Chapter 16: Dumbfounded, You Call This a Dozen or So Eighth Route Army Soldiers?
Page 1/3
Inside a house in Lijia Village, many villagers had gathered, including the village chief and representatives from various households.
“Village Chief, do you really think the Eighth Route Army will fight the Black Dragon Society for us?”
“The Black Dragon Society’s equipment is no joke, and their numbers aren’t small either.”
“We have nothing to offer the Eighth Route Army as reward. Could they be deceiving us?”
“Li Dali is right. Warlords never act without benefit. The Eighth Route Army agreed so readily—could there be some hidden agenda?”
“…”
Li Mingzhe, the village chief of Lijia Village, having broader experience, tapped his cane to call for silence among the murmuring crowd.
Once quiet, he spoke, “Do we have any other choice?”
“Now, the Eighth Route Army is our last hope. We must place our trust in them.”
“I can tell this unit is different from other warlords’ troops. Have you ever seen soldiers who actually help you with chores?”
“The Eighth Route Army gives me a sense of warmth. I’m willing to believe in them.”
“So everyone, make sure to give the Eighth Route soldiers a warm welcome.”
“Understood?”
The villagers, reflecting on his words, nodded one after another. “Understood.”
While the villagers of Lijia held their meeting, a villager approached with news.
“Village Chief, I just received word—the Eighth Route Army seems about to make a move and is inquiring about the Black Dragon Society.”
“Also, the Eighth Route commander requests your presence.”
Hearing this, the villagers exchanged glances.
They hadn’t expected the Eighth Route Army to act so swiftly while they were still worrying here.
A wave of shame washed over them.
Village Chief Li Mingzhe glanced at everyone, then rose and headed outside, followed by the others.
At the headquarters of the New First Regiment.
The villagers had offered up a house for use as the regiment’s command post. Li Yunlong had established it as the regiment’s base.
To learn more about the Black Dragon Society, Li Yunlong summoned the village chief for questioning.
After a brief moment, Li Mingzhe entered, escorted by guards.
“Greetings, Commander. I am Li Mingzhe, village chief of Lijia Village.”
“No need to be formal,” Li Yunlong stepped forward to support the elderly man, speaking affably, “I am Li Yunlong, commander of the New First Regiment.”
“You don’t need to call me commander; just call me Commander Li.”
“Thank you for coming at such a late hour.”
Li Mingzhe was momentarily surprised; he hadn’t expected a regiment commander to be so approachable, as if he were a neighbor, evoking a genuine sense of warmth.
“Not at all,” Li Mingzhe replied, touched. “Commander Li, is there anything I can assist you with?”
Page 2/3
Li Yunlong dropped formalities and got straight to the point.
“We have accepted your request. Rest assured.”
“We will handle the Black Dragon Society.”
“Please tell me everything you know about the Black Dragon Society so we can prepare accordingly.”
Upon hearing this, Li Mingzhe finally felt his anxiety ease.
He proceeded to recount all he knew about the Black Dragon Society.
Meanwhile, guards reported that other villagers were gathering outside, which surprised Li Yunlong.
He invited them inside to exchange information and gather more intelligence on the Black Dragon Society.
Half an hour later.
Li Yunlong gave an unequivocal promise to help them, reassuring the villagers and allowing them to return home with peace of mind.
This filled the villagers with immense gratitude and deepened their loyalty toward the New First Regiment.
From their accounts, Li Yunlong learned that the Black Dragon Society might have ties to the Japanese occupiers and that their equipment was formidable—even possessing mountain artillery.
This caught him off guard.
He resolved to devise countermeasures.
This Black Dragon Society was no ordinary bandit gang; they were likely a remnant force, turned rogue and ruling the hills.
Moreover, this battle would determine whether the New First Regiment could establish a foothold in the area.
At that moment, Shen Quan approached with a report.
“Commander, soldiers on watch just apprehended several suspicious individuals. Interrogations revealed they were spies for the Black Dragon Society. It seems the Society has learned of our arrival.”
“With the element of surprise lost, they might not come out. Should we take the initiative to strike?”
Li Yunlong pondered briefly, then waved his hand.
“An offensive is necessary, but we must wait.”
“The troops just relocated and need time to rest and regroup.”
“Let’s see if the Black Dragon Society comes tomorrow.”
“Also, assign personnel to monitor the Society, especially overseeing key routes to Japanese puppet strongholds.”
“From the villagers’ accounts, the Black Dragon Society may be colluding with the Japanese puppets. If confirmed, capture or eliminate them immediately to sever that connection.”
“If they don’t come tomorrow, we strike early the day after and eradicate this scourge.”
“Understood.”
Shen Quan acknowledged and immediately went to make arrangements.
…
The next day.
At the Black Dragon Society’s mountain stronghold.
In the main hall, the leader, Black Dragon, frowned deeply, lost in thought.
According to his intelligence, the Eighth Route Army had settled in Lijia Village and Chenjia Village. Though their numbers were only about ten, he was reluctant to provoke them.
After all, the Eighth Route Army’s reputation made him somewhat wary.
But if he didn’t eliminate them, collecting grain from the villages in the future would be difficult.
This put him in a quandary.
At that moment, his trusted advisor, Dog Head Strategist, spoke up.
“Boss, didn’t the Japanese special envoy want to win us over?”
“Why don’t we capture the Eighth Route soldiers and hand them over as a token of allegiance to the Japanese? Maybe then we can rise and become commanders ourselves.”
Upon hearing this, Black Dragon’s eyes lit up.
Page 3/3
The reason he hadn’t accepted the Japanese offer before was that he lacked bargaining chips.
If he had the Eighth Route soldiers as leverage, perhaps he could indeed secure a ‘bright future.’
“This is a good idea.”
“Notify the brothers to gather and set out immediately for Lijia Village and Chenjia Village to capture those women. Anyone who obstructs us must be seized.”
“Assign some men specifically to capture the Eighth Route soldiers alive!”
“Understood.”
The Dog Head Strategist immediately grasped the plan and went to issue orders.
By midday.
Black Dragon led over a hundred men down the mountain in a grand procession, splitting to head toward Lijia Village and Chenjia Village.
…
In Lijia Village.
At the New First Regiment headquarters.
Li Yunlong was strategizing how to take down the Black Dragon Society based on the intelligence.
Suddenly, a soldier hurried over with a report.
“Commander, we just received news—the Black Dragon Society has descended the mountain with about 120 men, heading toward Lijia Village and Chenjia Village.”
Li Yunlong’s eyes gleamed as he smiled.
“They prefer hell’s path when heaven’s way is open.”
“Alert the first and second companies to conceal themselves and wipe out these bandits in one strike.”
“Yes, sir!”
The messenger swiftly departed.
For Li Yunlong, destroying the enemy’s main force would make the subsequent assault on the Black Dragon stronghold much easier.
However, he couldn’t help but wonder why the Black Dragon Society was attacking.
Had their intelligence been delayed?
Or was there another reason?
Regardless, defeating these bandits would soon reveal the truth.
In Li Yunlong’s view, one company was more than enough to handle these bandits.
He was curious to see which of the two companies would perform better.
…
Elsewhere.
Black Dragon led about 60 men carrying machine guns toward Lijia Village.
Upon arrival, observing the village’s usual tranquility and finding no issues, he signaled his men to move in.
Still wary of a trap, Black Dragon stayed back, not advancing himself.
As his men entered the village, the next scene left Black Dragon and his bandits dumbfounded.
Weren’t there only about ten Eighth Route soldiers?
This…
[End of page 3/3]