Comrade, Your Ingredients Are Too Complicated

Chapter 143 Your grandpa the worker is here

 The entire battle at the Jingxing Coal Mine took more than seventy minutes in total.

 Except for some problems encountered by the third battalion, the attacks of the first and second battalions went very smoothly. After the soldiers got rid of all the Japs in the mining area, they immediately started sabotage work.

 In order to facilitate the next work, and also to understand the specific casualties of the soldiers. Commander Yang and Commander Han led the staff and moved the headquarters to the new mining area in Dongwangshe.

As soon as they arrived at their destination, they bumped into Third Battalion Commander Gao Ding and Liu Baosen.

After seeing his regiment leader and comrade commander, Gao Ding quickly came to the two men with his underground guerrillas.

"Let me introduce to you, these are comrades of the underground worker guerrillas. They gave us a lot of help in the battle just now, otherwise our battalion would not have been able to defeat the Japs' fortress so easily. "

“The two leaders behind me are Commander Yang and the head of the Third Regiment of our Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Division One.”

Through the vivid description of the third battalion commander, Commander Yang learned that these people performed very well in the battle just now and even played a decisive role.

This made him more and more interested in the burly man in front of him. Even at his position, he still admired those brave and resourceful warriors.

Moreover, the opponent's height is actually similar to him, which is a rare thing even in the entire base area. What's more, the other party can actually maintain this kind of figure under the long-term oppression of the Japanese.

Just when Commander Yang was full of confusion, he was about to say hello to Liu Baosen. The other party was mumbling something, and his eyes were getting brighter and brighter, as if he had thought of something.

When Commander Yang hesitated, the big man stepped forward and held his hand, and then said excitedly:

“Political Commissar Yang! I really didn’t expect that the commander-in-chief of our operation is actually you! I have long admired your name! I am so lucky to see you again after so many years!”

 Except for the underground worker guerrillas, everyone present already understood what had happened. The name of political commissar coupled with the other party's accent, the answer is basically written on his face.

“It turns out that you used to be in the Northeast Army. It seems that we fought against each other a few years ago. It’s not like we’re not acquainted.”

This sentence made Liu Baosen a little more embarrassed, but it did not affect his enthusiasm. After all, he was one of his own now.

“Well, I am just a small company commander, and I am not worthy of being your opponent. What happened in the past is in the past, and it is not honorable to talk about it. Everyone knows the previous missions of our Northeastern Army.”

“At that time, my old unit was beaten to the ground by H Division, and everyone in the division heard of your name.”

“Later, when I was in the mine, I heard that you killed a lieutenant general! Relieve your anger!”

 Seeing how harmonious the atmosphere was now, Commander Yang finally asked a question he had been holding back for a long time. He squeezed the other person's powerful arm and said curiously:

"I see that the other comrades in the mine are all very thin. How come your physique doesn't seem to be affected at all? Is there any other way you can get food in this **** place?"

These words made the faces of the underground worker guerrillas change slightly, and the original joy on their faces disappeared. It felt like I was back in the mines all of a sudden, back in those depressing days.

"This reason is very simple to say. I am the person with the most combat experience in the mine. In order to keep me fighting, everyone will give me part of the few food every time. Our team is the whole east. The hope of Wangshe mining area.”

“Fortunately, you are here now, otherwise we don’t know how long we can continue like this.”

This heavy topic made everyone present fall into silence. In the end, Commander Yang broke the deadlock. He patted the other party's thick shoulder and said:

“We are already here and will take you home in a moment.”

 The next task is to arrange the work of destroying the mining area. Compared with outsiders like the Third Regiment, the guerrilla comrades are more familiar with every corner of Dongwangshe.

Moreover, Liu Baosen had already thought about this issue when his comrades from the First Military Region contacted him. Facing the expectant eyes of everyone present, he revealed his plan one by one.

 The first thing to do is to call out all the workers in the mine.

In order to plunder these coal resources, the Japanese almost used miners and prisoners of war as consumables. These beasts are not worried at all that over-exploitation will kill people. In their eyes, workers in the Republic of China are no different from ants.

Although the Eighth Route Army had just fought fiercely with the defenders in Xiaozhi, most of the miners working underground day and night did not know that the battle had already started.

 Calling out these new forces, workers who are familiar with the environment can provide great help to the Eighth Route Army.

The main reason is that the Jingxing Coal Mine is too big, with an area of ​​more than 40 square kilometers. The two thousand or so people of the Third Regiment alone are not enough to see it.

 If you want to carry out the destruction work more thoroughly, you must actively use the power of the masses.

 The next thing to do is to find professional people to guide the blasting work.

 After the battle, the engineers of the third regiment had begun to destroy the mining area. They set up explosives everywhere and all the facilities were blown to pieces.

 But there are specializations in the art industry, and the progress of temporary and part-time engineers is very slow. The huge boilers and towering chimneys in the mining area are still standing, and anyone with a discerning eye can see that they have not been fatally damaged.

 At this time, you cannot blindly increase the dose of explosives. This will not only fail to achieve the purpose of destruction, but may also cause casualties.

 At this juncture, the importance of professionals becomes apparent.

Jingxing Coal Mine was a German industry for a while, and there were many Republic of China engineers there who had learned advanced technologies. Three years ago, Shimen fell so quickly that many people had no time to run far before being captured by the Japanese.

If you can get their help, you will definitely be a professional counterpart. After all, it is always easier to destroy than to build.

 The last thing to do is to prepare the logistics.

On the one hand, this is because the workers who work hard in the mines have been abused and malnourished all year round, and many of them have been sick in the mines for a long time.

 Saving people is one of the main purposes of this operation. Without treatment, at least half of them will fall on the road.

On the other hand, in order to deal with emergencies, the mine itself is a place full of dangers. During the process of destruction and blasting, collapse, smashing and other dangers are likely to occur.

Looking at Liu Baosen, who was talking as talkatively as usual, everyone had to admit that this Northeastern man had done his homework well.

After hearing his plan, Commander Yang was very impressed and immediately ordered the soldiers of the third regiment to execute the order. Captain Han personally led a company of comrades, and under the instructions of the guerrillas, went to various mines to look for workers.

 Nearly half an hour later, 80% of the engineers were found. These twenty or so thin middle-aged and elderly people were discussing plans around the command post.

 One of the oldest people was the first to express his opinion. He seemed to be very prestigious among the engineers. When the old man spoke, the others immediately fell silent. "Stop talking nonsense, the devils may come at any time. There is an oil storage area at the junction of the old mining area and the new mining area. Recently, the devils' train only took away the coal mine, and there is at least 100 tons of kerosene there."

“Several people were separated and took the comrades to use yellow explosives and kerosene together. No matter how strong the thing is, it can’t withstand the stuff made like this.”

As soon as this plan came out, the eyes of everyone present lit up. The Eighth Route Army has no need for these kerosene, and even if all the soldiers of the four regiments are gathered together, they cannot take away these supplies.

 Who wouldn’t like a method that can destroy both kerosene and equipment?

 After someone started, everyone's thoughts surged, and soon another plan was made.

“When our team led people to explore the mines last month, traces of groundwater were found in the three mining areas. If enough yellow explosives can be used to blast, there is a high probability that the entire mine can be flooded at once.”

 If coal is over-mined in a certain area, the strata will be hollowed out, creating unsupported hollows.

At this time, once pressure is applied at key points, collapse will occur and water-conducting cracks will appear in the groundwater. As the cracks grow, groundwater will gush out in large quantities.

 After calculations by several geological, hydrological and surveying engineers, they determined the feasibility of this plan.

It took half an hour to formulate the plan, and then the engineers followed the soldiers to various areas to assist in the destruction work.

 With the guidance of professionals, all actions become smooth and easy. The boiler burst, the engine blew down, and even the large chimney that a dozen people couldn't hold was blown to pieces.

　　After a huge explosion, the ground seemed to be lowered by dozens of centimeters. The surging groundwater suddenly flooded the three mining areas, and there were even signs of overflowing outwards.

With the help of workers, more than a hundred houses in the Jingxing coal mine are gradually being destroyed.

 The oldest engineer did not follow the soldiers of the third regiment. He is not in good health and is not good at running.

At the invitation of Commander Yang, the two came to a coal storage area together. They sighed as they looked at the mountains of coal that had been mined ahead.

These supplies cannot be moved away, and leaving them here will only make it easier for the Japanese.

Sensing that the old man beside him was a little reluctant, Commander Yang took the initiative to explain to him:

"What the Japanese have now, we will have in the future. After the war is over, our own factories will rise one after another. Then let other countries see what it means to have a vast land and abundant resources."

After saying this, the soldiers of the third regiment carried buckets filled with kerosene and began to pour kerosene onto the coal mountain. Then the fire was put down, and many coal mountains began to burn.

 As operations everywhere progressed smoothly, Commander Yang also breathed a sigh of relief.

 In Jingxing Coal Mine, all the machinery for mining and transporting coal will be destroyed by them. These are all imported equipment. They are the only ones in the Republic of China. The devils at most use their own products.

However, the Jinpu, Pinghan, and especially the Zhengtai Railways have been severely damaged by the Japanese side. Even if the Japanese transport machinery from the mainland, they will not be able to deliver it to Jingxing.

What's more, the equipment still needs to be installed and debugged, and work cannot be started without skilled workers. Calculating all the miscellaneous things, it would be considered fast to resume work within a year.

Suddenly, there was a burst of gunfire in the distance. Although the sound was not very obvious due to the distance, it was still captured by the keen Commander Yang.

This immediately made him realize that they were reinforcements from the Japanese. And judging from the location, it should be the direction of Ding Wei's new group.

　　——————

On the long Shota Line, the Japanese army only deployed three incomplete independent mixed brigades: the 4th, 8th, and 9th. The area where the Jingxing Coal Mine is located is under the responsibility of Mizuhara Yishige.

 The reason why I use the word incomplete to describe it is because in August last year, the 8th Independent Mixed Brigade was beaten into half a disability by the 358th Brigade of the 120th Division.

In that battle, even Major General Mizuhara Yoshishige almost died in Chenzhuang. Since then, the strength of this mixed brigade has not been replenished.

When the entire Shota Line was attacked by the Eighth Route Army, Mizuhara Yishige of Shimen immediately became unable to sit still.

This old devil knows very well that if he doesn't do something at this time, the best outcome waiting for him is to be transferred to the reserve force.

 But the entire Shimen didn't have any troops that could take action. Most of the troops in the 8th Brigade had their own tasks, and the Japanese were scattered to various counties and strongholds.

After statistics, he now has only 1,100 soldiers at his disposal.

 In order to save the current chaotic situation, he decided to lead the brigade himself. All the way from Shimen to the west, support various strongholds along the Shota Line.

Although these 1,100 people are a temporary team, they are fully equipped with weapons and equipment. In addition to rifles, there are a total of thirty-six light machine guns and ten Type 92 heavy machine guns.

As the core of the tactics, forty grenades were brought, and two Type 92 infantry guns were also transferred from the city defense army.

These soldiers are definitely a powerful force if they work well together.

Mizuhara Yoshige knew that the railway would most likely not be used at this time, so he mobilized a large number of trucks and sidecar motorcycles.

 Fortunately, this place is not far from their first stop, Jingxing Coal Mine. It can be reached in about two hours after traveling more than 40 kilometers.

What they saw and heard along the way frightened these Japanese soldiers. After three years of fighting with the Eighth Route Army, this was the first time they had seen such a massive move by the other side.

 When he thought that the Jingxing Coal Mine might be destroyed by the enemy, Mizuhara Yoshige, an old Japanese soldier, kept urging his soldiers to speed up their advance, and he even omitted some necessary reconnaissance.

When they were still five kilometers away from the coal mine, they saw bursts of black smoke rising over there from a distance.

The old devil's eyes suddenly darkened, as if the sky had fallen.

Issue first and change later

 (End of this chapter)