Chapter 67 I also want to resist Japan

  The first cooperation between the National Army and the Eighth Route Army shocked the Presidential Palace in Nanjing. Many reporters from Central Daily/New China News Agency were interviewing Chairman Chiang, although he did not know about this military action beforehand. However, facing so many reporters, Chiang still said generously: "At present, China's enemy is the invader. Our cooperation with the Communist Eighth Route Army is just fulfilling a duty that Chinese people should fulfill. The rise and fall of the country is the responsibility of every citizen. In times of national crisis, how can I fight against the Eighth Route Army again?"

  Li Zongren, who thought he would be scolded, also received a commendation from the Presidential Palace in Nanjing. In this operation, the 388th and 389th regiments quickly withdrew from the battlefield after the war ended, and all the equipment on the entire battlefield belonged to the Eighth Route Army. Although Zhou Weiguo and Meng Shuai were very reluctant to see so much equipment fall into the hands of the Eighth Route Army, they remembered Li Zongren's order and neither dared to disobey.

  The news of the annihilation of the Japanese 24th Division spread quickly throughout China, and in less than a day, the news of the loss of over 6,000 troops in Xuzhou had reached the headquarters of the North China Area Army. As the Nationalist army reported this news through various media outlets, journalists from foreign concessions such as Shanghai's Japanese, French, and British concessions also took great interest in this event of cooperation between the Nationalists and Communists in Xuzhou.

  Many foreign media also reported extensively on the news of cooperation between the KMT and CPC and the easy annihilation of over 6,000 enemies. The news caused a stir internationally, and Japanese Emperor Hirohito learned about it several days later. The news almost drove Hirohito and many Japanese ministers mad, and they immediately reprimanded General Terauchi Hisaichi, Commander-in-Chief of the North China Area Army.

  The Eighth Route Army and Shan Yixuan saw off the National Army brothers, Hu Yan led the first, second and third regiments to temporarily stay in Yangcheng. The news of a big victory in Yangcheng also spread quickly, and many civilians were welcoming the triumphant return of the Eighth Route Army.

  When everyone in the city was rejoicing, Shan Yixuan couldn't get excited. There were still many things he needed to do. Although the airport in Yangcheng was under control, not a single person among these tens of thousands could be found who could fly an airplane into the sky.

  "Xuan Ge, Hu Yan and Zhao Wen Xing want to see you!" Lao San pushed open the door and saw Shan Yi Xuan staring blankly at the sand table. This battle Lao San led the Ling Hu Tui Ji Dui team members in a detour around the enemy, basically ending the battle with zero losses, only delaying the time a bit.

  Shan Yixuan took a deep breath, knowing that Hu Yan had come to talk about something related to recruitment, but could the Eighth Route Army really accommodate the Snow Fox Independent Brigade? "Please!" Regardless of what happened, it wouldn't be right to turn away his superior.

  "Yes!" Old Three turned around and walked out. Hu Yan and Zhao Wenxing walked in, still holding a roasted chicken and a jug of good wine. Shan Yixuan hurried to welcome them with a smile, saying: "Director, you're here! What's with the things?" The table was already set.

  Two people smiled at Yixuan, Hu Yan put down his things and said: "Yixuan, this time successfully annihilating the Japanese army's Tobu Kenichi's troops had a great impact on our military's morale. Moreover, the Presidential Palace in Nanjing also made concessions for this Communist-KMT cooperation, it can be said that two happy events have occurred at the same time!" As he spoke, he twisted open the wine cap, and a pure aroma of wine wafted up, one sniff and you could tell it was good wine.

  Shan Yixuan took three wine cups, took the wine pot from Hu Yan's hand, filled it up and said: "Now the North China Military Command of the Japanese army should be angry! We beat his elite division, he won't let us go!" He put down the wine pot.

  "No, we won't let him off! Intelligence says the National Army has gathered no less than six hundred thousand troops in Jiangsu and Zhejiang. It seems that Xu State is going to have a big battle!" Zhao Wensing looked at Shan Yixuan, this young man in front of him was more and more to his liking.

  Shan Yixuan was stunned for a moment, and suddenly remembered the Battle of Xuzhou. During the Battle of Xuzhou, Li Zongren, the commander-in-chief of the Fifth War Zone of the National Army, led 600,000 troops in a large-scale battle with the Japanese army. Nanjing may have already begun preparations for the Battle of Xuzhou.

  "Yi Xuan, you've been considering this for a while now. What conditions do you have that you can speak of? I'm not in charge here, and there are superiors present!" Zhao Wenxing looked at Yi Xuan, the Nationalist Army also wanted to recruit this trump card, and naturally couldn't let them get ahead.

  Dan Yi Xuan raised his wine cup and said, "Come on, two leaders, cheers!" After finishing the drink, he continued, "Joining the Eighth Route Army is something I've considered for a long time. However, leaders, you also know that I'm not alone; I have those brothers outside. As the big brother, I cannot abandon my younger brothers!"

  "Heh heh, that's easy to say. We welcome the heroes of Qinglong Village to join the Eighth Route Army." Hu Yan listened and thought it was just a casual remark, but now it seemed like a request after all.

  "The commander may not know that among these brothers, there are also 1,500 Japanese!"

  "Japanese?" Hu Yan looked at Shan Yixuan with doubt. Zhao Wenxing didn't have a big reaction, when the independent regiment entered Yangcheng, he already knew about him being with Japanese people, so it wasn't strange to him.

  "Yes!" Shan Yixuan roughly recounted the events that had occurred in Yangcheng. If the Eighth Route Army did not agree to this unit joining its ranks, then Shan Yixuan would not join the Eighth Route Army either. He was not someone who couldn't fight without being part of the Eighth Route Army. Given the current situation with Snow Fox Independent Regiment and Ling Fox Strike Team, there was absolutely no need to rely on any other troops.

  "You're saying that the people at the airport and those planes are yours?" Hu Yan looked at Shan Yixuan in front of him with some disbelief, thinking that this young kid actually had what it took to make a thousand-strong Japanese army look up to him as their leader.

  Shan Yixuan picked up the wine glass on the table, made a toast to the two people, and then drank it all in one gulp. The inexplicable crossing, the inexplicable return to this era where the war has just begun, is inexplicable... Everything is inexplicable, thinking about coming here, not having truly drunk or gotten drunk once, every day thinking about the problem of fighting.

  "If your esteemed army does not agree, then I'm afraid it's awkward for me to comply with your request. You are an anti-Japanese force, and we too are an anti-Japanese force; the only difference lies in the strength of our rear support! Thank you for the two commanders' favor, and please trouble yourselves to clean up the mess left by Yixuan!"

  "Yi Xuan, didn't the teacher just say it's not a bad idea? Look at you!" Zhao Wenxing and Yi Xuan walked relatively close together. Although their relationship couldn't be described as very good, compared to Hu Yan, he was still easier to talk to.

  Hu Yan didn't disagree, but the Japanese joining the Eighth Route Army was unprecedented and all those who joined were poor people who almost every one of them had a deep-seated hatred for the Japanese. A mayor can't just make this decision on his own.

  "Yi Xuan, look, our army has no precedent for the Japanese joining the Eighth Route Army, and this time it's a regular force of over 1,500 people. I'm also hesitant about this matter. Why don't I contact headquarters and see what they say? Is that okay?" Hu Yan really valued Yi Xuan's ability to lead troops in battle. Whether it was the raid on Qinglongzhai or the final control of the airport, without solid military skills, they would have been killed by the Japanese long ago.

  Shan Yixuan thought for a moment, knowing that Hu Yan was also in a difficult position, and smiled: "Then I'll trouble you, Master Hu, to say some good words to headquarters. Although these Japanese people are of the Yamato bloodline, they are the most rational troops I've ever seen. They have excellent commanders and training that's almost on par with my Linghuo Strike Team. I wouldn't dare say they're the best, but they must be the most sincere!"

  Now that it's been said, Shan Yixuan only felt that there were loopholes everywhere. Whether they were sincere or not, Shan Yixuan didn't dare to make any guarantees.

  Looking at the two leaders' embarrassed expressions, Shan Yixuan raised his wine glass and said: "If the two leaders are having a hard time, then let's just forget it, come on, have a drink!" Since ancient times, foreign troops have never been left in the army. If Qingteng Yimutu and others joined the Eighth Route Army and took up arms against Chinese people, shooting from behind, if history were to be passed down like this, he would definitely become famous for centuries like Cao Cao, infamous.

  Hu Yan and Zhao Wenxing didn't say a word, the three of them raised their cups and downed their drinks in one gulp! The three people each drank until they were drunk, but Shan Yixuan's mind was extremely clear. However, the two leaders had already been drunk under the table, he couldn't help but bitterly smile. If it were the National Army, would they let me lead the Japanese army to join the Nationalist Party?

  "Guards!" Shan Yixuan looked at the two leaders who were still shouting on the ground: "Come on, let's go!" "Come on again!" and shook his head saying: "They've all fallen down, what's there to drink..."

  "Bang..." As soon as Shan Yixuan's voice fell, he himself also fell to the ground and started snoring loudly.

  The guard heard Shuang Yixuan's voice and pushed open the door. A strong smell of alcohol filled the entire room. Lao San also followed him into the house, saw Shuang Yixuan lying on the ground snoring loudly, and shook his head saying: "Come on, brother, help me!" He walked forward and lifted Shuang Yixuan's shoulder, while the guard helped lift his legs, and together they put Shuang Yixuan on the bed.

  The guard and Lao San separately carried Hu Yan and Zhao Wenxing to their respective rooms, the guard carefully covered them with quilts, shook his head helplessly and walked out.

  Zhaojiazhuang and Magou Village became desolate villages overnight, with over 100 households encountering disaster. Yang Ronghao, the county magistrate of Yangcheng, led villagers to help arrange the aftermath for Zhaojiazhuang's villagers. Yang Zilu looked at the hundreds of corpses in front of him, tears falling like raindrops!

  The brutal Japanese brought devastating disaster to Zhaojiazhuang and Magou Village, pregnant women, children, and infants were not spared, the cruel means made all young people angry.

  Everyone in Yangcheng knows the story of Qinglongzhai's resistance against Japan, this true thing makes all young people want to join Qinglongzhai, join this powerful anti-Japanese armed force, the slogan of Qinglongzhai is even more intimidating than that of the Eighth Route Army and the Nationalist Party in Yangcheng.