Chapter 49

Dong Ku's words made Liuruji's expression change slightly, but she did not respond. In her heart, she labeled Dong Ku as cold-blooded. She knew this was not his true self. Although Dong Ku did not look very old, his appearance was clearly disguised. However, she had never intended to see his true face.

She smiled faintly and said, "Mr. Dong, I am truly grateful for your help. I will deposit money into the Citibank account on time."

Dong Ku knew it was inappropriate to stay any longer. Sensing the hint to leave, he exchanged a few pleasantries, then got up and bid farewell, leaving the old restaurant...

In the cave, looking at the eager gazes, Dong Ku said solemnly, "This is a covert assassination mission, not everyone needs to go." After a pause, Dong Ku gave an order, "Shunzi."

"Here!"

Shunzi stepped forward from the formation.

"You will follow me to carry out the assassination. Regardless of success or failure, meet Xiaohu here in two days."

"Yes!"

Shunzi loudly accepted the order and returned to the formation.

"Xiaohu!"

"Here!"

Liu Zhong stepped forward and shouted loudly.

Dong Ku looked at Liu Zhong and pointed to the map, "You are responsible for delivering the two boxes of items from Dahu Town to this location on Beifeng Mountain and hide them until we arrive."

"Yes!"

Liu Zhong accepted the order and returned to the formation.

"During these two days, besides traveling and hiding, everyone must memorize the map they have been given. If separated, you must return to Heixi Gou alone and wait for others here. Do not act on your own without further orders, including on the way."

"Yes!"

Liu Zhong and the others loudly accepted the order...

In the mountains near Baoqing, Dong Ku and Shunzi lay quietly in the grass; Japanese soldiers' boots appeared in their line of sight every few minutes.

On the opposite bank of the river, trees were hung with corpses, and hundreds of crows circled in the sky, cawing but not landing.

Dong Ku quietly raised his binoculars and searched the surroundings.

"It seems the Lieutenant Colonel is here. The defense is indeed tight. Not to mention crossing the river to reach the city, even if we cross the river, it will be difficult to approach the isolated barracks in the open field for the assassination target." Dong Ku muttered to himself, slowly lowering his head. After a few patrolling Japanese soldiers passed, he raised the binoculars again.

From the mountainside to the river, although it was not as tight as a post every three steps and a sentry every five steps, it was still difficult to approach the riverbank. Moreover, the open field on the opposite bank was cleared, with no obstacles. It was uncertain whether the target was even there, and even if he was, it would be hard to cross the checkpoints.

Dong Ku clearly saw the Japanese soldiers reporting being stopped two to three thousand meters away from the tent, with all communication done by three-wheeled motorcycles. Disguising to enter was clearly unrealistic. Even if they did, it would be a suicidal attack, with no hope of getting out.

"Damn! Afraid of death!"

Dong Ku cursed in his heart, unwilling to give up, made a gesture, and Shunzi nodded. The two quietly left the hiding spot and moved into the mountains.

The sky gradually darkened. Dong Ku and Shunzi, like leopards, moved through the darkness, their figures ethereal and unreal, stepping on the soft new green, slowly approaching the edge of the forest.

Fires burned every few dozen meters along the river, extending as far as the eye could see. The figures moving between the fires made the two dare not make a sound.

Through the weeds, Dong Ku carefully examined the terrain. Crossing the river was not difficult, even with the tight defense. However, it was unknown whether Hu Siliang was in the tent. If they sneaked in and couldn't find the target, it would be a waste of effort.

Dong Ku quietly exhaled, waved his hand, and ordered a retreat, abandoning the assassination mission.

He had no time to wait and gather information to confirm Hu Siliang's location. He had more important things to do.

"Let you live for two more days!"

Dong Ku slowly retreated into the forest, avoiding a group of Japanese soldiers on the mountain path. The two quickly headed to the agreed location on Beifeng Mountain to meet up with Liu Zhong and the others.

Abandoning the assassination was not due to cowardice or anything else. He currently had no sniper rifle. Although the M4A1 was good for concealment and had a silencer, its effective range was only about 400 meters. Even with his skills, 800 meters was his limit for an assassination.

The outermost checkpoint around Hu Siliang's tent was over a kilometer away. Even with the Type 38 rifle, it would be difficult to succeed. If Tielohan had returned from Germany with a scope, Dong Ku would have been confident in a kilometer assassination. As for the M4A1, it was simply out of range.

After a night of travel, Dong Ku, relying on his strong sense of direction, and Shunzi reached the Beifeng Mountain area before dawn. At first light, they found Liu Zhong and the others hiding there.

"Set out immediately and head to Qitaihe to get a vehicle."

Without resting, Dong Ku gave the order to set out.

The group quickly left the forest, crossed the road, and headed straight for Qitaihe. They traveled through the mountains all day, resting for a few hours in the forest at dusk. By nightfall, they had obtained a truck near Qitaihe.

Under the headlights, Dong Ku reiterated the route and return plan, ordered Shanzi to drive, and had the others wear Japanese military uniforms and sit in the truck bed. The truck roared and headed straight for Yilan.

The truck swayed, but Dong Ku, with his eyes half-closed, was not resting. He was contemplating the future direction of their operations.

At this time, the Japanese were relatively complacent and arrogant. They had defeated tens of thousands of Northeastern Army soldiers with just a few hundred and firmly occupied the three northeastern provinces. They then easily established a puppet regime, inevitably becoming arrogant. Although things seemed to be going smoothly, if the Japanese took their armed group seriously, their survival space would be very limited.

Not to mention, the strict defenses in Baoqing were not easy to deal with. Although it was not a problem for him, it was a challenge for Liu Zhong and the others, who still needed to grow.

However, this operation was necessary. Otherwise, the civilians in Baoqing, including Hulin and Shuangyashan, would face brutal retaliation from the Japanese. If this brutality escalated, it could lead to a new wave of massacres across the three northeastern provinces.

The truck swayed and traveled over a hundred kilometers, encountering two checkpoints. However, with Dong Ku's standard Japanese and his lieutenant's uniform, they were allowed to pass.

Just as they entered the road from Harbin to Yilan, Dong Ku immediately sensed the tense atmosphere.

On the road, trucks roared, heading towards Yilan. Occasionally, the curtains would be lifted, revealing the full trucks of Japanese soldiers.

"Is the Japanese military planning an operation? Is it against the Soviet Union?"

Dong Ku pondered as he waited by the roadside for the convoy to pass. It did not seem to be the time for the Japanese to openly oppose the Soviet Union, which should be a few years away. However, the length of the convoy suggested at least a regiment, possibly even a brigade.

"Follow the last truck."

Seeing the convoy almost at its end, Dong Ku decisively ordered Shanzi to follow the tail, blending into the convoy.

The truck continued without any checks, entering Tangyuan at dawn. After entering Tangyuan, the convoy did not stop but crossed the river and headed straight for Jiamusi.

Before crossing the bridge, Dong Ku saw a train passing over the river bridge, the white steam making the train appear and disappear.

Less than five minutes after the train passed, Dong Ku's truck just crossed the bridge when another train came.

"It seems there is a military operation."

Dong Ku thought as the truck slowly crossed the bridge and headed towards Jiamusi.

"See the fork ahead? Turn in and park on the side."

Seeing the strict defenses in the distance, Dong Ku did not dare to approach and ordered Shanzi to turn into a side road, driving along a dirt path by the river. They stopped by the road after less than a kilometer.

"Get out, we're going into the city."

Dong Ku quickly got out of the truck, handed the M4A1 to Liu Zhong, and walked at the head of the formation with a command sword.

"What are you doing?"

A Japanese soldier at a checkpoint raised his gun and shouted.

"Eight-ga!"

Dong Ku stepped forward and slapped the soldier.

"Hai!"

The soldier, a sergeant, stumbled, quickly put away his gun, stood straight, and bowed slightly, not daring to speak.

Dong Ku ignored the soldier, waved his hand, and led the way into the checkpoint.

Liu Zhong and the others, carrying Type 38 rifles and machine guns, marched in a neat formation and walked into the city.

The four Japanese soldiers at the checkpoint did not dare to stop them.

After passing the checkpoint, Dong Ku slowed his pace, walking alongside Liu Zhong and whispered, "Turn down this street and find a house."

Liu Zhong nodded without speaking, and the formation continued into the city.

As they walked, at a street corner, Dong Ku turned into an alley to avoid an oncoming patrol.

The patrol, seeing a small squad turn into the alley, did not pay attention and continued marching on the gravel road.

Turning into the alley, Dong Ku quickly scanned the surroundings and found it was the back alley of a large courtyard. He gave a signal, lightly leaped, and peeked over the wall.

Inside was a back courtyard, and it was unclear what was in front or if anyone was there.

Dong Ku thought for a moment, jumped down from the wall, pointed ahead, and walked into the alley.

Sure enough, after walking less than fifty meters, a back door appeared in his line of sight.

Dong Ku walked directly over, grabbed the dust-free door ring, and knocked a few times.

After a while, footsteps were heard from inside, and the door opened.

A man with a box gun poked his head out and said with a smile, "Sir, what do you need?"

"Where is this place?"

Dong Ku asked, looking inside.

"Sir, this is Mr. Wang's house, you..."

"Mr. Wang?"

Dong Ku understood; this was a collaborator's house.

"Is Mr. Wang at home?"

Dong Ku asked expressionlessly.

"Sir, the chairman went to welcome the high-ranking officer and arrange food, you..."

The guard did not seem to respect Dong Ku, a lieutenant, and did not invite him in, standing in the doorway and speaking to him.

"Soo-ga..."

Dong Ku touched his mustache, not committing to anything, and grunted.