Chapter 23: The Bandits Are Wiped Out

  Gao Zhan's industry was filled with hatred and death, Hu Zhiyong took Fire Phoenix Chao Xianren 'Dong' to hurry away.

  The lake surface near the source of the Yinhe River is vast and misty, with the mountain colors reflected in the water, making you feel as if you are in a fairyland. At the scenic viewing pavilion in Yinqi Scenic Area, you will more deeply appreciate the majesty and grandeur of Yinqi Mountain, and be deeply shocked by the power of creation.

  Near the riverbank, a shootout was unfolding in a compound of over 40 acres. The special forces members, showcasing their skills for the first time, were taking down targets with their incredible marksmanship.

  Seeing Hu Zhiyong arrive, Su Xiqing couldn't help but ask: "Young Master, let me lead the charge!"

  "No way!" Hu Zhiyong scanned the eager crowd of guards: "For assault and special operations, you guys are not up to par. I don't want to see a brother get injured or killed!"

  "Master, can the 300 special forces troops handle it? There are 180 bandits inside." Su Xiqing knew that attacking was not as good as defending. The other side was in a hidden position, while the special forces were in an open position.

  "If they can't take down ten enemies with one, I'd rather let them die!" Hu Zhiyong said sternly: "Special warfare 'elites', if a person can't handle ten devils alone, he's an unqualified team member!"

  "Master, I demand that you also take the guard battalion seriously!" Su Xi Qing looked at Hu Zhi Yong with dissatisfaction: "The brothers around him all have opinions, saying that you attach importance to the special warfare team."

  Hu Zhiyong smiled: "They are one in a thousand, you are one in a hundred. If everyone can endure the devil training, they must insist on giving me self-inflicted injuries for a year!"

  "Yes, I promise you on behalf of my brothers!" Su Xi happily promised.

  Hu Zhiyong smiled and said: "If you can do it, the treatment and rank will be guaranteed to be the same as theirs."

  The treatment of the special forces team made all troops jealous. Every soldier was treated as a company-level cadre, and the battalion commander's treatment was half a level higher than that of the regimental commander. Guns, clothing, food, wine and cigarettes were all top-notch, which couldn't help but make them envious.

  On the way back from Country M, Hu Zhiyong also considered the issue of the guard battalion. He originally wanted to wait until the optical sight for the sniper rifle was configured before announcing it, but he didn't expect Su Xiqing to bring it up first.

  The gunfire had not stopped, but Hu Zhiyong was not ready to go in and finish the job. This was the best live ammunition test, and only in actual combat could the gaps in the special forces be found.

  Zhang Biao was tied up on one side, Hu Zhiyong let him go and said with a cold smile: "Gao Zhan Ye is already finished, this group of people will also be done sooner or later! Say, are you going to surrender to me or get out of Zhuanghe County?"

  "Master, can you trust me?" Zhang Biao's eyes widened, he didn't think there was still a chance to survive.

  "In Zhanghe County, there are over 10,000 people, but only over 300 of them are my Hu family's sworn brothers. If I didn't trust everyone, would I let them hold guns? I trust every single one of you, the question is can you gain my trust?" Hu Zhiyong 'flicked' out a cigarette and said lightly: "You can either leave or stay, I won't lay a hand on you."

  "Master, I'll stay behind!" Zhang Biao looked at Hu Zhiyong and said: "The Northeast is all battlegrounds, where can I go?"

  "Alright, you can start as a small soldier first. Once you've made achievements, I'll promote you step by step!" Hu Zhiyong turned around and said to Su Xiqing: "'Hand' him over to you, I believe he will make a wise choice!"

  A leader, not only must have the capacity to accommodate others, but also be decisive and ruthless. Being both strong and gentle, with a sense of what is real and what is false - this is the experience accumulated by Hu Zhiyong from leading troops for many years in his past life. Zhang Biao was material for an assassin, and he cherished such talent.

  The gunfire finally died down, and the remaining enemies were being cleared from the courtyard and rooms. Silver Dragon came out to tell Hu Zhiyong that the special forces had only two wounded with no deaths.

  "Su Yingchang, take Zhang Biao inside and destroy all the mechanisms everywhere, and clean up the valuables!"

  "Yes! Follow me!" Over a hundred people entered the garden, starting a tense registration process. The electric lights flickered on and off, and candles were quickly lit in every room.

  "Master, give me this car 'intersection'?" Little Wang saw the battle stop and walked over from the car driven by Hu Zhiyong to ask.

  "This car was 'given' to Shi Yinping, it's not a military vehicle. Luxurious? But it doesn't have the off-road capability of a Jeep." Hu Zhiyong held back his smile, and Xiao Wang also knew that this car was worth a lot.

  "Can I try it?" Little Wang asked with an unbearable curiosity, repeatedly begging.

  "With your skills?" Hu Zhiyong burst out laughing: "Practice driving well, and let's talk when I feel that your skills are qualified! To be honest, sitting in the car you're driving makes me nervous, it's better for me to drive myself."

  "Report, all 180 bandits have been annihilated, awaiting instructions!" Hu Pengsheng walked over and saluted Hu Zhiyong before reporting.

  "Send the wounded brother to the county hospital for treatment, and have the guard company stand down. Go inside and take pictures of the bodies and dispose of them properly. Remember to clean up thoroughly and report back!" Hu Zhiyong issued a string of orders, and everyone got busy.

  The special forces quickly retreated, and the guard battalion entered. One by one, the corpses with blown heads were carried out, and Su Xiqing walked over and said admiringly: "Shooting at night is still so accurate, the special forces are indeed not simple!"

  "Fire, not only with your eyes, but also with your ears and senses. The moment the enemy shoots a bullet, you must quickly counterattack. This requires speed and accuracy! Practice well, good marksmanship is fed by bullets!" Hu Zhiyong took the opportunity to instruct.

  Gu Ding sent a telegram to inquire about the gunfire. Hu Zhiyong told the telegraph operator: "We are currently suppressing bandits and have already annihilated 180 bandits. The battle has ended, and we will return to the county city immediately!"

  The courtyard was quickly cleared, and after Hu Zhiyong entered, he listened to Su Xiqing's report. Hearing that a large amount of gold and silver had been seized, he smiled and said: "Load it onto the cars, Colonel Su, leave one company temporarily stationed here, and tomorrow the special warfare team will come to take over. This place is not bad, 'hand' it over to the special warfare team as a barracks and training ground."

  "Master, according to the laws of Zhuanghe, the village head of Xianrendong should be deprived of all his property and sentenced to death, and his family should be expelled from Zhuanghe. Is that right?" As soon as Su Xiqing mentioned this, Hu Zhiyong felt a bit embarrassed. From an emotional point of view, they were all fellow villagers, and if nothing was done about it, future matters would be difficult to handle.

  "Leave this matter to County Mayor Kido and Vice County Mayor, the law is set by everyone, and its enforcement has been completed by the county government." Hu Zhiyong really didn't want to do things that would offend his neighbors. Moreover, he wouldn't get a single penny from the confiscated property. Even if everything was given to him, how much would it be worth?

  "Yes, I'll inform the county government right away!" Su Xi Qing replied, seeing off Hu Zhi Yong and the others as their car drove away.

  Back in the county town, Chen Xinwen, Shi Yingshi, Kita Teiichi and Gu Ding were all waiting. Everyone first visited Mrs. Hu and then rushed to the bank's courtyard after the meeting. Hu Zhiyong was surprised: "Why are you all gathered here?"

  "Third Master, this is the first case of hiding a fugitive and not reporting it. The county government's opinions are not unified. Lieutenant Kameyama wants to hear your opinion." Chen Xinwen was very hesitant, he didn't want his hands to be stained with blood, but he had to fulfill his duties as the county head.

  "Captain Kameda, what's your opinion?" Hu Zhiyong wanted to know how the little devil thought.

  "It's not against the law as it stands, but since you're country folk, I can show some mercy. Of course, this is to demonstrate your benevolence." Kameda said with a sly tone.

  "What does the vice county magistrate think is good?" Hu Zhiyong continued to ask, he couldn't make a decision on his own.

  "Confiscate property and land, remove the positions of village head and village chief." Jidō Teiichi was very resolute, he did not agree with leniency, this law would lose its effect.

  Hu Zhiyong nodded and said to Gu Tian: "This matter must be handled, and the intensity of handling should be well grasped. I suggest that a meeting of all township heads, town heads, and village heads be convened to let everyone express their opinions and decide."

  "Great, great!" Kameida stuck out his thumb and split open his chubby mouth.

  Chen Xinyu and Shi Yingshi also agreed. Next, Kameyama, on behalf of the military department, asked after Mrs. Hu and proposed sending the best doctor from his country to perform surgery on Hu Zhiyong's mother.

  "Thank you!" Hu Zhiyong stood up, bowed and said hastily: "I have to go see the old man quickly, can't let him scold me for being unfilial."

  "Yo Xi." Kameida and others left, Chen Xinwen and Shi Yishi accompanied Hu Zhiyong to the hospital again.

  As he walked into the ward, Hu Zhiyong saw Huo Feng feeding his mother. He sat by the bed and watched for a long time before saying, "Mom, you're actually a great beauty."

  "Pffft!" Mrs. Hu spat out a mouthful of rice, which landed directly on Huo Feng and Hu Zhiyong's faces. She hastily reached out to wipe Huo Feng's face clean, glaring at her son as if scolding him: "What kind of son says that about his mom?"

  "It's always like this!" Hu Zhiyong took out a handkerchief to wipe Fire Phoenix clean, then washed his own face in the basin: "Mom, this face of mine is really weird, what if I can't find a wife?"

  Hu's wife chuckled and said, "Can't my son find a wife?"

  The mother and son were chatting, Huo Feng had inquired about the situation with Gao Zhan Ye and the gang of thieves. Hu's mother looked at her son and let out a long sigh: "Son, I never thought you would wake up and recover your senses, even less that it was you who avenged your father and me. Huo Feng told me everything about you, I approve of your actions in protecting our neighbors."

  "Mom, I'm still afraid you'll scold me for being a traitor. Actually, resisting the Japanese is necessary, but when the enemy is rampant, we can't confront them head-on. I also want to take revenge and make a big move, but thinking carefully, even if you're brave, it's useless. This place is close to the coast, and with a fierce bombing from their planes and warships, Zhuanghe County will be flattened in an instant! Second uncle, third uncle, what we should do first is protect our neighbors, and deal with those little devils with 'underhanded' tactics!"

  Chen Xinxin nodded: "I heard that the Japanese want to support Aixinjueluo Puyi in establishing Manchukuo, do you think this is a good thing or a bad thing?"

  "Second Uncle, this is just like our current situation!" Hu Zhiyong pulled out a cigarette, then looked at his mother and put it back in his pocket: "On the surface, we are all working for the Japanese pirates, but the difference is that we are truly resisting Japan and truly loving the people."

  "As for our methods, there are many private comments from the neighbors. Some scold us as Han traitors, while others say we're scapegoats to protect our fellow villagers. But let's not talk about it, actually, we also have our own private thoughts, isn't it all just to protect our family business and our loved ones?" Shi Yinshi sighed sorrowfully, deeply worried about the war situation.

  "Enduring humiliation and swallowing one's pride is the only way to achieve great things. As long as we help the anti-Japanese troops fight against the devils, sooner or later someone will understand our hard work! Second Uncle, Third Uncle, you two elders can go back and rest now, I want to have a talk with Mother." Hu Zhiyong wouldn't be unclear about this, but he wouldn't be foolish enough to directly lead his troops to fight against the little devils.

  "Let's go, we'll come again tomorrow. Sister-in-law, please be consoled about big brother's matter, and look forward to the future." Chen Xinwen said, and then he and Shi Yinshi withdrew together.