In 1938, Qi County was deeply invaded by the Japanese army, and traitors were rampant, Chen Geng decided to organize a hoe team, and Zha Yusheng stepped forward. Zha Yusheng, born in Lu'an, Anhui Province in 1914, participated in the Red Fourth Front Army, and later served as the company commander of the 772nd Regiment of the 386th Brigade and the commander of the supplementary battalion.
In Qi County, Chen Geng gave Zha Yusheng the important task of leading a hoe and rape squad to sanction the local traitors. Zha Yusheng conducted a detailed investigation into the criminal acts of the traitors, and prepared to deter these scum through the hoeing and rape operation. He carefully selected skilled fighters and formed a hoe and rape squad.
The first to bear the brunt was the puppet maintenance chairman of Qi County, who colluded with the Japanese army and disregarded the life and death of the people of Qi County. Late one night, Zha Yusheng led the hoe and rape team to quietly sneak into the puppet president's house, capture him alive and behead him, leaving a slogan "The traitor is down" at the scene. This move immediately deterred other traitors, and Qi County no longer dared to blatantly serve the Japanese army.
Chen Geng praised Zha Yusheng's effect and officially appointed him as the deputy head of the 772nd Regiment. However, the Japanese army raided the 386 Brigade in the autumn, Chen Geng was trapped in the cave, and Zha Yusheng quickly organized a counterattack and successfully rescued Chen Geng. This operation made Chen Geng impressed by Zha Yusheng's talent.
A few months later, Chen Geng found Zha Yusheng again and gave him a new task - to raise materials to support the front line. There were many wealthy landowners and merchants in Qi County, and Chen Geng hoped that Zha Yusheng would raise grain and cloth from them through coercion and inducement.
Zha Yusheng immediately took action and wrote letters to blackmail the rich to donate materials. A textile factory director voluntarily handed over 300 pieces of cloth after receiving a threatening letter from Cha Yusheng. Cha Yusheng also successfully threatened the president of the Chamber of Commerce and prepared an equal amount of cash.
In several months of activities, Zha Yusheng not only executed many traitors, but also successfully raised a large amount of supplies and 120,000 yuan in cash, providing reliable support for the Eighth Route Army. After the victory of the Anti-Japanese War, Zha Yusheng continued to stay in the army and held many important positions, making outstanding contributions to the cause of the Chinese revolution.