Courtyard House: I only wiped out 30,000 Japanese pirates

Similarly, Old Yang still had a red mark on his left cheek, but he didn't care anymore. He was silently planning how to exchange information with He Dajun when he got back.

He had so many questions: Was Bai Ling safe now? How was the battle at Jingxi Park fought? Did Tan Zhengyong leave any message when he sacrificed himself?

But he knew now was not the time to ask these questions; he could only wait until they were alone together back home.

Moreover, Lao Yang finally understood why He Dajun stopped riding his motorcycle; walking takes time, which made the conversation more appropriate.

At this moment, the shopkeeper put down his account book, took off his reading glasses, and walked out from behind the counter. He pointed to several stacks of yellow paper on the shelf and said, "Sir, is this alright? Ordinary yellow paper, affordable, perfect for writing notices."

He Dajun nodded and told him to take a stack.

As the shopkeeper turned to get the paper, Old Yang suddenly took half a step forward and whispered quickly behind He Dajun, "Captain He, please walk slowly on your way back."

He Dajun nodded slightly.

When the shopkeeper brought out the paper, He Dajun took it and flipped through it. The yellow paper was neatly cut and of uniform thickness, just right for writing notices.

He counted the number; there were twenty in total, which was enough.

He Dajun originally wanted to continue performing his classic act of being a traitor, taking the goods without paying.

He stretched out his hand, and the shopkeeper, holding the stack of yellow paper, stared at him expectantly from behind his reading glasses.

Looking at the shopkeeper's wrinkled face, He Dajun suddenly felt a little reluctant to do it.

The old man's hair was mostly white, and his long robe was faded from washing, with frayed edges on the cuffs. He looked like an honest man who made a living by running a small business.

Forget it, there's no point in bullying this kind of person.

He pulled a few crumpled bills from his pocket, slapped them on the counter, picked up the stack of papers, and turned to leave.

The two left the pen and ink shop and walked back along the alley they had come from.

He Dajun had Lao Yang carry the stack of yellow papers, and the two walked side by side.

There was no one else in the alley. The blue brick walls on both sides were covered with withered vines, and the sky above was cut into a narrow gray-blue band by the eaves.

He Dajun stared straight ahead, then suddenly spoke, his voice low but his tone more serious than when he slapped him in the pharmacy.

He then stated that there was some very important new information, which had been shared with the Guo Party before.

Old Yang immediately began to listen very attentively.

He Dajun said, "The Japanese taking over Beijing is only the first step. The next step is to move south to attack Shanghai. This is the Japanese's established battle plan. Moreover, after Shanghai is taken, they will continue to push westward, with their target being Jingzhou."

"I hope the major parties can find out as soon as possible and make arrangements quickly. No matter which side receives the intelligence first, as long as they can move in advance, there will be fewer casualties on the front lines."

Old Yang paused for a moment.

He certainly knew what Shanghai meant; it was the wealthiest city in Great Xia, the most valuable piece of meat after Beijing.

As for Jingzhou, it is now the capital of the Great Xia Dynasty.

If He Dajun's intelligence is true, then Great Xia is truly in danger.

He didn't ask He Dajun about the source of the intelligence. He knew the rules of underground work better than anyone else, and he didn't ask questions he shouldn't ask.

He simply said in a low voice that he understood, and that the organization would find a way to pass the intelligence up as soon as possible.

When He Dajun heard Lao Yang say "I understand," he sighed softly to himself.

He knew that Lao Yang would do his best to pass on this intelligence, and he also knew that the Party organization would definitely try to verify and take action after receiving the intelligence.

But what he knew even more clearly was that in the history of another timeline, the Kuomintang was actually not prepared for the Battle of Shanghai at all.

That battle was too brutal. Most of the elite troops were wiped out on the Shanghai-Nanjing front, while the local warlord forces were still slowly making their way forward. By the time they arrived, the front line had already collapsed.

This is a wound etched into the memory of the entire nation, and at this very moment, just as this wound has reopened, he stands in a small alley in Beijing, delivering the warning message to an underground party member codenamed Old Yang.

But that's all he can do.

With his current abilities, he is not yet able to intervene in such a large-scale situation.

He only hoped that the commotion he caused in Beijing—the sneak attacks, the explosions, the harassment that kept the Japanese running around—could at least slightly delay their forces.

Even if we only hold off one regiment, even if we only hold them off for a few days, the pressure on the south will be reduced by a little bit.

Seeing that Lao Yang looked serious, He Dajun comforted him, saying that if there was no chance, then so be it.

After all, this is a matter of national importance, and the higher-ups are probably aware of it as well.

Old Yang thought about it and agreed.

Of course, He Dajun sighed inwardly. In another timeline, the Kuomintang had not anticipated that the Battle of Shanghai would be far more disastrous than it would have been under normal circumstances.

He then stated that he had already informed the Kuomintang through another channel, so there was no need to take any major risks if there was no opportunity.

Old Yang nodded, but it was unclear whether he had taken it all in.

Although the two walked very slowly, the alley eventually came to an end.

After turning the last corner, the sign for Baolin Pharmacy appeared ahead.

He Dajun stopped, and his expression instantly transformed back into that of an arrogant and domineering lackey, as if turning the pages of a book.

Looking at the stack of yellow paper in Old Yang's hand, he said in a loud and forceful voice, "Hurry up and write it down, and then deliver it to the courtyard."

They also made him write a banner that read "Imperial Army Recruitment Office" and hang it at the entrance of the courtyard house. The recruitment requirements were also listed: food and lodging provided, a monthly military salary of ten dollars, supplies provided, the Imperial Army as a backer, and the requirement to be bold.

Old Yang took the stack of papers, bowed his head, and repeatedly agreed, his expression both submissive and humble. He Dajun got on his motorcycle, started the engine, and sputtered away.

Old Yang stood at the entrance of the pharmacy, watching the motorcycle exhaust slowly dissipate in the alley.

He turned and walked into the shop, picked up a blue and white porcelain cup from the counter, and smashed it hard on the ground.

The cup shattered into several pieces, and the porcelain shards bounced several times on the bluestone slab, making a crisp, piercing sound.

Xiao Zhou was squatting in the corner sorting out medicinal herbs when he was startled by the noise and looked up at Lao Yang.

Old Yang's face turned ashen, and he gritted his teeth as he cursed, "Traitorous dog."

Xiao Zhou lowered his head and continued weighing the medicinal herbs without saying a word.

The motorcycle was going very fast. He Dajun returned to the courtyard, parked the motorcycle in the courtyard, and pushed open the door of the side room.

Bai Ling was sitting on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), sewing a garment with a needle and thread in her hand.

Needlework is also a way of disguising oneself.

He Dajun sat down opposite her and briefly explained how he met Lao Yang.

After hearing this, Bai Ling smiled, the most genuine smile He Dajun had ever seen on her face.

She said that was great, they had finally made contact with Lao Yang, and with this connection, many things would be much easier.

Two hours later, Old Yang personally delivered the notice.

Standing in the middle of the courtyard, he called out "Captain He" in a loud and respectful voice, exactly the same as his usual submissive tone in the pharmacy.

He Dajun came out of the side room leaning on a wooden stick, with Bai Ling following behind. The three of them met in the courtyard.