Chapter 1: The Eve of the Great War

  The Republic of China 28 years, Qingming Festival, at midnight.

  Leaving the east gate of Xuzhou City and heading northeast for over a hundred miles, there is a town called Jiajia Wang. From Jiajia Wang, heading southeast for about twenty miles, there is a mountain range that legend has it was left behind by Erlang Shen when he drove the mountains into the sea, so it's called Erlang Mountain. This Erlang Mountain doesn't have the majestic momentum of piercing the sky and entering the clouds, but over a hundred mountain peaks are connected in a line, stretching endlessly, yet also having another kind of grandeur.

  It is an ideal place for heroes of the green forest to gather and roam the world.

  For over a hundred years, the Erlang Mountain area has been plagued by bandits, with no less than twenty gangs still active today. Among them, the "Zhongyitang" gang is the most notorious.

  Zhongyitang's top leader is named Ye Tufei, three years ago he led the thirteen arhats of Zhongyitang to set up a flag on Erlang Mountain, and in just one year, they swept across the entire Jianghu of Erlang Mountain, earning the respect of various heroes as Ye Liuye.

  At this moment, Ye Liu Ye, also known as Ye Tufei, was sitting in his spacious and comfortable armchair, staring at a box of gold bars in front of him with a dazed expression, seemingly entranced.

  The person who presented this box of gold bars was a Japanese man named Takehisa Matsu.

  Takeshita Motono was the combat advisor of the Koizumi Shinpei vanguard unit under the command of Lieutenant General Tani Hisao, and this visit was made at the behest of Koizumi Masuo, the commander of the vanguard unit, to persuade Ye Tingfei to see things clearly and cooperate with the Imperial Army.

  After presenting the gold bars, Takeeda Kaoru began his speech of persuasion.

  "Ye Liu Ye, you Chinese have a saying that goes well, 'those who know the times are heroes', I think, Liu Ye, you are a hero among heroes, you must be able to discern the situation, the Imperial Japanese Army is invincible, Xuzhou will eventually belong to the Imperial Army, whether to be friends with the Imperial Army or enemies of the Imperial Army, this is very important for you and your Zhongyitang. Isn't there another Chinese saying that says... "Bamboo below Gen's excited speech was momentarily forgotten."

  "Those who follow me will prosper, those who oppose me will perish!" Ye Tufei slowly and leisurely reminded Zhuxia Gen at the right time, but his eyes didn't move half a millimeter away from the gold bar.

  "That's right, this sentence. Sixth Master, you think that after the Imperial Army occupies Xuzhou, it will need the help of friends. Without the help of Chinese friends, the ideal of Greater East Asia Co-prosperity Sphere would be difficult to achieve. At that time, you, Sixth Master, and all the brothers from Zhongyitang, will have the opportunity to make a big show, becoming people in high society." Zhang Xiaoren spoke incessantly.

  Yatou Fei's eyes were still fixed on him, and he slowly interrupted, saying: "You're called Takeeda Kō? Are you Japanese?"

  "Yes, Ye Liu Ye, in Zhuxia Gen's bloodline, absolutely pure and authentic Yamato blood." Zhuxia Gen didn't understand the meaning behind Ye Tufei's words and replied with some hesitation.

  Ye Tu Fei finally shifted his gaze away from the box of gold bars and said, "I didn't expect that this Japanese person could speak Chinese so fluently!"

  "Returning to the topic of Mr. Takeeda, he has lived in China for eighteen years, which is even longer than I have lived in Japan!" Takeeda Kanki thought back on his life and felt a deep sense of emotion.

  Ye Tufei leaned forward slightly, his eyes fixed on Zhuxia Gen's, until the latter felt uneasy and seemed to be unable to sit still. Only then did he speak again: "I understand what Mr. Zhuxia means, and I appreciate your kind intentions. You're right! Faced with your machine guns and artillery, we Jianghu vagrants are absolutely no match."

  Bamboo under the root revealed a smile, pushed the box of gold bars on the table towards Ye Tufei's direction and said: "Koizumi Chusa entrusted me to inform Ye Liu Ye, after the matter is successful, he will definitely visit Ye Liu Ye in person. From now on, whether Ye Liu Ye wants to stay in Er Lang Mountain or abandon the mountain and enter the city, everything is up to Ye Liu Ye's choice."

  Ye Tufei smiled slightly and said, "What if things don't go as planned?"

  Takeda Genichi was taken aback and just as he was about to ask Yeliu Fei the meaning of his words, a sudden knock at the door interrupted him.

  Ye Tu Fei furrowed his brow but ultimately allowed the outsider in.

  The brother responsible for guarding the door pushed the door open and stuck in half of his body, reporting to Ye Tu Fei: "Sixth Master, Old Jin from down the mountain has come again, saying he has an important matter to report."

  Ye Tu Fei took a glance at Zhuxia Gen, who responded with an expression of complete ignorance.

  "Let him in!" Ye Tufei thought for a moment and agreed.

  Mr. Jin walked into the house, saw that Zhuxiaogen was still there, hesitated for a moment, then walked to Ye Tufei's side and whispered something in his ear.

  Ye Tu Fei listened, his eyebrows gradually furrowing towards the middle, his expression also becoming increasingly serious. In the end, he said to Old Jin with a somewhat helpless tone: "These friends who live by their guns are not people we can afford to offend, so let's invite him up instead."

  After Mr. Jin left, Zhuxia Gen stood up politely and asked tentatively: "Master Ye Liu has a noble guest arriving, I won't stay long, so I'll take my leave!"

  Ye Tu Fei sighed and shook his head, saying: "Don't you want to ask what kind of person this friend is who comes to disturb us in the middle of the night?"

  "Sir Ye Liu, if you don't want to say it, I, Zhuxia, dare not ask. If you are willing to tell me, I will listen with utmost respect."

  Ye Tu Fei yawned and stretched his waist, with extremely exaggerated movements.

  "Old Jin said that Zhang Luo Hui, the acting commander of the 258th Regiment of the National Army, has requested to see him and must have the same purpose as Mr. Takeeda!"

  Takeuchi's heart tightened, although he had expected this result, but Ye Tufei personally told him that it still made him nervous, and he didn't know what decision Ye Tufei would make.

  "Yè Liù Yé said frankly, Zhū Xià was grateful but only..."

  Yè Tú Fēi stretched out his hand and placed it on the box of gold bars, saying: "If I agree to Mr. Takeeda's request, I'm afraid that in the future I will be spat upon by the Green Forest, saying that Yè Tú Fēi is disloyal and unrighteous. If I don't agree to Mr. Takeeda's request, yet I also can't come up with the actual strength to contend with your noble army, I'm afraid I'll end up as a corpse in the wilderness."

  Ye Tu Fei looked at Zhuxia Gen again and then glanced at the box of gold bars, sighed and said: "I'm also sorry for Mr. Zhuxia's kindness!"

  Takeuchi guessed Ye Tufei's thoughts at this time, and smiled: "Ye Liu can close one eye and open the other, and pretend that the imperial army never passed through Erlang Mountain, or it was something you never knew!"

  Yè Tú Fēi revealed a pleased smile and said: "Mr. Takeeda is indeed wise! Alright, I agree with you. By tomorrow afternoon at 4 o'clock, the mountain pass of Er Lang Shan will be freely open to everyone, no one needs to ask for my permission." After a brief pause, Yè Tú Fēi leaned forward, closer to Takeeda, and said: "However, after 4 o'clock, everything is off-limits! Mr. Takeeda, I think this time should be sufficient for you all!"

  Takeeda's heart was secretly delighted, and he hastily said: "Enough, enough! Thank you, Mr. Yeh Liu, for your great justice. Takeeda will now take his leave, I must hurry to tell this good news to Minister Koizumi."

  Ye Tufei smiled faintly and said, "No hurry, Mr. Zhuxia, don't you want to see how I respond to that Team Leader Zhang?"

  Just then, Old Jin's voice came from outside the door: "Sixth Master, Captain Zhang, he has arrived!"

  Ye Tufei nodded to Zhuxia Gen, saying: "Then I'll have to trouble Mr. Zhuxia, please ask Mr. Zhuxia to temporarily move to the inner room, after I meet with Zhang Tuanzhang, it's not too late to leave."

  Zhū Xiǎo Gēn smiled and bowed to Yè Tú Fēi, then went into the inner room. Meanwhile, Yè Tú Fēi loudly said towards the outside of the door: "Please welcome Commander Zhang!"

  Six hours ago, when the troops were about to have dinner, Zhang Luohui was just a deputy regimental commander of the 258th Regiment of the National Army. After his brothers had finished their dinner and the regiment sounded an emergency assembly call, he suddenly transformed into the regimental commander of the 258th Regiment, although the previous acting commander still had the word "acting" in front of him, but the insignia on his shoulder was a full-fledged lieutenant colonel rank.

  This change left all the brothers in the team amazed.

  However, Zhang Luo Hui, who had just been promoted three ranks, did not show any excitement at all. Instead, he looked crestfallen, like a patient who had just been diagnosed with a terminal illness.

  It's also hard to blame Zhang Luohui for this.

  Just as he was about to start eating, the duty soldier from the headquarters rushed over and said: "Sir! Someone has come from the 5th War Zone Commander's office, saying they want to see you."

  Zhang Luohui was startled, and he quickly thought about whether he had violated any discipline. After thinking for a while, he still couldn't think of anything, so he asked the duty soldier in confusion: "What did the commander say I should see him for?"

  The orderly didn't answer Zhang Luosheng, but instead urged him to hurry up, faster and faster.

  Upon arrival at the division headquarters, Zhang Luo Hui nervously saluted the officer and then sat down with a pounding heart according to the officer's gesture. Next, he heard the officer's appointment: "Hmm, very good, from now on, you, what's your name again? Ah yes, Zhang Luo Hui, from now on you are the acting commander of the 258th Regiment, awarded the rank of Lieutenant Colonel."

  A pie fell from the sky and hit him right on the head, leaving him with nothing but surprise. Zhang Luohui immediately jumped out of his earlier panic and gave another military salute to the officer with great agility.

  However, Zhang Luohui forgot that even if the pie that fell from the sky didn't kill him, it would still leave a big bump on his head.

  "Ah, Commander Zhang, you know that the Battle of Taierzhuang has reached a decisive moment. The Japanese army is exhausted, and our troops are deploying for a comprehensive counterattack. In an attempt to turn defeat into victory, the Japanese launched a desperate move yesterday, organizing a rapid strike force of about 700 men from the Taierzhuang battlefield, circling around to the east bank of the Yihe River, aiming to break through our weakly defended area and attack the rear assembly point of our troops at Jiajiawang Town. I now order your unit to immediately set out and block the Japanese army at the Erlangshan line, you must hold off the enemy for 24 hours."

  Zhang Luo Hui suddenly fell from the clouds of Jiuxiao.

  This is simply a suicidal mission! The 700-strong Japanese army, even if the 258th Regiment were at full strength, would be unable to resist, let alone now that the 258th Regiment has withdrawn from the front line and only has less than one battalion of brothers left.

  However, as a soldier, Zhang Luo Hui's duty is to obey orders, and he unconditionally accepted the task. (This book was originally called "Bandit Camp", it's a story I heard during my high school days, then added my own understanding and literary touch, it's quite different from the current online YY anti-war theme, which means this story has a prototype. The editor of 17 forced me to change the title, I'm very unhappy about it, decided to move to another station at some point, friends who like this book can continue reading there, thank you for your understanding.)