Until the autumn when he was twenty-three years old, Zhang Shijie believed that he could completely control his own destiny. For example, others were born in October, but he got out of his mother's womb in less than eight months.For example, at the age when he should read, he would rather be beaten every day until his ass blooms and his palms are red and swollen than to recognize a word.When everyone thought that this demon king was doomed to become illiterate, the twelve-year-old sat in the classroom in a regular manner, finished all the courses of the high school in just two years, and was admitted as the second place The county's junior high school.The family just breathed a sigh of relief, but after the September 18th Incident, he dropped out of school and returned home. He brought ten teenagers around his age with him from the town, carrying the flag of the Anti-Japanese National Salvation Team, with a dagger, a kitchen knife, Scissors and hammer, they want to go to the northeast to kill the Japanese devils.The family had no choice but to take advantage of the situation and hire a martial arts teacher for him according to his wishes, and planned to use their connections to send him to the Military and Political University in Wuhan, where he was asked to join the army and serve the suffering country. However, when he graduated from junior high school, he announced his true His wish was to be a primary school teacher, and he was easily admitted to Wanxi Normal University in Nanyang with the first place.After he grew up to be a handsome young man, many dignitaries, rich men and wealthy gentry in Nanyang wanted to marry their daughters to him, but he chose Yang Ziyun, whose parents died and his only brother turned into a bandit, to be his fiancée .The family finally accepted the most beautiful and talented woman in Taiping Town, and when they were about to arrange their marriage, he supported his fiancée to go to Peking to study in university, and announced to the outside world that when he would get married, he would follow the woman's wish.After he graduated from a normal school, many schools issued letters of appointment to him, but he suddenly announced that he was interested in doing business, and returned to Taiping Town Huaiyuansheng Headquarters to become the second young shopkeeper.The old shopkeeper Zhang was secretly happy, and led his son to inspect the entire Huaiyuansheng's general number and semi-colon, and solemnly told this son who had been different since he was a child: The reason why the Zhang family has been in a turbulent state these years To be able to achieve a prosperous business under the environment, the first gist is not to oppose the government. Don’t you know that at this time, his precious son, who has just entered the business world, has secretly joined the Communist Party that is fighting the government, and has become the Communist Party’s underground transportation in the Tongbai area. The person in charge of the line.

On the day of Zhang Shijie's 23rd birthday, he received news that Xuzhou had fallen.Within a few days, he got the news that the Kuomintang army had blown up the Huayuankou levee of the Yellow River to divert the Yellow River into the Yangtze River in order to prevent the Japanese from attacking the West.Zhang Shijie decided to take control of his own destiny again. He led 18 carefully selected brothers and his fiancée Yang Ziyun who had returned to his hometown due to the outbreak of war to join the New Fourth Army in Jinzhugou, and went to the real front to fight against the ferocious Japanese devils.

It was a sunny summer day. Thirty horses were walking on the official road in Tongbai Mountain. Twenty young riders were of different heights, short, fat, and thin, and all had youthful faces with high spirits.The entire team was divided into three parts. The first few horses were led by a strong man, and each of them had two guns pinned to their waists to open the way and guard.The ten horses in the middle were loaded with goods, and an old-fashioned man was in charge.The last few horses were led by a tall, thin man who was in charge of the rear.There are two horses, one red and one white, walking side by side in the middle of the team. The only woman in the team sits on the red horse. She is wearing a wide-brimmed straw hat, a light blue jacket and beige trousers. She has a pure and elegant face. Her face and slender eyes were black and white, as bright and calm as autumn water.The young man on the white horse is tall and straight, with a sharp-edged face that looks heroic and sophisticated. He is wearing a white cloth jacket and black cloth trousers. His thick black hair trembles with the rhythm of the horse, and his bright and energetic eyes sometimes Skimming the whole team, sometimes smiling at the girl.This couple is Zhang Shijie, who doesn't know the setbacks in life, and his chosen fiancée, Yang Ziyun, a student who dropped out of Yenching University due to the war.

The horseshoe galloped, and the mountains and green trees quickly slid behind him. Zhang Shijie suddenly felt proud when he thought that he was about to surface, and in the Communist Party's own team, he would bring his closest brother and most beloved woman to the front line to kill the devils side by side.Just as he was about to sing a few words at the top of his voice, a bay red horse jumped up beside him.Gao Liansheng, who was in charge of the back of the hall, glanced at Yang Ziyun first, and said in a low voice: "Second brother, Zhu Guozhu is also here, where did this kid get the news?" Before Zhang Shijie could answer, Yang Ziyun continued from the side: "I told him of."

Zhang Shijie turned his head and took a few glances, only to see that there was an extra white horse behind the team. The horse was a good horse, tall and strong, contrasting the frailty of the young man wearing glasses and a big straw hat on the horse.Gao Liansheng also looked back a few times: "Look at his attire. He is wearing silk clothes. He can't reach Jinzhugou. There must be a few holes on his buttocks. He also wears a big straw hat, like a woman. Second brother, what do you think?" I promise to let him go back to where he came from." Zhang Shijie asked Yang Ziyun: "Does he know where we are going? What are we going to do?" Yang Ziyun turned his face to look at Zhang Shijie: "I only said that I would go to the front to fight devils However, he should be able to guess." Seeing that Zhang Shijie didn't answer, Gao Liansheng rolled his eyes a few times, and said: "People in the Zhu family have always looked down on the Communist Party. It is impossible for Zhu Guozhu to really want to join the New Fourth Army. Second sister-in-law, look at me Did you persuade him to go back?" Yang Ziyun gave Gao Liansheng a blank look: "What are you shouting about! Who is your second sister-in-law? If Zhu Guozhu didn't want to join the New Fourth Army, he wouldn't go with us. He is different from the Zhu family." Gao Liansheng said : "Dragon begets dragon, phoenix begets phoenix, mice are born to make holes. Mr. Zhu, that old fox, can also give birth to a tiger? Mr. Zhu is not at home for a long time, so it is hard to say him. We have seen a lot of the virtues of the second child, Zhu Guoliang." Even if Zhu Laosan has studied in Beijing for a few days, can he be as good as heaven?"

Just as Zhang Shijie was listening to it, he caught a glimpse of Yang Ziyun's face darkening from the corner of his eye, and hurriedly expressed his opinion: "Lian Sheng, maybe a hunting dog can escape from the fox. Zhu Guozhu has already followed, let's go together. To fight against Japan and save the country, people People are to blame. The New Fourth Army welcomes intellectuals very much, so they rushed at Zhu Guozhu's face with those two bottle-bottomed glasses, and maybe let him stay for propaganda or something." Gao Liansheng stopped pestering Zhu Guozhu's affairs and changed his words. Said: "Second brother, once we join the army, we will definitely be included in the main force, right?" He glanced at the cargo bags of the horses in front, "The meeting gifts brought to us, and these guys, should be given to you anyway." A platoon leader, dry up."

Zhang Shijie snorted in his heart, platoon leader?If he had gone to Shaanxi with the Red Army of the Long March three years ago, he might have been the commander of the regiment now, and he was fighting the devil face to face with the bayonet in the ranks of the Eighth Route Army!In his rich imagination, if he kills a devil, cuts off one ear, and strings that ear, the string of devil's ears will probably be as long as the newly weaved bulbs of garlic hanging under the eaves.At this time, Zhang Shijie didn't pay attention to the Japanese devils who had already trod over half of China.For a moment, he had an urge to tell Gao Liansheng and Yang Ziyun his true identity, but he immediately remembered the oath he had made when he joined the party, and secretly told himself to hold his breath until he put on the uniform of the New Fourth Army and got permission from his superiors. , It will not be too late to announce your identity.At that time Ziyun should look at him with surprise and admiration!Yang Ziyun, who was admitted to Yenching University, has not looked at himself with admiration for a long time since he did secret work and stayed in Taiping Town as a young shopkeeper.It has been a long time since I saw the worship of heroes from the eyes of beautiful women. Zhang Shijie was very disappointed. When he thought about it, he felt telepathic. Yang Ziyun smiled at him, as if to say: You are finally doing something serious again!We are together again, when you kill the first devil, I will definitely applaud you, and I will string the devil's ears with my own hands... Zhang Shijie looked at this long-lost smile, and suddenly felt so proud that he opened his mouth and said Yang Ziyun taught "" "March of the Volunteers" sang: "Get up, people who don't want to be slaves..."

A group of people crossed mountains and ridges, and just when they felt the heat was unbearable, the road turned a corner in front of them, bypassed a hillside, and a clear river appeared in front of them.The small river twists and turns, walking along the mountain, leaving a few stalks of green bamboo in each arc, and going forward, the river bank becomes straight, and the bamboos are connected into a bamboo forest. The forested hillsides are more and more beautiful.This group of people grew up in the beautiful mountains and rivers of Taiping Town. When they saw the river and the bamboo forest, they felt their eyes light up.Zhang Shijie had been here a few times, and he was used to it, but seeing the surprise in Yang Ziyun's eyes, he felt like he had entered a fairyland on earth.He made a gesture, and Gao Liansheng hurriedly yelled: "Brothers, we have entered the boundary of Jinzhugou, everyone, take a rest, eat some dry food, wash your face, get dressed, and let the people of Jinzhugou take a good look at our Taiping You're a great guy in town." Yang Ziyun reined in his horse and laughed snortingly: "Gao Liansheng, you think you're going on a blind date." Zhu Guozhu, who had been following behind, came to Yang Ziyun at some time, and said, "Jinzhu Ditch and Dazhugou are known as Little Yan’an, and I heard that the atmosphere is particularly good. We rode all the way, so we should wash off the dust and enter Jinzhugou full of energy. Ziyun, here, drink water.” He handed a military water bottle to Yang Ziyun.Yang Ziyun waved his hand: "No need, Shijie brought some. Shijie, let's experience the difference between the river water in Jinzhugou and the Huaihe River in Taiping Town."

Gao Liansheng pulled the kettle over and took a deep breath: "Master Zhu, the kettle is not bad, it is the equipment of the Central Army. I really don't understand, you want to be a soldier and fight devils, why don't you come to Laohekou to find your elder brother? There is a colonel covering you, you must be rising very fast." Zhu Guozhu's eyes followed Yang Ziyun and Zhang Shijie to Xiaohe, and Zhang Shijie didn't know what Zhang Shijie said, but Yang Ziyun let out a low but clear laugh.Zhu Guozhu couldn't help but let out a long sigh, pushed the water bottle that Gao Liansheng handed over, and said, "If you like the water bottle, keep it."

After the people ate dry food and the horses drank the river, a group of people gathered on the official road and were ready to set off.Just after counting the number of people, I saw an ox cart approaching creakingly, with a reed mat shed on it and white cloth sewn on the side of the shed. Several women and children were crying in the car. Several young and middle-aged men walked, all with depressed faces.Maybe it was because of the green bamboo forest by the river, or maybe it was because of the many people on the side of the road. The ox cart stopped, and a middle-aged man took out two bamboo poles wrapped in white cloth from the cart, shook them, and handed them to Two young people, one on each side of the young people lifted up the bamboo poles, and the white cloth lay across the front of the car, with a few large black characters written on it: Long Zhenhai kills for his life, and the New Fourth Army decides for the people.As soon as the banner was lifted, the crying in the car suddenly became louder.

Yang Ziyun's gaze was first attracted to her. When she saw the word "Long Zhenhai", she was startled, and hurriedly touched Zhang Shijie: "Shijie, look, it seems that something happened to my brother." Zhang Shijie's expression also changed, He hurriedly comforted him and said, "Maybe it's a coincidence. Liansheng, go over and ask." Gao Liansheng patted his horse and approached the ox cart. As soon as he opened his mouth, the crying in the cart became louder.The middle-aged man was talking excitedly, and suddenly he heard a woman curse hoarsely: "Long Zhenhai, a bandit who was beaten by a thousand knives, I also recognize this bastard when he was burned to ashes—" I saw Gao Liansheng from his pocket. He took out a few dollars and handed it to the middle-aged man, but the middle-aged man refused.Gao Liansheng threw the money into the car, turned around and patted the horse over, and said with a dejected expression: "It really happened with Brother Yang. Long Zhenhai ruined a girl, and the girl hanged herself. The family took the body to Jinzhugou to file a complaint." As he said that, the bullock cart creaked away amidst the crying. Yang Ziyun stomped his feet and said: "My brother is so confused, how can he indulge his subordinates like this! Shijie, think of a way." Zhang Shijie ordered: "Lian Sheng, call Jin Sheng and Er Shun over. Ziyun, don't worry, Although Long Zhenhai is brother's sworn brother, brother will never be so confused as to let him go privately." Seeing the other two right-hand assistants Liu Jinsheng and Xie Ershun approaching, he said, "Er Shun, Jin Sheng, there is something wrong with brother Yang. Something to do, Liansheng, Ziyun and I went to Yinfengzhai to have a look. Follow this road for another ten miles to Jinzhugou, and there is a New Fourth Army guard post not far ahead. Liansheng, give the pass to Jinsheng , Ershun. When you arrive, go to a staff officer surnamed Song and hand over the goods to him. He will arrange for you to stay. It’s just after noon. If the problem at Yinfengzhai is handled smoothly, we can rush there in the evening Remember, after passing the first sentry post, tell the brothers to put the thing away, and be careful not to escape fire." Liu Jinsheng asked: "Second Young Master, what should Zhu Guozhu do? Should we go with you or with us?" Yang Ziyun said: "Zhu Guozhu has always wanted to join the New Fourth Army. Just take him to Jinzhugou. Shijie, let's go. It will be bad if my brother releases Long Zhenhai." He said, taking off the straw hat from the horse's back Put it on and get on the horse. The three of them returned to the turning along the river, and two horses approached. Gao Liansheng had sharp eyes and said, "Second brother, it's Boss Zhao." While speaking, the two horses had already approached, and the other party recognized them, and the leading middle-aged man in his thirties called out: "Shijie—" the horse stopped.He has a burly figure, a face with Chinese characters, and a pair of eyes that are squinted and hidden under thick eyelids, but it makes people feel that they can see everything.His name is Zhao Jiusi, he is the head of the underground work of the Southern Henan Special Committee of the Communist Party of China, and Zhang Shijie's party introduction.The person behind him was younger, with a mustache, who looked like a bodyguard and an accountant. He was Zhao Jiusi's assistant, Cao Zhenhe.After exchanging pleasantries, Zhao Jiusi and Zhang Shijie exchanged glances, and Zhao Jiusi asked: "Shijie, when we met a few days ago, you didn't say that you would come to Jinzhugou for business?" Zhang Shijie said, "Mr. Said to come to Jinzhugou. It seems that once the devils beat Anqing, you can’t sit still. There are no outsiders here. Let’s make it clear. I don’t want to do business anymore, and Ziyun can’t study anymore. We are coming to Jinzhugou today. I want to join the New Fourth Army. I originally planned to send you a message as soon as I put on the uniform." Zhao Jiusi looked into the distance: "Just the three of you? This is not like your Zhang Shijie style. Since I know you, when will you be around?" It was very lively." Gao Liansheng interjected: "Boss Zhao is really Boss Zhao! All the good guys of our age in Taiping Town have followed, a total of 18 heroes, but the second brother has screened and screened, Choose and choose again. When we go to the front line, we promise to make the devils cry and call their mothers. We haven’t arrived at Jinzhugou yet, and we encountered a troublesome thing. Brother Yang’s subordinate Long Zhenhai murdered a woman, and the second brother is going there have a look." Zhao Jiusi's expression became tense all of a sudden: "There was a murder case, did you make a mistake?" Zhang Shijie replied: "The woman's relatives took the corpse to Jinzhugou to file a complaint." Zhao Jiusi thought for a moment, then said: "Then go quickly. I came to Jinzhugou today because I was originally... Shijie, you came to join the New Fourth Army without notifying me in advance, isn’t it a bit too much? What do you plan to do with the business we did together?” Zhang Shijie avoided Zhao Jiusi’s gaze, He applauded and walked to the side of the road: "Mr. Zhao, I have decided to join the army this time. I will explain some things to you as soon as I put on the uniform. Jin Sheng and Er Shun are leading the people in front. Take care of them. You I am more familiar with the chiefs, you should help to say a good word about Brother Yang. Don't worry, Yinfengzhai will definitely give the girl's family an explanation. Let's go first." With his feet clamped on the horse's belly, the horse went rushed over. Zhao Jiusi yelled: "I'll be waiting for you in Jinzhugou—something urgent—" Jinzhugou is located at the junction of Tongbai Mountain and Dabie Mountain. Due to the complicated direction of the mountains and the complicated water system, it is almost like a mountain, a stream, and a stream.The creek that flows through Yinfengzhai is clear and shallow, covered with miscellaneous rocks, and the banks are mostly low shrubs, not a single bamboo.Across the creek, a mountain road leads to a small village, and the trees on both sides of the road gradually grow taller and stronger.There are not many people in the village, and they are scattered on the flat ground beside the ditch, all of which are dilapidated huts with earthen walls.On the eastern hillside, a corner of a temple protrudes, which is actually bright yellow glazed tiles.This temple has a history of hundreds of years and was once very rich in incense. Later, it was used by the government as a camp to encircle and suppress bandits on Tongbai Mountain and Funiu Mountain. When Zhang Shijie and others were approaching the entrance of the village, they met a sentry. After asking about their identities, one of the sentries led three people up the mountain.Asked about Long Zhenhai, the sentinel only said that the platoon leader was drunk and sexually disordered, and then he complained: There is no military salary, and he can't rob like before. It's strange if he doesn't hold back his anger when he's nested in such a small cottage.What was the life of the third headed family before?I miss women, just go to brothels, the rules in the New Fourth Army are strict, eating, drinking, whoring and gambling are not allowed, and it is reasonable to have an accident. The third leader and a few brothers drank too much wine and went up the mountain to hunt hares, but the woman was picking wild fruits on the mountain. problem occurs. Zhang Shijie frowned involuntarily when he heard that he was one of the three masters.Arriving at the entrance of the village, the walls on both sides of the gate of the village have collapsed in many places and are covered with jujube branches. In the village, with the ancient temple as the center, dozens of simple shacks have been built on the left and right. Under an ancient cypress tree in front of the temple, a person He was squatting on the ground with his head bowed and smoking a cigarette. Another middle-aged man of medium build and wearing a uniform of the New Fourth Army circled around him, talking non-stop.The sentinel yelled a report, the middle-aged man turned around, helped the gold-rimmed glasses on his fair and thin face, and hurriedly greeted him: "Shijie, sister Ziyun, you came in time, help Captain Yang get the an idea." This middle-aged man wearing glasses is Yao Sizhong, the deputy captain of the Yuwan Special Brigade and Zhang Shijie's brother-in-law.Half a year ago, Zhang Shijie persuaded Yang Kaitai and Yao Sizhong to let the New Fourth Army reorganize. In addition to public interest, he also had selfish intentions.Yang Kaitai is his fiancée's brother, and Yao Sizhong is his only sister's chosen husband. When the country is in crisis, it is absolutely impossible to let them occupy the mountain and become king.Back then, her elder sister Zhang Ruohong insisted on marrying Yao Sizhong, a middle school teacher who had lived in prison, which had already brought harm to Huaiyuansheng's Zhang family.Zhang Shijie was unwilling to lead his brother-in-law and future uncle to the right path.Yang Kaitai had participated in the 29th Army's Great Wall anti-Japanese battle, and had fought Japanese soldiers, but that was a thing of the past after all.It took Zhang Shijie a lot of effort to bring about this adaptation. He never imagined that after only half a year, he would face such a predicament.His intuition told him: if Long Zhenhai's matter is not handled well, all his previous efforts will be in vain.The New Fourth Army is the army of the Communist Party, and the Communist Party has iron principles on major issues. Yang Kaitai, who was squatting on the ground, stood up. He was tall, but not as thin as Gao Liansheng. If it weren't for the blue stubble and a scar on his cheek, his facial features would have looked too delicate. This long scar , It was left behind five years ago when I was a platoon leader in the 29th Army fighting the devils with bayonets.His brows were more wrinkled than Zhang Shijie's, and two bumps raised between his brows. With a burning cigarette in his hand, he took two steps forward and said, "You guys are here." Yang Ziyun trotted a few steps and asked, "Brother, where is Long Zhenhai? You didn't let him go, did you?" Yao Sizhong hurriedly said, "Sister Ziyun, Long Zhenhai is so bold and made a big mistake, even if we are still on the mountain , but also to be punished. We are now the New Fourth Army, and we know the importance of rules. Don’t worry, he’s locked up. No, I’m discussing with your brother how to deal with him. If you kill him, you can’t do it; if you don’t kill him, you can’t explain it.” Yang Ziyun snatched the cigarette from Yang Kaitai's hand, threw it on the ground, and stepped on it a few times: "Brother, is it easy for you to have today? Why don't you know how to cherish it! When the country is in crisis, I hope you can get rid of those bad habits of bandits and become a Form a real anti-Japanese team!" Yao Sizhong said: "Sister Ziyun, don't blame your brother, just blame the government for being selfish and not taking the New Fourth Army seriously. The national government doesn't care about food, clothing, military pay, tell the truth... Said, if it wasn't for earning a good family background and fighting Japan, it would be better to be a bandit, lacking food and clothing, and even getting married would have a lot of conditions..." "It's useless to talk about it." Zhang Shijie interrupted Yao Sizhong's complaints, "Human life is at stake. No matter what your status is, there must be an explanation for killing people. Long Zhenhai is also a man. What explanation is he going to give?" Yang Kaitai said: "After waking up from the wine, he had himself tied up and knelt in front of this hall all night. He said, if you want to kill, you can cut me up." Yao Sizhong gritted his teeth and said: "Long Zhenhai can't kill. He is your life-and-death brother who has followed you since the 29th Army. You have fought devils together, and you have suffered from military factional struggles together. You are each other’s lifesavers. You killed your relatives righteously and carried Long Zhenhai’s head to Jinzhugou to plead guilty. The matter can be settled, but what will the more than 300 brothers who followed you think? Don’t kill them, I really can’t wear the outfits of the New Fourth Army. Shijie, don’t think I’m talking about it. It’s a little thoughtless to lure hundreds of people to this road. You see, the devils can’t stop them, and the national army doesn’t treat the New Fourth Army as a dish. It’s hard to survive. The salary we promised to our brothers has never been accurate. , Trapped in this small place, eating is a problem, if you don’t compete with the people for food, you can only starve to death. Some of us have guns, are we afraid that we won’t be able to get a bowl of food? Brother Kaitai, you have a big idea. .” Yang Ziyun was in a hurry: "Brother, you have to think clearly. If you go to Chiang Kai-shek, you won't have any good fruit to eat." Yao Sizhong hurriedly said: "Nowadays, the Northwest Army listens to Chiang." Mother, that's not a human, it's an animal. There is another way to do this." Yang Kaitai asked anxiously, "What way?" Zhang Shijie said confidently: "I don't believe that a living person can be suffocated to death by urine. The victim's family has already filed a complaint, so this matter cannot be delayed. Brother Yang, let me help you with this matter. Don't worry, I won't let you Get the notoriety of being a life-and-death brother." Yang Kaitai said: "Okay. I know you have many ways." Yao Sizhong looked at Zhang Shijie with a questioning look: "Shijie, tell me your way, let me gain insight ?" Zhang Shijie didn't answer directly: "Brother Yang, prepare some dishes and a jar of good wine." Yang Kaitai yelled towards the main hall: "Ginkgo, come here." A sixteen or seventeen-year-old tall, thin girl with thick eyebrows and almond eyes ran over: "Brother, what's the matter? Yo ho, Second Young Master Zhang, tell me!" What way did you lead us?" Yang Ziyun frowned: "Brother, is this the younger sister of your old company commander? You should teach her some manners." Zhou Yinxing immediately changed his sincere face: "Is it sister Ziyun? You taught it well. Zhang Second young master, please order." Yang Kaitai said: "Go and explain, prepare eight dishes, four hot and four cold, and a pot of aged Dukang." Zhou Yinxing promised and ran away. Half an hour later, Zhang Shijie entered Long Zhenhai's room with food and wine.It was dusk now. Zhang Shijie stood at the door and said to the outside: "This is between me and Captain Long, you can't meddle in it." He walked to the side of the table and sat down, poured two bowls of wine: "Brother Long, I'll drink with you Two bowls." Long Zhenhai sneered and looked at Zhang Shijie: "Brother asked you to deal with me? What kind of chamber pot are you? Just because of a woman, the New Fourth Army is going to kill me?" Zhang Shijie said with a smile: "I have nothing to do with the New Fourth Army. This There's no poison in the wine. Sit down. I just want to talk to you." Long Zhenhai Dama Jindao sat opposite Zhang Shijie.The oil lamp was lit in the dark room, and the flames of the oil lamp jumped up and down, making the whole room very mysterious.Long Zhenhai said provocatively: "The surname is Zhang, let's draw a line." Zhang Shijie held up the wine bowl: "Brother Zhenhai, I respect you for this bowl of wine to express my respect for you, the anti-Japanese warrior. If every Chinese A soldier, like you, can kill six Japanese devil soldiers, and the little Japan is already over." Picking up the big bowl, he drank it down. Long Zhenhai suddenly laughed strangely, tears streaming down his face: "Five and a half, the sixth was killed by me and the platoon leader, tell me, what are you going to do with me?" Zhang Shijie also laughed: "Half You can remember who the devil’s little life is. Nails are nails, rivets are rivets, and Shijie admires them very much. You are an anti-Japanese hero, and you are still a great hero even if you make mistakes. None of us has the right to punish you. "As he spoke, he took out his twenty-shot shell gun and put it on the table in front of Long Zhenhai: "Brother Zhenhai, one life is worth one life. Twenty years later, you will still be a great hero." Long Zhenhai was stunned: "You Let me kill myself?" Zhang Shijie nodded: "This is the best way. I can't think of a better way." Long Zhenhai suddenly picked up the gun and pointed the muzzle at Zhang Shijie's forehead: "What if I don't want to die? With this twenty-shot gun, who of you can stop me? I was drunk that day, you don't know, and neither does the elder brother? "Yang Ziyun yelled "Shijie!" He rushed in and was stunned when he saw the situation.Yang Kaitai and others also broke in.Gao Liansheng and others pointed their guns at Long Zhenhai's head.Yang Kaitai yelled: "Zhenhai, how dare you—" Zhang Shijie slapped the table vigorously: "Get out! Get out! This is about me and Long Zhenhai! He wants to kill me, so don't stop him, let him take My gun kills devils for me. Get out! Get out!" Several people withdrew. Long Zhenhai grinned a few times: "You've missed your mark, Zhang Shijie! I, Long Zhenhai, don't deserve to die!" Zhang Shijie said, "Then I'm the only one who dies. I led you on this road. If you're still a bandit, No one can do anything to you, not to mention ruining one golden girl, but ten. It is different now, you have become a member of the New Fourth Army. You must be responsible for the murder you committed. Brother and your brothers can't bear to kill you, You have seen this. I have no right to kill you. But if you don’t die, hundreds of your brothers will be stigmatized because of you. The girl’s family has gone to Jinzhugou to file a complaint. You can kill me, and I will be relieved " Long Zhenhai put the muzzle of the gun on the dining table: "You are not afraid of death." Zhang Shijie took a sip from the wine bowl: "No! I am afraid of death! I am just not afraid of responsibility. You put on this military uniform , has something to do with me. I died under your gun, which proves that I have no eyes, and I misread a Long Zhenhai..." "Brother Shijie, don't talk about it." Long Zhenhai drank half of the wine for a while, and threw the wine jar to the ground, "I will still be friends with you in the next life. Thank you for the farewell wine. Thank you for giving me this face How to die. After I die, I beg you, brother, to take good care of my old lady and send her to her death.” Holding a gun, he turned around and walked out of the house, “Brother, brothers——Zhenhai shamed you! I discredited the New Fourth Army! , I will pay for this life! Brothers, follow the New Fourth Army and kill the devils! I will go first." Throwing the gun to Zhang Shijie, "The bullets for killing the devils are very scarce. If you can save one, you can save one." He pulled out a dagger from the leggings and wiped it towards his neck. A stream of blood splashed out in an arc and sprinkled on the ground in front of the hall. As soon as Zhang Shijie's tense nerves relaxed, he felt his whole body go limp, and he slid against the wall on the ground, causing Yang Ziyun to shout again.Zhang Shijie forced himself to stand up, went to kneel on the ground and hugged the bloody Long Zhenhai: "Brother Zhenhai, from now on, your mother will be my mother. Brother Yang, brother-in-law, don't be an idiot!" A messenger ran over to report: "Brigade Captain, Brigade Deputy, the detachment ordered you to line up to Jinzhugou with pistols tomorrow morning." Betting on your life, the crisis was solved, which gave Zhang Shijie a little more confidence.Self-confidence is self-confidence, but after all, I forced someone to death, and it is inevitable to feel uncomfortable.That night, Zhang Shijie drank a few more bowls of wine, and was so drunk that he passed out. The next day after Zhang Shijie woke up, the sun was already high. Yang Kaitai and Yao Sizhong took their pistols and went to Jinzhugou. Zhang Shijie, Yang Ziyun and Gao Liansheng hurried to Jinzhugou after a few mouthfuls of food.Not far from Yinfengzhai, they encountered a brigade of the New Fourth Army. At this time, Zhang Shijie didn't realize that from this day on, he could no longer firmly control his own destiny. Things were far more sinister and complicated than Zhang Shijie thought. The New Fourth Army brigade that Zhang Shijie and the others met outside Yinfengzhai was performing a special task: to use force to force the special brigade to disarm and reorganize such a force.Zhao Jiusi hurried to Jinzhugou after learning the news of the accident in the special brigade on the road.He went directly to a chief in charge of leading the underground struggle to inquire about the situation, and the chief told him about several decisions that had been made.Zhao Jiusi felt the importance of this matter, and said bluntly: "It is not the best policy to reorganize Yang Kaitai's special brigade by force. Many of Yang Kaitai's subordinates are former troops of the Northwest Army, and they are very dissatisfied with Lao Jiang and the others. What they need is trust. Of course, this army is disciplined. It is relatively poor, and it needs to be vigorously rectified. Chief, do you think this is okay? Give me and Comrade Shijie a chance, send us two to the special brigade, and reform this unit. Comrade Shijie has already heard about Long Zhenhai. Went to Yinfengzhai. Commander, we are marching east and need troops who can fight tough battles." The chief smiled and said: "Your request cannot be met by the provincial party committee and the military department. If the troops want to enter the Henan, Anhui and Jiangsu areas to fight against Japan, they must maintain their purity. The main force moving eastward to develop behind the enemy is not to completely abandon Jinzhu Gou base, not to mention the entire Tongbai area. Therefore, you cannot move with the main force, you must stay. Your new position is the deputy secretary of the Tongbai Special Committee and the captain of the Tongbai Mountain Guerrilla.” Zhao Jiusi sent out a surprise Voice: "Ah—" The chief said: "This burden is very heavy. Among my generals, only you can carry it." Zhao Jiusi said in a strange way: "The chief is too flattering me." The chief said: "This is the decision of the provincial party committee and the military department. Execute it, Comrade Jiusi." Zhao Jiusi said: "Yes." The chief changed his tone and said, "Jiusi, you should know the importance of the entire Tongbai area. You can't lose a single position on the front line of Tongbai Mountain. After more than a dozen universities in Henan moved to Wanxi, the underground passage you built with Taiping Town as the core has a more prominent strategic position. Nanyang has now become a talent pool for the entire Henan Province. Furthermore, it spans the first In the fifth and second war zones, people in the rear think of our base areas, and most of them will go this route. Your main responsibility is to ensure the smooth flow of this underground passage." Zhao Jiusi said: "So, Zhang Shijie can't surface, either. Join the New Fourth Army? But I have already promised him, and his people have already come, and they have brought a lot of weapons.” The chief said in a non-negotiable tone: “Zhang Shijie must stay in Taiping Town. I have received a report saying that Most of the guns he bought this time are American or German, which is not easy. If he joins the main force, he can bring him a battalion at most. We have no shortage of battalion commanders! We can’t do without the traffic station chief and talent transport team leader !" Zhao Jiusi was dumbfounded, and secretly complained in his heart. After thinking all night, he couldn't come up with a perfect plan.Thinking of Yang Kaitai's pistol platoon, Zhao Jiusi didn't even eat breakfast, and went to find a hiding place outside the compound where the pistol platoon was disarmed according to the plan, and prepared to go out and be a lobbyist in case something happened. Yang Kaitai and Yao Sizhong approached the gate of the compound with a pistol platoon. Several cadres and soldiers of the New Fourth Army were already handing in their guns at the gate.Zhou Yinxing looked at the situation, rolled her eyes around, and said, "Brother, I never heard that guns are not allowed in meetings. Look at those places...it's a bit strange." A staff officer came over and said, "Yang Captain, Captain Yao, thank you for your hard work. Leave your guns behind. The big chief is here, for fear that the brothers will go off fire. Also, are there important people from the friendly army to attend the meeting?" Zhou Yinxing looked around again: "Aren't you going to deal with us? You Look, Long Zhenhai has committed suicide in fear of crime." Yang Kaitai closed his eyes, and pulled Zhou Yinxing: "What nonsense! Go in." He took out the two guns he had brought, and walked inside.Yao Sizhong wiped the sweat from his forehead, untied the gun with shaking hands, and trotted into the yard. Zhou Yinxing threw the gun hanging outside into the basket, "Don't steal my bullets." He raised his foot and walked in.The staff officer reached out to stop Zhou Yinxing, "Miss Ginkgo, you can use two guns, can you shoot Yang with a hundred paces?" Yang Kaitai turned around and said, "Ginkgo, hand it over." Zhou Yinxing took out a Browning from his arms, He slapped it on the table, "It's boring! Treat us as assassins!" Zhao Jiusi saw that Yang Kaitai's people entered the yard, walked out from the broken wall, and walked slowly towards the gate of the compound.With a wave of the staff officer, several soldiers rushed out from the ambush and carried away the long and short guns.Then, Zhao Jiusi saw several soldiers enter the yard following a chief wearing glasses.Zhao Jiusi walked to the west side of the courtyard wall, took out the tobacco leaves and rolled his cigarettes while listening to the movement inside.一个嘶哑的男声传了出来：“同志们，请注意我这个称呼！我称你们为同志，说明前一段你们大队出的那些问题，属于内部问题。但这些问题，有的是性质很严重的问题。这样一支队伍，不整编，不整顿，就是乌合之众，乌合之众，能打日本鬼子吗？不能！我们新四军，是共产党领导的队伍，是人民的队伍，是抗日的队伍。这样一支队伍，必须是一支纯洁的队伍。从今天起，你们这个特别大队不存在了。你们现在的任务，是在这个院子里待着，学习、整顿。听明白了吗？”一个脆生生的女声问：“首长，学习完了呢？” “愿意留下的，分到其他大队，继续干革命，打鬼子。” “要是不想留下呢？你们会不会用机关枪把我们突突了？”嘶哑男声充满厌恶地说：“不愿留下，发给路费，回家。中国有四万万人，不缺拿枪打鬼子的。去留自便。”接着便是一片死寂。 赵九思心里道：“没有流血，还好。”嘬了两口烟，他朝谷口走去。他希望能先碰上张世杰，向张世杰传达一下组织决定。走了几步，他又折回去。赵九思决定再去找找首长，希望龙镇海的死能改变杨开泰这一群人的命运。 新兵登记处外面，有十几个战士正在空地上练习刺杀技术。张世杰站下看了几眼，嘴角露出不屑的冷笑。杨紫云疑惑地问：“你笑什么？记着你以后可要谦虚点。别以为哪里都是太平镇。”张世杰笑道：“我不是个浅薄无知的人吧？” 正说着，一个穿军装的人从一间屋子里走出来，惊喜的声音响着：“紫云，你可来了！我已经替你报了名。吴参谋，你看，这就是我向你推荐的杨紫云，她的日语说得比我好，会骑马，也会打枪。”张世杰定睛一看，这人原来是朱国柱。朱国柱穿上了军装，文弱的身材一下子挺拔起来，军帽一戴，那张单薄的脸也显得有了棱角。人靠衣裳马靠鞍，真不假。 一个壮实的新四军军官从屋里走出，“人在哪里？紫云同志……”抬头一看，“张少爷，张少掌柜也来了。这么多人呢！”张世杰不高兴地说：“老吴同志，以后别叫我什么少爷、掌柜了。要叫我一声同志。从今天起，我和他们十八个，都是你的同志了。进屋吧，填登记表。”吴参谋早已得到命令，打量着张世杰和他带来的人，思索着拒绝张世杰参军的最佳办法。张世杰狐疑地问：“怎么了？又不是相牛。快点！他们都等着穿军装呢。” 吴参谋只好开口了，“张少爷，你，还有你带来的这些伙计，都不符合参军条件。参加新四军，没两下子不行。光靠热情没用。我们只招对我们有用的人。”张世杰指指朱国柱，“他有什么用？”吴参谋笑了，“你们这里面有没有懂日语的？谁懂日语，我马上收。张少爷，部队就要开赴前线了。就说这拼刺刀吧，没有一两个月，练不到他们这种水平，跟小鬼子肉搏，只会白白送死……你干什么？”张世杰从架子上取来两个木枪，扔一个过去，“接着。干什么？跟你练练。”吴参谋笑了起来，“跟我练？你不是对手。你们那两下子，对付山贼还行。我们的对手是鬼子。”张世杰的脸黑了，“练练。我要赢了你，你马上给我的人发军装。”吴参谋道：“真想练？”张世杰道：“我要是输了，马上带人滚出金竹沟。”吴参谋道：“行，我就陪你练练。”拿起一支木枪，跟张世杰面对面站下了。 张世杰有些托大，第一个回合就险些被吴参谋刺中。两个人缠斗一会儿，吴参谋急了，进攻很猛。张世杰冷静地掌控着局面，一看吴参谋杀得性起，佯装不支，瞅准机会，一个斜刺把吴参谋刺倒了。吴参谋痛得坐在地上呲牙咧嘴。张世杰连说：“承让，承让。我那十几个手下，拼刺刀大部分比我强。怎么样？没大事吧？要是没事，咱们就进屋填表吧。”吴参谋挣扎着站起来，“我不服！咱们再比一局。” 张世杰出手把吴参谋的手枪掏出来，又拔出自己的二十响。吴参谋忙喊：“干什么，干什么？”张世杰道：“让你知道喇叭是铜锅是铁。第二局换个比法，比枪法。你们看这群鸟。”杨紫云连忙制止，“世杰，你干什么，快住手！”话音未落，响了两声枪响，两只鸟落在地上。张世杰晃晃手里的枪道：“还比吗？” 一队卫兵端着枪冲过来。为首的一个在喊：“谁开的枪？”卫兵把张世杰围住了。张世杰把枪扔在地上，“对不起，是我开的枪。”领队的喝叱道：“无法无天！把他带走！” 卫兵押着张世杰走了。吴参谋叫道：“哎呦，哎呦，我的肋骨，好像叫那小子戳断了。” 杨紫云忙跟了过去。 听到枪响不一会儿，首长和赵九思已经知道这是张世杰惹的祸。首长说：“杨开泰的问题先放放吧。我得过问过问张世杰的事。张世杰和你，比我们几个大队都重要。”参谋进来报告说：“首长，有个叫杨紫云的同志，执意要找您反映情况。”首长说：“赵老板，你回避一下吧。恶人我来做，我找张世杰谈。让紫云同志进来吧。” 杨紫云跑进来，不等首长问话，像打机关枪一样，把这两天见到的事情都说了。首长笑眯眯地听了一会儿说：“到底是北平的学运领袖，年轻的老党员，水平很高啊。”杨紫云吃惊地看着首长：“您……您……”首长道：“我们共产党可不是乌合之众。我们需要特殊人才，北平地下党第一个推荐的就是你。正愁没法跟你联系，你竟然来了。这真是天意。你的事情，咱们以后慢慢说。你哥的问题，也好说。只要他愿意留下来，组织上绝对不会对他另眼相看。剩下的只有张世杰的问题了。他的问题有点复杂……”杨紫云急忙接道：“请您批准张世杰参军吧。他虽然出身于富裕家庭，身上有很多缺点，但他是一个勇敢、有热情、有追求的人，他一定能成为一个合格的新四军战士。而且，我和他，我们是恋人，已经订婚了。我希望他参军，希望他早日入党……首长，他真的很优秀，很优秀。”首长道：“他优秀不优秀，不用讨论。我只能告诉你：张世杰不能参加新四军。另外，你的秘密党员身份，在这里依然是绝对秘密，只限于你我知道的秘密。明白吗？”杨紫云认真道：“明白。首长，我希望不要处罚张世杰。”首长道：“放心吧，紫云同志。李参谋，去，把那个闹事儿的张二少爷给我带过来。让赵掌柜也来一趟。紫云同志，适当的时候，我安排你去见你哥哥。” 杨紫云走了没多一会儿，两个卫兵把张世杰押了过来。赵九思也跟了进来。张世杰看着一直背对着自己面对地图站着的大首长，心跳不由地加快了。赵九思站在一旁闭目养神。首长转过身来突然问：“入党入多久了？”张世杰看看赵九思，不说话。赵九思道：“首长主管我们，实话实说吧。”张世杰说道：“三年四个月零八天。”首长满意地笑了，“又一个年轻的老党员，口很紧，是个人才呀！听老赵说，少年时代，你曾有教育救国的思想？”张世杰接道：“眼下教育救不了国，眼下只有枪杆子才能救国。首长，我想上战场。”首长沉默了一会儿，突然道：“赵九思说你熟读兵书，今天又见识了你的武功，真是文武双全啊。我问你，你打算在战场上杀死多少日本兵？”张世杰迟疑一阵儿，“当然是越多越好。”首长道：“你一个人能不能杀死八十万日本鬼子？八十万，大概是目前侵华日军的总人数。”张世杰道：“不能。”首长道：“谁都做不到。敌强我弱的局面，短时间内也无法改变。这不，日军一攻向武汉和信阳，向北一挤压，我们就没法在这一带待下去了。把我能调动的全部人马都用上，未必能消灭日军一个联队。知道日军一联队有多少人吗？”张世杰道：“甲种师团，一个联队有四千多人，乙种师团，一个联队有两千七百人左右。”首长紧接道：“所以，我们必须积蓄力量，必须跟日本人打持久战。” 张世杰道：“这些与我参加主力有关吗？”首长拿起教鞭指着地图道：“有关。几天之内，我们的主力将撤离靠近平汉路的这一带。不撤，拼一仗就把咱们的老本拼光了。桐柏地区，包含豫南、豫西南、鄂北这一广大地区，有近六万平方公里大小，山水相间，物产丰富，素有粮仓之称，玉雕、丝绸、茶叶业十分发达。我说错了没有？”张世杰道：“首长对我的家乡很熟悉。”首长道：“桐柏地区的人力资源也很丰富。河南省的十几所大学由开封等地迁移到了宛西，湖北的七八所大学由武汉一线部分迁移到鄂西北后，这一与桐柏地区相邻的地区，就成了中国除西南大后方之外的最重要的人才库。放弃这里行吗？”张世杰道：“不行。”首长长吁一口气道：“桐柏地区，东至平汉路，西望大巴山，南扼汉水，北傍伏牛山，逼近信阳、襄阳和南阳这三座重镇，战略地位十分重要，自古就是兵家必争之地。目前，我们是很弱小，但我们不能短视，桐柏地区，我们不能放弃。你的家在太平镇，在桐柏地区的一个咽喉要道的中部。从全局讲，太平镇的重要性，不言而喻。这两年，赵九思和你，在这里经营得不错，建立了一个效率很高、隐蔽性很强的地下通道。我们转移到豫东、皖西后，这条地下通道的重要性将更加突出。你说，你该不该离开你的岗位？”张世杰张张嘴，什么也说不出来。 首长道：“世杰同志，革命需要驰骋疆场、浴血奋战的勇士，也离不开在隐蔽战线默默奋斗的无名英雄。民族的独立与解放事业，需要我们共产党人作出巨大牺牲。亲情、爱情甚至生命，跟这一伟大事业相比，都可以牺牲掉。九思同志也留下来和你一起战斗。他的职务是桐柏山游击队大队长，你的职务是副大队长兼特别中队中队长。”赵九思接道：“表个态吧，世杰。”张世杰艰难地吐出几个字：“执行命令！” 从这一刻起，张世杰对命运一词开始产生了敬畏感，身上的少年张狂之气开始有所收敛。