You were tasked with guarding the Sihang Warehouse, and you brought out a Tiger tank?

A small wharf on the Yangtze River, north of Jiangyin County.

A biting wind howled, and the river water lapped incessantly against the shore.

This place, which should have been a lifeline for refugees, has now become a battlefield.

Zhao Yushu and Zhao Dashan, along with a group of soldiers, escorted a group of wounded soldiers and elderly, women, and children they had taken in along the way to this place, ready to use the boats that Zhao Dashan had prepared to take them to Jiangbei.

However, the scene before them enraged them.

On the dock, large numbers of defeated soldiers and refugees were kept out by wooden fences and barricades, and cries and pleas filled the air.

Inside the barbed wire fence, dozens of servants dressed in black silk shirts and carrying whips and sticks were arrogantly driving away the crowd that tried to approach.

Several of the servants even had Mauser pistols tucked into their waistbands.

"Get out of here, all of you get out of here."

"These are Master Ma's goods. Anyone who dares to touch them will have their legs broken."

Boxes of heavy cargo are being loaded onto the ferry.

The boxes were labeled with words such as "tung oil" and "raw silk," and some even revealed the soft luster of gold and silver through the gaps in the boxes.

A wounded soldier with a broken leg, leaning on crutches, tried to ask for a drink of water, but was whipped across the face by a servant, his skin torn open and he rolled into the mud.

"stop."

Zhao Yushu's eyes reddened as he rushed over to help the wounded soldier up.

"Have you no regard for the law?! This is a national crisis, and not only do you refuse to help, you dare to attack your own people?!"

"The law?"

The head servant steward glanced sideways at Zhao Yushu and sneered:

"In Jiangyin, Master Ma is the law. This dock was built by the Ma family, and the boats are chartered by the Ma family."

Want to cross the river? Hand over the money. If you don't have any, get out of here and wait to die.

When the surrounding villagers saw that a soldier had stepped forward, they gathered around and cried out:

"Sir, please be the judge!"

A ragged old man knelt on the ground, sobbing uncontrollably.

"That Ma Bancheng is simply inhuman."

He not only seized control of the docks, but also monopolized the city's grain and coal supplies while the Japanese were about to arrive, selling them at exorbitant prices.

A peck of rice now costs a dollar! This is driving us to our deaths!

"And...and I heard he even prepared a Japanese flag, intending to become the head of the puppet government as soon as the Japanese arrive, and even offer our daughter to the Japanese..."

"Damn it, you beast!"

Zhao Yushu was so angry that he trembled all over.

Under Lin Feng's influence, the seeds of fairness and justice had long been planted in the heart of this former spoiled brat.

He couldn't stand these scoundrels who bullied the good and betrayed their country for personal gain.

"Brother Dashan, let's get started!"

Zhao Yushu drew his pistol and pointed it at the steward:

"Tie up all these lackeys. Anyone who dares to resist, shoot them on the spot."

"Yes."

Zhao Dashan couldn't hold back any longer. With a wave of his hand, the guards behind him rushed forward like wolves and tigers.

"Hey? What are you doing? We're from the Ma family..."

"Snapped!"

Zhao Dashan smashed the butt of his rifle into the manager's face, shattering half of his teeth.

"The Ma family? I'm not afraid of even the Heavenly King's family."

A few minutes later, all the dozens of servants were pinned to the ground and tied up.

The people were stunned by what they saw.

These days, it's good enough if soldiers don't collude with landlords and rich people, let alone stand up for poor bastards like them.

"You are a just and upright official."

Countless people knelt on the ground and kowtowed.

Zhao Yushu helped the old man up and said solemnly:

"Fellow villagers, don't be afraid."

We are the Provisional 8th Army, under Commander Lin's command. As long as we are here, no one can bully you.

He turned to Zhao Dashan and said, "Brother Dashan, you stay here and maintain order. Make room for the boats to ferry the wounded and civilians first. I'm going back to find my cousin."

Inside the military tent.

Lin Feng listened to the interrogation report, his face grim.

"You mean, those guys who set off the fire signal outside the camp were sent by the Ma family from the county town?"

"Yes, they all confessed. We cross-examined them, and they all said that the head steward of the Ma family personally instructed them. After the deed is done, we will give each of them a few silver dollars."

Just then, Zhao Yushu rushed in, panting, and recounted what had happened at the dock.

"Great! Excellent!"

Lin Feng laughed in fury, his eyes revealing murderous intent.

Hoarding and speculating, and occupying the docks are one thing, but they even dared to collude with the Japanese, spy on military intelligence, and guide bombings.

This is no longer just ordinary rich people being heartless; it's colluding with the enemy, treason, and a capital offense.

We have to deliver a powerful blow!

"At this critical juncture, whoever dares to become a traitor, I will make him a ghost."

Lin Feng suddenly stood up, put on his helmet, and grabbed the StG44 assault rifle from the table:

"Guard company, armored vehicle company, follow me!"

At a time like this, Lin Feng had no interest in playing the game of a righteous judge investigating and slowly gathering evidence.

He's a soldier, and soldiers always solve problems in a very direct way...

-----

Inside Jiangyin City, at the Ma residence.

The vermilion gate was tightly shut, and several guards with rifles stood at the entrance, looking as if they were facing a formidable enemy.

"Boom!"

The sound of an engine could be heard.

The guards looked up and were terrified.

A Sd.Kfz.222 armored vehicle roared and charged forward like a rhinoceros on the savanna, showing no intention of slowing down.

"Run!"

"boom!"

The armored vehicle slammed violently into the heavy gate.

Wood chips flew everywhere, and the door bolt broke.

The gate, a symbol of the Ma family's prestige, was smashed to pieces in an instant.

"Charge in! Show no mercy to those who resist!"

Lin Feng jumped out of the car and led a large number of soldiers into the courtyard.

In the main hall of the Ma mansion, Ma Bancheng and Ma Xuehai were smoking opium with one of their concubines when they heard the noise and were so startled that they dropped their opium pipe.

He ran out disheveled, and seeing the courtyard full of soldiers, he roared, his voice trembling with fear:

"What are you doing?! I am Ma Degui. Let me tell you soldiers, I am the president of the Jiangyin Chamber of Commerce."

I have connections in Nanjing. I know Director Liu from the Economic Department; he's my sworn brother.

"How dare you cause trouble in my house?! Don't you all want to live?"

Lin Feng strode up to him and looked coldly at the fat, big-eared guy.

"Ma Xuehai?"

"It's me." Ma Xuehai puffed out his belly. "If you know what's good for you, get lost, or I'll make one call..."

"Bang."

A gunshot rang out.

A bloody hole appeared between Ma Xuehai's eyebrows, and his arrogant expression instantly froze.

He fell straight backward, knocking over the armchair behind him.

The entire room fell silent.

Lin Feng calmly holstered his gun, his voice icy cold:

"I don't care who you know, if you're a traitor, you're dead!"

The rest is simple.

The house was ransacked.

Under Lin Peiji's direction, the soldiers quickly found several brand-new Japanese flags, several letters exchanged between him and the Japanese intelligence agency, and a brand-new letter of appointment in a secret room in Ma's residence.

Ironclad evidence.

"Young Master, the count is complete."

Lin Peiji's hands were trembling as he held the account book.

He finally understood why the master had insisted on sending the young master to the Whampoa Military Academy.

In chaotic times, guns are the key.

Ma Xuehai wielded considerable power in Jiangyin. While it might not be as much as the Lin family, they were still a local tyrant.

However, the young master was still executed without warning.