Cicada Moving

Chapter 1141 Pagoda

On the dirt road from Yanchang County to the border area station, a team advanced rapidly. It was the condolences group, the government delegation and the Eighth Route Army escorts. The dust kicked up by the horses' hooves and footsteps flew wantonly in the sun.

Members of the Shannan guerrillas were also among them. The guerrillas suffered heavy casualties in the previous battle, with more than ten people killed, and they had to go to the border area to rest and recuperate.

Including Cui Hongyong and the man with the Chinese character face, it was the first time for many team members to come to the core area of ​​the border area. Everyone looked around excitedly, wanting to see what the rear area looked like.

Among the team, Zuo Zhong rode a pack horse and looked at both sides of the road. The hillsides and fields in the distance were full of mountain people busy with farming. It gave a sense of the abundance of the year in Taiping, and it almost made people not feel that this was war time. .

 Compared with those around mountain cities, although the local people's clothes are shabby, their faces are rosy, their spirits are high, their eyes are not numb, and some of them are full of hope for the future.

From this detail alone, it can be seen that the underground party has pushed the Kuomintang party out of the eight streets in terms of domestic political governance. The members of the condolence group who are not well-informed will naturally be aware of it.

Mr. Chen, who was also sitting on the horse, saw this in his eyes, pulled the reins to slow down, suddenly turned his head, and asked the deputy minister a more pointed question.

“Mr. Li, how does your party deal with landlords and industrial and commercial owners?

I heard that you confiscated all the land and property from landlords and businessmen and distributed it to landless farmers, tenants and poor people for free. Is this the case? "

 Members of the condolence group next to him, Zuo Zhong, Xu Enzeng, and the special agents, pricked up their ears, wanting to hear how the other party would answer.

 The newspapers in the Kuomintang-controlled areas have reported on this for a long time, and there are all kinds of sensational news, such as the Communist Party, murder and arson, and they are said with nose and eyes, as if they have witnessed it with their own eyes.

 Many "highly respected" members of the Communist Party wrote to the central government, sternly demanding that the government deal with this behavior of the underground party and protect "legal" property from infringement. Standard p-shares determine the head.

 The deputy minister's smile did not change when he heard this question. In fact, before the condolences delegation arrived, his superiors anticipated the concerns of these overseas Chinese and established a principle - tell the truth.

He glanced at Zuo Zhong and the agents, and said slowly: "Yes, we did crack down on some landowners and capitalists who were unkind to their wealth."

As soon as these words came out, the scene was in an uproar, and the faces of the overseas Chinese in Southeast Asia became very ugly. If it weren't for the underground party saving them, they would have turned around and left.

This has nothing to do with being patriotic or not. It is purely determined by class stance. No one wants to give their property to others, at least most people.

 But before everyone could speak, the deputy minister added calmly.

“According to our statistics, before the land reform, 70% of the land in the border area was concentrated in the hands of less than 10% of the rural population, and this number is constantly expanding.

 Poor peasants, who account for more than 80% of the entire rural population, are not only responsible for the heaviest physical labor, but also bear various exorbitant taxes and miscellaneous taxes, and live in extreme poverty.

 After the land reform, most of the land in Border District Resident, Yanchuan, Yanchang and other counties was redistributed, and feudal land ownership was basically eliminated.

By the end of 1938, poor and middle peasants, who accounted for 80% to 85% of the entire population, owned more than 80% of the land, and people's lives had been greatly improved. "

 70% and 10%.

Mr. Chen and others were dumbfounded. How could overseas Chinese who have received a complete modern education not know the meaning behind these two sets of numbers? The late Ming Dynasty is a living example.

Land is highly concentrated, and the vast majority of farmers have been deprived of their land and become tenant servants of the gentry and landlords, or are forced to live in exile. Social production is shrinking day by day.

 When it develops to its most serious stage, the disaster of cursed water is not far away①, coupled with the full-scale invasion of China by the Japanese, Shenzhou Luchen is probably just around the corner, and they will all be the sinners of the nation by then.

Therefore, land reform in the border areas is imperative. If we do not change, we will end up being subjugated slaves.

While everyone was thinking, the deputy minister continued to explain various policies in the border area to enhance understanding between the two sides and eliminate the barriers between them.

“Before the July 7th Incident broke out, for the purpose of uniting all anti-Japanese forces, we made timely adjustments to relevant policies and made rent reduction and interest reduction the basic policy to solve the land problem at this stage.

 The specific manifestation is that in places where land reform has been carried out, the vested interests of farmers who have been allocated land are ensured, counterattacks by landlords and rich peasants are prohibited, and the life-saving achievements are protected.

 For areas where land reform has not been carried out, we will stop confiscating land from landlords and rich peasants and distribute it to poor peasants and laborers, and reduce rents and interest rates to resolve conflicts between the landlord class and farmers.

  However, we have also imposed restrictions on land rent. Generally, the principle of rent reduction is implemented every 25 years, and interest must not be reduced to or exceed the level permitted by the socio-economic lending relationship. "

 The deputy minister explained the changes in land policy in the border region and the reasons without any concealment. This open and honest attitude won the favor of the consolation group.

Mr. Chen nodded slightly, looked at his companions a few times, and then asked the border area about their views on private business. This was what they were most concerned about.

“Western economists say that numbers don’t deceive, so let me tell you a few more sets of data. All my friends have drank foreign ink, so you can think for yourself.”

The deputy minister made a little joke and Shen Sheng elaborated on the history, number, total capital, and even overall business policies of private enterprises around the border area before and after the establishment of the border area.

“Before the establishment of the border area, the local reactionary government not only demanded food and money, but also sent out messengers to extort and extort people as harshly as tigers. The army also burned, killed, and looted, leaving only ten houses empty and all the people suffering misery.

 The population near the settlement has decreased significantly. Walking hundreds of miles away, sometimes there are only twenty or thirty households. As of 1936, there were only 168 local private enterprises with a total capital of 40,000 yuan.

With our policy encouragement, these two numbers became 204 companies and 70,000 yuan in 1937, and last year, at the end of 1939, they became 262 companies and 400,000 yuan. Business activities were restored.

Many landlord capitals have also turned to industrial investment. There are currently 6 private textile factories in the entire border area, with no less than 200 apprentices, dozens of large looms, and an annual output of 4,000 pieces of homespun cloth.

There are more than 20 private coal mines in Zhishi, Anding, Yanchuan, Yanchang and other places, with a daily output of more than 300,000 kilograms of coal. It can be used by 1/3 of the people in the above areas.

There are as many as five or six private salt ponds in Dingbian, with a large output. In addition to being consumed by the border areas, they are also sold in Shaanxi, Gansu and Ningxia provinces, solving the salt crisis in the rear areas. There are 39 private paper mills, 98 workers and apprentices, and 38 ponds. The paper they produce is very popular in the Second War Zone. Even Chief Yan uses our paper. "

 After talking about the results, the vice minister bluntly said that since last year, the development of the border area has slowed down, and the economy that had finally recovered has been hit hard.

 Especially, the sources of cloth decreased, prices soared, farmers exchanged grain for cloth, and the gap between grain prices and cloth widened.

For example, in 1937, each bucket of millet could be exchanged for 1 piece of homespun cloth, or 0.28 pieces of foreign cloth. In 1939, each bucket of millet could only be exchanged for 0.6 pieces of homespun cloth, or 0.08 pieces of foreign cloth.

The deputy minister did not say the reason, but everyone present knew that without him, the mountain city and the Japanese economic blockade had a tacit understanding on this.

The condolence group unconsciously looked at Zuo Zhong, but Zuo Zhong had been in the government for so long and had perfected his shamelessness. He pretended that nothing happened and looked up at the sky.

The deputy minister paused for a moment, and after everyone had digested what he had just said, he spoke again. His tone became exciting and indomitable.

“In order to develop the economy and further improve people’s lives, superiors put forward the slogan of self-reliance, increased investment in handicraft industries, and abolished various exorbitant taxes and miscellaneous taxes, which achieved good results.

Taking the residence as an example, by the end of last year, there were 16 blacksmiths, 47 carpenters, nailmakers, scale nailers, tailors, tinsmiths, and silversmiths, 500 migrant workers, and more than 1,000 rural spinners.

Facts have proved that we underground party members are not afraid of hardship or blockade. As long as we stand with the people and sincerely consider the people, any difficulties will be temporary! "

Members of the condolence group were whispering. Even though the people mentioned above were all small and inconspicuous craftsmen, as businessmen they knew very well that the activity of the handicraft industry was closely related to the economy.

Mr. Chen felt inexplicably. Compared with the northwest, mountain cities had advantages in terms of natural environment and population. But what did he see in the mountain cities?

 Official corruption.

 Economic decline.

 The morale of the army was low.

  Rich people live in drunkenness and dream of death.

 The people are miserable.

The entire society is like a pool of stagnant water that exudes despair. The upper class has no concern for the fate and future of the country. They are only thinking about how to make a few extra taels of silver.

But Mr. Chen was not in a hurry to express his position. Shancheng and his party made him understand that domestic affairs are very complicated. Sometimes what he sees and hears does not mean that it is the truth. It is better to go to the border area and visit in person before making the final decision.

The deputy minister stopped talking about official business and chatted cordially with the condolences about home affairs. He asked many times about the political, economic and military conditions of Southeast Asian countries, as well as the living conditions of overseas Chinese.

This moved the overseas Chinese very much. Nanyang Chinese are indeed rich, but they are only a small part. More Chinese are at the bottom of society and are squeezed by natives and foreigners.

When they were in the mountain city, the chairman of the committee never asked about this matter. He only asked for money. It should be noted that people's hearts are fleshy. Facing the deputy minister's concern, the members of the condolences group couldn't help but feel warm in their hearts.

Zuo Zhong sighed secretly. Someone really played a good card to pieces. The military overseas intelligence station submitted relevant information every month. He didn't believe that someone didn't know the suffering suffered by overseas Chinese.

Then why didn’t the other party ask? The answer is simple. It’s the foreigners who exploit the overseas Chinese.

After asking, what if the condolence team asks Shancheng to protest against the Western colonizers? The government still expects those countries to help, so it has no choice but to suffer from the overseas Chinese.

Thinking of this, Zuo Zhong changed his mind and asked the deputy minister a question: why did the reinforcements from the Eighth Route Army arrive so quickly.

 The battle scene is some distance away from Yanchang County. It is difficult for people in the city to hear the gunfire. Even if they can hear it, it will take time to organize people to come.

The deputy minister looked at him and smiled lightly: "After the convoy was attacked, we sent people to search for your traces in Yanchang County."

 After saying that, the conversation between the two stopped abruptly.

They are both old rivals and have old information. There are some things that need not be said too clearly. It is obvious that the other party has seen through Zuo Zhong's plan very early.

A few meters away, Xu Enzeng followed behind on a small donkey. He secretly looked at Zuo Zhong and his "old friend", his eyes darting around, not knowing what bad idea he was planning.

Wu Chunyang and Gui Youguang who were further away did not pay attention to these, and focused their attention on the accompanying Eighth Route Army soldiers, analyzing the Eighth Route Army's combat effectiveness in terms of weapons and equipment, water maintenance, and morale performance.

This is also another main purpose of the military commander's **** of the condolence group. There is no way. Regardless of the military commander or the central commander, except for the secret agents with public identities, all the intelligence personnel sent to the border area have lost their information.

By escorting the opportunity, you can collect the military and political intelligence of the underground party up close, and the light and Jun Chunyang are discussed from time to time. It seems that it has gained a lot.

 “Look! Pagoda!”

Someone suddenly shouted loudly. When everyone heard the sound, they looked around and saw a Buddhist pagoda standing on the mountain peak from a distance. The golden sunset shone on the ancient pagoda, and the surging Yan River flowed under the pagoda.

Zuo Zhong reined in the reins and watched this magnificent scene quietly. Dai Chunfeng, who was far away in the mountain city, also received a telegram at this time. Looking at the contents of the telegram, Lao Dai let out a long breath.

①The Yongli Dynasty of the Southern Ming Dynasty was destroyed, and countless princes and ministers were killed by the Burmese.

 (End of this chapter)