Chapter 26

  "Steep cliffs and strange rocks, precipitous walls and wondrous peaks, how majestic!" Outside the gourd valley, a merchant-dressed Kimura Naoki stood with his hands behind his back, surveying the mountains and rivers before him, sighing in admiration from the bottom of his heart.

  Kimura Naoki, a graduate of the Military Academy with honors, is a standard military man, extremely talented but with a solitary personality. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel after the war due to his military achievements. Due to differences in combat ideology, he was ostracized on the front lines and was recalled by his teacher to serve as a staff officer for the brigade, assisting in maintaining law and order.

  Kimura Naoki has been studying Chinese culture since college and is a true China expert. Since taking office, he has reviewed all the materials, surveyed countless terrains, and basically understood the situation in this area, and came up with a solution: far to interact with near attack.

  Wang Jinlong received a call from Hulu Valley, saying that Da Baozhong was visiting, accompanied by three others. Wang Jinlong curiously said to Xiao Ming: "We have no connection with Da Baozhong, if there is any connection, it's just that we robbed his opium, could he be here for the opium?"

  Xiao Ming thought for a moment and said: "I heard he defected to the Japanese, became some kind of maintenance director, probably came to persuade us to surrender. Call them up, let's see what price they can offer!"

  Actually, Da Baozhuang didn't have any scars on his body. It's just that he was a big opium dealer and had harmed countless families, causing them to break up and die. People cursed him to die with boils on his head and pus flowing from the soles of his feet. When the Japanese army arrived, he immediately surrendered to the Japanese and even became the head of the maintenance association. It's said that when the Japanese army was about to launch a campaign to maintain order, he was the first to expose the Flying Tiger Fort, wanting to use the Japanese army's hands to avenge his old grievances. This trick naturally couldn't deceive Mukai, who encouraged him and let him lead the way to explore the Flying Tiger Fort.

  Arriving at the hall, Da Ba Sao, although seething with rage, still wore a smile all over his face: "You two are the masters of Fei Hu Zhai, nice to meet you, nice to meet you!"

  Wang Jinlong asked in a loud voice: "Are you that big tobacco seller?"

  The big scar-faced man smiled unnaturally and said, "Ah, ah, those were all in the past. Since the Imperial Army arrived, I've been serving the Imperial Army, contributing to the prosperity of East Asia."

  Wang Jinlong asked Xiao Ming in surprise: "Strange, don't dogs eat shit nowadays?"

  "What's this?" Xiao Ming made a thoughtful expression, "Or did they think that the dog shit from the East is more fragrant and changed to eating that instead!"

  The scar-faced man forced a smile and said: "You two are joking. Let me introduce you, this is Mr. Kimura, the special envoy of the Imperial Army."

  With a flash of movement, he stepped forward and let Mukimura Naoki take the lead. Mukimura walked up front, bowed deeply, and said in fluent Chinese: "I am Mukimura Naoki, please take care of me, esteemed masters!"

  Xiao Ming felt that this person was not ordinary from the moment he entered the wooden village, with a sharp air hidden beneath his gentle demeanor. Upon hearing that he was Japanese, a cold glint flashed in his eyes, and then he smiled and clasped his fists together, saying: "So you're Mr. Kimura, I've long admired you, sorry for not showing respect earlier, you're Japanese, right? Your Chinese is quite good! Your ancestors must have had some connection with us Chinese people. Ah, my name is Xiao Ming, and this is my older brother Wang Jinlong. Come on in, please take a seat."

  Kimura was also secretly observing Wang Jindong and Xiao Ming, Xiao Ming's reaction shocked him, thinking that this person had a very strong killing aura. His face showed no emotion, he said thank you and sat down calmly.

  "Mr. Kimura is really bold, all along the way, wanting to kill this president is not less than wanting to kill Japanese people, and you two dare to show up together! Admire admire!" Xiao Ming said with a smile while pouring tea for everyone.

  "I think there's been a misunderstanding, Mr. Xiao," said Kimura with a smile. "Our Great Japanese Imperial Army has come all the way here to help your country establish a land of peace and prosperity under imperial rule. Why would anyone harbor resentment towards us?"

  Xiao Ming scratched his head in puzzlement and asked, "Building a utopia with guns and cannons? This is a novel idea; can Mr. Kimura enlighten me?"

  "Drive out the old forces and establish a new order, it's inevitable to have some bumps along the way. Doesn't Xiaodangjia think this is normal?" Mura smiled as usual.

  "I don't understand this, but I can ask for guidance later. So, Mr. Kimura, you've come to our mountain village this time to let us cooperate with the head of the meeting and sell opium together?" Xiao Ming smiled ambiguously, staring at Kimura.

  "Xiao Dangjia has spoken, this time Mu Village came to ask the two of you to lead the team down the mountain, to work together with the Imperial Army to maintain local security and implement shared prosperity and governance. What do you think, master?"

  "Isn't it just her son telling us to be traitors? Can't you just say it straightforwardly and be done with it, why beat around the bush?"

  Kimura's face didn't change color, still smiling as he said: "Wang's straightforward and bold words are truly heroic, Kimura admires that. However, has the master thought it through? From now on, we're going to be one family, what's with the traitor talk?"

  Wang Jinlong's eyes widened, and he was about to erupt, but Xiao Ming quickly grabbed him: "Hey, big brother, have a cup of tea to calm down, let's talk business, harmony brings wealth." After calming Wang Jinlong down, he turned to Mura and said: "Mr. Mura wants to take us in, right?"

  "It's not annexation, it's co-governance!" Muraoka smiled lightly.

  "That's all the same, however," Xiao Ming stared at Muraoka, paused for a moment, "we need to discuss something, you guys have some tea first, we'll be right back." After finishing speaking, he gave Wang Jinlong a signal with his eyes, and the two of them stood up and walked out. The two attendants behind Muraoka stretched out their hands to block them, Xiao Ming smiled and said: "Do you two have something going on? Take a look at what's above!" As soon as the two followed Xiao Ming's pointing hand and looked up, Xiao Ming quickly grabbed their arms and pulled them back, twisting his hands, and with two soft sounds, the attendants jumped up clutching their dislocated arms.

  Kimura scolded his followers a few words, stood up and apologized to Wang Jindong and Xiao Ming: "My subordinates are rude, offending the two tiger powers, please forgive me, and also ask Mr. Xiao to let them go."

  Xiao Ming smiled and said, "Alright, alright, you two are too weak, can't even withstand this little bit of strength. How can you protect your safety? If we agree on the terms, I'll find two good ones for you." As he spoke, he nodded at Little Tiger, who came over and grabbed their shoulders, giving them a massage before putting them back in place. He gave them a cold stare before turning around and leaving.

  Arriving at the door, Wang Jinlong said with hatred: "Brother, why don't we take care of them?"

  Xiao Ming shook his head and said: "No, that would ruin our reputation and we'll be retaliated against."

  "What did you come out for?" Wang Jinlong asked in puzzlement.

  "Let them be anxious for a while!" Xiao Ming said with a smile.

  Back in the hall, Xiao Ming rubbed his hands and said: "Mr. Kimura, sorry about earlier. My brother and I discussed it and think this is okay, but this traitor's hat isn't easy to wear, you see, how about showing some sincerity?"

  Kimura smiled and said, "Don't worry about the household, our imperial army is very sincere. We will give you a regimental organization, double food and salary, only responsible for local security and grain collection, and not participate in battles. What do you think?"

  Xiao Ming rubbed his hands together, looking very embarrassed, and said: "It's true that if the imperial army is fighting with others, we can't just stand by and do nothing, right? With over 3,000 people going out, it's hard to say how many will come back. So, shouldn't this allowance be given to the brothers first?"

  Kimura smiled and asked: "What does 'Yi Xiao's family' mean?"

  Xiao Ming thought for a moment and said: "This one, 300,000 yuan, plus another 1,000 guns, brothers will immediately come down the mountain."

  Kimura smiled but didn't speak, closing his eyes to calm his mind.

  After half a day, Xiao Ming seemed to be unable to sit still, coughed and said coldly: "Mukai, if not, you give 100,000 taels of silver, guns or whatever, we'll talk about it later. We guarantee the security around here, but you can't collect taxes from the Flying Tiger Fort area, at least leave us some food to eat, what do you think?"

  Kimura nodded and bid farewell. Xiao Ming sent him to the outside of the gourd valley, Kimura suddenly smiled at him with deep meaning, nodded and said goodbye.

  Dà bā zhǒu duì fēi hǔ zhài hèn zhī rù gǔ, cǐ shí yě bù wàng sōu suō yī xià mù cūn: "mù cūn xiān shēng, jì rán tā men bù shí tái jǔ, jiù shì huáng jūn de dí rén, yào bù yào pài bīng……"

  "No, no, these people are interesting, especially that Xiao Ming." Mukai smiled and waved his hand, "Yu Hui Zhang, the matter of those 100,000 yuan, I'll leave it to you!" "Are we really going to give it to them?" Da Ba Chu was surprised, thought for a moment, then laughed.

  After a few days, Mukamura actually sent someone to deliver 50,000 yuan, saying that the remaining 50,000 would be discussed later. Wang Jinlong was stunned and asked Xiao Ming what was going on. Xiao Ming calmly said: "It's hush money! That Mukamura has already figured out that everything around here is our doing. Although our winter uniforms have been dyed, he can still tell they're Japanese military uniforms. He just doesn't have the confidence to take us down yet, so he's trying to make nice and hopes we won't interfere with each other."

  Wang Jinlong suddenly realized and said: "This Mura has a lot of tricks up his sleeve, so let's take advantage of the little devil?"

  Xiao Ming sneered and said, "This is Kimura's stabilizing strategy. Once he makes his move, he will not let up easily. The railway is too dangerous to go to now. From now on, tell the brothers to gather at a distant location. As long as nothing happens here, Kimura won't have anything to say."

  Since it was an unexpected fortune, Xiao Ming let the logistics team go down the mountain in a big way, and they went crazy buying things. Chickens, pigs, cows, and sheep were constantly being transported up the mountain, and the village was eating and drinking all day long. After a few days, Xiao Ming called Night Cat and Da Long over and said, "Mukamura should have received the news by now, let's close the net!"

  Kimura soon learned of the news of Fei Hu Zhai, but he absolutely did not believe they would be so relaxed and must have been deceiving themselves. Then those special agents lost contact, Kimura knew in his heart and ordered the remaining people to withdraw back.

  The head of the travel group, Kawanishi, called for Kimura and demanded that he explain the matter of the Flying Tiger Fort. Kimura's response was that, based on intelligence analysis, last autumn's Imperial Army logistics unit, a reinforced machine gun squadron, the logistics unit on the western highway, and military trains were all ambushed by the Flying Tiger Fort. This is not an ordinary bandit group, they are well-trained, have heavy firepower, and their combat strength is extremely strong. Moreover, their location is surrounded by mountains on all sides, with steep terrain, making it easy to defend but difficult to attack. With the continuous mountain range behind them, in case of emergency, as long as they drill into the mountains, they will disappear instantly, and even a division's troops would find it hard to eliminate them. What's more, they still have the Imperial Army's lost special bombs, once they are forced to desperation, they will definitely fight to the death, and at that time, the Imperial Army's losses will be immeasurable!

  Kawano remained silent for half a day before finally saying, "Muraoka, you are an excellent commander of the Empire. I truly hope your judgment is wrong. So, we just watch them do as they please and be helpless?"

  "No, if we want to succeed, we must dispatch an elite troop, launch a surprise attack, cut off their retreat route, and then coordinate with the inside and outside forces to find opportunities to annihilate them in one fell swoop, without giving them a chance to use special weapons!"

  Kimura, the leader of the expedition team, was very interested and continued to say: "I have a plan. Let our soldiers not conflict with them, but also try to make friendly gestures to numb them. Secretly, we will conduct targeted training, and when the time is ripe, we will destroy them all at once. This is what the Chinese often call '欲擒故纵'!"

  "Kimura-san is indeed a rare talent!" Kono exclaimed, standing up excitedly. "So, I'll leave this matter to you!"