Resistance against Japan: Starting with the local militia

Chapter 246 School Construction

After returning to Wolong Mountain and bidding farewell to Tang Weiguo, Tang Xiaohu, along with Liu Hao, led the rested troops towards the Qingyun Mountain coal mine. The new encampment had been completed and was ready for Tang Xiaohu and his men to set up camp.

After Tang Xiaohu and Liu Hao led their troops away, Tang Weiguo immediately felt that Wolong Mountain had become quieter, and the shouts and battle cries from the morning exercises were noticeably less loud.

Tang Weiguo, who had been fighting recently, was not quite used to the relatively quiet and peaceful environment.

Time flies, and a month has passed in the blink of an eye.

The Agricultural Construction Department had long since completed its sowing task. On the wasteland surrounding Wolong Mountain, lush green wheat began to sprout from the ground and grow vigorously. Swaying in the spring breeze, the soldiers of the Agricultural Construction Department patrolled the fields daily, their faces filled with anticipation for a bountiful harvest.

During this period, the entire northern part of Shanxi Province and the entire northern Shanxi region were unusually calm. It seemed that all parties had reached some kind of tacit understanding, and even the frequent minor frictions of the past had decreased.

Only in Qingshan County did a "misunderstanding" occur.

Tang Xiaohu's troops stationed in Xiaoqingshan and the Eighth Route Army Independent Brigade, also stationed in Qingshan County, clashed over territorial disputes. A company from the reinforced regiment attacked a company from the Independent Brigade, resulting in casualties on both sides.

However, the “conflict” ended very quickly, with both sides stating that the battle was a misunderstanding and emphasizing that they would continue to cooperate in resisting Japan and fighting against the Japanese invaders.

After this news spread, bursts of laughter came from Yan Xishan's office at the Second War Zone Command, far away on the banks of the Yellow River.

"Very good. Send a commendation telegram to the Independent Brigade, telling them not to show any mercy when seizing Eighth Route Army territory. Also, notify the logistics department to promptly send supplies and provisions to the Independent Brigade's personnel."

"Yes," Staff Officer Chu replied.

After that, several batches of personnel and supplies that the Second War Zone was initially reluctant to provide to the Independent Brigade were quickly transported there. Bi Shoucai, who was in charge of receiving the supplies at the Independent Brigade, was dumbfounded.

"Damn, I didn't know they could move this fast!"

Tang Weiguo grinned with delight upon seeing the newly arrived personnel and supplies, muttering that the whole performance hadn't been in vain.

Meanwhile, at Tang Xiaohu's post at the Xiaoqingshan Coal Mine, Li Yunfei was drinking with Tang Xiaohu, both of them constantly boasting about how realistic and powerful their acting skills were.

"Old Li, your soldiers did a great job. They raised their guns an inch higher, and all the bullets hit the trees, without hurting any of my men," Tang Xiaohu said with a swig of his drink.

Li Yunfei chuckled: "Your brothers over there aren't bad either. They shouted like crazy during the charge, but halfway through, they lay down and pretended to be dead, making it seem like the real thing!"

The two looked at each other and laughed heartily, then clinked glasses and drank it all in one gulp.

After a month of growth and expansion, the Independent Brigade has successfully restored its personnel size to the level before the Battle of Wolong Mountain.

The wounded and sick soldiers who were originally being treated in the hospital gradually recovered and were immediately assigned to various units to serve as combat backbone.

To prevent a decline in combat effectiveness due to an overabundance of new recruits, Tang Weiguo launched a three-month-long large-scale military training campaign.

Immediately, all units under the Independent Brigade launched vigorous training activities.

On the training ground, assassination, shooting, and tactical drills continue day and night.

Veteran soldiers taught new recruits bayonet fighting step by step, machine gunners practiced rapid reloading again and again, and artillerymen repeatedly adjusted their firing parameters.

A large number of outstanding soldiers were discovered during the training process, and training pacesetters were selected as role models to encourage new recruits to train hard.

When the Independent Regiment of Qingshan County saw Tang Xiaohu conducting military training exercises, even Li Yunfei couldn't sit still and followed suit, setting up his own training operations.

In an instant, the entire area surrounding Wolong Mountain was engulfed in a sea of ​​red as people trained hard.

It was late May, and Tang Weiguo was in his office processing official documents.

“Report.” A loud voice broke the silence of the office.

"Please come in."

With a creak, the door opened and Tang Guo walked in.

Tang Weiguo looked up and greeted him warmly.

"Tang Guo, it's been a while since I've seen you."

"Brigade Commander, you've been busy with the service department lately, always on the go."

"Tang Guo, you're the head of the logistics department now. You should let your subordinates do the work. Look how tired you are. You've lost a lot of weight since the last time I saw you," Tang Weiguo said, looking at Tang Guo with concern.

“Brigade Commander, my subordinates haven’t matured yet, so I’m worried about them. I need to keep a close eye on their work to prevent them from making mistakes.”

"Our brigade is currently conducting a large-scale training exercise, and although our logistics department is not part of the combat sequence, we cannot fall behind either."

"Our soldiers' service department must be even more strict with itself and not hold our brigade back."

"Well done, no wonder you're an old hand who's followed me out here." Tang Weiguo looked at the person he had personally chosen with satisfaction.

"Thank you for your trust, young master." Tang Guo subconsciously called out to Tang Weiguo the same way she used to address him.

"Tang Guo, please still address me by my rank in the military camp," Tang Weiguo said with a smile.

"Yes, Brigade Commander." Tang Guo nodded earnestly to Tang Weiguo.

"Alright, alright, you're such a busy person, you didn't come all this way just to chat, did you?" Tang Weiguo joked.

"How could that be? Reporting to the brigade commander, I have some good news to report." Tang Guo's tired face could not hide his excitement.

"Oh, what good news? Tell me quickly." Tang Weiguo immediately became interested.

"Brigade Commander, our schools, including those at our garrison and those at the garrisons of the other three regiments, have finally all been completed and can now meet the students' schooling needs!" Tang Guo shouted excitedly.

"That's wonderful!" Tang Weiguo was so excited that he was almost incoherent.

Tang Weiguo planned to build the school, which should have been completed long ago, but the completion time was delayed for a long time due to the Battle of Wolong Mountain.

Upon hearing the news of the school's completion, Tang Weiguo couldn't help but feel genuine joy.

"Therefore, I would like to invite you to personally attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the school's founding," Tang Guo said expectantly.

"Yes, I must go in person. Not only will I go, but I will also notify everyone in the brigade to participate. This is the first school our brigade has built!" Tang Weiguo said excitedly.

"When do you plan to organize the ribbon-cutting ceremony?" Tang Weiguo continued to ask.

"We plan to hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony in a week. During this week, our logistics department will gather the students who are temporarily placed in various villages and send them to the local school to begin their studies."

"Our ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held at the school where the brigade headquarters is located," Tang Guo replied carefully.

"I understand. You must do this well," Tang Weiguo earnestly instructed.

"Yes, Brigadier."

"Oh, right, now that you've reminded me, there's something else I need to tell you," Tang Weiguo said to Tang Guo as he suddenly remembered something.

"Brigade Commander, what are your orders?"

"Now that Qingshan County is under our control, the education work there cannot lag behind. Your soldiers' service department should organize personnel to build a new school at the Xiaoqingshan Coal Mine."

"Yes, brigade commander, I will go back and arrange the work immediately."

"Remember, from now on, we must build schools on every piece of land that our brigade controls. We want all the children on our land to have access to education!" Tang Weiguo said earnestly.

"Yes, Commander! We will complete the mission without hesitation!"