Chapter Forty-Four: Scheming for Equipment

  Equipment Levy

  After Yun Xiang Tian and Wang Furen finished joking, the topic turned to last night's sneak attack. Wang Furen said: "The person who disguised as a ghost last night, the moves they used didn't seem like Central Plains martial arts. In my opinion, it must be some special task force of the little demon king. They have some skills too, sneaking all the way to the edge of the Wang family's big camp without being discovered."

  Yun Xiang Tian rubbed his chin, furrowed his brow and said: "It should be correct, apart from them, I couldn't think of anyone else. It seems that when we cast our net, it will be soon. Madame Wang, tell the brothers to make some noise, then proceed according to plan."

  Madam Wang nodded and said: "I think it's okay, let's do as you say."

  Yan Xue smiled and said: "My family's young master is just a ghost, I'd like to see how you'll fight ghosts with ghosts."

  Yun Xiang Tian looked up at the top of the cave and stroked his chin, seemingly muttering to himself: "Yes, I'm going to become a fierce ghost that will devour those little ghosts."

  Yan Xue smiled and said: "Good, young master is indeed bold, when the time comes you can't finish it, I'll help you eat a few."

  Madam Wang sat beside Yan Xue's bed, looking at her bright eyes and said: "Indeed, she is a member of the Wang family, speaking with grandeur and passion, a true heroine." She then showed a hint of pity and said: "Xue'er, swords have no eyes, clubs have no emotions. Letting you, a young girl, charge into battle today, staining the battlefield with blood, is also an unavoidable move. The little devils are eyeing Fengling Mountain covetously, determined to get it. I don't want the Wang family to sacrifice countless lives defending the secret, only for it to fall into the hands of the little devils. Once the secret is leaked, I will have no face to meet our ancestors in the afterlife, and I will not be able to rest in peace."

  Madam Wang's tragic story moved Yun Xiang Tian to feel deeply. He said: "Madam Wang, I understand your difficulties. But it won't be easy for the little devils to get the secrets of Fengling Mountain either. I've already discussed with the three village heads and we plan to form an armed force, taking advantage of the favorable terrain, to engage in a life-and-death battle with the little devils, making them not dare to look straight at my Fengling Mountain."

  Madam Wang smiled miserably and said, "I'm afraid that the Nationalist Army stationed at Lingfeng will retreat, and Ling Mountain will become a solitary mountain. With insufficient ammunition and manpower shortages, how can we defend it?"

  Madam Wang's concerns were confirmed, and the news Yezi Spring brought to Yun Xiang was that the superior had issued an order for the National Army stationed at Lingfeng Peak to withdraw from Lingfeng City and assemble in the direction of Wusong Ridge.

  Ye Zi Chun's intelligence did not surprise Yun Xiang Tian, he calmly said: "When will Big Brother Huang withdraw?"

  Ye Zi Chun was extremely dissatisfied with Yun Xiang Tian's calm and unhurried demeanor. He angrily said, "What time is it? You're still pretending to be calm, think of a solution, Cloud Master, Cloud Younger! The superior's order is to withdraw from Lingfeng before nightfall tomorrow, what do you say we should do?"

  Yun Xiang Tian asked: "What does Big Brother Huang mean? What does he want to do?"

  Ye Zi Chun paced back and forth in the grand hall of Anmin Village, muttering anxiously: "What can he say? He's gathering troops and issuing orders. And yet he says he'll leave me a company? Not even one person will be left for me. How treacherous! And he calls himself an anti-Japanese hero? Bah!"

  Yun Xiangtian looked at Yezi, who was fidgeting like an ant on a hot skillet, and comforted him, "Yezi, things have come to this point, getting anxious won't do any good. Let's think about what our next move should be."

  Yun Xiangtian's words made Yezi Chun wake up a bit, and he said with a sigh: "I have planned the defense of Fengling Mountain for a long time, but I didn't expect Huang Min to change his mind overnight and destroy it in an instant. Alas, human planning is not as good as heaven's will. Maybe it's fate, Fengling Mountain really has come to an end?"

  Yun Xiang Tian secretly smiled in his heart: "Huang Da Ge, Huang Da Ge, you're being too cautious, making Ye Da's special envoy anxious and unable to eat or sleep." But he intentionally said: "Yes, once the garrison at Ling Feng withdraws and the battle begins, Feng Lin Mountain will become an isolated mountain. Although it has natural dangers, it's hard to defend, not to mention there's a Japanese special forces team hiding on Feng Lin Mountain, making defense even more difficult."

  Yezi Chun sat on the chair, constantly sighing, Yunxiang Tian looked at Yezi Chun's worried face and suddenly had an idea. He said: "If we can get the support of the Qilin Mountain Anti-Japanese Brigade, maybe we can really hold on."

  Ye Zi Chun's eyes lit up and he said: "How could I have forgotten this? Let's ask for their help, it's worth a try. Yun Gongzi, I know you're from the Eighth Route Army, you're the most suitable person to handle this matter, what do you think?"

  Yun Xiang Tian thought to himself, "I've been waiting for you to take the bait, or else how could I catch this big fish?" He stood up and said, "Alright, I'll take care of this matter." Teng shook his head again and sighed, saying, "Once the battle begins, they'll probably be too busy to bother with us. Although there are many people, they're all armed with large knives and long spears, which will only put them at a disadvantage against the well-equipped Japanese army. How could they possibly take care of us? Let's think of another plan."

  Ye Zi's spring was full of hope, but it was blown away by Yun Xiang Tian's words. He still didn't give up and asked: "Do you want to think of a way? As long as they are willing to come and help, the conditions can be negotiated."

  Yun Xiangtian knew that the fish was hooked and it was time to lift the fishing rod. He rubbed his hands together and said slowly, "There is a way, but I'm afraid you can't do it?"

  Ye Zi Chun seemed to have seen hope and hastily said: "Oh dear, young master, are you going to scare me to death? As long as there's a way, I can do anything."

  Yun Xiang touched his chin and said: "They, their equipment is too poor, even if they help, it's empty-handed. If you can get them some equipment, this matter will be easier to discuss."

  Ye Zi Chun thought for a moment and said, "Alright, I'll get them a company's worth of equipment. How about that?" Looking at Yun Xiang Tian stroking his chin, he didn't say a word. He gritted his teeth and said, "A battalion's worth, a battalion's worth of equipment is enough, right? Any more and it would be impossible for me to get even if I were killed."

  Yun Xiang Tian Hu stood up and said: "In order to keep the ancestors' secret, it's a bit less, but it's a deal. However, the goods must be delivered tomorrow afternoon, or it will be too late."

  "Alright, I'll go get the equipment now. You'd better keep your promise too. Otherwise, I won't forgive you."

  Looking at the back of Yezi Spring, Yunxiang Tian thought to himself: "Don't mention a whole battalion's equipment, even if we just bring two broken guns, it would be enough to make Chen Jingguo, the captain of the Qilin Mountain Anti-Japanese Brigade, happy for a while. This one battalion's equipment is enough to make him ecstatic."

  Yun Xiang Tian walked Ye Zi Chun to the room of Chuan Xiong Mu Nai Zi, whose mood seemed particularly good. She lay on the bed, smiling and saying: "Thank you, Yun Gongzi, for taking the time to see me. Please forgive me for not being able to get up and entertain you, I'm really sorry."

  Yun Xiang Tian smiled and said: "This is in China, no need to be so polite. Miss Mu Nai Zi, has your injury improved?"

  Chuan Yumu glared at Yun Xiangtian like a child and said, "Please don't call me Muzi, call me Cuiyu, I really like this name. My injury has healed a lot, the doctor said that in two or three days, I can try to get out of bed."

  Yun Xiangtian was also delighted, and he said with a bit of guilt: "To have hurt you like this, I'm really a bit sorry. You don't hate me, do you?"

  Chuan Yu Mu's face looked a bit unhappy, she pouted and said: "How could I bear a grudge? If it weren't for you saving me, would I still be alive today? If you say something like that again, I won't speak to you anymore." Then she smiled and said: "Yun Gongzi, when my injury heals, I'll make delicious food for you, to repay your lifesaving kindness. How about it?"

  Yun Xiang Tian's mischievous energy is back, he happily laughed and said: "Alright, after I've been fattened up, you can go find Butcher with Miss Zhu'er."

  When the sunset dyed the sky red, Yun Xiang Tian returned with Wang Qi and Hu San Cai. He knew that they had safely sent Wang Zhuang Shan to Qilin Mountain, and his hanging heart finally calmed down. His new action was about to begin.

  The Feilong Ridge under the night sky is filled with eeriness and terror. The tombs in the caves on the mountain waist occasionally transmit strange sounds, like the wailing of wronged ghosts or the fighting of evil demons. When the moonlight shines on the cave entrance, it presents a suffocating scene.