Chapter 41 "You dare call me 'Second Ghost' again?"

  Time flies and it was spring 1944. Since the Japanese army's defeat in the third Changsha Battle, they never attacked Changsha again.

  A scene of singing and dancing in Changsha city.

  Soldiers were drinking and playing fist games in the tavern, making a loud noise...

  The officers escorted the young ladies and madams into the ballroom...

  Prostitutes standing at the brothel door soliciting customers...

  On the street, the fortifications built for the alley battle were in disrepair, and the soldiers on duty were chatting with a cigarette...

  The slogans posted on the wall "Celebrating the third great victory of Xiangbei" and "Hunan is the graveyard of Japanese bandits" are also incomplete.

  Liu Canmou walked on the street, looking at the scene in front of him with a worried and anxious heart.

  Inside the barracks, Old Cao, Zhou Guangren, Zhuangzi and Huang Xintian stood in front of a table, throwing dice into an empty bowl. In front of each person were some paper notes and silver coins.

  Old Cao shouted: "Five, five, five......"

  Zhou Guangren also shouted: "Six, six, six..."

  Other warriors also stood by and booed, at this time, the door opened, and Liu Canmou and Qin Zhiyong walked in.

  Qin Zhiyong shouted the command: "Attention!"

  Qin Zhiyong's shout was drowned out by the hubbub of the crowd, he looked at Liu Canmou with embarrassment, and Liu Canmou watched the scene in front of him without a word.

  Qin Zhiyong had no choice but to walk over, and the soldiers who saw Qin Zhiyong quickly got up and dodged out of the way. Qin Zhiyong walked straight to the table, not saying a word, standing there with an air of self-assurance that commanded respect without showing any anger.

  Lao Cao, Zhou Guangren, Shu Zi and Huang Xintian saw Qin Zhiyong and hastily stood up.

  Qin Zhiyong turned around and faced Liu's advisor, shouting loudly: "Attention!"

  Everyone then saw Director Liu standing at the door and stood at attention facing him.

  Liu smiled slightly: "What? Have you put away your swords and guns and let your horses graze on Mount Nan? Everyone, please take a seat."

  The warriors all let out a sigh of relief, everyone sat down, and Liu also sat down: "Aren't you afraid the devils will attack again?"

  Old Cao said with a swagger: "The devils wouldn't dare come again!"

  "From the last time the devils attacked Changsha, they suffered heavy casualties and losses, it's been over two years now, I'm sure they won't dare to come again easily!"

  Zhou Guangren also laughed: "The little devils were scared off by our Commander Xue's 'Tianlu War Method' long ago, who dares to come again?"

  Old Cao waved his hand: "Come again? Come again and make them all braised roast duck!"

  The warriors all burst out laughing, but Liu's expression became exceptionally stern.

  Liu Canmou and Qin Zhiyong walked along the street chatting.

  Liu's advisor had a worried look: "......The whole war zone, from top to bottom, is just one tune! The soldiers say 'the devils were scared off by the heavenly furnace battle method and don't dare come again', the war zone commanders say 'the Japanese army, after three battles, doesn't dare ask for passage to Changsha again', alas! A proud army will surely be defeated!"

  Qin Zhiyong: "Liu Canmou, are you saying that the devils will attack Changsha again?"

  "Liu's advisor: 'According to intelligence from all sides, the enemy is gathering its forces, arresting husbands, and building roads. There will definitely be a major move.'"

  Qin Zhiyong: "Does the top know about this situation?"

  Liu Canmou: "All reports have been submitted, but no one pays attention to them. Not even the reminders from the Chongqing Military Commission can arouse the attention of the war zone commanders, let alone my words as a small advisor."

  Qin Zhiyong said confidently: "The devils are coming, and we'll use our 'Heavenly Furnace' tactics to deal with them! Lure the enemy in deep, then annihilate them!"

  Liu Ziyu disagreed: "In war, one should adapt to the changing circumstances of the enemy. Now, blindly believing in the 'Tianlu' battle method and dividing troops to defend will make it easy for the enemy to defeat us one by one."

  "What's to be done?"

  "Liu: 'The reconnaissance team's training needs to be strengthened. Recently, I plan to send you again for reconnaissance, striving to obtain accurate intelligence on the Japanese army's attack on Changsha.'"

  Qin Zhiyong: "Yes."

  Liu: "If necessary, contact Captain Guo and his guerrilla team."

  Qin Zhiyong: "Yes."

  Night, inside the barracks.

  Qin Zhiyong, Zhuozi, Lao Cao, Zhou Guangren and Huang Xintian were all seated at the table.

  Qin Zhiyong: "According to intelligence from various sources, the Japanese army may launch another attack on Changsha in the near future. Liu Shouzeng ordered us to obtain accurate intelligence about the enemy's plan to attack Changsha."

  Lao Cao said with a full mouth: "Let the devils come, I'm afraid they won't come!"

  Qin Zhiyong: "I want to contact Captain Guo and his team first, it's best if we can get their help——"

  "Great! When are we leaving?"

  Old Cao winked at everyone.

  Qin Zhiyong: "Get ready tomorrow and set off early the day after tomorrow."

  Lao Cao, Shu Zi and Huang Xintian replied in unison: "Yes!"

  Qin Zhiyong saw Zhou Guangren's excited look and intentionally said: "Second Ghost, you're not going this time."

  Zhou Guangren was as if he had been doused with a basin of cold water: "Huh? Why didn't you let me go?"

  Qin Zhiyong said seriously: "You stay at home and take charge of training the new soldiers. Liu Shouzhang said that we need to strengthen the reconnaissance platoon's training."

  "Ah, Pai Zhang, don't make things difficult for me. Who can I train with these two? Let me go instead?"

  Huang Xintian: "You can teach them to speak Japanese, or else teach them how to drive."

  Old Cao couldn't help but burst out laughing: "Let him teach driving? They'll all end up in the ditch!"

  Several people burst out laughing.

  Zhou Guangren stared at Old Cao and begged Qin Zhongyong: "Squad leader, let me go instead."

  Qin Zhiyong suppressed a smile and said seriously: "Are you thinking about that little Xi girl again?"

  Zhou Guangren interrupted: "No, don't listen to Old Cao's nonsense."

  "Why don't I talk to Captain Guo about it? How about you join their guerrilla team?"

  Zhou Guangren tentatively said: "Squad leader, how could I bear to leave our squad? Besides, you, Squad Leader Qin, won't let me go either."

  Qin Zhiyong's face turned serious: "Second Ghost, I'm warning you, if you dare to have this thought again and play the deserter, don't blame me for not being polite."

  "You can't drive me away even if you want to. If I had that intention, you would have been finished."

  Qin Zhiyong smiled: "This is almost right."

  "Then this time——"

  Qin Zhiyong: "This time you'd better keep a distance from Liu Xiaohui, stop pestering her all the time, it's not good for your image."

  "Yes! Obeying orders!"

  Two days later, Qin Zhiyong and his party found Captain Guo's guerrilla troops in the mountains. At night, everyone sat around the bonfire.

  The warriors and guerrillas of the reconnaissance team sat together, whispering to each other in low voices. Zhou Guangren still stuck to Liu Xiaoxi's side, and the two whispered secretly to each other.

  Qin Zhiyong glared at Zhou Guangren with a scowl, Zhou Guangren scratched his head awkwardly and gave Qin Zhiyong an embarrassed smile.

  "From the intelligence we've gathered, the enemy is frequently mobilizing on the Pinghan and Yuehan roads, seizing many civilians to repair and widen the highways. It seems they're going to attack Changsha again," said Captain Guo to Qin Zhiyong.

  Liu Xiaoxi: "In the past two days, on Changheng Highway, the number of times the devils patrolled has also increased compared to before, and there are also secondary devils."

  Lao Cao and Shuanzi both burst out laughing, and without saying a word, they exchanged a glance with Zhou Guangren, who glared at them fiercely.

  Qin Zhiyong: "It's best if we can capture one prisoner."

  "Right," said Captain Guo, nodding his head. "But it's not easy to capture a Japanese prisoner on the highway. It would be best if we could lure him into the woods."

  Qin Zhiyong glanced at Zhangzi, Lao Cao and Huang Xintian: "This task, see who can go?"

  Qin Zhiyong finally fixed his gaze on Zhou Guangren's face, and Lao Cao, Shuanzi, and Huang Xintian all stared at Zhou Guangren in unison.

  Zhou Guangren became somewhat flustered, avoiding Qin Zhiyong's gaze and turning his head to the side, only to see Liu Xiaoxi staring at him with her big black eyes, searching for something, and he quickly lowered his head.

  Liu Xiaoxi smiled and said to Captain Guo: "I'll go instead."

  Zhou Guangren's whole body shook.

  "Ah, yes, Little Hui sister is going, and she's sure to lure the devils over. What a beautiful flower girl, but it's too dangerous."

  Zhou Guangren suddenly lifted his head and said unequivocally: "No! I'll go!"

  Everyone was shocked.

  The next morning, on the highway, two Japanese soldiers and a puppet army soldier came walking.

  Zhuāng zǐ, Huáng Xìn Tián, Lǎo Cáo, Liú Xiǎo Xī were hiding in the dense forest by the roadside. Zhōu Guǎng Rén emerged from a cluster of trees, and everyone was delighted to see him. The slender Zhōu Guǎng Rén had changed into Liú Xiǎo Xī's red-bottomed flower-padded jacket, with a floral headscarf wrapped around his head.

  "Hey, Xiaoxi's clothes are still too big on you!"

  "Go away."

  Liu Xiaoxi smiled: "Not big, just right."

  Zhou Guangren solemnly said to Liu Xiaoxi: "Xiaoxi, I'm leaving."

  Liu Xiaoxi handed him a bamboo basket and said, "The gun is inside."

  Zhou Guangren took over the bamboo basket and hung it on his arm: "Hmm."

  Liu Xiaoxi suddenly felt some worry: "Are you afraid?"

  "Don't worry! For you, I dare to do anything! Even if it means death, I'm not afraid!"

  Lao Cao: "Don't be so dramatic, this isn't a farewell for life and death, no one is asking you to die."

  " You just bring them in, and I'll take care of the rest."

  Zhou Guangren bid farewell to Zhuāngzi: "Zhuāngzi, we are friends in adversity. In the past..."

  Lao Cao was impatient: "Just forget about it at first, hurry up."

  Huang Xintian patted the rifle in his hand and said to Zhou Guangren, "Don't worry, with old Huang here, the devils won't be able to hurt you."

  Zhou Guangren said with gratitude: "Old Huang, I believe you."

  Zhou Guangren glared at Old Cao, then walked towards the highway. After a few steps, he turned back to Liu Xiaohui and said: "Xiaohui, if I get caught by the devils, don't come out to rescue me."

  Liu Xiaoxi nodded: "Uh-huh."

  Zhou Guangren walked a few steps and stopped again, turning his head back to Liu Xiaoxi: "I'll be right back."

  Liu Xiaoxi nodded: "Uh-huh."

  Old Cao slammed his own head with a loud bang.

  Zhou Guangren turned around just about to leave, when Liu Xiaoxi called out to him again: "Wait a minute."

  Zhou Guangren got off, Liu Xiaoxi ran to his front, handed the dagger Kate gave her to Zhou Guangren: "Take this too."

  Zhou Guangren nodded gratefully and put the dagger at his waist, gazing lovingly at Liu Xiaoxi.

  The already impatient Old Cao took a look at the three enemy soldiers getting closer and closer on the highway, and finally lost his temper with Zhou Guangren: "Singing 'Eighteen Farewells' or what? Is it over yet? Stop being like a woman!"

  "You say I'm not going again!"

  Old Cao's tone immediately softened: "Alright, hurry up! Ancestors, the devils will pass by in a moment."

  Zhou Guangren glared at Old Cao, deliberately swinging his shoulders and strutting past him, even intentionally bumping into Old Cao with his shoulder before heading towards the highway outside the dense forest without looking back.

  Lao Cao was knocked back two steps, he rushed to Zhou Guangren's back and shouted in a low voice: "Second ghost, can you bring the ghost by walking like this?"

  On the highway, two Japanese soldiers and a puppet army were wandering around, bored. Zhou Guangren walked over from the opposite side with a twisted expression. The two Japanese soldiers' eyes lit up at once, staring straight at Zhou Guangren. Zhou Guangren pretended to be flustered and stopped in his tracks. The two Japanese soldiers happily chased after Zhou Guangren, with the puppet army following behind.

  Zhou Guangren saw the enemy running towards him, hastily turned around and twisted his waist, ran into the dense forest. A Japanese soldier shouted in Chinese while chasing: "Hey, girl, heart to heart! Heart to heart!"

  Two Japanese soldiers and puppet troops shouted and chased after Zhou Guangren.

  Zhou Guangren ran quickly into the woods when he suddenly fell down, and the shotgun in the bamboo basket was also thrown out.

  Several people hiding in the woods were shocked.

  Lao Cao: "We're done for, Lao Huang!"

  Huang Xintian hastily raised his gun and aimed at the Japanese soldier running in front, while the Japanese soldier running in front pounced on Zhou Guangren who had fallen to the ground.

  Zhou Guangren fell to the ground, saw the gun that had fallen not far away, and quickly threw the bamboo basket over to block the shotgun. Then he scrambled up and ran towards the woods without looking back.

  Two Japanese soldiers and that fake soldier were closely pursuing from behind.

  Zhou Guangren rushed into the woods, and the Japanese soldier running ahead took a few quick steps to knock Zhou Guangren to the ground. Another Japanese soldier and a puppet army soldier also ran over. At this time, Huang Xintian flashed out from behind the tree, raised his hunting knife and stabbed the Japanese soldier at the back to death. Shuangzi aimed his shotgun at the puppet army soldier and shouted loudly: "Shout and I'll shoot you dead!"

  The fake soldiers were shocked and hastily threw away their guns, raised their hands and knelt on the ground, begging: "I surrender! I surrender!"

  The Japanese soldier who knocked down Zhou Guangren hugged his face and kissed him, while Old Cao stood by with a dagger in hand, hesitating to take action.

  Zhou Guangren struggled, using his hands to push away the Japanese soldier's outstretched mouth, shouting: "Old Cao you bastard! What are you waiting for!"

  The Japanese soldier was stunned and quickly released Zhou Guangren. Before he could react, Lao Cao's dagger had already been inserted into his back.

  Zhou Guangren pushed away the Japanese soldier's corpse that was pressing on his body, stood up, and spat out saliva with force, continuously wiping his face with his sleeve, cursing: "Damn it, Old Yang was right, it really smells like rotten fish."

  Liu Xiaohui helped him pick up the rifle, and Old Cao used the enemy's military cap to wipe the blood off his dagger while teasing Zhou Guangren: "Second devil, sorry, today I was a bit slow, let you suffer."

  Dongzi and Huang Xintian both burst out laughing, and Liu Xiaoxi couldn't help but laugh out loud too.

  Zhou Guangren glanced at Liu Xiaoxi, who was lowering his head and smiling secretly. His face couldn't hold back, and he coldly said to Old Cao: "Watch your words, Sergeant Cao."

  Zhou Guangren finished speaking, took over the rifle handed by Liu Xiaoxi, inserted it into his waist, and turned around to leave.

  Lao Cao looked at Zhou Guangren's back and got a bit angry: "Hey! You're still arrogant!"

  Zhou Guangren heard Lao Cao's curse and stopped for a moment, then continued to move forward, with Liu Xiaoxi closely following behind him.

  Lao Cao and Huang Xintian covered the bodies of two Japanese soldiers with branches and weeds, took away their guns and ammunition, and led the puppet army, a group of people walking into the mountains.

  Liu Xiaoxi ran quickly for a few steps, caught up with Zhou Guangren, lowered his head and said shyly: "Brother Zhou, don't you want to join our guerrilla team?"

  Zhou Guangren smiled wryly: "Join you? Then our Long Non- collapse I'm not going."

  Liu Xiaoxi didn't say anything more.

  Zhou Guangren stopped in his tracks and looked at Liu Xiaoxi: "Xiaoxi, after we've finished fighting the devils, I'll definitely come find you. Can... can you wait for me?"

  Liu Xiaoxi nodded vigorously: "Yeah, can."

  A group of people pushed the fake army into the camp, and Captain Guo and Qin Zhiyong came over to greet them.

  Qin Zhiyong smiled and said to Old Cao: "The harvest is not bad!"

  Lao Cao: "Paichang, we've caught Er Guizi's brother for you, hahaha!"

  Zhou Guangren gritted his teeth and sat down on the ground with a thud.

  Guo Team Leader, Liu Xiaoxi and several guerrilla fighters escorted the puppet army towards the thatched cottage.

  Dongzi secretly poked Lao Cao, and Lao Cao asked in confusion: "What's wrong?"

  Diaozi said in a low voice: "Old Cao, don't make fun of Ergui in front of his crush."

  Old Cao said with a smirk, "What's there to be afraid of? It's just a joke! Come on, Platoon Leader, you don't know, the second ghost (Japanese) disguised as a woman is really convincing, it even fooled the other ghosts. One of them hugged the second ghost and started kissing her face, hahaha..."

  The warriors and team members around him also burst out laughing, and Qin Zhiyong couldn't help but laugh too.

  Guo Team Leader and several team members escorted the pseudo-army into the thatched hut, Zhou Guangren saw Liu Xiaohui turn his head to look this way, obviously heard Old Cao's words.

  Old Cao continued to speak in a colloquial tone: "The two devils ran away with a twist and turn, just like a woman, haha..."

  Lao Cao imitated Zhou Guangren's running posture while speaking, and everyone burst into laughter again.

  Zhou Guangren could no longer bear it, his face flushed red, he suddenly stood up from the ground, pulled out a revolver from his waist, walked to Old Cao who was still laughing loudly, and pressed the gun against Old Cao's forehead, cocking the hammer.

  Lao Cao was taken aback: "Ah! You two devils, what are you trying to do?!"

  The laughter stopped abruptly, and everyone stared at Zhou Guangren in surprise.

  Zhou Guangren gave Lao Cao a cold look: "Try calling me 'Er Guizi' again?"

  Old Cao was somewhat timid: "Two... that... isn't it, brother? I was just joking with you, why did you take it seriously?"

  Zhou Guangren: "I don't like this kind of joke."

  "Ah, no, no, Old Cao was just joking with you! Quickly put down the gun, don't let the guerrilla brothers laugh at us."

  Huang Xintian also advised: "Lao Cao is just foul-mouthed, secondly, quickly put down the gun, don't fire."

  Zhou Guangren put down his gun and walked over to sit down on one side.

  Qin Zhiyong, who had been silent all along, felt a bit awkward. He coughed unnaturally and said, "From now on, pay attention, don't call him 'Er Guizi' again, how unpleasant it is. Besides, he has a great name, from now on we should call his great name - his great name is - Zhou - Zhou - Zhou -"

  Qin Zhiyong scratched his head and glanced at the lock. The lock whispered to him in a low voice, "Zhou Guangren".

  Qin Zhiyong: "Right, right, right! Zhou Guangren! All of you remember that!"

  Zhou Guangren saw that none of the platoon leaders remembered his name and got so angry that he lay down on the ground.

  Qin Zhiyong smiled awkwardly and turned around to walk towards the thatched cottage.

  At night, Captain Guo and Qin Zhiyong sat around the bonfire.

  "......According to the captive's confession, tomorrow morning a Japanese major general will pass by our place with a truckload of devils as escort. I have discussed with Qin, and we plan to ambush him."

  Qin Zhiyong: "Tomorrow at dawn, the reconnaissance team and the guerrilla team will enter the position to ambush. We must not expose our target. Shuizi, you are in charge of laying out the landmines ahead of time."

  "Yes."

  Qin Zhiyong looked at Duanzi and felt a bit uneasy: "Are you sure?"

  "Got it!"

  Zhou Guangren was still wearing Liu Xiaoxi's floral cotton-padded jacket, sitting gloomily in a place far away from everyone else.

  At this time, from the thatched cottage with a bright oil lamp came Liu Xiaoxi's soft humming: "My home is on the Songhua River in Northeast China, where there are forests and coal mines, and those vast fields of soybeans and sorghum. My home is on the Songhua River in Northeast China, where my compatriots live, and those elderly parents..."

  Everyone was attracted by Liu Xiaoxi's singing voice and looked towards the thatched cottage.

  "... which year and month can I return to my lovely hometown... Father and mother, father and mother, when will we reunite..."

  The singing made the guerrilla squad members and scouts think of their hometowns and parents involuntarily, and everyone silently shed tears.

  Zhou Guangren listened to Liu Xiaoxi's singing voice, and his eyes also became moist.

  Lao Cao quietly walked to Zhou Guangren's side and sat down, Zhou Guangren hastily turned his body to one side, secretly wiping away the tears from the corner of his eyes.

  Lao Cao: "Second ghost - spit!" He raised his hand and slapped himself in the mouth, "Brother, Guang - Guang Ren brother, still angry?"

  Zhou Guangren turned his head and ignored him.

  Old Cao: "How like a woman... No, I've said the wrong thing again. Guangren brothers, from now on I, Old Cao, will never call you that again."

  Zhou Guangren still didn't speak.

  Old Cao still had a swollen face: "Speak up! You'd better say something!"

  Zhou Guangren still didn't say anything.

  Lao Cao got a bit angry: "You want to owe Ge's favor, that's not right!"

  "Didn't get angry, just thinking about something."

  Old Cao asked with concern: "What are you thinking about?" After glancing at the thatched cottage lit up by the lamp, "Ah - it's Little Xi, isn't it? Her singing is really moving!"

  "No."

  Lao Cao: "Isn't it Xiao Xi? Then who else can you think of?"

  "I miss my dad and mom, I also have a younger sister, don't know how they are doing now."

  Lao Cao remained silent for a while, then said sorrowfully: "Brother, you at least have parents to think about. I've never seen my parents since childhood. When I'm free, apart from thinking of Old Yang, I don't know who else I can think of."

  Lao Cao's words made Zhou Guangren think of Lao Yang again: "If only Lao Yang were still here, how great it would be! I'd love to hear him call me 'Second Ghost, Second Ghost'."

  Lao Cao: "Don't say anymore."

  The next day at dawn, the scouts and guerrilla fighters had all assembled.

  Qin Zhiyong saw Zhou Guangren still wearing that floral cotton-padded jacket and felt somewhat displeased: "Guangren!"

  Zhou Guangren stood still in the team, he kept staring at Liu Xiaoxi who was lining up in the distance.

  Qin Zhiyong called out again: "Zhou Guangren!"

  Zhou Guangren still had no reaction, and everyone else was staring blankly at Qin Zhiyong.

  Qin Zhiyong burst into flames and shouted loudly: "Second ghost!"

  Zhou Guangren suddenly came to: "Arrived!"

  Everyone burst out laughing, Qin Zhiyong cried and laughed: "Don't laugh! Zhou Guangren, where is your military uniform?"

  Zhou Guangren was embarrassed: "Assembled in a hurry, didn't have time to change."

  "What's going on!"

  Duanzi hugged the landmine in her arms and joked: "Xiaomi's little cotton-padded jacket, it's warm to wear!"

  Everyone laughed again, at this time, Captain Guo led his team over.

  Qin Zhiyong gave an order to the reconnaissance team: "Depart!"

  The reconnaissance platoon and guerrilla squad set off...