Chapter 2 Countercurrent (One)

The spring "trading fair" in 1939 lasted for twelve days before it came to an end because of a long-awaited spring rain. Due to the relatively peaceful roads, good organizational order and reasonable tax collection, almost every vendor involved in the transaction made profits that were difficult to expect in previous years, especially some Central Plains merchants who came with tea, cloth and Western medicine. Due to the long-awaited local consumer market and avoiding exploitation from entering and leaving the city gate, they all smiled when they left.

The happiest thing is the captain of the Eighth Route Army guerrillas, Hong Beard. Since the accounts were sorted out, he was so happy that he had almost never closed his mouth. He was 730 yuan. After deducting the market construction and management costs, the guerrillas made 730 yuan in just half a month. Although a large part of it was the sales revenue of pearl salt and high-end bath salts, which could not be produced in more than ten days, it opened up a relatively independent source of funds for the guerrillas. Even if they did not lose the sponsorship of Queen Siqin in the future, they would not face the embarrassing situation of being in absent.

"People who read a lot are just smart." When they were happy, Wang Huzi did not forget who came up with the two magic weapons of salt making and opening the market. In front of all the guerrillas, he praised Zhang Songling fiercely, calling on all the cadres and soldiers to learn from him, actively offer suggestions for the development and growth of the guerrillas, and treat the guerrillas as their home and do their best to contribute bricks and tiles to this home. Only by building this home well can it shelter everyone in the house from the wind and rain. Whether the guerrillas can actively break the current stalemate in the future and drive the Japanese out of the Heishi Village completely depends on everyone in the team and how much effort it has been made.

As a grassroots officer of the former Northeast Army and a hero from the world who has been popular on the grassland for many years, although his words are not very exciting, they are very inflammatory. As soon as the summary meeting ended, the new and old soldiers of the guerrillas screamed and entered a new round of training and production. Even the drizzling spring rain in the sky could not extinguish the enthusiasm that everyone had just been ignited.

Taking advantage of this rare respite, Red Beard also quietly put the issue of the construction of the guerrillas' grassroots organization on the agenda. The unexpected encounter in late winter last year caused the guerrillas to suffer unprecedented huge losses. A deputy captain, two deputy squadron leaders and more than ten combat backbones spilled blood in the wasteland, and the entire cadre team reduced by more than half. When the organization meeting was held, two-thirds of the chairs became empty seats, and when people saw it, they couldn't help but want to flow out.

Not only did the sacrifice of his old partner Lu Feng make Hong Beard feel sad, but what makes him feel even more uncomfortable is that the future of the team in his hand suddenly becomes full of uncertainty. Although Lu Feng, the deputy captain and deputy political commissar who were sent directly from Yan'an, is a bit old-fashioned, stingy, and his decisiveness level is not very high in the battle, he can support the guerrillas for him. Even if Red Beard is unfortunately injured or sacrificed unfortunately in any battle, he can still hand over the command of the guerrillas to his old partner Lu Feng with confidence, close his eyes and even rest forever.

But now, he found that he was empty behind him. If he unfortunately fell down one day, the team he had worked hard to bring about might fall apart. With the difficult living environment and simple medical conditions faced by the Lamagou guerrillas, this assumption is very likely to become a reality. After several consecutive battles in the second half of last year, half of the guerrillas changed into new faces. No one can guarantee that he will always be one-half of the surviving ones. (Note 1)

Red Beard is not afraid of death. He always joked that his old life should be explained during the September 18th Incident. Being able to persevere until now is considered to be surviving, but he is afraid that the team in his hands will fall apart. This team is not only the fire sprinkled by the Communist Party on the grassland, but also the only blood left by the Northeast Army on the grassland. If after his death, the team was broken or destroyed by the Japanese, his soul would not only be ashamed to see Lao Lu, but also meet Wu Junsheng, the general who was in trouble with Lao Shuai in Huanggutun and Lao Shuai, and he would not be able to pluck up the courage to salute the latter.

In order to avoid the worst situation, he has worked hard. Since he heard the bad news of Lao Lu's heroic sacrifice last year, he has endured his grief and fatigue and worked on several people alone. In order to find a stable source of income for the guerrillas, he led his brothers to dig salt sand in the Great Salt Lake of Bashang in the cold wind of minus forty degrees Celsius to create income for the guerrillas. Although he knew that his behavior might not meet the spirit of guidance above, he still supported Zhang Songling to organize the spring trading conference on the bank of Crescent Lake. In order to pass on the torch in his hands, he even abandoned his prejudice against Bai Yin without hesitation and instructed Zhang Songling to drive the salt field to the territory of this treacherous and fickle Mongolian prince. Even if he was severely criticized by the superior organization in the telegram afterwards, he would not regret it.

He is over fifty years old this year. He does not expect any greater political progress, nor does he expect to die peacefully in bed. A real man is wearing a body of a horse and a corpse. Although he has not read much in his life, he yearns for the ending of military generals as the ancients said. However, before the ending comes, he must explain what he should explain and what he should inherit, otherwise he believes that he will die with peace of mind.

After several months of secret observation, he has found the best candidate to inherit his legacy. It is a little hasty and definitely does not meet the organizational procedures. However, living people cannot be suffocated to death by urine. The situation of the Lamagou guerrillas is very special. In special times and special circumstances, of course, special matters must be handled. Moreover, it is not the first time that Wang Huzi sets the lead for the Eighth Route Army guerrillas. I believe this time is the same as those previous special cases. After explanation, it can be understood by the superior organization department.

With the mentality of having to arrange a new leader for the guerrillas before he went to see Lao Lu, Red Beard found an opportunity to rest in the evening and made Zhang Songling in his room, "Fatty, did you join the Kuomintang when you were on Lao Twenty-sixth Route back then?" He tried to use a calm voice. He pretended to be very casual, but there were two balls of flames in his eyes, burning quietly, burning.
Chapter completed!