Chapter 81

Sitting at the table was a man in his fifties, with a fair complexion and no beard. Dong Ku and Shui Linglong entered the room, but he did not rise, continuing to sit there sipping tea.

"Master Bai, this is the person I mentioned to you," Shui Linglong said respectfully.

"Oh?"

Only then did the man turn his head, his gaze sweeping over Dong Ku, and he smiled, saying, "I wonder if you would be interested in having a cup of tea with this old man?"

"I am honored."

Dong Ku did not make any formalities, walking to sit opposite the man, taking the teacup offered to him, and taking a light sip.

A fragrant aroma filled his mouth, and Dong Ku couldn't help but exclaim, "What a fine tea! This is pre-rain Longjing, isn't it?"

"Ha ha! Young man, you have surprised this old man. Decisive and ruthless, willing to use any means to achieve your goals, yet you also have a refined taste in tea." The man laughed heartily, recounting in detail, "Your team has more than ten members, all well-trained. You are skilled in disguise, even altering the distance between your eyebrows, clearly a high-level disguise. You are proficient in both internal and external martial arts. You once wiped out an independent Japanese mountain search team in Dahuishan, eliminated two independent Japanese mountain search teams in Fengfengshan, and successively annihilated a squad and an independent company in Dayezhen. Near Houtoucun, you killed over a hundred people, leaving a trap that poisoned a Japanese lieutenant and over a hundred others. In Baoqing, you exterminated an entire colonization group of over three hundred people, including the elderly and children, and left a message threatening to kill ten civilians for every one killed. You blew up the military camp, and Lieutenant Nankura Kōichi was disemboweled."

As he spoke, the man took a sip of tea, paused, and, ignoring Dong Ku's shock, continued, "A few days later, you orchestrated a shocking massacre in Jiamusi, poisoning over 80,000 Japanese military and civilians, with over 30,000 poisoned. Half a month ago, you ambushed and killed a lieutenant colonel on the way from Mishan to Baoqing, seizing supplies. In Laolongtou Mountain, you killed over 6,000 Japanese soldiers, forcing Lieutenant Colonel Shin Yamayama to almost commit seppuku. Today, you sit before this old man, unharmed and barefoot, truly a remarkable person!"

Dong Ku was increasingly astonished. It seemed as if this man had been following him, witnessing everything he had done. If he admitted to the Jiamusi massacre, it was understandable that the Baoqing colonization group incident could be guessed with Shui Linglong present. However, the man could even detail other events, listing key figures and their ranks. Except for the incidents in Shuangyashan and Jixi, everything he had done in this timeline was mentioned.

He turned to look at Shui Linglong standing beside him, hoping to get an answer. However, he only saw her equally shocked expression and the unusual sparkle in her eyes, with no response to his questioning gaze.

At this moment, the man gently said, "Young man, you don't need to look at Shui Linglong. She doesn't know about these things outside of Jiamusi. Since you don't deny it, it means what this old man said is not far off."

Dong Ku turned back, bowed, and opened his mouth to ask, but the man waved his hand, saying, "This old man is known as Bai Xiaosheng in the world. In my youth, some friends called me Guiguzi, but I dare not claim the title of the mysterious Guiguzi. However, I have accepted the name Bai Xiaosheng." He paused, not waiting for Dong Ku to speak, and continued, "My surname is Liu, my given name is Baicheng, and my courtesy name is Muzhi. However, this name is probably remembered by few in the world."

Dong Ku sensed the melancholy in the man's words, the unfulfilled ambitions of a hero in his twilight years. With his background in Chinese literature, he instantly understood the meaning of Liu Baicheng's courtesy name, Muzhi.

"Baicheng" can also mean "to break," and "to break and then win." "Muzhi" has a sense of watching the deer, combining to mean "breaking and then watching," enjoying the scenery of others' achievements.

Dong Ku knew this man must have a story, and he was certainly not a political figure but a pure man of the world.

"Sir, may I borrow a basin of clear water? Since you are so honest, Dong Ku cannot hide anything."

Liu Baicheng looked at him deeply but did not speak, only gently clapping his hands.

A moment later, the curtain was lifted, and the woman who had greeted them earlier entered, carrying a copper basin in one hand and a towel in the other. Despite the heavy basin and the water, she carried it as if it were nothing, placing it beside a chair and folding the towel over the edge before silently leaving.

Dong Ku got up, apologized, and took out a small bottle of white powder from his pocket, sprinkling some on his face, mixing it with water, and rubbing it in. After a few seconds, under Shui Linglong's expectant gaze, he washed off the disguise, revealing a clear and handsome face.

Shui Linglong's eyes widened as Dong Ku turned to face her. His appearance was close to what she had guessed, and even more handsome.

Liu Baicheng glanced at Shui Linglong, and with his keen insight, he could see her state. He smiled and said, "Young man, you are truly straightforward. I wonder which lucky woman will have the fortune to be with you?"

Dong Ku smiled and bowed, saying, "Sir, you flatter me. Before driving out the Japanese invaders, I have no plans to marry, nor do I want to add to the world's widows."

As Dong Ku spoke, Shui Linglong's face lit up with joy, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Cough, cough! Shui Linglong, it's getting late. Go rest with Aunt Liu. I will chat with the young man." Turning to Dong Ku, he asked, "Young man, would you be interested in a late-night conversation?"

"I would be honored, but I fear I will disturb your rest."

Before Dong Ku finished, Shui Linglong said shyly, "Uncle, let Shui Linglong stay to serve you tea and water. I'm not sleepy yet."

Liu Baicheng looked at Dong Ku, then at Shui Linglong's blushing face, and smiled understandingly, saying, "If you don't mind, you can stay."

Dong Ku glanced at Shui Linglong and said, "If it's not inconvenient for you, sir, I don't mind Shui Linglong staying."

Shui Linglong jumped with joy, stuck out her tongue, and quietly sat down, her eyes fixed on Dong Ku's face, unable to look away.

Liu Baicheng no longer looked at Shui Linglong. He refilled Dong Ku's teacup and said directly, "Young man, you have the talent of a great general, decisive and ruthless. Although your actions in Jiamusi were harsh, using violence to stop violence is the best way to deal with the Japanese invaders. Your courage is truly admirable."

"I only wanted to reduce the sacrifices. I am willing to bear the blame, but this was a last resort," Dong Ku said helplessly.

"War is a matter of strategy." Liu Baicheng changed the subject, "What do you think this war is about? Your team is elite, but you are outnumbered, and the Japanese have already gained a foothold."

Dong Ku, unsure of Liu Baicheng's intentions, but knowing this was not a secret, took a sip of tea and pondered, "A national war is not about numbers. First, it's about resources, then the advanced weapons and military training, and finally, the belief in victory."

As Dong Ku spoke, Liu Baicheng's eyes lit up, and he leaned forward, saying, "Supplies must come before troops. But you say it's about resources? Can you elaborate?"

"Indeed, it's about resources," Dong Ku explained, "Without enough steel, you can't make weapons, planes, or warships, let alone submarines. Even with steel, without oil, the planes, tanks, and warships can't be used. War is a matter of attrition. Whoever controls the most resources and has the most advanced technology will be invincible."

"According to your theory, aren't the Japanese already invincible? They have taken all the resources in Northeast China, and it will be difficult to take them back."

"Yes, that's the current situation. The Japanese have the upper hand, and the situation within the Great Wall is still unclear. They haven't realized that Northeast China can't satisfy their appetite."

"Oh?" Liu Baicheng's eyes flashed, and he put down his teacup, asking, "Do you mean the Japanese will invade the area within the Great Wall, with the intention of swallowing China?"

"Yes. It's inevitable. Within two years, the Japanese will create an incident and march into the Great Wall." Dong Ku, though not an expert in history, could make this prediction based on his knowledge.

"Is that so..."

Liu Baicheng pondered, got up, and took a scroll from a bookshelf, returning to the table. "Since you want to drive out the Japanese, where do you plan to seize resources?"

Dong Ku shook his head, "Currently, the resources within the Great Wall are in the hands of warlords, and those in Northeast China are in the hands of the Japanese. These resources are hard to seize, and occupying them would come at a great cost. Therefore, the resources must be seized outside the country."

"Outside the country?"

Liu Baicheng's eyes lit up. He took out a one-and-a-half-meter-long scroll, moved the teacup and teapot aside, and laid the scroll on the table.

"Is this... a world map?"

Dong Ku looked at Liu Baicheng in surprise, then quickly focused on the map, pointing to areas like Germany and Britain, saying, "Here, there are abundant oil resources. Here, the world's largest iron mine. Here, copper and other metals. Here, gold... They have no sovereignty, are colonies, or undeveloped lands, and can be occupied through purchase, lease, or other means."

After Dong Ku finished, Liu Baicheng looked up in surprise, "Have you been to all these places?"

"Yes, I have been to all of them," Dong Ku confirmed. He was not lying; he had indeed been to these places, just eighty years later.

Liu Baicheng took a deep breath, picked up a drawing pencil, and marked the locations Dong Ku pointed out, labeling the mineral deposits. He marked over thirty locations without a single mistake.

Dong Ku was deeply impressed. He knew Liu Baicheng could gather some information about him, indicating a powerful force. As long as this force was anti-Japanese, he did not mind Liu Baicheng seizing resources abroad. After all, they were still Chinese, and any resources they obtained would benefit China.

Thus, he pointed out more mineral deposits, including those in the Outer Khingan, Heilongjiang Basin, and parts of Mongolia, all under Soviet control.

After Liu Baicheng finished marking the map, his eyes sparkled, and he pondered, "Resources can be purchased, leased, or obtained through other means. But how do you plan to have technology more advanced than the Japanese?"

Dong Ku smiled, took a pen, and quickly drew several diagrams on a blank sheet of paper, pushing it to Liu Baicheng, "I have ideas for weapons that can counter the Japanese. The production is challenging, and it's hard to find suitable technicians domestically. If we outsource production abroad, it's difficult to ensure secrecy."

Liu Baicheng took the paper, looked at the weapons, and asked, "Young man, which country designed these weapons? They look so unfamiliar."

"These were designed by a friend. I only know the appearance; the detailed designs and parameters are with my friend. Once we have a suitable production site and technicians, the weapons will be produced quickly."

Liu Baicheng looked at Dong Ku and asked, "Since you have such foresight, may I ask, are you planning to establish your own force and dominate a region, or do you already belong to someone?"

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