Chapter 210: Shanzhai Crisis

He Yuzhu felt a shock in his heart upon hearing this—though he had guessed the Second Boss had gone to fetch reinforcements, he had not expected he could truly bring back regular troops. A second thought brought relief: this Shanzhai had been entrenched for many years; perhaps it had long been deeply connected with the troops down the mountain.

Sure enough, the Regimental Commander Zhai who led the troops was actually the former Big Boss of the Shanzhai.

Back when the Japanese invaded China, he had taken his brothers and defected to the enemy; after the victory in the War of Resistance, he had defected again to the Bald Party, becoming a local security regiment's Regimental Commander.

Over these years, his identity had changed several times, but this Shanzhai had always remained his foundation for hoarding grain and goods.

"Brother Xiuqing, call over all the brothers who participated in the war preparations; we need to discuss a countermeasure," He Yuzhu said.

Before long, over a hundred people crowded into the Juyi Ting. He Yuzhu scanned the tense faces of the crowd and said in a deep voice, "Just received news: over a hundred security regiment men are heading here. It's clear they are aiming for those hundreds of thousands of catties of grain. Everyone, speak up, how should we respond?"

The hall was silent for a few seconds, then erupted in a heaven-shaking roar: "Fight them!"

Machine gunner Zhao Dashan stood out, patting his chest, "We hold the geographical advantage. If we set up the machine gun at the Shanzhai gate, let alone a hundred men, even three hundred won't be able to get close!"

His words were like a spark, instantly igniting the fighting spirit of the crowd.

"For the grain, fight them to the death!"

"I don't believe that if we can take the Shanzhai, we can't drive them away!"

For a time, everyone's fighting spirit was roused; they no longer held those people in their eyes.

He Yuzhu raised his hand to press down, his tone serious: "Those coming are veteran soldiers from the battlefield. If we really fight, we will have deaths. Those who are afraid can leave now; I will absolutely not stop you. After all, being alive is better than anything."

The crowd looked at each other in dismay; the hot-bloodedness from just a moment ago cooled by half.

Zhao Dashan was the first to break the silence, shouting: "Without the grain, we'll just starve to death on the road anyway. Better to die fighting here!"

These words struck the hearts of everyone. Several young men stood up immediately: "We were already people on the verge of starvation; we aren't afraid of death!"

Several leaders also nodded: "We aren't leaving!"

Zhao Dashan looked at He Yuzhu and Yang Xiuqing: "Brother Yang, Zhuzi, tell us how to fight, and we'll charge however you say!"

Yang Xiuqing also looked at He Yuzhu: "Zhuzi, I'm not as good as you when it comes to fighting. You arrange it; we will all listen to you."

"Then I'll say the ugly words first," He Yuzhu's gaze was sharp. "Since no one is leaving, if anyone flees in the face of battle, no matter who it is, I will not go easy on them."

"We will never be deserters!" everyone said in unison, their voices firmer than before.

"Yesterday, Brother Dashan taught everyone how to shoot. Now, those who can load and fire, stand out!" As soon as He Yuzhu finished speaking, more than half of the hundred-plus people stood out with a rustle.

"Good! Today, the time to test your skills has arrived," He Yuzhu looked at Zhao Dashan. "You take these people to the Shanzhai wall. Right, take some bags from the grain warehouse, fill them with sand and soil, move them to the Shanzhai wall, and build defensive fortifications."

Zhao Dashan leaned in, lowering his voice: "Zhuzi, there isn't enough ammunition. Each person only has ten rounds, and there are only 200 rounds for the machine gun."

"No need to worry, I will replenish the ammunition for you in a while," He Yuzhu said, patting his shoulder.

"Understood!" Zhao Dashan immediately led the people away.

He Yuzhu pointed to the four crates of grenades in the corner: "Who has thrown this thing before?"

A burly man with a full beard stood out, his voice resonant: "I can! I was a soldier before and threw quite a few."

"What is your name?"

"Jin Yi."

"Good, Jin Yi." He Yuzhu pointed to the remaining people. "You take them to the Shanzhai wall too. Hide behind the fortifications first; don't show your heads. Wait until the enemy charges to thirty meters from the Shanzhai wall, then throw the grenades. Remember, pull the pin and count two seconds before throwing."

"Guarantee to complete the mission!" Jin Yi led the people to move the four crates of grenades.

Seeing that everyone in the Juyi Ting had left, He Yuzhu pulled Yang Xiuqing aside and said: "Brother Yang, it's not a big problem to beat back this wave, but I'm afraid they will send a large force later. Have you thought about what we should do when that time really comes?"

Yang Xiuqing gave a bitter smile: "I really haven't thought that far ahead."

"We need to find a backer," He Yuzhu paused. "I'm thinking, after this battle is over..."

Before he could finish, the sentry at the Shanzhai gate ran in, panting, and said: "Brother Yang, the enemy is less than two li away; we can already see their flags!"

He Yuzhu immediately let go of Yang Xiuqing and waved his hand: "We'll discuss the backer matter in detail after we win." Having said that, he turned and ran down the mountain—yesterday, while surveying the terrain, he had discovered a giant rock five hundred meters outside the Shanzhai gate that was perfect for hiding people. He placed the High Explosive behind the rock, installed the Detonator, and covered the Explosive with some rubble.

By the time he returned to the Shanzhai wall, Zhao Dashan had already led the men to stack the sandbags on the wall, reaching a full half-person in height.

He Yuzhu leaned over and patted his shoulder, "Well done. When the enemy is six or seven hundred meters away, let the novices fire first. No need to aim, just shoot; the more chaotic, the better."

Zhao Dashan chuckled: "Rest assured, you've already told me once. I guarantee they'll think we're a bunch of refugees who don't know how to shoot!"

He Yuzhu scanned the people on the Shanzhai wall again. Seeing four or five young men clutching their Rifles with shaking hands, he walked over and patted one of them on the shoulder: "Don't panic. Remember, poke your head out, fire one shot, and hide back behind the sandbags. The enemy won't have time to aim at you at all."

As he spoke, He Yuzhu picked up a Rifle and demonstrated the actions of loading, poking the head out, aiming, and hiding. Those who were shaking calmed down.

Seeing that everyone on the Shanzhai wall was steady, He Yuzhu carried his Submachine Gun, climbed up to the small hill on the left, and found a rock for cover.

Down the mountain, Regimental Commander Zhai was leading over a hundred security regiment soldiers, walking up swaggeringly. He didn't put this group of refugees in his eyes at all.

Company Commander Feng wore his military cap askew, spat on the ground, and cursed: "Big Brother, you shouldn't have let Lao Wang be the Big Boss. That guy is a coward; he's good at playing with women, but nothing else. To think he could have his nest taken by a bunch of refugees."

Regimental Commander Zhai turned his head and glared at the Second Boss, his tone cold: "Tell me the truth, what is the background of the other side? How did they take the Shanzhai?"

The Second Boss's eyes darted around, stammering: "They are all refugees, none of them know how to shoot. It's just... just that there's a kid whose movements are extremely fast. The five people guarding the gate were all killed by him."

"They don't know how to shoot, yet they could take the Shanzhai?" Company Commander Feng frowned and pressed, "Do you take us for fools?"

"It's, it's that they tricked the Shanzhai gate open!" As soon as the words left the Second Boss's mouth, he knew he had let something slip.

Regimental Commander Zhai's face sank instantly, and he cursed: "So you were lying when you said they went up from the back mountain."

"Big Brother, spare my life!"

Regimental Commander Zhai raised his hand and fired a shot.

With a "Bang," a bloody hole appeared in the Second Boss's head. He fell straight to the ground, and fresh blood splattered everywhere.

"Listen to me, all of you!" Regimental Commander Zhai raised his gun. "Today, whoever dares to be a coward will meet the same fate as him! Charge up, take the Shanzhai, and everyone will be rewarded with ten Big Ocean!"

These security regiment soldiers were originally bandits. Upon hearing there was Big Ocean to be had, they immediately hunched over and charged up.

Just at this moment, "Bang, bang, bang" gunfire suddenly rang out.

Regimental Commander Zhai immediately stopped in his tracks, but Company Commander Feng sneered: "Big Brother, this Shanzhai is still over seven hundred meters away. With their crappy guns, they can't hit us at all. It's purely blind bluffing!"

Regimental Commander Zhai's face flushed—he had indeed not been on the battlefield for many years and had forgotten the effective range of a Rifle. He could only bite the bullet and keep walking forward.

Seeing this, Company Commander Feng simply shouted at the top of his lungs: "Charge, all of you! They are just trying to scare people; they don't know how to shoot at all!"

The soldiers listened and became even more spirited, quickening their pace as they charged up.

A burst of chaotic gunfire came from the stockade wall again; some bullets hit the trees, while others landed in the mountain ravine, not even touching a single shadow.

Company Commander Feng shouted, "Brothers, let's put in some effort, charge straight in, and drink wine and eat meat!"

"Charge!" The bandit soldiers, as if injected with chicken blood, rushed forward recklessly!