War Photographer's Notebook

Chapter 1819 Captain Yan's Grain Collection (Part )

"Captain Yan! What happened to you?"

At the intersection where accidents had happened many times, the puppet army leader guarding the area was shocked when he saw the hundred or so dusty grain-collecting team members coming towards him.

"What the hell is going on? We encountered guerrillas!"

Captain Yan yelled at the top of his voice, still feeling lingering fear, "Damn it! There must be at least over 200!"

"How much more?"

The puppet army leader panicked for a moment, but then he reacted and snorted in his heart, "You are talking nonsense! If there are really 200 people, how can we, a few dozen people, survive?"

"Two hundred! At least two hundred!"

Captain Yan began his tricky operation, "We can get at least 8,000 kilograms of food from Wu Laocai's house this time. Hey! Damn! Those ten mule carts are full!"

Just brag about your special code! The puppet army leader of the stronghold snorted in his heart.

"Those guerrillas even have damn grenade launchers!"

Captain Yan continued, "We lost more than a dozen of our men out of a hundred or so, and we were captured when we ran out of bullets."

Keep making it up, you bastard! The puppet army leader at the stronghold snorted.

"Thanks to the brothers in the stronghold who risked their lives to support us, the guerrillas were eager to take away the food, so they let us go."

Captain Yan gave a thumbs up and said gratefully, "Captain, what's your name? This is a great achievement!"

“Ah? Oh—! Oh—!”

The puppet army leader at the stronghold reacted and said quickly, "Okay, okay! Your surname is Wang! Your surname is Wang!"

"The brothers of the grain collection team were able to survive this time, all thanks to Captain Wang who risked his life to save them!"

Captain Yan hinted bluntly, "Captain Wang? You and your brothers saved so many of us, so you must have fired a lot of shots, right?"

"Yes! Yes! But there were a lot of shots!"

Captain Wang was no fool, and he quickly issued an order, "Brothers, listen up! Load your guns and get ready to support the grain-collecting team!"

The puppet soldiers who had just gathered around to listen to the excitement were all fools. They immediately shouted to each other, picked up their guns, and followed the captain to run less than a mile in the direction of the grain collection team, and began to fire randomly at the woods on the side of the road.

In order to avoid trouble, the smartest of these scum even tacitly raised the muzzles of their guns and fired all their bullets at the treetops of the forest.

After emptying their few remaining bullets as quickly as possible, these puppet soldiers and grain-collecting team members immediately ran back and began to make phone calls to call for help.

"Brother Wang, just wait for a great achievement!"

Captain Yan patted the leader of the puppet army on the shoulder in an especially affectionate manner and said, "If you survive this disaster, I will definitely bring you some valuable things next time I leave the city!"

"Brother Yan, don't worry!"

Captain Wang gave Captain Yan a cigarette and said, "We brothers are witnesses!"

"Brother Wang, where do you think those guerrillas went?" Captain Yan asked.

"Over there, at the end of that road there's a damn river."

Captain Wang said in a puff of smoke, "When the Taijuns came, so much stuff would have been lost in the river. And that road was full of mines planted by the guerrillas. Even the wild dogs around here don't dare to go that way."

"Brother Wang, thank you for your kindness. Old Yan will remember it." Captain Yan clasped his fists in gratitude.

"Okay, okay." Captain Wang also clasped his fists, but he didn't even ask about the real situation. It's just a way to make a living, so why take it so seriously?

While these grain-collecting team members were hiding in the stronghold waiting for reinforcements, Ichiro Hoshino said goodbye to Aoi Hirano who sent him downstairs, and happened to meet "Captain Jin" and "Boss Mu" who had just returned.

Because of Wei Ran's reminder, Boss Mu who had just returned and Captain Jin who went to pick him up at the station not only took the initiative to invite Mr. Musashi to the theater, but also invited the innocent Hirano Aoi.

Ichiro Hoshino, who had been planning to get closer to Hirano Aoi, naturally would not refuse. He enthusiastically took Hirano Aoi, who was a few years younger than his daughter, to the Lihua Theater upon invitation.

At this time, Hirano Daisho had already returned to his stable, enjoying the fun brought by his big foreign horse.

As for his translator "Kawaguchi Yoshiyoshi", he was busy helping him purchase daily necessities for Dayanma and his sister.

Because of this, when Hirano Daisho learned that something had happened to the grain collection team, Wei Ran had already finished his work at the photo agency and was rushing to the theater in a rickshaw with his camera.

Zhang Taichuan also bought all the daily necessities needed by the two women. He and Hirano Daxiang took a rickshaw to the locked door of the clinic. Zhao Jingrong and Lin Qiaoan were still accompanying Hoshino Ichiro in the theater, drinking and watching opera.

However, Hirano Aoi had already gone to the backstage of the theater under the guidance of Zhang Zhengqi, and with a curious look on her face, she allowed the female artists to paint her with oil paints and put on beautiful costumes.

——According to Boss Mu’s suggestion, Ichiro Hoshino would take a few photos for her personally later, so he called the photo agency and asked Wei Ran to close the business early and send the camera over.

Because of this, when Captain Yan, who looked embarrassed, rushed to Lihua Opera House in a rickshaw to find Zhao Jingrong to report the news, all the "relevant responsible persons" were included.

"How much? Eight thousand kilograms were stolen?!"

Zhao Jingrong was the first to exclaim, "Where did you get 8,000 kilograms of food?"

"We robbed Wu Laocai's house and took it out completely, and only then did we get eight thousand kilograms."

Captain Yan had a sad face and acted like a victim. We wanted to give Captain Jin some face, but unexpectedly we were targeted by the guerrillas again.

"How much is the loss?" Zhang Taichuan, who was invited after receiving the news, asked first, and then translated the situation into Japanese.

"The grain collection team's guns were taken away, and the grain and mule carts were also robbed." Captain Yan said pitifully, "More than a dozen people were killed in the grain collection team."

"What? They were all robbed?"

Zhang Taichuan exclaimed, and at the same time, Wei Ran translated Captain Yan's words into Japanese.

"Baga!"

Hirano Daxiang was the first to get angry, but before he could finish his words, Hoshino Ichiro asked Zhao Jingrong, "Mr. Fengrong, payment for the goods."

"Mr. Musashi, Mr. Hirano, don't worry about the payment."

Zhao Jingrong didn't put down his wine glass until this time, and said in Japanese with a confident look, "We are lucky, the things my master got this time are quite valuable, and he asked me to bring them personally.

I asked Mr. Hirano for leave today and did not follow the grain collection team out of the city because I wanted to send the payment to Mr. Musashi first."

"Oh? What is it?"

Ichiro Hoshino and Daito Hirano suddenly became interested. As for the loss of the grain-collecting team, it was a loss and it was not their focus.

“It’s not very convenient here”

Zhao Jingrong continued to speak in Japanese, "Boss Mu, please arrange another private room."

"Let's go next door," Lin Qiaoan said in Japanese.

"Captain Yan, please wait outside the door."

Zhao Jingrong switched back to Chinese and said, "Think about it carefully and explain to me later how you got so much food from the Wu family."

After saying that, Zhao Jingrong stood up, carrying a small suitcase, and warmly invited everyone to leave the box and go to the next room.

Zhao Jingrong took the hot towel brought by the waiter and wiped his hands carefully. Having whetted the Japanese's appetite, he took out a pair of silk gloves and put them on. Then he opened the suitcase and took out a yellowed scroll.

Under the watchful eyes of Ichiro Hoshino and Daito Hirano, Zhao Jingrong asked Zhang Taichuan for help and carefully unfolded the scroll.

This scroll has some traces of insect bites, and on the yellowed paper, there is a painting of Guanyin Bodhisattva holding a jade bottle.

"Mr. Musashi"

Zhao Jingrong hung the painting carefully on the wall, took a step back and said in Japanese, "This painting was not unearthed, but was brought by my senior brother from a poor noble family in Peking.

Look here, this seal says 'Dongpo Jushi Laoquan Shanren'. My master said that this painting should be from the Song Dynasty and was probably collected by the great calligrapher Su Dongpo.

After just a brief introduction, Zhao Jingrong said no more, but instead stepped aside again to make enough space.

Seeing this, Zhang Taichuan even took out a magnifying glass from his pocket and handed it to Ichiro Hoshino.

Taking the magnifying glass, Ichiro Hoshino walked closer to the portrait and observed it carefully.

As for whether he could see anything, it would be strange if he could, Wei Ran curled his lips secretly.

Not only Ichiro Hoshino was watching at the scene, but Daito Hirano, who knew nothing, also came over and stared at it with his small eyes, as if he could see something.

In addition to these two devils, Lin Qiaoan also got close enough and watched very carefully.

"Mr. Musashi, would you mind giving me this Bodhisattva statue?" Lin Qiaoan said, "I'm willing to give you 10 large yellow croakers."

As soon as he said this, Hirano Daito was shocked. He didn't expect that such a painting would be so expensive!

What he didn't expect was that Ichiro Hoshino refused without even thinking about it!

"Musan"

Hoshino Ichiro said confidently, "I am a collector. In China, a painting like this might be worth 10 gold bars, but in Zhaohe, it has a higher value."

"Why don't you name a price, Mr. Musashi?" Lin Qiaoan asked, trying to play hard to get.

"The price I offer will make you think I am not sincere"

Hoshino Ichiro returned the magnifying glass to Zhang Taichuan, turned his head and looked at Zhao Jingrong, "Mr. Feng Rong, how much does Mr. Ji intend to deduct for this painting?"

"My master said that he trusts Mr. Musashi's reputation, so he lets you name a price." Zhao Jingrong was also playing hard to get.

"That's it"

Hoshino Ichiro thought for a moment and said, "In addition to the deduction for the last shipment, how about this painting be worth an additional 10 large gold bars?"

"Everything is up to Mr. Musashi"

Zhao Jingrong said quickly, "Mr. Musashi, before making a deal, my teacher advises you to look carefully. He said that this painting is different from the previous ones. It was not dug out from an ancient tomb, so there may be risks."

"I believe in Mr. Ji's judgment, and I believe I will not make a mistake in choosing someone." Hoshino Ichiro said, "Put it away."

The deal was concluded so easily, and the person most surprised at the scene was Hirano Daisho. The slowly rolling up Guanyin statue seemed to have opened the door to a new world for him.

"Musashi-sensei, Hirano-san."

Zhang Taichuan reminded, "What should we do if there is an accident with the grain collection team? This time we had so much grain stolen, and more than a dozen people died, and even the carriage was stolen. Next time..."

“Kawaguchi is right.”

Zhao Jingrong also apologized, "Mr. Hirano, the grain collection team had an accident, and the weapons and carriages were lost. The responsibility is mine. I didn't do it."

"That's not important." Hirano Daisho waved his hand. After a moment's silence, he couldn't help but say greedily, "Just consider it as the weapons and carriages are sold. I will find a way to replenish their weapons, but the grain-collecting team will have to find a way to replenish the carriages themselves."

"Everyone, I have a suggestion, but I don't know whether I should raise it or not." Zhang Taichuan said respectfully.

"If Kawaguchi has anything in mind, just tell him directly," said Daito Hirano.

"Since the target of grain is so large, it is better to let the grain collection team collect something that is easier to obtain."

Zhang Taichuan said, "Our business has never been about grain, and the task of the grain collection team has never been to collect grain. Since collecting grain will bring disaster, why don't we let the grain collection team collect something that will not cause trouble?"

"What is it?" Zhao Jingrong asked subconsciously.

“I think firewood is good.”

Zhang Taichuan answered in unison, "The military station always needs to make fires to cook. If we have a supply of firewood, we can reduce the consumption of coal. We can also sell the coal on the black market to people in the city who need it.

Although the profit from this business will not be much, it is much safer than food. Moreover, if the wagon is filled with firewood, it can better hide the goods we really want to transport. "

"Kawaguchi, you are such a genius!" Hirano Daisho immediately praised and patted Zhang Taichuan on the shoulder.

“I learned all this from Master Musashi.”

Zhang Taichuan immediately complimented him, "Teacher Musashi often said that every Osaka person is born with a talent for business. Although I am dull, I often serve Osaka people, so I can always learn something."

"You're right. Every Osaka native is born with a talent for business!"

Ichiro Hoshino, who was overjoyed, laughed and agreed with the words he didn't even remember saying.

"Everyone"

Lin Qiaoan changed the subject at the right time. "Now that we have finished discussing business matters, why don't we go downstairs and take a look? Miss Hirano should have finished her makeup. I will clear the stage later, and Mr. Musashi will have to take a few more photos of Miss Hirano."

After a short pause, Lin Qiaoan said to Hirano Daxiang, "Mr. Hirano, you won't mind if our Lihua Theater uses Miss Hirano's photo as a poster, right?"

"That depends on whether Xiaokui agrees."

Hirano Daisho said this with a doting expression, and his doting expression made Wei Ran, who had his head lowered and was busy putting the painting into a small suitcase, almost unable to hide the murderous intent in his heart.

The group left the box. Zhao Jingrong glared at Captain Yan who was still standing as punishment, then followed them downstairs and came to the empty stage on the first floor.

Amid the sound of drums, Hirano Aoi walked onto the stage somewhat awkwardly.

"Is this Lin Daiyu?" Zhang Taichuan asked.

"I'm playing Lin Daiyu"

Lin Qiaoan immediately took over the conversation and complimented in Japanese, "This is the most realistic portrayal of Lin Daiyu that I have ever seen. I think Miss Hirano may have a talent for singing."

"If Miss Hirano performs at Lihua Theatre, I will probably come here every day to sit."

Ichiro Hoshino also said this, and at the same time raised the camera that Wei Ran had prepared for him, and pressed the shutter button towards Hirano Aoi, who seemed a little at a loss on the stage.

Next, Boss Mu called Zhang Zhengqi to the stage and instructed Hirano Aoi to strike one pose after another, and Hoshino Ichiro also pressed the shutter again and again.

"This is a rare opportunity, Mr. Musashi, why don't I take a group photo of everyone on the stage?" Wei Ran also suggested at the right time.

“That’s a good suggestion.”

Ichiro Hoshino was the first to agree, and the others followed suit, even instigating Daisho Hirano and Ichiro Hoshino to change their outfits.

Although the process was a bit cumbersome, Wei Ran made sure that the suitcase containing the Bodhisattva statue that he was carrying remained within Ichiro Hoshino's field of vision from beginning to end.

After a moment's preparation, the three devils all dressed up and stood on the stage. Zhang Taichuan and others also stood on their left and right as arranged by Wei Ran.

"Look here!"

Wei Ran ignored the diners and spectators around him who were waiting to watch the opening performance, and enthusiastically pressed the shutter towards the people on the stage.

After taking this group photo, the three devils went backstage to remove their makeup. After Wei Ran put the camera and suitcase next to Ichiro Hoshino again, he made the excuse of going to the bathroom and followed Zhang Taichuan and Zhao Jingrong back to the box on the second floor.

"I'll leave this to Mr. Hirano."

Zhao Jingrong spoke in Japanese and handed a not-so-big long cloth bag to Zhang Taichuan.

"What's inside?"

"It's a fan, it can be traced back to the Northern Song Dynasty." Zhao Jingrong said, "It can be regarded as compensation for the lost weapons and carriages."

"This too"

"Of course," Zhao Jingrong said, "just say it was found together with the painting."

"What are you going to do with the person at the door?" Zhang Taichuan stuffed the small bag into his arms and asked in Japanese with a normal expression.

“We still have to put on a show”

Zhao Jingrong switched to Chinese and said, "Old Yan, come in."

"Hey!"

Old Yan, who had been standing straight, nodded and followed Zhao Jingrong and the other two into the private room, saying, "Captain Jin, we..."

"At dusk, Su Laocai's housekeeper came to see me with Liu Batou from the dock." Zhao Jingrong only said one sentence, and cold sweat broke out on Captain Yan's forehead.

"Liu Batou said that he asked the grain-collecting team to transport a batch of cymbals to the outskirts of the city and give them to Yu Huyuan, Su Laocai."

Zhao Jingrong looked at Captain Yan, "Is that true?"

"Yes, yes." Captain Yan replied nervously.

"Then do you know that after Yu Huyuan took over the goods from you, he was robbed by the guerrillas in less than a cigarette's time?" Zhao Jingrong continued to ask.

"Ah? This and this."

Captain Yan felt cold sweat all over his body. He had already guessed that it must be his cousin who sold him out, twice!

"Those boxes of clappers are worth a lot."

Zhao Jingrong said, "Su Laocai, for the sake of my master, only asked the grain collection team to make up for the lost items. This is the note from Liu Batou. Old Yan, how do you plan to make up for it?"

"I..." Captain Yan took the note with a pale face, and then said with a bitter face, "Captain Jin Jin Jin, I can't read."

"Then I'll find someone to read it to you later."

Zhao Jingrong said slowly, "In addition to these, Hirano Taijun will not pursue the matter of you losing food, weapons and carriages for the sake of Mr. Musashi and Boss Mu, but these need compensation. Old Yan, you can't let me fill the hole for you, right?"

Without waiting for Old Yan, who looked desperate, to continue, Zhao Jingrong added, "You still have to tell me how you got those 8,000 kilograms of grain from the Wu family. Old Yan, did you make a promise to Old Wu?"

"me."

Captain Yan, who was completely panicked, hugged one of Zhao Jingrong's legs and said, "Captain Jin, please save me, Captain Jin."

"Tell me what you promised," Zhao Jingrong asked.

"I promised to help Wu Laocai rescue his grandson," Captain Yan said cautiously.

"Snapped!"

As soon as Captain Yan said this, Zhang Taichuan slapped him in the face and said, "You are so brave, how dare you agree to this?"

"Translator Qin, Boss Wei."

Zhao Jingrong clasped his fists and said, "I asked you two to be witnesses to prove my innocence. I dare not touch the young master of the Wu family."

After saying that, Zhao Jingrong bent down and grabbed Captain Yan by the collar, "You are such a fool. Why didn't you find out how big of a problem it is before you made such a boast?"

"Captain Jin, this is a problem."

Zhang Taichuan echoed the words, "Captain Yan is so bold to accept so much food from the Wu family. Captain Yan, you dare to promise to save his grandson just for accepting the food?"

"You'd better tell the truth"

Although Wei Ran didn't know the details yet, he still spoke up at the right time to remind them, "This is the last chance."

"return"

Captain Yan swallowed his saliva, and finally slapped himself while saying, "I also took a large yellow croaker and a broken inkstone."

"You are so brave!"

As Zhao Jingrong spoke, he kicked Captain Yan onto his back.

"Could it be the Chengni inkstone passed down from the Wu family?" Zhang Taichuan asked with a grim expression.

“It can only be that piece.”

Zhao Jingrong frowned and said, "Damn it, this is troublesome. The young master of the Wu family has to be rescued."

Became

Wei Ran's heart moved. He had already guessed that all the preparations before were probably just to find a reasonable reason for this sentence.

"Old Yan, where is that inkstone?" Zhao Jingrong asked, suppressing his anger.

"Let the guerrillas snatch it away," Captain Yan said with a sad face.

"You're such a bitch!"

As Zhao Jingrong spoke, he had already unbuckled his belt and started whipping Captain Yan.

There is no doubt that Captain Yan's screams not only attracted the curiosity of the people in other boxes on the second floor, but also attracted the curiosity of Ichiro Hoshino and others who had just removed their makeup and walked out of the backstage.

"It seems that Captain Jin is teaching his men a lesson," Lin Qiaoan guessed, looking up.

This sentence is also just an introduction. After the banquet is over, Zhang Taichuan will mention this matter to Hirano Daxiang, and will also mention the ancestral clay inkstone - Wei Ran will also mention it to Hoshino Ichiro.

As for whether these two devils will be tempted, they will definitely be. Whoever is tempted first will have the chance to get the inkstone.

"Old Yan, we'll settle the previous accounts last."

Zhao Jingrong squatted down with a belt in his hand, grabbed Captain Yan's collar, and reminded him with suppressed anger, "If you don't want to die, go find the inkstone and return it to the Wu family. Otherwise, I can't save you, and don't even think about running away. You can't run away."

"Where can I find him?" Captain Yan, whose body was bruised from being beaten, was in complete despair.

He didn't know that in the invisible darkness, there was a life-saving straw waiting for him to reach out.