Chapter 53: The Thousand Mile Famine (Part 1)

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  Wang Xuehua is a real talent, even if he is not in the base, Li Fusheng can lead people to categorize and register all materials according to his established rules and regulations, all materials are neatly organized and clearly recorded.

  Chen Zhihao, Yang Jie and Liao Xudong were discussing the distribution of all materials in the command center with smiles. In addition to the cotton clothes and quilts needed by the troops, they also captured a large number of fabrics, cotton, medicine, guns and ammunition.

  "I think we can use these fabrics to standardize our uniforms, look at these soldiers, they're wearing all sorts of things, it's really like a guerrilla team. But our combat effectiveness, Old Liao, how does it compare to the regular army of the Eighth Route?" Chen Zhihao looked at his own tattered peasant clothes, which he had been wearing when he was captured. Li Fusheng had gotten him a decent set of clothes, but he couldn't bear to wear them, and kept saying that he would save them for a crucial moment, to show off the face of the guerrilla team.

  "I think regular troops don't have equipment as good as ours, and our bayonet charges are no worse than those of the Eighth Route Army. It's just that these clothes, they're really not presentable." Liao Xudong also said with a smile, "The Eighth Route Army doesn't have so much ammunition, battles are always very frugal. Like special forces recklessly wasting bullets, it's simply unheard of!"

  "Line up. In two days, when the big official Wang's family arrives, we'll organize people to wear uniforms. What color do you think our military uniform should be?" Yang Wei smiled as he looked at the two of them singing and harmonizing together, meaning to send this fabric to Yan'an, knowing that Yan'an was also worried about cotton-padded jackets.

  "Grey is fine. The Eighth Route Army are all grey." Chen Zhihao said immediately, "You say so, Old Liao?"

  "Alright." Yang Jie nodded, "But I want to add a set of snow combat uniforms for the special warfare team."

  Chen Zhihao and Liao Xudong were taken aback, "What is Snow Battle Armor?"

  Yang Jiong was also stunned, only then did he realize that they had no idea what was going on, "It's the combat uniform worn in snowy terrain."

  "You have a lot of tricks up your sleeve. No problem, but what does this Snow Battle uniform look like?" Liao Xudong asked curiously.

  "Hehe," Yang Jie smiled softly, "It's just a white outfit with a hooded hat."

  "White clothes, isn't that mourning attire?!" Xiaoshi asked in surprise, inserting a foot into the conversation.

  "Go! Go have fun! What mourning clothes! Bad luck!" Chen Zhihao scolded with a smile, "Don't talk nonsense, kid."

  "What's wrong, Shi Tou, causing trouble again?" Wang Rui Lin took a step forward, smiling and gently ruffling Shi Tou's hair as he lightly pushed him to walk outside.

  "I'm here to deliver a telegram." Shi Tou lowered his head, slipped out from under Wang Rui Lin's hand and placed the telegram on the table, then turned around and ran off.

  Chen Zhihao picked up the telegram, "It's from Yan'an, saying that an inspection team is coming to our place and will take someone to Beiping."

  "It seems that the central government still doesn't believe in our achievements!" Liao Xudong sighed, "We can eliminate so many devils, I'm afraid we've startled some people's nerves."

  "I think he's here to check our equipment." Yang Jiong said with a smile, "I'm afraid the chairman heard that the weapons we handed in were all old and useless, so someone must have spoken up. Didn't we give him a lot of bullets?"

  "When will we arrive?" Yang Wei asked again.

  "In five days."

  "Our grain supply will probably arrive in five days, isn't that a bother?!" Wang Rui Lin said, "Deputy Commander Li has received news that Director Wang discovered a large stash of grain hoarded by the enemy at Kongjia Temple in Dezhou, Shandong. The amount is not small. Along this route, Deputy Commander Li has secretly surrounded 13 of the enemy's grain storage points based on Director Wang's reconnaissance, and the total amount of grain stored is enough for our troops and guerrilla forces to use, and may even be able to provide some relief to nearby civilians."

  "The key is how to get the grain back. Those are all occupied areas by the devils." Wang Rulin paused for a moment and said, "I came here just for this matter."

  "Where is Deputy Captain Li now? How many troops does he have?" Yang Wei asked, "Where is the Xun Tian War Team?"

  "Deputy Captain Li is now stationed in a small mountain near Yi County, one of the four battalions of the Fourth Branch. The other three branches are all old battalions with strong combat effectiveness. Xun Tian is near Dezhou." Wang Rui Lin spread out a map on the table, which showed thirteen grain storage points and the situation around Dezhou.

  "Is the situation with the ghost clear?" Chen Zhihao asked.

  "It's unclear. Deputy Li is still under further investigation." Wang Rui Lin replied.

  "No need. Time is pressing, I think we should mobilize some troops to go and try to get as much food back as possible as soon as possible." Yang looked at several people, "This time we use the majority of our troops to transport grain, and the special warfare team will be responsible for opening up the channel. We'll mobilize two brigades with three regiments each, one brigade with three regiments, and four brigades with four regiments to participate in transporting grain. Li Baoguo and Nan Weiren's special warfare teams, the base special operations regiment, the instructional regiment, and the Sky Patrol Team will participate in opening up the channel. Specifically, Li Baoguo and Nan Weiren will be responsible, and we'll go to receive the inspection team from Yan'an. How is that?"

  "But with so many troops, how can we move?" Wang Rui Lin asked. "You know, the devils' information is also very well-informed."

  "The road to ruin is lost sheep." Yang Wei smiled slightly, seeing that several people did not understand, explained, "The great way is lost in many forks", that is, the sheep that was lost because there were too many forks and could not be pursued. We are those sheep. After drawing on the ground for a while, several people finally understood, hahaha laughed loudly.

  "I've thought about it for a long time, Director Wang will go to the Jidong Shandong area to get grain, I have considered it, let the special warfare team open up the channel, and the troops will be responsible for transporting grain in units of companies. Also, I'll need to trouble you and Old Liao to formulate transportation routes for the troops." Yang Ji said to Wang Rulin.

  "No problem." Wang Rui Lin and Liao Xu Dong stood up, "We'll get right on it, the troops will start mobilizing too."

  Wang Rulin and Liao Xudong were busy from afternoon till the next morning, exchanging telegrams with Wang Xuehua and Li Ying to discuss the safety, length and road conditions of the route. Fortunately, Li Ying had sent people to scout some roads beforehand, and for those that hadn't been scouted, soldiers were immediately dispatched to investigate. After receiving the telegram, Wang Xuehua also immediately dispatched a team to scout multiple possible routes.

  After the route was finalized, Chen Zhihao and Yang Jiong explained in hoarse voices to Yang Wei's various questions. Seeing the two with red eyes from lack of sleep, Chen Zhihao and Yang Jiong were both moved, "Alright, you two go rest now, I'll send it out to each unit."

  "I'll take it myself." Wang Rui Lin took it back, "I know who that one is for."

  There are sixty routes of all sizes, and the number of branch lines is even more numerous. They are clearly marked on the map. The staff officer immediately copied them and had them sent to each unit.

  The time was set for the night of October 10, and all troops must gather before then. Because the special forces were only responsible for opening up the return route, this thousand-mile sneak attack was also a test for each unit. After leaving Yixian County, each unit divided into companies and dispersed to their designated positions to await orders. One branch of three regiments went from Weixian south through Taoyuan and Linqing to Dezhou, while another branch of three regiments went from Zhuozhou, Xiong County, Hejian to Dezhou. The fourth branch's four regiments were divided into 13 small teams, which separately attacked the counties and towns of Rongcheng, Qingzhou, Yongqing, Xianghe, etc.

  This book is launched on Starting Point and will be heavily promoted from August 19th, so please come to Starting Point to click, vote, and collect it. Thank you!