Bright Sword: Japs, times have changed

After returning to the camp, Zhao Shan immediately ran to find the battalion commander, Qian Bojun. He knocked on the door and saw that the battalion commander and deputy battalion commander were there. He saluted and said, "Battalion commander, deputy battalion commander!"

"Zhao Shan?"

Qian Bojun was the first to speak: "He's back. Did that Lin guy say again that the weapons were taken away by their regiment leader?"

Zhang Fugui laughed heartily. "Needless to say? Aren't those Eighth Route Army soldiers fond of doing little tricks like this?"

"Come on, come and sit down."

Qian Bojun was very friendly towards his confidant and even personally poured a bowl of wine for Zhao Shan: "Have a couple of sips, this is foreign goods sent by the devils."

Zhao Shan picked up the bowl and drank it all in one gulp.

Compared to sweet potato cake, this foreign thing does taste much better. After eating a bowl, it doesn’t make your throat so spicy.

Putting down his wine bowl, Qian Bojun asked about the ambush of the Japanese soldiers before Zhao Shan could speak: "Did you get anything out of that kid surnamed Lin? Was it them who ambushed Xiao Ye and the others?"

"Captain, I came here to report this matter to you."

Zhao Shan quickly said, "The people who ambushed Ono Taijun were the Eighth Route Army from Heiyun Village, but..."

"I guessed right!"

Zhang Fugui looked exactly like that and said, "Apart from their team, no other militia or guerrilla group has such ability around here."

Zhang Fugui and his men knew the situation of the surrounding militia and guerrillas. After all, they had sent many people to win them over.

Even though they failed to win over the guerrillas, they delivered a lot of supplies to the guerrillas and received a lot of rewards. More than a dozen guerrillas expressed their gratitude to the people sent by Qian Bojun one by one.

His guess was correct, but Zhang Fugui overlooked a problem, which happened to be thought of by Qian Bojun: "Xiao Ye came here with a full squadron of troops this time, while the Eighth Route Army in Heiyun Village is only a platoon. Even if they have more than a hundred people, it is impossible for Xiao Ye to escape with only a few remnants!"

After hearing what Qian Bojun said, Zhang Fugui's drowsy mind began to have doubts. Not to mention the Eighth Route Army, even if they sent out a company from their own team, it would be impossible for them to launch such a beautiful ambush.

Could it be that although there is only one platoon in the Black Cloud Village on the surface, there is actually a main force regiment there?

This was obviously impossible, and Zhang Fugui even found himself laughing at his own ridiculous guess.

First of all, the two large-scale mopping-up operations of the Japanese and the campaign to clear the countryside forced the Eighth Route Army, the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army and the Central Army to shrink their defense areas. Among them, the Eighth Route Army suffered the heaviest losses and had to retreat its troops to the heart of its defense zone and concentrate its forces to prevent the Japanese from pursuing its victory.

Such a long time has passed, and there has been no news of any action by the main regiment of the Eighth Route Army, which shows that the Eighth Route Army is recuperating and recovering its vitality.

Therefore, it is impossible for Heiyun Village to have a main force of the Eighth Route Army.

Zhao Shan's next words not only cleared up the two men's doubts, but also confirmed Zhang Fugui's suspicions: "Battalion Commander, the Eighth Route Army in Heiyun Village is indeed composed of only one platoon, but they have over 400 soldiers!"

"Is this true!?"

Qian Bojun, who was used to seeing big storms, couldn't help but be shocked when he heard this number. A platoon of more than 400 people not only represented the strong combat effectiveness of this team, but also reflected Lin Qiang's personal ability.

"This is what Lin Qiang told me himself!"

Zhao Shan continued, "He's definitely not lying, otherwise he wouldn't dare take on the task of ambush the Japanese."

"What next?"

Qian Bojun could drink much better than Zhang Fugui, and he keenly noticed something wrong in Zhao Shan's words.

Zhao Shan said gradually, "Captain, this is the second thing I want to tell you. This ambush on Ono Taijun was not actually Lin Qiang's own idea. Someone paid a large sum of money to have Lin Qiang do it, and they also provided him with very accurate and detailed intelligence."

With Qian Bojun's intelligence, he immediately suspected the person he was looking for after hearing this: Zheng Qian, the chairman of the county maintenance association.

Only by following the devils all the time could Zheng Qian obtain very accurate and detailed intelligence, and only he could send the intelligence out and take a large amount of silver dollars out of the city.

"Damn!"

Qian Bojun slammed the table, frightening the dazed Zhang Fugui beside him. "Captain, what's going on? Did they start a fight?"

Both of them tacitly ignored him. Seeing that no one responded to him, Zhang Fugui simply lay down on the table and fell asleep. After a while, he started snoring.

"Somebody come!"

Qian Bojun was so disturbed by the snoring that he couldn't think straight. He called two of his men and carried Zhang Fugui away like a dead pig.

After calming down, Qian Bojun raised his suspicions: "Let's not talk about whether this is true or not. Why would Lin Qiang tell you this?"

Zhao Shan suddenly smiled and said, "Captain, let me tell you about the great gift I've prepared for you."

"What kind of gift?"

"A team of four hundred men!"

Zhao Shan told Qian Bojun the detailed conversation between him and Lin Qiang, and described the cause and effect in great detail. His vivid narration convinced even the drunk Qian Bojun.

Especially when he heard Zhao Shan describe Lin Qiang as greedy for money and his eyes widened when he heard the words "promotion and wealth", he believed even more that this was true.

After listening to it, Qian Bojun still had some doubts in his heart. He suspected that what Lin Qiang said was false and that it was impossible for him to bring troops to Dagu Town as he said.

As for Lin Qiang saying that all his subordinates had become his immediate superiors, Qian Bojun knew that this was definitely false, but combined with what Zhao Shan said, he also thought that this was just an excuse Lin Qiang made for himself.

Just like himself.

So far, Lin Qiang's goal has been achieved, and the seeds of Qian Bojun's suspicion of Zheng Qian have been planted. Moreover, Qian Bojun already had doubts about Zheng Qian.

The well-equipped Japanese soldiers were either killed or escaped. How could he, a wealthy businessman who was powerless, survive the battlefield unscathed?

He was able to return to Dagu Town with only some scratches on his body. The most serious one was a cut on his arm. When the medical soldier treated him, he said that if he had come a little later, the wound would have healed.

With this suspicion, Qian Bojun did not dare to be careless. He immediately ordered people to guard the room where Zheng Qian was resting and ordered: "If he makes any suspicious moves, do not report to me, arrest him on the spot."

"Yes!"

After his men took orders and left, Qian Bojun asked again about Lin Qiang: "Are you saying that guy is really willing to join us?"

"I can't say for sure, but it's at least nine out of ten."

Zhao Shan described him, "That guy is absolutely obsessed with money, and his soldiers are no pushovers either. If it weren't for this deal, they would have turned against him long ago."

The more detailed the description, the more excited Qian Bojun became.

He was very good at dealing with greedy people. As long as Lin Qiang was really as described, Qian Bojun thought it would not be a problem to recruit them.

After thinking for a moment, Qian Bojun poured him some wine and said, "This matter cannot be rushed, but we must act quickly."

Zhao Shan was flattered that he had been personally poured wine for himself twice, and he immediately expressed his loyalty: "Captain, I will do whatever you say. If I even frown at the sight of a mountain of swords and a sea of fire, I'm not worthy of being your soldier!"

Qian Bojun smiled happily. This was why he valued Zhao Shan. He was loyal, good at flattery, and always did it just right.

"How about this, you take a few yellow croakers and silver dollars and go test Lin Qiang."

Qian Bojun said, "If he comes back with you without hesitation, I'll trust him and tell him I'll give him as much money as he wants. Later, I'll make him a battalion commander or even a regiment commander!"

"Dele!"

Zhao Shan picked up the wine in the bowl, brought it to his lips, and drank it all in one gulp. "Captain, I'll go get ready now, to avoid any more trouble."

"Not urgent!"

Qian Bojun filled his glass again and said, "If this succeeds, you will be awarded a great merit. As soon as I become the brigade commander, you will be the first regimental commander under me!"

Zhao Shan's eyes lit up, and he picked up the bowl and said, "Thank you, Commander. I will definitely not let you down!"