The divisional armed work team worked hard in the sand dunes and jujube forests, and appeared in the green gauze reed marshes.
In the early years, they could often disguise themselves as businessmen, puppet soldiers, and local gentry to infiltrate the enemy's interior. They could even get information in advance to ambush small groups of enemies who went out to harass the people, leaving the Japanese, puppet soldiers, and traitors at a loss and in panic all day long.
Since the Wang Puppet began a large-scale rural clearing campaign in the occupied areas two years ago, the activities of the work teams have been greatly restricted, and the scope of the base areas has been shrinking. In the year of great famine, the population has dropped sharply.
The puppet army launched another comprehensive sweep at the beginning of spring. During this period, the work team's anti-mopping up work has been in a serious situation.
The Wang Puppet Qingxiang Movement first focused on military affairs, advancing both military and political affairs, and implementing both suppression and appeasement. The policy was to strengthen public security with three parts military and seven parts politics. Blockhouses, blockades, blockade ditches, blockade walls, and bamboo and wood fences were built extensively on the plains, Set up barbed wire fences and power grids to divide and seal off the anti-Japanese base areas, and then drag out nets to sweep them away;
Then carry out political cleansing of the countryside, widely publicize the Sino-Japanese friendship and the peaceful founding of the country in the Qingxiang area. While publicizing the masses, we will implement grouping and joint security, form police and security forces, and implement methods of surrender and inciting informants to strengthen the ***rule;
Next, carry out economic cleansing of the countryside, implement strict material control policies and material blockade and embargo policies, and implement economic blockades in the anti-Japanese base areas;
Finally, the imperial court thought of Qingxiang and established institutions to control schools in Qingxiang area, publish newspapers and periodicals, organize youth leagues, and carry out anti-red education.
In addition to the Wang Puppet, what made the work team gnash their teeth with hatred was that a large number of Huidaomen armed forces were still active in the plain areas. Instead of attacking the invaders, they pointed their spearheads at the Eighth Route Army's base areas.
Ever since the Japs built the blockhouse at the east end of the village, Liu Laowu, the puppet security chief, had been trying to establish a relationship with the Japs squad leader.
It just so happened that these two days were auspicious days for the ancient gathering in the village, and the Japanese team leader had long thought of visiting Liu Mansion and happily agreed to attend the banquet.
The ancient folk custom is that people from ten miles and eight villages nearby worship the God of Fire in order to avoid fires. They hold special fire temple meetings to express the grand activities of the people to ward off evil spirits, eliminate disasters, and welcome good fortune.
Even under the iron heel of the Japanese, the ancient society still carried on as usual.
The sky has just turned white, and it can be seen that it is another cloudless and bright spring day.
On the edge of the old river course of the Yellow River.
Even though the drought is severe, thick reeds sway in the morning breeze.
A figure was running quickly among the reeds.
As soon as they turned a corner, two men squatting in the reeds immediately shouted with guns in their hands: "What are you doing?"
The figure was calm and slowed down: "Don't make blind gestures, it's me."
The squatting man heard the sound and hurriedly emerged from the reeds and took a few steps forward: "Hey, Captain Yang...you are back."
Captain Yang stopped in front of the two sentries: "Where are Vice Captain Geng and the others?"
"It's just ahead. It's not far along the road."
"Keep on alert!"
After Captain Yang finished speaking, he raised his legs and continued walking deeper into the reed swamp. After a while, he came to the temporary station cut out by the armed work team hidden deep in the reed swamp.
Vice Captain Geng was giving a literacy class to the soldiers when he saw Captain Yang come back. He immediately put down the reed stick in his hand and ordered the soldiers who were surrounding him in a circle: "Disband!"
Vice Captain Geng hurried to Captain Yang: "Captain, have you figured out the situation?"
"Well, the Japanese team leader will attend Liu Laowu's family dinner at noon today!"
Vice Captain Geng slapped his thigh: "Finally, we have such a good opportunity for the little Japs to come out of the blockhouse. No matter what, we have to go and cheer for the Japs!"
The monitor next to him, Chen Tongxi, jumped up immediately: "Captain Yang, then we have to discuss it carefully!"
Captain Yang looked at the two dozen or so people around him: "Our people are watching. Everyone, hurry up and change into villagers' clothes. The ones with spears will meet you in the reeds outside the village. Let's go give the Japanese some eye drops."
The soldiers began to clean up the guys in the reeds. Captain Yang swept away his dark face, pulled Deputy Captain Geng aside, and lowered his voice and said excitedly: "There are many people gathered in Huidaomen armed forces this time. According to intelligence from inside sources, At least there are more than 2,000, and the division has asked the superiors for reinforcements. If nothing else happens, our reinforcements will arrive as soon as tonight."
"Then let's deal with that big traitor Liu Laowu now. Isn't it appropriate to alert the enemy?"
Captain Yang shook his head: "Liu Laowu is on tight guard. We have no chance. Let's take the opportunity to kill the Japs squad leader today so that the Japs will at least become suspicious of Liu Laowu and the others!"
"Is there any news about the traitor named Liang?"
Captain Yang shook his head: "Our people have not been in Huidaomen for a long time. We just heard that there is such a number one person. The traitor stays around day and night. It is difficult to trace his whereabouts. Let's ignore him for now.
"By the way, news came from the west. It was also Liang who arranged for people to poison the wells in the base area. One of them was caught a few days ago."
"There was a severe drought last year and there was a serious shortage of water. We must arrange for militiamen in the base area to strictly guard the wells day and night, and we must pay special attention to strangers who appear around the village."
"Captain, don't worry, this matter has been arranged a long time ago."
"I have been active all night. I eat first and then take action after eating."
"Uh...Captain...there's no rice...and there aren't many fish caught in the river..."
...
It's nearly noon.
The traitor led the way. One of the two Japanese soldiers was holding a rifle, with a plaster flag waving at the muzzle. The other Japanese soldier was holding a Japanese dog. The Japanese squad leader was riding a Japanese horse eliminated from the cavalry squadron, with a Japanese sword slung around his waist, following closely behind. There were more than a dozen Japanese soldiers with sharp bayonets on their backs, and more than 30 puppet troops behind them, shouting from the front and swarming from behind, entering the village majestically.
Villagers who were visiting Guhui saw this formation. The timid ones hurriedly ran into the alleys of the village. The bolder ones followed Liu Laowu and a group of traitors who stood by the roadside, holding small paper flags in their hands and lined up on both sides and shouted indiscriminately. with slogans of welcome abroad.
"Clear the streets, clear the streets, damn, don't block the road, hurry up, get out of the way!" A group of traitors and devils ran rampant, screaming and running towards Liu's house as if there was no one around.
Liu Laowu, the security chief, wore long robes and short coats, nodded and bowed, and led the gentry in the village to stand in front of the door and wait for the imperial army to fight.
The guests and hosts were smiling happily, and Chief Liu Bao was greeting them with his hands.
boom! boom!
After two gunshots.
The Japanese captain who was sitting on the horse tilted his body and fell off the horse.
The welcoming crowd was stunned for a moment, and chaos ensued.
It was impossible to figure out who fired where and where the bullets came from.
It is human instinct to run away and leave the place of right and wrong.
Captain Yang and the two guerrillas slipped off the roof, turned out of the alley, and ran out of the village as if nothing had happened, following the chaotic flow of people.
A voice shouted loudly: "There are eight people running out of the village!"
The Japanese team leader was shot in the head and chest. He fell to the ground and twitched for a few times without moving. The sergeant accompanying the team woke up and immediately blasted out the puppet soldiers who had been well hidden for a long time, leading a group of chaotic puppet soldiers who had lost their hats. The army rushed out of the village in pursuit.
The people who were running around had already dispersed, and apart from shaking my reeds outside the village, I didn't see even a single person.
