Resistance against Japan: Starting with the local militia

Chapter 166 Dealing with the Bandits

"What's your name? You just said you wanted to join the Tangjia Town militia?" Tang Xiaohu suddenly asked.

"Battalion Commander, when did you arrive?" The company commander turned around and looked over when he heard the voice.

"Just came here."

"Sir, my name is Cao Yingjie, and I want to join our militia."

"Was the fight that just happened here caused by you and your men?" Tang Xiaohu then asked.

"Yes, sir. Our regimental commander planned to defect to the Japanese. I tried to dissuade him and he locked me up. However, the brothers in my battalion rescued me. After learning that the regimental commander and the others were quite drunk, I decided to go all out and rebel against them."

"Although I, Cao Yingjie, am not very good at fighting, I am upright. I would never betray my country and become a traitor! My men are the same; they would never become traitors!" Cao Yingjie's attitude was unusually firm.

"Not bad, you have backbone. Our militia likes people like you." Tang Xiaohu patted Cao Yingjie on the shoulder with satisfaction.

"I heard you all come from military backgrounds, so how did you end up as bandits? What's going on with you?" Tang Xiaohu asked, puzzled.

"That's how it is. We were originally from the 68th Regiment. We were decimated by the Japanese during the Battle of Taiyuan. Our regimental commander led us through the encirclement and brought us here."

“By chance, there was a band of bandits at Erdaoliang, so we occupied their camp. Then our commander decided not to leave and to recruit soldiers here again, so we called ourselves the Loyal and Brave National Salvation Army.”

“At first, we acted like regular soldiers, but later, because the regimental commander lacked food and clothing, he sent men down the mountain to rob grain and money.”

"Hmm? You're the ones who ran Chen's Shop, right?" Tang Xiaohu asked.

“Sir, we did it. One of them was supposedly a family member of one of our militia members who died in battle. When I heard about this, I wanted the commander to return the money and apologize.”

"But the regimental commander wouldn't listen to advice." Cao Yingjie said with a helpless expression.

"Recently, our regimental commander has somehow gotten in touch with the Japanese again, and is preparing to defect to them. Today, the Japanese sent someone over to discuss joining the Japanese."

"Dare to betray us and betray us? You deserve to die!" Tang Xiaohu's face was filled with murderous intent.

"Hmm, where are they?" Tang Xiaohu then asked.

"They're all tied up inside, sir, please come in." Cao Yingjie hurriedly led the way.

"Cao Yingjie, you son of a bitch, what the hell are you trying to do?"

Bu Ruzhu had already been awakened by the gunfire outside. Upon waking and seeing himself bound by ropes, he felt a chill run down his spine and instantly became fully alert. At that moment, he saw Cao Yingjie approaching and immediately understood what was going on.

"What else could we do? Of course we've rebelled against your mother, Bu Ruzhu! How dare you betray us and betray our fallen comrades?" Cao Yingjie said angrily, walking over and slapping Bu Ruzhu twice across the face.

"Well done!" Tang Xiaohu clapped and cheered from behind Cao Yingjie.

"Commander Tang, you flatter me."

"You bastards! Who are you people? Put me down right now, or you'll die!" Nobita shouted from the side.

"Oh, and you little devil too, I'll fuck you." Cao Yingjie kicked him, knocking him to the ground.

"Commander Bu, we've finally met!" Tang Xiaohu walked over with a cold smile.

"What are you going to do?" Bu Ruzhu looked at the murderous intent in Tang Xiaohu's eyes and couldn't help but panic.

"What am I supposed to do? Don't you know that Commander Bu and your men robbed the Chen family's shop?" Tang Xiaohu questioned loudly.

"I know, I know," Bu Ruzhu said, her voice trembling.

"Heh, you know Chen Shan is one of our militia members, and you still dare to rob him? You've got some nerve!" As he spoke, Tang Xiaohu pointed a gun at Bu Ruhai's head.

"Sir, I'll never do it again. If you just let me go, I'll kneel down and beg for their forgiveness. Please give me another chance, sir?"

"Hehehe, if I had known that you hadn't sided with the Japanese, and if I had seen that you hadn't hurt anyone, I might have spared your life. But now, it's too late."

"Remember, in your next life you must be a good person, and never be a traitor again!"

"Spare me! Spare me!" Bu Ruzhu cried desperately.

With a "bang," Tang Xiaohu's gun fired, and Bu Ruzhu fell straight to the ground.

"Pah! This is what happens when you become a traitor." Tang Xiaohu spat on the ground.

"Sir, what should we do with these Japanese devils?" Cao Yingjie pointed to a few Japanese devils standing to the side.

"Kill them, or keep them alive for the New Year?"

"Yes." After saying that, Cao Yingjie took his knife and slashed at the Japanese soldiers. Using bullets to deal with these few Japanese soldiers was a waste!

Looking at the Japanese corpses scattered on the ground, Tang Xiaohu nodded in satisfaction.

"Sir, what should we do with the other prisoners?"

"Kill all the bad guys. If the others are willing to come with you, you can bring them along to join our militia. If they are not willing to join, we will not force them. Just let them go."

“You know this place best, so I’ll leave this to you. I’ll wait for you at the entrance of the stronghold,” Tang Xiaohu said.

"Thank you for your trust, sir."

"Alright, go do it now."

"Yes."

By the time Cao Yingjie and his men finished their work, it was already dawn. Most of the bandits with clean records agreed to go with Cao Yingjie, and he released the rest who were unwilling to join.

"Battalion Commander, I've taken care of everything. There are still more than 150 brothers who are willing to come with me."

"Very good, you've all made the right decision. Let's go back to Chen's shop and rest for a bit."

"Yes."

Tang Xiaohu and his entourage marched in a grand procession toward Chen's shop.

"Team Leader Song, Battalion Commander Tang is back!" Wu Sheng hurriedly reported to Song Ge.

"So fast? It seems the battle went very smoothly!"

"Chen Shan's wife, Battalion Commander Tang is back," Wu Sheng greeted hurriedly.

"They're here, they're here." Chen Shan's wife walked over carrying the child, followed by Chen Shan's father and second uncle.

"Chen Shan's wife, we have fulfilled our mission. Our battalion has wiped out that bandit gang. This is Chen Shan's compensation money. Please keep it safe, Chen Shan's wife."

"Battalion Commander Tang, thank you so much for your efforts." Chen Shan's wife shed tears of emotion.

"Battalion Commander Tang, please come in, please come in, have a bowl of water." Chen Shan's wife wiped away her tears and beckoned Tang Xiaohu to come in.

"Okay." This time Tang Xiaohu did not refuse and went inside, facing Chen Shan's wife as they entered the house.

When Tang Xiaohu drank the water that Chen Shan's wife handed him, he was overwhelmed with emotion.

Tang Xiaohu rested at Chen's shop for a day, and then left under the grateful gazes of Chen Shan's family.