20 years of the Republic of China

Chapter 641 Clues
The horse is still in the saddle, but you realize how difficult it is to die when you are faced with the danger.

No matter how brave a man is, he will inevitably feel fear when facing a life-and-death situation.

Although I was afraid, I didn't dodge in the end.

As soon as the trigger of the box gun sounded, Hai Chaoshan's clothes were immediately soaked with cold sweat. He slowed down and looked up again. After listening to Jiang Lianheng's words, he was stunned and had not yet come to his senses.

Jiang Lianheng raised his hand and said impatiently, "Get up, what are you still standing there for? Wait for me to come over and help you up?"

"Boss Jiang, will you really not cause trouble for the Shen family store again?" Hai Chaoshan didn't dare to believe it.

"Don't waste your time. Do you think your spit is a nail?" Jiang Lianheng put away the box gun. "As long as you still owe me your life, I will pretend that what happened last night never happened."

"Thank you, Boss Jiang. Thank you, Boss Jiang!"

When the two sons of the Hai family saw that their father had survived the disaster, they no longer cared about their own honor and disgrace and immediately kowtowed to express their gratitude.

However, there was some worry in Haichaoshan's eyes.

"Boss Jiang...can you explain it more clearly?" He said, "I can give you my life, but I have already promised others that I will not leave Shen's store..."

Jiang Lianheng nodded: "I won't embarrass you. I'm just saying that. I may not need you in this life, or I may need you tomorrow. Anyway, when the day comes that I need you, just don't let me down. I didn't ask you to come back to Fengtian with me."

Hai Chaoshan secretly breathed a sigh of relief, stood up and clasped his fists, saying: "If that's the case, then I have nothing to say."

"If you have nothing to say, let's go back first!" Jiang Lianheng waved his hand, "By the way, the landlord should have some surplus food, right? Go ask Old Shen to prepare some wine and food. My brothers and I have traveled for two days, and since we are guests, we should let Old Shen show off his skills."

As he said that, he suddenly asked with a smile: "I say, this doesn't count as trouble for the Shen's store, right?"

"No, no."

Hai Chaoshan responded, called his two sons, and turned to leave.

At this time, the cavalry behind him finally had time to come over.

"Wait!" The leader of the horse team led his horse forward, "Boss Jiang, we haven't told you about our business yet?"

Jiang Lianheng originally thought that they were members of the armed team, but when he heard their accent, he was slightly stunned. He looked closely and found two people in the horse team who looked familiar. Then he remembered that they were the hunters who came to Shen's store yesterday to sell furs.

Yuan Xinfa went to Ning'an County to send a telegram yesterday afternoon and he hasn't come back yet, but unexpectedly these Koreans arrived first.

The leader of the horse team explained with a smile: "We also sent people to check last night, and just in time we received news that Boss Jiang might need help, so we rushed here first."

"In that case, you are also members of the Yilietuan?" Jiang Lianheng asked.

Unexpectedly, the leader of the cavalry shook his head, his tone still awkward and powerful: "I haven't officially joined the Yilie Group yet. However, I am friends with the leader of the Yilie Group. Although there are some differences between us, we are all for the independence of the peninsula. Boss Jiang, don't worry, if you need anything, just let me know."

After that, he smiled, stretched out his hand, and introduced himself: "My name is Jin Youxuan, the leader of the Peninsula Independence Army guerrillas, and I just came from Mount Paektu last year."

According to Jin Youxuan, they have been hiding in the Changbai Mountain area in recent years, fighting guerrilla warfare with the Japanese.

When the situation is good, he goes down the mountain to instigate independence; when the situation is bad, he goes up the mountain to avoid the limelight.

In the autumn of the year before last, the Independence Army won a great victory in Qingshanli, killing 1,800 Japanese devils, which led to an encirclement and suppression campaign by the Japanese. Now they have no choice but to break up into small groups and hide away to preserve their strength.

When talking about this matter, Jin Youxuan looked quite proud, but Jiang Lianheng and others seemed indifferent.

After all, it is the affairs of a neighboring country and it is not their turn to worry about it.

Seeing this, Jin Youxuan stopped talking and said, "To thank Boss Jiang for selling us the gun, if you need any help this time, just tell me. You're welcome!"

"That's great. It's not a big deal. I just want you to help me find someone."

Immediately, Jiang Lianheng briefly explained to the Koreans the reasons for the search for "Lao Mang".

Jin Youxuan and the others thought for a moment before muttering, "Although we often cross Mount Paektu, we always take a few familiar routes and know many bandits, but we have never heard of Lao Mang. Besides, Mount Paektu is so big... If Boss Jiang is not in a hurry, we can contact other guerrillas later... Or, does he have any characteristics?"

"feature?"

Jiang Lianheng thought about the course of the rebellion and said, "I have never seen this person, but the rebels first started the fight in Suifenhe. Now they are defeated and hiding in the mountains. I guess they can't move fast. They are probably still in the north of Changbai Mountain, not in the south."

The northern section of Changbai Mountain is the Laoyeling area.

Jin Youxuan pondered for a moment, as if he remembered something, but he didn't dare to say it for sure. Instead, a young man next to him spoke quickly, raised his finger to the northeast, and talked incoherently for a long time.

Unfortunately, the young man's Chinese was very poor. He kept talking, but people only understood words like "smoke" and "fire".

Jiang Lianheng had no choice but to interrupt: "Okay, okay, don't tire the child out. Translate, what did he say?"

Jin Youxuan was a little conservative and said cautiously: "Boss Jiang, it's like this. We were hunting for furs in the mountains some time ago. We came down the mountain late and saw fireworks coming out from behind the mountain. It seemed like someone was there, but the distance was too far. We only saw the smoke and couldn't be sure if it was a bandit."

"Which mountain?"

“That mountain!”

Jiang Lianheng looked bewildered. Laoye Ridge was full of peaks and the mountains behind it looked like waves. Who could tell which mountain it was by speaking or pointing?

Everyone stood on tiptoe to look around, but after looking for a long time they still couldn't understand.

At this time, Haichaoshan suddenly asked, "Is it the mountain next to the big shelf?"

"I don't know the name of that mountain, maybe it's the one you mentioned!" Jin Youxuan was not sure.

But Jiang Lianheng and others immediately became alert and asked Hai Chaoshan: "How did you know?"

"Because I've seen it, too."

Hai Chaoshan seemed eager to repay Jiang Lianheng's favor, so he stopped hiding the truth and said directly, "It's still far from Shenjiadian. There are no houses within dozens of miles. If you take the mountain road, it will take at least six or seven days to get there... But I only saw smoke coming out once, so I couldn't see it clearly, and I'm not sure if I saw it wrong."

Jiang Lianheng looked into the distance and snorted coldly, "Whether you are seeing this or not, you will only know if you go there in person."

"However, if so many people go over there, if there are really bandits over there, they will probably be discovered before they get halfway." Jin Youxuan volunteered, "If Boss Jiang is trustworthy, our guerrillas can help you go over and take a look first." Jiang Lianheng was unwilling to give up any potential possibilities, and was not afraid of trouble. Anyway, there was no need for him to personally go into the battle to search the mountain and explore the way.

"Are you familiar with that place?" he asked.

Jin Youxuan shook his head and said honestly: "Our guerrillas have been operating in the southern part of Mount Paektu most of the time, but as long as we have guns, it will be easy. At most, we will have to walk a few more days."

Jiang Lianheng was worried about entrusting Gao Libangzi with full authority, so he turned around, looked around, and whispered, "Guo Yan, I'm sorry to trouble you for this trip."

Although Zhao Guoyan did not refuse, he was obviously less confident. He sighed and said, "Boss, it's okay for you to let me go, but the key is that I am unfamiliar with the place. I am not afraid of taking the wrong path, but I am afraid that I will be discovered by the 'Shuixiang' of the guild. It will be difficult to deal with it."

Jiang Lianheng had no choice but to ask again: "Li Zheng, have your people been there?"

Li Zheng shook his head and asked, "He just said that there are no people in the area for dozens of miles around that place, and there is no business to do. Why go there?"

At this moment, Hai Chaoshan, who was outside the crowd, finally spoke.

He held the horse in one hand and the gun in the other, and seemed to hesitate for a long time before saying, "Forget it, I'll take you there!"

Everyone was surprised and looked at him curiously.

Hai Chaoshan got on his horse and although he was reluctant, he still said, "I used to be a hunter. I have traveled all over the forests of Laoye Mountain. If Boss Jiang trusts me, I can lead the way for you, but I hope Boss Jiang can agree to one request of mine."

Jiang Lianheng had already guessed what he was thinking without him saying anything.

"Don't worry, as long as Old Shen takes care of the meals, I promise you that these brothers will not take advantage of your absence to attack the Lianzhuang Association."

Hai Chaoshan nodded, looked up at the sky, and saw that the sun had risen completely, so he said, "Then let's set off quickly after lunch. We will be walking for several days, so bring some dry food and water."

After saying that, he pulled the reins to the right, turned the horse's head, and without caring about the opinions of Jiang Lianheng and others, he took his two sons and walked towards the Lianzhuang Association.

Everyone looked at the backs of the Hai father and son, smiling, and felt that this person was a bit stubborn and didn't know how to adapt. Otherwise, if he could hang around online, he would surely be a big shot.

Jiang Lianheng was stunned for a moment, then suddenly laughed: "Tsk - this old guy!"

Li Zheng also walked over, looked at Haichaoshan, then glanced at Jiang Lianheng, and said, "Old Jiang, this Haichaoshan is a bit old, isn't he? If we take him in, how many years can we use him in the future?"

"Well, I don't need to take care of him, so I don't care how many years he can be used. As long as he can be used, that's fine!"

Jiang Lianheng returned to the house and greeted everyone, "Okay, let's go inside first and discuss who will be sent to explore the way later."

Just as he finished speaking, he heard the sound of horse hooves coming from the west side of the dirt road.

Zhao Guoyan looked into the distance and said with a smile, "Boss, Old Yuan is back too."

…………

"Dad, didn't you say before that we shouldn't get involved in their affairs? Why did you suddenly change your mind?"

On the way back, the two sons of the Hai family hurriedly asked their father.

Hai Chaoshan looked gloomy and sighed heavily, but said: "I don't want to get involved, but look at the current situation. If Boss Jiang and his men don't catch that 'Old Mang', they will probably have to live here forever... It's okay for them to stay here, but the key is those 200 or so bearded men. How can you make them feel at ease? Anyway, Dajiazi Mountain is far away from here, so let's end it as soon as possible!"

"Dad, they are all gangsters and bandits. Can you do it alone?" The third son of the Hai family frowned. "If we encounter any danger in the mountains, they will probably take care of themselves. There will be no one to take care of you!"

The second brother was also worried and immediately suggested: "How about we go with you?"

"No, when I'm not around, you two have to lead an armed team to guard the blockhouse." Hai Chaoshan murmured to himself, "Oh, I hope that Boss Jiang can keep his word!"

As they were talking, the father and his two sons had already arrived at the gate of the Lianzhuang Association.

Xiaoqing shouted from the watchtower, and the armed team members immediately pushed the door half open.

As soon as Hai Chaoshan entered the door, he saw all the tenants and villagers of Shenjiadian gathered in the yard. The crowd was dense and crowded, and they all looked eagerly at the Hai father and son.

Master Shen stepped forward quickly, grabbed Hai Chaoshan's hand, and said with tears in his eyes: "Hey, Chaoshan, why did you come back just now? What's going on? What's the situation outside?"

"Nothing happened, it's just a misunderstanding." Hai Chaoshan immediately pulled his hand out and shook it twice in the air. "Boss Jiang said that as long as you pay for the meal, he will pretend that what happened last night never happened, and their people will not join the Lianzhuang Association."

Upon hearing this, all the tenants and villagers in the village finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Only Mr. Shen's mouth froze, and he stammered: "Then, there are more than 200 people outside...I provide meals?"

"You can ignore it. When they run out of food, they will definitely attack us. The armed forces will eventually fail to hold on."

Hai Chaoshan was too lazy to say anything more. He took off the gun from his shoulder and handed it to his eldest son. Then he ran into his house, apparently to prepare his equipment for going up the mountain.

Master Shen followed tremblingly and asked, "Then...how long do they plan to stay?"

"I don't know. I guess we have to wait until they catch that bandit before we can leave." Hai Chaoshan said patiently.

"Oh my, the food rations for these two hundred people is not a small amount...Chaoshan, how about you go and talk to them again?"

"What else is there to discuss?" Hai Chaoshan's two sons were a little angry. "My father was almost shot to death just now, and we have such a result. If you want to discuss, go and discuss it yourself!"

The young man had a gun in his hand and didn't give anyone face.

Mr. Shen did not dare to speak. He turned around and looked at the tenant villagers. He rubbed his hands, pretended to be calm and laughed, "My fellow villagers, I have always said that this village association is not only the property of my Shen family, but also the property of all the villagers in Shenjiadian. Now that the village is in trouble, we still need everyone to work together. The rations of those bandits outside have to be shared by everyone..."

Everyone looked at each other, not knowing what to say.

The armed team members ignored him and left with their guns. The tenants did not dare to object and had to agree reluctantly, fearing that if they rejected Mr. Shen today, they would have no land to farm tomorrow.

"Bah, why don't you share the Shen family's land deed with us?"

Xiao Qing spat secretly, then quickly ran down the sentry tower and rushed into her house, only to see Hai Chaoshan busy packing his bag and tying his leggings. He then walked to the outer room, found a hatchet, squatted on the ground, and began to sharpen the knife...

(End of this chapter)