Chapter Nineteen: Eliminating Bandits

  After a month of intensified training, Zhao Xiaofeng had clearly seen their changes, and Qi Yong and Jin Zhanguo looked at this young deputy regimental commander with new eyes.

  More than 330 soldiers have made preparations, Zhao Xiao Feng said: "This time! Our mission is to go to Qilin Village to suppress the bandits, but there are more than 500 local bandits there. Although they are a mob, our operation this time is also very dangerous!"

  Zhao Xiaofeng stopped here and looked at their faces one by one. He found that many people's faces were full of fear, "Hmph!" Zhao Xiaofeng had already thought of a plan and said immediately: "This time, we need to send a batch of elite soldiers to attack Qilin Village, so whoever is not feeling well in the next two days or doesn't want to go can stay behind and don't have to follow the troops to suppress the bandits!

  "I'm not feeling well!" reported the chubby and tall Liang Jun hesitantly.

  "Uh-huh!" Zhao Xiaofeng nodded and said: "You stay here!"

  "Me too! I don't want to go either!" Instantly, the three companies were like a pot exploding, and Zhao Xiaofeng approved their requests one by one.

  It turns out that more than 150 people don't want to go.

  "Good!" Zhao Xiao Feng said: "Now those who want to go and suppress the bandits are our vanguard troops for this operation! However, before the troops move, food and grass must be sent first. So, you people who stay behind will form a logistics team responsible for transporting our weapons, ammunition, and supplies! Led by Third Company Commander He Zi Qing!"

  "Good!" They immediately cheered up and wanted to go deliver the grain themselves, which was better than going to send death! So, no one blamed Zhao Xiaofeng for not keeping his word.

  Zhao Xiaofeng made an excuse to go to Fengtian on business, and he rushed back to Fengtian at full speed. When he arrived, the sky had already darkened.

  Suddenly, a familiar figure appeared in his line of sight, "Ma Xiaoling!" Zhao Xiaofeng exclaimed.

  Ma Xiaoling, who has changed into casual wear, looks even more extraordinary. Although the clothes she is wearing now are not good-looking at all, they don't feel awkward on her at all, but rather add a touch of elegance. It can be said that when Ma Xiaoling walks on the street, the rate of people turning their heads to look at her must exceed 90%.

  "It's you!" Ma Xiaoling exclaimed: "How come I haven't seen you for such a long time? Where did you go? Hey! You're still wearing your military uniform!"

  "Right!" Zhao Xiaofeng asked first: "How's that beggar doing?"

  "He's gone already, without even saying goodbye, just remembering your name. That guy is really strange, he said he had something important to do! Ma Xiaoling continued to ask: "Aren't you training at the Wu Tang Hall? Why are you wearing a military uniform today? Hehe, still a battalion commander!"

  "Alright!" Zhao Xiao Feng patted the dust off his body, then looked at the tea house not far away. Pu Ye was waiting for him there. He wanted to leave, but felt a bit reluctant. After all, Ma Xiao Ling no longer disliked him!

  "Alright! I'm leaving, my companions are waiting for me up ahead!", Ma Xiaoling said, pointing to the two girls not far away.

  "Hey!" Zhao Xiaofeng said: "My name is Zhao Xiaofeng, don't call me 'Battalion Commander' this and that next time!"

  "Yes! I remember! Deputy Battalion Commander! Haha!" Ma Xiaoling immediately ran towards her companion.

  "Commander! It's already early May, and our military strength is getting stronger and stronger. Those several hundred elite new recruits, after being trained by Hongshan, have now become a powerful force!" said Pu Ye excitedly.

  Zhao Xiaofeng furrowed his brow and said, "Have all the bandits in the nearby area been eliminated?" In fact, he was regretting not telling Ma Xiaoling earlier that her father had now become a hero!

  "Boss Pu stopped for a moment and said, 'There's only Lao Bei Feng's team left around here! Because he never did evil deeds, we can't recruit him. Zhong Ba Tian said that he's afraid others will say we're not righteous!'"

  "Old North Wind!" Zhao Xiao Feng muttered, continuing to ask: "Isn't this the person I sent you to invite? Ah! What about the people I asked you to contact now?"

  "Not one! Not a single one has come! This old northerner looks down on us, saying we're the traitor's gang and will be eliminated sooner or later." Old Man Pu said with his head hung low.

  "How many people are there in total on our side now?" Zhao Xiao Feng asked.

  "There are over three thousand five hundred people!" Old Man Pu stretched out a finger and said: "The elite troops have more than one thousand!"

  "How's your equipment?"

  "Haha!" Pu Ye laughed, "That little Japanese is really great! Our troops are almost all equipped with Japanese-style uniforms now! But a few days ago they sent someone to say that we should establish an auxiliary corps to help the Japanese manage security and even gave Hong Shan the title of Commander-in-Chief!"

  "Hmph!" Zhao Xiao Feng laughed and said: "The fox's tail has finally been exposed! Increase the stakes! We must make those little Japanese spit out blood with all their might!"

  "Understood! Commander." Pu Ye smiled and said: "What kind of person is Hong Shan? A bandit!"

  The two of them laughed for a while before Zhao Xiao Feng asked, "What's the situation with our people who have infiltrated each unit now?"

  "Great! Many people have been promoted to cadres! Ah Lang has become the captain of the security team! There are countless platoon leaders and squad leaders!" Pu Ye said excitedly.

  Zhao Xiaofeng immediately nodded and smiled: "We will now insert people who have been promoted to cadres in the army, and after they go back, we will immediately promote them two ranks at once, and let them also lead soldiers!"

  "Yes! The commander is indeed thoughtful!" Pu Ye nodded and said: "This is a good idea! Our soldiers will definitely rush to hear this news, everyone wants to mix up an official position!"

  "General! Do we still need to send people to join the army recently?"

  "We must! We must constantly send our backbone, elite troops to various units! But after the battle starts, they need to know what to do, you must make it clear! Also, now secretly send people into the city, and gradually move them to Fengtian. If not possible, outside Fengtian City is also okay. Summon the villagers from Qianpo and Shilicun, and prepare carts, horse-drawn carriages and other tools! They will be useful at that time!" Zhao Xiaofeng's eyes had long been fixed on the military supplies worth a city in Fengtian!

  Pu Ye had long understood the commander's intention, so he said: "No problem! I'll order a thousand men to enter the city and find another two or three thousand young men to be in charge of transportation. The rest will garrison Yan Wang Stockade and our base, that's all. Now no one dares to offend us easily!" Pu Ye patted his chest.

  "How's the arrangement of Yanwang Village going?" Zhao Xiao Feng finally got to the point.

  "General, rest assured!" Patted his chest and said: "The entire plan has been arranged according to your intentions, it will definitely go smoothly at the time!"

  "Alright!" Zhao Xiao Feng was very reassured about Pu Ye's abilities. The two of them discussed some more details before leaving.

  The weather in Northeast China has gradually warmed up in June, and Zhao Xiaofeng also knew that behind this tranquility, the Japanese had already begun to stir!

  Now Zhao Xiaofeng is leading nearly two hundred elite soldiers to Qilin Mountain, and He Ziqing's logistics team has also set off afterwards.

  Zhao Xiaofeng thought of Wang Deqiang's ridiculous face and was indeed not pleased in his heart, and began to calculate how to pull him down as well!

  He Ziqing, with his nose in the air, would never have thought that Zhao Xiaofeng had already begun to plot against him. He was now excited, all because of a single sentence from his brother-in-law, and he could bring this group of trusted subordinates to follow behind the troops. Moreover, Zhao Xiaofeng had even equipped his own guard team with five heavy machine guns, ten light machine guns, and ten mortars that had just been allocated from the regimental headquarters! These things were of no use to him at all, but this was precisely proof that Zhao Xiaofeng was afraid of him!

  Qilin Mountain is said to be far yet not far, just a three-day journey. However, this place is completely a dense forest. If there isn't someone familiar with the road leading the way, even walking for two days won't get you to Qilin Village.

  On the third day, Zhao Xiao Feng deployed his troops and ordered the soldiers to receive dry rations and water from He Zi Qing's hands. They were also equipped with some ammunition before he ordered Qi Yong and Jin Zhan Guo to lead a team each towards Qilin Mountain.

  After half a day's journey, the troops arrived at the foot of Qilin Mountain before dusk. At this time, the mountain stronghold was brightly lit, and there were faintly visible figures moving about. Zhao Xiao Feng immediately ordered the two to hide the troops well.

  Zhao Xiaofeng stared at the mountain stronghold and said: "The people above are now on high alert, if we launch a strong attack, we will definitely suffer heavy losses!"

  "Right!" Qi Yong said: "This time we should follow the battle plan and attack when they are all asleep in the second half of the night!"

  "Who cares about them? They're just a bunch of bandits! I'll lead the men and charge right in!"

  "No!" Zhao Xiao Feng waved his hand and said: "Our people have not sent a signal yet, we can't act rashly!"

  "Right!" Qiyong said in surprise: "I made an appointment with him, now he should give us a signal!"

  "It won't work, shall we ask Captain Zhao first?" asked Zhao Xiao Feng.

  "Right!" Qi Yong nodded and said: "We will send a telegram immediately, let the regiment commander decide whether to attack now or not."

  At this time, He Ziqing was lying on the grass under the service of his confidant, smoking a big cigarette. "Damn it! This cripple actually sent me to this godforsaken place to suffer!"

  "Despicable! That's right! This kid is too arrogant! When we get back, I'll ask the battalion commander to remove him!" Fatso Platoon Leader Liang Jun chimed in, fanning the flames.

  "Damn it!" He Zi Qing cursed, this kid didn't leave any handle for us to grasp, how could my brother-in-law just withdraw his troops? This kid was personally appointed by the Brigade Commander! I heard that even General Shao received him!

  "Wow!" Liang Jun stuck out his tongue and said, "Looks like this kid is quite capable!"

  "What a road! Still serving under Laozi's brother-in-law! Ha......" He Ziqing yawned and said: "How long have they been on the road? Why is it dark so soon?"

  "It's already been half a day!" said Liang Jun.

  "Alright! Order the brothers to eat their fill and rest!" He Ziqing stood up directly and looked into the distance.

  "General!" Liang Jun stepped forward and flattered: "Just ahead is Wo Jia Tun, where there's a kiln that I've heard is particularly good!"

  "Oh!" He Zi Qing smiled slyly and nodded: "Come in!"

  "Yes!" Two orderlies came over immediately.

  "Go! Bring people with me to Wujia Tun ahead to reconnoiter the enemy situation!" He Ziqing swung his whip and said.

  "Then what about me?" Liang Jun asked, leaning in close.

  "Who?" He Zi Qing glanced at him, then smiled and said: "Younger brother! I'm leaving you in charge here. If anything goes wrong, it'll be on your head!"

  "Yes!" Liang Jun bowed, but in his heart he had already cursed He Ziqing's ancestors for eight generations.

  "Fall in!" A soldier seeing He Ziqing had already led a dozen guards away, asked Liang Jun: "Where are our sentries to be posted?"

  "Get out!" Liang Jun cursed impatiently: "I know where the party is? Where it's cool, go there! Get out!"

  "Yes!" The soldier was actually the current sentry. He heard Liang Jun say this and immediately gave a triumphant smile to his comrade.

  The companion immediately ran to the side of a mound and started shaking the dice on the ground!

  "One, two, three! Little...!"

  "Come on! Loser admits defeat!"

  "It's open!......"

  Liang Jun heard them shouting and got excited, "Forget it! That bastard went out to pick up a prostitute without bringing me, I'll find my own fun!"