Chapter 43

The two days passed in a flash. After Liu Zhong and the others returned, Dong Ku stayed at Fulaishun for two days. Knowing that someone had rifled through the package, he felt even more at ease.

During these two days, he discussed many things with Shao Pang and handed over the design drawings for the single-barrel telescope sight to Iron Arhat, who set off for Germany by boat.

Currently, Germany was the most advanced in optical research, and sniper rifles with telescopic sights would not be available for another two years. With Shao Pang's connections, Dong Ku abandoned the idea of using a telescope as a sight. He would wait for Iron Arhat to return and then continue with the previous plan to install the sight on the Type 38 rifle.

Liu Rujì did not inquire about the matters between Dong Ku and Shao Pang. She was busy preparing for the upcoming renovation.

After receiving the radio code from Shao Pang, Dong Ku was thoroughly convinced that they were indeed businessmen. However, there were many things he would not reveal, using the two of them to build a financial chain. The war of resistance was not just about passion but also about financial strength. Without money, many times meant hardship, meant a longer duration, and meant more sacrifices.

After everything was sorted out, Dong Ku returned to Heixiazi Gou with Huzi.

"Huzi and Dog Egg will stay behind, responsible for gathering wild vegetables for pickling and continuing to make the necessary items. The rest of you will carry a pistol. Mazi and Mengzi will take the Lewis gun, one pistol, 500 machine gun rounds, and 50 pistol rounds. Shanzi will carry the radio, two pistols, 300 rounds, and two grenades. The others will carry long guns, 300 rounds, 50 pistol rounds, and four grenades."

In the cave, Dong Ku looked at the lined-up group and assigned tasks.

"Yes!"

Under the gas lamp, he scanned the group and said, "The mission begins. Remember, there is only the target, no problems! Understood?"

"Understood!"

The nine people stood at attention and shouted loudly. The sound echoed in the spacious cave, quite impressive.

"Now, pack your gear. Except for Huzi and Dog Egg, the rest of you put on the new uniforms and Japanese military uniforms. Depart in half an hour."

"Yes!"

Dong Ku's words were followed by a loud response, and everyone began to busy themselves...

Three days later, Dong Ku and his group appeared near Shuangyashan. This was the target of his attack and the place where he would raise funds.

On a mountaintop, Dong Ku held a telescope and carefully observed the area below.

This was a coal mine with a railway leading to a nearby town. Dong Ku's target was there, but the coal mine was also a target.

"Altogether, there are 53 people. There are 36 Japanese soldiers on the platform, four interpreters, and 13 collaborators. Now, I will assign tasks." He drew the route of the town on the sand and began to assign tasks step by step...

As night deepened, only the station had lights. At the station entrance, a 15-16 meter high watchtower stood in the darkness, with a searchlight sweeping back and forth, making the only road to the station as bright as day, not even a rat could hide.

About ten miles away from the town, the mine was also shrouded in darkness, with only a miner's lamp swaying in the breeze, emitting a dim light.

Suddenly, two figures appeared like ghosts behind the guard post near the mine entrance. Immediately, the guard, who was yawning and aimlessly wandering, fell to the ground.

Then, the door of a room, where snoring could be heard, opened...

In the crude wooden house where the miners rested, a tired miner dragged his heavy legs towards the door. Suddenly, as he reached the door, he became alert, grabbed the door frame, and stopped his leg from stepping out, covering his mouth in fear.

Not far from the door, the two guards were being slowly placed on the ground, and the figures supporting them quickly disappeared.

He trembled, moved with difficulty, and shuffled towards his bed. His wet pants indicated that the problem was solved, and he no longer needed to go out.

Shanzi and Shunzi quickly dealt with the collaborators and guards at the mine, cleared all the valuables in the room, found the explosives storage, and began to move the explosives into the mine.

At the same time, at the station, the Japanese soldiers were either sleeping or on duty on the watchtower, with four patrolling the station.

Two Japanese soldiers, with their guns, slowly walked along a train car that was not yet fully loaded with coal, under the light of the searchlight. Behind them, two other Japanese soldiers walked towards the front of the train.

At the far end of the train, a large hole in the barbed wire fence gaped in the darkness, looking for targets. At the entrances to the railway, two figures stood lazily, their guns resting on their chins, motionless.

Under the train, Dong Ku saw the two figures pass by and quietly slipped out from the side of the wheels, quickly approaching the two figures ahead. Mazi followed closely, moving towards another figure.

With a click, the two Japanese soldiers silently lowered their heads, were caught by Dong Ku and Mazi, and were pulled under the train before the searchlight swept over.

Under the searchlight, Dong Ku glanced at the direction of the train, saw the target disappear, and, as the searchlight turned away, nimbly darted out from under the train, heading for the lit house on the platform.

Liu Zhong and Liu Hai also emerged from under the train, like cats, and stealthily approached the watchtower.

Dong Ku darted to the platform, hid by the door, and through the frosted glass, saw a vague figure sitting opposite the door.

Dong Ku gestured to Mazi, who drew his pistol. He then pushed open the door and, as the figure behind the table looked up, threw his dagger. In a flash, he leaped into the room, and before the figure behind the table fell, he pounced, grabbing the throat of the figure on the bed, and with a snap, sent the man into a permanent dream.

After Dong Ku dealt with the target, Mazi quickly put away his gun, approached the table, and opened each drawer, taking all the valuable items, without even looking at the dead body on the chair.

Dong Ku searched the body, took the watch, a few silver coins, and a gold bean, and then came to the table to retrieve his dagger.

The two of them scanned the room, not touching the two Type 38 rifles. Dong Ku turned off the light and silently led the way to the door.

Outside, he saw Liu Zhong's figure disappear into the watchtower and then led Mazi to the nearby barracks...

A minute later, the searchlight on the watchtower turned towards the train, illuminating it brightly and motionless.

As the searchlight turned, two figures on the street darted towards the trading company...

In the barracks, there were six Japanese soldiers, all sleeping like dead pigs. Dong Ku and Mazi easily sent them to their dreams.

After cutting the last throat and confirming no one was left, Mazi's large body rushed to the hanging clothes, flipping through each pocket, not even sparing the Manchukuo currency, and wrapped everything in a piece of cloth.

Dong Ku, using the light of the searchlight, carefully searched the room, taking all the valuables he could find, and then left the barracks with Mazi.

Meeting up with Liu Zhong and the others, the four quietly approached the trading company.

Before reaching the door, Sun Tao saw Dong Ku and the others through his night vision goggles and made a cat sound, indicating the target was dealt with and it was safe to approach.

Dong Ku quickly entered the trading company, saw the four Japanese soldiers and the shopkeeper dead on the tatami, and gestured for everyone to quickly clean up the scene while he searched the room.

In less than ten minutes, Liu Zhong and the others gathered in the room where Dong Ku was, clearly not finding much.

"It can't be!"

Dong Ku almost lifted the tatami, but found no hidden compartment, which made him quite frustrated. The entire operation, except for Shanzi's group, had not even yielded three gold bars.

Dong Ku, not giving up, searched the walls with his dagger but found nothing.

Just as he was about to order a retreat, a faint light caught his attention at the place where shoes were placed under the tatami.

Dong Ku walked over and gently tapped the spot, hearing a hollow sound.

"Damn! It's here!"

Dong Ku carefully checked for traps, confirmed there were none, and slowly lifted the one-meter square wooden board.

Liu Zhong and the others did not know what Dong Ku was looking for, but they quietly watched him work, and when a door appeared, they were all quite curious.

Dong Ku took out a flashlight and slowly crawled into the opening, following the downward steps into the room.

Shortly, Dong Ku reappeared at the opening and quietly ordered, "Sun Tao, stand guard. The rest of you put down your guns and bring your backpacks in."

When Liu Zhong and the others entered the opening, they saw several boxes under the bright gas lamp. The opened boxes contained gold bars, gold sand, gold ingots, and gold beans, dazzling their eyes. There were also precious stones, jade, and other items they had never seen before.

"So much..."

Mazi's face, full of color, trembled, clearly shocked.

The others' Adam's apples also moved, swallowing imaginary saliva, making strange sounds in the cellar.

"Stop looking, move quickly. Wrap these in military blankets, each person carrying 100 pounds..."

Dong Ku, walking towards a box of paintings, gave the order.

"Uh..."

The group finally snapped out of it, quickly opened their bags, took out the military blankets, and began to pack the gold and silver...

Dong Ku packed all the paintings into his backpack and bundled several hundred Manchukuo banknotes, also putting them in his backpack.

These banknotes could be exchanged for dollars or other currencies at American banks, and could still be used as money.

In less than five minutes, the entire cellar was left with only scattered 10 and 5 Manchukuo banknotes. The rest, including a bronze statue of Guan Yu, were carried by Mazi.

"Let's go, leave as soon as possible!"

Dong Ku carefully checked to ensure nothing was left behind and then gave the order to retreat.

PS: Bowing to thank old reader gh-1 for the tip! Thank you, reader Dai Xuan, for your continued support, and thank you to all my friends for your support. March thanks you all!