Newborn 1927

Sun Zhiyong interjected, "Little Boss, should we call Hou Fei, Ma Shangfei, and Zhao Changming back first? That would give us a better chance of success." Yang Jiefang shook his head, "No need. Hou Fei and Ma Shangfei can stay in Shuangshui Town and keep an eye on the Yantai City direction. As for Zhao Changming, they're now the security team for Zhao Family Village, they have nothing to do with our Qinglong Village, ignore them. Although we're few in number, we're well-trained and well-equipped. With proper command, we can easily take on ten men each. What's there to be afraid of with just over a thousand rabble?" He didn't say that calling them all back would only cause panic among the brothers. The more relaxed and carefree he appeared, the more confidence everyone had in him. Confidence is often a key factor in success.

Sun Zhiyong smiled wryly, "If it were you, Little Boss, in command, of course there would be nothing to fear. But in your current state... the enemy won't wait for you to recover before attacking." Yang Jiefang laughed, "It's alright! The doctor said I'm recovering well, and I'll be able to move around normally in three to five days at most. I imagine it will take the enemy a few more days to gather and integrate the security teams from various places. In the next few days, we must strengthen our communication with the intelligence group in the city, and make sure that every move the enemy makes is under our surveillance!"

Hearing Yang Jiefang's words, everyone felt relieved, and then they went about their respective tasks. The four detachment commanders didn't linger and all chose to go down the mountain back to their respective detachments. Afterwards, they were given a replenishment of ammunition, which was delivered to them by personnel from the Xujiadian garrison company.

The Black Widow and her daughter stayed behind alone. The Black Widow said, "There were too many people earlier, so I didn't say everything. We got a reply from Yang'er Mountain. Tian Yisan said he's willing to support us, but they lack weapons and ammunition and hope we can provide some." Yang Jiefang sneered, "He's trying to take advantage of our situation! It seems we need to be wary of them." The Black Widow nodded, "I think so too. To keep them calm for now, should we grant their request?" Yang Jiefang thought for a moment and said, "Sure. Aren't there a batch of old, obsolete guns? Let's select a batch of the weapons we don't need and send them to them. Each gun should also have fifty rounds of ammunition. Once we've dealt with this crisis, we'll wipe them out. Hmph, how can we tolerate others snoring beside our bed? Well, this gives us an excuse." That's how things are in the underworld; there aren't many true allies. It's all about interests. The Black Widow replied, "I'll arrange this!"

Yang Jiefang then looked at Gao Huilan and said, "Is your Gao family's guard a legitimate security force in the eyes of the county administrative office?" Gao Huilan replied, "Yes." Yang Jiefang asked, "If Haiyang County conscripts security forces from various places to participate in the war, your Gao family's security force must also enlist, right?" Gao Huilan replied, "Of course." Yang Jiefang laughed and said, "The county is conscripting you for the war. How can you, as the captain, not be there? Go back to the Gao family! You must perform well." Gao Huilan immediately understood Yang Jiefang's meaning. A fortress is most easily breached from within, let alone a fortress that is disorganized. So she replied, "Don't worry! We will definitely perform well this time! We'll make sure the Haiyang County security force falls into chaos first." Yang Jiefang instructed, "Be careful and take good care of yourself!"

After the Black Widow and her daughter left the room, Jiang Xiaojun and Jiang Tingxuan entered. Jiang Tingxuan advised, "You just woke up, you should rest and not overexert yourself!" Yang Jiefang laughed, "I've been lying in bed for so many days, I've had enough rest. Brother, thank you so much this time!" Jiang Tingxuan waved his hand and said, "We're family, no need for formalities. You're really lucky to have survived this ordeal, you'll need to be more careful when you travel in the future." Yang Jiefang replied, "Okay, brother. Since we're family, I won't stand on ceremony! I don't plan to let those doctors who came up the mountain come down. I plan to set up a field hospital..." "I need everything: medicine, medical supplies, and equipment. I'll have to trouble you to prepare as much as possible, brother!" Jiang Tingxuan gave a wry smile and said, "Dr. Yuan just told me about this. Oh well, consider it a debt our Jiang family owes him. Medicine and equipment are easy to buy; money talks. Finding a skilled doctor is the real problem!" Yang Jiefang replied, "I understand. Take it slow; there's always a solution. I'll entrust the money to you. Make sure you get what I need as soon as possible!"

Jiang Tingxuan considered it carefully for a moment, and finally asked, "Little Yang, I heard that the three counties are going to join forces to encircle and suppress you. Give me a definite answer: can you handle it?" Yang Jiefang laughed and said, "Brother, do you have so little confidence in me? When a lone wolf enters a flock of sheep, it is the sheep that should be afraid, not the wolf." Jiang Tingxuan nodded and said, "Then I am relieved."

In the afternoon, Jiang Tingxuan and Gao Huilan went down the mountain one after the other. Jiang Xiaojun replaced Chu Gu's original position and stayed behind to take good care of Yang Jiefang. The field hospital was quickly set up, and the nursing team was also formed. Black Widow personally selected more than a dozen trustworthy women to join the nursing team. Yuan Zhifu became the head nurse. She was educated and graduated from a professional nursing school. She not only taught these women first aid knowledge, but also taught them to read and write and recognize the professional terminology.

After dinner, Yang Jiefang persuaded Jiang Xiaojun to leave. Although they were engaged, they weren't married yet, and Jiang Xiaojun's upbringing didn't allow her to stay overnight. However, no sooner had Jiang Xiaojun left than Aunt Chu entered. Her reason was simple and valid: Yang Jiefang was currently unable to defend himself, and she wanted to be his last line of defense. Yang Jiefang was more than happy to oblige. After spending several days together, their relationship deepened, and their conversations became more natural.

Aunt Chu asked, "What are you really thinking? It's clear you're unlikely to give up on Miss Jiang; but Miss Gao won't give up either. She feels she's been outdone by Miss Jiang this time, and she'll definitely try to get back at her." Yang Jiefang replied, "Family ties aren't always reliable, and purely self-interested relationships aren't strong either. Only a combination of family ties and mutual benefit can last. I won't give up on either of them. Sister, please believe me! I'm not doing this for myself; I have reasons why I have to do it." Although Aunt Chu couldn't understand, she actually believed his nonsense and sighed, "It's just unfair to both of you; you're both exceptional women!" Yang Jiefang said seriously, "Sister, don't underestimate yourself. You're also an exceptional woman!" Aunt Chu scoffed, "You're more like an exceptionally ugly woman!"

Yang Jiefang said, "Shall I tell you a story?" Aunt Chu sat down beside Yang Jiefang's bed and smiled, "Okay!" Yang Jiefang said, "It's a story about the Ugly Duckling. It was born in a duck's nest, and because it looked different from the other ducklings, it was called the Ugly Duckling… But it wasn't an ugly duckling at all; it was a beautiful swan." After finishing the story, Aunt Chu said, "You made that up! How could an ugly duckling become a swan?" Yang Jiefang agreed, "I also think the ugly duckling wouldn't become a swan, but it was originally hatched from a swan's egg and was mistaken for an ugly duckling. As it grew up, it simply regained its original appearance. Just like you, you weren't ugly to begin with, but your face was disfigured. I'd like to ask Dr. Yuan to help you with plastic surgery to restore your original appearance, then you won't be an ugly woman anymore."

Chu Gu was taken aback; this was the second time she'd heard the topic of plastic surgery. She'd heard it from Chu Yi in Yantai. Chu Yi, entrusted by Yang Jiefang, had inquired in Yantai about doctors who performed plastic surgery. After making the inquiries, Chu Yi told Chu Gu about it, but Chu Gu, naturally resistant, hadn't agreed to the procedure. Now, hearing Yang Jiefang bring it up again, she couldn't help but hesitate. No girl is indifferent to her appearance. Chu Gu was tempted, yet also resistant. She worried that after the surgery, she might develop inappropriate thoughts. She was content with her current life; having inappropriate thoughts would create many unnecessary worries. Human nature is often insatiable, and many troubles stem from a sense of inadequacy.

Seeing her head bowed and silent, Yang Jiefang was puzzled. He gently took her hand and said softly, "Sister, don't you want to?" The girl looked up and asked, "Don't want what?" Meeting Yang Jiefang's gaze, she quickly lowered her head and said, "There's going to be a war soon. Let's talk about it after this war!" This was, of course, an excuse. Just as Yang Jiefang was about to try to persuade her further, someone knocked on the door.

Chu Gu snapped out of her daze, got up, and opened the door, only to see Zhao Changgui standing outside. Chu Gu didn't speak, but stepped aside and went out. Zhao Changgui paused slightly, then came in, went to Yang Jiefang's bedside, and said, "Little Yang, I've delivered the order to Zhao Family Village as you instructed." Yang Jiefang asked, "Has the messenger returned?" Zhao Changgui replied, "Yes. He went down the mountain last night and just got back." Yang Jiefang asked, "How is the village? What's the situation now?" Zhao Changgui said, "Everyone in the village is fine. Zhao Changyi came back before the New Year and left Zhao Family Village with his whole family before dawn; nobody knows where they went. The Zhao Family Compound is now the security team's base. Changming and Changgen said they will act according to orders."

Over the next few days, Yang Jiefang rested in bed, recovering from his injuries. All sorts of news were promptly reported to him, which he then analyzed before making decisions and handing them over to his subordinates for execution.

As for Zhao Changming and Zhao Changgen, they had been ordered to lead a squadron back to Zhao Family Village and settled there under the name of the Zhao Family Village Security Team. Before they could take any action, an order came from the county, requiring all the county's security teams to assemble in the county seat to suppress bandits. While Zhao Changming was hesitating, he received orders from Yang Jiefang and immediately led his men into the city under the name of the Zhao Family Village Security Team.

They were the first security team to arrive in the county seat and were personally received by the deputy county magistrate. In the county administrative office, a magistrate was usually appointed to manage the local security teams; in some counties, there was no magistrate, so the deputy county magistrate concurrently managed them. Laiyang County was like this; the deputy county magistrate's surname was Wu, and his name was Wu Miao. Many people, splitting the character "Miao" in his name, often called him Wu Sanshui (meaning "Wu Three Waters"). He also concurrently served as the head of the military section of the county government office. Wu Miao immediately inspected the team brought by Zhao Changming and praised them highly, saying, "If all the security teams in the county had this appearance, how could banditry not be eradicated?" Zhao Changming loudly reported, "Reporting to County Magistrate Wu, since Zhao Family Village was attacked by bandits last year, the brothers have been training every day, hoping to wipe out these bandits and restore peace to the land." Wu Miao repeatedly praised them and, after some encouragement, arranged for them to stay at the county barracks.

Next, security teams from other places arrived one after another. Wu Miao was quickly utterly disappointed. It seemed that fate was playing a cruel joke on him. The first security team to arrive, the Zhao Family Village team, was the pinnacle of power; the security teams that followed weren't even worthy of carrying their shoes. These security teams consisted of anywhere from twenty or thirty people to a dozen or so, all made up of poor farmers or unemployed youths from the countryside. Their meager salaries were simply not enough to support their families. They used the name of a security team, but all they thought about was how to make money; they had no interest in training. They trained for less than two days a month, so what combat effectiveness could they possibly have? The security teams didn't have uniforms; the clothes, pants, and shoes they wore were all their own everyday clothes. They were all dressed in tattered clothes, patched upon patched. Where was the army in this? They looked like beggars in the city.

As the head of the security teams across the region, Wu Miao reluctantly reorganized them. A total of over a thousand men were consolidated into a security regiment, with Wu Miao concurrently serving as its commander. Following the "three-three system" organizational principle, the regiment was divided into three battalions, each with three companies. Wu Miao had full authority to appoint and dismiss the officers of each battalion and company. His practice of nepotism was consistent, and this time was no exception. Although Zhao Changming appeared capable of leading troops, he wasn't chosen as one of the three battalion commanders; those positions were filled by Wu Miao's close associates. Zhao Changming was appointed as the company commander of the first company of the first battalion. Besides the security team from Zhao Family Village that he brought with him, several other security teams were also incorporated into the company, bringing the total to over a hundred men. After the reorganization, a short period of training was conducted. The purpose, of course, wasn't training itself, but rather to familiarize everyone with each other, preventing a situation where officers and soldiers wouldn't know each other in battle.

After the day's training ended, Zhao Changming paid for the entire company to eat out. Although it was a small tavern, the portions were generous and the prices were reasonable. These men rarely saw meat, and they had thought they'd finally get a good meal in the city, only to find that the barracks food wasn't even as good as what they cooked at home. The same ingredients, which they prepared at home to make the best taste, were here cooked to make them taste terrible. Faced with good food and drink, they were as excited as if it were New Year's. After a few drinks, they praised Zhao Changming highly, patting their chests and promising to obey his orders. Zhao Changming carefully appeased them, constantly urging them to drink, but he himself didn't drink a drop.

The next day, everyone indeed became familiar with each other, calling each other brothers, almost to the point of swearing brotherhood. The news spread, making the other companies incredibly envious, wishing they could be transferred to Zhao Changming's company. Some even hinted to their company commanders that they hoped for a good meal before the troops set off. But where would those company commanders find the funds to treat their entire companies to a meal at a restaurant? They didn't know that Yang Jiefang was footing the bill for Zhao Changming's out-of-pocket expenses. So, the company commanders reported the matter to their superiors, eventually reaching Wu Miao. Wu Miao had no choice but to approve a special grant to improve the security regiment's meals, and the members finally saw meat again.