Chapter 23: The Bandits Are Wiped Out

  Gao Zhan's industry was filled with hatred and death, Hu Zhiyong took Fire Phoenix Chao Xianren Cave 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 a tough battle and special operations, you guys are not up to it. I don't want to see any 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 alone, I'd rather let them die!" Hu Zhiyong said sternly: "Special warfare elite, if one person can't handle ten devils, he's an unqualified team member!"

  "Master, I'm asking you to pay attention to the guard battalion as well!" 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 level 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, tobacco, and wine 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 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 a few hundred 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 whether you can gain my trust!" Hu Zhiyong lit a cigarette and said casually: "You can either leave or stay, I won't harm 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: "I'm leaving it up to you, I believe he will make a wise choice!"

  A leader must not only 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 was the experience accumulated by Hu Zhiyong from many years of leading troops 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 and no casualties.

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

  "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, let me take over driving this car?" Little Wang walked over to the side of the car that Hu Zhiyong had driven, asking as he saw the battle come to a halt.

  "This car was handed over to Shi Yinping, it's not a military vehicle. Is it 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 photos 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 fires 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, it's suitable for the special warfare team to use as barracks and training grounds."

  "Master, according to the laws of Zhuanghe, the head of Xianrendong village 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, things would be difficult to handle later on.

  "Leave this matter to County Mayor Kido and Vice County Mayor. The law is set by everyone, and the execution is 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 Minamoto 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 bandits and not reporting it. The county government's opinions are not unified. Lieutenant Kameyama wants to hear your opinion." Chen Xinyu 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." Kameyama 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 Ichiji 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 we hold a meeting with all township heads, town heads, and village heads, and let everyone express their opinions to make a decision."

  "Great, great!" Kameida stuck out his thumb and directly 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." Kameda 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 on the edge of 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 bandits. 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 make a big move and settle old scores quickly, but thinking carefully, even if you're extremely brave, it's all in vain. 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 cunning strategies!"

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

  "Second Uncle, this is just like our current situation!" Hu Zhiyong took 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 approach, there are many private comments from neighbors. Some scold us as traitors, while others say we're scapegoats to protect our fellow villagers. But let's not talk about it, actually, we also have selfish motives, aren't we just trying 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.