Songhu: Never Give Up

Although the Wang family played the leading role, the common people still had a sense of who was doing the good, and if there was no guerrilla detachment, they would be very lucky if they did not increase the rent;
So when Yue Wanli stood up to speak, his fellow villagers in the audience responded with the warmest applause. With 20% less rent, they could eat dumplings during the New Year.

Yue Wanli's next words made them even more excited and gave them hope for life. They only heard him say loudly:
"My fellow villagers, let me tell you a good story:

All the Japanese invaders in western Shandong have been wiped out by the guerrilla detachment, and the anti-Japanese autonomous government in western Shandong has also been established;
All miscellaneous taxes will be abolished, and the government will only collect 10% agricultural tax and 20% commercial tax, with the agricultural tax being borne by the landowners.

The fellow villager didn't quite understand what he had heard, so Yue Wanli said in the most straightforward words:
“To put it simply, if you are only farming on the landlord’s land, you only need to pay 5% of the rent;

If you own the land, you only need to pay 10% tax to the government, and 20% tax if you do business with it.”

Gao Dashan understood now. He asked Shazhu to pinch him to make sure he was not dreaming before he cheered with others.

Nowadays, eating one meal means starving for three days, and cheering also consumes energy. Now that you don’t have to pay various taxes that will end your family lineage, this is worth wasting some energy.

Then he heard Yue Wanli say:
"Fellow villagers, the devils have been burning, killing, looting and committing all kinds of evil since they occupied Heze. They came to China to kill and burn, steal our food, dig up our ancestral graves, and rape our sisters and wives, leaving us no chance to live. Can we allow such devils to stay in China?"

Everyone remembered that a few months ago, the devils had committed all kinds of evil things in Changling Town, and they were instantly excited and roared in unison:
"cannot!"

"Down with Japanese imperialism!"

"Long live the war of resistance!"

"Kill the devils..."

The atmosphere was quickly mobilized, and Yue Wanli immediately announced the decision to form a militia company in Shitang Village. When Gao Dashan heard that those who participated in the militia training would be provided with a full meal every day, he raised his hand without hesitation.
Yue Wanli saw that there was finally a leader and immediately praised:
"Good! This brother is the first to sign up. His spirit is commendable. He will serve as the acting deputy squad leader of the first squad. After the training, you will be the deputy squad leader of the first squad. You can also be promoted to squad leader or platoon leader in the future!"

When Gao Dashan heard that he was going to be an official, he immediately asked excitedly:

"Sir, how old is this squad leader? Why is he given a deputy?"

Yue Wanli couldn't help but teased:
"I didn't expect you to be such a power-hungry kid. This squad leader is in charge of more than a dozen people, and they are all served by our veterans. The deputy squad leader assists the squad leader in managing affairs.

Once you have been trained well and have the ability to protect your fellow villagers, the veterans will withdraw from the militia company and the deputy squad leader will take over as squad leader. Those who perform well can even become platoon leaders or company commanders.

The company commander is in charge of the militia of the entire village!"

When Sha Zhu heard that there was an official position, he immediately raised his hand and said:

"Sir, Dashan is an official, so I am just an idiot!"

Yue Wanli saw another person coming to join the fire, and immediately shouted:
"Okay - Silly Zhu, you are the deputy monitor of Class 2!"

Now everyone started to get excited and raised their hands to sign up. Unfortunately, after the third person, there were no more deputy monitor positions, and everyone had to compete for the position.

But now the enthusiasm has been aroused, and more and more people are actively signing up. Everyone is full of confidence in competing for the job, and what's more, they are provided with a full meal - this is royal food!

The Chinese have always been keen on eating the emperor's food, and the militia don't have to leave home and can fight the devils, so many people actively sign up;

Just when Yue Wanli was secretly feeling proud, a crisp voice rang out from the crowd:

"Count me in, I want to be the female militia squad leader!"

Yue Wanli felt a headache, in his opinion, fighting was a man's job, and as all the Chinese men were still alive, it was not yet the turn of women to go to the battlefield.

Of course, he couldn't say this out loud, so as not to discourage the female compatriots' enthusiasm for resisting Japan. He rolled his eyes and found an excuse, saying loudly:
"This girl's enthusiasm for fighting the Japanese is commendable, but there are regulations from above that only male militiamen are recruited, and I dare not disobey the order;
So, our next step is to set up a Women's Rescue Association. I originally thought I would talk about it later, but since this girl also wants to fight the Japanese, then our Shitang Village Women's Rescue Association will also be established.

Since you are the first to come forward, you will be the first director of the Women's Rescue Association."

It is said that all people with the surname Yue are thieves. Yue Lao San rolled his eyes and threw out the Women's Rescue Association, which is the most suitable organization for female compatriots to join;

The detachment originally requested to wait until the militia company had grown in size before implementing the plan. But now a newcomer has shown up and he has no choice but to force the issue and even set up the Women's Rescue Association as well.

Since it is a pilot project, then it is reasonable to do it anyway. Wang Hehua was a little tempted after hearing Yue Wanli's words, but she was not stupid. She raised her head and asked:

"What is this Women's Rescue Association? Do they let us fight the Japanese? Do they give us guns?"

Yue Wanli saw that the leader was not easy to fool, so he decided to bleed a little. He put on a charming smile and said:
"This girl has asked the right question. The Women's Rescue Association is an anti-Japanese organization that only women can join.

Fighting a war is not just about fighting the enemy with real guns and swords on the battlefield, logistical support is more important!
What is logistics support?

For example, the troops need food, drinks, and clothes. When they are injured, they need to be carried down. To take care of the wounded, the sisters of the Women's Rescue Association need to help. How can men with their rough hands and feet do such delicate work? If the clothes are torn, they need someone to sew them, right? If the shoes are broken, they need someone to repair them, right?

Do you think the male militiamen like Zhang Fei can grasp the needle and thread?"

The young girls and wives present were immediately amused. It would be better to let the men go to the fields to do these things.

Seeing that the atmosphere was getting heated, Yue Wanli continued to add more explosive material, saying loudly:
"My brother said—"

"Our commander said that we should not underestimate the Women's Rescue Association. This kind of work is more difficult than fighting in a war.

From now on in the base area, women will be the ones to take charge of the family!

The Women's Rescue Association is the organization you are in charge of. The director is in charge of all the female compatriots in the village. Give them a box gun!"

When He Hua heard that she was going to fire a box gun, she immediately said loudly:
"I'm the first one to sign up, so you have to let me be the director of the Women's Association."

Before Yue Wanli opened his mouth, another sister-in-law said jokingly:
"Sister Lotus, you haven't even been engaged yet, so why would you want to be the director of the Women's Association? This position should be more suitable for someone like me who has been married before. I need to be in the spotlight, and you are not suitable!"

When He Hua saw that Sister Xing Hua, the most aggressive woman in the village, was trying to snatch her box gun, she immediately became anxious and loudly argued:
"Commander Yue didn't say that a girl can't be the director of the Women's Association. Commander Yue, I'm the first one to sign up. Do you still keep your word?"

Yue Wanli had finally managed to fool the Zhaci people, so he naturally couldn't let them start a dispute again, so he stepped forward and made the decision:
"Of course it counts. We in the guerrilla detachment always stick to our words. It's settled. You will be the acting director of the Women's Association. You will work for a year first. If you do well, you will be promoted to the full-time position!

This sister-in-law is also an activist, and she is a capable person. She was made deputy director and was also given a gun. "

When Xinghua heard that she was also an official and would be given a gun, she readily agreed. Then other young girls and wives signed up to join the Women's Rescue Association. Yue Wanli made a preliminary estimate that there were twenty or thirty people, and the stall was set up.

At the Wang family, Wang Wenyuan and her maid Xiao Cui were trying to sneak out, but they were stopped by the housekeeper's second son, Wang Qing, who said:
"Miss, the master has ordered that you must stay at home for the next few days."

Wang Wenyuan immediately frowned and said:

"Wang Qing, you are so bold, aren't you? You even want to control me. Do I need your permission to go out?"

Wang Qing grew up with Wang Wenyuan since childhood, so he naturally knew the temper of his eldest daughter. How could he resist the eccentric and clever Wang Wenyuan? However, since the master had given the order, he could only say awkwardly:
"Miss, the master—"

Seeing that Wang Qing couldn't stop Wang Wenyuan, Wang Jiazhi had no choice but to cough heavily, interrupting Wang Qing's words, and said coldly:

"Do I need to stop you myself?"

When Wang Wenyuan saw her father coming over, she immediately put on a smiling face and said:
"Dad, you never cared about me going out before. I was almost bored to death after coming back from school."

Wang Jiazhi continued with a straight face:
"Since you feel bored, you should listen to your father and get married soon. The second boy of the Zhao family has also returned from the provincial capital;
Your Uncle Zhao has mentioned this many times. The two families are well matched. I have also met the Zhao family kid twice. He is quite a handsome man. "

Wang Wenyuan protested:
"Dad—are you still my real dad?

Don't you know that Zhao Dehe is working for the Japanese now? Do you want to marry your daughter to a traitor? "

"What do you mean by traitor? In the future, the whole of China may belong to the Japanese. The emperor will rule the world. Whoever rules the world will be our Wang family's tax. You, a girl, should stay out of this."

After Wang Jiazhi finished speaking, he added:

"Stay at home, or I'll marry you off to the Zhao family!"

Wang Wenyuan uttered a soft sigh, then turned around and went back to her boudoir. There was no point in saying anything more since she had already been discovered.

After Wang Wenyuan and Wang Qing left, Wang Jiazhi turned to the housekeeper and said:
"Did the second kid from the Zhao family really join the Japanese?"

Steward Wang bowed slightly and said:
"My Lord, it seems to be true. I heard that the Zhao family is arguing with the Yue family over rent reduction, and Xuanwu Town is also under the jurisdiction of the Yue family.

Besides, I have checked the background of the surname Yue, and now the whole of western Shandong has become the territory of the guerrilla detachment;

The captain's surname is Wang, he has tens of thousands of elite soldiers under him, and I heard that he is going to fight Hu Zi soon."

Wang Jiazhi nodded without comment and said:
"Last time I asked you to send them some meat, please hurry up and send them another 100 dan of fine grains, saying that it is from our Wang family to support the militia training.
The Zhao family sent someone to tell them that Wen Yuan was naughty and still young, so they would not delay the second son of the Zhao family's marriage."

Butler Wang understood Wang Jiazhi's thoughts instantly. A gentleman does not stand under a dangerous wall. The second son of the Zhao family is not only entangled with the Japanese, but now he is ignorant of the times and is confronting the Yue man. This is a way to bring disaster. Naturally, the Wang family must distance themselves from the Zhao family to avoid being implicated.

(End of this chapter)