Chapter 301: EXCHANGING HOSTAGES

He Yuzhu shouted sternly toward the opposite side: "Listen well—the two forces at Beishan and Nanshan have already been completely wiped out by us! Surrender honestly, and I will spare your lives; if you remain stubborn, don't blame me for being impolite!"

"You don't have much time left. Our main force is right behind us, so think carefully about what I said," a threatening voice came from the opposite side.

"There is nothing to discuss!" He Yuzhu responded immediately.

Regimental Commander He stepped forward and spoke steadily: "What should I call you, brother on the other side? You don't look like an American to me, so why bother risking your life for these people?"

"My name is Huang Bingren!" the other side replied triumphantly. "My grandfather's generation was already American, so don't try to get chummy with me! To tell you the truth, we have long known that you were hiding a big fish in the mountains. A full division of our troops will arrive soon; if you don't surrender now, it will be too late later!"

Regimental Commander He's expression changed abruptly, and he immediately whispered an order to the messenger: "Quick, notify headquarters immediately, prepare for an emergency evacuation!"

He Yuzhu said: "Regimental Commander, this bastard's proposal isn't bad. You can hand me over and say I'm the one who shot down the plane; maybe we can trade me for a few of our brothers."

"Absolutely not!" Regimental Commander He said.

Seeing that Regimental Commander He had no other ideas, He Yuzhu shouted to the opposite side: "Huang Bingren, I know who you are looking for—truth be told, I am the one who shot down your bomber! Aren't you looking for me?"

Huang Bingren sneered on the opposite side: "You don't even rank as the number one target! The primary person we are looking for is the highest commander here. However... you barely qualify for second place. Come back with me, and maybe the United Nations Forces won't kill you."

"You want to take our Army Commander? Not a chance! I can go with you, as long as you release those thirty-some brothers of ours."

Huang Bingren scoffed: "You want to trade one person for thirty? Keep dreaming!"

Just then, a resonant voice came from behind: "Then add me, Army Commander Song, to the deal. Is that enough to trade for these thirty brothers?"

Army Commander Song's guards immediately became anxious and scrambled to block him: "Army Commander, you cannot do this! If you are captured by them, what will happen to our corps?"

Everyone turned around and saw that Army Commander Song was already standing in the bunker, no one knew when he had arrived.

Regimental Commander He stomped his feet in anxiety: "Army Commander, why did you come here? It's too dangerous!"

He Yuzhu also advised: "Army Commander Song, you really shouldn't have come. We can handle these people."

"How can you handle them? By killing all these brothers? Trading myself for so many of them is worth it," Army Commander Song said.

"You really can't do this! How am I supposed to answer to the General?" Regimental Commander He whispered.

Huang Bingren shouted from the opposite side: "Army Commander Song! I've long admired your name! You and that kid who shot down the plane come over together, and I will release all thirty people right now."

He Yuzhu hurriedly tried to stop him: "Army Commander Song, that kid on the other side is treacherous and cunning; you are courting disaster by going over there."

Army Commander Song smiled calmly: "Using my own life to trade for the lives of thirty soldiers—this deal is worth it!"

Regimental Commander He slapped his thigh hard, feeling both anxious and ashamed: "It's all our fault for being useless, letting these people sneak in!"

He Yuzhu lowered his voice and said to Regimental Commander He: "If Army Commander Song is truly willing to go with me, I guarantee I can take care of them on the way and bring Army Commander Song back safely."

"Are you telling the truth?" Regimental Commander He asked, as if grabbing a life-saving straw.

He Yuzhu nodded solemnly.

Hearing this, Army Commander Song raised his eyebrows and looked at He Yuzhu with interest: "Tell me, how do you plan to get me out?"

"You just need to cooperate with me," He Yuzhu said confidently.

"Absolutely not! This is too risky!" Regimental Commander He said.

"Regimental Commander He, it's settled! I'm going with them!"

Army Commander Song shouted: "Huang Bingren, we have a deal. We will exchange later, and no one is allowed to play any tricks!"

Huang Bingren responded: "I still have that much integrity."

Both sides emerged from behind their cover simultaneously, the clatter of hundreds of rifle bolts ringing out, the muzzles forming an invisible line of life and death across the snow.

He Yuzhu and Army Commander Song walked forward slowly, while the opposite side released the thirty-plus captured soldiers as promised.

The moment the two groups crossed paths in the middle of the snow, Huang Bingren squinted at Army Commander Song, confirmed his identity, and then turned to stare at He Yuzhu: "You? You're the one who shot down our plane? Could it be that you're a fake?"

He Yuzhu retorted sarcastically: "Still 'we'? Do you think those white masters really consider you one of their own? In their eyes, you are just a bunch of ants."

Huang Bingren's expression suddenly changed: "If you provoke me again, I'll kill you!"

"If you kill me on our turf, you won't make it back alive either," He Yuzhu sneered contemptuously.

"Tie them both up for me!" Huang Bingren ordered.

Several ethnic Chinese soldiers came up and tied He Yuzhu and Army Commander Song up tightly.

He Yuzhu said: "Brothers, don't tie it so tight. The blood won't circulate, and my two arms will be useless by the time we get there."

"What does it have to do with me whether you're useless or not?" an ethnic Chinese soldier said dismissively.

He Yuzhu gave him a cold, chilling look.

As Army Commander Song and He Yuzhu were led further and further away under the escort of these hundred-plus men, the eyes of the Guard Regiment soldiers behind them all turned red.

Regimental Commander He clenched his fists so hard his nails dug deep into his palms, his knuckles making a clicking sound.

Just after leaving the valley, Huang Bingren grabbed He Yuzhu by the collar viciously: "You little rat, you were quite talkative just now, weren't you? Now that you're off your turf, let's see how I deal with you! Brothers, strip his clothes off and make him crawl back naked!"

"Are you really going to be this ruthless?" He Yuzhu asked calmly.

"Ruthless?" Huang Bingren laughed sinisterly. "You are just a bedbug in my palm now; I can crush you whenever I want!"

Army Commander Song said in a low voice: "Mr. Huang, you and I are both descendants of the Yellow Emperor, why must you..."

"I am an American!" Huang Bingren interrupted rudely. "It has nothing to do with you Huaxia people!"

He Yuzhu suddenly chuckled: "Someone who doesn't even recognize his own ancestors is nothing but a dog in the eyes of the white masters, yet you think you're superior to others."

This sentence completely enraged Huang Bingren. He raised his rifle butt to smash it down, but He Yuzhu dodged it with a quick movement.

Huang Bingren pulled out his Dagger and said: "This kid is a fake, right? Let's cut his tongue out first, then cut off his little brother..."

The crowd burst into loud laughter.

A soldier jeered: "I've seen castrated dogs, but I've never seen a castrated man. Officer Huang is going to open our eyes today!"

Huang Bingren lunged at He Yuzhu with a ferocious look.