Chapter 17: "Your brother used to be a tyrant too!"

  Nakamura and Maeda rushed over, panting, and bumped into Kojima who was coming out of the courtyard.

  Nakamura panted heavily: "Kojima, did you see a young Chinese man running over here?"

  "Didn't see, is it a spy?"

  Nakamura: "Anyway, it's very suspicious, he ran away as soon as he saw us."

  In the courtyard, Dongmei looked out at the outside of the courtyard in horror. Duanzi hid behind the door, his hand tightly grasping the dagger at his waist, listening to the movements outside the courtyard.

  Maeda looked at Oshima with some puzzlement: "Oshima-kun, why did you come out of this house? Didn't you want to invite us in for a look?"

  At this time, the sound of a baby's cry came from the courtyard.

  Nakamura: "Oh! So soon?"

  "Is this really Maeda-kun's child?"

  Nakamura stretched his neck and looked into the courtyard: "Ah! There seems to be another woman in the courtyard!"

  "Ah, yes! She's a real beauty, isn't she? Let's go take a look inside, Nakamura."

  Nakamura: "Alright, let's go take a look."

  As they spoke, the two of them were about to rush inside.

  Dongmei saw two Japanese soldiers about to enter and became so tense she almost cried.

  The hand grasping the dagger was also trembling slightly.

  The little island stepped forward and blocked their way: "It was my horse that collided with the pregnant woman, so I brought her back."

  Maeda said with a sarcastic tone: "Kojima-kun is really kind, isn't he!"

  Nakamura: "I know, it's really moving!"

  Kojima: "This area isn't safe. You're still going down to the river to bathe, and if Black田 finds out, you'll be punished."

  The two of them listened and were a bit frightened. Nakamura said, "That's true."

  Maeda gave Nakamura a look: "Nakamura, let's go back."

  Nakamura nodded: "Then let's go back."

  Kojima walked with Ma and Nakamura, and Maeda.

  Dongmei saw the three people walking away and quickly closed the courtyard gate, rushing into Zhang's arms.

  At this time, Zhangshan's daughter rushed out of the house and shouted: "Dongmei! Bring hot water quickly!" Suddenly seeing Shuanzi, she was overjoyed and sorrowful at the same time, "Shuanzi——"

  "Ah-zi: 'Auntie!'"

  Zhuāng zǐ máng pǎo guò qù bào zhù cháng shān niáng.

  Translation: Zhuangzi rushed over and hugged Changshan Niang.

  Another cry of a baby came from inside the house, and Zhangzi was surprised: "Sister gave birth?"

  Changshan Niang: "Born! Born! A big fat baby boy is born!"

  Changshan Niang wiped away her tears and led Shuangzi and Dongmei into the house.

  Dongmei helped Qi Shu to wash the baby with warm water, wipe dry, and wrap in a quilt. Qi Shu placed the baby beside Zhangshan's wife and said to Zhangshan's mother: "Congratulations, Auntie, you've got a big fat boy! Has his name been decided?"

  Changshan's daughter-in-law: "His name is Taiping, his father gave it to him."

  Changshan Niang gazed at the infant: "I hope he can catch up with the prosperous and peaceful era."

  Seventh Aunt: "We'll make it on time, we definitely will."

  "Where's Zhangshan?"

  Changshan Niang: "I'm going to fix a stronghold for the Japanese, I won't be back until tonight. Today too, it's all thanks to that Taigong..."

  Iwai and Kuroda stood in front of a construction site, watching the laborers at work.

  At this time, Xiao Dao flew over on horseback, jumped off the horse in front of Iwai, walked up to him, saluted and handed him a telegram from his briefcase.

  Iwai took the telegram and looked at it, his face gradually showing a look of surprise and excitement. He raised his head and gazed out towards the east, unable to contain his inner joy.

  Iwai turned to face the soldiers and read out the telegram in a loud voice: "The Imperial Headquarters, Army and Navy Departments announced at 6 o'clock this morning that our Empire's Army and Navy have engaged in combat with British and American troops in the Western Pacific before dawn today..."

  The Japanese soldiers all raised their hands and shouted in unison: "Banzai! Banzai! Banzai!"

  Iwai continued to chant: ... expecting 100 million compatriots, whether on the front lines or in the rear, every individual must have the spirit of dedicating oneself to death for the country, for the peace of mind of the Emperor, and for writing a magnificent chapter of one's own in the glorious history...

  Iwai raised his hands and led the soldiers in a loud cheer: "Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

  Kuroda also raised his hands high, cheering wildly: "Long live! Long live!" He excitedly grabbed Shima's arm, "Lord Yamamoto is indeed the soul of the Imperial Navy!"

  The little island did not speak. Kuroda turned around again to the working coolies, waving his arms and shouting in Chinese with great enthusiasm: "Japanese Navy - at sea - won a victory - long live!"

  The villagers just gave him a cold look and continued to work with their heads down, only Chōzan raised his hands and cheered in the Japanese he had just learned: "Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

  National Army Headquarters. Sun's advisor looked at Qin Zhiyong in surprise: "What? Gu Changtai didn't return all night?"

  Qin Zhiyong: "Yes."

  "Where will he go? Has he run away?"

  Qin Zhiyong: "I heard Huang Xintian say that their village was occupied by the devils, he's been worried and preoccupied, I wonder if it's because he's concerned about his family..."

  "Japanese Navy has attacked the US military port, the situation has changed, the enemy will make a big move soon. Never mind, the task must be advanced, depart tomorrow."

  Qin Zhiyong bowed respectfully: "Yes."

  On the streets of Changsha, a National Army officer is distributing flyers, and soldiers are scrambling to grab and read them.

  The soldiers who saw the flyer all cheered up. A soldier looked at the flyer and excitedly said to his comrades: "This is really good news!"

  Zhou Guangren also grabbed a flyer and read it as he walked: "The Japanese fleet launched a surprise attack on the US military base at Pearl Harbor, heavily damaging the US Pacific Fleet..."

  Zhou Guangren ran excitedly towards the barracks.

  In the barracks, Old Yang, Old Cao and Huang Xintian were sitting on a kang discussing Zhu Bajie.

  Old Yang: "......It seems that Zhang Dabao is thinking of his daughter-in-law. I thought he wouldn't be back."

  Old Cao: "To beat the devils, we still have to rely on us bachelors, unencumbered and free!"

  The door was suddenly kicked open by Zhou Guangren, who held up a flyer and excitedly shouted: "Good news! Good news!"

  "What's the good news?"

  "Good news! The Japanese fleet has launched a surprise attack on the US military port, and the US fleet has suffered heavy losses——"

  Lao Cao and Lao Yang exchanged a glance, then both got down from the kang and walked towards Zhou Guangren.

  "What? The Japanese devils have even attacked America?"

  Zhou Guangren was still excited: "Old Huang, this is a great news!"

  Huang Xintian was bewildered: "The Japanese devils have won a victory, how is that good news?"

  Zhou Guangren held the telegram and spoke incoherently: "Won a victory - won a victory - yes, won a victory - of course it's good news! Listen to me read it for you! 'The US government has decided...'"

  Old Yang roared: "Old Cao, since ancient times Han traitors have never coexisted! Beat this dog of a Han traitor!"

  Lao Yang and Lao Cao rushed towards Zhou Guangren, who hastily shouted: "Don't hit! Don't hit! Let me finish reciting!"

  Old Yang kicked Zhou Guangren's stomach fiercely, and Zhou Guangren was kicked out very far, falling to the ground.

  Old Yang pointed at Zhou Guangren and cursed: "You dog traitor, I've been looking down on you for a long time, now you're finally exposed! The little devils have won the battle, look how happy it makes you!"

  Lao Cao rushed forward, grabbed Zhou Guangren and knocked him down with one punch. He sneered: "This is not our fault, you're asking for a beating! You should be beaten just for being a traitor like Zhang, even Sun's advisor can't save you!"

  Zhou Guangren was knocked to the ground, just as he was about to get up, and was kicked down again by Old Yang. Old Yang and Old Cao repeatedly kicked Zhou Guangren, who was lying on the ground, while Huang Xintian tried to intervene but was pushed aside by Old Yang.

  Zhou Guangren lay on the ground, covering his head, dodging and shouting loudly: "Stop hitting! I haven't finished speaking yet!"

  Old Cao squatted down and used his large hands like a fan to slap Zhou Guangren's head and face, scolding him as he hit: "What else do you have to say? I'm telling you to speak! I'm telling you to speak!"

  Huang Xintian persuaded him on one side: "Let him finish speaking."

  Zhou Guangren used all his strength to stretch his neck and loudly shouted: "America has declared war on Japan!"

  Old Yang grabbed Old Cao's hand and pulled at Zhou Guangren's collar: "What did you say? Say it again!"

  Zhou Guangren got up from the ground, struggled free from Old Yang's hand grasping his collar, and pouted: "Just say it once! Won't say it again!"

  Old Yang asked doubtfully: "Did the Americans really declare war on Little Japan?"

  Zhou Guangren picked up the flyer that had fallen to the ground and irritably said, "It's all written in black ink on white paper, read it yourself!"

  Old Yang snatched a flyer from him, looked at it for half a day in front of his eyes, and then returned it to Zhou Guangren: "Can't read."

  Zhou Guangren said irritably: "You can't even recognize characters, what are you grabbing for? Have you ever studied?"

  Lao Yang handed the flyer back to Zhou Guangren, smiling awkwardly: "Hehe! I haven't read it, you two devils, you read it."

  Zhou Guangren took over the flyer and read it out loud: "Yesterday morning Japan launched a surprise attack on the US and UK, and the US and UK simultaneously declared war on Japan —"

  Old Yang slapped Zhou Guangren's shoulder excitedly: "Great! This is really the best news ever! Ah, Second Ghost, why didn't you say it earlier!"

  Lao Yang busied himself dusting off Zhou Guangren's clothes.

  Zhou Guangren pushed away Old Yang: "Do you let me speak early? Do you let me speak first?"

  Old Yang excitedly said to Old Cao, who was still in a daze: "Old Cao, didn't you understand? America and Britain have declared war on Little Japan. This time, the little devil's doomsday is near!"

  Lao Cao said discontentedly, "What's there to be happy about? We've been fighting for four years already. Why did they just come now? What were they doing earlier? Without them, we can still drive the little devils back home! Ah, Old Yang, do you think we'll get to eat American canned food from now on?"

  Old Yang sneered: "You stupid pig head, all you know is eating. This isn't just American canned food, silly brother, but also American guns, American cannons, American tanks, and US dollars. Haha! Tonight I, Old Yang, will personally cook a few dishes. Second Ghost, Old Cao, Old Huang, let's have a good drink together."

  "Ah, okay!"

  Old Yang finished speaking and quickly slipped away.

  Huang Xintian smiled and looked at the three of them with a chuckle.

  Zhou Guangren patted the dirt off his body while shouting at Old Yang's back: "Add more oil!"

  Lao Cao saw Lao Yang slipping away and hastily chased after him: "Lao Yang, wait for me, I'll help you out."

  Zhou Guangren felt unbearable stomach pain at this time, he rubbed it and muttered to himself: "Damn, who kicked me in the gut?"

  Zhou Guangren cursed and chased out of the camp: "Old Yang, Old Cao, stop for me! Stop!"

  Lao Yang and Lao Cao heard Zhou Guangren's shout and took off running without looking back.

  Zhou Guangren rushed towards the back of Old Yang and Old Cao, covering his stomach and cursing: "Two bastards - ah yo -"

  In the barracks, Huang Xintian bowed to the Buddha niche on the wall and suddenly thought of Shuangzi again. "Shuangzi brothers, you mustn't have any accidents! It's all my fault!"

  Zhangzi and Dongmei walked into Zhangshan's house and saw Zhangshan playing with Taiping in his arms.

  The old woman Changshan on the side was still sighing: "This child is really lucky!"

  Changshan: "Mother, is it really a princess who has been sent back?"

  Changshan Niang nodded: "Indeed, thanks to him."

  Changshan looked at the child in his arms and excitedly chattered: "The emperor is so good! Mother, look, the emperor is so good!"

  He kept kissing the child's face, then raised the child's hands and shouted in unskilled Japanese: "Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

  Changshan saw Duanzi and hastily handed Taiping over to his daughter-in-law. He said to Duanzi, "Brother, now that you're back, don't leave again. I'm currently in good favor with the Japanese, and that Captain Iwai is very polite to me. There's also a Mr. Kuroda who even gave me cigarettes. Look, today he personally sent someone to bring your sister-in-law back."

  Changshan Niang: "Yes, Zhuozi, don't go."

  "Take a look at Dongmei: 'I'm back, seeing you all well, I can rest assured.'"

  Changshan Niang: "Is Lu Baochang and everyone else doing well?"

  "His head hung down in sorrow: 'They... all sacrificed themselves.'"

  Everyone in the house turned pale with shock upon hearing this.

  Changshan Niang was heartbroken: "So many families are still waiting for their children to come back!"

  "What nonsense! You think you can defeat the Imperial Army? They've just won a great victory at sea, defeating the Americans. What chance do you have with your few broken guns? Don't be ridiculous. In these chaotic times, being alive is better than anything!"

  Changshan said, and then took his son from his daughter-in-law's arms and kissed him: "Xiao Taiping, is what Dad said right? Your life was saved by Taijun."

  Changshan Niang: "Zhuāngzi, you and Dongmei just stay at home and live a good life, it doesn't make a difference if you don't go to war, haven't you been to war before?"

  Guozi looked at Dongmei, and Dongmei lowered her head.

  "Ah, Auntie, as long as you're all doing well, I can rest assured. But I...I still have to go back. If we don't defeat the devils, how can our Little Tai Ping have a peaceful future?"

  Zheng Youcai's wife heard that and handed the child over to her daughter-in-law. She then said seriously to Zheng Youcai, "You come out for a moment."

  Changshan walked out of the house, and Zhangzi glanced at Changshan's wife before following him out.

  Changshan Niang, Dongmei and Changshan's daughter-in-law looked at their backs with unease.

  Chángshān followed Lóng Shān into the courtyard. Chángshān: "Brother Lóng Shān, why are you working for the Japanese devils?"

  Changshan's face was filled with anger: "What's wrong? What's wrong with me working for the Japanese? You're asking me instead! I'm doing this to ensure one side's safety!"

  "Zhangshan brother, you weren't like this before. You told me since we were kids that us Hunan people have a strong sense of justice, but where has your sense of justice gone now? You're always bowing and scraping in front of the Japanese devils, don't you feel ashamed?"

  Changshan listened for a while without speaking, then let out a bitter laugh: "Difficult? How can it not be difficult? You think I'm willing to bow and scrape in front of the Japanese all day? The other day I went into town, when I entered the city gate, I forgot to salute the Japanese soldier and got slapped. What could you do? After getting hit, you still have to smile and salute them. It's just like Seventh Uncle said, 'Those who know how to adapt to the times are heroes.' Your older brother used to be a bully too! Zhangzi, in this world, you need to know how to adapt!"

  "What is meant by 'knowing the times'?"

  Changshan: "Cooperating with Japanese like me is knowing what's going on."

  "What's meant by 'not knowing the times'?"

  Changshan: "Fighting the Japanese with a broken spear like you're doing is being ignorant of the times!"

  The little boy pouted and turned his back.

  Changshan walked behind Zhuozi and said emotionally, "Zhuozi, you are my brother. Since childhood, I have carried you on my back every day, treating you like a younger brother. Can I harm you? These days, I've seen too many dead bodies, piled up like mountains, and it's impossible to bury them all! They're all young people, and as I buried them, I cried. Is my brother among them?"

  Changshan burst into tears, and Duanzi turned around to look at Changshan, with tears also streaming down his eyes.

  Changshan wiped away his tears: "Can't beat them, can we? Look at their guns, cannons, planes, and tanks. What do you have? You're just a bunch of eggs hitting a rock! Seven Uncle was right, how many factories does China have? How many chimneys? Half of China has been occupied by them, accept your fate, hot-bloodedness? What's the use of just having hot-bloodedness? If people are gone, then everything is gone. Changshan, can you bear to abandon Dongmei...

  The young monk lowered his head and remained silent.