Resistance against Japan: Starting with the local militia

Chapter 34 Logistics Department

"Commander, something terrible has happened!" Li Qin rushed over in a panic.

"What happened?" Tang Weiguo was standing in front of the table studying the map in front of him.

"Commander, just as you said before, the Japanese attacked Niangziguan. The Niangziguan garrison was no match for the Japanese and suffered a complete rout. The entire defense line at Xikou is now destroyed," Li Qin said in shock.

Everyone in the militia knew that the Xikou defense line couldn't be held, but no one expected it to fall so quickly. Once the Xikou defense line falls, the gateway to Taiyuan is lost, and the Japanese army's next move is to advance directly towards Taiyuan. It seems that Taiyuan is not far from falling.

"Okay, I understand." Tang Weiguo wasn't surprised at all. In the early stages of the full-scale war of resistance against Japan, the Japanese army's fighting power was simply too great.

Li Qin was somewhat surprised by the leader's calm reaction.

"Commander, do we need to prepare anything in advance?" Li Qin asked after thinking for a moment.

“This situation is beyond the capabilities of a small militia like ours to salvage. For now, we should focus on training and expanding our forces,” Tang Weiguo explained patiently.

"By the way, Li Qin, how's the communications training going?" Tang Weiguo asked.

"Commander, progress is quite difficult at the moment. Most of the soldiers in the militia have never been to school, so after the regiment's cultural education, they can recognize some words, but it is too difficult for them to learn how to operate the radio. It's not just here, it's the same with Dean Chu. Training them is quite difficult."

"Commander, could we recruit some student soldiers? Right now, our militia is lacking soldiers who are technically skilled and knowledgeable."

“I know about this, and I know we want to recruit student soldiers, but it’s difficult. How about this, you guys do your best to train them as much as possible, and I’ll think of a way to recruit student soldiers,” Tang Weiguo replied.

"Alright, you can go about your other business now. I'll continue checking the map," Tang Weiguo said.

"Received." Li Qin then returned to the telecommunications department and continued organizing the training.

"Students are precious these days. In the entire militia, including myself, you can count them on one hand," Tang Weiguo thought to himself. He didn't really have a good solution to this problem at the moment, and a look of helplessness crossed his face. He couldn't even look at the map anymore, so he left the regimental headquarters and wandered around, unknowingly ending up at the logistics department.

At that moment, Bi Youcai was intently flipping through the ledgers on the table, a broad smile on his face, and he didn't even notice Tang Weiguo walking over.

Tang Weiguo coughed lightly twice. When Bi Youcai heard the sound, he looked up and saw that it was Tang Weiguo. He immediately jumped.

"Commander, you've arrived! You didn't even let me know beforehand, I needed to prepare," Bi Shoucai said with a disgruntled expression.

"Commander, please have a seat. I'll make you a cup of tea. This is a really good tea that I bought specially; I usually can't bear to drink it." Bi Shoucai quickly stood up and busied himself with the task.

"No need to bother, I don't have anything to do today, I just came to take a look around."

"Commander, that won't do. You should rest first." With that, Bi Shouchai quickly brewed two cups of hot tea.

"Hmm, this tea is good." Tang Weiguo took the cup and tasted it.

"Commander, I only have half a jin left. You can take it with you when you leave if you like to drink it," Bi Shoucai said with a pained expression.

"There are no wrong nicknames, only wrong names. Old Man Bi's nickname is really accurate," Tang Weiguo joked.

"Commander, it's all slander against me. I'm very generous. They call me 'Old Man Stingy' because they're always arguing with me about getting ammunition from me. I'm just thinking about the regiment. Our regiment's resources aren't easy to accumulate, and we can't let them waste them. You agree, Commander."

“Yes, that’s right, that’s why you’re suitable for the logistics department position. By the way, I have some good tea left, but I don’t drink it. Remember to ask me for it later.” Tang Weiguo remembered that he still had some tea that Tang Ming had given him last time.

"Thank you very much, Commander. Then I won't stand on ceremony," Bi Shoucai said with a smile.

"Oh right, you asked me how our group's breeding farm was doing last time. Take me to see it." Tang Weiguo suddenly remembered that he hadn't visited it yet.

"No problem, Commander, I'll take you to see it right away. I must say, I have to thank you for your foresight."

"Stop joking around, let's go," Tang Weiguo said, taking the last sip of tea.

"okay."

Bi Shoucai led Tang Weiguo toward the back of the mountain. What used to be barren land on the mountain has now been transformed into neat terraced fields, and dozens of small houses with courtyards have been built on the mountainside.

"Commander, we've already planted winter wheat, and we'll be able to harvest our own grain next summer."

"Those responsible for this area are mainly the families of our militia members, as well as soldiers with physical disabilities who cannot go to the battlefield."

"We estimate that about 50 mu (approximately 3.3 hectares) of terraced fields have been cleared from this mountainous area, and we are continuing to reclaim the land," Bi Shoucai explained.

Looking at the terraced fields layered upon layered nearby, Tang Weiguo said, "They're really beautiful. Bi Shoucai, you've done a great job."

"It is thanks to the wise guidance of the regimental commander that I have been able to do such a good job."

"Commander, let's go this way, please be careful." Bi Shoucai led the commander toward the breeding farm.

"Commander, this is our militia's breeding farm. It was just built recently, and we just got a bunch of piglets from the village to raise." Bi Shoucai led Tang Weiguo to a pigpen and pointed to the piglets in front of them.

"These little pigs are all quite energetic," Tang Weiguo joked.

"We specially ordered these piglets, and the soldiers in the logistics department took good care of them. Judging from how well they're growing, we'll be able to eat pork raised by ourselves during the Spring Festival."

"very good."

“These farms over there all raise chickens.” Tang Weiguo walked a few steps to the side and came to a chicken farm.

"It's the regimental commander. Dean Chu asked our logistics department to buy more eggs to supplement the nutrition of the wounded soldiers. I thought that if our regiment raised them ourselves, we wouldn't have to go down the mountain to buy them every time. So I asked the soldiers in the logistics department to build a few chicken sheds and raise chickens ourselves."

"Commander, the hens just started laying eggs recently, but they were all taken by the hospital, so I haven't had a chance to deliver them to you yet."

"I don't need it. The priority is for the wounded soldiers in the hospital."

"Okay, we have to be careful when raising chickens. There are quite a few weasels on this mountain, so we can't let them ruin the chickens."

"Don't worry, Commander. I specially borrowed a few experienced hunters from the Special Forces. Don't worry, if weasels come, they'll be a good meal for the soldiers."

Niu Dali's special forces company was expanded into a special reconnaissance company during the last reorganization. It now comprises two special forces companies and two reconnaissance companies. These past few days, Niu Dali has been busy recruiting challengers from various battalions.

"Entrusting the logistics department to you is the right choice," Tang Weiguo praised.

"Thank you, Commander. I'll stay with you again." Bi Shoucai looked very happy.

"Next, we will continue our efforts to make the most of the wasteland within the Wolong Mountain area. If we don't have enough people, we can ask the local people to come and cultivate the land. Finally, we will discuss with the people how to distribute the grain."

"Yes, Commander, I will follow your instructions next."

"By the way, this time, find out if there are any horse breeders in the surrounding villages. I plan to expand our number of warhorses when I have the chance," Tang Weiguo instructed.

“Commander, having more horses will make our logistics and transportation easier,” Bi Shoucai added.

"Yes, so we need to prepare in advance."

After Tang Weiguo finished his inspection tour, he returned with Bi Shoucai.