Chapter Twenty-Three: Rescue

  Kouhei Shibuya's younger brother, nicknamed Shou, is a young boy named Wei Xiangdong. Originally a street urchin from Fengtian, perhaps due to fate from their past lives, Kouhei felt an intense affection for him at first sight and took him in by his side.

  That year, Wei Xiangdong was only 12 years old. Takahashi sent him to school. After graduating from middle school, Wei Xiangdong insisted on joining the army. Takahashi couldn't persuade him otherwise and had no choice but to agree. At that time, 'Manchukuo' had just been established and was recruiting new soldiers. So Takahashi arranged for Wei Xiangdong to become a servant soldier in General Yamashita's Royal Guard through his connections with Yamashita.

  From these manifestations, Wei Xiangdong is a young man from Northeast China who has been thoroughly brainwashed by the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere. However, in reality, during his time in Northeast China, Wei Xiangdong had secret connections with the Anti-Japanese United Army. This time, following Higashikawa Shin's arrangement to leave 'Manchukuo' and join the North China Dispatched Troops, Wei Xiangdong made a report to the organization in advance. The organization believed that this transfer would be beneficial to them in the long run and required him to continue following Higashikawa Shin.

  Two days ago, just as Yamashita's detachment had entered Xuzhou City, the organization contacted Wei Xiangdong and gave him a task. They told him that the garrison at Niutou Mountain, especially the commander of this garrison, was someone the organization very much hoped to win over, and asked Wei Xiangdong to find every possible way to help these soldiers survive.

  The people in the organization expressed their difficulties and said that unless they surrendered to the Japanese army, there was no other way. The people in the organization also studied it and thought that the best way was to let the Japanese army accept their surrender. Wei Dong thought for a moment and said that he had a way on the Japanese side, the key was whether these defenders were willing to surrender to the Japanese army, and how to gain their trust was also a key point.

  The person in charge replied that if you show him both Ou Yang Xue Ping and Ou Yang Xue Ping's names at the same time, he will definitely accept any suggestion from you. Then, he directly found Takahashi Makoto and asked Takahashi to help persuade Yamashita Keiichi to agree to accept the surrender of those guards. Wei Xiang Dong dared to make such a dangerous request to Takahashi because as early as in the Northeast period, Takahashi already knew his true identity.

  After knowing the true identity of Wei Xiangdong, Takahashi Shin not only didn't get angry but also said with a smile to Wei Xiangdong: "Little Wei has finally grown up and knows what is right and wrong." However, from that day on, Takahashi Shin never let Wei Xiangdong come into contact with any Japanese military secrets again.

  Takahashi Shin listened to Wei Xiangdong's request and appeared very calm. He said, "I can't take the initiative to find Shanxia, but he will come to me for this matter. I hope they can hold on until tomorrow."

  Wei Xiangdong brought Shan Xiaojingwu's handwritten letter and went up to Wuniu Mountain with Liu Yuqie.

  On the way, Liu Yujie asked Wei Xiangdong with a worried look: "Are you sure you can persuade them? Are we going to be in danger? You know they are all bandits!"

  Wei Xiangdong listened, only smiled and did not respond. Later, Liu Yujie nagged nonstop, Wei Xiangdong stopped in his tracks and solemnly told Liu Yujie: "You should know your subordinates better than I do, you tell me, are they the kind of cowards who are afraid to die?"

  Liu Yujie panicked as soon as he heard it and said: "What to do? If they rush into action, our lives will be in danger!"

  Wei Dong patted Liu Yu's head and said with a smile: "Don't you believe me? Damn, the superiors in the mountains trust me very much, they believe I can fulfill my mission without fail."

  Liu Yu-jie immediately responded to Wei Xiang-dong with a flattering tone: "Yes, yes, Wei Xiaoge's talent is overflowing and it's something that I, Liu, have always admired. Hehe, just think of it as teaching me, this little student, okay? Wei Xiaoge, please give me some pointers so I can work with you at ease!"

  Wei Dong answered with one word: "Deceit!"

  When they reached the edge of Niutou Gaodi, Wei Dong again instructed Liu Yuje: "From now on, no matter what I say or how I say it, no matter what form it takes, you can't express your opinion or speak up. The only thing you can say is one word, 'yes'. Otherwise, if there's even a slight deviation and the task isn't completed, you go explain to the superior officers at the foot of the mountain."

  Liu Yu-jie answered with a "yes", then wanted to say something else, but was glared back by Wei Xiang-dong's resentful stare.

  Wei Xiangdong and Ye Tufei's means of communication were very primitive, using an iron megaphone to shout at each other across the way. This was the second time they used this method, the first time being Liu Yuje, who had not even finished shouting before he was scared off by Li Zhongyun's gunshot.

  Having had the experience last time, Liu Yujie didn't dare to pick up that metal megaphone again, so Wei Xiangdong had no choice but to take matters into his own hands.

  Wei Xiangdong's shout was direct and rough: "Listen up, Ye Tufei of the 258th Regiment! I'm Wei Xiangdong from the Shanxia Branch Team. Yes, I'm the traitor you think I am. But I want to talk to you, so I'll come over now. I hope you won't shoot. Killing two unarmed people doesn't make you a hero!" Then, without waiting for Ye Tufei's response, he dragged Liu Yuje and headed towards Niutou Gaodi.

  On the heights, Ye Tufei glanced at Zhang Luohui, who turned his head to look at Li Zhongyun beside him. Li Zhongyun rubbed his eyes, looked at the two people climbing up from below, and then cast his gaze back on Ye Tufei, "Want to give those two a little stimulation?"

  Zhang Luohui picked up a long gun and aimed at them, saying: "These two bastards are too daring, aren't they!"

  Ye Tu Fei held down Zhang Luo Hui, took over the long gun from his hand and said: "Let me do it, I'm worried that you'll accidentally hurt them."

  This was Ye Tufei's first time using a gun in front of his brothers, he didn't aim carefully like Zhang Luohui, nor did he adjust his body posture like Li Zhongyun, but instead turned around casually and fired the gun.

  After the gunshot, a cloud of dust burst out less than two meters in front of Liu Yu's feet.

  Liu Yu-jie was frightened and screamed, hugging his head and curling up on the ground, while Wei Xiang-dong just paused for a moment, then pulled Liu Yu-jie up from the ground and continued to climb forward.

  Ye Tu Fei sighed and fired another shot, this one hitting less than half a meter in front of Wei Xiang Dong's feet.

  Liu Yuqie let out a loud wail and rolled to the ground, while Wei Xiangdong stood still, making a gesture towards the high ground, a gesture often used by Westerners: raising his right middle finger.

  Ye Tu Fei understood and helplessly returned the gun to Zhang Luo Hui, saying: "It seems that not all traitors are scum, there are also some good men!"

  Five minutes later, Wei Xiangdong and Liu Yuqie stood in front of Ye Tufei.

  The four eyes met, and they stared at each other for over ten seconds before both of them burst out laughing. Wei Dong said: "I'm a traitor, but I'm not a coward!"

  Yè Tú Fēi replied: "You may not know Han**, but I know you're really not a good guy!"

  Wei Dong said: "Being able to get your approval, it seems I'm really not a useless person."

  Ye Tu Fei burst out laughing and said: "You're definitely not a coward! There's only one coward here, isn't that right, Captain Liu?"

  Liu Yujie wiped the sweat from his forehead and glanced at Wei Xidong before responding with a simple "Yes."

  Ye Tu Fei continued to laugh loudly and said: "Well, then, please get the losers out of the way! Let us non-losers have a good chat."

  Liu Yujie obeyed and quickly moved to the side, but was pulled back by Wei Xiangdong. Wei Xiangdong said: "We're not cowards, let's talk, and let this coward listen carefully, it's also a way to educate him. Ye Dabao, what do you think?"

  Ye Tufei pointed at Liu Yujie and said: "I'll give this good fellow some face, you just stay here and don't interfere!" Then he turned to Wei Xiangdong and said: "Speak up, what is it? Don't beat around the bush."

  Wei Xiangdong took out a handwritten letter from Yamashita Yoshio and handed it to Ye Tufei, saying: "This is a handwritten letter from the person in charge of the Japanese army for you. After you finish reading it, we can talk again."

  Zhang Luohui snatched the letter and was about to tear it up, but Ye Tufei stopped him just in time. Wei Xiangdong smiled and said, "A magnanimous person is indeed magnanimous, with a broad mind."

  Ye Tu Fei nodded slightly towards Wei Xiang Dong in response, then said to Zhang Luo Hui: "Open it and read!"

  Wei Dong hastily stopped him and said: "This letter must be read by you first, whether you read it out loud or whatever, I absolutely will not interfere."

  Ye Tu Fei was slightly puzzled and looked at Wei Xiang Dong. Wei Xiang Dong's expression remained calm and his eyes were firm.

  In the end, Ye Tufei accepted Wei Xiangdong's suggestion.

  After opening the letter, he only took a glance and Ye Tu Fei couldn't help but feel a shock throughout his entire body.

  On the envelope, two names were written: Ouyang Xueping and Ouyang Xueping.

  Ye Tu Fei glanced over the letter, struck a match and set it on fire. As he watched the flames dancing up and down, Ye Tu Fei said: "Whatever you want to say, just go ahead and say it, I believe you."

  Wei Dong raised his fists, looked around and then said: "I know you are all heroes who view death as a return home. You don't even fear death, what else can you fear? I also admit that with this portrait of the Japanese Emperor as a shield, the Japanese army will not dare to take any action against you lightly. As long as you have supplies, you will be able to hold out. But have you thought about it, is there any point in continuing like this? You won't be able to inflict any casualties on the Japanese army, they just need to keep you trapped on the high ground and that's enough. Is such a meaningless sacrifice worth it?"

  "In my opinion, a true hero's death must be magnificent and memorable, leaving a lasting impression on future generations. But to die in such an obscure and unclear manner, trapped in this tiny place, starving to death without anyone knowing... what is that? That's just being a fool! If it were me, I'd rather charge down the mountain and get shot by the Japanese than suffocate to death up here! Of course, I won't choose to die - I want to live. Even if it means becoming a traitor, I'll still choose to live. Why? Because only when you're alive can you have the chance to realize your dreams, to see the day when your ideals finally come true."

  "Listen to me, put down your weapons and surrender! You've survived this far, you have the chance to do more things! Think carefully about it, I'm waiting for your final decision."

  After finishing the last sentence, Wei Dong pulled Liu Yu Jie to one side.

  (One day, 10,000 words updated, just relying on this diligence... Hey, that's it!)