12dz Chapter 522: Death Flag
Chapter 522: Death Flag
After entering Xin'an County, Wang Meng, dressed as a businessman, found an inn and tied his horse at the door.
"Boss, five guest rooms, even a large bunk bed is fine!"
The shopkeeper looked at the dusty people and sized them up and down.
"Stay in a hotel? Have you opened a ticket at the county government?"
Wang Meng was stunned. How come he felt like he was in the 1960s or 1970s when he was staying in a hotel and had a letter of introduction?
Wang Meng winked at Monk Wei. Since ancient times, money makes the world go round, and this small county is probably no exception.
Monk Wei smiled with his big white teeth showing, then quietly called the innkeeper aside.
"Boss, we have come from afar and are unfamiliar with the place. It is dark now and we cannot find the county government. Could you please let us stay here for one night and leave tomorrow morning?"
The innkeeper flicked his sleeves and gently pushed Monk Wei away.
"No, no, if I take you in without permission, we won't be able to explain ourselves when the government comes to inspect! I have principles! You either go get a ticket or find another one!"
Monk Wei approached with a wry smile, took the shopkeeper's hand and tried to get close to him.
"Oh, you're just afraid of trouble! We'll pay double the rent!"
When the shopkeeper heard this, his expression softened slightly. Since you are so sensible, I have to be sensible.
"My principle is to have no principles. Double the deal! No fiat currency, only RMB!"
Since the introduction of the RMB, the gold reserves have been lying there in plain sight. The value of the currency is very strong and has almost replaced the status of the silver dollar.
Moreover, it was not only circulated in the areas controlled by the Independent Column and the Eighth Route Army, but it also gradually became the mainstream currency in some surrounding counties.
"Okay, deal!"
Monk Wei counted out a large plate of banknotes and handed it to the shopkeeper.
Zhang Hui nodded with a smile, then counted out half of them, stuffed them into his pocket, and shouted at the top of his voice:
"Five upper rooms, waiting!"
Wang Meng and Monk Wei were a group of ten people, who lived in five rooms on the second floor. After putting down their luggage, they left two people to guard it, and the rest of them went away on their own.
Wang Meng and Monk Wei discussed it and decided to go to the county government to take a look, mainly to satisfy his curiosity about who came up with this idea.
As the lights came on, the two men strolled towards the west gate of the county government. In just ten minutes, they encountered three waves of Central Army soldiers.
However, unlike the central army in other places, the central army in Xin'an County seemed to have very strict discipline, and their clothes were ragged, which had nothing to do with the prosperity of the city.
"Boss Wang, I think these soldiers are extraordinary. Look at all the delicious food and fun things on the roadside, but they don't seem to be paying attention!"
"Let's go to the county government!"
When he arrived at the county government on the west gate, Wang Meng saw two light machine gun positions and about a squad of soldiers at the entrance.
The two of them took a quick look and found a restaurant at the intersection opposite the county government and went up to the second floor.
"Drink?"
"Drink some!"
"Boss, two pounds of liquor, a plate of braised beef, and a big carp from the Yellow River!"
The braised beef was served first, and the two of them started drinking it one cup at a time.
"Monk, look how lively Xin'an County is. The officials and soldiers here all look pretty good!"
Monk Wei was a little confused. It was obvious that the garrison was quite good. After all, he hadn't seen any soldiers harassing the common people along the way.
He really couldn't tell that this official was a good person.
"Boss Wang, what do you mean?"
"Only when the government is in good order can the people be united. Look how lively it is here. How bad can the officials here be? Also, look at the lights in the county government. They are all on and everyone is still working!"
"Hey, don't tell me, it's true!"
Wang Meng watched several high-ranking officials of the Central Army coming in and out of the county government, and then he realized that perhaps Xin'an County was a county under military control.
The garrison commander here is quite interesting!
"Monk Wei, which unit of the Central Army is the garrison here?"
Monk Wei chewed a piece of beef and whispered:
"The 36th Army Group, the commander is Li Jiayu, Sichuan Army!"
"No wonder, most of these soldiers speak Sichuan dialect."
Since ancient times, there can be no army without a river.
During the entire War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, more than 26.3 people died for the country, more than 35.6 were injured, and more than 2.6 were missing.
The Sichuan Army guarded one-fifth of the country's territory, shouldered one-third of the military expenditures, and participated in 28 battles, large and small. The Sichuan Army could always be seen on any battlefield during the War of Resistance.
In 1937, the Marco Polo Bridge Incident broke out, at a time when China was in the midst of a warlord civil war.
The commander of the Sichuan Army, Liu Xiang, took the initiative to call the central government and volunteered to participate in the war of resistance.
At that time, such a notice was circulated on the streets of Chengdu, Sichuan.
It begins:
"if:
When we see an old man and some poor women and children being robbed by a group of robbers, should we strong men just stand by and watch?
Or should I rush forward to "stand up for the weak"?
I think as long as we have blood and conscience, we will not be able to help it!
What’s more, those who were beaten and robbed are our fathers, elders and wives.
Life is bound to end with death, so it depends on whether life is fun or whether death is meaningful.
Let us go forward! Let us go forward! "
At the end of the letter, a line of small print reads:
"Please ask those who can read to read it and those who cannot read to listen to it."
On September 1937, 9, the Sichuan Army set out on the expedition.
At the oath-taking ceremony, County Mayor Cheng Yunzhang unfolded a neatly folded piece of white cloth on a makeshift stage.
Cheng Yunzhang shook the white cloth with all his strength, and everyone looked over and saw that it was a flag about 5 feet long and 3 feet wide.
In the center of the flag was written a huge word "death", with some smaller words beside it.
Everyone below was stunned. Who would send such an unlucky thing when going to war? Isn't this a curse?
It turned out that this was sent by an old man named Wang Zhecheng from Qushan Town. He entrusted County Magistrate Cheng to give it to his son Wang Jiantang who was about to go to war, so that Wang Jiantang could concentrate on the war and not worry about his family.
County Magistrate Cheng Yunzhang read out the small words with trembling voice:
"I do not want you to be filial to me, but I want you to be loyal to your nation.
The country was in crisis and the Japanese invaders were ferocious.
Every citizen has a share in the rise and fall of a country.
I wanted to serve in the army, but I was too old.
Fortunately, I have a son who volunteered.
Give me a flag to carry with you at all times.
Wipe the blood when injured and wrap the body after death.
Keep going forward and don't forget your duty.
Father’s handwritten instructions.”
As soon as he finished speaking, a Sichuan Army soldier rushed onto the stage, knelt down and cried.
This person is none other than his son, Wang Jiantang!
There were deafening shouts of killing at the oath-taking ceremony.
From then on, the Sichuan Army left Sichuan.
At this time, Li Jiayu also left Sichuan with his troops.