Located between Xiangcheng and Linying counties in the west of Xuchang, there is Dawangzhuang. It is the largest village within a few dozen miles, with nearly a hundred households. There is a small river to the north of the village, which is a tributary of the Yingshui River.
The headquarters and second battalion of the third supplementary regiment of the 24th Division of the National Revolutionary Army are stationed here.
There is a ruined temple at the east end of the village, which was repaired and became the regiment headquarters. Now the regiment leader Wang Huzi is anxiously pacing back and forth in the room, scratching the back of his head as he walks.
Wang Huzi is in his forties, short but stocky, with a full beard and a scar on the side of his left eye that extends to his cheek.
"It's completely dark. Why haven't you come yet? Will something happen? We have chosen good horses for more than sixty miles. It's time to come back. I said, Old Wu, you are so special
Why don't you say something? Is the food still warm?"
"Hey, it's sixty miles to go and sixty miles to come back. This man will rest his horse without resting. Don't worry. You don't know what Shanzi is doing? The food is all ready-made. I'm keeping it warm in a steamer. Here it is.
Just eat it." Huotoujun Lao Wu was Wang Huzi's old brother when he was a bandit, and he had no scruples about what he said.
Just as he was talking, he heard the sound of horse hooves and voices in the distance, and Wang Huzi went out to greet them.
Old Wu said angrily from behind: "You are the regiment leader. How can a regiment leader greet the soldiers? Just wait in the room and let them in."
Wang Huzi ignored him and shouted when he went out: "Is it Shanzi? Shanzi."
"Hey, Captain, we are back."
"Where are the people? How are they doing?"
"They're all here."
Following the sound of voices, a group of people walked in. Wang Huzi laughed happily, rubbed his hands and said, "It's good if you come, it's good if you come."
Zhou Wen could clearly see the various expressions of Captain Wang from a distance, and quickly pulled Xu Dacheng to walk in front of Wang Huzi, stood at attention, saluted, and said loudly: "Report to the captain, recruit Zhou Wen, Xu Dacheng is reporting to you.
.”
This move stunned the group of young and old in the regiment. The plot was wrong. What was promised was that they were frightened? What was promised was that they were crying for their father and calling their mother? Was this a result of arrest? This is the feeling of finding an organization.
Especially the young man who reported loudly. Although he is thin and small, he stands upright, has a standard or handsome military salute, and has a calm and calm look. Is this a captured student?
I feel more military than a soldier.
Wang Huzi was stunned, and the smile stayed on his face for a long time without any response. The various white-faced, red-faced, coercion and inducement, big sticks and sweet dates, etc. that had been discussed before were no longer used.
Lao Wu's coughing sound came from behind, and Wang Huzi reacted instantly and said: "Well, um, oh, are you hungry? Come into the house, hurry up, who, Lao Wu, bring the food
Come on up, let’s eat, hehe, let’s eat.”
After everyone sat down around the table, Wang Huzhu asked Gao Xiaoshan to bring a wine jar and fill everyone's bowls with wine. Then he picked up the wine bowls and said: "Two...well, two little scholars,
I, Wang Huzi, am an old man, so I won’t say those vain words. One thing I mean is that everyone is looking forward to your coming, and I won’t wrong you, so I’ll just stay in peace for now.
The second meaning is, just ask for what you need, and try to be satisfied as long as the group has it. In short, as long as we have people who stutter, we will never let you go hungry. Come on, do it."
"Dry!"
"Eat vegetables, eat vegetables."
There are not many dishes on the table but the portions are sufficient. They are all seasonal vegetables and side dishes. The meat dishes include a large pot of braised chicken and a large bowl of braised pork head.
Wang Huzi looked at Zhou Wen and Zhou Wen who were munching, and nodded with satisfaction. This is how a half-grown child should behave. What happened just now shocked him. So he asked: "Little scholar Zhou used to be
Are you from a military background?"
Zhou Wen hurriedly swallowed the food in his mouth, put down his chopsticks, sat up straight and replied: "Reporting to the captain, I am not from a military background, my family is in business. But I have liked to play with my uncle in the arsenal since I was a child.
He was in charge, and many veterans fawned over him and were willing to teach me. So I learned a lot of military ways."
"You're welcome, keep eating, let's talk while eating." Wang Huzi was even more satisfied at this time. This little scholar knows how to advance and retreat, and understands the rules.
"Can you shoot?"
"I know how to fight, and I've fought a lot."
"Oh? What kind of shooting have you had?" Wang Huzi became more interested now.
"The rifle has hit old sleeves, made in Hanyang, Ying 77, Shui Lianzhu and Little Japan's Type 38. The machine gun has hit Czech-made, crooked handles, Lao Maozi's turntable machine, Maxim. The short gun has hit shell guns,
The tortoise box, Browning, well, it’s the big-eyed box.
Oh, I also shot traps. But the best shot was with a rifle, and I almost never missed a target at a distance of 200 meters. Those veterans said I was a natural sharpshooter."
Everyone at the table stared wide-eyed, the plot was wrong again. Wang Huzi's heart was crushed by 10,000 grass-mud horses. His outlook on things that he had just corrected was instantly shattered into pieces.
"By the way, I've also fired artillery. I've also fired mountain artillery and mortars." Zhou Wen touched his head in embarrassment and added some more ingredients.
Crash! The jaws of people at the table all fell to the floor.
Zhou Wen knew that now was not the time to be modest, so he first reported all the light and heavy weapons that the Chinese army could equip in batches in this era. If he didn't take advantage of this moment to speak out, it would be difficult to explain when used in the future. Moreover, these weapons mercenary Zhou Wen
All used in shooting clubs.
Seeing that everyone was still in a daze, Zhou Wen looked at Wang Huzi carefully and said softly: "How about we find a time to try tomorrow?"
"Well. Give it a try and open our eyes. How about tomorrow morning?"
Wang Huzi was immediately satisfied with Zhou Wen again.
I was thinking about how to open this mouth just now. Bringing it up by yourself means that you don't trust people. If you are really bragging and are exposed, it will be difficult to deal with. Scholars are thin-skinned.
This is good, he brought it up on his own, and we didn't bully anyone.
After everyone finished eating and drinking, Wang Huzi asked Gao Xiaoshan to take Zhou Wen and others to pick out military uniforms, and asked Lao Wu to help clean up the room where they slept.
Gao Xiaoshan took Zhou Wen to the back of the regiment headquarters. There was a row of houses parallel to the regiment headquarters. There was a light on in the far right room, and the other rooms were dark and all locked.
Gao Xiaoshan shouted: "Mr. Zhou, are you still awake?"
The door to the lighted room opened, and a man in a long coat with thick eyes came out. He was in his thirties, tall and thin, with a slightly hunched back. He squinted and looked here.
"Oh, it's Shanzi, what's the matter?"
"I'm bringing two new little brothers to get their military uniforms. Please open the warehouse door."
Entering a nearby room, Mr. Zhou held up a lantern and hung it on a pillar in the middle, and asked them to go in and pick out a full set of military uniforms, including a large cap, a pair of leggings, a belt, coat, trousers, underwear, that is, a close-fitting jacket and trousers.
Two pieces of each, two pairs of cloth shoes.
Zhou Wen specially picked up two extra leggings. After they finished picking them, Mr. Zhou made a note in a book and asked Gao Xiaoshan to put his fingerprints on them.
Gao Xiaoshan glanced at the pile of clothes that were a little messy due to their fitting of clothes and shoes, and said apologetically: "Mr. Zhou, I have caused another mess for you." "It's okay, Xiu'er's mother will clean it up tomorrow."
After they left, Mr. Zhou returned to his room, and a female voice came from inside: "Who is it? It's so late, I almost woke up Xiu'er."
"It's Gao Xiaoshan. He brought two young men to receive military uniforms. Hey, they are all clean-skinned children from good families. They may be students, and they were kidnapped to serve as soldiers. What a crime!" After saying that, he blew out the lamp and entered the back room.
