Starting from 40, holding the Star Mall to lead the motherland

Chapter 24: Great Victory

After leaving the county town, Han Hui rested for more than an hour before she recovered. She had consumed too much energy today.

It was almost seven in the morning when they arrived in Shiling Town, and the sky was already bright. After breakfast at the town's breakfast stall, Han Hui went hunting in the mountains. She didn't encounter any big game, but she ended up taking two rabbits and three pheasants before returning to the village.

Huang Shufen felt distressed when she saw the bloodshot eyes: "Xiaoman, don't go hunting anymore. It's too dangerous."

Han Hui put down the backpack and asked with concern, "Mom, how is Xiaocao? Is he feeling better?"

Huang Shufen said with a relaxed expression, "I've been sweating and taking the medicine you gave me. I'm fine now. I should be able to leave tomorrow. Xiaoman, go inside and rest. I'll go boil some water for you to take a bath."

"it is good."

Han Hui entered the house and was about to sit down when she saw Aunt Li walk in.

Aunt Li looked at Han Hui sharply and asked, "Did you really go hunting yesterday?"

Han Hui was startled. The tone didn't seem right. "What's the real deal about hunting? I was chasing a sheep yesterday, but unfortunately it escaped, so I only managed to catch a rabbit and a pheasant."

Aunt Li said coldly, "You said you were going hunting, but you reek of fish. If you don't tell the truth, leave my house now."

After climbing ashore, Han Hui changed her clothes without showering and let her hair dry naturally. Of course, Aunt Li was also very attentive and had a keen sense of smell, so most people would not notice this.

Han Hui was silent for a moment and then said, "Auntie, we will be leaving soon. It will not be good for you to know too much."

Aunt Li asked, "Don't worry about these. I just want to know where you went yesterday."

Seeing Aunt Li's attitude, Han Hui knew she would be kicked out if she didn't tell her. Not to mention that Xiaocao was still sick and it wasn't suitable for her to stay out overnight, she was just tired and wanted to rest.

After a moment of silence, Han Hui said, "I went back to the county town to seek revenge. Auntie, I hope you won't let my mother know. I don't want her to worry."

"Who is your enemy?"

"Devil."

To gain Aunt Li's trust, she opened the basket and showed her the biscuits and canned luncheon meat inside: "I found these things from the Japanese."

"You didn't lie to me?"

Han Hui smiled bitterly and said, "There's no need for me to lie to you. Auntie, the Japanese are very vengeful. If the news gets out, it will bring disaster to your entire village."

Aunt Li believed Han Hui after hearing this: "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone about this. You can just stay here with me."

Han Hui gave Aunt Li some biscuits and canned luncheon meat. Seeing that she didn't want them, Han Hui smiled and said, "Auntie, these are for the children. Don't refuse."

Aunt Li hesitated for a moment but finally accepted it. The children in her family were so poor that they couldn't even afford a piece of candy. They had never seen such a rare thing as a biscuit can, let alone eat it.

Han Hui was so tired that she fell asleep on the bed after dinner before her hair was dry.

Aunt Li killed and stewed her own chicken. Huang Shufen was very surprised: "Auntie, it's almost dark now, why are you still killing chickens?"

The chicken was killed late at night, and the three of them probably couldn't finish it. Food doesn't keep well in the summer, and if you leave it for tomorrow, it might go bad...

"I'm in a good mood today, so I want to eat something delicious."

Aunt Li killed this chicken for Han Hui to eat. Her two sons and eldest daughter-in-law were killed by the Japanese invaders. She dreamed of skinning these damned Japanese invaders alive. However, she was old and had to take care of her two grandsons, so she had to endure her hatred. Han Hui went to kill the Japanese invaders yesterday, and she felt particularly happy. Seeing that she could not get any information out of them, Huang Shufen could only say, "I'll help you!"

After dark, the South Bay guerrillas began to count the spoils.

Because they received the news in advance and made arrangements, brother troops arrived to support them in time, and they had sufficient weapons and ammunition. Miao He and his men defeated the Japanese army that was encircling them.

He Jincheng, the commander of the New Fourth Army's Third Battalion who came to support, said with a smile: "Lao Miao, you've made a fortune this time, so you should also help your brothers!"

He brought 600 people with him this time, and arrived half an hour earlier than the Japanese. Otherwise, it would have been a fierce battle for the 200 or so people from Miaohe to face more than 1,000 Japanese soldiers, even with their advanced weapons.

This was the first time Miao He had fought such a lucrative battle. He said cheerfully, "Okay, one third of the spoils will be yours..."

He Jincheng felt that this was not enough and said, "Add four heavy machine guns and two mortars."

Miao He naturally wouldn't agree. This was a completely outrageous request: "One machine gun and one mortar. In addition, I'll give you 500 kilograms of cotton, 20 pieces of cloth, 100 sets of Japanese clothes, and 10 barrels of gasoline."

The bulk of the supplies they received would definitely have to be handed over. Since that was the case, it would have been better to send more of the brother troops; without their support, there would have been no such great victory.

After finishing their business, the two men chatted again. He Jincheng said, "Lao Miao, there's a rumor going around that the gods are sending you food and ammunition. What do you think?"

Miao He is not superstitious. He said, "What gods? If gods really existed, these devils would have been crushed to ashes long ago."

He Jincheng hummed and said, "I don't believe it either, but these two incidents are very strange!"

Miao He said calmly: "There are no gods in this world, but there are definitely talented people."

This explanation made sense. He Jincheng said, "It's a pity that he didn't show up, otherwise he could be absorbed into our team."

Miao He also thought about this: "Talented people generally don't like constraints. But as long as he cares about the people and is willing to help us, that's enough."

He Jincheng thought about it and felt: "What a pity, I still want to meet him!"

Miao He also wanted to meet him. Who wouldn't want to get to know such a capable person? Unfortunately, he knew it was impossible. The other party didn't show up because he obviously didn't want to reveal his identity.

After dinner, the deputy captain came to report the casualties. Their team had lost 29 men, with 23 seriously wounded. The New Fourth Army had lost a total of 97 men, with 64 seriously wounded. Compared to previous battles, these casualties were relatively small.

"What about the devils?"

The deputy captain said: "728 devils were killed and 99 were captured alive."

It was Hirata who led the troops into the mountains this time. He thought his well-thought-out plan would catch the guerrillas by surprise, but he stumbled headfirst into an ambush. He paid a heavy price to escape. In the mountains, the guerrillas had a natural advantage, not to mention their superior weaponry.

Miao He called the radio operator and asked him to report the battle situation to his superiors.

The deputy captain said, "Captain, didn't you say before that you wanted to expand the team? We now have over 500 guns, and we have plenty of food and ammunition. We can afford to recruit 500 more."

Miao He nodded and said, "Recruit 300 first, and if that's not enough, recruit more when the time comes."

After winning a great victory, the higher-ups not only commended them but also promoted Miao He and his men. They were also informed that their guerrilla unit would be reorganized into the Fifth Battalion of the New Fourth Army, with Miao He as its commander.

The guerrillas and the New Fourth Army were both fighting the Japanese invaders, and both were the Party's armies. Miao He and the others had no objection. The only thing that bothered them was that most of the weapons given by the superiors were taken away.

(End of this chapter)