The night was as dark as ink, and the cold wind was as cold as a knife. The road from Gaoyou to Baoying was dark and crowded with people heading north to escape the war, and the dots of torches stretched into a long dragon.
Along the way, more than a dozen groups of "guerrillas" and "anti-Japanese troops" under various banners set up checkpoints to conduct so-called patriotic donations, which made the people crowded on the highway move even more slowly.
In these years of war and chaos, various local armed forces and forces have purchased guns and ammunition one after another, and they have sprung up like bamboo shoots after a rain.
Many of them have backgrounds, and behind them are the Military Commission, the Central Party Headquarters, the provincial government and senior officials, but more of them are the self-defense armed forces of the powerful local gentry.
These armed forces have no background and are not very strong. They number at most dozens or hundreds of people. Although they are under the banner of resisting Japan, they are really enriching their own pockets and making money from the national crisis.
At this moment, people tens of miles away from Gaoyou are retreating north. The armed forces in many places along the way have keenly sensed the opportunity to make a fortune, so they have set up cards to intercept them, and they have to pay to pass.
Of course, they did not dare to rob too blatantly, but carried out the robbery in the name of raising funds for the Anti-Japanese War. They had guns in their hands and were so vicious that the common people had to leave money to buy the road in order to survive.
The anti-Japanese war situation in many areas of China has deteriorated, and many armies have not received support from the people. In fact, the big reason is the scourge of these rats.
They did not want to resist Japan, but they hoarded money under the banner of resisting Japan, causing public resentment to boil.
Many troops fought bloody battles against the Japanese on the front lines, but behind their backs, these local armed forces continued to discredit them.
So many times, wounded soldiers retreating from the front line not only received no help from the people along the way, but even suffered insults and cynicism, which broke the hearts of many officers and soldiers who actually fought against the war.
But the national conditions are such that the central government in Chongqing already has weak control over local governments, and now that there is war, it is even more difficult to control local governments.
Sometimes in order to unite local armed forces and win them to resist Japan, we can only turn a blind eye to their wanton behavior, which makes many local armed forces even more unscrupulous.
"Everyone is here to collect donations for the anti-Japanese war. If you pay one dollar more, we can buy one more bullet to fight the Japanese and protect our country. Everyone has a responsibility..."
Zhang Baozi's men stood on the dirt slope beside the road, holding tin trumpets in their hands and constantly lobbying the people who were coming from the highway.
Seeing these ferocious "guerrillas" who looked nothing like the friendly anti-Japanese soldiers, many people became suspicious. However, they dared not speak in anger when faced with the ferocious eyes and rifles in their hands.
"Have you seen this? This is the spy sent by the Japanese. Do you know how we identified it? He refused to pay the anti-Japanese charity. What do you think he is if he is not a spy?"
On a thick willow tree beside the road, Tang Jie, with a bruised nose, swollen face and blood all over his body, was hung with his hands tied. He was already dying. He became a tool for Zhang Baozi and others to establish their power.
Whenever they encountered people who hesitated to pay the toll, Zhang Baozi's men would threaten Tang Jie, who was hanging half-dead on the tree over there.
In less than half an hour, Zhang Baozi and the others had already plundered five sacks of money and gold and silver jewelry, and the food was piled as high as a hill.
Those who had no money were blocked from the road and had difficulty passing. On a cold night, they had to get together and light a bonfire, and more and more people gathered.
Jieshou is in the middle area of Gaoyou Lake, close to Gaoyou Lake. The river network is dense and dark. Those people who wanted to go around it had to return to the road in frustration, because all the bridges and paths that could be crossed were armed with guns.
There are many people guarding the place, under different banners.
Zhang Baozi's face was already beaming with joy. Many of the forces who set up cards to collect money on the road did not dare to get too close to Gaoyou. After all, it was easier to run into the Japanese who were pressing over.
However, he went a few miles further to set up checkpoints, which was equivalent to searching the upper reaches of these forces, so he gained a lot.
"Zhang Baozi, you are so stupid that you dared to cut my throat. Believe it or not, I will take care of you today!"
Just as Zhang Baozi was happily calculating how much he could catch this time, a large group of people in the distance ran over with torches, and the people who could not dodge along the way were knocked around.
When Zhang Baozi saw that the leader of the opponent was the burly and strong Liu Heitan, his smiling face immediately turned gloomy. With a wave of his hand, his men who were collecting money loaded their bullets one after another, and the atmosphere suddenly became tense.
"Liu Heitan, I'm not in conflict with you, I'm just collecting money and it's none of your business!" Zhang Baozi stood there unwilling to be outdone, not afraid of danger.
When the people around them saw the two groups of people approaching under the banner of "guerrillas" with a strong sense of gunpowder, they all hurriedly avoided it. After all, no one wanted to get involved in this type of conflict for no reason.
But the common people did not go far, but watched from a distance a few hundred meters away. Some of them even gloated and hoped that the two groups would fight, so that they could take the opportunity to cross the road without paying.
"You just can't collect money from me, get out of here, or I'm going to go on a killing spree today!" Liu Heitan faced Zhang Baozi's provocative gaze, veins on his arms as thick as calves popped out, and he felt very unhappy.
Zhang Baozi shouted without showing any signs of weakness: "Liu Heitan, don't think that I am afraid of you. The last time you went wild on my territory, I didn't even settle the score with you. Now that you have come to my door today, let's
Just make good gestures to let you know that I, Zhang Baozi, am not made of clay!"
"Then let's settle the old and new accounts together. I've long disliked you. If I don't knock your teeth today, I won't believe you!" Liu Heitan said with a big wave of his hand: "Bring me Zhang Baozi.
I’m going to deal with him today!”
Liu Heitan brought over more than forty people. Upon hearing the order, they immediately swarmed up and rushed toward Zhang Baozi and the others, shouting.
Zhang Baozi, who was fighting against the Jieshou Anti-Japanese Guerrilla Detachment, was not a good person either. He immediately turned cold and shouted: "Give me their guns!"
Zhang Baozi is even more cunning. There are more of them, more than seventy people. However, they have long been prepared for someone to come and take advantage of others, so most of them are hiding beside the road to rest.
There are only a dozen or so people who charge their cards.
At this moment, after hearing Zhang Baozi's order, a large number of people rushed out of the dark fields on both sides of the road and surrounded Liu Heitan and the others. Liu Heitan and the others were also shocked, but
It's too late to retreat.
"Don't move, put the gun down!"
"Put your guns down! Otherwise I'll shoot!"
.......
The two sides faced each other with their rifles on their shoulders, aiming at each other. They were both excited, with their fingers on the triggers, and ordered the other side to put down the gun.
"Zhang Baozi, you insidious villain!"
Seeing the gun muzzles surrounding him and others, Liu Heitan realized at this moment that he had fallen into Zhang Baozi's trick again, and he cursed loudly.
Zhang Baozi pointed to his head with a smile and said: "Liu Heitan, you have to use your brain when doing things. Put down your gun and surrender as soon as possible. Your brain may let you live. Otherwise, huh, today next year will be your death anniversary!"
"you dare!"
Liu Heitan glared angrily. Although he and Zhang Baozi had always been at odds over their bases and interests, they had not reached the point of a life-and-death fight. Now that the other party wanted to kill him, he was immediately furious.
"Do you think I dare to do that?!"
Zhang Baozi has long wanted to recruit Liu Heitan, but he is not strong enough. If he kills the enemy in a fierce battle, he will lose eight hundred, so he has been patient. Now he finally seizes the opportunity. How can he defeat Liu Heitan so easily?