Six

  This kind of march is something that even a veteran soldier has never seen before. Thirty-nine children, the oldest only eleven or twelve years old, and the youngest only seven or eight years old. Those who understand what's going on know they're escaping disaster, gritting their teeth and following closely behind the troops. The ones who don't get it are running around catching grasshoppers! The honest ones can't even walk anymore. Taking two steps and falling over is not even a big deal! With no other choice, Yan Wei had to order the soldiers to carry the children who really couldn't walk on their backs and hurry along.

  But Yan Wei understood that if things continued like this, it would be impossible to reach Jingzhou within seven or eight days and transfer to a water route. If they were unlucky again and caught by the Japanese army, even if they could protect their leader, they might not be able to keep all the children safe! Especially since Yan Wei firmly believed that among these children, there must be someone who was of great interest to the Japanese.

  Although she didn't have a child of her own, Fang Lan was the one who had to run back and forth on the road, taking care of the kids. Along the way, not only did she have to constantly rush around to take care of the children, but also solve all sorts of big and small problems for them from time to time.

  Yan Wei raised his wrist to look at his watch and saw that it was already late, so he thought to himself that tonight they might have to camp in the mountains with this group of children. Just as he was about to send someone to find a clearing to set up camp, he suddenly heard a gunshot echoing through the empty mountain forest.

  Upon hearing the gunshot, many soldiers immediately put down the children they were holding and picked up their guns, standing at attention. Lang Gang shouted to the crowd: "Don't panic, it's just a civilian hunting with a muzzleloader."

  Lan Gang had just finished drinking when he saw Yan Wei pointing his right hand in the direction of the gunshot, and he understood that his judgment was not wrong. At the same time, Zhang Liao, the second battalion commander of the third regiment, had already darted into the depths of the dense forest like a hunting dog, swift as lightning.

  "The whole team rests in place and pays attention to warnings."

  Yan Wei finished speaking and leaned against a large tree, waiting for Zhang Liao to bring back the result.

  In just a short while, Zhang Liao had brought the person who fired the shot back to Yan Wei. From his attire and the gunpowder shotgun in his hand, it was clear that he was a hunter from this area.

  This hunter was also clever and didn't wait for Zhang Liao to speak, he immediately recognized Yan Weideng as the leader of these soldiers. He quickly stepped forward and said: "I was hunting with my gun just now, I didn't expect to disturb your army, I really deserve to die, I really deserve to die!"

  Yan Wei then handed a cigarette to the hunter and smiled, saying: "This brother is being too serious. Hunters shooting guns are just doing what comes naturally, what's wrong with that? I called you here for two reasons. First, when we hear gunshots, we have to investigate clearly. Second, you've also seen our big group of people, do you know what we're doing?"

  "Hey, look at the officials' attitude, it's like they're escorting our common people's children on a journey. But I don't know why this journey has to go through the mountains and forests, can't they take the big road down the mountain?"

  Yan Wei smiled and said: "Old brother, I also know that the big road at the foot of the mountain is easy to walk! Ah, I ask you, do you know what kind of people we are?"

  "I know, all of you are officers of the National Army. I often go to Tianmen County Town with wild products to exchange for silver money and have seen your army. Your army's uniforms are the same as those of the National Army in Tianmen County, they should be the same."

  Look at this mountain and wilderness hunting household, Yan Wei continued to say: "Originally, brother is also traveling south and north, seeing the world, that can know what kind of situation Hubei is in now?"

  When he said this, the hunter furrowed his brow and said: "Oh dear, if I'm not afraid of offending you, I think those Japanese are about to attack us soon! A few days ago when I went down the mountain to Tianmen County, I heard that our government is having a hard time fighting in the front lines. Just a few days ago, I also heard that even Guangdong Province in the south has been lost! Now it's likely that Wuhan will be in trouble too!"

  Yan Wei looked at this hunter and nodded: "I can definitely tell you, old brother, that Wuhan is finished! This is not..."

  "These are the children in Wuhan City who have no father, no mother, and no one to care for them. Fortunately, thanks to the kindness of our empress dowager, she ordered us soldiers to rescue these children before the city was breached. We plan to escort these poor children to Chongqing, where the chairman is now. If they can get there, perhaps they will have a future; otherwise, it's hard to say."

  Hearing this, the hunter shook his head and said: "Sichuan is too far! All of you officials can't get there just like that! A few years ago I went to Yichang, relying on my physical strength and leg power, it still took me five days to walk. And these children..." He shook his head repeatedly as he spoke.

  "Yes, brother, no matter how difficult it is, we have to move forward and find a way out for these children, don't we?"

  "That's it, that's it. The officers have worked hard."

  "It's getting dark, and these kids have been walking for half a day already. Just look at the state they're in! I was just thinking of finding them a place to spend the night."

  Yan Wei finished speaking and looked at the distant sky which was about to darken.

  "Oh dear, I'm so confused! Quick, call all the officials to follow me. I have two wooden huts on this mountain, my wife left us many years ago, now it's just me and my son living here by hunting. Don't say anything else, all officials please follow me quickly."

  Yan Wei gazed at the seventy or eighty people and horses, thinking that the two wooden houses on the mountain could no longer accommodate them. He asked: "Old brother, my surname is Yan, just call me Brother Yan, don't keep saying 'official' this and 'official' that, isn't it more intimate between us?"

  Although the hunter didn't know what kind of official Yan Wei was, based on his years of worldly experience and the military uniform Yan Wei wore, he seemed to be even more important than those officials who led troops on the main streets of Tianmen County. Yet, he treated a poor man like himself with great courtesy, addressing him as "brother" or "younger brother", which made the hunter feel very close to him.

  "Alright! Actually, both of us are armed men, only you're on the government's payroll, and I'm a mountain bandit. Your gear is better, mine is inferior, that's all! If your superior doesn't mind my humble status, then I'll call you Brother Yan!"

  After saying that, the hunter looked at Yan Wei with great excitement and a persistent smile, apparently having never met a friend of such status as Yan Wei in many years, feeling very pleased and delighted.

  Yan Wei looked at him and smiled: "Older brother, what should I call you?"

  "My surname is Li, just call me Old Li."

  Yan Wei smiled and said: "Li brother, let me ask you, how far is the nearest village from here?"

  "It's far! More than 40 miles away! It's called Huangyan Village, located in the southwest. Brother Yan, if you want to lead your team there for the night, it won't work out! With your team, even if you arrive, it'll be after midnight. And that Huangyan Village is not a place I, Old Li, can easily take you to! Firstly, it's located in a very remote area, deep in the mountains and forests, and without me leading the way, you won't be able to get there! Secondly, that village is a big one, with strong customs and a history of being isolated, never interacting with outsiders. The village's militia has dozens of people, all armed with hard objects! It's not a place to easily disturb."

  Yan Wei listened and felt that tonight, no matter what, he had to follow this hunter for now. He said: "Alright, Old Li, since we've just become friends, I'll have to trouble you. But for the sake of these children, let's not waste words. You lead the way."

  At this time, in the temporary command center of the Japanese army outside Wuhan City, the commander of the newly formed 11th Army, Okamura Yasuji, was frowning and quickly calculating the next step after receiving accurate intelligence on the Hankou area from his subordinates.

  "Order the 27th Division's Kawashima Brigade Commander Kawashima Hiro to report to me immediately."

  Okamura Yasuji gave orders to the orderly, his right hand grasping the golden hilt of his general's command baton, his left hand propping up the edge of the desk, his eyes fixed intently on the desktop as he judged the development of the situation.

  Okamura Yasuji was actually very familiar with this neighboring nation that had been connected to Japan by a single strip of water for so long. Okamura, who began working in China as early as 1915, still had a deep understanding of the country and its people.

  He understood that this seemingly dilapidated country indeed had too many ethnic ills and historical maladies. But after all, this ancient nation still has a strong history as its capital, and when the last breath of turbid air cannot be breathed out with its throat blocked, it still has energy to rely on its rich national historical resources, making a heroic effort to burst out thunderous energy.

  It's just a great country, and the preciousness of a great country with a 5,000-year cultural accumulation lies in this. A rotten boat also has three catties of nails! And these humble three catties of nails are absolutely not something that an infant can mention!

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