Chapter 2: Seeking Foreign Aid and the Civilian Factories

Seeking foreign aid: Although it is deeply humiliating, if we want to achieve our industrialization, the best approach may be to engage with the foreign imperialist oppression imposed upon us. Fortunately, the host graduated from the prestigious French school Paris Institute of Technology; during his studies he not only met academic requirements but also networked extensively with leaders from all walks of life. Now is the time for them to shine.

The host uses the National Policy System for the first time, and this policy has no prerequisites, so it can be unlocked immediately.

Effect: Adds two civilian factories outside the base.

The so-called 'outside the base' means these two civilian factories can only provide supplies or conduct trade; they cannot produce the daily necessities the base needs, but merely supplying materials is enough to relieve the urgent situation. The base in November is already very cold; originally due to insufficient supplies, the Logistics Department's clothing factory had few workers, and productivity in this era is generally low. Even with ample supplies, producing a certain quantity of cotton clothing before the first snowfall is a difficult project.

Zhang Qian hastily ate breakfast, put on his uniform placed beside the heated brick bed, and walked out of the cave dwelling. At the cave entrance stood a straight‑posted little soldier waiting for him. Seeing him approach, the soldier came over and said: 'Hello, commander. Department Head Zhang ordered me to wait here for you and accompany you to inspect the situation of our base's Logistics Department. Our base's Logistics Department is mainly divided into two parts: one is the armory factory, which mainly focuses on reloading ammunition and can also produce a small number of hand grenades and firearms, repairing lightly damaged artillery. The civilian factory mainly supplies the troops with daily necessities and other provisions. Which part would you like to inspect first?'

Looking at the proud little soldier, Zhang Qian said: 'Let's go to the clothing factory first. Before returning, I promised Department Head Zhang I would provide some scarce supplies for the clothing factory, so I need to check the specific work situation there. Moreover, my appointment letter hasn't arrived yet, so going to the armory factory now would be inappropriate. By the way, you don't need to keep calling me "you" repeatedly; just call me Zhang Qian.'

'How could that not be okay? I've heard Department Head Zhang say that you're someone who's drunk foreign ink, and you've given our base so much help; in my heart you are also a hero of the base, no less than the comrades fighting on the front lines. Your supplies helped us drive away bandits and fight the Japanese; my mother said we must repay kindness. Don't think I'm just a guard—I've seen many important people. Take, for example, the commander of the 386 Brigade; my feeling toward you and toward him is the same, exactly this!' The little soldier raised his thumb, solemn-faced, and said to Zhang Qian.

'Ah, look at what you're saying—I can't compare to the brigade commander. Anyway, before my appointment letter arrives, please don't call me commander. Tell me, little comrade, what's your name? What did you do before joining the army?'

'My name is Wang Dexing. Before joining the army, I was an apprentice at the only tailor shop in the county. The boss there is truly a good person. My parents passed away early; I grew up relying on charity, and later the boss took me in. I still remember that day when Department Head Zhang personally came to the shop and said to the boss: Boss Zhao, you know, resisting Japan and fighting the invaders is a national matter; we want to ask you to make winter uniforms for the Eighth Route Army, paying at market price. What do you think the boss would say? The boss directly replied: My income is modest, but for the sake of resisting Japan, I am willing to give my all. The Eighth Route Army soldiers shed blood and sacrifice their lives to save the nation from peril; what more reward could I ask for? Later Department Head Zhang said: The Eighth Route Army has discipline—we do not take a single thread or needle from the people; we conduct fair trade and must pay the money. Commander, I'm not boasting. The first batch of winter uniforms for our base were made by me and the boss on our two sewing machines.'

Zhang Qian looked at Wang Dexing, laughed, and said: 'You kid, you're capable—I didn't expect you to have this skill. So how did you end up coming to the base?'

'The boss also died; the little Japanese, knowing the boss supplied clothing to our Eighth Route, brought in the second-rate devils and smashed the shop,'

'The boss was also shot dead. I wanted to avenge the boss; at that time the only person I could think of was Department Head Zhang, so I defected to our base.'

Zhang Qian sighed, patted Wang Xingde's shoulder, and the two walked silently to the clothing factory gate, where no one spoke. There was nobody at the clothing factory gate; after they entered, they saw the workers inside bustling with activity, mostly women. In fact, an older sister saw Wang Dexing, smiled, and went up to them; after clarifying their purpose, she led them to a large work courtyard where the factory director was directing comrades in extra work, making clothes and quilts. Here, a few girls were spinning thread, buzz buzz buzz, the spinning sound like bees diligently flying among flowers while gathering honey; here, a few young wives were operating the sewing machines, holding spools and jogging back and forth; their swaying waists and light steps were no less beautiful than a dance; in the main house and side rooms, middle‑aged women sat on looms, pedaling the connecting boards, the shuttles flying in their hands, the cloth rolls thickening in the rhythm of clang‑dang—dang, clang‑dang—dang; on the heated brick bed, aunts and grandmothers flew needles and thread to sew garments.

Seeing the visitors were Zhang Qian, the factory director put down his work and hurried over to introduce the situation of the clothing factory.

In February 1939, the senior leaders put forward the general policy of 'develop the economy, guarantee supply' and the call to 'self‑reliance, ample clothing and food', mobilizing the broad military and civilian population to launch a large‑scale production movement. Before 1939, the Eighth Route Army as a whole ran 79 military factories for clothing, textiles, shoes, etc., employing 4,600 industrial workers.

People rely on clothing; at that time the enemy could instantly recognize our troops because our uniforms were washed pale and patched, earning us the nickname 'rustic Eighth Route'. First solve food and clothing! While the 359 Brigade focused on agricultural production in the border region, it successively established textile mills, clothing factories, paper mills, chemical plants, shoe factories, etc.; at that time, clothing factories nationwide only began rapid development after 1939.

'If the stove fire isn't strong, it's hard to win battles,' the factory director said after finishing, looking at Zhang Qian, and then presented the problems currently facing the clothing factory: 'Although our clothing factory comrades haven't participated in frontline combat, the factory provides the troops with warmth against the cold, which is also an indispensable part. Our clothing factory now has 20 sewing machines and 197 skilled workers.'

'Now the base is blockaded; even if we had money we couldn't buy supplies, and besides, our base needs money in far too many places, causing a huge material shortage. The entire army's three divisions have only that many soldiers, and you know that those regimental commanders still hide and hoard soldiers under their command. Not to mention Li Yunlong—you know he's also from our Dabie Mountains; fighting the Japanese is a given, but every time he comes to the logistics department he loots like a lion with a gaping mouth. Last time he came to the clothing factory, his opening demand was 100 sets of uniforms; if we didn't give them, he'd call us a Shanxi landlord, which is utterly unjust.'

'Hahaha, how could I not know about Li Yunlong? Factory chief, rest assured—I will quickly obtain the needed supplies.'