Chapter Fifty-Seven: Night Banquet

  The mighty army of over 200,000 marched into Shanxi Province from Fenglingdu in the scorching September sun. With the start of Japan's all-out invasion of China, Chinese soldiers and civilians who had been fighting against the Japanese for six years finally united as one to begin their eight-year resistance against the enemy. The nationwide surge in anti-Japanese sentiment led to the Eighth Route Army being welcomed by local military and civilians along its route. Although the Eighth Route Army's poor equipment was only slightly better than that of the Sichuan army, their high morale was unmatched by any other army in the country.

  Along the way, the military and civilians deeply felt this point, with no private motives, patriotic enthusiasm, letting the residents within Shanxi province take out their own practical actions to support the war of resistance. Whether it was the continuous guides along the way or the free provision of tea, food, etc., the Eighth Route Army were all moved, and in their hearts, they made a solemn vow to shed every last drop of blood to protect these lovely civilians.

  Moreover, Chinese soldiers have begun to demonstrate this with their own actions, whether it is General Zhao Dengyu who sacrificed himself at Nanyuan in Beijing, or the ordinary officers and men of the 29th Route Army, who are fighting to the death to block the Japanese army's sharp edge. However, the gap in military strength and equipment has made Chinese soldiers and civilians see that North China has largely fallen under the iron hooves of the Japanese army, despite their bloody sacrifices. Even on the Shanghai-Hangzhou battlefield, which was most valued by the Nationalist Party, after suffering heavy casualties, they had to retreat step by step. The chaotic command ultimately led to the defeat of hundreds of thousands of troops on the Shanghai-Hangzhou battlefield, as well as the fall of Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai, China's most prosperous regions, into enemy hands.

  After Shanxi's Datong fell, Yan Xishan, who had suffered greatly under the Japanese military's massive attacks and was under tremendous pressure, naturally welcomed the arrival of the Eighth Route Army's over 200,000 troops, a powerful reinforcement. As his own Shanxi army had been defeated by the Red Army during their Eastern Expedition, Yan Xishan was well aware of the Eighth Route Army's formidable fighting strength. Therefore, he specially hosted a banquet for Zhu De, commander-in-chief of the Eighth Route Army, Peng Dehuai, deputy commander-in-chief, and renowned generals Lin Biao and He Long, who had arrived in Taiyuan after traveling day and night, only reaching there at midnight.

  Yan Laoxi gave the Eighth Route Army a lot of face, which can't be said to be not fighting. Although he brushed aside some small details and excluded General Wei Lihuang's Central Army, beautifying it as "the Central Army had been in bloody battles with the Red Army for many years, and it was better not to meet to avoid conflicts". In fact, there were not a few thoughts about independently winning over the Eighth Route Army to make them die for him.

  Even the gentle Zhu Laozong couldn't help but smile wryly and say, "Yan Laowai's plan to win us over is really just a bunch of empty words. He thinks that by sacrificing all the high-ranking generals of the Shanxi army, he can buy our loyalty? But does he know that our officers and soldiers are still resentful about the guns, ammunition, and military pay that he hasn't given us yet?" The faces of Peng Laozong and the others didn't look any better.

  Especially on the face of Gao Daquan, who is still full of youthful energy, there is a look of indignation! Let all of you who have passed thirty years of standing and looking back at Gao Daquan's age, sigh that he is still so young and has no city. Even if he is good at fighting, this lack will definitely make him suffer losses in the future, such a impulsive young man, should be taken care of more in the future. The two old men, although their faces are still calm, unknowingly regard him as a child, like a little devil.

  Sitting in the Ford car sent by Yan Xishan, he quickly arrived at Yan's mansion from the Eighth Route Army's office in Taiyuan. The bumpy feeling all the way made Gao Daguang deeply miss the cars of the 21st century. In the 1930s when the shock absorption ability of cars was extremely poor, what was the difference between taking a car and that kind of sedan chair on TV that shook three times with each step? It's just a little faster.

  Lao Xi's mansion is very spacious, but apart from the sentry at the entrance, roadblocks, sandbag bunkers and anti-aircraft guns, it is no different from an ordinary Shanxi rich man's courtyard. The ancient-style buildings have modernized electric lights and telephones, but are still simple in style. The simple pear-wood chairs in the house quietly show extraordinary wealth.

  Yan Xishan, wearing a traditional long gown, smiled and led many Shanxi generals to welcome Zhu De and other high-ranking Eighth Route Army leaders.

  Sitting in a large chair, Yan Laoxi smiled with a sly smile and said: "Now the Japanese army's offensive is fierce, its military strength is sharp, and it has successively captured several cities including Datong. At a time when our army is under great pressure, fortunately, we have invited the Eighth Route Army to enter Shanxi and jointly defend against foreign humiliation. With the guarantee of the strong combat power of the Eighth Route Army, we must be able to defeat the Japanese army, which is indeed fortunate for the people of Shanxi and China!"

  Yan Laowei's flattering words were followed by Zhu Laozong saying something about unity and cooperation, and other such formalities.

  He Long was extremely disdainful of Yan Xishan's stinginess, and with a pretentious smile said: "Commander Yan, this time our Eighth Route Army entered Shanxi to cooperate with the Central Army in resisting Japan, it is truly a rare opportunity. However, after our army enters Shanxi, we will need grain, ammunition, and supplies for battle, I hope your honorable unit can quickly allocate them to us. After all, our Eighth Route Army has few soldiers and inferior guns, so we have no choice but to let Commander Yan bear the expenses, it's really troublesome!"

  The polite words hidden in the mystery, made the complexion of the Jin army present change. Yan Laoxi also had to hum and haw, deliberately resolving this embarrassing topic. Wanting the horse to run without letting it eat grass, Old Xi's heart had long been a good abacus, otherwise, he would have given the Sichuan army that went out to battle new equipment and replenishments. It wasn't his own family troops, where did Old Xi get such generosity?

  "It's getting late at night, I think everyone must be hungry, let's have dinner first! Other things can wait until after we finish our meal. Hurriedly interrupting Gaoquan's original intention to continue the conversation, the crowd followed Yan Xishan into the dining hall under the leadership of the official family."

  A large table, crowded with more than a dozen military officers of various sizes, was dazzling with golden stars that made people's eyes dizzy. Originally wanting to indulge in a feast and pay tribute to the grandeur of his own temple, he was shocked to discover that there were only five dishes on the table! A big plate of stir-fried eggs, and four plates of green vegetables. Recalling how Yan Laoxi had invited Jin military leaders for dinner, it seemed like there was only one big plate of stir-fried eggs on the table. "Laoxi, oh Laoxi! You're really... too stingy!" Gaoquan couldn't find words to describe Laoxi's parsimony!

  Lao Xi said with great courtesy: "This is what my sister has made for everyone! I really like it every day, these small dishes are very delicious! Everyone must eat a little more!" If you don't know Lao Xi's character, you will definitely think that this guy is not good at socializing! Such a small amount of food, for more than a dozen soldiers, the little things on the table are really pitifully small! Even Zhu Laozong, who is usually unwilling to gossip about others and has a very kind image, secretly despises Lao Xi's stinginess in his heart.

  Because the dishes were really too few, everyone was afraid that there would be no next time to pick up chopsticks and empty the dish, so they all ate dry rice, regardless of how Yan Laoxi said polite words like "eat vegetables". However, Gao Quanfan had no awareness of being a host at all, and didn't notice that every time Yan Laoxi picked up his chopsticks, he only took a little bit. He scooped and shoveled the vegetables into his bowl, wolfing down two large bowls of rice in one go, making people around him think that Gao Quanfan was like a starving ghost, having seen people eating but never seen anyone eat so rudely! Were all the communist officers who came out like this, without manners, such coarse and unrefined soldiers?

  Gao Quan ignored the displeasure on Lao Xi's face and deliberately said loudly: "Officer Yan, the food here is still better! The county magistrates and local officials of our Eighth Route Army have been treating us to big fish and meat all along the way. Little did they know that our usual meals are not so greasy. We usually eat thin soup and millet buns. If we eat too much grease, it's obvious that you want us to have diarrhea, just to see how we look!"

  Yan Laowai's face had already surged with several red lines after hearing the whole story! Furious! Extremely furious! How dare this yellow-mouthed kid scold people in such a roundabout way? Too presumptuous!

  Pingxingguan's great victory, did Gaoquan participate or open up a new battlefield?