Spy Wars: I can get rewards by being a bully!

Chapter 1150 Opening the granaries and distributing grain, saving countless lives

The car moved very slowly along the way.

Lin Ze also had the driver take a longer route, as some areas near the military police headquarters had already begun distributing grain.

Compared to rural areas, cities have a more fragile food supply system. Once besieged, cities will quickly face famine.

Moreover, cities with higher levels of industrialization and larger working populations tend to experience higher levels of hunger.

Take Shimen as an example. Tens of thousands of workers used to eat in the factory, railway section and mining bureau. The food expenses were deducted from their wages. Their families had to buy food from the grain stores run by the Japanese. Food was expensive, and no one could store half a year's worth of food at once. They bought food as needed.

In the north, it was a little better. Some people were used to buying a bag of grain to keep at home as soon as they received their wages. In Shanghai at that time, many people bought grain on a daily basis. For example, if the whole family needed to eat 1.5 jin of grain today, they would buy 1.5 jin of grain in the evening to eat the next day. This cycle continued. If the grain store was closed one day, they would go hungry.

Many people might wonder, then why not buy more?

Because the larger the city, the higher the cost of living. Living is not just about eating food. Workers have to save a little money if they stop working. What if they buy too much food at once and need money for other things?

After passing the intersection north of Jingxing Mining Bureau, a long queue had already formed in front of the grain distribution point, mostly with workers' family members, some of whom were even holding children.

These women were often pale and thin with sparse hair. Even if the Japanese hadn't blockaded the city, their lives hadn't been wealthy before. Any good food had to be given to able-bodied men and children first. After years of saving every penny, malnutrition had become the norm.

These food distribution points have saved them from starvation, and everyone's eyes are filled with the joy of surviving a disaster.

Niu San'er couldn't help but turn around and say, "Sir, you have done a great service this time. Strong laborers may not starve to death, but if there is not enough food to fill their stomachs, these women and children may really not survive."

Lin Ze shook his head and said nothing.

These people are the most hardworking and down-to-earth. The men are engaged in the most arduous jobs, such as mining coal, working in factories, and transporting goods at the railway depot. The women not only have to take care of the household chores, but also have to fetch water and wash clothes in the summer and collect coal ash in the winter. Even the children are sensible at a young age and help their parents with the burden.

They should be living a rich and comfortable life, instead of standing in long lines here just to get a little food that barely keeps them from starving!

Lighting a cigarette, Lin Ze opened the window. "The task ahead is arduous and the road is long!"

The sound of a mother and daughter talking outside drifted into the car on the wind.

"Mom, I'm hungry!"

"Child, look, we got rice, and this is rice, precious grain! When we get back, I'll cook you rice porridge. There's a deserted yard to the west of the house, where wild vegetables are growing, but they don't know about it. I'll go pick some and cook it in the porridge for you. I'll cook you two bowls, how about that?"

"Mom, I'll drink half a bowl, you drink half a bowl. Dad's tired from working, let him drink a whole bowl."

The woman burst into tears, sobbing as she said, "Everyone says this is grain distributed by Commander Lin. Heaven have mercy! The Japanese devils are so ruthless, where did Commander Lin get this grain for us? I don't even know what he looks like. My child, you must remember, without Commander Lin, neither of us would have survived!"

Inside the car, Niu San'er laughed and turned back to say, "Master, no matter what, it's a great deed!"

Upon arriving at the Zhang residence, Niu San'er took out the telegram and showed it to Lin Ze.

The telegram read: "My dear brother Jinfo, the summer heat is intense and the sun is blazing. I am very concerned about your hard work and constant travel. I only hope that you will take good care of yourself and make your health your top priority."

Upon seeing this, Lin Ze couldn't help but chuckle.

Boss Dai, oh Boss Dai, a simp gets nothing!

Only then did Boss Dai begin to get down to business, which was nothing more than the rampant Red Bandits, who were frequently causing friction. The higher-ups had requested support from the intelligence system, but they were unable to break through the stalemate. He hoped that Jin Fo would be busy and take advantage of the Japanese attack on central Hebei to send some people to infiltrate the Red Bandits' ranks, hoping for a future effect.

Lin Ze tossed the telegram aside. "Those Japanese devils are abusing the people here, while that guy is keeping a close eye on the west!"

After thinking for a moment, he said to Niu San'er, "You should also draft a telegram. Make it sincere and heartfelt, showing concern for our Boss Dai's health. Also, tell him to rest assured that I will send people to infiltrate the Red Zone as soon as possible, and that I will definitely provide him with a steady stream of intelligence in the future!"

"Yes!"

We can discuss it with Xiao Duan later and coordinate with the west to provide the Military Intelligence Bureau with some seemingly true but actually false intelligence. But we can't bring this up now, otherwise it won't be coordination, but a threat.

In the afternoon, Okamura suddenly called Hayashi Sawa over.

"Lin Jun, it is estimated that it will take another three or four days to drive the enemy to the planned position. In this case, the line from Shimen to Qingyuan will become particularly important. If the enemy breaks through from here, our plan will be greatly affected. I want to personally inspect this line of defense. Please arrange the security work."

Lin Ze was naturally happy for Okamura to take him along, and immediately said, "Please rest assured, General, I will gather all available forces to ensure your safety!"

Apart from the assistant administrators and military police who went to distribute the grain, the rest of the men, including Ma Linze, were all brought out and put on Okamura's special train.

The special train stopped frequently and arrived at Xinle first.

The section from Shimen to Xinle was the responsibility of the 110th Division. Previously, Shirataki Rishiro had led four battalions eastward, and the remaining troops of the 110th Division were stationed along the railway line.

This part of the defense task is not too heavy, because if the Eighth Route Army wants to break through, it is unlikely to choose this place.

Because if they broke through from south of Xinle to the west, they would have to walk north along the west side of the railway line for a while, and they would be very easily intercepted by the Japanese troops to the north.

Nevertheless, Okamura warned the commanders not to let their guard down and to conduct patrols along the route continuously day and night without letting their guard down.

When they were almost at Shinraku, Okamura stopped to check the patrol frequency.

Then he flew into a rage and whipped a colonel who was leading the team so hard he spun around like a top.

"Baka! Is this how you defend your position?! I waited for forty minutes before I saw one of your small squads strolling over. If the Eighth Route Army were to pass through here, how many people could have made it through in forty minutes? You sent a small squad, and even if you spotted them, could you stop them?!"

"Hayi!"

"Immediately readjust the patrol time and number of personnel. Each patrol should consist of two teams setting off simultaneously, one from north to south and the other from south to north. The second team should set off half an hour after the first team. We must be fully aware of any movement along the railway line!"

"Hayi!"

Lin Ze looked at the surrounding layout and terrain in the carriage and fell into deep thought.