The Twenty-sixth Chapter: A Decisive Victory in Battle

  "Haha, you little nine son of a gun, he's at it again, wanting to take all the credit for himself." After the battle, Sun Congzhou and Kang Daxuan rode up on their war horses and saw Liu Mingjiu covered in blood after his bath. With a punch to the chest...

  Liu Mingjiu was punched on the shoulder by him, and only then did he feel a slight pain in his back and left arm. He couldn't help but let out an "aiyo" before continuing: "It's not that I want to take credit, if I wanted to take credit, wouldn't I have just not let Shen Huzi inform you? This is an urgent matter, I couldn't just wait for you to arrive and let these things harm the people in my defense zone."

  "The people in your defense zone are fine, but damn it, they've brought disaster to the people of Chaoyang County all along the way." The regimental commander of the 20th Regiment, Liang Cunze, who was the youngest paternal cousin of the division commander, also walked up to the crowd at this time.

  Liu Mingjiu hastily stepped forward, stood at attention and saluted: "Your subordinate has seen Commander Liang, thank you for your timely assistance."

  "Damn it, I'm not here to help you, but to avenge the people in my defense zone who were harmed by those bastards. You guys didn't see it, did you? Six villages along the way were slaughtered, leaving no chicken or dog alive. They robbed and burned everything. If I don't come, my second brother will kill me for sure." Liang Cunze had a nickname "Liang Lao Zhi" because he was the youngest among the Liang brothers and known for his straightforward personality. Liu Mingjiu had also heard of this hero who once defeated over 400 rioting Mongolians with just over 60 cavalrymen in the Battle of Beizi Mansion.

  Today, I met him and naturally had a sense of heroism. He took over the conversation: "Director Liang, don't think too much this time. This is the last one in the four tyrannical heavens, and it's also the last time to bully the common people."

  Sun Zongzhou also walked over at this time, looking at Liu Mingjiu's left arm bleeding down, and hurriedly said: "Alright, you can talk to the old man again when we enter the village later. Medical officer, quickly take a look at what's wrong with this kid? He just got married, if he can't have children anymore, his dead father and uncle might come to me for an account in the middle of the night."

  "Haha." The crowd burst into laughter. Dr. Kan Dejun, the eighth consecutive medical officer, was rescued by Liu Mingjiu when he was about to be punished for eloping with a landlord's daughter from the Zhao family. His family had been doctors for four generations, and his grandfather had even served as a fifth-rank imperial physician in the Guangxu era of the Qing dynasty. Amidst the crowd's laughter, Kan Dejun rushed over to examine Liu Mingjiu.

  "Son of a bitch, you're 'Miao Shou Pu Ti', how did you check? How come you really touched the bottom? Haha." Kang Da Xuan couldn't help but burst out laughing when he saw Kan De Jun finish checking Liu Ming Jiu from head to toe, bandaging his left arm and tying a big roll of gauze on his back, then sliding his hand down along Liu Ming Jiu's waist.

  Kan Dejun lowered his head and said in a low voice, "We've asked him, but he doesn't know where he's hurt. He's just a weird person who doesn't feel pain. I don't know how to check if what the captain said is true."

  "Haha, damn it, Team Leader said so, that's final!" On the other side, Zuo Zhenyuan also started joking, bringing a burst of laughter from the crowd.

  Soon, Kan Dejun finished checking Liu Mingjiu on the battlefield, wrapped all the wounds, turned around without making a sound, saluted the officers, and then stood in front of Liu Mingjiu and said: "Old general, it's all done. Two major injuries, go back and have them sutured. Four minor injuries, you can't ride a horse, mark down and retreat." After finishing speaking, he ran to another injured soldier on the side without even turning his head.

  Everyone saw the expression of Kande Jun, who was completely free from distractions, and couldn't help but admire him in their hearts. Liu Mingjiu was quickly pressed onto a stretcher that had been hastily tied to a tree by Han Zhen and Ding Shaquan, amidst the crowd's laughter, and carried away from the battlefield where gunfire had just ceased. Before leaving, Liu Mingjiu looked back at the scene. The battlefield was littered with the bodies of enemies and allies who had been alive just half an hour ago. There were still a few people who hadn't died yet, groaning in pain, thinking to themselves that they didn't know how many more brutal scenes like this they would have to endure in the future.

  After returning to Mengsong Gou, the main commanders of each department gathered in the ancestral hall and made a summary after the war: In this battle, the six townships' military police were the first to enter the battlefield, killing 898 enemies, wounding 1,962 people, and capturing 443 people. They seized 2,868 rifles, 1,024 pistols, 33 light machine guns, 7 mortars, more than 600,000 bullets, and 26 shells. The losses were also severe, with 208 deaths, 117 injuries, 615 serious injuries, and 680 minor injuries. Liu Mingjiu was thinking in his heart that this time, the number of families receiving compensation for the dead each month had reached 240, which would cost 3,600 yuan per month. The number of injured people also reached 210, and they would have to pay 2,100 yuan per month. However, he didn't mind the money; what he minded was those people, most of whom had developed deep feelings with him and were truly good brothers who were worthy of being called elite soldiers.

  The other two brigades also performed well, but their losses were not light: the 18th Brigade mobilized 1,600 people and was the second to enter the battlefield. They killed 71 people, wounded 110 people, and captured 160 people. They seized 182 rifles, 13 pistols, 1 light machine gun, and over 3,000 rounds of ammunition. Their own losses were 88 deaths, 68 injuries, 26 serious injuries, and 183 minor injuries. The 20th Brigade mobilized 1,800 people and fought in the rear with the North China Cavalry. They killed 210 people, wounded 93 people, and captured 150 people. They seized 646 rifles, 233 pistols, 2 light machine guns, and over 13,000 rounds of ammunition. Their own losses were 393 deaths, 188 injuries, 49 serious injuries, and 222 minor injuries. The three brigades collectively seized 3,838 war horses, with the North China Army seizing 3,100 horses.

  "I say, Little Liu, this time you've really made a big splash! This battle report will be sent to Chengde, and if the commander-in-chief doesn't give you another medal, it would be strange." After listening to Deputy Commander Ding Shaquan's summary report, Zuo Zhenyuan smiled at Liu Mingjiu, but found that Liu Mingjiu didn't seem happy at all.

  Indeed, how can Liu Mingjiu be happy? In just this one battle, more than 350 of his brothers were killed, more than 600 artillery shells were fired, and at least 100,000 bullets were shot. The lost money can still be earned back, but the fallen brothers will never stand up again, and the disabled brothers will never be able to go to the battlefield again.

  After glancing at the crowd, Liu Mingjiu said expressionlessly: "No matter how great the reward is, it's not important. As long as we can protect the millions of fellow villagers in the six towns from being disturbed by bandits, that's what matters most."

  Li Cunze looked at Liu Mingjiu's expression, and his straightforward personality came out: "He's still young, but he's got a good heart for the people. Alright, don't be so serious, Old Sun, this time I'll go back and tell my brother to add another battalion to the 18th Regiment. If those old brothers dare to block me again, I'll be the first to turn against them. A good young fighter like him can't be overlooked, or it would be a loss for our Second Division. Little Jiuzi, don't be so depressed, we're soldiers, and casualties are inevitable on the battlefield."

  Sun Congzhou also saw through Liu Mingjiu's thoughts, after all, this child was his subordinate, and the two had a lot of dealings since he saved him. So he also said to Liu Mingjiu: "You damn well stop crying with that face, didn't Old Liang already say so? Go back and help you set up a camp. It's not good for anyone to lose someone, but who made us soldiers? Soldiers should die for their country. You damn well shouted louder than anyone else in the past, now it's time to put your money where your mouth is, don't be a disappointment."

  The others also heard the real reason why Liu Mingjiu was so uncomfortable and they all started to persuade him. Soon, Liu Mingjiu's mood got a bit better, and Sun Congzhou interrupted everyone's words and spoke to Liang Cunze; "I say old Liang, you just said that helping him get a regimental establishment, this time's spoils of war, shouldn't we also leave some more for this kid?"

  Liang Cunze slammed his hand on the table and stood up: "According to the rules, half of it should be handed over. What I mean is that we won't bother with those families who are in internal turmoil. As for these things on the battlefield, first take out 1,500 war horses, 1,500 rifles, 1,500 pistols, 30 machine guns, and all the mortars will be left to this kid. What do you mean by that?"

  "Haha, okay, you've spoken, Old Liang. How can I disagree?" Sun Congzhou immediately responded with a smile, accommodating Liang Cunze. How could he possibly disagree? This "Old Liang" was still just a colonel and regimental commander, twelve years younger than Commander Liang, but one of the five brothers in the Liang family whom Liang Cunhua trusted and relied on the most. Now that he had spoken, it was unlikely that Liang Cunhua would object when they returned. This was equivalent to giving Liu Mingjiu the equipment for two entire cavalry regiments, which meant that his 18th Regiment would actually gain over a thousand more soldiers who could take to the battlefield.

  Liang Cunze didn't say much, turned around and gave orders to his chief of staff: "Tell our brothers that the bullets we captured, except for what they need to replenish themselves, are to be handed over to Xiao Jiu's troops on the spot. Whoever dares to spout nonsense, don't blame my gun for not recognizing people. Go take care of it now."

  His chief of staff immediately responded with a sound, turned around and walked out. Before leaving the door, he looked at the nineteen-year-old military officer sitting there with an unusual gaze. He thought to himself that this young man was unexpectedly a ruthless general on the battlefield, and it would be difficult for him not to receive favor from above in the future.

  After the Chief of Staff of the 20th Division left, Sun Congzhou also ordered Kang Daxuan to hand over the bullets and shells captured by the main force of the 18th Division to Jianbei. Then he turned around and said to Liu Mingjiu: "You little devil is now richer than our division headquarters. Tomorrow when we report back, I'll ask for a reward for you again. How did you win such a big victory? The commander will definitely give you 10,000 or 8,000 yuan. You can divide it yourself."

  Liu Mingjiu stood up, bowed to Liang Cunze and Sun Congzhou: "Thank you for the kindness of the two officials. I, on behalf of the 1.5 million people of Jianbei Liu Town, thank you again. With your help, even if another group of ignorant people comes, I am confident that we will make them regret it even more than this time. But now, I want to know whether your subordinates have caught or found the body of Wang Xiaojianzi, the leader of the bandits."

  Liang and Sun stood up in unison: "Right! Where's that 'Western Tyrant'?"

  The two of them finished speaking and immediately turned around to give orders to their respective deputies. Liu Mingjiu saw that neither of them had caught Wang Xiaozhu, and his heart was already clear - it seemed that history was still hard to change after all. In the historical records he had seen later on, that Wang Xiaozhu should have been roaming freely in the northeastern green forest for several more years, until Zhang Jiajun succeeded as the "King of the Northeast" and only then did he disappear from sight.