Vanguards of the War of Resistance! Let's travel back in time together, classmates!

062 People's hearts are no longer what they used to be, and the world is cold and indifferent.

Upon hearing this, Chen Jinshan frowned and said, "Brother Xiaogang, there's no need for that. Not to mention that last time at the Dragon King Temple, you risked your life to protect us and resisted the powerful enemy, allowing us to retreat unscathed and preventing our Daheishan from following in the footsteps of other mountain strongholds."

Since you came to my Great Black Mountain and brought strong external support, my Great Black Mountain is now well-equipped with soldiers and provisions, with more than two hundred men and guns. More than half of that is thanks to you. And now you make a meager request. In my opinion, this is an honor for your foolish brother. How could I, Chen, be an ungrateful wretch or a coward who fears death?

However, the incident happened suddenly and the situation was urgent. On the one hand, we had to quickly send troops to provide support, and on the other hand, we had to do a good job of defense to prevent the Japanese from taking advantage of the situation.

Xu Wengang was overjoyed upon hearing this, "Haha... I knew you wouldn't stand idly by, brother. Alright, I'll lead the charge this time. Brother, hurry up and mobilize your men..."

"Okay, Wang Fuyong, ring the bell in the square, emergency assembly..." Chen Jinshan shouted in a low voice.

"Yes..." Squad leader Wang Fuyong jogged straight to the training ground, followed by Xu Wengang and Chen Jinshan, who were also dressed neatly and carrying pistols across their shoulders.

"Clang clang clang... Emergency assembly, everyone, face forward... Count off... 1, 2, 3... 116, reporting to the chief, all 116 people in the village except the wounded and sick have assembled... Only... only Company Commander Pang's men haven't come to assemble... This..." Wang Fuyong's eyes flickered as he spoke in a low voice.

"Huh? What's going on? They didn't even report for the emergency assembly. Tie up all those platoon leaders and bring them here, hmph..." Xu Wengang roared.

"Oh dear... what a temper... Brother Pang, it seems we stepbrothers aren't very popular..."

Looking around, they saw a dozen or so people slowly walking towards them from a distance. The leader was none other than Pang Xuecheng, the newly arrived company commander of Daheishan, accompanied by several trusted confidants. The one who had spoken earlier was his staff officer, Wei San.

Everyone frowned upon hearing this, and Wang Fuyong shouted, "Wei San, what do you mean? You've been in my Black Mountain for quite some time now. When have we ever skimped on your food and drink? Or has anyone ever given you the cold shoulder? What nonsense are you spouting today... The chief rings the bell to assemble, it means there's something important. What are you babbling about...?"

"Go away...where did this brat come from?" Wei San said with a disdainful look. "I am a staff officer in a regular army. I don't need to waste my breath on you. Go away..."

"You..." Wang Fuyong was about to speak when Xu Wengang grabbed him and gave him a wink.

"Officer Wei, Brother Pang, there's a reason for today's emergency assembly. Please forgive us!"

Xu Wengang calmed down, clasped his hands in greeting, and said, "The other day, I learned from someone that a close friend of mine is stranded in Songjia Village, Longnan Mountain. I originally intended to go and meet him."

Unexpectedly, the Japanese army at Wulongkou has mobilized today, intending to launch a surprise attack on Songjia Village. My friend is in danger, so I asked the chief to send troops to rescue him. If it is inconvenient for you, Brother Pang, you can stay and guard the stronghold. There is no need to get involved in this mess.

Pang Xuecheng, dressed in a captain's uniform, smiled coldly and nodded slightly, saying:

"Hehe... Brother Xiaogang, what do you mean by that? How could I, your foolish brother, be an unreasonable person? Back then, when we were separated from Commander Ma and had nowhere to go, it was you and the chief who took us in. Now we are staying here as guests, eating and living for free for more than a month. How can we stand idly by?"

Pang Xuecheng paused, glanced around, and continued, "However, as Brother Xiaogang knows, we recently made contact with Commander Ma Zhanshan, who ordered us not to act without authorization and to wait for the right opportunity."

I really want to help you, brother, but the Japanese are too powerful right now, and our few men and guns are probably just a drop in the ocean. If we accidentally wipe out our troops, it's not just that I'll have to go to a military court, but it could also affect the government's war plan and make me a traitor to the nation...

After he finished speaking, everyone was speechless. They had seen shameless people before, but never anyone as shameless as him. He clearly didn't dare to go down the mountain to fight the Japanese, but he insisted on finding a bunch of high-sounding reasons. He was like a prostitute trying to erect a memorial arch. He was truly shameless.

Everyone's faces were grim. Xu Wengang was speechless and extremely annoyed, but there was nothing he could do, because he had met Pang Xuecheng and his more than one hundred men by chance when he was stranded in Shenyang.

Later, he went into the mountains to seek refuge with Daheishan, but during one of his business trips, he encountered Pang Xuecheng, who had been defeated by the Japanese.

At that time, these guys were beaten by the Japanese and were like stray dogs, with nowhere to turn. When they heard that Xu Wengang was willing to persuade the chief to take them in, they were very happy.

They were overjoyed to have been rescued from a desperate situation and were extremely grateful. Upon returning to the mountain stronghold, the chief, Chen Jinshan, was a man of great integrity. As soon as he heard that they were regular anti-Japanese troops, he arranged for them to stay without saying a word and treated them with the utmost respect.

It's unbelievable that this group would pull such a stunt so close to a major battle; it's truly despicable.

The gang leader, Chen Jinshan, glanced at Xu Wengang, who was extremely embarrassed and whose face was flushed, then turned around and sneered:

"Hehe...Company Commander Pang is right. Today's matter is only a personal matter for my brother Xiaogang. We must not let it ruin the national war of resistance. Company Commander Pang's thinking is thorough, and we admire him. In that case, we will go down the mountain to handle our business. During this time, we would like to ask Company Commander Pang to stay in the stronghold to prevent the Japanese from taking advantage of the situation..."

"That's natural..."

Pang Xuecheng showed no remorse and declared with righteous indignation:

"Chief Chen is a generous and righteous man, and we soldiers admire him greatly. We are willing to do our part..." After saying that, he chuckled and looked at everyone.

Wei San and his men around him also looked smug, as if to say, "With just a few men and guns, you dare to go out and fight the Japanese?"

"You were lucky last time at the Dragon King Temple. The many mountain strongholds held off the Japanese, and with our help, you were able to escape unscathed. Now you've courted your own death. Hmph... We're waiting to collect your corpses..."

Chen Jinshan said no more, turned around and shouted, "Xiaogang, you take the main force down the mountain first and wait for me at Shenjiatai. I will make some arrangements and then come over..."

"Yes...."

Xu Wengang gathered his men, loaded them with weapons and ammunition, and quickly headed down the mountain. Chen Jinshan made some arrangements and led his guard platoon to follow.

Watching the group's departing figures, Pang Xuecheng's lips curled into a sinister smile.

"Brother, these bandits are really overestimating themselves and looking down on everyone. If they just charge in like this, it's like throwing an egg against a rock, courting their own destruction. If they are lucky enough to win, that's fine, but if they suffer a crushing defeat, hehe... this Black Mountain... will be implicated."