Chapter 215: Going Home

He Yuzhu had just reached the edge of the Military Camp when he sensed something was wrong inside.

The soldiers were either packing their luggage or dismantling tents, clearly preparing to evacuate.

Not leaving during the day, but choosing to leave at night? This commander is sick! Wanting to leave, it won't be that easy!

He Yuzhu quickly retreated back to the mountain and fired two Rockets at the Military Camp from the high ground.

After the Rockets whistled and struck two large tents, a great fire broke out in the camp.

The north wind howled, and the fire spread incessantly. The soldiers began to flee in all directions; some were caught in the flames and rolled on the ground.

Just then, He Yuzhu suddenly caught a glimpse of a troop moving rapidly along the winding mountain road, like a fire dragon, appearing to be over a thousand people strong.

Could it be reinforcements for the Security Regiment? That shouldn't be—if reinforcements had arrived, why would they be retreating? It looks like these should be reinforcements for his own side.

He Yuzhu took out his Telescope to look carefully and faintly saw red flags!

Did his old man bring people here? Didn't they say they wouldn't arrive until tomorrow noon? Could it be a surprise for him? Impossible, He Yuzhu dismissed this thought. Never mind, better to keep causing trouble for the Security Regiment!

He continued to open fire on the Security Regiment.

As one Rocket after another exploded in the enemy camp,

the Security Regiment fell into complete chaos. They ran regardless of anything, abandoning even their mules, horses, and vehicles, only concerned with fleeing for their lives.

The two troops soon engaged in combat. The Security Regiment, already low in morale, did not hold out for long before many surrendered.

He Yuzhu did not go to find this People's Liberation Army troop; after all, it was very chaotic down there, so it was better to wait until they finished clearing the battlefield.

He quickly returned to the Shanzhai and told everyone the situation.

After hearing He Yuzhu's words, Yang Xiuqing laughed happily: "Heaven helps me! That's great! Notify logistics immediately, slaughter pigs and sheep, invite that troop up, and we will treat them well!"

He Yuzhu hurriedly advised against it: "Don't be in a rush; if they don't recognize us, it would be a disaster. Let's wait a while."

Only then did Yang Xiuqing restrain his smile: "Zhuzi is right; let's guard the gate tightly first and verify their identities before letting them in."

Two hours later, that troop arrived at the gate of the Shanzhai.

He Yuzhu quickly climbed the wall of the Shanzhai and shouted down: "Comrades, which side are you from?"

Someone below responded: "Please have He Yuzhu come out to speak."

He Yuzhu poked his head out: "Who is looking for me?"

Regimental Commander Yang walked out from the crowd and smiled: "As soon as I saw someone firing Rockets, I knew it had to be you, kid!"

He Yuzhu was overjoyed and hurriedly ordered the gate of the Shanzhai to be opened to welcome Regimental Commander Yang inside.

He Yuzhu asked as they walked: "Didn't my dad say he wouldn't arrive until tomorrow? Why did you come today?"

Regimental Commander Yang explained: "When I was leading the troop on a mission, I received your dad's telegram, so I didn't return to the station and rushed over overnight—who told you to be in trouble, kid?"

"Do I have that much face?"

"That goes without saying! Let alone here, even if the headquarters knew you were in difficulty, they couldn't help but assist!" Regimental Commander Yang said.

"I love hearing that!" He Yuzhu felt wonderful inside.

He then introduced Yang Xiuqing and several key members to Regimental Commander Yang.

"We are actually from the same family!" Regimental Commander Yang said, shaking Yang Xiuqing's hand.

"Indeed!" Yang Xiuqing said.

Yang Xiuqing immediately ordered logistics to slaughter pigs and sheep to prepare a banquet.

Regimental Commander Yang brought a thousand men, and once the two sides merged, the Shanzhai suddenly seemed crowded.

Before the meal, He Yuzhu arranged for the main leaders of the Shanzhai to be with Regimental Commander Yang so they could seriously discuss the conditions for cooperation. After introducing the situation of both sides, He Yuzhu went out, fearing that his presence would make everyone feel constrained and unable to speak frankly.

He took Ding Li to the kitchen to help and personally cooked several dishes, including Braised Lamb and Twice Cooked Pork.

Ding Li had been eating well lately, and her face had gained a little weight.

She asked in a low voice: "Brother, are we leaving?"

He Yuzhu nodded: "If their talks go smoothly, we will set off the day after tomorrow."

Ding Li gave an "mm" sound.

"Do you like it here? Why don't you stay?" He Yuzhu teased her on purpose.

Upon hearing this, Ding Li immediately hugged his leg and started crying "woo-woo."

He Yuzhu hurriedly patted her head: "I was just joking with you, don't cry."

Only then did Ding Li break into a smile through her tears.

When the meal started, Regimental Commander Yang and Yang Xiuqing walked out smiling; clearly, the talks had gone well.

He Yuzhu sat with everyone and asked: "Brother Xiuqing, how did the talks go?"

"It's about settled; we will be one family soon."

Regimental Commander Yang also asked: "Zhuzi, when do you plan to return to Si Jiu Cheng?"

"As soon as you finish your negotiations, I will leave."

"So soon? Stay a few more days!" Yang Xiuqing and Zhao Dashan urged him to stay in unison.

"If I leave this time, I might be back again soon," He Yuzhu laughed.

"Zhuzi is telling the truth; he still has to get supplies for us!" Regimental Commander Yang said.

After the meal, Regimental Commander Yang called He Yuzhu into his room.

"Leader, are you going to promote me?" He Yuzhu asked half-jokingly.

"Yes, if you are willing to stay, I will make you a Battalion Commander," Regimental Commander Yang said.

"Even if I'm not in the troop, my contributions aren't small, right?"

"Your merits are all being recorded for you!" Regimental Commander Yang said.

"Regimental Commander, this Shanzhai is a good place, easy to defend and hard to attack. There is also a Cave in the back mountain that can hold a thousand people, with a spring inside; it's a natural logistics base..." He Yuzhu said.

"Your eyes are truly sharp, kid! I took a liking to it as soon as I arrived. Now our regiment already has five thousand men, so we really should have a logistics base... I want to have your dad set up the logistics base here and have Yang Xiuqing be his deputy... What do you think?"

"I agree," He Yuzhu said.

"If we really turn it into a logistics base, what will happen to the common folk on the mountain?" Regimental Commander Yang asked, hesitating.

"That's not difficult. We can widen the drawbridge, use the back mountain as the base, and build the front mountain into a village."

"I'm just afraid of enemies infiltrating," Regimental Commander Yang said, still hesitating.

"We just need to strengthen management and establish grassroots organizations among the common folk... isn't that what we are best at?"

"That makes sense!" Regimental Commander Yang said, slapping his thigh.

Early the next morning, both sides agreed on the terms: Yang Xiuqing would join the team with over five hundred people and become the Deputy Director of the Logistics Department; Zhao Dashan would become a Battalion Commander...

After noon, He Daqing arrived, looking travel-worn.

He Yuzhu accompanied him on a tour around the Shanzhai and introduced all the leaders of the Shanzhai to him.

To put it plainly, this Shanzhai had been taken by He Yuzhu, and now that He Daqing was taking over, everyone was convinced and obedient.

He Yuzhu instructed, "Dad, you must manage this Shanzhai well and make everyone here treat you as their benefactor. If something happens to our family in the future, we can still hide here."

"Are you planning to become a king of the mountain in the future, you brat?" He Daqing asked.

"Just listen to me, you won't go wrong! Would I ever harm you?" He Yuzhu said.

He Daqing suddenly asked, "What's the deal with that child by your side? Are you looking for a child bride?"

"Dad, after we go back, I'll just say this child is my half-sister!"

"If you dare say that, I'll beat you to death!" He Daqing threatened.

At this moment, Ding Li happened to run over. He Yuzhu took her hand and said, "Hurry up and call him Godfather!"

Ding Li glanced at He Daqing and immediately shouted, "Godfather!"

He Daqing took Ding Li's hand and said, "Wait a moment, Godfather will prepare a gift for you."

He Yuzhu lingered in the Shanzhai for two more days before setting off on the return journey with Ding Li and her mother.

After two days of bumping along the road, they finally caught sight of the familiar Siheyuan.

Seeing He Yuzhu bring in a strange mother and daughter, Yan Bugui paced forward to inquire, "Zhuzi, is this another relative of your Siqiang?"

"Not a relative of my Siqiang, but my dad's cousin. Their family suffered a disaster, so they came to rely on us," He Yuzhu replied.

"Hey! This Siheyuan is almost becoming your family's relative compound!" Yan Bugui grumbled with dissatisfaction.

"Do you have an opinion? Even if you do, you'll have to keep it to yourself. Who told my Siqiang to be willing to lend the house!"

Yan Bugui looked unhappy—seeing He Yuzhu empty-handed, he knew there was no advantage to be gained.

Ding Li secretly glanced at Yan Bugui and remained silent. She had already sensed that this person was unfriendly to her brother and made up her mind to ignore him in the future.

"Brother!"

He Yushui was kicking a shuttlecock in the courtyard with Xiaomi and Dahua, the little faces of the children all flushed red.

She happily pounced toward He Yuzhu, but suddenly caught sight of the strange woman and little girl behind him, and blinked her big eyes in a daze: "Who are they?"

He Yuzhu gently pushed Ding Li forward and explained with a smile, "This is our family's relative; this is the aunt, and this is the sister."

"Hello Aunt, hello Sister!" He Yushui shouted crisply, her little face full of curiosity.

In fact, on the road, He Yuzhu had repeatedly urged Ding Li and her mother to only tell outsiders that they were He Daqing's cousins, so as to avoid gossip from the neighbors.

Ding Li was a bit reserved, but He Yushui warmly took her hand and led her to kick the shuttlecock with Xiaomi and Dahua.

He Yuzhu brought Mother Ding into the house, but after introducing the situation, Mother Ding was still somewhat reserved.

"Ma'am, please feel free to order me for any chores in the future."

Shen Guizhi hurriedly held her hand: "It's all settled, you are Daqing's cousin. From now on, we will treat each other as relatives, just call me sister."

At the entrance of the East Wing, Jia Zhangshi stared fixedly at Mother Ding's back, muttering to herself: "This woman must be a mistress kept by He Daqing, and now she's come to claim her place in the family."

"Mom, say less!" Jia Dongxu advised.

That evening, people from the Wang family, the Li Family, and the Ding family all came to He Yuzhu's house for dinner.

He Yuzhu cooked a sumptuous meal, and just as everyone was eating heartily, Li Xiangxiu suddenly hurried over.

He Yuzhu followed her to the East Cross Courtyard and asked in a low voice, "What happened?"

"Another one of our Traffic Stations was wiped out by the enemy, and three comrades were arrested and taken to Jingshi Prison," Li Xiangxiu said with a grave expression. "Lao Zhou's idea is for you to find a way to visit them in prison..."