Chapter 8: The Bandits of Northern Anhui

  After seeing off the three sons and their entourage, Qiao Siyuan suddenly remembered something and immediately turned to Qiao Anjia: "Second brother, you immediately send someone to the Yingzhou Special Commissioner (now Fuyang City) to ask for help from Chu Jingming, saying that a large number of bandits have appeared in the Quanshan area, and the security team of Anguo is surrounded and in danger, please ask him to send reinforcements!"

  "Yes, I'll go and arrange it now!" Qiao Anjia hastily replied, immediately turning around and leaving.

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  Qīngtǎo Township Wǔgōng outside, Quánshān.

  Quanshan is just a small mountain in Wanbei, not very big, about three miles around, the highest point on the top of the mountain is only one or two hundred meters, but the mountain body and its surrounding vegetation are dense, with dense forests, if in later generations this should still be a good place for locals to relax and chat.

  But in this era of warlords and bandits, such a mountain became the habitat of small groups of bandits. Just half a year ago, more than ten scattered soldiers came from nowhere, led by a man named Zhang Huizi, who was ruthless and cruel. After absorbing some local hooligans, they gradually formed a force, occupying the area around Quan Shan Mountain and becoming outlaws.

  Because Quanshan controls the Qingju Highway, it is very convenient for this group of bandits to operate, so there are often cases of robbery and murder. Not only that, but these bandits also frequently raid villages in the surrounding areas, plundering food and property, and raping women, committing all sorts of evil deeds.

  Frequent merchants and local people traveling between Qingtun and Zhegaoji were deeply affected, suffering greatly. Therefore, the commander of the National Army's Yu Prefecture Security Regiment, Colonel Chu Jingming, ordered Qiao Anguo to lead the security team stationed in Zhegaoji to eliminate this group of bandits.

  Qiao Ankou received the order and immediately led his troops to clear up, but an unexpected situation occurred. Originally, this group of bandits had only thirty or forty people, more than ten guns, and others used some cold weapons. Qiao Ankou had already grasped these intelligence clearly, but without the superior's adjustment order, he did not take action.

  When he led his troops to the Quanshan area and surrounded the lair of the bandits on the mountain, preparing to annihilate them all at once, they found that at least 200-300 bandits had gathered at the foot of the mountain. What made Qiao Anguo even more shocked was that the bandits at the foot of the mountain were armed to the teeth, with each person holding a gun, in addition to the uniform rifles, there were also several light machine guns. The equipment was so advanced that it was astonishing.

  Without thinking much, he immediately occupied the mountain stronghold of the bandits and captured several bait prisoners who were left behind. Knowing that the situation was not good, he ordered his trusted subordinate Cao Er to break through before the bandits had fully formed a siege circle and rushed back to Zuihe Village to seek help.

  He led his troops to occupy the mountain and defend it, holding out for reinforcements.

  ………….

  On the mountain top, beside a rock, stood a young military officer with a hint of stubble on his face, handsome and tall in stature. He was dressed in full uniform, wearing large leather boots, with his left foot resting on the rock. He held binoculars in both hands, observing the bandits below. This man was none other than Qiao Anbang's older brother, the young master of the Qiao family, Qiao Anguo.

  Around him, the soldiers of the security team were leaning against rocks, trees and simple defensive fortifications with guns at the ready. The bandits below the mountain had launched four or five attacks, although they had all been repelled, but the security team's ammunition was also severely depleted.

  Qiao An's face was calm on the surface, but in fact his heart was already anxious. Although he had sent Cao Er back to ask for help, how could he not know about the situation at Zhihe Village?

  The armed forces of Zhē Hé Jí, apart from its own security team, had nothing else. Since the household's armed guards were expanded into a security team, no new troops were formed, so it was impossible for reinforcements to arrive at Zhē Hé Jí.

  Although a security battalion of Chu Jingming is stationed in Yingzhou, Yingzhou is nearly 100 kilometers away from here. Even if Chu Jingming comes to reinforce immediately without stopping, it will take at least one or two days. If the security team has enough ammunition, Qiao Anguo still has the confidence to fight for a while. However, the original ammunition allocation of the security team was not much, and with the consumption of usual training, each soldier now has less than 20 bullets.

  After a fierce battle, the ammunition was consumed severely, and the situation had become precarious.

  Previously, he let Cao Er break through the siege, in fact, it was not to hope for reinforcements, but to be able to send a message to his family on behalf of himself, and at the same time inform his family that if things were not good, they would immediately move their whole family away. After all, the number of bandits here has increased sharply, and once the security team is eliminated, then Zhiji Village will lose its barrier, and these bandits will definitely plunder Zhiji Village.

  However, he did not know that Cao Er was so anxious to save his master that he did not understand his intention at all and went all out to seek help. However, even if Cao Er understood Qiao Anguo's intention, the Qiao family would never abandon their son and would definitely find a way to rescue him.

  In the observation room of Qiao An Guo Zheng, a report sounded from behind him: "Captain, I just interrogated those bandits and learned that the bandits surrounding us at the foot of the mountain are not Zhang Hu Zi's original men."

  Qiao An turned around and saw his deputy commander Wang Ding Sheng walking over, asking: "Oh? Which faction are the bandits at the foot of the mountain?"

  "Wei De Xi!" Wang Ding Sheng replied with a solemn expression.

  "What? Wei Dexi? The notorious outlaw who has been roaming the northern Anhui for over a decade?" Qiao Anguo was also shocked upon hearing this.

  "Yes! It was him. Two days ago, Wei Dexi led a team to capture Zhang Huizi's gang of bandits and happened to run into us." Wang Ding Sheng nodded in response.

  "Damn it! I actually ran into that old thing Wei De Xi, I said how could bandits have such good equipment!" Qiao An Guo cursed in surprise.

  "Yes! In the northern Anhui border, only Wei Dexi has such great power. Captain, I really don't understand how this old thing developed, a group of bandits, actually more powerful than our regular army!" Wang Ding Sheng said with a serious face.

  "Just like today, he absorbs small-time bandits and hoodlums, as well as some fugitives, even some stragglers. That's how he expands his power. See their machine guns? Those must be the ones brought by the defeated soldiers he's taken in." explained Jo An-guk.

  "This old thing, it really has some tricks up its sleeve."

  "He's got no skills, yet he managed to roam free in Anhui for over a decade. Looks like you guys have met your match today, Ding Sheng, are you scared?" Qiao Anguo asked calmly as he put away his binoculars.

  "I'm not afraid of anything, Captain. With just one word from you, I'd dare to go down there and fight those sons of bitches to the death. Do you believe me?" Wang Ding Sheng said with a fierce expression.

  "Hmm! Good brother, I believe!" Qiao Ankou patted Wang Ding Sheng's shoulder and said: "Take a good rest for now, save your strength. If possible, take down that old thing Wei De Xi, get rid of the harm for the people."

  "Yes!" Wang Ding Sheng responded loudly.

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  At the foot of the mountain, in a hollowed-out area, seven or eight bandits stood guard, holding rifles and keeping watch all around.

  In the pit, several leaders gathered together to discuss.

  "Big brother! What are we waiting for, let's just rush up and wipe out these crappy security guards!" A sturdy little ringleader said to the burly man with a prominent scar on his face in the middle, who was Zhang Hu Zi.

  "If we wipe out these security teams, then there will be nothing to stop us in the Zhijiang area. We brothers can go into the county town and loot freely. At that time, we'll have money, beautiful women, and everything." Another sharp-mouthed, pointed-chinned little leader nodded in agreement.

  "Women, money, these can be had at any time, but the key is still this security team's more than 100 quick guns and several light machine guns. If we can get our hands on them, our strength will be able to expand in scale." A middle-aged man with a long, narrow face and small eyes gleaming with greed was Zhao Dechuan, Wei Dexi's military advisor, who had a belly full of evil intentions and many wicked ideas, and colluded with Wei Dexi to do countless bad deeds.

  "Old Zhao was right, with guns and power, we won't lack women or money. But this security team is really stubborn, if we launch a forced attack, it will likely cause us some trouble. So, for now, let's not rush to attack, just surround them first. They can't fly away even if they grow wings!" The burly man with a thick beard said coldly, he was Wei Dexi, who had been rampant in northern Anhui for over ten years.

  "Big brother! The night is long and dreams are many. What if those damned security guards come to reinforce?" Zhang Hu Zi asked with a worried face.

  "Reinforcements? Ha! They can't arrive in time, I've already scouted out the area around Jir River and there's no other force besides this Jo family young master's security team. Even if reinforcements are on their way, they're still 200 miles away. By the time they arrive, we'll have finished our job. The purpose of coming to Jir River was to take care of this Jo family young master and his security team, then get some money from the Jo family's account house for us brothers to spend during the new year. Who would have thought that this Jo family young master would deliver himself right to our doorstep? It saves me a lot of trouble!" Wei Dexi said coldly.

  "Big brother! Shall we surround them first?" Zhang Hu Zi asked tentatively.

  "Uh-huh." Wei Dexi nodded and said after a moment of contemplation: "Let's surround them first and talk later."

  "Yes!" Zhang Huzi nodded and replied, then turned around to leave.

  "Hold on!" The dog-headed military advisor Zhao De turned his eyes and waved his hand to stop Zhang Huizi.

  "Lao Zhao, what's a good way?" Wei Dexi asked.

  "Big brother, this security team has over a hundred guns and their strength is not weak either. Just as you said, a strong attack might cause us some trouble. I have a plan that can make them leave without a single armor!" Zhao De's eyes flashed with a hint of ferocity as he spoke.

  "What's the hurry?" Wei Dexi waved his hand and urged.

  "First, surround the Spring Mountain and block the only road down the mountain. Then let the brothers gather firewood and we'll set the mountain on fire!" Zhao Dechuan said with a sly tone.

  "Alright! That's a damn good idea, Zhang Huozi. You immediately notify the brothers to gather firewood and prepare to burn the mountain. Also, tell them all to be on high alert, set up the machine guns, and prevent the security team from taking advantage of the situation to break out!" Wei Dexi was overjoyed when he heard this and instructed with a loud clap.

  "Alright! Don't worry, big brother. Behind this mountain is a cliff, and we've set up several guns at the exit of the road down the mountain. Those security guards won't even have a chance to break through." Zhang Huizi said confidently, patting his chest as he guaranteed it, before turning around and quickly walking away with a swagger.