bookcurios Chapter 1262 Mistreatment of Loyal and Honest Individuals
Chapter 1262 Mistreatment of Loyal and Honest Individuals
This wasn't the first time the mountain city government had treated anti-Japanese resistance fighters this way. Therefore, Li Shaoyi wasn't particularly angry about the situation. If he hadn't encountered them, he would have blamed the soldiers for being unlucky. Now that he had, he had to take responsibility.
"General, shouldn't we reconsider? There are many soldiers like this in the city. If we try to manage them all, I'm afraid our office will be packed with people by tomorrow."
Li Sibei said with some concern, “In theory, we should take care of the current situation, but there are at least tens of thousands of similar people scattered throughout the mountain city. If they all gather near our office building, then it will be impossible to work.”
Seeing that Li Shaoyi remained silent, Li Sibei also shut her mouth. Li Shaoyi had come from the battlefield of the War of Resistance against Japan, and of course he knew the hardships of the various units of the National Revolutionary Army. Everyone had risked their lives to survive the battlefield. If we hadn't fought the Japanese to the death, perhaps none of our troops would have been able to slow down the Japanese advance.
Their entire army has suffered 80% casualties, and after finally reaching the rear, they should be receiving reorganization and recuperation. Instead, they've been thrown into this dilapidated alley with absolutely no supplies. More than a dozen wounded soldiers have already died. It's one thing to be neglected on the battlefield—they say our conditions aren't good enough. But what about those people in the rear? They have money to go to dance halls and karaoke bars, but don't they have enough to provide for these wounded soldiers?
"Go and inform the Ministry of Military Affairs that if they do not provide these wounded soldiers with proper care, my 72nd Group Army will send more than five planes every day to transport the wounded and sick to my base for treatment in our rear hospitals. However, these soldiers will have no further connection with their previous armies."
Li Shaoyi's words were forceful and resounding, which greatly pleased the soldiers present. They had already heard that after the battle of Pujiang, many men had followed the 72nd Army northward. Now that their wounds had healed, they were active within the 72nd Army, enjoying much better treatment and, most importantly, free from worries about their families.
In other units, if you are wounded or rendered unable to fight, your superiors might immediately abandon you. But it's different for the 72nd Group Army. The families of those who die receive support, and may even receive half of their salary while alive.
Those who survive will receive the best medical care. The strongest medical team in the country is currently with the 72nd Group Army, and once they recover, they won't have to worry about their future. Therefore, the people of the 72nd Group Army are known for their willingness to fight to the death on the battlefield, unlike us, who would likely be discharged if wounded.
Upon hearing this, the military police commander dared not delay and immediately ordered his men to report to their superiors. If it were just some wounded soldiers in this alley, it wouldn't be a big deal. Commander Li could take them if he wanted; they weren't of much use to us anyway.
But if it's the entire defeated army of the mountain city, that's no small number. Therefore, under such circumstances, they must report to their superiors. If their superiors disagree, then they'll likely have to take other actions.
In fact, that's how the Chongqing Nationalist Government was. These people were originally a burden to them, so they weren't even worth their attention. But if Li Shaoyi were to bring them back, these people would immediately become valuable.
For example, was Li Shaoyi trying to win people's hearts? Or was there some important figure involved? Their minds started racing. So, resources were allocated where needed, and places were found for them where necessary. Li Shaoyi's actions were, in a way, helping them indirectly.
Of course, if the mountain city government didn't react, Li Shaoyi wouldn't mind taking these people back directly. Anyway, these men have formidable battlefield experience. Even if they have some health issues and can't become training instructors, they should be able to join the security regiment or the village militia, right? There's always a place for them to contribute, since our area is short-handed.
Li Bei's initial concern was understandable; after all, no one else had done this, and if they did, it would easily arouse suspicion from above. However, after hearing Li Shaoyi's words, she immediately understood what Li Shaoyi was trying to do. He didn't actually intend to take these people in, but rather to use his actions to alert those above, so that these people would naturally be able to live a better life.
Just as Li Shaoyi had predicted. If Li Shaoyi hadn't brought it up, this remnant of the army would probably have slowly disappeared into the alley. After being taken outside the city, they would have been left to fend for themselves, and the higher-ups wouldn't have given them a second glance. The military police were only here because they were considered an eyesore.
But the situation changed immediately after Li Shaoyi made this request. People from various departments came to distribute food. Although they couldn't provide them with permanent accommodations yet, tents and other supplies had already been brought over. Some people also brought doctors, though not up to the standards of a field hospital, but the lightly wounded received treatment. As for the seriously wounded, according to them, they would probably have to be handed over to the 72nd Army.
Li Shaoyi kept his word, and all 70-plus seriously wounded soldiers were given temporary treatment and transported to the plane. Although some might die on the plane, given the current situation in the mountain city, at least some of them could survive. Li Shaoyi had also obtained their consent; rather than waiting to die here, it was better to go north and try their luck.
“At first I didn’t understand, but then I realized what you meant, brother. These people in the mountain city government are utterly despicable. If we hadn’t said anything, they would have just let these soldiers disappear without a care. But now that we brought it up, they’ve started to suspect our motives. If it weren’t for the war against Japan, I wouldn’t have said a word to a government like that.”
Back at the office building, Liu Xiaoshan roared in anger.
Li Sibei didn't know what to say, after all, this young lady was also from the Shancheng government, but she didn't expect them to do such a thing.
Li Shaoyi, on the contrary, was the most amiable. If you look at people with a negative outlook and then see the things they do, then there's nothing to be sad about.