Today's trip was an eye-opener for Yevlov. Fertilizer factories and mines. Instead of the large number of reports written on paper, he personally visited these places and realized the source of the strength of the guerrilla republic.
Every day, a large amount of yellow-white sulfur ore was excavated and hauled back by horse-drawn carriage. They first arrived at the woods closest to the mine, which was the ore loading dock and the supervisors' dormitory.
The 63rd Group Army only has a formal designation, and its internal organization is very random. For example, there are some militia battalions here.
The army has developed almost all the labor force in the controlled area into soldiers. These soldiers work in agriculture and war in their spare time. However, those who are too old can only be used as the lowest-class combat force and will not be sent to the scene at all.
Most of these people are engaged in the production of simple munitions. With the need to develop everyone's labor force, some sixty-year-olds also picked up rifles and came to the sulfur mines to serve as supervisors.
Being in this larger dormitory area in the forest, Yang Mingzhi had to sigh: "This is the residence of the huge supervisory team in the report. It has really expanded a lot compared to more than a month ago."
Joshua, who was accompanying him, not only had to participate in the escort of the commander, but also served as an "advisor" to the garrison, explaining to the commander himself the changes in the mine over the past month.
She replied: "There are indeed many changes in the mines today. Those special supervisory units that are not included in the battle order were temporarily formed more than ten days ago. The superiors trained all the existing supervisors and added some more people. Now
The strength of the supervisory battalion in charge of the mine has reached 400 people."
"There are still a lot of troops! The combat effectiveness may be very bad."
After all, Joshua had personally fought on the battlefield many times, so it was inevitable that she would be very prejudiced against these so-called "oversight camps".
And she knew that the commander had a lot in common with that Salinchkin, so she spoke boldly: "Comrade commander, with all due respect, even if these supervisors pick up their rifles, I'm really worried that the recoil will shatter their shoulders. They are so old
It’s too big, so instead of being a supervisor, it’s better to pick up a hoe and dig the ground. At least planting potatoes is much easier than this.”
"Maybe!"
Seeing that the commander did not say much, Joshua became even bolder: "To tell you the truth, I am a little dissatisfied with the arrangements of those people. After all, they are not soldiers. They don't know that as the mine garrison, we are facing greater pressure! Prisoners of war
It is no longer the size of 200 people. The total number of prisoners currently digging sulfur in the mine has reached 900 people! It is really not enough to be guarded by our female barracks, which has been losing strength! Could it be! Can those old men do it? They are all
Old man, if the prisoners of war decide to escape en masse, can their thin bodies be able to withstand it?"
It is true that Yevlov had some complaints about some of the daily arrangements of Sarinchkin and Lyudbalev, especially the inevitable instructions they made to the army. Therefore, he was willing to listen to what Joshua said about those people.
Criticism, but when the topic comes to the supervisors themselves, something is wrong.
Yevlov coughed twice and said: "Comrade Battalion Commander! Maybe you shouldn't question those old people, they are all your fathers! The reason why these people came to oversee the work and took up arms is because in the Second World War
They all served as Red Army soldiers during the civil war more than ten years ago. I also have some complaints about the arrangements of those people, but you shouldn't question these old people! They are not so old that they can't even lift a gun.
Let me tell you, this country was founded by these old people. If it weren’t for their bloody battle more than 20 years ago, there would be no Soviet Russia, let alone the Soviet Union. Belarus was also completely annexed by Poland more than 20 years ago!”
After this reprimand, Joshua lowered her head and remained silent. She was not very wary of Commander Yang Mingzhi, and she was always in awe, and even fearful, of Deputy Commander Yevlov, as junior officers did to senior officers.
Seeing that the situation was tense, Yang Mingzhi quickly stepped forward to smooth things over.
He talked freely: "Many old people in the Guerrilla Republic experienced those wars twenty years ago, especially the original villagers of Blacksmith Village. If they had not supported the Red Army and fought against the White Army and foreign intervention forces twenty years ago, They can't get those old machine tools. Today, these industrial machines support the manufacturing of our conventional weapons and the national defense construction of our guerrilla republic. So we still support the work of these old people, and I don't think they will accept it. old."
Joshua liked hearing these words. She did not apologize for the discriminatory remarks just now, but continued to complain: "Comrade Commander, I acknowledge the guns picked up by hundreds of uncles, but you should also see that now nine prisoners of war There are more than a hundred people, and most of them work in the mines with manuscript axes. If they suddenly riot, I will be really worried! After all, I am the battalion commander of the garrison here, and I will be responsible for anything that happens."
"Idiot! Are your machine guns short of bullets?"
Yevlov suddenly swore, and Yang Mingzhi immediately interrupted: "Oh! Don't say dirty words to women. After all, there are as many as 900 prisoners of war... What?!" Suddenly, Yang Mingzhi realized that this was a very magical thing. The figure immediately stopped and stared at the equally surprised Joshua in front of him.
"Comrade... Comrade Commander, did I say something wrong? I apologize! I want those old people to apologize."
"Yes, you did say something wrong." Yang Mingzhi asked: "Now please tell me, how many prisoners of war are there mining here?"
"Nine hundred and twenty people in total! Comrade Commander!"
In Russian, the syllables of a large number are very long, so Yang Mingzhi was sure that she was indeed talking about nine hundred and twenty people.
"There are actually so many?! How can there be so many?"
"Comrade Commander, there are just so many people!" As he spoke, Joshua counted his fingers obediently and muttered: "Among these prisoners of war, there are Germans, Ukrainians, and Romanians. Especially the Romanians. , they have the largest number of people and are also the most difficult to manage. If they were not afraid of the machine guns we set up, they might have fled en masse on the first day they arrived!"
"What the hell! There are actually Romanians!" Upon hearing this, Yang Mingzhi immediately closed his eyes and recalled what happened a few days ago.
The origin of these Romanians was the surrender of the infantry regiment that was completely wiped out. The leader of the infantry regiment, Yang Mingzhi, still remembers his name, which was Brimayo.
"So, is the officer named Brimayo also mining?"
"Wha...what?" Joshua was a little confused.
"That man is a Romanian officer and a deputy commander. Is this man also there? His name is Brimayo."
After this emphasis, Joshua quickly remembered: "Yes, I know this person. But this person is very uncooperative. As long as he appears in the group of prisoners of war and says something that I don't understand, the Romanians will collectively work passively." .So I simply put him in confinement. Anyway, this man is also injured and is not suitable for mining."
"Okay! Your handling method is also appropriate!" Yang Mingzhi grinned, "That man was indeed injured, and it is unrealistic to expect him to mine. As for the reason for his non-cooperation, it is simple, because on the battlefield I
The army persuaded them to surrender, and I promised these Romanians that their job after becoming prisoners of war would be to dig the ground and grow potatoes, and that I would not abuse them. It seems that I should have just come back the day before yesterday and investigate the fate of all the prisoners of war. So you understand
, those Romanians are working in the mines filled with yellow smoke, it is strange if this is not abuse!"
Joshua seemed to understand. "The officer knew a little bit of Russian. He did complain to me, saying that this was different from what was promised. Our Red Army deceived the Romanian Army, accusing us of being inhumane, etc."
"There is some truth to his complaints." Yang Mingzhi continued: "Fortunately, you did not mistreat them further. Since that Brimayo is still in custody, maybe his attitude will be better after meeting me in person. In a moment, you can immediately
Send someone to bring him to see me. By the way! There is also the German Henschel, this person is also very valuable."