Before dawn, heavy and dense footsteps walked through the bumpy streets of Zhangjiaji, alarming the domesticated watchdogs of the residents on both sides to bark one after another.
"what happened?"
At the gate of Zhangjia at the east end of Zhangjiaji, two sentries from the Anti-Japanese National Salvation Brigade, holding and leaning on their guns, were also alerted by the barking of dogs. They lost all sleep and looked up at the dark streets to the west with vigilance.
"Could it be that the Japanese came here?"
Hearing the barking of dogs one after another, a tall and thin sentry grabbed the gun in his hand and spoke a little awkwardly.
A few months ago, they had a battle with the Japanese who came to raid the countryside. The Japanese's accurate marksmanship and skillful tactical coordination caused them to suffer heavy losses.
Nearly a thousand people were beaten to a pulp by dozens of Japs, with most of them dead or injured. They still remember it fresh. The powerful and ferocious Japs have left a shadow in their hearts.
"No, no, don't scare yourself. The Japs are cowardly in Qinghe Town now. How can they come to Zhangjiaji?"
Another short and fat sentry held a gun, swallowed his saliva, stared at the dark street, and said tremblingly.
"It seems like someone is coming." Hearing the footsteps coming from the darkness, the tall and thin sentry pointed his gun straight into the darkness, as if facing a formidable enemy.
The short and fat sentry also heard the movement in the darkness, hurriedly pulled the bolt of his gun, and shouted coldly into the darkness: "Who is that person?!"
"From our third guerrilla detachment."
Someone answered in the darkness, and the footsteps got closer.
Hearing that they were from the guerrillas, the two sentries from the Anti-Japanese National Salvation Brigade looked at each other and saw confusion in each other's eyes. If the guerrillas didn't sleep at night, what were they doing here?
While the two sentries were hesitating whether to enter the room and report to the sleeping deputy captain Hu Biao, Yang Ling and the others had already emerged from the darkness and walked towards the two sentries from the Anti-Japanese National Salvation Brigade.
Under the dim light of the two lanterns hanging at the gate, the two sentries saw clearly these guerrilla officers and soldiers dressed in neat military uniforms, pouring out of the darkness. They also breathed a sigh of relief, they were indeed guerrillas.
After all, the Chairman of the Chongqing Committee classified guerrilla warfare as a category of regular warfare. The guerrillas must also be formally trained troops. They need a complete organizational structure and neat military appearance. They must be distinguished from the Rangers, militia and other miscellaneous armed forces.
Although the Anti-Japanese National Salvation Brigade is under the command of the Ninth Guerrilla Column, it has not received the honorable title of guerrilla because it was a water bandit and has not received any formal training.
Judging from the military uniforms, they were indeed members of the Third Guerrilla Detachment, but seeing the murderous looks of Yang Ling and others, they still felt a strong sense of oppression.
"Go and inform Brother Hu quickly that people from the Third Guerrilla Detachment are here."
Seeing that the guerrillas were loaded with ammunition, it seemed that they were coming with bad intentions. The short and fat sentry hurriedly pushed the tall and thin sentry next to him and winked at him.
"It turns out we are brothers from the third guerrilla detachment. I wonder what you are doing here late at night?" The short and fat sentry tried to delay time, stepped forward and said.
"I don't have time to talk nonsense with you, get out of the way!" Wang Huzi stepped forward and pushed away the short and fat sentry blocking the door, and was about to rush in.
"Hey, what are you doing?" The short and fat sentry was pushed away by Wang Huzi, and when he saw Wang Huzi's menacing Yang Ling, he shouted.
"If you keep yelling, believe it or not, I will shoot you?"
As soon as the pudgy sentry shouted, a dark gun barrel was pressed against his forehead, and the speaker was a young man with a fierce look on his face.
While the short and fat sentry was being controlled, the tall and thin sentry who was about to report the situation to Hu Biao who was sleeping was also controlled by two brothers who were chasing him.
"No, don't misunderstand, be careful of the gun going off."
Facing the cold muzzle of the gun, the pudgy sentry was frightened to death. He dared to act rashly. While he was talking, the gun in his hand was also pulled away by the guerrillas. But now he did not dare to resist and allowed himself to be beaten.
Disarm.
Yang Ling didn't pay attention to the people of the Anti-Japanese National Salvation Brigade at all, so he came straight over. Who knew that he still looked up to them and dared to sleep soundly just by placing two sentries at the door.
"Where are your people sleeping?" Yang Ling cast his knife-like gaze on the controlled squat sentry and asked.
The pudgy sentry didn't know what was going on, but now that the gun was pressed against his head, he could only answer: "They are all sleeping in the backyard."
Yang Ling waved to Wang Huzi, and Wang Huzi led his brothers through the corridor and went straight to the backyard.
Hu Biao's men occupied the magpie's nest and slept in the backyard, while the Zhang family's men were driven to sleep in the front yard. They heard the noise and wanted to go out to see.
"Stay quietly, it's none of your business." As soon as the Zhang family opened the door, they were blocked back into the house by gun-wielding guerrillas.
The brothers were not prepared to hide their whereabouts. After all, dealing with a ragtag group like the Anti-Japanese National Salvation Brigade had not yet reached the point where it would take a lot of effort.
Therefore, Hu Biao and the others who were sleeping in the backyard noticed the movement outside.
"Damn it, why are you making so much noise outside to prevent people from sleeping?"
Hu Biao was sleeping soundly when he was woken up by the sounds of voices and footsteps outside, and he started yelling curses at the top of his lungs.
But as soon as he cursed a few words, he felt something was wrong. Under the dim light of the lanterns outside, there were looming figures, as if many people had broken into the backyard.
Just as Hu Biao reached out to grab the short gun placed under his pillow, the wooden door where he was sleeping was knocked open with a loud bang and the finely carved wooden door crashed into several pieces.
"Don't move! If you move again, shoot!"
Hu Biao was jumping up from the bed with a short gun in hand. The people who rushed into the room kicked him over and held him down. During his struggle, the short gun was also taken away.
"Damn it, who are you? I'm the deputy captain of the Anti-Japanese and National Salvation Brigade!"
Hu Biao was held down and carried outside. He was also panicked. He hurriedly struggled and yelled, but he couldn't see clearly in the dark, and he didn't know who was breaking into the house.
When he arrived in the yard, using the light from the lanterns outside, he realized that his men were being walked out with guns lowered.
These more than 40 people from the Anti-Japanese and National Salvation Brigade were sleeping soundly when someone broke into their doors. Before they could resist, guns were put to their heads and they were detained in disheveled clothes.
"Are you guerrillas?" Hu Biao also noticed Wang Huzi's military uniforms.
"Brother, brother, I am Major Hu Biao, the deputy captain of the Anti-Japanese and National Salvation Brigade. We are our own people. Is there any misunderstanding between us?"
Seeing Wang Huzhi standing there directing, Hu Biao also hurriedly shouted to make friends.
"Whether it's a misunderstanding or not, we'll find out later." Wang Huzi looked at Hu Biao, who was naked, and sneered at the corner of his mouth: "Take him out!"
"Hey, you can't do this. We are friendly forces. You are attacking friendly forces. I will report you to the column commander!" Hu Biao was also worried.
But no matter how much he shouted threats, the brothers on the arrest mission remained motionless and dragged them out one by one.
"Damn it, let us go quickly, or our National Salvation Brigade won't be able to spare you guerrillas!" The scarred man also struggled and threatened loudly.
"Shut up!"
The scarred man didn't say a few words before he slammed the butt of his gun down hard, causing his face to be covered in blood.
The most despised thing among the guerrilla brothers are these bandits and bullies who run rampant in the countryside. Now that they have caused a murder at Qian's house, they will naturally not be polite.
Those who resisted even a little bit during the arrest were kicked by the brothers with their feet raised, and they were often greeted with the butts of their rifles. Although these people with a background of water bandits were violent, they became more honest after being beaten.