Chapter 48: Fat Sheep
Uemura was the highest-ranking officer at the Huangzhuang outpost and the only Japanese lieutenant within a radius of fifty miles. He had a small team of Japanese soldiers and 300 collaborationist troops under his command. Huangzhuang is located in Huai'an County, on the main road connecting Zhangjiakou and Datong. Many merchants transporting fur goods passed through here to sell their wares in Shanxi or Henan. As a result, Uemura had accumulated a significant amount of private wealth during his three years in China. The passing merchants were dissatisfied with Uemura's practice of setting up checkpoints to collect money, but they dared not provoke him, thinking it was better to avoid trouble. They simply cursed him behind his back and let the matter drop.
Today, Huangzhuang is decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers. Many of the Japanese collaboration troops are busy carrying colored silk and some decorations. Today is the 30th birthday of the young village head, a Japanese man who has decided to follow local customs and celebrate his birthday. He has also sent out invitations to all the important people in his jurisdiction, ostensibly to invite them to drink and celebrate his birthday, but actually to collect money. Those who received the invitation dare not ignore it, lest they provoke this "radish head" and he brings Japanese soldiers to their doorstep. So, despite everyone's extreme reluctance, they have all arrived early at Huangzhuang's largest restaurant - De Yi Lou.
"Balls, I don't have the money to send any gifts, if you want to send them, send them yourselves, I won't go." A burly man of about 30 years old slammed his military cap onto the kang, the scar on his face twisting with extreme anger. This man was a company commander under Shangcun's command, one of the 300 government troops that made up a battalion. This burly man, named Lu Dashan, was in charge of the third company, the worst-equipped and armed of the three companies, consisting of 100 men.
"I'm telling you, brother, we're now in the Japanese rice bowl, aren't you afraid that Uemura will frame you and intentionally bully you?" A bald-headed man sitting cross-legged on the kang table in front of him whispered to Lu Dashi. He was Lu Dashi's sworn elder brother and also the captain of the first company of the Huangzu Army, Cao Ziyong. Unlike Lu Dashi, Cao Ziyong was a native of Huangzhuang, his family had lived there for generations, if he really offended the Japanese, what would happen to his whole family in Huangzhuang?
"Ball, I don't believe it anymore. One day when I'm enraged, I'll take my brothers and we'll go to the upper village to become bandits." Lu Dashi untied his military uniform's front flap and was pouring tea with a gurgling sound. Upon hearing Cao Ziyong's words, he immediately became anxious. He patted his sturdy chest loudly and shouted non-stop, claiming that he wanted to betray and become a bandit.
"Hey, Grandpa, keep your voice down, are you tired of the two and a half pounds on your neck?!" Cao Ziyong covered Lu Dashan's mouth with his hand, lifted his leg off the kang, and quickly walked to the door to listen carefully for any movement outside. If this conversation were to reach the ears of Shangcun, it would be disastrous. Others may not know Shangcun, but Cao Ziyong knew how ruthless he was. Shangcun had once blocked Cao Ziyong's path and personally used a command knife to hack to death several people who refused to hand over their grain, the bloody scene forever etched in Cao Ziyong's memory.
"Big brother, I know you're doing it for the family, I was just joking around." Lu Dashi saw that he had really scared his big brother and felt guilty, so he poured a bowl of cold tea for Cao Ziyong. His big brother was loyal and valued relationships, but he was too soft-hearted. For the sake of the family, he had become a member of this despicable Imperial Army. Not only that, but he had also deceived himself into joining, wearing this despicable uniform. If his big brother hadn't saved their mother's life back then, no matter what, Lu Dashi wouldn't have joined this despicable Imperial Army either.
"Captain, Captain! There's a cavalry unit outside the Zhuangzi Inn, saying they're transporting hides from Zhangjiakou to Datong. Do you want to take a look?" A soldier from the Imperial Army rushed in with his rifle slung over his shoulder. Lu Dashi's house was at the checkpoint on the main road outside Huangzhuang. When Lu Dashi's third company set up checkpoints on the highway, he would often stay directly at the checkpoint. His soldiers knew to come here if they needed him.
"Come on, Second Brother, let's go take a look. Didn't you just say we didn't have money to give as gifts? Look, someone has come to deliver money right to our doorstep!" Cao Ziyong picked up his military cap and led the way out of the checkpoint house, with Lu Dashan following closely behind, laughing loudly as they walked towards the main road. The checkpoint house was less than 50 meters away from the main road, and before long, Cao Ziyong and Lu Dashan were standing in front of the barrier. Indeed, a long line of horse-drawn carriages had been blocked outside the barrier, with at least twenty or thirty carriages waiting. Cao Ziyong and Lu Dashan exchanged a glance, revealing a sly smile - this was a golden opportunity, and they must squeeze out as much profit as possible.
"Where are you from? What's loaded on the carts? Is there any contraband? Is the master around?" Lu Dashi asked with a sloppy attitude, wearing his military cap crookedly and pointing at the carters with the rifle in his hand. A horse team of this scale was rarely seen, and Lu Dashi wanted to make a big profit from them, so he could have money to give as gifts to the villagers and also keep some for himself to buy wine.
The carters saw Lu Dashiang take out his pistol and were so frightened that they threw away the whips in their hands and gathered together. A young man wearing a black short waist with a copper buckle walked over quickly. "Sir, we are the Zhangjiakou mixed goods team from Datong, this is the pass issued by the Zhangjiakou Garrison Command, please take a look." The young man handed Lu Dashiang a pass with a smile. When Lu Dashiang took the pass, he was taken aback, and what he put in his hand was not only the pass, but also several silver dollars.
"The bosses have worked hard, this money is for everyone to drink," the man in black said softly, with a hint of disgust in his expression. He lowered his head and Lu Dashi didn't notice. Lu Dashi flipped through the pass in his hand, which was indeed issued by the Zhangjiakou Garrison Command. This kind of pass, Lu Dashi had to check more than a dozen every day, and the signature on it would never be wrong.
"Just as" was about to return the pass and let them go, Cao Ziyong, who was standing aside, spoke up. "Originally, having a pass is definitely allowed to pass, but recently our place has been uneasy, and the top has asked us to strictly check the people passing by, so it's better for brothers to check again." As he spoke, Cao Ziyong seemed to unintentionally glance at Lu Dashi. Only then did Lu Dashi realize what was going on, and with a wave of his hand, more than a dozen Hui soldiers standing behind him rushed up and surrounded the horse carriage, looking like they were determined to inspect the goods on the carriage.
This is actually Cao Zixiong and his gang's usual trick, which is to force the other party to pay more money to avoid disaster. If not, those armed soldiers would turn over the goods on the horse-drawn carriage. At this time, ordinary merchants would immediately take out another sum of money to bribe them, and that's how Cao Zixiong and his gang make their fortune.
