The Red Era: Living in Seclusion in a Siheyuan as a Boss

Chapter 720: The Attack, Ava Mountain Village!!!
On the afternoon of the day Mi Yuan attacked, Zhuang Yan led his team to purchase equipment in Mandalay and rushed back to "Old Miao Village".

As soon as they stepped into the village gate, the scene before them made everyone gasp – the entire Miao village was devastated, with houses collapsed, belongings scattered all over the ground, and the air still filled with the lingering smell of gunpowder.

Self-defense team members and mountain villagers hurriedly moved among the crowd, frantically cleaning up the mess.

Shell casings and broken weapons were scattered on the ground, and wisps of smoke were still rising from several wooden houses, indicating that a fierce battle had just taken place here.

Zhuang Yan's heart sank suddenly, as if gripped tightly by an invisible hand, and an ominous premonition instantly surged into his mind.

When they returned to the commando base and saw the somber expressions on the faces of the other team members, Zhuang Yan's ominous feeling intensified.

Before Zhuang Yan and the others could ask any questions, Zhang Jincheng, with a complicated expression on his face, told them what had happened and how Comrade Le Jiu had sacrificed his life.

Although Zhang Jin didn't say much, everyone could sense the torment he was going through.

The old hunter who had once rescued Zhang Jincheng gave up his teak coffin, insisting that Le, who had sacrificed himself to protect the mountain people, should use the best coffin.

The mountain people all knew that the old hunter's coffin was not cheap; it probably cost the life savings of several of his families. This teak coffin was the only valuable thing in his house.

Zhang Jin said he did not refuse the old man's kindness. Although he did not say it, everyone could tell what he was thinking.

He wanted to use the best coffin to send off his comrade-in-arms, and he also planned to give the old man an even better one in the future.

In the afterglow of the setting sun, the assault team members were about to bury their comrades at the foot of the mountain.

It was only at this moment that the commandos realized they were in the midst of war and danger.

Zhuang Yan stood silently in front of Le Jiu's coffin, his fingers gently tracing the smooth teak surface.

The afterglow of the setting sun pierced through the smoke of gunpowder in the village, casting dappled light and shadow on the coffin.

He recalled the last time he fought alongside Le, that comrade-in-arms who always had a cheerful smile, now forever resting in this small space.

The commandos raised their 'Q' signs, bidding farewell to their comrades in a way unique to soldiers.

The gunshots echoing through the valley shocked everyone, making them realize just how arduous the mission ahead would be.

They made a vow before the spirits of their comrades that they would complete their mission even if only one of them remained alive, and that they would never let their comrades' blood be shed in vain.

When we return home victorious, even if only one person is still alive, we must bring back the remains of our comrades.

The villagers spontaneously gathered to celebrate and see him off. Some brought homemade rice wine, while others held freshly picked wildflowers.

An elderly woman with a full head of white hair walked forward shakily, placed a copper coin on the coffin, and murmured an ancient incantation for sending off the soul.

These simple mountain people expressed their sincerest respect for this unfamiliar soldier in the most unpretentious way.

As night fell, the campfire flickered in the darkness. Zhang Jincheng sat alone by the fire, mechanically throwing firewood into the flames, making a soft crackling sound.

The flickering flames cast swaying shadows in his bloodshot eyes, and deep within his gaze lay an unspeakable sorrow.

Instructor Liu Xiaotao quietly approached, took out a cigarette from the crumpled cigarette box, and handed it to him.

The two men silently exhaled smoke, the red glow of their cigarettes flickering in the night, mirroring the complex emotions they were experiencing.

The sound of the lusheng (a traditional Miao reed pipe instrument) from a distant Miao village pierced through the night, its mournful melody lingering in the valley.

Liu Xiaotao softly hummed that familiar military song, his hoarse voice carrying memories of the southern border battlefield: "In the vast sea of ​​people, which one am I; in the surging waves, which one am I?"

Zhang Jincheng's tears fell silently.

He thought of Lei Jun, who had fought alongside him, and of Le Jiu, who had just sacrificed his life.

Gradually, he choked up and joined in the singing: "I don't need you to know me, I don't crave your knowledge, I've poured my youth into the rivers and streams of my motherland."

The two singers' voices grew louder and louder, as if trying to dispel the silence of the night.

Before they knew it, all the assault team members had gathered around.

Liu Xiaotao wiped away his tears and pulled up Zhang Jincheng, who was also in tears.

The team members stood shoulder to shoulder, forming a solid circle, and sang with all their might: "The mountains know me, the rivers know me, the motherland will not forget, will not forget me!"

Their songs echoed through the valley, as if to offer the best tribute to their fallen comrades.

Under the starlight, the tears of these tough men shimmered with unwavering determination as they sang: every life dedicated to the motherland will be forever remembered by this land.

……

Michael's sneak attack dealt a heavy blow to the newly established "Sharp Sword Assault" team, but it also taught everyone a valuable lesson, keeping everyone on edge.

Liu Xiaotao and Zhang Jin wrote a detailed report on the incident and submitted it to Commander-in-Chief Liu Wu. The report pointed out the cause of the incident and their own problems, and requested that their superiors punish them.

Before issuing the report, Zhang Jin said he had consulted with instructor Liu Xiaotao.

After reading it, Liu Xiaotao said to him, "You can't take all the blame for the incident and then absolve me of all responsibility?"

"Forget it, instructor. This isn't something to be proud of. Just punish me. We can't both of us in command be punished. It would demoralize the team." Zhang Jincheng shook his head. He knew what Liu Xiaotao was up to. He wanted to share the burden with him.

Zhang Jin said he absolutely disagreed with Liu Xiaotao doing this, because he knew Liu Xiaotao had a bright future.

His comrades all know that Battalion Commander Liu Xiaotao is young but has been through countless battles and is highly experienced. We must not let this incident affect him.

But how could Liu Xiaotao let Zhang Jincheng shoulder the burden alone?

Since neither of them can convince the other, it would be best for them to jointly submit a petition.

Liu Xiaotao asked Zhang Jincheng, "What are your plans for the next step?"

“I don’t think we can let Michael off so easily. We have to take down his ‘Factory No. 4’ no matter what,” Zhang Jin said through gritted teeth.

After considering for a moment, Liu Xiaotao said in a consultative tone, "Should we attach our next action plan to the end of the report? Please give your instructions, sir?"

"Yes, you're right. We should consult with headquarters."

"Sigh, if only I had asked headquarters before I went to investigate Michael's factory, maybe Le wouldn't have sacrificed himself," Zhang Jin said with some self-reproach.

"Kim said, you must let go of that mindset. As a commander, you have the authority to make decisions regarding the operations of the commando unit, especially given our current situation."

"Of course, it's right to consult with superiors before taking any important action..." Liu Xiaotao suddenly realized he couldn't say anything more, as Zhang Jincheng was already under a lot of pressure.

"Thank you, instructor. Please remind me more often in the future," Zhang Jincheng said sincerely.

"Why are you being so polite to me? When have you ever been polite to me?"

"Okay, okay, instructor, I won't stand on ceremony anymore. I'll have Monkey report the situation, and then we'll discuss the next course of action," Zhang Jin said with a smile. This was the first time he had smiled in the past few days, indicating that he had returned to his usual self, which was exactly what everyone had hoped for.

Liu Xiaotao patted Zhang Jincheng on the shoulder, then changed the subject: "That's more like it. We must be fully prepared for this operation. Since Michael dared to launch a sneak attack, it means he was already on guard."

After discussing for a long time, the two came up with a preliminary plan.

Zhang Jin attached the next steps to the report, then called Zhuang Yan in, handed him the report, and told him to contact headquarters immediately by radio.

In the rugged mountains of the "Kim Jong-il region," radio was the only means of communication, and the losses suffered this time were largely due to the lack of communication tools.

This situation wouldn't have happened if the people of "Old Miao Village" had evacuated half an hour earlier.

During their trip to Mandalay, Zhuang Yan and his team purchased state-of-the-art communication equipment. In addition to two high-powered radios, portable miniature communicators ensured that each team member could communicate freely within a five-kilometer radius.

After Zhuang Yan left, Zhang Jin immediately said to Liu Xiaotao, "My original plan was to scout out Migo's 'Factory No. 4' and then formulate an action plan based on the specific situation."

Now I'm abandoning reconnaissance and going straight to attack his 'Factory No. 4'.

We just killed his eldest son and his adjutant; the old bastard never imagined we'd raid their factory.

Liu Xiaotao nodded and said, "I agree with your idea. How do you plan to take action?" Zhang Jincheng took out a piece of white paper, quickly drew a simple diagram on it, and then pointed to the diagram with a pen, saying, "The difficulty in taking down Migo's factory lies in the fact that we must first get through his stronghold, Awa Mountain Village."

According to A-Gui's description, Factory No. 4 was located in the valley behind their mountain village.

Surrounded by towering mountains, with only one road leading into the village, this is why Migo chose this place as his stronghold.

After destroying the factory, a safe evacuation was another crucial issue, because an explosion in the valley would definitely alert the guards in the stronghold, and once the exits were blocked, escape would be impossible.

"You're no longer going to scout ahead, so are you quite familiar with the situation in Awa Mountain Village? It seems you must be very confident," Liu Xiaotao asked with a smile.

Zhang Jincheng nodded: "We stayed in Awa Mountain Village for a period of time and have some understanding of the situation there. In addition, based on Agui and the others' description of the valley, I have formulated an action plan."

The opportune moment for us now is the deaths of Michael's eldest son and adjutant, along with the dispersal of over a hundred of his men. This is a major blow to Michael's forces; he would never have imagined that we would attack his factory at this time.

Looking at Zhang Jincheng's sketch, Liu Xiaotao thought for a moment and said, "The whole operation plan is to control Awa Mountain Village. According to our calculations, the village has at least four or five hundred soldiers. We still have too few people."

“I’ve considered this problem. If the plan is thorough, we should be able to deal with the enemy. My plan is as follows…” Zhang Jincheng explained his action plan in detail, and finally looked at Liu Xiaotao and asked, “Do you think this plan is feasible?”

“That works. Once we destroy Michael’s factory and weaken his power, the old guy will have a hard time making any progress in the short term.”

Liu Xiaotao thought for a moment and then said, "Okay, I'll be in charge of leading the men to bomb the factory, and you'll be in charge of directing the operations in the village."

Both of them knew that blowing up the factory in the valley was a dangerous job, because if anything went wrong, they could be trapped inside by the enemy, with unimaginable consequences.

Zhang Jin waved his hand firmly and said, "Instructor, I used to listen to you, but not this time."

I am the commander; you must obey my orders in all actions.

“It is precisely because you are the commander that you must direct the entire operation from the village. I will lead the team to bomb the factory.” Liu Xiaotao suddenly seized on a reason that Zhang Jincheng could not refute.

Seeing Zhang Jincheng's hesitant expression, Liu Xiaotao quickly said, "Let me explain my reasons first. If I'm wrong, you can make the decision."

"Okay, go ahead."

"We both know the same thing about the factories in the valley, so it doesn't really matter who goes to bomb them."

The situation in the village is different. You and the monkey are familiar with the village, so you are definitely better at carrying out tasks in the village than others.

Therefore, it's most appropriate for you to command the operations within the stronghold, and for me to lead the men to bomb the factory. Do you agree?

“Okay, you win,” Zhang Jin said readily, no longer insisting on his opinion.

"Truth has won!" Liu Xiaotao joked. "So when do we take action?"

Zhang Jincheng replied without hesitation, "We'll set off tomorrow, departing from here this afternoon and arriving at Awa Mountain Village tonight."

Now let's gather everyone together and go over the details further.

Liu Xiaotao immediately convened a meeting with all team members.

Under the dim light of an oil lamp, a dozen resolute faces sat together, the air thick with a tense and solemn atmosphere.

Zhang Jin unfolded a hand-drawn map and pointed to a key location with his dagger, saying, "There is a drainage outlet on the east side of the wall of Awa Mountain Village. We found that the defense there was weakest during our last reconnaissance."

"Monkey, you lead the first squad to infiltrate from here and take control of the gate."

"Understood!" Zhuang Yan nodded solemnly; his agile physique made him ideally suited for infiltration missions.

Liu Xiaotao then gave instructions: "I will lead the demolition team to go around from the back mountain. A-Gui is familiar with the terrain, so he will lead the way."

Remember, the explosives must be detonated half an hour after the gunshots are heard inside the village, giving Jin and his men time to control the gates.

Zhuang Yan was testing the newly acquired communication equipment: "Each squad has been equipped with a miniature communicator, and the channel has been tuned."

However, be aware that signal interference may occur in the valley.

Zhang Jin looked around at everyone, his voice low and powerful: "There are three key points to this operation: first, surprise; second, swift victory; and third," he paused, "everyone must come back alive."

As night deepened, the team members began their final preparations.

The rustling of guns being cleaned and the soft clanging of equipment clashing echoed throughout the barracks.

The mountain militia had prepared hot meat porridge, but most people just swallowed it mechanically—the impending fierce battle made everyone lose their appetite.

That evening, they received a telegram from the headquarters, authorizing the assault team to launch an attack on Michael's "Factory No. 4," while also requiring that every step be carefully considered to minimize casualties.

Regarding the sudden attack on the commando unit's base, the headquarters pointed out that although the responsibility did not lie with the commander, it did expose the commando unit's complacency, which must be overcome in future operations.

The following afternoon, the "Sharp Sword Commando" began its first official operation since its establishment.

After removing some of the elderly and infirm, as well as some new recruits and those who needed to stay behind, the rest of the mountain people's self-defense force, led by A-Gui, also cooperated with the assault team.

Thus, the operation was formed by the remaining thirteen members of the assault team, plus forty Kokang veterans from the self-defense force led by A-Gui.

The route from the camp to Awa Village is a rugged mountain path, too difficult for off-road vehicles to travel on, so the only option is to walk.

The team moved quietly into the twilight, each person carrying three days' worth of compressed rations and ammunition in their backpack.

Ah Gui walked at the front, his bare feet making no sound as he stepped on the damp moss, as if he had become one with the forest.

Liu Xiaotao noticed that this seemingly honest veteran had sharp eyes like an eagle when leading the way, and could always spot poisonous snakes or traps hidden under fallen leaves in advance.

As the moon rose above the treetops, the group took a short break by a stream.

Zhang Jin squatted behind a rock and used an infrared telescope to observe the outline of Awa Mountain Village two kilometers away.

The flickering torches on the stockade wall resembled a string of orange-red pearls, and the silhouettes of patrolling soldiers with cigarettes in their mouths could be vaguely seen.

“There are three times more guards than last time,” he said to Liu Xiaotao in a low voice. “It seems that Michael has indeed strengthened his defenses.”

After several hours of arduous trekking, the team finally arrived at the outer woods of Awa Mountain Village.

Zhang Jin said he wanted everyone to rest for a bit and planned to start the operation in the early hours of the morning.

Everyone used this time to eat and replenish their energy, preparing for the next action.

While everyone was resting, Zhang Jincheng called Liu Xiaotao to take infrared binoculars and sneak outside the village to observe the enemy's movements.

Under the cover of night, the two climbed up a large tree that was only a few dozen meters away from the village and carefully observed the situation inside.

The area inside Awa Mountain Village was mostly pitch black, with no light visible except for a faint glow on the side closest to the cliff.

Zhang Jin told Liu Xiaotao, "Look closely, those places with lights, that's where Mi Gao's soldiers are stationed."

They have generators that provide electricity for several hours at night.

The houses without lights belong to the villagers; they go to bed early at night.

"Shall we follow the middle street to the valley behind?" Liu Xiaotao said while observing.

“That’s right. Yan Kan will lead you through the village. If all goes well, you’ll enter the valley in about half an hour.”

After all the lights in the village were turned off, Zhang Jin and the other man slid down from the tree.

When they returned to where everyone was resting, they found that everyone was checking their weapons and equipment, and all of them were eager to get started and wait for orders.

Liu Xiaotao laughed and said, "What's the rush? There are still two hours left. Go get some sleep first."

Wang Tao approached with a smile and said, "Hehehe, instructor, this is the first strike of our 'Sharp Sword Commando Team,' and the brothers have been itching to get started."

Liu Xiaotao could understand everyone's feelings; he felt the same way.

(End of this chapter)