Chapter 61 of 100

Chapter 61

14 min read3,500 words

The sound of gunfire from Renhuai City last night naturally could not be hidden from the people outside the city walls. However, with the Independent Regiment enforcing strict entry and exit controls, many civilians had no idea what had actually happened in Renhuai City last night.

The only thing they knew was that the soldiers on the city walls seemed to have changed their uniforms. But it was not the Red Army they feared; instead, it was the Central Army they often saw recently. For a moment, the people outside the city walls were also curious about where the Guizhou Army in the city had gone.

Just as the people in the city felt that these Central Army troops suppressing the rebellion were not as terrifying as they had imagined, the reconnaissance company, having just finished lunch, began to implement the policy of "cracking down on the rich" according to He Zhengdao's orders.

In the past, many civilians thought that the officials and gentry who had connections with both the Central Army and the Guizhou Army would be dragged out of their homes by these armed intruders. Such actions naturally drew the attention of many people in the city.

"Ah! Isn't that County Magistrate Wang? What are these soldiers doing, grabbing him? It looks like they are even raiding his house!"

"Good for them! This damned Wang Bapi deserves it today!"

As the County Magistrate of Renhuai City, Wang Fugui had never imagined that one day he would be raided by the Central Army. Faced with the charges given by the arresting officer, Wang Fugui appeared very panicked and wronged.

"Are you making a mistake? How could I be in league with the Red Bandits? I am the County Magistrate, appointed by the Nationalist Government!"

In response to Wang Fugui's protests, Li Xiangdong, who led the team, said coldly, "It's precisely because you are the County Magistrate that we are raiding your house! The Guizhou Army who participated in the rebellion last night have all confessed. If you feel wronged, go talk to our Division Commander!"

Ignoring Wang Fugui's loud protests, Li Xiangdong looked at the remaining people in the Wang family and said coldly, "Until the matter is investigated, none of you are allowed to go out. If you dare to disobey military orders, you will be treated as accomplices!"

After these words, the steward of the Wang family cautiously said, "Sir, are you sure you haven't made a mistake? Our County Magistrate is loyal to the party and the country. How could he privately collude with the Red Bandits?"

"Are you questioning our arrest? Do you want us to take you to the camp for interrogation as well?"

Upon hearing this, the steward wisely kept quiet. He could only watch helplessly as these soldiers, with equally cold expressions, packed and took away all the wealth accumulated by the Wang family. This money would likely never be returned!

With Wang Fugui being the first to be arrested, four armed soldiers immediately took charge of the courtyard where he lived. Carrying the seized wealth, the reconnaissance company's soldiers escorted Wang Fugui back to the camp.

The other teams also quickly arrested some of the wealthy and unscrupulous officials and gentry in Renhuai City. Only the merchants with good reputations seemed to have escaped this fate.

Under the situation where the city gates were sealed and the entire county was patrolled by soldiers, no one dared to resist the reconnaissance company's soldiers who were raiding homes with weapons. Even the merchants who had private guards did not dare to easily confront the raiding soldiers.

In addition to arresting these gentry, their wealth was also seized. The weapons and ammunition they had purchased were also on the list of items confiscated by the soldiers. Faced with this city-wide arrest, many civilians felt that something was amiss.

However, for these civilians, they were happy about this happening. The reason was simple: the officials and gentry who were arrested were all unscrupulous. Seeing these people in trouble, the civilians secretly applauded.

Wang Fugui, who was brought to the camp, was soon sent to the interrogation room. Looking at the young Nationalist Army Division Commander, Wang Fugui directly said, "Sir, I am really wronged! I know Director Sun from your headquarters!"

To Wang Fugui's astonishment, the young division commander who entered the interrogation room smiled and said, "It seems this guy really thinks we are the Central Army? Director Sun from the headquarters? Looks like you have quite a wide network of connections?

However, unfortunately, the harder your connections in the Central Army, the more important you are to us as a target. Let me introduce myself, I am He Zhengdao, the Commander of the Independent Division of the Workers' and Peasants' Revolutionary Army. Now, do you still feel wronged about being arrested?"

"What? You, you are the Red Army!"

Realizing that these people were not the Central Army but the Red Army they feared the most, Wang Fugui, who had thought that mentioning the big shots he had ingratiated himself with would get the Central Army to release him, now realized that the more big shots he mentioned, the faster he would die!

This situation was not just evident in Wang Fugui. It also happened to others who were arrested and brought to the camp. When they learned that the soldiers in Central Army uniforms were actually the Red Army, many were stunned.

But more importantly, they were worried about their own lives!

After the interrogation, He Zhengdao detained some of the most hated people. For those whose crimes did not warrant death, He Zhengdao also intended to squeeze every last bit of their wealth. In his view, this was also a form of robbing the rich to help the poor.

After finishing these tasks, He Zhengdao and Yao Shengjun went to the prisoner camp. Looking at the nervous Guizhou Army prisoners, He Zhengdao understood that these prisoners were very concerned about their fate.

Although many Guizhou Army prisoners knew that the Red Army had a policy of "treating prisoners well," they were also aware of how many of them had been killed by the Nationalist Army during the Red Army's campaign in Guizhou.

There was a good chance that the Red Army might shoot them in the name of revenge!

Just as the prisoners were feeling anxious, He Zhengdao, standing in front of them, said calmly, "Let me introduce myself, I am He Zhengdao, the Commander of the Independent Division of the Workers' and Peasants' Revolutionary Army, and this is Yao Zhengwei, the Political Commissar of the Independent Division.

I believe you all want to know how we will handle you. However, I want to say that I will not easily release you. If I release you, you will turn around and point your guns at us again.

Today, Yao Commissar and I are here to give you a chance to redeem yourselves. Some of you may have guessed it. Yes, the best way to prevent you from fighting against us again is to have you join our Red Army.

I am a soldier, and I speak straightforwardly. Those who join the Red Army can leave Renhuai City with us when we leave. Those who do not join will not be killed, but will be sent to our headquarters in the rear.

As for how the headquarters will handle you, that is not within my control. I also want to emphasize that I do not like forcing people. Those who want to join must pass the review by the recruitment officers of my Independent Division."

After saying this, He Zhengdao quietly watched the prisoners. Soon, one of the prisoners raised his hand and said, "Commander He, I want to know, will we receive pay if we join your Red Army? Will we get three meals a day?"

If anyone had been observant, they would have noticed that this prisoner who raised his hand had been in the Independent Division before. He had been dressed in a Guizhou Army uniform and mixed into the prisoner ranks last night.

Many of the prisoners standing next to him admired this bold prisoner. At the same time, they felt that he had asked the questions they most wanted to know. After all, receiving pay and having enough food was a reasonable expectation for soldiers.

As long as they could receive pay and have enough food, many prisoners felt that it didn't matter who they fought for!

Faced with this question, He Zhengdao quickly replied, "Receiving pay and food is a reasonable expectation for soldiers. However, I must say that we, the Red Army, do not currently have the conditions to pay you.

If you understand the Red Army, you should know that we are seen as a poor beggar army by the Central Army. Most of our money is used to buy weapons and supplies for the army.

In the entire Independent Division, including myself, we have only received pay in the Soviet areas. On the way to Guizhou, we have not had any pay. However, I can assure you that once we have a base, we will issue pay.

As for whether we can provide three meals a day, I cannot make that promise. I can only promise that if I can eat solid food, I will not let you drink thin gruel. My subordinates can vouch for this!"

Just as many prisoners were thinking that there would be no pay and no guaranteed food, He Zhengdao continued, "You may think that receiving pay and food is a reasonable expectation.

However, I want to know, how many of you receive pay every month? When the Guizhou Army officers recruited you, did they fulfill their promise of pay? And in the camp, do you really get enough food?

Your desire to receive pay and food is reasonable. However, I want to say that if I receive pay, I will not deduct a single cent from you. If I can eat solid food, I will not let you go hungry.

Have you ever thought about why your reasonable demands cannot be met in the Guizhou Army? Why can your officers eat well while you can only eat vegetables and drink thin gruel? Have you thought about the reasons?"

After this series of questions, many Guizhou Army soldiers felt that He Zhengdao's words were indeed hard to refute. Although they were promised pay in the Guizhou Army, how much of it did they actually receive?

Seeing these silent Guizhou Army prisoners, He Zhengdao felt it was time to use the powerful tool of "complaining." How many prisoners would ultimately be willing to join the Independent Division and become Red Army soldiers?

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