Resistance against Japan: Starting with the local militia

Chapter 63 Weapon Handover

Early the day after tomorrow, Li Yunfei led a company of soldiers toward Tangjia Town.

Recently, the Japanese have been maintaining a tight blockade, so Li Yunfei ordered everyone to change into civilian clothes and set off via back paths to avoid causing unnecessary trouble.

On the way, Li Yunfei asked Zhao Xiaogang, "Political Commissar Zhao, where did your bald bodyguard come from? He's quite skilled. He was able to fight Li Dapeng to a standstill. You know, Li Dapeng is a lay disciple of Shaolin and has excellent Shaolin kung fu."

"It was quite a coincidence. I saw him being chased by two Japanese soldiers while he was unarmed on my way to the Independent Regiment, so I rescued him."

"Later I learned that his name was Chu Dabao. He had shaved his head since he was a child, so over time people called him Monk Chu. His martial arts skills were inherited from his ancestors. When he saw that I had saved him, he followed me to repay my life-saving grace. So I made him my bodyguard."

"However, his marksmanship isn't good, so I've been teaching him marksmanship these past few days," Zhao Xiaogang explained.

"I see. Political Commissar Zhao has really struck gold."

"I just heard you say that you're teaching him marksmanship, and Political Commissar Zhao is also an expert in marksmanship," Li Yunfei asked curiously.

"Not bad, not bad," Political Commissar Zhao said modestly.

"Haha, you scholars are always so modest. How about we have a marksmanship contest sometime?" Li Yunfei invited.

"Since the team leader is interested, then I, Old Zhao, will accept the challenge without hesitation." Zhao Xiaogang accepted the competition.

"Comrades, speed up and get to Tangjia Town as soon as possible," Li Yunfei ordered.

"Yes, Captain."

On the day Li Yunfei set off, Tang Weiguo finished explaining things to the regiment and then returned to Tangjia Town with Tang Xiaohu. Today was the day for Regiment Commander Li and his men to hand over their weapons.

In the afternoon, Tang Weiguo heard a report from the special reconnaissance battalion soldiers who were on guard outside the town that a company of soldiers had come from outside the town and were not wearing any uniforms.

Then Tang Weiguo sent Tang Xiaohu to confirm, and Tang Xiaohu saw that it was indeed the team led by Commander Li. After receiving Tang Xiaohu's message, Tang Weiguo went out to greet them. Soon after, Tang Xiaohu returned with Commander Li.

"Did it go smoothly for Commander Li this time?" Tang Weiguo greeted him warmly.

"We ran into a squad of Japanese soldiers on the way, which took some time. Otherwise, Old Li would have arrived much earlier," Li Yunfei said apologetically.

Tang Weiguo didn't follow up on Li Yunfei's question. A small squad of Japanese soldiers didn't interest him at all. What piqued Tang Weiguo's curiosity was the scholar-like man next to Li Yunfei.

"Commander Li, this person next to you is a complete stranger. Aren't you going to introduce him to me?" Tang Weiguo asked.

"Commander Tang, this is Comrade Zhao Xiaogang, the political commissar of our Independent Regiment. Commissar Zhao, this is Tang Weiguo, the commander of the Tangjia Town militia," Li Yunfei introduced them.

As Li Yunfei introduced Tang Weiguo, Zhao Xiaogang glanced at him, his first impression being one of striking youth. After Li Yunfei finished his introduction, Zhao Xiaogang said:

"Commander Tang, you are so young and promising! With someone like you in our great China, how can we not drive out the Japanese invaders?"

"Commissar Zhao is too kind. I can't drive away the Japanese devils by myself. It takes 400 million Chinese people to drive them away," Tang Weiguo replied.

Hearing Tang Weiguo's words, Zhao Xiaogang was taken aback. "This man's ideological awareness is quite high."

"Commander Tang, have you gotten Old Li's IOU?" Li Yunfei said directly, not liking to exchange pleasantries with scholars.

"Haha, Commander Li, no need to rush. I've already put the weapons in the backyard. Please come in, everyone." Tang Weiguo made an inviting gesture.

"Thank you very much, Commander Tang." Li Yunfei led his team inside.

Sure enough, the courtyard was filled with boxes. Li Yunfei walked over and casually opened one, finding about 50% new Type 65 rifles manufactured in Shanxi. Li Yunfei picked one up and skillfully fiddled with it.

"Commander Tang, this is an IOU. Please take a look." After fiddling with his gun, Li Yunfei carefully slipped a piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to Tang Weiguo.

Tang Weiguo took the equipment and saw that besides their brigade commander's name, there was another familiar name. Seeing this name, Tang Weiguo was incredibly excited; just for this name, he'd be willing to give up the entire batch of equipment.

Tang Weiguo carefully put away the IOU and handed Li Yunfei a form.

"Here is the list, Commander Li, please take a look."

Li Yunfei took a look: it said there were 400 Shanxi-made Type 65 rifles, 5 light machine guns, and 2 mortars. There were also 20,000 rounds of ammunition, 20 mortar shells, and 20 boxes of hand grenades.

"Thank you, Commander Tang," Li Yunfei said after reviewing the list.

"You're welcome. Li Yunfei, please have someone check the inventory. If there are no problems, this batch of weapons will be handed over to you," Tang Weiguo said.

"Okay, Li Dapeng, have someone check the list." Li Yunfei handed the list to Li Dapeng beside him.

After Li Yunfei finished explaining things, Tang Weiguo invited Li Yunfei and Zhao Xiaogang into the house to talk.

"Commander Tang, according to the latest news, the Japanese military train will arrive in the county town next Wednesday night," Li Yunfei reported to Tang Weiguo.

"Today is Friday, which means it will be in four days," Tang Weiguo calculated.

“We’ll meet at Liushangou next Wednesday afternoon, and then follow the mountain road to find the Japanese railway,” Li Yunfei said.

"Okay, Commander Li, I, Tang Weiguo, will definitely be there on time."

While Tang Weiguo and his group were talking, Li Dapeng led his men to take inventory of the weapons and equipment. The quantity was exactly the same as the list, with no more and no less.

"Commander, the count is correct," Li Dapeng reported to Li Yunfei.

“Alright, since Commander Tang says so, then lead your men back first. The sooner you get back, the more at ease you’ll feel.” Li Yunfei stood up and said.

"Alright, Commander Li, then I won't keep you any longer. Have a safe journey." Seeing this, Tang Weiguo decided not to invite them to stay for dinner.

After Li Yunfei finished speaking, he walked out the door and directed the soldiers in the company to move the weapons away.

"Commander Li, Political Commissar Zhao, have a safe journey." Tang Weiguo saw the two men off at the Tang family's gate.

"Okay, see you at Liushangou then." After saying that, Li Yunfei led his troops away.

The next morning, Tang Weiguo rushed back to his post at Wolong Mountain.

Just then, several vendors arrived at a village not far from Tangjia Town and began selling their wares from door to door.

"Captain Jia, is this alright?" asked Lao Liu from the detective team.

"No problem. You don't even need to look at who came up with this plan, it's definitely going to be fine. Brothers, our chance to make a name for ourselves has arrived, so all of you, perk up and act like it's real."

"Captain, why don't we go directly to Tangjia Town?" Lao Liu asked.

"Are you stupid? What if that's the enemy's headquarters? If they find us, how are we going to get out?" Jia Chusheng scolded irritably.

“Now we’ll sneak over little by little. It’s normal and safe. If we’re discovered, we can still run away,” Jia Chusheng said smugly.

"Captain, you're brilliant, truly brilliant," Lao Liu praised.

"Alright, alright, stop arguing and get the information right now," Jia Chusheng said impatiently.

"okay."

Little did they know, Jia Chusheng and his group had already been discovered by the village protection team's intelligence specialists.