Chapter Thirty-Four: Ji Will Bring Peace

  Ji will be safe outside

  Yun Xiangtian saw all this without saying a word, and carelessly glanced at that person, continuing to joke with Huang Minyezi Chun. He said: "Huang Dage, I haven't smelled the taste of wine for a long time, today we must get drunk before returning."

  "Leaf Spring said with a glance at Cloud Soaring Heaven: 'This is an army camp, do you think it's a tavern? Not drunk and not returning. Who can afford to make mistakes?'"

  Yun Xiang Tian's face fell as soon as he heard it: "Here we go again, this is a military camp, that's what the military is for, how annoying. Brother Huang, I'm inviting you out tonight, to the best wine tower in Lingfeng City, dare you come?"

  Ye Zi Chun seemed to have caught a scent, and suddenly became excited, with a pleased expression he said: "That's exactly what I wanted to hear, today I'm going to eat the braised donkey meat at Xiang Man Lou. Yun Gongzi, let me tell you, you can't go back on your word."

  Xiuzhu said with a bad temper: "Eat, eat, eat, you'll die from eating. Once you arrive at your territory, you still have to ask Yundage to treat you as a guest. Don't you feel ashamed?"

  Huang Min burst out laughing and said, "Miss Xiuzhu is right, how can we let Brother Yun treat us to a meal here? Today, I will host a grand banquet in the military camp and invite all of you friends. Orderly, inform the cooking squad that I'm hosting guests tonight and tell them to bring out their best dishes!" Then he said to Yun Xiangtian, "Brother Yun, it's been a long and tiring journey, let's go to my command center for some tea first!"

  The banquet didn't disperse until deep into the night. Cloud Soaring Heaven, with bleary eyes, was supported by Xiu Zhu and Hu Sancai as he stumbled back to the room provided by Huang Min. He fell onto the bed and soon fell fast asleep. Deputy Regimental Commander Zha Zhongyong, who had escorted them, shook his head as he looked at Cloud Soaring Heaven sleeping soundly, then turned around and left. As soon as he walked out of the door, Xiu Zhu pushed Cloud Soaring Heaven and whispered: "He's gone, could it be him?"

  Yun Xiang Tian sat up and said: "It's not clear yet. Hu Qianbei, we should also get to work, you go arrange it. Zhuer sister, you go find Huang Yingzhang, just say I'm still looking for him to drink wine."

  Xiuzhu asked strangely: "Want wine to drink, why?"

  Yun Xiang Tian whispered mysteriously: "This is the signal we agreed to take action, go quickly! Don't miss it."

  Night, eerily quiet, with only patrolling soldiers; occasionally, when they passed by, a neat and tidy footstep sound would be heard. The searchlights at the four corners of the barracks' surrounding wall kept shining back and forth on everything in the yard. In front of the temporary prison cell where Kawabata Ryūshi and Ono Jirō were being held, four sentries with live ammunition stood guard, vigilantly watching all around them; they didn't dare to relax for a moment. Not far from them, Wang Qi, Hu Sancai, and several mountain stronghold brothers hid there, quietly waiting until the eastern sky floated out a thread of whitish fish belly color, when Wang Qi nodded his head and softly said: "Withdraw."

  The sun has risen, and Yun Xiang Tian and Huang Min Ye Zhi Chun are quietly sitting inside the command center. They are thinking about the same question: Why hasn't Honda Masaji made a move? Has their plan to guard the tree and wait for the rabbit been leaked? Did Honda Masaji receive the news beforehand? But only the three of them knew the entire action plan.

  Yun Xiang Tian suddenly clapped his hands and said: "I think Honda Masaji didn't take a rescue action, it should be for this purpose."

  "What purpose?"

  Yun Xiang Tian explained: "You see, Honda Masaji's real intention is to plot a counter-revolution. He must be afraid of exposing himself, so he dare not act rashly, lest it affect his true conspiracy."

  Huang Min nodded silently and said, "That makes sense. I think we should just catch Honda Masaji directly, he's the leader, once we catch him, the rest are just small fries, as the saying goes 'when the tree falls, the monkeys scatter', what kind of waves can they still make?"

  Yezi Chun also said: "Yes, Cloud Gongzi, I think it's better to catch him too, lest the night is long and the dreams are many."

  Yun Xiang Tian stroked his chin and said, "I'm afraid that capturing Honda Masaji alone won't harm their plan. Japanese special agents all have the ability to complete tasks independently, and in the event of a mission, if the team leader dies, the deputy leader will automatically take over as the new leader and continue with the task. I'm worried that if we only capture Honda Masaji, the remaining Japanese spies will go into hiding locally, and once the Japanese army attacks Lingfeng, they'll launch a riot to coordinate with the Japanese attack. If that's the case, Lingfeng City will be in a state of internal and external troubles, and we'll be at a loss for what to do."

  "The leaves rustled with anxiety and said: 'This won't work, that isn't right either, what should we do?'"

  Yun Xiang Tian stroked his chin and narrowed his eyes, saying: "How about we do it this way."

  In the military conference room of the 206th Regiment, 2nd Battalion of the National Army stationed in Lingfeng, a military meeting was being held for platoon leaders and above. Battalion Commander Huang Min sat with a solemn expression and said: "The higher-ups have sent an order to withdraw the 2nd Battalion from Lingfeng and assemble towards Wusong Ridge. But I want to request the higher-ups to let our 2nd Battalion stay and defend Lingfeng, check the Japanese army's westward invasion, and guard the secret left by our ancestors on Mount Fengling. What do you all think?"

  Deputy Regimental Commander and First Company Captain Qi Guo said in a stern tone: "The order from the higher-ups must be obeyed, how can you think of disobeying military orders? Taking unauthorized action. Even if we stay here, what's the use? Once the first and second battalions withdraw, we'll be left with our doors wide open, isolated and helpless, and will surely be annihilated. By then it will be too late to regret."

  "Otherwise, even if the first and second battalions withdraw, we are not isolated. To our left front, there is the Eighth Route Army's Qilin Mountain Anti-Japanese Brigade. If war breaks out, they can form a pincer movement with us, and defending Lingfeng will not be difficult."

  "Cut the crap, do you think I'm a coward? When I was fighting on the battlefield, you were still playing in your mother's skirt. The Japanese are strong and well-equipped. For us few hundred people to fight against them, along with those beggars on Mount Qilin, is like hitting a stone with an egg, seeking our own destruction. And what's more, we're stuck here guarding the Lingfeng Peak, what a load of nonsense."

  Geng Xi Wang suppressed his anger and said, "Deputy commander, don't boost the morale of others. The Japanese are formidable, but we soldiers are stationed on the border to defend our country and protect our homes. Besides, we've fought a few battles with those little devils, and they haven't gained any advantage."

  "Go, go, go! They didn't get the benefit, we got the benefit? What a load of nonsense. Battalion commander, if you disobey military orders, I don't care. But I'm going to take my company and retreat to Wusong Ridge."

  Geng Xiwang could no longer hold back, he stood up with a "huff" and said: "Deputy Commander Qi, you have no respect for your superiors, you are rebelling against authority, do you think you can turn against us?"

  Qiguo Jiang also stood up and said: "I am not rebelling against the authorities, nor do I dare to betray. I followed the orders of the superior department to retreat to Wusong Ridge. It is a matter of course. Who can blame me? Come with me."

  Huang Min sneered and said, "The state of Qi is about to go to war, you are stirring up the army's morale, aren't you really going to rebel? The guards took away his gun. Take him down and execute him."

  Ye Zi Chun hastily intercepted and said: "Commander, although Vice Commander Qi's words were presumptuous, his crime does not deserve death. I hope the commander will consider his past military achievements and show mercy, dealing with him leniently. Don't lose a hero who resisted Japan."

  Huang Min was still furious and said, "If it weren't for his past military achievements, I would have killed him long ago. Today, I'll spare his life because of your face. Come on, take him out and give him twenty military lashes to serve as a warning."

  The beaten butt of Qi Guo lay on the bed, resentfully telling Yezi Spring who came to visit: "I fought in battles and had countless military achievements. Just because I said a few words of truth, wanting to respect the superior's orders, I didn't expect to end up like this. How hateful, how hateful."

  Ye Zi Chun said, "Speak softly, there are ears on the other side of the wall. Huang Min is arrogant and domineering, looking down on everything, I also can't stand him. But he's the highest commander here, what can we do? Let's just tolerate it."

  Qiguo suddenly said in a low voice: "Special Envoy Ye, what's your view on the current war situation?"

  "What's there to look at? Do we even need to look? China will eventually belong to the Japanese, sigh..."

  Qiguo mysteriously said: "Special Envoy Ye, I have a letter here. Take a look and see if it's a way out."

  The leaves sprang open the letter and took a look, shouting in surprise: "From a Japanese person?"

  "Speak softly, don't let others hear."

  The door was pushed open and a man walked in saying: "You've got a lot of nerve, daring to betray your country and collaborate with the enemy."

  The two were shocked, and Yezi Chun casually pulled out a pistol and pointed it at the newcomer.

  Your comment is my greatest happiness, qq: 2263983310