The War of Resistance Against Japan: Starting with a Calm View of Life and Death

Wang Yuan raised his voice and began issuing orders with practiced ease:

"Quanzi! Erniu! Zhuzi! You guys take ten men and escort these Japanese prisoners to the town hall's woodshed! Tie them up tightly! Send two men to watch them closely! If they move, shoot them on sight!"

"Understood!" Wang Quan and Sun Erniu immediately obeyed the order and commanded their men to push and shove the eleven limp Japanese soldiers away.

"Da Pan! Shunzi! Take a few soldiers," Wang Yuan continued issuing orders, pointing to the spoils on the ground, "Gather all this stuff—Type 38 rifles, Type 99 light machine guns, grenade launchers, bullets, grenades, helmets, overcoats—collect it all. Carry it all back to the cave for me later!"

"Don't worry, Captain! We guarantee not a single part will be lost!" Da Pan and Shunzi responded excitedly, calling on their men to start sorting and organizing the spoils.

Wang Yuan specifically instructed, "Those two grenade launchers and ammunition boxes should be handled separately with care! These are heavy firepower weapons!"

"San Niu!" Wang Yuan looked at a sturdy man. "You're fast on your feet, run back to the cave immediately! Tell Brother Zhang and Doctor Zhou that the town is safe! We've wiped out the Japanese! The villagers can go home without worry! And call all the soldiers who stayed in the cave to come down and help!"

"Yes!" San Niu responded and took off running towards the back mountain, his steps as light as if he were walking on the wind.

After arranging all this, Wang Yuan looked at Zhou Jindong: "Dongzi, check if there's anything I've forgotten in my arrangements..."

Zhou Jindong's gaze had already turned to the group of villagers who were still in shock.

The entire town was in a mess, with many houses having broken doors and windows, and the yards littered with ransacked items. In some places, there were still traces of dark blood.

"Brother Yuan, take some men and search the town thoroughly again, especially the nooks and crannies, to see if there are any Japanese soldiers who have escaped, or any wounded villagers who need help." Zhou Jindong said, already walking towards the group of villagers. "I'll take some men to help the villagers tidy up their homes first, repair the doors and windows that can be fixed, and keep out the wind. It's freezing cold."

"Okay! Let's do it this way!" Wang Yuan immediately agreed, then called to a few team members, "You guys, come with me, let's search the town again! Keep your eyes peeled!"

Zhou Jindong then walked towards Aunt Zhao and the others, saying gently, "Uncle, Aunt, fellow villagers, it's alright now, the Japanese devils have all been captured. Go home and check how things are inside. We'll help with anything that can be repaired."

"Oh, Jin Dong!" Aunt Zhao wiped away her tears, looking at Zhou Jin Dong and his men as if she had found her pillar of support. "We owe it all to our guerrilla team! If it weren't for you, we would all be..."

She choked up and couldn't continue.

"Auntie, why are you saying all this?" Zhou Jindong waved his hand, his gaze falling on the crooked door of her house. "The hinge is probably broken. Er Gou, go find two sturdier wooden sticks, and also look for a hammer and nails."

He beckoned to a young teammate next to him.

"Alright, Dong-ge!" The team member called Er Gou immediately ran off to find something.

The other team members were also helping the villagers clean up. Some helped right the fallen tables and chairs, some swept up the broken porcelain shards and debris, and some tried to nail wooden boards to the broken windows to block the wind.

The town gradually came alive, no longer a desolate place. Women began to clean the stoves and pots, and children nestled beside their parents, watching the busy guerrillas and the weapons that had been captured and piled up to the side with curiosity and a little fear.

About half an hour later, a commotion arose on the mountain road.

Grandpa Wang, Aunt Li, and many other men, women, and children who had been hiding in the cave behind the mountain returned to the town in a grand procession, led by San Niu and the guerrillas who stayed behind.

In the crowd, Wang Yuan was walking over with a thin but upright middle-aged man.

The man, looking exhausted from recovering from a serious injury, was carefully surveying the town. His eyes flashed with disbelief and shock when he saw the piles of Type 38 rifles, Type 91 machine guns, and grenade launchers stacked in the corner of the town hall.

Wang Yuan spotted Zhou Jindong repairing a fence from afar and excitedly waved and shouted, "Dongzi! Dongzi! Come here quickly! The military commander wants to see you!"

Zhou Jindong put down his tools, dusted himself off, and walked over.

He looked at Minister Li, who was also looking at him with scrutiny and inquiry in his eyes.

Wang Yuan pulled Zhou Jindong in front of Minister Li, his voice booming with pride: "Minister Li! This is the Zhou Jindong I was telling you about! My childhood friend! Our newly appointed deputy captain of the guerrilla force! Hey, today's battle, from beginning to end, was entirely planned and directed by him! It was simply amazing!"

He secretly felt smug. If it were anyone else, they would have taken all the credit.

Dongzi, haven't I been good enough to you?

Minister Li's gaze lingered for a few seconds on Zhou Jindong's young face, which was still covered in soot, before glancing at the pile of spoils beside him.

His tone was filled with surprise as he asked, as if seeking confirmation, "Captain Wang, I still can't quite believe it. You just said... you wiped out a full-strength Japanese squad? Just with your guerrilla force? And... you suffered no casualties?"

Wang Yuan puffed out his chest and raised his voice even louder, pointing at the team members around him: "Minister Li, it's absolutely true! The Japanese Okada squad, from sergeant to private, all fifty-seven of them, were captured by us!"

Look, we've captured eleven alive and locked them in the woodshed! And look at our men, all of them are safe and sound, busy working here!

Not even a scratch! This battle was... it was like a dream!

He was so excited that he became somewhat incoherent.

Minister Li gasped. He had traveled all over the country and had dealt with the Japanese many times, so he knew all too well the fighting power of a full-strength Japanese squad.

He looked at Zhou Jindong, his eyes shifting from shock to incredulous admiration: "Comrade Zhou Jindong, truly... a hero emerges from among the young! Remarkable! Absolutely remarkable!"

To annihilate an entire Japanese squad with zero casualties on our own... This achievement is the best in the entire military region!

It wasn't in vain that I persuaded Comrade Wang Yuan to agree to your request!

I dare say this is the wisest decision I've made in the past six months!

He offered his hand.

Zhou Jindong then realized that Wang Yuan's quick agreement to become the deputy captain in front of the cave was actually due to the instigation of Minister Li.

He's such a smart man, how could he let his boss's words fall to the ground?

He quickly reached out and shook Minister Li's hand firmly: "Minister Li, you flatter me. It's mainly thanks to the support of the villagers, the soldiers' courage to fight, and Captain Wang's effective leadership. Also, I owe a great debt to you for promoting me so exceptionally."

Minister Li smiled upon hearing this and waved his hand, "Well, it's mainly because you have real skills and Comrade Wang Yuan has sharp eyes! As for me, I only played a very insignificant role in it."

Looking back now, it was worth the injury I suffered!

Seeing a valiant general like you emerge in our ranks is more effective than any magic pill!

His gaze swept over the pile of weapons again, especially the two grenade launchers, his eyes burning with rage. "With this arsenal, your Dongzhai guerrilla force has truly upgraded from ragtag weapons!"

Wang Yuan said, feigning modesty, "Haha, just getting started, just getting started!"

Minister Li pointed at Wang Yuan with his finger: "Comrade Wang Yuan, you're too modest. I want to congratulate your guerrilla team on making a fortune! Do you have any other needs? I'm just adding to your already splendid situation!"

Wang Yuan was about to shake his head to indicate no, but Zhou Jindong stopped him.

Zhou Jindong rubbed his hands together, feigning some embarrassment, and said, "Minister Li, we do have a favor to ask..."