Chapter 1046 The house leaks and it rains overnight
As soon as the chief of staff left, Li Hao began to think about how to increase the food reserves in the base area.
The entire North China has been affected by drought. Food is in short supply and food prices are soaring. Coupled with the blockade by the Japanese and puppet troops, not a single grain of food is allowed to flow into the base area. It is definitely not feasible for the base area to purchase food by themselves, and even if they have money, they cannot buy it.
to food.
Grab it from the Japanese. If the quantity is small, you might still have a chance.
If the amount is too much, it is impossible.
They already know that the base area is short of food, and they will definitely strengthen their defenses in this regard to prevent the garrison regiment from taking advantage of it.
After much deliberation, the only way left was the Jin-Sui Army.
With the rear area at their back, they could buy grain from the northwest, even Sichuan and Chongqing, and then transfer it to the base area.
The more Li Hao thought about it, the more feasible it became.
Just when he was about to make up his mind, deputy captain Luo Yun barged in.
Yes, just break in... without knocking, he rushed in with an anxious look on his face.
"Captain, something happened..."
"Today we were trading with the Jinsui Army, but they didn't send any food."
"The lieutenant colonel who led the team told me that from today onwards, we will no longer be sending food. All food will be traded with us in the ocean."
"Why?" Li Hao asked, frowning, very anxious.
Opening a breakthrough from the Jinsui Army and increasing the food reserves in the base area was the only way he could think of.
Now, before it even begins, this road is cut off.
As the head of a regiment, the head of a base area with more than one million soldiers and civilians, he must be very anxious.
Luo Yun quickly replied: "I asked around and found out that this order was issued by the World War II Zone Headquarters. It seems to have something to do with Chongqing. It blocks our Eighth Route Army and prevents a single grain from flowing into our base area!"
"I understand!" Li Hao reacted quickly and exclaimed with sudden realization.
"They want to use the hands of the Japanese to weaken us, a typical case of killing with a borrowed knife."
Luo Yun was anxious: "How to solve the problem of food shortage in the base area?"
"According to the current consumption rate, the grain we have in stock can only last until the autumn harvest."
"Affected by the drought, we will exempt all grain taxes in the base area to ensure that the people have food and preserved fruits until next autumn harvest."
"The more than 10,000 main troops in the base area, local troops, and local cadres all rely on food taxes to survive. Now that they are gone, they will definitely go hungry."
"I calculated that the main army, local troops and local cadres alone have a food shortage of 10 million kilograms."
"If we cannot ensure that more than 30% of the land in the base area is planted with food and obtain a bumper harvest, there will be problems with the food rations of the folks in the base area, and the food gap will increase."
"The Japanese will definitely find ways to cause damage, further expand our food gap, and take the opportunity to disrupt the base area."
"In order to avoid these accidents and prepare for emergencies, we must prepare at least 10 million kilograms more grain."
Li Hao was silent for a moment and replied: "In other words, we must collect 20 million kilograms of grain within half a year to ensure that the base area is not in chaos."
"Yes, leader!" Luo Yun affirmed.
I have just analyzed that I can find a solution from the Japanese for a small batch of tens of thousands of kilograms of grain.
Hundreds of millions of kilograms of grain like this can only be solved by the Jin-Sui Army.
After thinking for a long time, Li Hao couldn't find any other solution, and then he answered helplessly.
"We still need to find ways to open up the supply channel of Jinsuijun."
Luo Yun hesitated and retorted: "Captain, this road will definitely not work!"
"The World War II zone is executing Chongqing's orders and can no longer send us food. Do they dare to disobey Chongqing's military orders?"
"On the surface, I definitely don't dare. It's no different from rebellion, unless Commander Yan no longer wants the position of commander of the World War II area." Li Hao replied.
Following the change of subject: "But, secretly, that's not necessarily the case."
"The World War II area is so big and so far away from Chongqing. As long as Commander Yan is willing, he can definitely continue to sell us food without being caught by Chongqing!"
"Chief Yan is a businessman, and he only wants to be his king of Shanxi. As long as the price we offer is big enough, we will definitely make him fall in love."
"Then take the risk and continue to trade with us secretly."
The more Li Hao talked about it, the more he felt that there was room for maneuver in this matter, and he immediately asked: "What news and big actions have the Jinsui Army made recently?"
"Attack Datong!" Luo Yun replied without thinking.
"But due to the lack of heavy weapons, especially heavy siege artillery, the attacking troops fought for three days without entering Datong City. They themselves suffered heavy losses and had to retreat in the end."
"Intelligence shows that they lost nearly a division of troops outside Datong City, and also lost a large number of mountain artillery."
"The Japs in Datong City have heavy artillery and aircraft reinforcements during the day. The Shanxi-Sui Army is only equipped with 75-caliber mountain artillery. The firepower of the two sides is not at the same level."
"As long as the mountain artillery position is locked by the Japanese heavy artillery troops, death is certain!"
"There are rumors that they lost all the artillery of an entire mountain artillery regiment outside Datong City."
"Including sporadic losses, as many as fifty mountain guns were destroyed."
"Sir Yan was heartbroken over this for several days. He couldn't eat or sleep."
Li Hao replied: "That's for sure."
"Although the Jinsui Army moved a lot of equipment from the Taiyuan Arsenal, it can only produce light weapons and ammunition."
"Chongqing will only replenish them with light weapons, not heavy weapons."
"So the artillery currently used by the Jinsui Army is the same artillery that was brought to southwestern Shanxi before. If one is destroyed, one will be missing."
"Artillery is a reflection of the strength of an army. Without artillery, no matter how many people there are in the Shanxi-Sui Army, Commander Yan cannot stand tall enough. How can he secure the throne of the King of Shanxi?"
Having said this, the corners of Li Hao's mouth were slightly raised, revealing a smile.
He continued: "After saying so much, I can sum it up in just a few words. In this counterattack on Datong, the Shanxi-Sui Army suffered a huge loss at the hands of the Japanese heavy artillery."
"And heavy artillery is also the biggest shortcoming of the Shanxi-Sui Army's counterattack on Datong."
"If they had a heavy artillery unit, Datong City would probably have been captured by them."
Luo Yun affirmed: "You can say that."
The smile on Li Hao's face grew wider: "If this is the case, I think I already know how to make the Jinsui Army relent and continue to secretly deliver food to us."
"Deputy Commander Luo, go and tell the lieutenant colonel leading the Jinsui Army now and ask him to contact Yan Youjin and come to the garrison immediately. I have a big business to discuss with him."
"If this business is negotiated, he will definitely continue to be promoted, and he will also make a lot of money and gain both fame and fortune."
As soon as Luo Yun left, Li Hao picked up his pen and started drafting a telegram.
This telegram was so important. It took a full half an hour to complete the several hundred words of telegram. After that, I ordered to the door: "Call Zhou Liang from the communications platoon!"
