The Flames of Resistance Against Japan in Jiangnan

Those Jiangxi soldiers are just doing their duty. If they want to check your identification, are you going to just show it to them?

"Who told you to cause trouble? Get back in your cars, all of you. What are you doing here making a scene? What will it look like if outsiders see this?"

The Central Army Corps Commander, who had just arrived and given a severe dressing-down, quickly smiled and said:

"Battalion Commander Zhang, is that right? My subordinates were rude just now, please forgive them. Here is my identification. I am Liu Yadong, the head of the inspection team stationed in western Jiangxi."

"I received a telegram from the Chairman specifically in charge of verifying the identities of the Red Army in northeastern Jiangxi. Before coming to Shangrao City, I also spoke with your Jiangxi Army Commander-in-Chief. I believe you have received the notification."

Having already prepared various contingency plans and rehearsed the entire performance, knowing that he had to go all out, he greeted the audience with a composed yet respectful demeanor:

"Commander Liu, it's my duty. To be honest, recently there's been a Red Army guerrilla unit that frequently impersonates the Anhui Army and the Central Army, harassing surrounding towns and counties."

In order to wipe out this Red Army force, the higher-ups have issued a strict order to inspect all passing troops. Although I believe that Commander Liu is not a Red Army soldier in disguise, if you don't mind, could you please have my men conduct a check?

We won't touch your belongings; we just want to check if there are any wounded soldiers in the carriages. Our intelligence suggests this Red Army unit seems to have quite a few wounded. If there are no wounded on your train, it proves you're not impersonating anyone, and I'll go to town to apologize. It's my duty now, and I hope Commander Liu will understand.”

Hearing that this was the battalion commander of the Jiangxi army, Liu Yadong was still going to conduct an inspection. As long as they didn't board the vehicle or touch their belongings, he figured there was nothing to check. Therefore, without much thought, he readily ordered Zhang Cheng to lead his troops toward their vehicle.

Seeing Xu Wenqing leading the special operations battalion soldiers to inspect the vehicles as planned, Hu Jiu and Wang Tielin, who were in charge of leading their troops in ambush on both sides, felt their palms sweating.

It's important to understand that in such a chaotic situation where the two armies are mixed together, if a fight breaks out, it's easy to accidentally injure one's own people.

In contrast, Xu Wenqing, following behind Liu Yadong, the regimental commander of the Central Army, and Zhang Cheng, the battalion commander of the Jiangxi Army, casually inspected the military vehicles crammed with Central Army soldiers. At the same time, he made sure to leave a platoon of soldiers behind each vehicle to loiter nearby. However, when they reached the next vehicle, the Central Army regimental commander refused to allow Zhang Cheng and his men to board for inspection.

Seeing that the vehicle was equipped with two light machine guns and had a pile of boxes behind it, Xu Wenqing guessed that it was loaded with silver dollars. They were definitely for rewarding the Jiangxi army generals; the truckload was quite a lot.

Xu Wenqing pretended to be very angry and said to Zhang Cheng:

"Battalion Commander, I think there's something wrong with this vehicle. Why are we allowed to inspect all the other vehicles, but not this one? If they really have nothing to hide, why won't they let us inspect it?"

In response to Xu Wenqing's seemingly angry report, Liu Yadong, who had accompanied him, also responded somewhat angrily:

"Battalion Commander Zhang, it seems you really need to discipline your men properly when you have time. How dare they speak to me like that?"

I've already said that the items in this vehicle are military supplies, and I can't let you inspect them casually.

"Besides, as you can see, besides a few guards, there's just a bunch of boxes in this car. There's no way to hide anyone. Why are your men still insisting on checking? You know, if anything goes wrong with the things in this car, I'll be in trouble explaining myself, and you'll be in trouble too!"

Faced with Liu Yadong's air of superiority, Xu Wenqing deliberately muttered to himself:

"Battalion Commander, I think that truck is carrying silver dollars, silver dollars destined for the city. We work so hard setting up checkpoints every day, and they're allowed to live a life of luxury, but we're not allowed to make a little money? Even if we're bandits, they'd have to pay us to pass through, right?"

Besides, they're all from the Central Army, eating their fill of rich food. Why should our brothers have to eat chaff and drink thin gruel? If he doesn't give us some benefits today, we won't let him pass. We have plenty of time to wear them down!"

Although Xu Wenqing was speaking to Zhang Cheng, his voice seemed to be slightly hushed, so Liu Yadong, who was standing nearby, also heard it clearly. He was shocked to learn that these guys were trying to take advantage of him.

Liu Yadong, undoubtedly laughing in exasperation, said:

"Battalion Commander Zhang, you should think this through. The items in this vehicle were arranged with your commander-in-chief. If anything goes wrong, you might have the chance to collect the money, but you might not have the chance to spend it."

Xu Wenqing didn't answer this question, but instead chuckled wickedly:

"As long as there's money, we can get anything. Battalion Commander, it's alright! Anyway, we have so many brothers here today. If he doesn't pay, we won't let him pass. Let's see what he can do!"

"If he dares to lay a hand on us, we'll go back and tell everyone that the Central Army looks down on us and bullies us. Anyway, the brothers in the city have long been fed up with these arrogant bastards. We're all part of the Nationalist Army, why should they eat and drink well while we Jiangxi brothers have to beg? No way, we won't let them leave until we give them money!"

Faced with Xu Wenqing's deliberate act of shamelessness, Liu Yadong was undoubtedly furious, yet he still kept his eyes fixed on Zhang Cheng. He hoped that Zhang Cheng, the battalion commander of the Jiangxi Army, would understand just how serious the issue of robbing the reward money was!

Zhang Cheng's answer seemed to surprise him; it looked like someone who valued money over life!

Zhang Cheng pulled Liu Yadong aside and said:

"Commander Liu, it's not easy for the brothers to come out here. I know you're carrying a reward for the city officials. But the brothers toil in the fields every day, and they're still out in the midday sun. It's really tough for them. How about you give them a little something so I can explain things to the men below?"

To this seemingly negotiable statement, Liu Yadong sneered:

"Battalion Commander Zhang, aren't you afraid of being blamed by your superiors and court-martialed? Besides, do you really think that your men can steal money from me?"

Before he could finish speaking, Xu Wenqing gestured and drew his pistol, pointing it at his head.

"It's alright. As long as you don't want to die, I think you'll obediently hand over the money. Brothers, there's at least several hundred thousand dollars in bounty on this car. What can't we do with the money?"

"Keep a close eye on him, if any officer dares to move, shoot him. After we get the money back, we'll say it didn't happen, that they embezzled the reward money, and see if the brothers in town believe them or us."

At Xu Wenqing's command, the special agent battalion soldiers, who were already prepared, drew their pistols and raised their rifles without hesitation, aiming them at the inspectors. Even the Central Army soldiers in the vehicles, seeing the Guangxi Army soldiers standing at the door with a bundle of grenades in their hands, threatened them that if they dared to get out of the vehicles, they would throw the grenades directly into the truck bed.