I used the Mo Dao (a type of long-handled sword) to fight the Japanese.

"Huh?... Is this true?..." Inoue Masao was shocked! Destroying the base, robbing the transport convoy, and previously blowing up the pillbox—these achievements were enough for them to regard the enemy on the same level as the regular Chinese army!

The other side only has nineteen people, how is that possible?

"Of course! Yesterday I personally led two hundred soldiers and dealt with them in the deep mountains for a whole day..." Nagano Yokosuke recounted what happened yesterday. Since they were all fellow disciples, there was no need to hide anything.

After Nagano Yokosuke finished speaking, both of them fell silent! How could just nineteen people have caused so much trouble? These people must be eliminated! As the rear base, many supplies need to be transported to the front lines through here. With such a force present, they can't get anything done!

“Senior, judging from their recent behavior, these people don’t dare to confront us head-on. So let’s feign weakness and lure them into a direct confrontation!…” Inoue Masao finally spoke after a long silence.

"Oh, tell me in detail, how exactly do you seduce me?" Nagano Yoko asked, looking at the other person with hope.

"The sweep can continue..."

……

The next day, in Shijia Village, people were busy harvesting wheat as usual. Some were bundling the wheat and carrying it to the threshing ground to dry, some were driving oxen to pull rollers to thresh the wheat, and some were winnowing it in the wind—a scene of bustling activity. This year's harvest was good; after delivering the grain, the villagers still had quite a bit left over, and everyone's face showed a satisfied smile!

"The Japanese devils are coming! The Japanese devils are coming!"

Just as everyone was busy, someone shouted loudly, and everyone stopped what they were doing and looked towards the village entrance. A group of Japanese soldiers carrying guns and baring their teeth were walking towards them, and soon they surrounded the entire threshing ground.

"Sir, what's going on here... Haven't we already handed over all the grain requisition quotas for our village?" Village head Shi Jiaxin stepped forward, cupped his hands, and asked.

"Chief Shi, the Japanese are searching for anti-Japanese elements! Quickly gather the villagers together to hear the Japanese's reprimand!" Detective team leader Li Zisheng stepped forward and said.

"Alright! I'll gather the villagers right away!" Shi Jiaxin was relieved to hear it wasn't a grain requisition and quickly assembled the villagers, young and old, at the threshing ground. As for the anti-Japanese elements the other side mentioned, their village naturally had none. Most of the able-bodied men had been conscripted to do hard labor, leaving only the elderly and children—who had the ability to resist the Japanese?

"The day before yesterday, someone robbed the Imperial Army's grain transport wagons. The Japanese soldiers are searching for anti-Japanese elements! Each household should bring one Japanese soldier back to their home for a search. If they can't find anyone, that's best. If they do find someone, they should all be killed!" Li Zisheng said in a deep voice after everyone had arrived.

"Captain Li, don't worry, gentlemen, our village is full of law-abiding citizens! Absolutely law-abiding citizens! There won't be any anti-Japanese elements here! Gentlemen, you should go and look in other villages. Staying here is just a waste of your time!" Shi Jiaxin advised.

"Baka! Anyone who doesn't cooperate will die!" a Japanese officer shouted in a deep voice.

"This... I'll cooperate, I'll definitely cooperate..." Seeing that the Japanese soldiers were holding guns, Shi Jiaxin didn't dare to say anything more and quickly agreed to cooperate.

"Also, since the Japanese soldiers' grain was stolen, each family has to hand over another 100 catties of wheat as military rations. Chief Shi, please arrange that as well!" Li Zisheng added.

"Huh?... One hundred catties!... Where do the villagers have any wheat left?..." Shi Jiaxin was stunned. One hundred catties of wheat! After handing over the grain, each family would be lucky to have one hundred catties of wheat left. Where would they get the grain to give to the Japanese?

"This is something you need to figure out how to solve. Get it arranged quickly!" Li Zisheng said, disregarding everything else.

“This…” Shi Jiaxin stood there stunned, not knowing what to do.

"Baka! Hurry up!" the Japanese soldier shouted, waving his gun again.

“Sir, after we handed over the grain a few days ago, the villagers really don’t have any extra grain left! We have no problem cooperating with you to arrest anti-Japanese elements, but this grain…” Shi Jiaxin wanted to reason with the Japanese, but the Japanese wouldn’t listen to him!

He raised the butt of his rifle and slammed it into Shi Jiaxin's shoulder. Shi Jiaxin fell to the ground, clutching his shoulder and howling in pain.

"The Japanese devils are going too far! Where did they get the food to feed them?"

"They must be incredibly wicked! They just asked for the grain I paid, and now they're asking for it again! Even beggars don't come this often!"

"That's right! If someone steals your grain, why don't you go and take it back from them? What kind of skill is it to bully ordinary people?"

"That's right! Just grab any honest person you can and rob them!"

"Good! It would be great if we looted all these Japanese devils!"

……

"Boom!"

A Japanese soldier raised his gun and fired two shots into the air, then glared menacingly at the crowd and shouted angrily:

"Quickly lead your men to search the area, and quickly hand over the grain! Anyone who dares to resist will be killed!"

He waved to the surrounding Japanese soldiers, and one of them forced the family towards their home. After the gunshot, the villagers dared not resist anymore. They glared venomously at the Japanese soldiers as they walked home like zombies; if looks could kill, these Japanese soldiers would have been dead long ago!

Once inside the house, the Japanese soldiers became even more unrestrained, ransacking the place. The dowry's gold and silver jewelry, the few silver dollars they held, and the newly harvested wheat were all taken. Anyone who resisted was smashed to the ground with a rifle butt, or even killed by a knife!

In just one day, five villages were swept away by the Japanese invaders. Some unmarried girls were raped by the Japanese, and more than ten people were brutally murdered. People struggled in dire straits...

This wasn't the end of it. For several days afterward, the villages in both townships were completely ransacked by the Japanese! The looted grain was continuously transported to Mafang Village to be ground into flour, and the people groaned in pain under the Japanese soldiers' whips...

"Uncle Cang, the lives of ordinary people are too miserable! Especially that traitor Lü Hongzhong, who, relying on the Japanese to back him up, took advantage of this sweep to loot a lot of things and put them in his own pocket! He took back bags and bags of women's gold and silver jewelry, jade bracelets and hairpins. Many families' daughters were harmed by the Japanese at the instigation of his men! This man can no longer be allowed to live!"

Gou Mao, who was at the pancake stall, told Man Cang all the information he had gathered over the past few days, especially about Lü Hongzhong's actions, which were simply outrageous and infuriating!

"This traitorous dog has gone mad! Fine! Find out where he's staying now, his days are numbered!" Mancang said nonchalantly.

Last time we didn't manage to beat him up when we smashed the opium den, but this time we won't let him off so easily!

"Alright! I've been waiting for you to say that! That old bastard is in the opium den today! He's ecstatic about all the stuff he brought back yesterday!" Dog Hair said excitedly.

"Understood! Also, keep a close eye on Mafang Village! Send it back immediately if there are any suspicious movements!" Mancang instructed.

If the Japanese invaders seize grain again, they will definitely be trying to make up for the losses from the last time. If they are allowed to make up for the losses from the previous time, wouldn't all our efforts be in vain?