Industry began in 1937

The definite news from Hekouji weighed heavily on the hearts of every villager in Gouzi Village, like a cold iron weight.

Even if most of the nearly three hundred people were a mob, the sheer number of heads was enough to intimidate anyone.

After the initial shared hatred of the enemy, a more somber silence spread through the village.

Preparations have entered the most intense and meticulous stage.

The core of the defense had long been determined to be the pass at the foot of Xiaonanshan Mountain.

The advantageous terrain here is the best natural barrier that God gave to Gouzi Village.

Wen Shizhou and Zhao Dachui led their men to conduct repeated surveys, thoroughly identifying every rock that could provide cover and every embankment where guns could be placed.

Muskets and rifles were assigned to the most reliable gunmen, who lay prone behind cold rocks and withered grass, repeatedly simulating loading, aiming, and firing, their breath condensing into white mist in the morning chill.

The spearmen and the broadswordmen lay in wait on the reverse slope behind them, their palms sweating from gripping the wooden poles and sword handles tightly.

Setting up traps is key.

In addition to the existing tripping pits, rolling logs and boulders, Chen Yuan contributed several new "ideas".

These days, he and a few men have set up dozens of large animal traps made of thick wire and hardwood in the inconspicuous grass on the gentle slopes and passes that the enemy might climb.

These traps are incredibly powerful, partially concealed by withered branches and leaves. Once stepped on, they can break bones and incapacitate a person.

As they set up, everyone carefully avoided the marked areas, feeling even more awe at Chen Yuan's endless stream of ruthless ideas.

Chen Yuan himself devoted his last energy to that batch of "secret weapons".

These Red Guns are coming too slowly.

He couldn't waste this extra precious time.

With ample iron resources, the village managed to produce a limited amount of gunpowder, albeit in a limited quantity.

An even bolder idea took shape in his mind—the pull-type landmine.

The principle is simple, but for most people in this era, it is definitely a strange and terrifying thing.

The thick-shelled torpedo body made of cast iron was a piece of cake for the "Flint" platform. The core firing pin mechanism required some fine machining, but that was also manageable.

The biggest limitation was gunpowder.

He had to be very careful with his calculations, and in the end, he only managed to create eight heavy, dark iron lumps, plus two smaller "warning mines" with less explosive charge.

Each landmine was connected to a long, oil-soaked hemp rope.

In a remote mountain valley, a test explosion was conducted. The muffled thunderous roar and the crater it created made even Zhao Dachui, who was used to the sounds of firearms, gasp in surprise, and then his eyes lit up with wild joy.

"Good stuff! Good stuff, Brother Chen!" Zhao Dachui rubbed his hands together.

"If you bury this thing on the road and it goes off, no matter how many people there are, they'll be scared out of their wits!"

"We don't have enough gunpowder, only these few, so we must use them wisely." Chen Yuan remained calm as he carefully examined the remaining landmines and fuses.

The final mine-laying point was chosen on the narrowest section of the road in front of the pass, where the enemy's formation would inevitably be the most dense, and on the slopes on both sides that could be used for skirmishing by scattered troops.

The landmines were buried deep, the topsoil was restored, and the rope was carefully led to the vicinity of the gunmen's ambush point. A special person was responsible for guarding it and pulling the rope on command.

These eight iron pieces became the most deadly and unexpected trump card on the defensive position of Gouzi Village.

While Gouzi Village was working intensively to transform the Xiaonanshan Pass into an iron hedgehog, another life-or-death line was desperately stretching forward in the pitch-black night and along the rugged mountain road.

The one who shoulders this heavy responsibility is Han Shitou.

Before their departure, in a side room of the ancestral hall, the oil lamp flickered dimly. Third Uncle, Wen Shizhou, and Zhao Dachui were all present. Third Uncle's face was more solemn than ever before, with an unconcealable trace of fear. He gripped Han Shitou's hand, his voice heavy: "Shitou, whether the lives of the men and women of our Gouzi Village can be saved depends on whether you can deliver this message. The Red Spear Society has a large and powerful force; we can hold them off for a while, but a prolonged defense will inevitably lead to defeat… The army from Shanxi that Mr. Wen mentioned is our last hope."

You...you must find them! Tell them everything about our difficulties, and beg them to help us out for the sake of the people in the mountains!

Wen Shizhou also whispered instructions on the latest contact methods and code words, patting Han Shitou on the shoulder: "Shitou, be extremely careful on the road, avoid main roads and places where there might be informants. The situation is urgent, but safety comes first. Finding the person and delivering the message will be a great achievement!"

Han Shitou nodded emphatically, his young face showing little fear, only a resolute determination ignited by trust and a heavy responsibility: "Third Master, Mr. Wen, Brother Zhao, rest assured! I will definitely deliver the message!"

Like a nimble lynx, he slipped silently out of the village and quickly blended into the deep night and the vast forest.

He had walked this mountain path once with Mr. Wen, and his memory of it was still quite clear.

His cotton-padded coat was torn in several places, and cold wind was blowing in, but he didn't care. He only had one thought in his mind: Hurry! Hurry up! The sooner he finds reinforcements, the more likely his parents, fellow villagers, Mr. Wen, and Brother Chen will survive!

Darkness, cold, exhaustion, and worry about the village's plight tormented him like maggots clinging to his bones.

But he dared not stop. When he was really out of breath, he would lean against the rock wall to catch his breath, chew a few bites of the cold grain cake in his arms, and then continue on his way.

The eastern sky gradually turned grayish-white, then slowly revealed a brighter color.

When he finally found his way to the secluded mountain village shortly after daybreak, relying on his memory, he was almost exhausted, his lips were cracked, but his eyes were fixed on the direction of the village entrance.

Just like last time, the sentries, even more vigilant than before, stopped him.

The interrogation involved using a code word. When he revealed Wen Shizhou's name and the secret code known only to insiders, the sentry's expression changed, and he immediately led him into the village.

In the same simple farmhouse, Zhang Xianyue seemed to have not slept all night, his eyes were bloodshot, and he was deep in thought, staring at the map.

Seeing Han Shitou's disheveled but anxious expression, he immediately stood up.

"Young comrade, speak slowly, how is Gouzi Village doing?"

Panting heavily, Han Shitou quickly recounted in the most concise language the Red Spear Society's plan to attack Gouzi Village. He explained that the villagers had decided to defend the Xiaonanshan Pass to the death, but the disparity in troop strength and weaponry made a prolonged siege difficult. He concluded with an almost tearful plea: "Commander, please come and save our village! If you're too late, it will be too late!"

After listening, Zhang Xianyue's expression turned extremely serious. He walked to the map, quickly tapped several locations with his finger, and frowned deeply, forming a deep frown.

"This Zhang Juejiu is quick on his feet and ruthless on his own, always picking on the toughest nuts to crack. He's trying to kill people to establish his authority!" he said in a deep voice, then looked at Han Shitou, his tone tinged with helplessness and heaviness.

"Comrade Shi Tou, the fact that your Gouzi Village was able to remain calm and resolutely resist in the face of danger is truly remarkable! This proves the awareness and strength of the masses!"

He abruptly changed the subject, saying something that chilled Han Shitou to the bone: "However, we are now facing a major difficulty. A few days ago, an armed force comprised of defeated soldiers and bandits appeared in the direction of Cixian County to the south, wreaking havoc on several villages, burning, killing, and looting. The main force of the detachment, led by the chief of staff, rushed there urgently to suppress them. I now only have the guard platoon and a few staff members left with me, less than fifteen people in total, and a few pistols. With this little force, rushing to Gouzi Village to face three hundred enemies would undoubtedly be a drop in the ocean, unable to play a decisive role, and might even alert the enemy."

Han Shitou's face turned deathly pale, and he swayed, almost unable to stand. Was his last hope about to be shattered?

"But you are not fighting alone!" Zhang Xian stepped forward, pressed down hard on Han Shitou's trembling shoulders, and his eyes shone with determination. "Just yesterday, I received an urgent report from my superiors that another brother unit—the 'Northeast Anti-Japanese First Guerrilla Team' led by comrades Zhou Huan and Gao Yang—has been ordered to depart from Heshun. Their mission is to consolidate the mass base in the western mountainous area of ​​Xingtai, especially in the Jiangshui and Yingtou areas, and to help establish an anti-Japanese regime and local armed forces!"

Although their numbers were small, only about forty, they were all seasoned cadres, soldiers, and progressive students, and their fighting strength was formidable!

He strode back to the map and pointed to a spot: "According to the itinerary and our communication agreement, they should arrive at Qiannanyu, not far to the west, by noon at the latest!"

A flicker of life returned to Han Shitou's eyes, and he suddenly raised his head.

"I'm immediately dispatching two of the most familiar with the terrain and the fastest runners to the designated rendezvous point in the Qiannanyu direction at top speed!" Zhang Xianyue said quickly and forcefully.

"As soon as Comrades Zhou Huan and Gao Yang's troops arrive, immediately inform them of the extremely urgent situation in Gouzi Village! They are here specifically to mobilize the masses, consolidate power, and strike at reactionary forces. They will not stand idly by while the Red Spear Society, a feudal armed group that oppresses the people and sabotages the resistance against Japan, is attacked! They will rush to the aid of the Red Spear Society as quickly as possible!"

He glanced at the sky outside the window, his expression grave: "Time is extremely tight! The Red Spear Society may have already made their move. But the last stretch of mountain road from Hekouji to Gouzi Village is also difficult to traverse."

If Zhou Huan and Gao Yang's troops, upon receiving the news, march at all costs, and if the villagers of Gouzi Village, relying on their advantageous terrain and sheer willpower, hold their ground at Xiaonanshan and withstand the Red Spear Society's fiercest first and even second waves of attack... then there is a glimmer of hope that they can hold out until reinforcements arrive!

He gripped Han Shitou's cold hand tightly, his gaze intense: "Comrade Shitou, turn around right now and return to Gouzi Village as quickly as possible!"

Tell Comrade Wen Shizhou, tell Third Uncle, tell all the villagers who are fighting: reinforcements are on their way! They are the real Eighth Route Army, capable of fighting tough battles! But they need time! They need your courage, wisdom, and blood to buy every minute and every second for the arrival of reinforcements! Can you do it?

"We can!!" Han Shitou roared with all his might, tears mingling with the dirt on his face as they rolled down, but his eyes were brighter and more determined than ever before. "We can hold on! We will definitely hold on!"

"Alright! Without further ado, you immediately take the back path and go back, be careful! Our men will set off at the same time!" Zhang Xianyue patted his shoulder heavily, then turned and shouted sharply, "Communicator, set off immediately! Get the letter to Commanders Zhou Huan and Gao Yang at all costs! Quickly!"

Han Shitou wiped his face, stuffed the two pieces of dry food Zhang Xianyue had given him into his pocket, turned around and rushed out of the house, running wildly again towards the way he had come, towards his hometown that was about to be shrouded in war.

This time, although his steps were still heavy, a raging fire burned in his heart, and a surge of hope for survival coursed through his veins.

He had to bring back the news that "reinforcements are on their way"! This news was more inspiring than any weapon, and it could unleash incredible power in the face of adversity!

At the same time, two capable messengers dispatched by Zhang Xianyue also shot into the western mountains like two arrows, in search of the flame of hope codenamed "Northeast Anti-Japanese First Guerrilla Team".

Time, at this moment, is cruelly passing by, measured in seconds.

At Xiaonanshan Pass, the first rays of dawn, tinged with the smell of gunpowder and the stench of blood, quietly pierced through the thick morning mist.