Chapter 396: Equipment for a Battalion

Hearing this!

Zhu Ziming's brows were tightly furrowed, his gaze narrowing; that Brother Wu actually came from the Sichuan Army was something Zhu Ziming truly had not expected.

In this day and age, those who are bandits are still quite afraid of dealing with government troops; after all, they are bandits.

After Wu Tianlu finished speaking, he did not urge Zhu Ziming, but instead poured himself a cup of plain water first; having walked for such a long time, he drank water first to replenish some fluids.

After a while, Zhu Ziming looked at Wu Tianlu: "Brother Wu!"

"I don't know how much weaponry the Sichuan Army is willing to provide to support our Qingfeng Stronghold; you also know that our Qingfeng Stronghold is a bandit group, and our weaponry certainly cannot compare to the Japanese Army."

Seeing Zhu Ziming nod, Wu Tianlu continued: "The main force of the Japanese Army has separated from their supply troops, and, as the front line extends, the Japanese supply troops need to transport ammunition, provisions, and medical supplies, so they take shortcuts."

The first batch of weapons given by the Sichuan Army had already made Zhu Ziming very satisfied; happy today, he had the cook in the stronghold prepare a grand feast.

The Japanese Army inside can only obediently take a beating, and, this place is easy to defend and hard to attack; for the defensive side, it is a terrain where one man can hold the pass and ten thousand cannot get through.

"I will now first deliver the first batch of goods to Qingfeng Stronghold; my men are just outside the stronghold."

Once Zhu Ziming heard that a regiment of the Eighth Route Army, over two thousand people, was going to participate, this deal was worth it; plus, Zhu Ziming himself was very loyal and often took General Yue and Guan Yu as his role models.

A Battalion's worth of equipment is enough to let Qingfeng Stronghold sweep through the surrounding few strongholds and become the top boss.

"This batch of weapons is entirely Japanese Arisaka Type 38 Rifles and Type 11 Light Machine Guns, and there are even a few Heavy Machine Guns."

"Big Boss Zhu, you count them!"

Zhu Ziming stood up and came to Wu Tianlu's side: "Good, good, good... this is excellent. Brother Wu, since it is like this, I will see you out of the stronghold, and let me also take a look at this first batch of goods."

Seeing the uniform marching of the Sichuan Army troops, as well as the weapons on their bodies, plus the high-spirited demeanor of the Sichuan Army, all of it revealed that this was an elite force.

Wu Tianlu waved his hand: "Big Boss Zhu, you can rest assured; this Battalion's worth of equipment is given to you in the hope that your brothers at Qingfeng Stronghold will ambush the Japanese supply troops at Yixiantian."

"Other troops?" Zhu Ziming looked at Wu Tianlu: "Which mountain?"

This was truly unexpected; a local social organization had now actually turned into government troops. Seeing Zhu Ziming's surprise, Wu Tianlu also gave a brief introduction.

Subsequently, Zhu Ziming took Wu Tianlu, as well as the Sichuan Army brothers, and slaughtered pigs and sheep in the stronghold to have a big meal.

Hearing this, Zhu Ziming nodded; he certainly knew the location of Yixiantian. As long as they used explosives to blast the mountains on both ends and blocked the entrance and exit with rocks, this was a classic case of closing the gate to beat the dog.

This Sichuan Army is worthy of being a national powerhouse; no wonder they have been able to annihilate the Japanese Army many times and win several great victories.

"But, please hurry and deliver these weapons to the stronghold, Brother Wu."

He had thought that the Sichuan Army had not only called his Qingfeng Stronghold but also the big bosses of several other small mountain peaks.

They had even cooperated with the Sichuan Army in Jin Province and fought several good ambushes, which made the reputation of this unit spread throughout the country in an instant.

"Big Boss Zhu!" Wu Tianlu looked at Zhu Ziming: "The Eighth Route Army at Hutou Mountain is the Independent Regiment of the 115th Division, with about two thousand people."

Zhu Ziming was also afraid that the Sichuan Army would let his men serve as cannon fodder; this Battalion's worth of equipment was blood money, and he, Zhu Ziming, was unwilling to accept it.

Zhu Ziming was also a hot-blooded man; his eyes seemed to have flames burning in them: "Brother Wu, this deal, my Qingfeng Stronghold will do it."

Wu Tianlu put down his pottery bowl: "From the information I have obtained, Qingfeng Stronghold has over seven hundred people, and this time our Sichuan Army will provide Qingfeng Stronghold with a Battalion's worth of equipment."

"They will definitely pass through Yixiantian; this time, not only will the brothers of Qingfeng Stronghold participate, but other troops will also join!"

Wu Tianlu asked Zhu Ziming to count the supplies personally, but Zhu Ziming waved his hand: "No need! I trust the Sichuan Army."

"If that is the case, this deal, my Qingfeng Stronghold cannot do."

Wu Tianlu nodded: "That's right! A Battalion's worth of equipment, Japanese-style weapons."

Soon, Mangwa and his party, who were hiding in the dense forest, heard Wu Tianlu's whistle and immediately ran out, heading toward Qingfeng Stronghold.

Wu Tianlu stood up: "Big Boss Zhu, within two days, a Battalion's worth of weapons will definitely be delivered to the mountain."

From this small unit alone, Zhu Ziming could see that the brothers in his own stronghold were simply no match for the Sichuan Army.

In the meeting hall, Wu Tianlu and Zhu Ziming, along with the other few leaders in the stronghold, drank a round of wine.

The few bandit leaders on the side, upon hearing that Qingfeng Stronghold was about to possess a Battalion's worth of weapons, had eyes that glowed with greed.

Hearing that the Sichuan Army was willing to give a Battalion's worth of equipment, Zhu Ziming simply could not believe his ears: "Brother Wu, you didn't say that wrong, did you? You are really giving our Qingfeng Stronghold a Battalion's worth of equipment?!"

Soon, under Wu Tianlu's command, the first batch of weapons given by the Sichuan Army to Qingfeng Stronghold had been handed over.

The group soon arrived at the stronghold gate; Wu Tianlu took out the whistle from his bosom and blew it, two long and two short.

"Many brothers are currently still using broadswords and Red Tassel Spears; this stuff is fine for scaring ordinary people, but when facing the Japanese, that is just throwing one's life away."

"Hutou Mountain?" Zhu Ziming furrowed his brows; he knew this place, but he really did not know when the Eighth Route Army had popped up there.

"These people are not the heroes of the greenwood who roar in the mountains!" Seeing Zhu Ziming's misunderstanding, Wu Tianlu hurriedly explained: "This group of people is the Eighth Route Army from the Hutou Mountain Base."

"According to my Sichuan Army's intelligence, Yixiantian is a place that is large in the middle and small at both ends; it is a superb place for an ambush. The brothers of Qingfeng Stronghold will definitely not suffer a loss by ambushing the Japanese supply troops here."

The Eighth Route Army—this unit was something Zhu Ziming also knew a little about; they were the Red Army from the south in the early years.

Zhu Ziming swallowed his saliva and suppressed his racing heart; he continued: "Brother Wu, the Sichuan Army is being so generous with this Battalion's worth of equipment; it wouldn't be to make the brothers of my Qingfeng Stronghold chew on a hard bone, would it?"

"Please!" Wu Tianlu nodded.

Both sides had a long talk, each discussing interesting stories from their early days of traveling the world; Zhu Ziming was also incredibly shocked to learn that the Sichuan Army troops were almost entirely composed of the Paoge Organization.

Second Boss Li Wu, upon hearing this, also asked that since the main body of the Sichuan Army was the Paoge, did they not follow military discipline and just do whatever they wanted?

Today, the Japanese invaders are ferocious, and he had also once led the brothers of the stronghold to fight the Japanese; as the saying goes, "Every man has a share of responsibility for the fate of his country."

"This unit has also been negotiated by our Sichuan Army to join this operation."

Regarding this, Wu Tianlu shook his head, indicating that the current Sichuan Army possesses iron-like discipline!

Li Wu sighed a little; originally, when he heard Wu Tianlu talk about the Paoge Organization within the Sichuan Army, Li Wu had wanted to join the Sichuan Army to try it out. This unit with the social organization as its backbone made Li Wu yearn for it.

After all, the Sichuan Army has a resounding reputation, and by borrowing the skin of the Sichuan Army, Li Wu also wanted to obtain the status of government troops. However, now that he knew the Sichuan Army had strict rules, and having been a "tiger roaring in the mountains" for so long, he would definitely not be used to it if he went in; being restrained, wouldn't he just be a bird locked in a cage!

(End of chapter)