frightfiction Chapter 638: Emptying the House in One Night
Chapter 638: Emptying the House in One Night
The family of five hurriedly finished their rice and placed the bowls and chopsticks in a recycling basket, which was then carried to the river for washing by the militia or the women from the Women's Rescue Association who came to help.
The two carts continued on their way, and converged on the main road from the wilderness. All the families quickened their pace, because the bowl of dry rice that stood out could be their food for the day.
Big Gourd was pushing the cart, still chewing something in his mouth.
"Brother, what are you chewing?"
"Don't talk, just push the cart."
Of course, Da Hulu couldn't say that there was only a little canned food in his mouth. He was reluctant to eat the little bit his mother gave him with just the rice. He finally stuffed it into his mouth when the bowl was brought to him. He really couldn't bear to swallow it!
Little Gourd hugged the car and suddenly loosened one hand. There was still half a can of food in his hand, but he was reluctant to eat it.
"Ya Ya, open your mouth."
Hulu's father saw clearly that the car was slightly behind. Yaya, who was trying hard to pull the car, opened her mouth habitually and stuffed half a can of food into it. Yaya smiled happily.
Two militiamen with guns suddenly joined the team.
"Come on, put down the car, we will push it for you."
"How can this be possible? We are going back to exchange for food."
Huludie quickly refused. He had already walked more than halfway, so how could he let others interfere?
"Fellow villagers, we are militiamen, and we are distributing food from above. Don't worry, not a single grain of your 50 kilograms will be missing."
After listening to the explanation, Huludie parked the car somewhat embarrassedly.
"Thank you very much, my two young comrades, you are both good people."
The simple farmer couldn't think of how to express his gratitude. He could hold on, but he was worried about crushing the two children.
The addition of two militiamen accelerated the speed of the two carts. The people pulling the carts were changed to Gourd Father and Big Gourd. Gourd Mother and Little Gourd each helped to hold a cart, and Yaya could only jog behind.
At two o'clock in the morning, the food was finally gone, and there were still more than a hundred carts behind. Political Commissar Li made some coordination and each cart carried 50 kilograms of food, and all the food they pushed back was theirs, but they had to go fast and get off the road before dawn.
The special operations battalion blocked the enemy for half the night and their bullets and artillery shells were almost used up. Fortunately, there was no food transport mission and they were well prepared.
The soldiers of the Lunan Detachment began to clean up the battlefield. They had to take all the guns and ammunition back with them. The things that the special operations battalion looked down upon were all treasures in their eyes.
Not only guns and ammunition, but all useful supplies had to be taken away, even the shirts of the Japanese soldiers were not to be spared. In this era, cloth was hard currency, and the Japanese soldiers' uniforms were well received by the nearby people. Some families of three shared a Japanese soldier's uniform, the father wore a second lieutenant's shirt, the mother wore a white shirt, and the son wore altered second lieutenant's trousers.
Yang Qingfeng, Political Commissar Li and the two special operations battalions were the last to evacuate. Before leaving, they blew down several bunkers near the county town, leaving only countless white pigs inside and outside Pizhou City.
Ito Shaoyu was wiping his ancestral command knife. He failed to defend Pizhou City, failed to protect or destroy the mountains of food, and lost seven or eight thousand attacking troops. Ito Shaoyu knew in his heart that no one, not even God, could save him.
"General, telegram from the Expeditionary Force Headquarters."
Ito Shaoyu stopped wiping. It was too late! He didn't know what level of scolding he would receive. He was most worried that he would not be able to solve the problem himself, but would be recalled to the headquarters for trial. In that case, his family would also be implicated.
"read"!
"The commander ordered General Ito to organize troops to continue to defend the Longhai East Line. Railway transportation will be changed to road transportation. The defenders of the Longhai East Line will be fully responsible for the safety of road transportation."
"Nani"?
Ito Shaoyu took the telegram. That's right, he didn't have to die, but what was the reason that the headquarters let him go? Ito Shaoyu waved his hand, and the signalman closed the door and went out.
Converting railways to roads, what a desperate thing! One carload of supplies requires dozens of trucks, and fuel is already in short supply. Is this a temporary solution?
The luxurious defense systems of the Jinpu Line and the Longhai East Line have become the biggest joke of the empire. They have wasted so much manpower and material resources, but people can come and go as they please, just like a public toilet. Captain Cold Gun! How can you save the face of the empire?
At daybreak, Yang Qingfeng received a telegram from Chen Feng, stating that the Yimeng guerrillas only needed to take one third of the food distributed to the people, and the Lunan Detachment would help transport it to the Second and Third Regiments and the Mengshan base.
Yang Qingfeng felt grateful. Even though it was only one-third of the food distributed, the Lunan Detachment could save a lot of food.
Two million four hundred thousand catties, if the total is divided, 800,000 catties should be given to the Yimeng guerrillas, so after the people are divided, 600,000 catties will be enough for the Yimeng guerrillas, and 200,000 catties saved, what a concept, 4,000 bags! If they are piled together, it will be a small mountain.
Xiaohulu's family has completed the task and has pushed back 100 kilograms of grain. His mother kept her word and baked more than ten fragrant pancakes. His father poured two bags of grain into a jar, one bag of wheat and one bag of corn, both of which were good grains with full grains.
Little Hulu ate a piece of fried cake and then stopped, drinking vegetable porridge. Life on the hungry side is not pleasant, and life is good when you are full. There is really no need to overeat.
"Dad, I want to join the army."
Big Gourd's words made the family put down their chopsticks and look at the majestic head of the family.
"What kind of army are you joining?"
"Dad, listen to me. I'm seventeen years old this year. Our family has only three acres of thin land, and we have to rely on the weather for food. If you don't help with transporting food this time, you will have to drink wild vegetable porridge for at least two months. Do you agree?"
Hulu Dad glared at his eldest son.
"I'm asking where you are going to join the army?"
Big Gourd breathed a sigh of relief, as he had thought his father had refused.
"I want to join the independent regiment of the Yimeng guerrillas. They are still recruiting soldiers, but the requirements are very high. Once you are recruited, you will get a resettlement allowance. You also saw the battle over there last night. The Yimeng guerrillas were responsible for the main force. The sound of gunfire completely covered the Japs, just like adults bullying children. Dad, not only will we get a resettlement allowance, but we will also get subsidies during festivals and holidays, and military pay on ordinary days. Not to mention, a military pay of three dollars a month can keep our family from going hungry. Look at Yaya, you've become so thin."
Huludie was very pleased. The three children in the family were very kind and filial. The two older brothers loved their sister very much. The eldest son was tall and strong, so it should be no problem for him to join the army. However, people would die if he joined the army, so Huludie fell into deep thought.
The head of the family said nothing, and the four people waited with eyes wide open.
"Go! I'll go with you."
The family members had different expressions. Big Gourd was naturally ecstatic, while Little Gourd had more expectations in his eyes, but it was a pity that he was too young! The youngest Yaya was happy for her big brother, but also a little reluctant. Only her mother's eyes were full of worry.