opinion is exactly the opposite to that of the commander-in-chief." Li Motang said, "I think Xu Rui will definitely target the Kumamoto Division next, because although the Osaka Division's combat effectiveness is weak, there are many people from Pukou to Gaxian County.
It is a plain terrain, and the Osaka Division has a tank regiment to assist in the battle. No matter how powerful the Dameishan Independent Regiment is in combat, it is impossible to fight head-on with the Japanese tanks, so Xu Rui will definitely avoid the Osaka Division."
"I understand!" Wan Xiangyun slapped his thigh fiercely upon hearing this and said loudly, "Brother Motang, you mean to say that while the Kumamoto Division and the Dameishan Independent Regiment are fighting inextricably, let's take advantage of the situation.
Destroyed the headquarters of the Kumamoto Division, captured the four towns of Feicheng, and seized the Japanese's baggage?"
"That's right!" Li Motang said, "But the timing of sending troops must be grasped. It cannot be too early. If it is too early, the Kumamoto Division may withdraw, but it cannot be too late. If it is too late, the Kumamoto Division and Dameishan will be independent.
No matter who wins or loses in the group, we will not let us fight against the autumn wind. When the time comes, it is very likely that we will lose a handful of rice instead of stealing the chicken."
"These are all trivial matters." Wan Xiangyun waved his hand and said, "Brother Motang, do you really think that Xu Rui will target the Kumamoto Division next?"
Li Motang said very firmly: "As long as there are no accidents, it must be like this."
"Okay!" Wan Xiangyun said loudly, "Immediately send a telegram to Wang Xiyuan and Xia Hanzhong, ordering the 73rd Army and the 79th Army to get ready. Damn it, I'm going to pick a big peach this time and recover."
