Chapter 8: The Conquest of Kang's Town (Part 2)

  Kangjia Town is located in the midst of a group of mountains, with a medium-sized river called Huanhua Creek winding its way through it. Before the arrival of the Japanese, the people of Kangjia Town built a protective wall around their town to guard against bandits, using the surrounding mountains and water to their advantage. The Huanhua Creek became a natural moat for Kangjia Town, with only two gates on the east and west sides. Exiting the eastern gate, one can reach the winding "main road" that leads to Zhuolu within ten miles; exiting the western gate, there is a relatively flat main road leading to Yu County's county seat in the southwest direction. A few miles west of Kangjia Town, Huanhua Creek flows into the Huoshui River and then winds its way forward, flowing into the Sanggan River, becoming a waterway for entering and exiting Yu County. Due to the shallow waters and lack of large docks, Kangjia Town does not have a major port; instead, the hub of water and land transportation is located at Xiyin Port, which is less than thirty miles south of Kangjia Town, but it is far less prosperous than Kangjia Town.

  People who are used to the vast mountains have a deep-seated trust and dependence on the stability of the mountains, which has created the prosperity of Kangjia Town, but also destined it to suffer much more pain than Xiyangkou.

  Kangjia Town is the first town on the land road out of Dashan, and it is also the throat of the northern gate of Wei County. Therefore, Tobita will send someone like Ono to garrison, and specially add a small team of devils to strengthen Ono's strength.

  But who would have thought that the Xiao Ye squad would capsize at Xiao Zhou Zhuang, burying the elite of an elite team from the 21st century with only five people?

  Yang Jiong, dressed in a full set of team leader attire, held the only electrical appliance in Li Fusheng's household - a flashlight - and walked to the East Gate of Kangjia Town with Nan Weiren, who was disguised as an interpreter. Behind them followed Li Baoguo and Gao Junping, whose clothes had been patched up again and again to fit them.

  The traitorous Han spies guarding the gate of Kangjiazhen had already discovered the vague human shadows outside. This was not because the spies were highly vigilant, but rather because Yang Jie deliberately made a disturbance. The little spy quickly reported to the squad leader, who in turn let someone report to the spy captain Cao Pingshan while running to wake up the snoring Japanese sergeant in the guardhouse. Just as the Japanese sergeant arrived at the gate with five or six other Japanese soldiers, they heard someone outside speaking in their native language: "Nansan, open the door!"

  A voice from outside the door said, "People inside, listen! We are the imperial army from Zhuolu. Our car broke down ahead and we need to deliver a message to Lieutenant General Shonenaga. His good friend Lieutenant General Kameda has arrived." The same announcement was repeated again.

  The sergeant couldn't understand Chinese very well, but he knew that the people outside were his own and friends of Lieutenant Shō's. He hastily ordered the door to be opened.

  Yang Jiong waved his hand and led the way into the camp, with the troops following in an orderly manner behind him, quite a sight to behold. Because Yang Jiong had given orders that anyone who didn't follow instructions, walked out of step or made noise while marching would be fined.

  Yang Jie saw a Japanese army sergeant leading five or six devils running to his front, saluting him and loudly saying: "Good sir, welcome sir."

  "Is Ono-san in? Excuse me."

  "Report to the superior officer, Lieutenant Shōno has gone hunting and hasn't returned." The sergeant knew that Shōno called this kind of plundering and massacring villages "hunting", and the devils all liked going "hunting" with Shōno.

  "What is this Japanese doing?" Yang Jiong pointed at the head of the special agent team, asking with some interest, "He looks very friendly."

  "This is a special task force established by Lieutenant General Ono, consisting entirely of Chinese people, responsible for assisting local security." The sergeant knew that other places did not have such local armed organizations.

  Yang Jie showed a disdainful expression: "Is this kind of inferior person worthy of consuming the Empire's military weapons? What can they do? That Xiao Ye guy just loves to think wildly." As he spoke, he beckoned to the special agent team leader: "Yours, come over."

  The leader of the special forces saw the Japanese army sergeant's respectful appearance and knew that a big official had arrived. He hastily ran over, bowed his head and bent his waist, with a flattering smile on his face: "Greetings, Your Excellency."

  Yang Jie touched the head of the special agent team leader with his hand, and said in his mouth: "Hiss." Turning his head to the sergeant, he said: "This is a good dog, but it can't bite people. It's not even comparable to a punch from an imperial soldier. It's completely useless." As he spoke, he suddenly swung his fist straight at the team leader's chest.

  The head of the special agent team was unguarded and didn't dare to move, he never thought that Yang Jie would want his life. Only to see Yang Jie punch out, the body of the head of the special agent team flew out like a paper man five or six meters away, fell to the ground motionless. Yang Jie looked up and laughed loudly: "This is Xiao Ye's special agent team." The agents were scared silly, didn't know why the ghost (enemy) suddenly killed them, their whole body trembling with fear.

  Yang Jie patted the shoulder of the Japanese army sergeant: "The battle still relies on us, such imperial soldiers." The sergeant did not expect Yang Jie to be so fierce and became even more cautious in his heart.

  "Gather all the special agents, I want to see how Ono-kun ended up with this bunch of trash." Yang Wei said to the Japanese sergeant, "For now, leave this place to my people to guard, and have your men wake up the townspeople to prepare dinner for my troops."

  "Hey!" The Japanese army sergeant didn't dare to slack off and immediately ordered: "The special task force must assemble at the town government office immediately." He felt that he had really lost face in front of Yang, and wanted to help Xiao Ye regain some dignity. "I'll leave this place to you. Please follow me to the town government office for a cup of tea." Without thinking, he sent someone ahead to lead the way and went to arrange the special task force himself.

  The head of the special task force, Cao Pingshan, was woken up by a little special agent from his mistress's bed and rushed to the town government office in a hurry. He learned that his deputy had been killed by a punch from a newly arrived Japanese devil. The special agent who came to report the news added fuel to the fire, telling Cao Pingshan about the whole process, seeing him furious, knowing that Cao Pingshan had two sons under his command and had mixed with the army before, wanting to provoke Cao Pingshan to avenge his dead brother. As they were talking, the Japanese military sergeant came in, saw Cao Pingshan, and immediately thought of Cao Pingshan's Chinese martial arts skills. A perverted plan that disregarded the honor and dignity of the great Japanese imperial army was formed in his mind. He stared at Cao Pingshan with both eyes: "Cao San, today, the face of Lieutenant Ono, whether the special task force can continue to exist, all depends on you." Then he told Cao Pingshan about the performance of Yang Jue and others from Zhuolu and his own intentions. Cao Pingshan was originally worried that the devils would protect the newly arrived devils, but when the sergeant said this, he was overjoyed in his heart, patted his chest and said: "No problem, I'll take care of it all."

  As soon as Yang Jie and his entourage entered the town government office, they saw all the Japanese soldiers and special agents standing neatly in the courtyard, welcoming them. Yang Jie walked back and forth in front of the special agents and said to the Japanese sergeant: "Is this all the special agents? Can you ask them to put down their guns? I want to see their hand-to-hand combat skills."

  The sergeant couldn't get what he wanted, so he happily ordered Cao Pingshan to take action. The special agents paired up and started wrestling with each other. Yang Jue watched with a shaking head, his face full of disdain, and his mouth corners filled with arrogance. Suddenly, the special agents stopped, Cao Pingshan whispered something to the Japanese sergeant, who walked over and saluted Yang Jue, "Reporting to the superior officer, Special Agent Team Leader Cao Pingshan would like to ask for your guidance. Do you agree?" He said, provokingly staring at Yang Jue.

  Yang Jie slowly turned around, looking at Cao Pingshan, "You say this Chinese man wants to have a martial arts match with me? Is he worthy? How can a soldier of the Great Japanese Empire engage in a martial arts match with such trash, where does that put the dignity of the Imperial Army?"

  The devilish military officer thought that the seemingly weak and gentle Yang Jie was intimidated by the tall and majestic Cao Pingshan, and smiled softly: "Report to the superior, he is personally selected by Lieutenant Colonel Xiao Ye, if you want to see the strength of the special forces, he is a good choice. Imperial soldiers fight for honor and also fight for strength, don't you think?"

  Yang Jie pointed at Cao Pingshan and said, "You, want to have a martial arts competition with me? Good, very good." As he spoke, he laughed loudly while giving Li Baoguo and others a secret signal.

  "I'll let you see the karate of our great Japanese Empire." As he spoke, he made a highly insulting gesture towards Cao Pingshan. Cao Pingshan didn't say a word either, and with a tiger-like leap, he pounced over. Not to mention Li Baoguo and others who were seeing Yang Rong's martial arts for the first time, even Li Ying was greatly shocked, because Yang Rong's moves were indeed authentic Japanese karate techniques.

  Two men, you come and go, Yang Jie stole a glance, the team members have taken their positions, each ghost (Japanese soldier) has a member behind him, Li Baoguo's three people each holding a machine gun in hand. The devils and special agents are tensely staring at the fighting arena, because Yang Jie spoke in Japanese and deliberately used karate to deal with Cao Pingshan. The devils naturally cheered for Yang Jie, and their anger from earlier had disappeared. Yang Jie let out a loud roar, his left fist accurately hitting Cao Pingshan's right fist, Cao Pingshan only felt a tearing pain coming from his hand, he didn't have time to shout before Yang Jie's left foot fiercely kicked him in the chest, Cao Pingshan's massive body flew out three or four meters, falling to the ground without making another sound.

  The devils were overjoyed, raising their hands and shouting loudly. Before they could even cheer, each of them suddenly felt a sharp pain in their heart, and then saw three of their own people holding machine guns and sweeping the special forces team. This was the last scene these devils saw.

  The gunshot was very short, but the sound of the gun echoed far away in the quiet night. The devils on the western cannon tower quickly made a move. The huge searchlight on the cannon tower shone over and found that there were only their own people inside and outside the town government office. Although they were full of doubts, they did not panic. Before long, twenty devils arrived in front of the town government office, and the searchlight on the cannon tower also shone over. The devil captain came to the front of the town government office, saw that there were unfamiliar people everywhere, and was very suspicious. He asked a devil sergeant standing at the door: "Which part are you from? Why did you shoot? What happened?" Gao Junping, disguised as a devil sergeant, replied: "Report to the officer, we are from Zhuolu, chasing a guerrilla team, got lost in this mountain, and it happens that our lieutenant colonel and Lieutenant Colonel Ohno are classmates, so we came here. The lieutenant colonel is waiting for you inside."

  As soon as he heard that Lieutenant Ono's classmates were waiting for him, the little devil captain hastily tidied up his clothes and ran in. Li Ying led twenty team members to quietly disappear into the night. The devils on the artillery tower soon discovered that there were twenty people laughing and walking back, mixed with Japanese that was not very clear. Let the people below open the artillery tower, turn off the searchlight, and prepare for bed.

  In April 1938, when the devils had just occupied the place, they hadn't yet opened up a battlefield in the enemy's rear, and the resistance they encountered was extremely slight, with defense being relatively lax.

  The devils who opened the door only felt a chill on their necks, and then they had no consciousness. Li Baoguo quietly opened the door a crack and slipped in. At this time, another violent gunshot came from the direction of the town government office. The devils on the gun tower had just gotten out of bed when they were shot dead by Li Baoguo's machine gun. More than a dozen devils, some still sleepy-eyed, were ruthlessly killed. Even a wolf dog in the gun tower was mistaken for a wolf and shot dead by a hunter.

  The town hall direction also quieted down. Li Baoguo knew that the next thing to do was to execute the evil landlord Kang Bao and his sons. It is estimated that Gao Junping led people to complete the task, Li Baoguo sent someone to invite the captain, and he himself led people to clean up the battlefield.

  Fortunately, this battle ended quickly, and the devils did not send out any distress signals. When Li Baoguo led his men to search for a radio station.

  The spoils of war were beyond expectation. When the sun rose and the mist dispersed, the villagers from Zhoujiazhuang who had been ordered to come and support were all shocked by the scene in front of them. The piles of guns and cannons were not to be mentioned, but just the gold, silver, and jewels found in the cannon tower, now laid out on the ground, were enough to leave these people who had never seen the world before stunned and at a loss.

  Even Li Fusheng was shocked by Xiao Ye's means of collecting wealth, Li Fusheng voluntarily led people to sort out various materials, Yang Jiezheng lowered his head and worried about the materials in front of him, Li Baoguo came over and whispered to him: "Captain, someone wants to see you."

  "Who?"

  "We rescued several people who were detained by the devils in a devil's prison. One of them, upon learning that we are the Eighth Route Army guerrilla troops, asked our captain for your name. I told him, and he then asked where you're from. I said Jiangsu Hangzhou as we had agreed. Unexpectedly, he shouted that he wants to see you."

  Yang Jie and Li Baoguo arrived at the devil's company commander's office, a medium-sized, square-faced man stood up. Yang Jie looked at him and found that this farmer-dressed person was full of military alertness and tenacity.

  When he saw Yang Wei, his eyes trembled, and his hopeful gaze turned into doubt and confusion. Yang Wei took the initiative to speak: "I am Yang Wei, what can I do for you?"

  He looked him up and down again, muttering to himself: "It's like... too much alike."

  Listening to Yang Jie's question, he quickly said: "I'm asking you about someone, also from Zhejiang Hangzhou, with the surname Yang, named Yang Shijie." After finishing speaking, he stared closely at Yang Jie.

  Yang Jiong's face fell. It was probably someone his uncle knew, so he had to keep up the act: "I am, sir. What can I do for you?"

  That man burst out laughing: "Little Yang, I'm Old Chen, Chen Zhihao. Do you remember now?" Seeing Yang's thoughtful face, he said again: "In those years at Jinggangshan, you were Chairman Mao's bodyguard, and I was the head of the confidential warfare department, we often met each other. How come you don't remember?"

  Yang Jiong suddenly enlightened expression, tightly grasped Chen Zhihao's hands and said: "It's Big Brother Chen, I haven't seen you in a few years, I didn't dare to recognize you."

  "It's been years since we last met, and there have been many changes. If I hadn't heard that it was my own team, I wouldn't have even asked about it. I didn't expect to run into you like this, Brother Yang saved me."

  "Brother Chen, how did you let the little devils capture you?" Yang Gu asked warmly.

  Chen Zhihao hesitated for a moment, saying: "I was carrying out a top-secret mission and was caught by the devils during an inspection in Weixian. Brother Yang, how did you end up leading a team here?"

  Yang Jiong smiled: "Brother Chen, I'm embarrassed to say this, but my real team members, including myself, are less than thirty people. The others are all hired to help cheer us on. Brother Chen, can you help me get in touch with the local party organization? Faced with these supplies, I really don't know what to do. It's not just about whether they can be transported or hidden, but mainly because these people are greedy for money and I'm worried."

  Chen Zhihao went outside and took a look. With so many supplies, it was enough to equip several thousand people: "I'll give it a try." He said, and left.

  The devils originally wanted to expand Kangjia Town's artillery tower and form a pseudo-military unit, so they stockpiled these many guns and ammunition.

  Yang Jie ordered Li Baoguo to lead the twenty soldiers to patrol around Xiyangkou, and also ordered Zhou Detree to lead a few people to patrol the intersection of the road from Zhuolu, before he felt at ease and said to Li Ying: "Later Chen Zhihao will come with the local party organization, you command them to hide these valuable things near the villa, it must be kept secret, I will let Gao Junping help you change the terrain. In addition, you send people to transport these ammunition materials to the villa, I want to establish our military training base there."

  Two men were discussing how to form an army, when Chen Zhihao walked in with a young man behind him. The dark face had a pair of wise eyes shining on it. "Brother Yang, fortunate not to disappoint, this is Jia Zhenghua, the secretary of the northern district of Weixian City. Don't look at his age, he's an old Red Army like you. Zhenghua, this is Yang Shijie, now called Yang Jie, Chairman Mao's personal bodyguard."

  Jia Zhenhao hastily reached out to grasp Yang Jiong's extended hands, excitedly saying: "We're also preparing to form a guerrilla squad, but we lack weapons and don't have suitable candidates for leadership, so it's been delayed until now. Now that you're here, why not stay and fight the devils?"

  Yang Jiong tightly grasped Jia Zhenhao's hand, glanced at Chen Zhihao and said: "Brother Chen, I think it's better for us to stay behind and fight the devils together. After all, we can resist Japan anywhere. If I go to Yan'an like this without any achievements, I don't want Chairman Mao to think I'm useless."

  Chen Zhihao understood Yang Wei's meaning: without strength, there is no status. Although it doesn't work to set up a mountain stronghold internally, the forces of various factions still exist in secret.

  Chen Zhihao would have been willing to stay and rely on Yang Guang to conquer the world, but he was different from Yang Jue. He had to go through organizational approval. Seeing several people looking at him, he said: "I need to ask for organizational approval, and also report your situation to the chairman. The chairman misses you very much."

  Yang Jie knew that Chen Zhihao had told a lie, but still looked very excited. "We can use telegram to ask for instructions, do you have the password?"

  Chen Zhihao smiled and used a knife to take out a piece of paper from his shoe, handing it over to Yang Jiong. As he led Chen Zhihao to send the telegram, he said to Li Ying and Nan Weiren: "We have at most five days' time, Xiyangkou and Zhuolu directions have already been dispatched with warnings, you must complete your respective tasks with Comrade Jia's help, understood?"

  The two of them said "yes" and took Jia Zhuo Huan away.

  Chairman Mao in Yan'an never thought he would receive such a telegram, which reported Yang's experiences and current situation, especially the situation of Li Ying and others. He requested permission to stay in Weixian with Comrade Chen Zhihao to establish an anti-Japanese base. This unexpected telegram made the great man extremely excited, and he couldn't help but share the joy with Zhu De. After reading the telegram, Zhu De said with a smile: "It seems that this month's good fortune belongs to you, and when the time comes, you must invite me to drink." Chairman Mao laughed loudly: "Definitely, definitely." The two men hadn't been so happy in a long time.

  In fact, Chairman Mao's concern for Yang Shijie far exceeded Yang Gong's expectations, because the emotions and stories between Yang Shijie and the chairman were things that an outsider like him could hardly know. Some things are impossible to write into history.

  Chairman Mao immediately instructed: Allow Yang and Chen to establish the Wei County Anti-Japanese Guerrilla Detachment, with Yang as the commander, Chen Zhihao as the political commissar, Li Ying as the chief of staff, and other personnel appointments to be decided by the three after consultation and reported to the Military Commission for filing. It is suggested that after the Yang-Chen unit forms its combat effectiveness, it should develop towards the Zhuolu and Zhangjiakou areas. Pay attention to expanding forces and doing a good job in political work at the base area, with political workers to be dispatched by the Central Committee later.

  Chairman Mao's telegram was the only time a command was given directly to combat troops without being studied and voted on by the Military Commission, and it was also the only time that a specific instruction was given to name a guerrilla unit that had not yet been established.

  Yang and Chen received this telegram signed by Zhu Mao, understanding the implicit hope of the two great men. Yang Jie understood Chairman Mao's intention even more clearly. Because in history, the Nationalist army deployed three battlefields in Cangzhou-Gaozhou-Datong, respectively blocking the Japanese army advancing south along the Tianjin-Pukou, Pinghan and Tongpu roads. However, the Nationalist army headquarters did not properly handle the relationship between these three defensive lines, without a defensive focus, without a defensive key point and link, and the entire front line had "cracks" everywhere. The 1st War Zone defended Gaozhou, the 2nd War Zone guarded Datong, but the junction of these two defensive areas was neglected, leaving a 200-kilometer gap open. Faced with this situation, the Central Military Commission decided to send the Eighth Route Army to the Yu County area in Chahar Province, advancing to the middle zone between the Nationalist army's Gaozhou and Datong two defensive areas, to fill the gaps in the Nationalist army's front line. Unexpectedly, the Nationalist army collapsed too quickly, and this plan had to be abandoned. Now Yang and Chen's appearance happened to fill this gap, establishing the first warning defense zone for the border region.