During the day, the life-saving snow kept falling, and it finally completely covered up the traces left by Wei Ran and others along the way.
It was also during this day that Yongwu had been having nightmares. He woke up again and again, and the others woke up again and again. But he just wiped away his tears and lay down again. No one knew what he was dreaming about.
As evening approached, a sound of mules and horses neighed, causing Hu Bazhi, who was in charge of posting the last sentry post, to tremble and rush out of the tent.
Immediately afterwards, Wei Ran, Zhao Jinyu, and Unakan woke up one after another when they heard the noise, and hurriedly followed them out.
With the last ray of skylight, they could clearly see a big white mule running up the mountain ridge alone.
"Is that your mule?" Wei Ran was the first to react and asked.
"Yes, but that's it! I thought the Japanese had beaten it to death."
As Hu Bazhi spoke, he ran to the side of the mule excitedly, took off the dog-skin hat on his head, and patted the ice and snow off the big mule, "Now that we have another mule, I guess I can run even more."
It’s coming soon.”
"It's almost dark now, how about we set off now?" Zhao Jinyu suggested.
"Let's go"
Unakan also said, "With so many animals, we may not be able to walk the rest of the way in two days."
"I have no objection," Wei Ran stated his attitude simply.
"Then let's set off right now!" Hu Bazhi made a decision immediately.
Having said that, the preparations before departure will still take some time.
Because of this, when they packed their bags and filled their stomachs with horse chews, the sky was completely dark, but the snowflakes falling from the sky were not small at all.
Without further delay, Wei Ran took Xiao Si'er and rode on his biting black horse. He also asked the other party to help pull the reins of a mule.
Similarly, Zhao Jinyu took Boss Qiu with him, and Hu Bazhi took Qiu Yongwu with him, and all assigned them the task of holding the reins of the mule.
Unakan was still walking in the front. After everyone was fully clothed, they left the mountain ridge in the dark and continued on their way in the biting wind and snow.
This night, they did not encounter any gangsters, let alone Japanese or traitors, and even the terrain gradually became flat. In addition, they changed their horses from sledges to sledges, so they really had to travel a lot that night.
When it was almost dawn in the middle of the night, when they followed Unakan across a frozen river, there were even large areas of wasteland along the way.
After just letting the mules and horses rest for a while and feed them some fine food, everyone continued to set off, preparing to travel a little longer before dawn.
"How far do we have to go?" Hu Bazhi asked Unakan on horseback.
"I have to run for at least another day."
Unakan pointed to the front and said, "Run forward and wait until you get into the mountains and into the woods to rest."
Naturally, everyone had no objection, and besides, the snow hasn't stopped yet, so it's a good time to go on the road.
After running like this for almost an hour, it was already bright and clear, and Unakan finally led them through a wasteland and once again entered the deep mountain forest covered with red pine trees.
It can be seen that Unakan also became wary when she arrived here. She did not stop immediately after entering the forest. Instead, she led everyone to slow down and climbed over the mountain ridges one after another until she was no longer above her head.
The snow continued to fall, until the cold sun rose above the treetops, and then she found a leeward mountain col and stopped.
"Just take a rest here."
Unakan said tiredly, "If we walk another night and leave this forest, we will almost reach the Heilongjiang River. However, the road ahead will not be easy. There are Japanese troops guarding the outside of the forest."
At this point, Unakan suddenly raised his finger and pointed in the direction after tying the mules and horses, "The bearded uncle is buried over there. I was in a hurry when I left, so I just buried him with snow, and I didn't
Do you know if you have been discovered by the Japanese?"
"Let's go take a look together," Zhao Jinyu, Hu Bazhi and Wei Ran said in unison.
"Come with me" Unakan sighed and walked at the front.
Under her leadership, the three Wei Ran brothers and the three Qiu family brothers all followed. Soon after, they stopped at the edge of a pine tree.
The pine tree had been burned and only the black trunk was left. The trunk was nearly two meters above the ground, and a headless body that was also burnt was tied upside down with wires.
"I...buried him under the tree when I left."
Unakan covered his mouth and said in panic, "Where's his head? Where's the bearded uncle's head..."
"It was the little devil who did it," Hu Bazhi clenched his fists and said through gritted teeth.
"Another account..." Zhao Jinyu also clenched his fists.
"Untie him"
Wei Ran sighed. As he spoke, he raised his camera and clicked the shutter on the body on the tree.
Putting away the camera, he climbed up the remaining branches of the pine tree. After carefully groping between the bearded body and the tree trunk, he finally found three pieces of silver bullet between his lower back and the tree trunk.
Soviet lemon grenade tied to a tree with wire.
There was also a thin wire tied to the safety pin of the grenade, and the wire... passed through Cui Dabeard's spine.
Pulling out the iron wire that was almost frozen in the body bit by bit, Wei Ran unscrewed the iron wire from Cui Dabeard's body one by one and sent him down carefully.
On this cold day in the cave, the only thing they could do was to find an extra location leeward, dig a snow pit big enough, and bury the bearded, headless corpse in it.
"There should be ghosts around here"
Wei Ran said while patting the snow solidly. As long as the three grenades exploded, the surrounding Japanese would definitely hear them. "I think we have to continue running after taking a rest. We can run as far as we can while it's daylight."
.”
"Let's go back."
Hu Bazhi said, but he pulled out the cigarette pouch from his waist, placed it together with the tobacco purse next to the bearded man's grave, and casually covered it with a handful of snow.
The others looked at each other silently, turned around, and followed Hu Bazhi back to where they tied their horses.
After lighting the brazier and roasting a few sweet potatoes, everyone dug out the kettles or lunch boxes they were carrying, filled them with snow and placed them on the edge of the brazier.
"If we keep running like this, when will we arrive?" Zhao Jinyu asked while feeding some livestock.
"If I can walk to the edge of the forest during the day today, I can cross the river in the middle of the night."
Unakan replied, "No matter how you walk during the day, you have to stop before leaving the forest. There are many Japanese outside the forest on the other side."
"What happens after we cross the river?" Hu Bazhi, who was warming himself by the fire, suddenly asked, "How do I find Captain Zhao after I cross the river?"
"Captain Zhao is not here, but Zhao Jinshan is waiting opposite."
Unakan said, "After crossing the river, we walked downstream along the river embankment. When we saw Jiangxin Island, we stopped. Zhao Jinshan was waiting in the woods facing Jiangxin Island."
"Where is Shiyi? Where is Yang Shiyi?" Zhao Jinyu asked again.
"Shopkeeper Yang is in Khabarovsk. It's far away. You have to walk downstream for several days to get there. But there are no Japanese there. At most, you just have to avoid Maozi's questioning." Unakan replied, "Brother Jinshan knows that shopkeeper Yang is there.
where."
Hearing this, everyone fell silent again, each thinking about their own thoughts around the only brazier.
After only resting for about an hour, everyone braved their exhaustion and got on their horses again. Led by Unakan, they found a frozen river in the primeval forest and continued walking step by step in the northeast direction.
But this time, Hu Bazhi suggested that Boss Qiu and Xiao Sier learn to ride horses. The task of teaching them to ride horses was handed over to Zhao Jinyu and Qiu Yongwu. As for himself, he fell into the trap unknowingly.
At the end of the line.
"Brother Wei"
Hu Bazhi, who was riding on horseback, looked at the cavalry in front of him. After pondering for a moment, he said, "If we meet the Japanese, if... we brothers can stay?"
"Okay," Wei Ran agreed happily, "Actually, I just want to stay by myself..."
"One of you is not enough"
Hu Bazhi shook his head, "Let's both stay and let Unakan and Jin Yu take the three Qiu brothers across the river."
After a moment of silence, Wei Ran nodded, "That's fine."
"How about we find a chance to take a photo later?"
Hu Bazhi said with great interest, "When Boss Qiu and Xiao Si'er learn to ride horses, we'll take photos of them, just like you and Jin Yu did when they were cavalrymen."
"Okay...okay" Wei Ran responded with more difficulty.
"I have already made money"
Hu Bazhi smiled, "I've killed a lot of Japanese over the years. I've avenged my parents, my wife and my unborn child, and I've made a lot of money."
That’s right, I haven’t finished avenging others yet. Do you still remember Brother Li Hai and Brother Shen Baoying?”
"Remember" Wei Ran nodded while sighing, how could he not remember.
"We are living for them now."
Hu Ba pointed out with a smile and said, "Xiaohu and I have been counting, and there are still 26 left. Their revenge can be considered avenged, but it's a pity..."
"What's the pity?" Wei Ran asked subconsciously, but he was looking ahead, not daring to look at Hu Bazhi, who was running alongside him.
"Our team is now almost 30 years old. If we include the Qiu brothers, it will be past the 30th day.
But even if we don’t count the debts of the Qiu brothers, Xiaohu and I have to kill more than 400 little devils before we get our money back."
Hu Bazhi thought with a frown on his face, "This little devil owes too much debt. I don't know when the debt collection will end."
"Soon..." Wei Ran predicted with a pale tone.
"After all the little devils are killed, if I'm still alive, I'll go back to that shack." Hu Bazhi looked at Wei Ran and asked with an unbearable smile, "You still remember my shack, right?"
"
"Remember"
Wei Ran managed a smile and replied, "I hid a lot of things when I left there."
"yes"
Hu Bazhi looked up at the temperatureless sun hanging in the blue sky and said, "I will raise a few more good dogs by then, and maybe I will have to find a wife and give birth to some fat boys and girls."
son."
"Is there anything you like?" Wei Ran said, taking out the wine gourd he found in the baggage given by the bandits yesterday, unscrewed it and handed it to the other party.
"What's the matter with the absence of a shadow?" Hu Bazhi laughed dumbly, took the wine gourd, took a sip and gave it to Wei Ran.
"You can keep it"
Wei Ran waved his hand and rejected the wine gourd offered by the other party, "While the weather is nice, I'll go to the front and take a picture of you."
After saying that, he urged the biting horse to catch up with Unakan who was at the front as if he was running away.
After being taught by Zhao Jinyu and Qiu Yongwu, and riding relatively docile mules, in just a few hours, Boss Qiu and Xiao Si'er were able to ride in a decent manner.
After hearing that they were going to take pictures again, and they were still taking pictures in the cavalry style, the three Qiu brothers finally forgot the sadness in their hearts for the time being, and allowed Zhao Jinyu, who was stunned for a moment, to direct everyone to line up in a row and let Wei Ran take their pictures.
took a photo.
"It's time to take a rest."
After taking the photo, Unakan said, "If we go further, we will have to go out. There are a lot of Japs outside the forest. Let's wait until midnight before leaving."
Naturally, Hu Bazhi and the others had no objections. They followed Unakan out of the frozen river and into the woods, found a leeward position and set up their tent.
"When you start running again, you will leave behind all the useless things."
Unakan didn't wait for the brazier to light up again before he said, "Let's feed the horses enough later. If we can't cross the river in the middle of the night, we old people may not be able to survive."
After saying this, everyone fell silent. Obviously, just like the arrangements that Hu Bazhi had made in advance when he found Wei Ran alone not long ago, everyone had actually realized that what awaited them next would be a life and death difficulty.
.
In the silence of everyone, the brazier was successfully lit, and precious coal was pressed onto the firewood collected along the way.
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! As the charcoal gradually turned red under the scorching fire, the tent, which was barely big enough for everyone to lie down, became increasingly warm.
"I'm going to feed the animals, Unakan, can you come over and help me?" Zhao Jinyu said suddenly.
"OK"
Unakan didn't take it seriously, got up and followed Zhao Jinyu out of the tent.
"You three"
Hu Bazhi suddenly said, "Boss Qiu, Yongwu, and Xiao Si'er, as the captain, I give you three a task."
"What mission?" Boss Qiu said as he left.
"The most important task of our trip is to escort Comrade Zhao Jinyu and Comrade Unakan across the river."
Hu Bazhi said seriously, "But you must have heard Unakan say before that even if you cross the river, you still have to walk for several days."
Seeing Boss Qiu nodding subconsciously, Hu Bazhi continued, "The task I give you three is to follow Zhao Jinyu across the river."
"Captain, do you mean you don't plan to cross the river?" Boss Qiu came to his senses as he left.
"It doesn't matter if I can't make it"
Hu Bazhi said, "I'm talking about what if, if we can't get through, when we get to the other side of the river, Comrade Zhao Jinyu and Comrade Unakan will be protected by the three of you."
Without waiting for Boss Qiu to say anything, Hu Bazhi continued, "Boss Qiu, you have a brain, your fourth son is an accurate shooter, Yongwu knows how to treat illnesses and injuries, and you three are here to protect them, Zhao Jinyu and Unakan
It will definitely get the job done.”
"What about you?" Yongwu asked.
"It doesn't matter between us"
Hu Bazhi said confidently, "I have been hunting with my father since I was 7 years old. How can I be compared to this little devil in the mountains and forests? If we plan to run away, the little devil will have two more legs."
Don't even try to catch up."
Seeing that Boss Qiu was hesitant to speak, Hu Bazhi said seriously, "Zhao Jinyu is a brainless stick, Unakan is a bitch, these two have to be protected by someone, leave them to your three brothers
I’m at ease.”
"How about you and Brother Wei escort them both?"
Yongwu said, "If something happens then, we three brothers..."
"Nonsense!"
Hu Bazhi touched the back of Yongwu's head gently and lightly, "Can we rest assured if we leave this matter to you brothers? We will have to come back to save you when the time comes. If we don't do it, we will have to explain it to you."
On the riverside.”
"What about you?" Xiaosi'er stubbornly asked the question he had just asked bravely.
"Brother Wei, please tell me." Hu Ba pointed out and threw the blame to Wei Ran with righteousness.
"Are you resistance fighters?" Wei Ran asked.
"Yes, we have been for a long time." Boss Qiu left and replied.
"A soldier's duty is to obey orders."
Wei Ran followed up and replied, "Since you are fighters of the Anti-Japanese Alliance, you must obey orders and do whatever they are told. If I explain everything to you, will this battle still be fought? Captain Hu and I
What’s wrong with our arrangement? We still have to explain it to you three? Are you Commander Zhao?”
"us..."
Seeing that Boss Qiu didn't know what to say for a moment, Wei Ran continued, "Anyway, if you think you are resistance fighters, you will obey Captain Hu's order. He ordered you three to follow Zhao Jinyu and Unakan across the river.
, you just follow them across the river, even if you die, you have to run to the other side of the river to die again! Now you three answer me, are you resistance fighters? Are you obeying orders?"
"yes!"
Boss Qiu and the other two subconsciously gave answers.
"In that case, I'll leave them to you three." Wei Ran pointed in the direction outside the tent with his thumb, "When we get to the other side, there will be other tasks for you."
"What's the mission?" Xiao Si'er asked subconsciously.
“Don’t ask what you shouldn’t ask.”
Wei Ran said seriously, "When we get to the other side, Zhao Jinyu will give you new orders."
"Then what should you do?" Boss Qiu couldn't help but ask.
"The two of us are going to find the bandits who helped us yesterday."
When Wei Ran saw that Hu Bazhi was about to speak, he could only continue to make up lies, "When the time comes, we will have to find a way to convince them to resist Japan, and we will also have to find a way to send back the things we robbed from the bandits' den. There are many things to do.
Okay, let’s get some rest quickly. After we cross the river, we’ll have to rely on your brothers to protect them both.”
"But..."
"Where do you come from so many words?"
Hu Bazhi asked impatiently, "We are here to fight the devils. We are not playing tricks with Peini. How can we fight against the Japanese without killing people? When you are needed in the future, your task now is to protect the devils."
Follow them across the river!"
"You three are not afraid and want to run away, are you?" Wei Ran asked deliberately.
"We are not afraid of death!" Yongwu was the first to say.
"That's right! We are not afraid of death!" Boss Qiu and Xiao Si'er also said.
"Since you're not afraid, then complete the mission." Wei Ran asked pretending to be contemptuous, "You can't even complete this kind of mission, right?"
"What's so difficult about this!" Xiao Si'er, who was led astray first, immediately said dissatisfied, but Boss Qiu and Qiu Yongwu looked at each other. Apparently, they had realized something.
"Before crossing the river, this matter was kept secret from the two of them." Hu Bazhi added additionally, "From after crossing the river, the three of you are considered to be soldiers of Captain Zhao Jinyu."
When the topic reached this point, Boss Qiu and Qiu Yongwu didn't know what to say, and in the end they could only nod with difficulty.
After a while, Zhao Jinyu and Unakan got into the tent one after another. Everyone tacitly agreed not to talk about any topic about crossing the river, but just dug out various foods and put them on the brazier.
After these days of running around, this meal was particularly tasteless. This was the only meal where everyone and even every mule and horse ate as much as possible.
After filling their stomachs, the sentry duty was handed over to the three Qiu brothers, while the other four lay down by the stove and closed their eyes.
However, these four people did not mention it clearly, but they all knew clearly that the other three were not asleep.
In contrast, the Qiu brothers were quite young and carefree. Except for the fourth son who was on guard, Boss Qiu and Qiu Yongwu all fell asleep not long after eating.
Amidst the constant sound of wind and snow outside the tent, Wei Ran struggled to fall asleep after suffering for an unknown amount of time.
When he was woken up, the wind and snow outside the tent were still there, but the sky had become pitch black.
This is undoubtedly good news, but the bad news is that everyone heard the ear-piercing howling of wolves.
"It's time to go," Unakan said, "leave everything you don't need here."
"Take the mules, all the mules."
Hu Bazhi, who seemed to have woken up a long time ago, said, "While you guys were sleeping, I stabbed a few straw men and tied them to the mules. Maybe they can be used in case of an accident."
"Okay." Unakan agreed happily.
Without too much delay, everyone got out of the warm tent, and then saw a straw man piled under a pine tree not far away.
This so-called straw man is just a rough human shape tied with pine branches. If it is close, even a blind person can see that something is wrong, but if it is far away, especially in this kind of ghost weather, it is undoubtedly very confusing.
.
"Boss Qiu, ride this Japanese Japanese horse of Japanese descent and see how well you have learned to ride a horse." Hu Bazhi said first. In this way, everyone except him was riding military horses.
"Brother Hu, you..."
"This big white mule has been following me for several years." Hu Bazhi patted the big white mule's neck affectionately, "I have to fight hard next, and I feel steady riding on it."
Hearing this, Zhao Jinyu, who had originally planned to say something, closed his mouth and looked at Unakan through the faint firelight coming from the tent. The latter nodded towards him seriously.
Using the last moment before departure, everyone worked together to tie the straw men made by Hu Bazhi and others with ropes to the backs of the mules that had emptied their loads, and even hung them on the shelves of the mules.
A lighted lantern was put on and covered with a cloth cover.
There is no doubt that if necessary, just pull off those cloth covers, these mules are the best targets for attracting firepower.
"It's time to set off." Hu Bazhi had already mounted the big white mule before he finished speaking.
"drive!"
Unakan simply slapped the horse's butt with a whip, and rushed out of the virgin forest and towards the frozen Heilongjiang with the anti-alliance fighters behind her who trusted her as if she was going to die.
