Independence Corps

Chapter 13
Ma Dequan shook his head: "I have thought about all the methods I should think about. Steel pipes are in short supply, and there are only a few places that can produce them. Besides, it takes dozens of blocks to transport them all the way. It's okay if they don't speak. If you speak, friends on several roads will not dare to luck."

"So, you, a few hundred people, should close up and go to bed tomorrow?" Tu Lanlong asked unwillingly.

"That's not necessarily the case. Guns can't be made, but explosives and grenades are fine."

Tu Lanlong pondered for a long time, and said heavily: "Well, I will find a way for the steel pipe, and your people will go all out to make it possible."

"Yes!" Ma Dequan was relieved, the conversation just now made him break out in a cold sweat.

The two discussed for a while about other matters. Ma Dequan suggested that Tu Lanlong go into the cave to take a look. Tu Lanlong waved his hand: "I won't go inside. I have you to worry about. My heart is still at ease. I need you right now." There are too many places to look at, and I have to ask about everything.”

Ma Dequan nodded in understanding, the battle is imminent, and everything must be done carefully.By doing this, Tu Lanlong was obviously making an inspection tour of the area under his jurisdiction, but secretly he was stabilizing the hearts of the people and the army.He suddenly remembered a sentence that the old commander Tu Zhucheng once said: "If the people don't panic, the army won't panic; if the people are in chaos, the army will be in chaos." , governing the people, but there are striking similarities.

When Tu Lanlong was about to leave, Ma Dequan suddenly said something extra: "Where are the two of them, how are you?"

The steps that Tu Lanlong had already taken suddenly stopped, as if he had been shocked by electricity, and he could not move for a long time.Then, he smiled desolately: "Dequan, why shouldn't you ask, but you just asked."

For several days, Tu Lanlong ran around every corner of Miliang City, ranging from the school factory to the small family workshop, he went to everything he could go.And from the second day on, he changed his preoccupied look, and always had a relaxed and humorous smile on his face.He joked with the shopkeepers, and occasionally said some dirty words to amuse the shopkeepers.At Tailor Liu's tailor shop, Tu Lanlong even made a joke with tailor Liu's newly married third aunt, which surprised and delighted the third aunt.At the end, Tu Lanlong made a wish and said that if he finds time some other day, he must invite the third aunt to watch "White Snake".The third aunt immediately replied tremblingly: "Being able to go to the theater with the young commander is a blessing in my previous life." Tailor Liu went in without knowing, thinking that Tu Lanlong really wanted to invite the third aunt to watch the play, his eyes turned white, Robbing the third aunt Bai sourly: "Women, how can you talk to the young commander!"

After inspecting Miliang City, Tu Lanlong took the county magistrate Meng Bingliang and pistol team captain Wu Qi to visit several nearby villages. Wherever he went, he was warmly welcomed by the villagers.Especially those Baojia chiefs, their enthusiasm was even higher than that of welcoming the old commander Tu Zhucheng.The county magistrate, Meng Bingliang, was probably infected by this enthusiasm, and said from the bottom of his heart: "I used to only know that the Miliang mountain area is rich in natural treasures and outstanding people. Today, I checked with the young commander on the spot, and only then did I know that it is the old commander who manages well. It wins the hearts of the people."

Tu Lanlong neither expressed dislike nor approval of Meng Bingliang's words. When passing through Pingguchuan, one of the three rivers, Tu Lanlong suddenly asked Meng Bingliang: "I heard that you were also the head of the militia before?"

Meng Bingliang blushed, this happened a long time ago.He was ordered by his boss to work as an inspector in a county called Hequ.It is said to be an inspection tour, but in fact it is to assist the county government to do something, and by the way, be a good liaison between the county government and the agency.Unexpectedly, he and Qu had a lot of troubles in the past few years. It can be said that the bandits disturbed the common people.There was no regular army stationed in the Hequ area, and out of desperation, a militia group was established in the county. When the head of the militia group was elected, several factions were at odds with each other, and they all wanted to take the militia group into their own hands.In the end, the commissioner was annoyed and directly appointed him as the head of the militia.He himself forgot about this period of history, but he didn't expect the young commander Tu Lanlong to find out about it.

"It's a trivial matter, it's not worth mentioning, it's not worth mentioning." Meng Bingliang smiled humbly and uneasily, wondering why Tu Lanlong would suddenly ask this.

Tu Lanlong didn't continue on this topic, he asked Ruan Xiaoliu to stop, the car just stopped, before Wu Qi could open the door for him, he pulled Meng Bingliang out of the car.Wu Qi and Ruan Xiaoliu wanted to follow, but Tu Lanlong said no.He and Meng Bingliang crossed a large dry grass field, climbed over a small hill, and stood on a boulder.The boulder is called Wangchuan Stone. Standing here, you can have a panoramic view of the vast Pinggu River.The river runs from east to west, like a long carpet, one end extends to the endless rice grain mountain, and the other end is tied to the looming natural danger Jiulong mountain.Tu Lanlong once suspected that Pingguchuan was actually a river. A few years ago, there must have been rippling blue waves and lush water and grass, but as time passed, the river dried up or changed its course, leaving behind this endless ancient river.Later, his adoptive father told him, no, this place was originally a vast prairie. It has become an undulating hilly belt, with cliffs and valleys on both sides. "But Sichuan supports people. It grows grass, medicine, and crops," said the foster father.

Although it is early spring, the chilly chill is still coming, but there are dots of green under the feet.The grass is about to turn green, and the crops in this river should be sown again.The two stared intently for a long time, and Tu Lanlong suddenly asked: "If a strong enemy invades, how many people should guard this huge Pingchuan?"

Meng Bingliang was stunned, he was just looking at the magic, if all the Pinggu River was plowed, how many crops could be grown, I am afraid it would be no problem to feed the people of the five counties and three rivers.Suddenly Tu Lanlong asked him, Meng Bingliang frowned, thought for a while and said: "No way, how can such a stupid enemy run to this plain to seek death?"

"Answer me, if a strong enemy really comes in, how many people will it take to defend this river?"

Meng Bingliang didn't dare to be casual anymore, he knew that Tu Lanlong brought him here definitely not to see the scenery, let alone looking for something to talk about this time.He carefully looked at both sides of the valley, and then stared at the vast Miliang Mountains in the southwest for a long time before saying: "If there is really a strong enemy coming in, this is a good place to bury him."

"how do I say this?"

"Look, Commander, although the Pinggu River is wide, it looks like a cloth bag from the topography. From a distance, one end of the cloth bag is tied to Jiulong Mountain, and the other end is tied to Niutouling in the Miliang Mountain Range. Looking closer, one end of the bag is It is tied between the two cliffs in front. Those two cliffs are natural barriers, and they are the protection gods given to us by God. When necessary, blow up the two cliffs and block them with rocks, and let them have thousands of troops. It is difficult to enter Pinggu River!"

Tu Lanlong had already noticed those two cliffs, they were less than one kilometer away from him.Meng Bingliang was right, the two cliffs were the tie of this pocket.

"What if I let them in?" he asked again.

"It's easy to handle. One end blocked Miliang City and the other end blocked the four dams in front, and they came in obediently." Meng Bingliang showed a smile on his face, and he seemed to understand what Tu Lanlong meant.

"Go on."

"You can let them in, and you can't let them out. Set up artillery fire on both sides to force them to drill in. When they get to the side of the three trees, they can tie their pockets calmly. No matter how powerful the enemy is at this time, he can only I can die obediently."

Tu Lanlong's tight brows finally loosened. Meng Bingliang's words made him see another side of this person. It seems that his role as the head of the militia was not in vain.

"Then let me ask you again, how many troops will it take to defend the village and the people on the opposite side and prevent the enemy from passing through?"

Meng Bingliang hardly thought about it, and said, "It's easy. Pingguchuan seems to be vast, but there are only a few real gaps. If they break through elsewhere, the enemy will also lose their direction, and they will be easily turned by us." They are all zeroed out and wiped out in groups. Those gaps are the key, and it doesn’t take many troops to defend them. If the command is proper, I think two to 3000 troops will be enough.”

"So confident?"

"This is not self-confidence, it is created by the terrain. It looks open here, but it is actually easy to defend and not easy to attack."

Tu Lanlong nodded secretly. It seems that Meng Bing's food is no worse than anyone else's when he leads troops to fight. No wonder his foster father said that this man is worth a hundred thousand troops.But he was still very cautious: "Bingliang, if I don't give you a soldier, can you hold this Pinggu River?"

Meng Bingliang suddenly withdrew his gaze and stared at Tu Lanlong in surprise: "Young Commander, what do you mean..."

"I don't mean anything, you just answer according to your own thinking."

Meng Bingliang didn't dare to be frivolous and arrogant anymore. Tu Lanlong's question just now made him more aware of the seriousness of the situation. Could it be...

"Commander, I dare not make this promise."

"What if you have to do it?" Tu Lanlong was almost forcing Meng Bingliang, his eyes were not only majestic, but also faintly expectant.

"If I have to find a way, then I can only go back to the old road, but Commander, you need to support the guns."

"Then what are you waiting for!" Tu Lanlong punched Meng Bingliang unexpectedly, and a smile suddenly bloomed on his face, "My county magistrate Meng Da, I, Tu Lanlong, are waiting for your words!"

"Commander, you scared me." Meng Bingliang wiped the sweat from his brow, and the stone hanging in his heart fell to the ground with a bang.He also happily punched Tu Lanlong: "My commander, it turns out that you are testing for military rations!"

"How dare!" Tu Lanlong smiled heartily. At this time, he no longer needs to dress up. His goal has been achieved, and the most important task of this trip has been completed.Facing the frank and simple Meng Bingliang, he felt that the method he used just now was a bit cruel, but otherwise, he would not be able to figure out the bottom line of Meng Bingliang.After all, he and him are strangers.It's all right now, just a few words, let them get closer and kiss each other, and he said with a lot of meaning: "Bingliang, the situation has changed suddenly, you, the county magistrate, can't just think about how to manage this side of the land, you have to change it." Character, help me guard this land first."

"Commander..." Meng Bingliang was moved for a while, with a complicated expression on his face.

"Don't say anything, just do what we just decided." Tu Lanlong stretched out his hand and held Meng Bingliang tightly, "I will give you the guns, and you can start them. But you can't call it a militia, but a self-defense group."

"Okay, good self-defense regiment!" Meng Bingliang's eyes were wet. If he had suspected that Tu Lanlong might implement non-resistance before, at this moment, all the suspense in his heart was gone. The rest is the same hatred.

"Time must be fast, what we lack the most right now is time."

"Please rest assured, Commander, Bingliang will not let you down." Meng Bingliang vowed, and at the same time, he had a bolder idea in his heart. He wanted to mobilize all the people in Miliang Mountain, and let everyone form a self-defense group. !
"But there is one thing I want to make clear to you. You can't be the head of the regiment. The specific candidate is up to you. You are the county magistrate, and I, the commander, can disappear, but you, the county magistrate, have to persist until the end!"

"commander……"

When it was dark, Su Changmao, the commander of the third battalion in charge of guarding Fengqiao, suddenly reported that the third battalion had captured two suspicious-looking women, suspected to be coming from Niangniang Mountain.

Fengqiao is the only bridge from Miliang City to Niangniang Mountain. It used to be guarded by the 23rd Battalion. After Tu Lanlong arrived in Miliang City, it was replaced by Su Changmao's [-]rd Battalion.

"Bring it here!" Tu Lanlong said into the phone.

He just came back from Hongshui County and hasn't eaten yet.The situation in Hongshui County is similar to that of Miliang City. The county magistrate, Ma Daganzi, is a rough man who doesn't know much about literature, but he has a way of being the county magistrate, and he manages a flood county with more than 3000 people in an orderly manner.For the upcoming bloody battle, Ma Dagan had already prepared for it. Before Tu Lanlong could elaborate, he said in a slightly hoarse voice: "Please rest assured, Commander, there are [-] people in the flood, and there are [-] self-defense troops. He is ready to be dispatched by the Commander-in-Chief at any time. Little Japan dares to take a step into my flood, and he will definitely call him a meat bun to beat a dog, and there will be no return."

"What are you talking about?" Tu Lanlong couldn't help but laughed first.

Ma Daganzi realized that he had used the wrong metaphor, and quickly changed his words: "No, I must tell him that an egg hits a rock and a watermelon rots."

"Forget it, forget it, with your little ink, you still dare to show off in front of the young commander." The commander of the 26th division, Wang Guotuan, who had been by Tu Lanlong's side all the time, stopped the big stick with a smile.

The 26th Division is a reinforced division stationed in Hongshui. During this trip, Tu Lanlong also had a heart-to-heart talk with Wang Guotuan for more than an hour.Wang Guotuan is from his hometown, and his hometown is not far from Baziying, the birthplace of Tu Lanlong, and a little closer to the home of Shen Mengzi, the head of the 72nd regiment on the mountain.Wang Guotuan left his hometown at the age of 15. He was a few years later than Tu Lanlong. He first served as the battalion commander under Li Zongren. He defected to Tu Zhucheng.

In Tu Lanlong's heart, Wang Guotuan was a reliable person, so he talked with Wang Guotuan a lot, but later he was disturbed by the big pole.Thinking of the hemp pole, Tu Lanlong suddenly laughed again, the fatigue of the day was relieved a lot because of this particularly interesting county magistrate.

"It's a character." Tu Lanlong said to himself.

Ten minutes later, Adjutant Teng Yunfei came in with Su Changmao and the two captured women.Tu Lanlong glanced at them and saw that they were two young girls aged eighteen or nineteen. He felt relieved and asked, pretending not to care, "Who are they?"

"Report to the commander, these two are spies sent by Niangniang Mountain." Su Changmao said before the adjutant Teng Yunfei.

Tu Lanlong said "oh", and his eyes rested on the face of the adjutant Teng Yunfei.

Only then did Teng Yunfei say: "Commander, I checked and they are indeed from Liu Mi'er in Niangniang Mountain."

Before Teng Yunfei finished speaking, one of them with a round face and long braids took a step forward and said to Su Changmao, "You are the spy. I traveled thousands of miles to join Commander Tu."

"You're talking nonsense!" Su Changmao probably suffered from this girl, and there was still a burst of anger in what he said.

"You're just talking nonsense. Why would she want to be a spy? She came all the way here just for Commander Tu." Another boy with a square face and short haircut chimed in.

Tu Lanlong was not interested in these two little girls at first. Although Fengqiao is heavily guarded, the old commander Tu Zhucheng has a gentleman's agreement with Liu Mier on the mountain. Guarding the bridge does not mean closing the bridge, as long as the people from the red powder group do not do bad things in the city , there is no reason not to let them go down the mountain and enter the city.Besides, half of the bandits on Niangniang Mountain were locals in Miliang Mountain, and some were dissatisfied with the marriage arranged by their family, so they went up the mountain in a fit of anger.Some of them suffered disasters at home and could not live on, so they had to go up the mountain.Some also went for Liu Mier's name.These people are more or less connected with their relatives at the bottom of the mountain, so it is really unreasonable not to let them enter the city.Commander Tu Lao formulated a local policy. Anyone who wants to enter the city must have a "safety certificate" issued by Tu Lao Commander and Liu Mi'er, and they cannot bring any firearms.From entering the city to leaving the city, the time limit is one day, and they cannot stay overnight at the foot of the mountain, otherwise they will be treated as spies.This policy sounds absurd, but in fact it works. For so many years, anyone who enters Miliang City with a "safety certificate" from Fengqiao has never caused any trouble.On the contrary, there are some restless people who secretly dived from the canyon upstream of Fengqiao. Once caught, they will be dealt with according to military law.Could it be that these two also sneaked in from the canyon?
"Do they have security certificates?" Tu Lanlong asked.

"She does, she doesn't." Su Changmao took a step forward, pointing at the two girls.

Tu Lanlong looked at the braided girl, without a "safety certificate", no wonder Su Changmao made things difficult for her.

"Nonsense, I have it, I accidentally lost it." The girl with braids is not afraid at all, she is quite reasonable, and the look in Tu Lanlong's eyes is also weird.Tu Lanlong became interested in her.

"Tell me, how did she come here." Tu Lanlong sat down, he was really tired, after a busy day, he didn't bother to take a sip of water.

"Report to the commander, she came here among the crowd at the temple fair."

Only then did Tu Lanlong suddenly remember that today is the fifteenth day of the second lunar month, a day when people go to the temple fair.Every year on February [-]th, the people of Miliang City would go to the opposite Lianhua Mountain to worship Buddha and burn incense. When the adoptive father was alive, he also liked to join in the fun.On this day, Fengqiao's duty on duty was extremely heavy.Thinking of this, he raised his head and glanced at Su Changmao, and it was difficult for him, the strength of a battalion could deal with the whole city's people burning incense and worshiping Buddha.

"I told you, I lost my ID, why are you so unreasonable?" the braided girl shouted again.Tu Lanlong felt that this girl was not like a bandit, much less a spy.He waved his hand, signaling Su Changmao and Teng Yunfei to go out first.After they left, Tu Lanlong stared at the two girls for a while, and the two girls bowed their heads.

"Which of you wants to see me?"

"Me!" the girl with braids took a step forward and said without fear.

"Oh, what do you want to see me?"

"I came here on a special trip from Baziying. I got separated from my companions on the way and went to Niangniang Mountain by mistake. I'm not reconciled. I must see you."

(End of this chapter)