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

Indeed, with their current strength, taking the three Japanese strongholds would be a piece of cake; the challenge was holding them! The closest and most likely route for the Japanese to come from the county town was the highway next to Mafang Village, so Man Cang amassed most of his troops in Mafang Village to await the arrival of the Japanese.

But they waited and waited, and still no one came. Even as the sun was high in the sky, the Japanese counterattack hadn't materialized. At this time, Li Dadi sent word back from the county town that the Japanese were busy reorganizing their puppet troops and had no time to attend to matters here!

"I knew it! I thought the Japanese devils had reformed!" Man Cang felt a little relieved after folding up the news brought back by Abe. "Da Zhao, Hu Zi, and Hunter, take the brothers here to build fortifications. Man Cang, come back with me. After we take over the territory, we need to ask the old landlord to come out of retirement and manage the daily affairs!"

"Alright! So you've got your eye on your future father-in-law? Aren't you afraid Zao Hua will cause you trouble?" Da Zhao teased, guessing Man Cang's intentions immediately.

"No way! Our daughter-in-law must be sensible, otherwise we can't accept her!" Mancang said confidently.

“That’s right! Our Zhao family’s wife has to be sensible! Finding something for her father to do is much better than just watching over our own little plot of land every day!” Manxiang chimed in.

"You're just being stubborn! Do you dare say that to Reporter Zhang?" Tiger teased.

"Well... I wouldn't dare!" Manxiang decisively admitted defeat!

"Hahahaha... Look at you, so pathetic!"

……

"What? You want my dad to be the administrative head of two places? What kind of official is that? County head or town head? Will the government recognize him? Will the people recognize him? You're putting my dad on the hot seat, you know that?" Zaohua was quite happy when she heard that she had easily taken over two townships, but she was unwilling when she heard that her father was going to come out of retirement to become an official! Can the official position you appoint really be counted?

"Haha, it's fine if the old man wants to be called governor! We conquered this territory ourselves, so we call the shots! Don't worry, we're only temporarily in charge now. Once we've driven all the Japanese devils out of the country, someone will come to talk to us. At that time, whether we stay or leave is up to the old man!" Mancang persuaded.

"That won't do either! My dad's position as an official isn't legitimate, and the people won't accept it! Putting aside whether he can manage things well or not, what if he gets seriously injured from anger?" Zaohua still disagreed!

"Haha, that's not necessarily true! This place used to be occupied by the Japanese devils, who bullied the people terribly! Now that we've driven the devils away, as long as we don't bully the people, the villagers will not only not oppose us, but will also strongly support us! Don't worry! Your father is highly respected and will definitely handle things properly!"

"Are you serious?"

"What do you think? We've just taken over these two towns, and the first administrative head has to be someone as respected as your father to keep things in order!"

"So you're saying it has to be my father?"

"Absolutely! My father-in-law has both talent and prestige, so he's the perfect candidate!"

"Hehe, you've got good taste! Let's go find my dad!" Zaohua was so happy that she didn't even realize that Mancang was deliberately calling her father-in-law!

As expected, a daughter is a father's little angel; once his daughter was persuaded, the old man agreed without hesitation. The three of them discussed and decided to establish a chamber of commerce to temporarily manage the administrative affairs of the two locations, with the old man serving as the first president. Under the old man's leadership, the following resolutions were formed.

First, hold a public trial to try and settle scores with former traitors.

Second, all land within the jurisdiction was confiscated and returned to the village collective. Each village then allocated the land to villagers for rent and cultivation, and each village was required to hand over 10% of its grain to the Modao Regiment for use.

Third, each village established a militia team, which trained in peacetime and farmed during busy periods. The Mo Dao Regiment sent official members to help train the militia in each village and selected outstanding militia members to join the Mo Dao Regiment to participate in combat.

Fourth, encourage business and prohibit prostitution, gambling, and drugs!

Fifth, expand commercial activities westward, crossing the Baiyue River and following the Yu-Shaanxi Highway to trade in the Shaanxi region, which was free from Japanese invasion.

The three chatted more and more congenially, and the old man, with a flourish of his pen, immediately wrote a powerful and authoritative announcement:

Dear fellow villagers:

Since the Japanese invaded Xiahou Town and Qili Township more than a year ago, they have committed countless atrocities, including murder, arson, robbery, and plunder! Too many villagers have been massacred by the Japanese, and too many compatriots have been living in misery under the enslavement of the Japanese and their traitors!

Today, our Mo Dao gang has avenged everyone!

Just this morning, the brothers of the Mo Dao Regiment launched a massive attack and captured all three strongholds established by the Japanese in these two locations, annihilating 49 Japanese soldiers! The puppet troops, puppet regime members, and other traitors were also captured!

The Mo Dao Gang has decided to hold public trials in the former government compounds of the two locations in three days. We hope that all of you will attend! Those with grudges can seek revenge, and those with grievances can appeal for justice. The brothers of the Mo Dao Gang will uphold justice for everyone!

From this day forward, the Mo Dao Regiment will protect the peaceful lives of the people in both areas and prevent the Japanese invaders from encroaching on these two towns again. We hope that all the people will work hard to restore production, rebuild their homes, and live a peaceful life!

Mo Dao Regiment Military Headquarters

July 7, 1938

Zao Hua, along with two reporters and a dozen or so brothers from the caravan, were temporarily transferred to Zhang Youcai's command to complete the initial construction work.

The announcement caused a strong reaction among the people in the two townships. Many people were moved to tears and spread the news, and many villagers set off firecrackers to celebrate this joyous moment!

……

Platoon Leader Sun left after attending the funeral of the fallen comrades of the Modao Regiment. After several days of trekking, he successfully crossed the front lines and returned to the camp where his regiment was stationed. After tidying up his uniform and carrying his Modao, he went to the regimental headquarters to report the situation.

"Hey! What's going on with Xiao Sun? That big sword is pretty good!" Zhang Yiliang was discussing things with several staff officers when he saw the young man carrying a big sword and couldn't help but tease him.

"Reporting to the Regiment Commander, Platoon Leader Sun Zhengyi has successfully completed his mission of intercepting the Yamazaki Brigade's supply lines and has returned to report!" Platoon Leader Sun stood at attention and saluted.

"Mission accomplished?! Great! Tell me quickly, was it destroyed or intercepted? What good stuff did we get?" The chief of staff suddenly became excited.

"Yes, yes, tell me quickly how you completed the mission!" Zhang Yiliang was overjoyed! At this moment, the destruction of the Yamazaki Battalion's supplies was definitely good news for them!

"Commander, Chief of Staff, please take a look at this Mo Dao!" Platoon Leader Sun said, holding the Mo Dao horizontally in front of the two men.

"A Mo Dao? ...Is there a special story behind it?" Zhang Yiliang instinctively felt that this Mo Dao was unusual.

"It's like this, there's an armed force in Guya County called the Modao Regiment..." Platoon Leader Sun explained the matter in detail.

"Hahaha, great! Well done! It's truly a land of outstanding people and resources that our hometown can produce such an armed force! I'm so proud!" Zhang Yiliang exclaimed excitedly.