Chapter 37

After two months, everyone had their first comfortable and peaceful sleep, and Dongku slept until five o'clock after Liu Zhong took over the night watch. He woke up to the rustling sound of dry grass beside him.

Opening his eyes, he grabbed a half-meter-long green snake that had crawled next to him, walked to the smoky fire pit, and threw it into the cave, letting it leave on its own.

Everyone woke up at this moment, checking their straw beds and picking out two small snakes, which they also threw into the cave. They didn't pay much attention to the snakes and weren't scared by them...

While eating breakfast, Dongku organized the plan from the previous night and said, "Today we will go and get some supplies. Before the Japanese army makes any major moves, we need to stock up enough supplies." Seeing everyone's eyes turn to him, Dongku continued, "I will assign tasks. Liu Zhong, go to the Ewenki camp alone, borrow all their horses, and have Morigen find a dozen people to help. Wait for us on the western side of Dahuishan's grassland."

"Yes!"

Liu Zhong loudly accepted the order, showing his military demeanor.

"Huzi and Goudan, stay here. Don't let the fire in the cave go out, and try to make the smoke as thick as possible. In a few days, all the snakes in the cave will move out. Also, you two are responsible for collecting dry mushrooms, frozen mushrooms, and all edible mountain goods like dry grapes and walnuts. Goudan, find a suitable spot in the cave to set up a blacksmith's forge and a stove."

"Yes!"

Goudan and Huzi loudly accepted the order.

"Everyone else, put on your military uniforms, take your rifles, pistols, and light machine guns, and reduce the number of bullets and grenades by half. Pack your backpacks in the Japanese style. We will set out in half an hour."

"Yes!"

The remaining people loudly accepted the order and began to eat quickly and pack their gear...

Half an hour later, Dongku and his group moved through the Naoxiatangzi, heading straight for Mishan...

Moving through the mountains and forests, their actions were slower but extremely safe. Three days later, they appeared near Qitaihe but did not take any action there. Instead, they quietly obtained four trucks and headed straight for Jixi, the transportation hub and railway supply distribution center at the time.

In a Japanese business in Jixi, Dongku put away the material requisition order stamped with the seal of the Jiamusi garrison command and said to Mugu Qingye, "This batch of supplies will leave here in half an hour. Please load them quickly." As he spoke, he handed Mugu a list.

"Hai!"

Mugu, who served the Kwantung Army and was responsible for transporting supplies, confirmed that the seal, paper, and text were correct. Coupled with Dongku's fluent Tokyo accent, he had no doubt about its authenticity. However, he still needed to check the transportation of supplies, especially those involving military supplies, which required his approval, even with the gold bars.

"You have worked hard."

Dongku patted Mugu's shoulder and took an ancient wooden box from Shanzi, handing it to Mugu.

"I will serve the Emperor without hesitation!"

Mugu stood at attention, not bothering to look at the list, his eyes shining as he stared at the wooden box. After he finished speaking, he reached out to take it but did not open it.

"Mugu, I heard in Baoqing that you have a hobby of collecting Chinese artifacts. See what I have brought for you."

Dongku sat down in a chair and smiled like an old friend.

Mugu was itching to open the gift but didn't want to do so in front of Dongku. After getting Dongku's approval, he bowed in thanks and carefully opened the wooden box...

"Yoshi..."

Staring at the palm-sized, fiery red jade Maitreya Buddha on a yellow silk cloth, Mugu Qingye's eyes shone brightly. The smooth carving, exquisite shape, and ancient style, along with the flawless, rare red jade, conquered this man who had collected countless Chinese treasures. This was absolutely a priceless ancient artifact!

"Mr. Yamada, you are too kind..."

Mugu's excited hands trembled slightly as he gently touched the jade Buddha, as if caressing a beautiful woman.

"Ha ha... Mugu, hurry and load the supplies. You can admire it after I leave."

Dongku laughed and urged him.

Mugu Qingye snapped back to reality, responded affirmatively, and loudly called a foreman, ordering, "Liu Tou, load the truck according to this list. Finish within half an hour." He handed the list to the foreman without even looking at it.

"Hai! Mr. Mugu, rest assured, it will be done in half an hour."

The Chinese man named Liu Tou nodded and bowed, speaking in relatively fluent but stiff Japanese, glancing at Dongku subtly before bowing and leaving the room.

"Hmm?"

That subtle glance did not escape Dongku's eyes. His pupils contracted slightly, and he determined that this man was not just a laborer.

"Mr. Yamada, please come inside."

Mugu Qingye, in a great mood, invited Dongku to go inside for tea.

"I am troubling you..."

Dongku gave Shanzi a subtle look, turned, and followed Mugu into the inner room...

Twenty minutes later, Dongku, holding a command sword in one hand and a short sword with an ancient and weathered scabbard in the other, smiled and stepped onto the truck driven by Shanzi.

Just as Dongku's four trucks left the business, a rickshaw quickly left the business's gate, speeding along the alley toward the direction the trucks were heading.

The pass stamped with the seal of the Mudanjiang garrison command allowed Dongku's convoy to pass through Jixi without any obstacles, heading straight for Mishan.

In the truck, Shanzi excitedly said, "Brother Dong, that little devil even gave you a gift, treating you like a friend. I wonder if he will be killed when they find out!"

Dongku played with the short sword and smiled slightly. "They won't find out at this point. They all carry their own goods, even though they are military personnel. Afterward, the business will be managed by some injured officers, and it will be impossible to get these supplies out without force."

In the truck behind, Shunzi was at the rear, with Liu Hai and Sun Tao in the middle. After passing through Jixi's checkpoint, they all felt a great relief and admired Dongku's abilities as if he were a god.

"Damn! Brother Dong is amazing! Two trucks full of rice and flour, just like that! How long will this last?!"

In the first truck, Mazi lay on the grain bags, his mind racing.

In the truck behind, the others had similar thoughts. These two trucks full of grain, coal, explosives, and other supplies, including four radios and batteries, were obtained without any effort. Wasn't Dongku a god?

Actually, they didn't know that Dongku had a very clear memory of Mugu Qingye. This man had been the manager of the business in Jixi since 37 years ago, taking away countless Chinese treasures, the number of which was uncountable. If it weren't for his children revealing some of his wealth after his death, he would still be unknown. Dongku had planned to find him in Dahuizhen.

In the front truck, Dongku was silent, calculating when to take down these business people and keep their plundered wealth.

After a long time, in the bumpy truck, Dongku thought to himself, "I'll let you keep the jade Buddha for now. When I have time, I'll take it back. Even if you take it back to your homeland, I will make you spit it out!"

At this moment, Mugu Qingye did not know the destination of the supplies. He was not concerned either. In a secret room under his bedroom floor, he was holding a magnifying glass, carefully studying the jade Buddha, trying to determine its age by experience. Under the bright gas lamp, the room was filled with large boxes, some of which emitted a faint ink smell and even a decaying odor...

The focused Mugu Qingye did not know that he would meet this Lieutenant Yamada again soon, but the next time they met, it would be in his basement, and it would be uninvited.

In the truck, Dongku regained his composure and looked around cautiously. They were now out of Jixi's jurisdiction, and he had to be extra careful.

Shanzi, seeing Dongku stop thinking, asked, "Brother Dong, where did you get those passes?"

"I made them myself while you were sleeping in the cave that day."

Dongku said casually.

"Ah?! You made those red stamps yourself?"

"Yep. I carved them myself, but the ink was the Japanese's."

"Brother Dong, can you teach me how to do it?"

"Sure, I'll teach you how to carve seals when we get back. After we drive the Japanese out, this skill will be enough to support your family..."

Dongku smiled and said.

"Great!"

Shanzi, while focusing on the road ahead, said excitedly, "Brother Dong, I've found that there's nothing you can't do. Whatever you do, you can do it easily. When I learn it, I'll use the passes to bring the Japanese guns and cannons to Dahuishan and blow them up!"

"Ha ha..."

Dongku laughed. He didn't discourage Shanzi, knowing that the clever Shanzi would have no problem learning these skills. Maybe a versatile special forces soldier would emerge from Shanzi in the future.

On the bumpy mountain road, the truck jolted and swayed. Dongku's smile had not faded when he suddenly noticed something unusual on the road ahead. Without shouting, he quickly shifted the gear and shouted, "Stop! Ambush!" As he spoke, he opened the door and jumped out, rolling to the side of the road.

Just as he jumped out, there was a loud explosion ahead, and a cloud of dirt rose into the sky.

The debris hit the truck, startling Shanzi, who had just jumped out. He quickly lay down and crawled to Dongku's side.

In the explosion, the trucks behind stopped one by one, and figures quickly emerged from the open doors, seeking cover.

Mazi did not move, waiting for the direction of the gunfire and for Dongku's orders.

Mengzi also remained still under the tarp, waiting quietly.

Before the dust from the explosion settled, gunshots suddenly rang out from the left forest. Bullets whizzed through the air, hitting the truck with a thud.

"Hanyang-made!"

Dongku's eyes narrowed. After a few hand signals, he quickly took out the prepared camouflage paint and painted his face, crawling toward the dry grass.

Shunzi, Shanzi, Sun Tao, and Liu Hai did the same, quickly painting their faces and disappearing into the dry grass.

Mazi and Mengzi, not receiving orders to fire, also painted their faces, lifted the tarp, and jumped off the truck, crawling into the dry grass...

PS: Next week is the last week of March, and the new book chart is coming. I humbly ask all my readers to vote and collect this book, so it can stay on the homepage chart for a while. Thank you very much! (Three bows)