Chapter 160: He Daqing Joins the Army

He Yuzhu was stunned, his footsteps pausing slightly: "Where did the Jidong Guerrilla go? I specifically came to find them."

"The Jidong Guerrilla was reorganized into the People's Liberation Army North China Field Army long ago," said a young soldier carrying a Rifle.

"Surely you haven't heard of Xiao Duizhang? He hasn't been killed in action, has he?" He Yuzhu asked.

"We only enlisted in the autumn, so we really haven't heard of Xiao Duizhang. We only have Regimental Commander Yang here," said a tall soldier.

"Then please have your Regimental Commander come out; I have something to discuss with him," He Yuzhu said.

Several soldiers looked at each other, their expressions hesitant.

He Yuzhu narrowed his eyes and lowered his voice: "If you don't go report this, you might miss out on a big deal. I've brought 'good stuff' with me."

Those few soldiers didn't react for a moment.

A small soldier, about fourteen or fifteen years old and thin in stature, had his eyes light up and turned to sprint toward the village.

Not long after, a burly, steady-paced middle-aged man strode out from the village entrance. He had a square face, thick eyebrows, and large eyes, and his voice was booming: "Who is looking for me?"

He Yuzhu looked closely, and that rugged face seemed familiar.

He suddenly grinned and called out to the man: "Lao Yang! Your savior has arrived; aren't you going to hurry up and slaughter a pig or sheep to treat me?"

Lao Yang was taken aback, his brows slightly furrowed as he carefully sized up the youth before him—dark skin, sturdy build, yet his features still carried a hint of childishness. His gaze revealed confusion: "You are...?"

"It's He Yuzhu! Have you forgotten? That time you were caught at the city gate, I was the one who saved you from the car! Your memory really is terrible," He Yuzhu joked and scolded in front of everyone.

Lao Yang looked a bit embarrassed, but soon realized: "You are Shen Wenqing's nephew!"

"That's right," He Yuzhu smiled and stepped forward to shake his hand firmly.

Lao Yang laughed loudly as he rushed over, slapping He Yuzhu on the shoulder with such force that he nearly stumbled: "You kid were barely five feet tall back then, thin as a bamboo pole. Now you're so tall and tanned darker than me, how was I supposed to recognize you? You probably don't know yet, but Xiao Duizhang went to Yan'an for training. However, your father is here; he's currently the squad leader of our Cooking Squad."

"What?" He Yuzhu froze, his voice trembling, "My father joined the army? Then what about my mother?"

"What? Can't a soldier have a family?" Lao Yang laughed heartily, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes bunching together.

"That's not what I meant," He Yuzhu scratched his head, "I mean, my father can't do anything but cook; how can he fight on the battlefield?"

"Being able to cook is enough!" Lao Yang waved his hand generously, "Only by eating well can we win battles."

He Yuzhu's heart tightened—if anything happened to He Daqing on the front lines, how heartbroken Mother would be. But things had already reached this point, and he was helpless.

Lao Yang asked: "I heard you brought 'good stuff'; what exactly is it?"

"This was originally for Xiao Duizhang," He Yuzhu leaned in close and lowered his voice, "You and Xiao Duizhang are on the same side, right?"

"Of course! But once he returns, he'll likely be promoted to my superior."

"That's perfect, how about we make a deal?" He Yuzhu's eyes brightened, "I brought five hundred Submachine Guns; do you want them?"

"What?" Lao Yang's eyes widened into circles, "You kid aren't joking, are you? We are leaving tonight to support Zhangjiakou and are just worrying about not having enough weapons! If we have five hundred Submachine Guns, that would truly be sending charcoal in snowy weather!"

"I have one condition," He Yuzhu smiled, "Consider this shipment as something my father entrusted me to get; shouldn't you arrange for him to be a Quartermaster? Otherwise, I'm not very willing to hand them over!"

"You kid are actually trying to negotiate a deal with me? But this credit can indeed be recorded under Comrade He Daqing's name; I promise you."

Lao Yang looked at the five hundred brand-new Submachine Guns and thirty thousand rounds of ammunition, his eyes fixed in a stare.

This type of all-steel structure submachine gun was best suited for close-quarters urban warfare and assault operations, and it was the ace equipment of the US Military during World War II. With thirty thousand rounds of ammunition added, Lao Yang's regiment was essentially transforming from "local guerrillas" into a "US-equipped regiment."

Lao Yang excitedly lunged forward and hugged He Yuzhu, his eyes slightly red: "Brother, you've saved our entire regiment!"

"Lao Yang, you've got your seniority mixed up; because my father joined the army, I'm making the call on behalf of the Boss this time, so consider it a free sponsorship—no need to try to get close on purpose," He Yuzhu laughed.

Lao Yang patted his chest: "I'll transfer him to the Ordnance Section immediately."

"It would be best if you could arrange for a Deputy Department Chief position or something," He Yuzhu added: "I can also help you get some medicine."

Lao Yang laughed heartily, his gaze piercing: "Let him be the Chief of the Ordnance Section first; we'll take it one step at a time!"

The night grew deeper, and the sounds of children playing could be heard in the village.

After He Yuzhu finished handing over the ammunition, as soon as he entered the village, he saw several children chasing and playing in the dusty alley.

He recognized the little girl with two braided pigtails at a glance—He Yushui.

Her clothes were old and dirty, with yellowed cotton spilling out from a tear in her padded jacket, but she looked very happy.

"Yushui! Your brother is back!" He Yuzhu shouted loudly.

He Yushui was stunned; her little face was dirty, and she blinked her large eyes as she ran over, tilting her head to ask: "Where is my brother?"

He Yuzhu smiled and picked her up: "I'm your brother; don't you recognize me?"

The little girl stared with wide eyes for a long time, then suddenly her eyes lit up: "Brother! I want candy! I haven't had candy in a long time!"

He Yuzhu pulled a large handful of chocolate from his backpack and handed it over: "Brother brought you the sweetest candy this time."

He Yushui couldn't wait to peel one open and stuff it into her mouth, her brows and eyes instantly curving into crescents. She turned and shouted to her little friends: "Xiaomi, Dahua, come over and eat together!"

The children's laughter echoed among the dilapidated tile-roofed houses.

Following He Yushui back home, the three tile-roofed rooms were simple, yet more spacious than most families in the village.

As soon as Shen Guizhi saw her son, she was so angry she grabbed a broom to hit him: "You little bastard, running off without saying a word, see if I don't deal with you!"

He Yuzhu dodged while laughing: "Mother, it was truly an emergency; I left in such a hurry."

Shen Guizhi held his hand and looked at him for a long time, her eyes brimming with tears: "I haven't seen you in a few months, and you're almost as tall as your father. Your face is tanned like charcoal."

"It was the sun at sea," He Yuzhu answered with a smile.

At this moment, He Daqing ran into the room in a rush: "Zhuzi! I heard you went abroad? How is it over there?"

"They aren't very friendly to us, unlike us, who treat those Americans like ancestors."

"Guizhi! Regimental Commander Yang promoted me; he's making me the Chief of the Ordnance Section, at the Company Commander level!"

"I thought that in our courtyard, only Liu Haizhong was obsessed with being an official, but I didn't expect you to be one too," He Yuzhu teased.

"Nonsense!" He Daqing glared at him, "If there's an opportunity, everyone is obsessed with being an official!"

"Father, why did you have to join the army? It's so dangerous."

"Only after joining the troops did I realize that I wasted the first half of my life. People, you know, always need a goal."

"Aren't you afraid that if you go to the battlefield, you won't come back?"

"Afraid? How could I not be? But it's worth it! Besides, in the army, people respect you," He Daqing said. "Hearing you had come, I specifically took leave to come back and see you. But we have to set out immediately."

Shen Guizhi could not stop her tears from flowing down.

"Mother, don't worry," He Yuzhu said, gripping her hand. "I'll go help Father, and I guarantee I'll bring him back safe and sound."

"You little brat! You're not a soldier, you can't go!"

"Then go ask Lao Yang; I sponsored a military truck and five Old Gan Ma Heavy Machine Guns, plus thirty thousand rounds of ammunition, and see if he lets me go or not."

The M2HB Browning Machine Gun, with a total weight of 38 kilograms, a rate of fire of 450 rounds per minute, and a range exceeding 1800 meters, is a pillar of heavy firepower capable of piercing light armor and bunkers directly.

"I don't need his approval, I approve it myself! Where did you get these from, kid?" He Daqing asked in surprise.

"I won't hide it from you, I still have quite a lot of supplies on hand that were prepared for Lao Zhou, hidden nearby. I can drive out and bring them back in half an hour."

"If that's really the case, I could even be promoted to Battalion Commander after this battle is over," He Daqing grinned and said.

Before setting out, He Yuzhu drove the vehicle himself and transported the five brand-new M2 Heavy Machine Guns back.

When Lao Yang saw them, his eyes nearly popped out, and he excitedly blurted out a curse: "Damn! This time I feel like I'm commanding a division!"

After a night of forced marching, the troops had arrived near Xiahuayuan.

He Yuzhu suddenly slammed on the brakes, and a sense of foreboding welled up in his heart.

What he did not know was that in the valley ahead, the enemy had already set an ambush and was quietly waiting for them to step into the trap...