Chapter Thirty-Two

  The weather is indeed nice today, the sun is scorching the earth, if it weren't for the occasional gusts of cool breeze, Xiao Ming and Mù Cūn might not have chatted endlessly for half a day, they would have found a cooler place to go earlier.

  Xiao Ming grabbed a handful of dirt, letting it slide down through his fingers and onto Moku's body. Moku didn't move, but his mind was racing quickly. He didn't think Xiao Ming was playing a prank, from a military perspective, this was the most common way to measure wind direction and speed, he was still waiting for Xiao Ming's good news.

  "Kimura, how many people have you arranged around here?" Xiao Ming suddenly spoke up, asking with a smile.

  Kimura was taken aback for a moment, then burst out laughing: "Well, it's hard to say, but in any case, Xiao Dangjia is probably not coming back!"

  "Oh, really?" Xiao Ming's smile grew thicker. "Mr. Kimura, let's discuss your plan, how is it?"

  "Mr. Xiao, please go ahead!" Murata also became interested.

  Xiao Ming smiled and said: "You originally planned to take advantage of the wheat harvest, lure our troops out, surround us, and annihilate us. But you didn't expect that we only brought over a hundred people, which is far from your expectations. So you detained the grain carts but didn't kill everyone, hoping that we would dispatch our main force to rescue them. However, you're disappointed! Can you tell me how many men you have ambushed in the mining area?"

  "A cavalry regiment is now useless!" Mura smiled. "How did Xiaodang's family know that I had an ambush in the mining area?"

  "It can be judged from the supplies delivered!" Xiao Ming said with a smile, "If I'm interested, even the marriage of mice in this area won't escape my eyes."

  "So, how will Xiaodang's family escape?" Mu Village smiled at Xiao Ming, "Originally I really wanted to get rid of it once and for all, but now I've changed my mind. As long as I take you down, Feihu Fort will be a toothless sick tiger!"

  "I didn't mean to leave, otherwise I would have left earlier, you can't stop me!" Xiao Ming smiled and looked at Mù Cūn, "You also saw that just now, I was testing the wind direction and speed. I came to find you, wanting to set off some fireworks, to celebrate your promotion together."

  "What does it mean?" Kimura was puzzled.

  "Look, you know this stuff!" Xiao Ming turned around and waved his hand, Ma Liu and Shan Wazi lifted the rain cloth on the big cart, revealing rows of shell boxes, with white skull logos that were particularly eye-catching.

  "Your pupils suddenly dilated, and you cried out in a voice that was almost lost: 'You actually brought this thing!'"

  Xiao Ming laughed: "You produced it, bring it over and play with it, exchange what you have, what's the big deal?"

  "Mr. Xiao, we are soldiers, how can..."

  "Alright, Mukamura, this thing is yours after all. Are you going to use it to deal with flies and mosquitoes?" Xiao Ming's face was full of ridicule.

  "Mr. Xiao, think carefully about this. This thing will spread with the wind, and not only are there Imperial Army soldiers in the vicinity, but also many of your own people, all of whom will be hard-pressed to escape death!" Mura said coldly.

  "The people of a ruined country, even if they sacrifice themselves, what can be done!" Xiao Ming stroked his chin, "However, there is a place surrounded by mountains on all sides, which is not easy to spread. I heard that many cavalry have gone recently, and I don't know if this thing works for horses!"

  "What, you've also put this thing in the mine?! How did you do it?!" Mugita was on the verge of collapse. If something happened at the mine, he would be guilty even if he died a hundred times.

  "Kimura, do you think that mine is as solid as gold? That's because I wasn't interested, or else I would have blown it up long ago!" Xiao Ming stretched his waist, "Now it's fine, since we're going to disperse after one shot, I'll just pull a scapegoat. As soon as we make a move here, they will follow suit over there. Mr. Kimura, aren't Japanese people fond of harakiri? I'll help you achieve it!"

  Kimura's face was covered in cold sweat, and he remained silent for a long time before squeezing out a few words from between his teeth: "Your terms!"

  "See, it's all settled then! We're all friends, no need for conditions!" Xiao Mingxi smiled broadly. "Alright then, I'll say it: first, you have to pay the medical expenses for my injured brother, 1,000 yuan should do it. Second, I get to take away your grain, or else how can we maintain order on empty stomachs? Third, hand over the culprit and let me vent my anger. Considering our friendship, that's all!"

  Kimura thought for a moment and agreed. Xiao Ming immediately went with him to the opposite side of the artillery tower, hooked his finger, called over an interpreter, and told him to tell the Japanese army in the stronghold: Open the door, let the Flying Tigers drive away the grain cart, gather 1,000 yuan, and move two chairs out at the same time.

  Although Kimura was fluent in Chinese, he always brought a translator with him when going out, which was purely a matter of face. The translator turned to look at Kimura, who said sternly: "Go quickly and do as Mr. Xiao's family has said."

  The Japanese army opposite didn't know what had happened, and cast inquiring glances at Mugen, who said nothing, merely nodding his head - the cart was just behind him, with Ma Liu playing with the reins!

  The people of Feihu Village rushed over, and Xiao Ming ordered the platoon leader to go back and bring all the usable vehicles in the village to try to transport the grain at one time. "Mr. Moku hasn't eaten yet, can't let him starve for us to count!"

  Someone brought over two chairs and a bag containing silver dollars, rings, and military coupons. Shanwa took them.

  Xiao Ming invited Mukai to sit down: "Mr. Mukai, you understand the rules, if your soldiers move around, my men will get nervous and it won't be good if they fire. Why don't you let your soldiers sit down and rest for a while? Standing for too long is tiring!" Mukai grunted and didn't speak.

  Before long, more than 20 cars and over 200 horse-drawn vehicles came pouring in, making the scene grand and spectacular. The team leader unloaded the grain at Er Long Ridge and phoned to pass on Xiao Ming's orders.

  Watching the vehicles that were obviously from the Empire pass by, although he had mentally prepared himself, Kimura's heart was still aching: how much material and blood of Imperial soldiers this must have cost! Although his heart was filled with hatred for Fei Hu Zhan, his face showed no expression, while Xiao Ming was smiling at him.

  As the troops withdrew, the sky had already darkened. Xiao Ming calculated that the grain carts were almost at the mountain stronghold and turned to say to Mokuyou: "Mr. Mokuyou, I represent the brothers of Feihu Fort in thanking you and His Majesty! I bid farewell, and that car is a gift for you." As he spoke, he beckoned towards the mountain pass. The mountain pass guard, unaware of what was happening, walked over, and as soon as he approached, Xiao Ming slapped him twice: "You dare to hurt my people! If it weren't for Mr. Mokuyou's face today, I would have skinned you alive! Mokuyou, I'm leaving!" The mountain pass guard stood there, stunned, looking at Mokuyou, who was expressionless.

  The mountain doll led over three horses, Ma Liu shouted: "Second master, you go first, I'll cover the back!" Xiao Ming thought so too, if things went wrong here, none of the three could leave. He said: "Good boy, making progress, knowing how to take care of superiors, remember not to hurt Mr. Mùcūn!"

  Xiao Ming walked far away, Ma Liu jumped onto the horse, laughing and saying: "Mukimura, get back a bit, Six Grandpa is going to whip up some fire!" After finishing speaking, he pulled the reins, whipped the horse and galloped away.

  Kimura's liver and gallbladder were both split, and he shouted to his subordinates, "There is toxic gas, hide!" He himself rolled into the roadside ditch with a loud rumble. All of a sudden, there was a loud explosion, the box was thrown into the air, and the sky and earth were instantly white and blurry, nothing could be seen.

  After a while, Kimura found nothing unusual and looked up to see that the gun tower, soldiers, and ground were all white. The interpreter ran over, trembling with fear, saying: "Sir, it's okay, it's just quicklime."

  Kimura stumbled up, his face pale, and spat out a mouthful of blood.

  Elsewhere, the grain collection went smoothly, and people happily handed over their grain. The Flying Tiger Fort is now famous far and wide, and the various versions of the grain collection circulating in the streets are even more mysterious. Xiao Ming has also become Zhao Zilong in people's hearts.

  The Japanese army launched a sweep, which was actually a robbery of grain. The south was still in fierce battle, and the North China Japanese army had to guarantee logistics, be responsible for domestic supply, and transport strategic materials such as coal and minerals, with heavy tasks, it was impossible to stay in each place all the time, they would leave after looting. The various resistance forces also grasped the pulse of the Japanese, when the wind passed, they popped out one after another, and launched harassment against the Japanese army.

  Because of this, Kimura lost a lot of face, Xiao Ming was afraid that he would jump over the wall in desperation, and put his target on the highway to the west. Since it wasn't his defensive area, the task was handed over to Da Long's special forces company and Gao Shouyi's third company.

  Lü Jizong was excited when he heard that the mountain stronghold had Japanese biological weapons, and suggested sending them to the war zone to expose the Japanese army's crimes. Xiao Ming shook his head and said: "Old Lü, can't you think further ahead? Do you think your troops are all united? Once those things leave the door, they will definitely attract the Japanese army's encirclement and interception. In the end, one bomb will be gone, and it will harm our comrades and civilians instead. Which side would that be on?"

  Lü Jizong has also learned his lesson and no longer argues with Xiao Ming, but what Xiao Ming said is indeed reasonable. He says: "Putting it in the mountain stronghold isn't a solution either. If something happens, the entire Flying Tiger Mountain will be affected. It's better to deal with it early on!"

  "You think I don't want to?! This thing is a double-edged sword, you now know why Muraoka doesn't dare to fight us, and if we deal with it, the Japanese army will come knocking on our door immediately. Let's just do this for now!" Xiao Ming also felt helpless, after all, who wants to sleep with a barrel of gunpowder? "If you're really bored, let's go take a walk in the back mountain together, my heart is always uneasy."

  Xiao Ming pulled Lü Jizong to the back mountain and strolled around for half a day, asking: "Old Lü, if you want to attack Feihu Fort, where will you start?"

  Lü Jizong hesitated for a moment before saying, "Launch a frontal attack from Heifengxia, make feints at Hulu Valley and Jiudao Wan, send a contingent of elite troops to launch a surprise attack on Ye Lang Gou, cut off their escape route. Within three days, the mountain stronghold will be in chaos."

  Xiao Ming nodded and said: "What I'm most worried about is the Wild Wolf Gorge. Mu Village is a Chinese expert, he must have heard of Deng Ai's conquest of Chengdu, so..."

  "Are you worried that Kimura will also make a mess of things and come up with something terrible?"

  Xiao Ming nodded, and Lü Jizong continued: "If all else fails, we can pull the troops out and there will still be room for maneuver."

  "No way, our home base is here, going out would be equivalent to using our flesh and blood to fight against the enemy's planes and artillery. Besides, you also know that here, we only need to guard against the Japanese, but outside, we have to be careful everywhere!" Xiao Ming said with a hint of a smile.

  Lü Jizong smiled bitterly, understanding Xiao Ming's meaning: with Xiao Ming's temperament, he would absolutely not attach himself to others, and no matter who it was, he would not tolerate someone snoring beside him, so naturally some unpleasant things would happen. He asked, "What can be done? Should we add more personnel?"

  "It's no use, the place is too big!" Xiao Ming shook his head and suddenly asked: "Shanwa, isn't Ma Liu at home? Why didn't I see him?"

  "Commander, you forgot, didn't you tell them to learn characters? This must be the class at Sun Erdou's place!" Shan Wazi replied.

  "Oh, I forgot about this," Xiao Ming scratched his head, "Let's go take a look at how these kids are doing with their studies, can they even recognize a map."