Chapter 43: Liu Tong Worry-Free

  Alongside the Han River, troops stood in neat formation waiting to board ships.

  After nearly two months of arduous and fresh laughter-filled training, the 42nd Regiment of the Hubei New Army's 21st Mixed Brigade began to receive deployment tasks again. The troops that left were about to be deployed to Hankou and Liujiatun Railway Station's Second and Third Regiments.

  Zhang Wenjing and Yue Peng both had a Browning M1911 pistol tucked into their waistbands, which Su Hongsheng had sent over the day before. They were dressed in military attire, with shiny leather boots, exuding an indescribable spirit.

  "When you hear the sound of cannons, Wen Jing, you immediately lead your troops back to Hankou to meet with Yue Peng. And Yue Peng, you also need to be careful, if Wuchang really gets chaotic, there will definitely be people causing trouble on this side of Hankou too... those who take advantage of the fire to loot..." Yang Qiu raised an eyebrow.

  In the later Hankou Gazette, it was recorded in detail that on the night of the Wuchang Uprising and the next evening, the hooligans and gangsters in Hankou also gathered together, taking advantage of the situation to commit atrocities, killing and injuring nearly a thousand people, with hundreds of shops and pawnshops being looted, and the loss of silver alone exceeding several million. What's even more strange is that after the Wuchang army crossed the river later, only a dozen or so people were arrested, and only two were executed by firing squad, while the rest were all released, and the money was also gone without a trace, showing that there was no shallow water here.

  However, he is no longer worried about this. Yue Peng is a clever person and immediately understood his meaning, nodding: "Don't worry, sir, I will make them understand what regular troops are all about!"

  The two clever people who knew each other's minds exchanged a smile, and then Yang Qiu continued: "We are now the executive team, but each of us only has three bullets. We must be careful to conserve them if not necessary. After Xiao Dage and his men succeed, I will immediately send someone to deliver the bullets to you. If the logistics camp can all arrive, I will also increase the troops for you. As for Chen Shanyou and Guo Erxing..."

  "Don't worry, adults. Although Wen Jing holds a pen more often than a gun, he won't be so muddle-headed as to let others take advantage of him......" Zhang Wenjing had already smiled and said: "I think Liu Jiamiao is too important, I should continue to garrison here."

  Yang Qiu had always known that the Liu family temple was important, but it was simply too dangerous. Historically, after Zhang Biao escaped, he set up a large camp there and persisted until Yin Chang arrived. Zhang Wenjing had no problem dealing with Chen Shanyou, but dealing with him was really too dangerous, so it was impossible to take risks and put an entire camp under his command.

  "Let's go back, Liujiatun is the first stop to enter Santown. Once there is a change, the northern army will definitely rush overnight, and one regiment can't hold it. Withdrawing back to rely on Hankou is the only hope of winning." Yue Peng straightened his waist and looked at the Yangtze River, analyzing the pros and cons.

  Zhang Wenjing burst out laughing: "Zi An, it's been a long time since you've made such an analysis. It seems that our top student is back."

  "Hold on tight for a few more days and endure whatever happens. I don't want to have to ask Chen Shanyou to bring your head back."

  "Get out! I'm telling you, if he doesn't obey, after I get rid of him, I'll make sure to spread the word that it was done by your husband Yue Peng. You can just wait for his concubines to come and warm your bed..."

  Haha......

  After the soldiers boarded the ship with empty cartridge belts, Yang Qiu immediately stepped forward, raised his arm in military ceremony to see them off. Everyone was seeing the commander send off these small soldiers so solemnly for the first time, and they all straightened up their spirits.

  Such a scene made Yue Peng and Zhang Wenjing look at each other and smile. Although the training time was not long, through unexpected training and intensified ideological indoctrination, the appearance of this unit had undergone significant changes. More importantly, the soldiers still did not know that they had already been branded with his mark without realizing it!

  Two battalions left, like releasing two carrier pigeons, can they return safely after five days?

  Yang Qiu didn't know, really didn't know that under the murky surface of the river there were too many variables, betrayals and conspiracies as common as daily meals. No matter how much he tried to persuade them with his words, Xiao Anguo and others remained separated from him by a thin layer of skin. Even if they had been truly convinced by him, Shen Shukai's mysterious disappearance still cast a grey shadow over the future.

  Tens of millions in cash, a cargo hold full of arms - it's a fortune that would make anyone's eyes red with envy, no matter the era. Was it greed that got the best of them? Or were they discovered? As the sun set, the "Ship of Hope" which was supposed to have arrived by then... still hadn't docked.

  After putting away the old pocket watch, Yang Qiu dispelled all the unpleasant thoughts and led Bingwen to the still bustling camp. The departure of the second and third camps did not make this place empty, as Li Yuanhong handed over the security team and mixed engineering teams with more than 500 people, filling this place again.

  Hope... is still there!

  Three days have passed since the Mid-Autumn Festival, and on Hankou's Zhongshan Avenue, traces of the holiday can still be seen. The street is bustling with cars, horses, and people, and the tense atmosphere in Wuchang seems to have been blocked by the Yangtze River. In fact, due to the large number of merchants and officials' family members crossing the river to temporarily avoid the chaos, this place has become even more prosperous.

  Liu Tong stood at the entrance of the photo studio, staring at the photos of modern beauties applying lipstick and powder for a long time. Especially that pair of breasts that seemed to be calling out to him made his mouth feel a bit dry. He touched his pocket and found that he had run out of cigarettes, so he walked into the photo studio with a tilt of his head.

  He didn't come to take pictures, but after Liu Gong and his wife had an accident at Nanhu, they temporarily avoided coming here. For safety reasons, the couple dared not go out again, and all daily activities were handed over to him.

  Walking up to the second floor, I saw my elder brother facing the window fiddling with that telescope he brought back from England. I went over and asked: "Brother, what's so interesting? Let me take a look."

  Li Shuqing, who was folding the quilt, smiled and said: "Second Uncle, stop messing around. My brother is watching the soldiers' daily patrol route."

  "What's the point of patrolling? What's there to see?" Liu Tong curled his lip, opened the drawer and found no cigarettes, licked his lips and said: "Besides, didn't Sun Wu and the others tell you not to worry about it? Your body is not good, just rest well, what's the use of worrying?"

  "Nonsense, what's more important, the body or the revolution? Liu Fugui and others are risking their lives to take action, while I'm just idle every day... Alas!" Hearing his sigh, Li Shuqing hurriedly comforted him: "You shouldn't always be frowning and looking worried either. People are different, things are different. If it weren't for you deceiving your family to raise funds, they wouldn't even have enough money now."

  "Right." Li Shuqing said, suddenly remembering something and asked: "Yang Yuru and the others took money to Shanghai to buy guns, why haven't they come back yet? It's been three days since Mid-Autumn Festival, is it because they encountered some problems while waiting for them to start the uprising?"

  Liu Gong let out a long sigh: "Something's gone wrong, hasn't it? Just the other day, all the explosives were transported back, but the guns Chen Qimei bought haven't been gathered yet. Originally, he promised to hand them over, but now he says he wants to keep some for himself, which is why things have been delayed."

  "Alright, why does he have to intervene again!" Li Shuqing didn't like Chen Qimei, and upon hearing that he was now holding up a crucial gun, she said angrily: "This man is no good, always smoking opium, whoring around with women, and I've even heard he's contracted syphilis. It's really inexplicable how he ended up in charge of Shanghai."

  "He's always dealing with gangsters, after all..." Liu Gong was about to say a few good words for Chen Qi Mei, but Li Shuqin waved her hand impatiently: "Don't say any more, this is men's business, I don't like listening."

  Seeing his wife didn't want to listen, Mr. Liu could only force a couple of dry smiles. Liu Tong also didn't feel like waiting any longer and spread out his hands saying: "Brother, lend me a dollar."

  "What's the money for again?" Liu Gong furrowed his brow, as he had handed over daily expenses and procurement matters to Liu Tong after that, spending money like flowing water made him a bit unhappy.

  Liu Tong didn't show any embarrassment and said: "I'm going to buy a pack of cigarettes, recently there have been many things to attend to, after all I need to smoke a few."

  Li Shuqing saw Liu Gong unhappy, walked over and took out a dollar bill to hand it to Liu Tong: "Recently your brother's money has all been used up, we are not wealthy either, you should also be more frugal. By the way, you should smoke less, don't hurt your body like your brother."

  "It's still my sister-in-law who is good to me." Liu Tong smiled and said, "Rui Cheng that old dog embezzled several million taels, next time I'll confiscate his family property, and let you and brother live a life of Shanghai tycoon too."

  "Nonsense! Even if we confiscate their property, it's for the Party's use, how can you embezzle it for personal gain? What's the difference between this and being a traitor to the Manchu!" Liu Gong heard this and suddenly became so angry that he started coughing violently.

  "You, Liu Tong is just a child, isn't it just that?" Li Shuqing hurriedly ran over to pat his back, and when Liu Tong saw that his brother was really angry, he didn't dare stay any longer and hastily ran downstairs.

  Looking out of the window at Liu Tong's figure, Mr. Liu sighed and then picked up the binoculars again.

  As soon as he went out, Liu Tong casually bought a pack of cigarettes. Just after turning the corner, he saw Jin Duiyan talking to several young hooligans from the Changjiang gang. When he approached, Jin Duiyan hastily stopped speaking and smiled: "Hey, isn't this Brother Liu Tong? You're smoking now, have one."

  Liu Tong was young and liked to read about chivalrous heroes, so he had always admired Jin Laizhang, a Jianghu figure. After handing out a few cigarettes to Jin Laizhang and his followers, Liu asked with a smile: "Big Brother Jin, what are you guys talking about? Not discussing some good business behind my back, are you?"

  "What's good about that." Jin Guan's eyes rolled, and he said seriously: "Isn't this a matter of urgency? Let's discuss with the brothers what to do."

  "Haha, still the chivalrous Brother Jin." After chatting for a few more sentences, Liu Tong said: "Alright, Brother Jin, you all are busy, I'll go take a look at Bao Shan, heard there are many new and interesting things there."

  "Go quickly, don't miss your brother's big event." After sending Liu Tong away, Jin Zui suddenly curved the corner of his mouth and turned to say: "The explosives arrived a few days ago, they are working day and night to make them, so in my opinion this matter should be settled within one or two days. You immediately notify the brothers to prepare, take out those hidden guys, don't hide anymore! Hmph... we've been hiding for years, it's time to get some good fortune!"

  "Big brother, about Rui's place......"

  "Who cares! A woman, occupying that position for several years, when we succeed, I'll taste her tender skin and flesh!"

  "Haha......" Several rascals burst out laughing in unison, saying: "Then can we also have some soup to drink......?"

  "Let's put off the soup for now, that Zhang Si is not easy to mess with." Jin Liangdi said, flicking away the cigarette butt, greedily scanning the bustling street, and said fiercely: "Prepare more white towels... when the time comes, tie them on our arms, we'll have a good revolution!"