Chapter 8: Initial Exploration of Xuchang County

  Chuzhou is a historic city, famous for Ouyang Xiu's "Drunkard's Pavilion Record", and is an important town on the Tianjin-Pukou Railway. It is also the eastern gateway to Hefei, with a very strategic location. After the Japanese army occupied Chuzhou, considering the international influence, they did not carry out large-scale massacres in Chuzhou, so Chuzhou seemed relatively stable.

  Because they were dressed in ordinary people's clothes, Chen Jifan and his party entered the city very smoothly. This was their first visit to the county town since arriving in this era, and the streets were vastly different from those of the 21st century. The houses on either side of the street were mostly two stories high, with some reaching three stories at most. There were not many shops open for business, and many had already closed their doors, presumably because the owners had fled to escape the war.

  Chen Jifan didn't have time to appreciate the scenery on both sides, as groups of Japanese soldiers were passing by from time to time. Since they were disguised as merchants and had 100 taels of silver on them, after entering the city, Chen Jifan decided that the three of them would go to the most famous "Zuiweng Wine House" in Chuzhou to eat something. The "Zuiweng Wine House" was recommended by travelers on the road, saying that coming to Chuzhou without going to the "Zuiweng Wine House" is like not having come at all. Chen Jifan wasn't doing it for this reason, mainly because the protagonist in TV shows often goes to big wine houses to gather information, and Chen Jifan also wanted to learn from him.

  The wine house was indeed very luxurious, and the three of them casually ordered some food to eat while listening to the guests in the wine house boasting about their adventures.

  "I heard that the Japanese are offering a reward of 500 taels for the capture of that team called 'Shenying'. Have you seen them?"

  "No, but I heard from a cousin of mine that every 'Shen Ying' is a hero, capable of flying on the roof and walking on the wall."

  "What's so special about blowing it?"

  "You wouldn't believe it, the other day a small team of devils had their bodies hauled back into the city, more than thirty people, and they didn't even fire a shot before being wiped out."

  "Moreover, a company of devils who went to capture people was ambushed in Dawei and annihilated. Even the National Army is not that powerful."

  "I heard that the devils are going to fight again, many devils have arrived in the county town, even the train station is heavily guarded and ordinary people are not allowed to get close."

  "The warehouse in the north of the city is still the same? They say that place doesn't allow ordinary people to go."

  The devils indeed have a major military operation, after finishing dinner the three men decided to stroll around the city and familiarize themselves with the terrain. The three men came out of the wine building and headed north along the main street, then turned right into a small alley. There were no people in the alley, and both sides were single-family courtyards.

  They had just walked less than 100 meters in the alley when they heard a voice from the left corner. "Let me go, you beast!"

  "Flower girl, yo xi."

  This voice is really too familiar. It seems that TV isn't all nonsense after all. The three of them looked around and immediately rushed to the corner where the sound came from.

  The sound was coming from a small courtyard, the gate was not closed. The three of them leaned against the gate and looked inside, only to see two Japanese soldiers pressing down on a woman in her twenties, next to whom lay a male corpse of about the same age as the woman. The Japanese soldiers were laughing loudly and tearing at the woman's clothes.

  Chen Jifan nodded to Zhao Jun and Hu Yunfeng, who rushed over and grabbed one of the devils from behind, flipping him to the ground. Then he turned around and sat on top of him, striking his neck with a palm, and the devil immediately died. The other devil was stunned by the sudden turn of events, and in the few seconds he hesitated, Hu Yunfeng came up from behind and twisted his head with both hands, sending this devil to see the King Yama as well. Chen Jifan quietly closed the door, and the three men carefully searched the courtyard again to make sure there were no more devils. After that, Chen Jifan walked over to the woman and said, "Don't be afraid, the little devils are dead. Hurry up and get dressed."

  The woman, expressionless and tearful, slowly got up from the ground and returned to the house. After a while, she came out dressed and walked in front of the three men, bowing: "Thank you, brothers, for saving me."

  "What's the girl's name? And who is she to you?" Chen Jifan asked.

  "This is my husband, he brought the devils. My name is He Chunxiang, and my husband's name is Dong An." He Chunxiang replied.

  "What's this? Bringing a devil into our home, is he still a man?" Zhao Jun's face turned red with rage.

  Chen Jifan waved his hand at Zhao Jun and said to He Chunxiang: "Let's bury your husband and the corpses of these two Japanese beasts first."

  Three people, under He Chunxiang's direction, buried the two Japanese soldiers and Dong An's body in the backyard, and then brought the guns and bullets to let He Chunxiang hide them. After everything was handled, He Chunxiang explained the situation clearly to them inside the house. It turned out that He Chunxiang's husband, Dong An, did small business, and after the devils came, he often went to sell things in front of the Japanese military camp. He Chunxiang often advised him not to provoke the Japanese, but her husband said he wouldn't have any problems as long as he behaved himself. Yesterday, Dong An returned home saying that two Japanese soldiers were coming to visit their house, and Dong An said this was because they looked up to him, so He Chunxiang got up early to prepare some hospitality. Who would have thought that the Japanese soldiers started molesting her as soon as they entered the house? Dong An stepped forward to reason with them but was stabbed to death by the two Japanese beasts without warning. Later, Chen Jifan and the others arrived.

  "Things have come to this, I wonder what plans Mrs. He has?" Chen Jifan asked cautiously.

  He Chunxiang stood before them, her eyes welling up with tears, expressionless, muttering to herself: "My husband is a honest man, he said as long as we live a simple and honest life, our whole family will be safe."

  Chen Jifan and the others remained silent, only to hear He Chunxiang continue to say slowly: "I want revenge, as long as I can kill Japanese people for my husband's revenge, I am willing to do anything!" After finishing, she suddenly knelt on the ground and cried to Chen Jifan: "Three good men, I know you have skills, take me with you, as long as I can avenge the devils, I am willing to be a cow or a horse."

  She made Chen Jifan and others very embarrassed, the woman in front of her was a strong but weak woman, facing such a request that people couldn't bear to refuse. Zhao Jun turned his head towards Chen Jifan and made eye contact with him, Hu Yunfeng rubbed his hands back and forth, Chen Jifan hesitated for a moment, then went forward to help He Chunxiang up, comforting her kindly: "Don't be like this, Mrs. He, the Japanese devils are not human, killing them is an unshakeable responsibility of every Chinese person, if you really want to avenge your husband, we have some places that need your help, but first please get up and talk."

  Hearing Chen Jifa say that there was a place where she could be of use, He Chunxiang slowly got up, wiped away her tears with her sleeve, and sat down on the stool beside him, saying firmly: "Good fellow, please give orders."

  "Let's not beat around the bush, we're going to town to get some medicine and also check out the Japanese situation. However, we're not familiar with the city, so I'd like to ask you to tell us about the city's situation, especially regarding hospitals and pharmacies." Chen Jifan explained the matter briefly to He Chunxiang.

  "The hospital is in the east of the city, and almost all the doctors have left. There's only a young doctor named Wu Qing and a female nurse. However, usually when we ordinary people go to the hospital, there are no medicines available. When you see a doctor, they just give you a prescription, and then you have to go to a pharmacy run by Japanese people to buy medicine." He Chunxiang said, smoothing her bangs with her hand.

  "Japanese people opened a pharmacy? Did Japanese people open pharmacies in Chuzhou very early on?" Hu Yunfeng asked.

  He Chunxiang glanced at him and continued: "After the Japanese came, the original owner of the pharmacy was killed along with his whole family for allegedly selling contraband. Later, a Japanese took over as the boss, it's really black-hearted, the prices have increased several times compared to before."

  "What's that doctor like? Is he a traitor?" Chen Jifang asked again.

  "Dr. Wu is a good person, very kind to the common people. When someone asked him why he didn't leave, he said that if everyone left and the common people got sick, who would they go to?"

  "Hasn't Japan ever given him trouble?"

  "No, the Japanese were still quite polite to him, perhaps because they saw he was a doctor?" He Chunxiang replied.

  The questioning was almost over, and Chen Jifan didn't want to reveal their specific identities for the time being. So he said to He Chunxiang: "Alright, Mrs. He, you just stay at home and don't go anywhere. I estimate that the devils won't find this place for a while. We have some things to take care of outside, and when we're done, we'll come find you. If you trust us, then follow us when we arrive, and we'll definitely help you avenge your husband."

  "A few big brothers, no need to call me Mrs. He, just call me Chunxiang, we're waiting for you."

  "Alright then, my surname is Chen, let's go, remember to wait for us."

  After leaving He Chunxiang's house, the three of them immediately rushed to the pharmacy. Chen Jifan decided to rob this pharmacy at night, and Zhao Jun and Hu Yunfeng were not surprised at all when they knew their captain's idea. This time, the three of them entered the city without bringing any weapons, and the intelligence was unclear, making it unsuitable for a big move in the city. The pharmacy belonged to civilian facilities, with no strong guard, making it an ideal target.

  The pharmacy is very large, with a storefront on the corner of a street, and a two-story building facing the street. Inside, there is a large courtyard. The owner's name is Akiyama Taro, and he employs two apprentices and four Japanese ronin. The apprentices do not stay overnight in the store, but Akiyama and the four ronin live in the courtyard. These were the results of Chen Jifan and his two companions' inquiries over the course of an afternoon. After getting a general sense of the situation, the three men went to reconnoiter the area around the pharmacy.

  The action was set for midnight. Zhao Jun proposed going to the hospital to meet Dr. Wu, and Chen Jifan thought about it and decided to go along with it.

  When the three of them arrived at the hospital, it was just dinner time and there were no patients. Seeing someone had come, Doctor Wu Jun hastily put down his bowl and chopsticks and sat down in front of the workbench.

  Chen Jifan looked up and down at the young doctor opposite him, dressed very professionally, wearing a pair of gold-rimmed glasses, looking quite intellectual.

  "Who are you looking for?" Dr. Wu asked, somewhat displeased at being sized up by the newcomer.

  Chen Jifan quickly came back to his senses and said to Dr. Wu: "You take a look at me first." He then lay down.

  Dr. Wu put the stethoscope on Chen Jifan's chest and listened for a while, then looked at his face before putting down the stethoscope and saying: "You're not sick."

  "Isn't that right, Doctor? The whole country is groaning, how can we ordinary people not be ill?" Chen Jifan said in a low voice to Wu Qing.

  As soon as the words fell, Wu Jun's face suddenly stiffened, and he asked in a low voice: "What are you people? What do you want to do?"

  "We are the 'Chinese Divine Eagle Anti-Japanese Special Forces'." Chen Jifan said, bringing his face closer.

  "What can I do for you?" Wu Jun seemed unsurprised and said expressionlessly in response to Chen Jifan's words.

  Wu Qing was actually a member of an anti-Japanese organization, the "Chinese People's Anti-Japanese Propaganda Team" established in Anhui in 1937. After the Japanese army occupied Chuzhou, Wu Qing stayed behind to gather intelligence as arranged by the organization. The story of "Shenying" had spread like wildfire in Chuzhou, and he had also heard some rumors about it. He predicted that Shenying would eventually send someone into the city. The few people in front of him didn't seem like ordinary civilians at all, but rather professional soldiers who were completely different from the National Army. Originally, the organization had considered recruiting Shenying to join them, but now Wu Qing thought it might not be possible because judging by the appearance of these few people, he firmly believed that they would not submit to others.

  "I'd like to buy some medicine from Dr. Wu." He said, handing over a list.

  Wu Qing glanced at the list and said to Chen Jifan, "The devils have strict control over medicines, especially anti-inflammatory drugs. The hospital's medicines were taken away by the devils and are now concentrated in a Japanese-owned pharmacy in the north of the city. However, I can provide you with a set of medical equipment that can be used for simple surgical operations or blood transfusions." After finishing speaking, he walked to a room at the back and brought out a large box.

  "I deeply admire your heroic actions, Mr. Wu Qing. These things are not enough to show my respect, please accept them. Also, the Japanese devils have stationed a large troop in Chuzhou, with about one battalion guarding the train station and two heavy machine guns. The headquarters has one company, the arsenal has one company, and the rest are for gate defense and patrol. This is a map of the Japanese army's defensive deployment drawn by a friend."

  Chen Jifan took the box and drawings, didn't say a word, and gave Wu Qing a military salute. Zhao and Hu also followed suit, then turned around and left the hospital.

  After leaving the hospital, Hu Yunfeng directly said to Chen Jifa: "Captain Chen, this doctor is not simple."

  "I know, but he shouldn't have any ill intentions. Let's not mind him for now and take advantage of the early hour to look around some more and find a place to fill our stomachs so we can handle things better at night."

  Three people wandered around the city, finally reaching late at night. At that time, the deep night was not as lively as it is now, especially after the Japanese came, every household closed their doors and went to sleep early. On the streets, except for the patrolling Japanese military police, you couldn't find a single person. When Chen Jifan and others arrived at the back wall of the pharmacy, there were still lights on in the second floor of the pharmacy.

  The wall was not a problem for them, the first thing after entering the yard was to deal with the four Japanese ronin. There were four rooms in the yard, and soon three people found where the Japanese ronin lived. Zhao Jun and Hu Yunfeng each held a dagger, which belonged to the two Japanese soldiers at He Chunxiang's house. The poor four Japanese people lost their lives in a daze while sleeping, one knife per person, all accurately stabbed into the heart.

  Now only the boss, Akio Akiyama, was left. Akiyama hadn't gone to bed yet and was counting money in his room upstairs. Chen Jifan looked at him clearly through the paper window from outside.

  Akio had just put the money in his closet when he heard the door being kicked open with a loud "bang". Akio Tarō was startled and instinctively turned around, only to see a flash of cold light rushing towards his chest.

  For the Japanese, Chen Jifang didn't intend to leave any survivors. In his mind, all Japanese who came to China at this time deserved to die. So as soon as the door opened, he didn't give the Japanese in front of him any chance.

  Akio saw the cold light accurately flying into his heart, and at the time of death, his eyes were wide open, as if he couldn't believe all this.

  Chen Jifan made a fortune in Qiushan's room. There were 60 gold bars and a box of neatly stacked silver dollars, with some jewelry and accessories in the small box next to it. Chen Jifan asked Hu Yunfeng to wrap all the gold, silver, and jewels in a bed sheet and tie them up on his back.

  There was a room in the yard that served as a warehouse for storing medicines. There weren't many medicines, but surprisingly there were gauze, medical tape, bandages and medicinal alcohol. The three of them spent more than two hours finding all the necessary medicines, including anti-inflammatory drugs and hemostatic agents. It wasn't until the end when they had too much stuff to carry that they found a few bed sheets in the room to wrap everything up into large bundles before barely managing to take it away.