Liang Jian: Lao Li, I'm really not a military expert

Chapter 582 If the food and water problems are not solved, I won’t be brave enough to fight this war

As soon as Zhao Gang finished speaking, Lin Zhenhua stood up from the stool and said in a serious tone: "Everyone, what I am going to say next is very important. It is directly related to the future of our base. This is also the fundamental reason why I do not agree to support the 358th Regiment."

"The map in my hand is the drought distribution map of our base. According to my field investigation, 60% of the land in our base has reached the level of severe drought, 30% of the land is in moderate drought, and only 10% of the land is in mild drought."

"I can guarantee that all the data on the map is true. The base is experiencing a severe drought, just as you can see. If we can't irrigate in time, we won't be able to sow. Harvesting and planting are the top priorities for our base right now, and everything else must give way to this."

"Don't talk to me about the overall situation or the pattern. We must first solve the problem of food for the soldiers and civilians in the base. Without food, people will starve to death, not to mention fighting the devils! I know some people think that we have stored a lot of food before, so even if we plant one less crop, it is not a big deal. We can't miss the opportunity now, but in my opinion, this is completely bullshit!"

"The combat operations over the past three months have directly increased our consumption of military rations by three times. Adding in some losses, our consumption is equivalent to six times the usual amount. The food we have in stock, plus the food from the summer harvest, can only help us last until January next year at most. From January to June next year, what will the troops and the people eat? Will they have to starve?"

It can be said that Lin Zhenhua showed no mercy at all. He felt that the most important thing now was to solve the drought problem in the base. As for the attack on Ping'an County, it could be put aside for the time being. Even if they had to fight, there was no need to send out a large army. A battalion of troops would be enough to complete the task. There was no need to bring it up.

"Don't think I'm being harsh. I've always advocated that we should solve the food problem first. We can't go to war on an empty stomach. We can't joke with the lives of our soldiers. Not to mention that the Japanese have been eyeing us covetously. The drought in the Central Plains is getting worse. We must be prepared to accept a large number of disaster victims in advance. Food will be our top priority in the next year. It is even more important than the Shuiquan Oilfield."

"The exploitation of Shuiquan Oilfield will indeed bring us huge troubles in the future, but we can't worry about it. In the end, the world needs to speak with strength. With the arsenal in our hands, there is absolutely no problem in defending the base in our hands. But if there is a mess in the base because of lack of food, no matter how many weapons and equipment we have, it will be useless. A gun may not be worth a pound of food at that time."

"Don't think I'm exaggerating. If people really starve to death, the situation may be even more serious than what I said. We must start preparing in advance and store more food to deal with the impending food crisis. I know some people are dissatisfied with my approach, but there is one thing that proves that what I said is about to become a reality. A small-scale locust plague has occurred in Maliu Village, more than 100 kilometers away, and the crops in the village have been completely destroyed. This is the intelligence obtained by the reconnaissance aircraft. Take a look!"

Lin Zhenhua slammed the information on the table to express his anger. Li Yunlong and others immediately picked up the telegram and read it, and took out the photos underneath and circulated them. After seeing that the crops were eaten clean, everyone's face turned pale. They finally understood why Lin Zhenhua was unwilling to send troops. They really didn't expect that the natural disaster mentioned before was happening.

Kong Jie took the photo in his hand and gently placed it on the table. He replied with a guilty look on his face: "College students, a loud drum needs a heavy hammer. I didn't quite understand why the college students opposed the Shuiquan Operation before. Now I finally understand the college students' deep meaning. Before the base area completes the rush to harvest and plant, we should do our best to avoid large-scale conflicts with the devils."

"When it comes to understanding the disaster situation in the Central Plains, no one knows more than me, Old Kong. The drought in the Central Plains is more serious than we imagined. The seedlings in the fields have died of drought, and in many places, we can't even harvest the crops. It's already mid-June, and the rush to harvest and plant in our base will not be completed until the end of June, not to mention that there is a large-scale drought in the base now. Irrigation alone requires a lot of manpower and material resources."

"If we launch a large-scale combat operation, it will have a huge impact on subsequent agricultural production. Fuel alone will cause huge problems. We may even have to use agricultural fuel and divert it to combat troops."

"I'm afraid that a large number of fields will be unable to be irrigated due to lack of oil. Once we can't sow seeds, the autumn harvest will be affected. I'm afraid that by New Year's Day next year, a large-scale famine will break out. By then, the Japanese won't have to attack at all. They just need to blockade us firmly in the base area, and we will automatically fall apart!"

Ding Wei, however, had a different view. He refuted with a serious face: "Old Kong, I think you are exaggerating. Let's not talk about the grain we have stored. The grain output of the dozen or so plots of land that have been harvested this year is twice that of last year. This means that we can harvest tens of millions more kilograms of grain in the summer harvest this year. If we add the autumn harvest, we can directly harvest hundreds of millions more kilograms of grain, which is enough to make the base area self-sufficient in grain."

"The situation is not as bad as the college student and Lao Kong said. I think we can fight drought and fight at the same time. We can do it with our current strength. Ping'an County is very empty. We only need to pay a very small price to take Ping'an County, and we can also save the 358th Regiment from danger and give the Japanese a siege. I really don't want to miss such a good opportunity. I continue to stick to my previous idea. Operation Shuiquan must not be delayed and must be carried out as soon as possible."

"Once the Japanese succeed in extracting and refining crude oil, the pressure we will face will only increase. In terms of military production, we simply cannot compete with the Japanese. I am very pessimistic about this. I think we should seize every opportunity to inflict heavy damage on the Japanese, otherwise it will be difficult for us to defend the Zhaojiayu base!"

Li Yunlong knocked on the table, attracting everyone's attention, and said in an annoyed tone: "Old Ding, what you said does make some sense, but don't forget one thing, that is, the Japanese had planned to drive the disaster victims to our base. Our current food reserves are indeed enough for our 700,000 to 800,000 soldiers and civilians."

"But if the Japanese drive millions of disaster victims to our base, we will definitely accept them. We will only be able to hold out for half a year at most, and then a large-scale food crisis will break out, not to mention the sporadic locust plagues, which also pose a huge threat to our food production."

"There is a saying among college students that I agree with very much, which is that nothing is more important than having enough food. The ongoing drought will not only threaten our food production, but also threaten the safety of our drinking water. Without food and water, even an iron man cannot survive for three days."

"The action of fetching water springs can be postponed. Ensuring food production is our top priority right now. Lao Zhao, we have said so much, but you have remained silent. I want to hear what you have to say, Lao Zhao."

Zhao Gang didn't expect that he would be called by Li Yunlong. The reason why he didn't speak was because he hadn't thought about how to talk about this matter. Now that Li Yunlong called him, he couldn't remain silent any longer. He had to reply: "To be honest, this decision is really hard to make. I have also learned about the situation in the base area. It has indeed reached a very critical point."

"We have only completed less than 1/10 of the grain harvest. In the next three to five days, all grain must be stored in the warehouse. The task is very heavy. If we send a large army to attack the Shuiquan Oilfield at this time, it will definitely cause huge trouble for the summer grain harvest and autumn grain planting in the base area."

"Take the fuel supply for example. Our current fuel reserves have already been used up. As long as the coal-to-oil plant stops operating, our current fuel reserves will only last for six days. If we want to maintain high-intensity combat on the front line, we have to increase the supply of fuel, which will seriously affect agricultural production."

"The drought in the base area is already very serious. Only after irrigation can we grow food. This is an indisputable fact. We must solve it as soon as possible. I agree with Lao Kong's proposal. Let's send a battalion of troops to capture Ping'an County. If it is not enough, we can send two battalions. In short, it is best not to send more than three regiments. This is also the bottom line that I think we can support at present."

As the temporary commander-in-chief, Lin Zhenhua had the heaviest burden on his shoulders. The discussion he organized lasted for three hours, but there was no clear answer. In order to settle the matter as quickly as possible, Lin Zhenhua made a direct decision: "Okay, stop arguing! I am the temporary commander-in-chief of the army, so I will make the decision!"

"Old Li, I'll give you the right to mobilize three battalions. You can decide for yourself how to do it. I only have two requests of you. The first is to capture Ping'an County, and the second is to rescue Chu Yunfei. As for attacking the Shuiquan Oilfield, we have to wait until the main force of the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army arrives!"