Resistance against Japan: Starting with the local militia

Chapter 104 Handing Over the Wounded

"Big sister, is it reliable for us to follow them? They can fight the Japanese devils," Zhou Yuan asked a valiant female soldier standing beside him as they walked.

When Zhou Yuan thought about Chief of Staff Wang's confident speech, he felt it was somewhat unreliable, since he had said the same thing when he first arrived.

"Zhou Yuan, are you blind? You don't even look around," a female soldier said, her words incongruous with her beautiful face.

This female soldier was named Long Wenying. She was a native of Shanxi and received a modern education from a young age. She believed that resisting the Japanese was not only a man's business, but also a woman's business.

So she kept it a secret from her family and resolutely enrolled in military school. After graduation, she led a group of young student soldiers to the 68th Brigade.

Long Wenying thought that after joining the army she could fight on the front lines and serve her country, but reality slapped her in the face.

Her 68th Brigade retreated again and again, without any chance of contact with the Japanese. Long Wenying, anxious to get her newly recruited student soldiers, has been petitioning daily to apply for deployment to the front lines.

After receiving approval from the brigade headquarters, Long Wenying was overjoyed. Only today did she learn that they had been sent by the brigade headquarters to support the newly established Anti-Japanese Independent Militia. Upon hearing Chief of Staff Wang mention the Anti-Japanese Independent Militia, Long Wenying's first reaction was that it was unreliable.

But when Long Wenying actually came into contact with this unit, she found that her previous reaction was wrong; the unit in front of her impressed her.

“Look at their equipment. They’re carrying Japanese Type 38 rifles. You don’t think the Japanese gave them these weapons for free, do you?” Long Wenying explained.

"Boss, you mean these were all captured?" Zhou Yuan replied.

“That’s right. Look at their marching formation. It’s neat and orderly. And I noticed that there are scouts at the front of the formation who are responsible for reconnaissance. They are clearly elite soldiers who often carry out combat missions in the field.”

"And the most crucial point is their stamina. Did you notice that even though they were carrying weapon boxes on their shoulders, they were moving quite fast on the mountain path? They were moving at the same speed as us who weren't carrying anything. Do you know what that means?" Long Wenying asked.

"What does that mean?" Zhou Yuan asked, looking puzzled.

"Sigh, you're really both naive and foolish." Long Wenying looked at Zhou Yuan speechlessly.

"This shows that they have stable logistics, which can ensure that the soldiers have sufficient nutrition. How could they do this if the soldiers were not getting enough to eat? At the same time, this also shows that they have a stable base behind enemy lines," Long Wenying patiently explained to Zhou Yuan.

"Big Sister, you're amazing! You were able to analyze so much," Zhou Yuan praised admiringly.

"Alright, stop flattering me, let's hurry up and get going," Long Wenying said.

"Yes, eldest sister."

Meanwhile, Li Qukou returned to Wolong Mountain from the Independent Regiment and went to Tang Weiguo's office. At that moment, Tang Weiguo was reviewing the intelligence report about the coal mine submitted by Sun Qiang.

"Report."

"Come in."

Tang Weiguo looked up and saw the person walking in, and said:

"You've returned from driving out the invaders. How about joining the Independent Regiment?" Tang Weiguo asked.

"I'm back. Everything went smoothly at the Independent Regiment. I've explained things to Commander Li. Judging from their reactions, they already knew about our joining the Jin-Sui Army."

"Yes, the Eighth Route Army's intelligence work is excellent, and the order was issued directly by the Second War Zone, so it couldn't have been kept from them."

"Commander Li has agreed to our plan. On the surface, our two teams will not contact each other and will be on guard against each other, but in private, we will continue to operate together. Commander Li has already started using the radio we captured last time, so we can contact them directly through the radio in the future," Li Qukou continued.

"I understand. From now on, all communication with the Independent Regiment will be conducted through your intelligence department's radio," Tang Weiguo said.

"Yes, Captain."

"Remember to keep it confidential."

"Yes."

"By the way, what should we do about the wounded in this Independent Regiment?" Tang Weiguo asked.

"This time, Battalion Commander Zhou Zhengbiao of the Independent Regiment returned to Wolong Mountain with me. They were preparing to take these wounded soldiers back with them."

“Alright, Battalion Commander Zhou and the others are currently at the foot of the mountain, waiting for us to send someone to hand them over,” Li Qukou replied.

“Alright, you will handle this personally later. Safely transfer the wounded from the Independent Regiment to the Independent Regiment. I have already spoken with Dean Chu, and she will cooperate with you to accomplish this,” Tang Weiguo said.

"Yes, Commander, I'll take care of this matter shortly. By the way, Commander, before I left, Commander Li specifically asked me to tell you that he is grateful to our militia for taking care of the wounded soldiers of the Independent Regiment. The Independent Regiment will remember this kindness."

"Yes, expel the enemy. Please convey my gratitude to Commander Li. I accept the Independent Regiment's thanks," Tang Weiguo replied.

"Commander, there's one more thing. Commander Li said that the Independent Regiment borrowed a battalion's worth of equipment from us during the last joint operation and hopes to repay the equipment later. Now their Independent Regiment urgently needs to replenish its equipment. Commander Li said he hopes you can understand that it's not that he doesn't want to repay it, but that it's necessary for the War of Resistance."

"How should we handle this matter, Commander?" Li Qukou asked.

"No need to deal with it. Just tell Commander Li to continue using it. I never intended to take back the equipment I lent them. With the IOU in hand, it's more in our interest if they don't return it." Tang Weiguo thought to himself, secretly pleased with the IOU, knowing that this would allow him to negotiate even greater benefits with the Eighth Route Army in the future.

"So that's how it is." Li Qukou finally realized why the regimental commander had agreed to lend the Independent Regiment's equipment so readily. He hadn't expected the commander to have thought so far ahead.

"Now we need to think long-term, after all, this war won't end in a year or two," Tang Weiguo said.

"Commander, I understand," Li Qukou said.

"Okay, you go ahead."

After Li Qukou left, Tang Weiguo continued to study the intelligence provided by Sun Qiang.

After leaving Tang Weiguo's office, Li Qukou went straight to the regimental hospital.

"Dean Chu, I am here on orders from the regimental commander to transfer the soldiers of the Independent Regiment," Li Qukou said as he entered Chu Xin's office.

"Director Li, Commander Tang has already given instructions. There are a total of 51 people. I will now notify the hospital staff to make arrangements," Chu Yu said.

"Thank you, Dean Chu," Li Qukou said politely.

Dean Chu asked Li Qukou to wait a moment, then walked towards the hospital's inpatient area. Thanks to Chu Yu's training over the past six months, the number of medical staff at the hospital had increased significantly. Furthermore, several medical students contacted by Professor Zhao through old friends had already settled in the militia. Currently, the hospital's medical resources were sufficient to meet the militia's medical needs.

Chu Yu was not content with the status quo and continued to expand the hospital's medical staff and provide training to improve their individual abilities.

Tang Weiguo has always approved of Chu Yu's long-term plans for the hospital and has provided strong support to Chu Yu in terms of funding and personnel.

Chu Yu was very efficient. Li Qukou didn't have to wait long before Chu Yu informed him that everything was ready and the patients could be transferred. So Li Qukou led the wounded soldiers of the Independent Regiment down the mountain and handed them over to Zhou Zhengbiao of the Independent Regiment.

"Director Li, thank you. I will definitely pass on Commander Tang's instructions to Commander Li," Zhou Zheng-biao said.

"Alright, then I wish Battalion Commander Zhou a safe journey home," Li Qukou said.

"Thank you."

After saying this, Zhou Zhengbiao led the wounded soldiers away from Wolong Mountain and headed towards the Independent Regiment's garrison.