Chapter 99

When Zhang Youliang first saw Hua Xiongmou and Xu Dian, he immediately knew that they were not here with good intentions. His courtyard was not particularly special and was not very large. To intimidate the few bandits from the Insurance Corps, he had lined up about twenty people from the main gate to the main hall, making the courtyard seem extremely crowded. Each person in the lineup was armed with knives and guns, and looking at the two rows of subordinates, Zhang Dizhu felt a bit like he had when he was an officer in the Huai Army. However, Zhang Youliang had never become a battalion commander and had never independently led a unit. At Huai Army military meetings, he was always standing. He had never had the opportunity to sit centrally with his subordinates lined up. Therefore, Zhang Dizhu was in a fairly good mood.

When Hua Xiongmou and Xu Dian entered, they did not pay much attention to the people lined up on both sides. Since they would definitely be searched before entering, the two of them had not brought any weapons. Twenty people were no threat to a company commander and political commissar who managed an entire company. The Insurance Corps was organized in a 4-4 system, meaning one company had four platoons, one platoon had four squads, and one squad had twelve people. A full company had over two hundred people. During the flood, there was no shortage of labor, and the members of the Insurance Corps were between sixteen and thirty-six years old, considered strong and robust in this era. Therefore, the twenty people did not make the two of them feel any fear. Moreover, in addition to disaster relief and transportation, the Insurance Corps conducted morning, noon, and evening drills, making their discipline far superior to this group of ragtag individuals.

Seeing the two young men walk into the hall without any fear, Zhang Youliang knew something was wrong. Every year when collecting rent, Zhang Dizhu only needed to bring a dozen people to scare the tenants into submission. With twenty people in such a confined space, the visitors were completely unafraid. Could it be that the Insurance Corps were really a group of bandits?

After the two men introduced themselves, one as a martial arts scholar and the other as a returnee from abroad, Zhang Youliang was less afraid. In his view, these two men were relying on their status. Although their words might not be entirely credible, their demeanor and speech clearly indicated they were not bandits but educated men. Zhang Youliang had the discernment to see this.

However, since this was his territory, Zhang Youliang would not lose face. He had relatives serving in the Beiyang Army, and even if the other party had some influence, Zhang Youliang was not overly worried. Zhang Dizhu did not stand up but sized up the two men, "What brings you two to Yue Zhangji?"

Hua Xiongmou spoke loudly, "We are here on the orders of our battalion commander, Chen Ke, to discuss something with Mr. Zhang. Although the floodwaters have receded, this year's harvest is hopeless. If we don't start planting immediately, the people will not survive the year. Our Insurance Corps is organizing self-help production. We have seeds and seedlings ready, but we lack land. We have come to see Mr. Zhang because we heard you are a prominent figure in Yue Zhangji. We hope you can lead the people of Yue Zhangji to discuss a solution."

Zhang Youliang sat in the center, with his eldest and third sons on either side. After hearing this, Zhang Youliang remained silent, but his two sons immediately became furious. Hua Xiongmou stood at attention, his feet apart, and his military posture was quite standard. His straightforward speech was quite appealing, but the content was extremely presumptuous. The Insurance Corps, as outsiders, had no connection with Yue Zhangji. Everyone knew that after the flood, trouble was inevitable, and the Insurance Corps' request was for Yue Zhangji to follow their orders to hold a meeting. This was truly "unbearable."

"Rubbish!" Zhang Youliang's eldest son could not help but curse.

In general, the seated person had a higher status than the standing person. Zhang Youliang and his sons were seated, while Hua Xiongmou stood. However, standing gave him a height advantage, and his sharp gaze looked down at Zhang's eldest son. Having led troops for half a year, Hua Xiongmou's gaze made Zhang's eldest son feel like two sharp swords were piercing him. He could not help but lean back, and his气势 weakened, making it impossible to continue speaking.

Zhang Youliang did not want to engage in this conversation, as it would show weakness. Before he could speak, Hua Xiongmou continued, "It is already summer, and even if we plant now, the harvest will be minimal. Our battalion commander, Chen Ke, suggests that all the land in Yue Zhangji be used for collective farming, and the harvest be distributed according to the population. This will help everyone survive the disaster. For the few months of replanting, our Insurance Corps can provide food. We only need to borrow the land. We hope Mr. Zhang can show compassion and help the people. By lending the land, you will save the people of Yue Zhangji, and this good deed will benefit your descendants."

Zhang Youliang was a veteran who had fought in battles and survived the dead. At sixty-eight, his blood was not as hot as it used to be. Even so, the first time he heard Hua Xiongmou's words, his subordinates had softened the message, but it still made him furious. Now, hearing Hua Xiongmou speak so straightforwardly, his anger was indescribable.

Chinese farmers had an incredibly deep attachment to the land, as it was their lifeline. Without land, there was no way to survive. The land was essential for their survival. Perhaps the world was vast, but farmers had no means to travel. For them, a few dozen miles was their entire world. Their land was their only foothold in life.

For landlords, the greed for land far exceeded that of farmers. Land was not only their basic source of living but also a proof of their capabilities. Everything they did was to acquire more land. Even in their dreams, their goal was to expand their land.

Of course, Zhang Youliang had never analyzed himself so deeply. He only felt a surge of anger rising from his spine, a bone-deep fury. He no longer considered that the two men in front of him might have "titles" or connections. Zhang Youliang saw only two enemies trying to take his life. The two young men standing at attention, calm and composed, were like two demons trying to take everything from him. The blood in Zhang Youliang's aging veins began to heat up, almost boiling. From Hua Xiongmou's words, Zhang Youliang knew that the Insurance Corps would not let him off easily. Hua Xiongmou's words were clear and logical. If they were just trying to intimidate him, they would not have spoken this way.

Zhang Youliang stared into Hua Xiongmou's eyes, making his final judgment. What made his hair stand on end was that Hua Xiongmou's expression showed no exaggeration or deceit. Hua Xiongmou's demeanor was that of someone speaking the truth, with a focus that came from consistency between words and actions.

Since the flood, Zhang Youliang had been very worried about the possibility of the disaster victims rising up. He had refused the People's Party's help and gathered his subordinates in Yue Zhangji to suppress any potential unrest. For the new Insurance Corps, Zhang Youliang had taken a confrontational stance, threatening and reporting them. As a military man, Zhang Youliang knew that in such a crisis, sitting still was waiting to die. Everything he did was to eliminate any potential threats.

But "trouble comes when you least expect it." The Insurance Corps had not let him off and had come to his doorstep. In his anger, Zhang Youliang became extremely clear-headed. There was no possibility of compromise with the Insurance Corps. Now, he needed to detain these two men. Since they both had "titles," they must have a high status in the Insurance Corps. By detaining them, even if the Insurance Corps attacked, he could use them as hostages, making the Insurance Corps hesitant. Zhang Youliang made his decision in an instant. He did not consider the consequences of detaining these two "titled" men. Without the current peace, there would be no future. With this thought, he looked at Hua Xiongmou and Xu Dian again.

Zhang Youliang's subtle change in expression did not escape Hua Xiongmou's notice. When Zhang Youliang looked at Hua Xiongmou, their gazes met, and both their pupils contracted slightly. In that moment, Hua Xiongmou saw through Zhang Youliang's thoughts.

Cai Qingguo had never imagined he would be marching through such a wet and swampy area. Shandong had canals and was close to the sea, so Cai Qingguo had no aversion to water. However, in this swamp in Anhui, his feet sank into the mud, and the temperature difference was not as significant as in Shandong. The mud was warm, unlike the cold water in Shandong, which made Cai Qingguo feel more at ease.

After the Military Committee decided to eliminate Zhang Youliang, the Insurance Corps' regular military forces began to operate. Both the First and Second Companies had undergone systematic military training, and this task naturally fell to them. However, military strategy emphasized "using the orthodox to engage and the unorthodox to win." If the two companies moved out openly, they feared the news would leak. Therefore, it was decided that the Second and Third Companies would attack Yue Zhangji. The Second Company would be the main attacking force.

The plan was simple: first, diplomacy, then force. Hua Xiongmou would make a final "diplomatic effort." Regardless of the outcome, the two companies would launch an attack that night to capture Zhang Youliang's stronghold. The troops would march by land, not by water. Although water routes were convenient for transportation, according to recent investigations, Zhang Youliang controlled the docks. Using water routes would not allow them to avoid his scouts. The Insurance Corps had no heavy artillery. A direct assault on Zhang Youliang's fortified stronghold would result in significant casualties.

Although marching by land was slower and more physically demanding, the advantage was that this vast swamp was a no-man's land. As long as reconnaissance teams controlled any scattered individuals, the main force could move covertly. He Zudao personally scouted the route, and although he did not like his political commissar, Cai Qingguo had confidence in He Zudao's meticulous and serious work. If He Zudao said the main force could pass through the swamp, they could. As Cai Qingguo expected, the markers set by He Zudao guided the troops safely through the swamp. The road was muddy but passable, with no insurmountable obstacles.

The Third Company's main task was to carry the supplies. Cai Qingguo had never been involved in a battle with such "trouble" before. The Military Committee's emphasis on the Insurance Corps' first operation was evident. Chen Ke did not repeatedly stress the importance of this battle. He simply asked, "Do you understand the significance of this operation?"

The comrades naturally understood that if this operation failed, the replanting efforts would also fail. Seeing that everyone understood, Chen Ke began to formulate the plan with the Military Committee. The plan was detailed, covering everything from when to start marching and how much food and water to carry. Most of the plan focused on logistics. Cai Qingguo felt that the plan for the military operation was more troublesome than taking care of a grandfather. Discussions about eating, drinking, and sleeping took up most of the plan. Conversely, the combat plan was not extensively discussed. Chen Ke let the commanders propose their own ideas.

Cai Qingguo had experience in battle, though not many victories. He knew that facing a well-fortified enemy position would greatly affect the troops' morale. He understood the impact of morale on the battle. If both sides were fighting on open ground, the soldiers would have the courage to charge forward, knowing they would die if they did. However, facing a fortified stronghold, with enemies firing from above, the loss of a few men would greatly affect the troops' morale. The enemies seemed even more terrifying, as if they were part of the solid walls.

The other comrades had no combat experience, though they had undergone military training. Training was one thing, but actual combat was another. Only Cai Qingguo could raise some practical questions.

In the end, Chen Ke formulated three combat plans. The ideal plan was to get as close to Yue Zhangji as possible and launch a surprise attack from two directions at dusk. One group would suppress the enemies at the dock, while the other would seize the main gate and storm Zhang Youliang's stronghold. The worst-case scenario was a direct assault on the stronghold. The key was to seize the main gate. Chen Ke provided a type of explosive that was incredibly powerful. The explosive was developed by a team led by You Gou. After processing lard, they produced a final product. In tests, a bomb the size of a small clay pot devastated the test site. The final bomb provided by You Gou was over twenty pounds, about half the size of a clay pot. It should have no problem blowing open the main gate of the stronghold.

Looking at his watch, it was noon. Cai Qingguo, with his excellent vision, saw a black dot on the horizon. The reconnaissance team led by He Zudao also reported that they were about to leave the swamp and reach Zhang Youliang's stronghold.

"Everyone, stop and rest," Cai Qingguo shouted. The message was passed down the line. Instead of pushing forward, Cai Qingguo went to the back. This was a military regulation set by Chen Ke, requiring the military commander to check for stragglers and ensure that the lower-level officers arranged for the soldiers to rest. Before the operation, Chen Ke had emphasized this. Cai Qingguo had to ensure the discipline of the troops. Before attacking Yue Zhangji, all personnel must arrive and have at least an hour of rest.

"Damn, the soldiers can rest, but I can't," Cai Qingguo grumbled to himself, though he was still dissatisfied.