Just when Li Jiming proposed to go out to solve the salt problem, Li Qiulin stopped him and said that he had a solution.
Li Jiming and the guerrillas were very curious and wondered how to solve the salt problem in this deep mountain? But when they saw the relaxed expressions on the faces of the special operations team members, they knew they had something to do.
Under the curious gazes of Li Jiming and the guerrillas, the special forces team members found a lot of straw and lit it on fire. After burning the straw, a large amount of plant ash was produced. The special forces team members collected the plant ash and put it into the water. Soak, then collect the turbid water, filter it, and put it into a large pot for boiling.
After the water boils dry, some gray-black powder forms at the bottom of the pot.
Li Qiulin dipped his fingers into some powder, put it in his mouth and tasted it, with a smile on his face.
Li Jiming also followed his example, dipped his fingers into some powder and put it into his mouth. Sure enough, he tasted the salty taste like table salt.
He curiously asked Li Qiulin for advice. Li Qiulin said with some pride: "This is what Captain Xu taught us. Salt can be made from plant ash. These salts are called potassium salts. They have some impurities, so they are a bit bitter. However, it can also be purified. After filtering with activated carbon, you can extract excellent quality table salt. Of course, the conditions here cannot produce activated carbon, but charcoal can be used instead. The best material for making charcoal is coconut shells , there happens to be it in the mountains, and the problem of salt can be easily solved in the future."
Li Jiming has never met Xu Dalong, but now he already feels very familiar with him. When the special operations team members mentioned Captain Xu, they all had expressions of admiration on their faces. At this time, he also felt a sense of admiration and sincerely praised: "Your Captain Xu's knowledge is so profound and amazing."
Li Qiulin respected and admired Xu Dalong very much. Seeing that Li Jiming also respected Xu Dalong so much, he was very happy and said sincerely: "You are right. Captain Xu is the most amazing person I have ever seen."
Li Jiming said with great expectation: "I really look forward to meeting your Captain Xu and seeing what kind of great person he is."
While the special forces team members were boiling salt, the villagers were also watching. They learned this method and were very happy. This solved a big problem for them, and they no longer had to risk going out of the mountains to purchase salt.
The problem of food and salt has been solved, and the special forces and guerrillas can temporarily settle down. Li Qiulin and Li Jiming began to train the guerrillas, waiting for the enemy situation outside the mountain to change before making plans.
Xu Dalong received the telegram from Li Qiulin and was very relieved to learn that they were temporarily safe there. He sent a telegram back to Li Qiulin, telling him that he was on standby in hiding to help the guerrillas with their internal construction, waiting for him to make some noise and attract the attention of the Japanese and puppet troops, and after the Japanese and puppet troops relaxed their blockade on Li Qiulin and the others. , then go out of the mountains and forests to attack the Japanese and puppet troops and cooperate with the actions here. When necessary, seek advice from the guerrillas and bring them here to join you.
Li Qiulin and the others had no problems for the time being. Xu Dalong was relieved and began to concentrate on helping the guerrillas in Gaoxiling develop and grow.
Xu Dalong and others spent a week reorganizing the guerrillas and strengthening the most basic personal skills and squad tactics. The subjects arranged in the training are not fancy and are all the most practical content. In a short period of time, the overall combat effectiveness of the guerrillas has been improved to a certain extent.
The next step is to take the guerrillas out to fight. As long as the battle can be won, the morale of the guerrillas will be improved, their influence will be expanded, and the development of the guerrillas themselves and the base areas will be guaranteed.
After entering the guerrilla camp, Mr. Chen was eager to start work. Xu Dalong also hoped to understand a more comprehensive situation in Malaysia, so he arranged for Secretary Chen to disguise himself as an ordinary businessman under the protection of the guides and special forces sent by the guerrillas. , went to Kuala Lumpur to get in touch with the Chinese Chamber of Commerce.
On the ninth day after they left, the news finally came. Secretary Chen and others did not come back. The news was sent by telegram. It can be said that it was all good news. One of them was that the Chinese Chamber of Commerce heard that Mr. Chen had returned to Malaysia. They all felt refreshed and had sent people to leave Kuala Lumpur. Come and get in touch with Mr. Chen.
Another news is that not long ago, the situation of the Japanese troops in Malaysia also changed. Originally, the number of Japanese troops stationed in Malaysia was not large, with only one division, the Fifth Division. With the further development of the Pacific War, the Japanese army continued to mobilize troops from here to the Philippines, Indonesia and other places, and the strength of the Fifth Division gradually decreased. Not long ago, the Japanese army transferred another infantry brigade, plus an infantry regiment. At this time, the only regular Japanese troops remaining in Malaysia were the division headquarters of the Fifth Division, one brigade headquarters, and two infantry regiments. The army, engineering regiment and a heavy equipment regiment have a total strength of only 10,000 people, and there are also about 10,000 military police and other logistics personnel.
This amount of troops can be said to be stretched thin in the entire Malaysia, so the Japanese army has now begun to shrink its troops and focus on protecting several major cities and important ports in Malaysia. This provides favorable conditions for the development and growth of the guerrillas.
After discussing with the guerrilla captain Gao Xiling, Xu Dalong decided to launch an offensive. Captain Cao's third squadron served as a reserve force, and other squadrons centered on the base area to launch attacks on the Japanese and puppet army strongholds around the base area.
Three squadrons of the guerrillas in Gaoxiling, with the cooperation of special operations team members, launched continuous attacks on the Japanese and puppet troops. They first captured three Japanese strongholds and eliminated more than 140 Japanese and puppet troops. Then they divided their forces to attack the basic Japanese and puppet organizations in various villages and towns, eradicating some of the heinous Majian, and carried out extensive operations in these villages and towns. Anti-Japanese propaganda, mobilize the masses and strengthen the guerrillas.
After this stage of fighting, a total of more than 160 Japanese and puppet troops were annihilated, more than 220 guns of various types, more than 9,400 rounds of various bullets, and a large amount of various materials were seized. The base area was expanded to nine villages and more than 80 new guerrillas were recruited.
During this period, Xu Dalong and others controlled the reserve team, paying close attention to the movements of the surrounding Japanese and puppet troops, and were ready to repel the enemy's counterattack at any time.
That morning, the guerrilla scouts sent news that a group of Japanese and puppet troops had come out of Monan County and had entered Maiba Town, west of the base area.
Maiba Town is the largest town around the base area. The Japanese garrison has half an infantry squadron and a company of puppet troops. The newly arrived Japanese and puppet troops include the other half of a Japanese squadron belonging to the same squadron, as well as a puppet battalion and two companies of puppet troops. The enemy's strength in Maiba town increased to one infantry squadron and one puppet battalion, totaling more than 600 people.
According to intelligence, the Japanese and puppet troops are raising supplies in the town and are ready to launch an attack on the base area at any time.
In order to crush the enemy's attack, the guerrillas held a combat meeting under the auspices of Gao Xiling.
After the meeting began, Gao Xiling first introduced the enemy's situation, and then asked Xu Dalong for his opinion.
The squadron leaders of each squadron also turned their attention to Xu Dalong. They respected and trusted Xu Dalong and wanted to hear his opinions.
Dealing with such a large Japanese and puppet army was a piece of cake for Xu Dalong, but for the guerrillas, the scale of the enemy's attack was relatively large. Xu Dalong is a guest from afar and will leave sooner or later. The purpose of his coming here is to help the guerrillas develop and grow. To achieve this, the cultivation of excellent commanders becomes increasingly important.
He decided not to express his opinions for the time being, and to use the intelligence of the guerrilla commanders present, let them first formulate a combat plan, and then provide guidance himself.
Xu Dalong said: "Captain Gao, squadron leaders, you are very familiar with the situation in the base area. Now that the enemy situation is clear, I want to hear your opinions first on how to fight the next battle."
The squadron leaders of each squadron have gradually grown up from the old guerrillas. They have fought many battles. Although the scale is not as big as this one, they are not panicked.
They expressed their opinions one after another. After everyone expressed their opinions, they all turned their attention to Xu Dalong. Obviously, they hoped to get Xu Dalong's approval.
The guerrillas in Gaoxiling are able to persist in fighting even when the enemy is strong and we are weak, and they continue to grow and develop. The squadron leaders of the guerrillas are all very powerful. They quickly put forward some very insightful opinions, and the tactics they proposed to adopt were the effective tactics they had always used in the past, which was to avoid their sharp edges. The main force of the guerrillas retreated into the mountains and used the familiar terrain to lead them. As the Japanese and puppet troops circled in the mountains, they harassed them along the way.
When the Japanese and puppet troops could no longer hold on, they had no choice but to retreat hastily. During the retreat, they pursued and ate part of them. The guerrillas will be victorious in this battle.
Xu Dalong nodded frequently after listening. Although the guerrillas currently have 400 people, their equipment and training are relatively backward. Facing more than 600 well-equipped and well-trained Japanese and puppet troops, head-on confrontation will definitely not work.
In this case, the tactics adopted by the guerrillas to avoid the enemy's edge, seize the opportunity during the movement, and crush the enemy's attack are completely correct.
In fact, this set of combat ideas has been instilled in the guerrillas by Xu Dalong for many times. The guerrillas have mastered this tactic proficiently, survived in the cruel war environment, and can continue to fight. Develop and grow.
After Gao Xiling summarized the suggestions put forward by each squadron leader, he asked Xu Dalong for his opinion.
Although Xu Dalong has not given a positive answer yet, everyone felt that he recognized it from the fact that Xu Dalong nodded frequently and smiled on his face when he spoke.
Although everyone felt happy, they were all a little dissatisfied. Xu Dalong's reputation is too loud. Now that he is here, and there are two squads of special forces members, the guerrillas hope to have new fighting methods for them to learn.
If Xu Dalong did not participate in this battle, if the tactics adopted by the guerrillas were completely correct, Xu Dalong would definitely praise them greatly. (End of chapter)
