Bright Sword: Starting from Obtaining the Equipment Slot

Wei Dayong glanced around; the soldiers were busy unloading supplies, and no one was paying attention to them. He pulled Zhou Wenxu to a stone bench nearby and sat him down. "So, what is it?"

"I have family in Heyuan County. My wife's name is Su Wanqing, and my daughter's name is Zhou Nian, who is twelve years old this year."

Wei Dayong frowned slightly: "Then why are you working as a clerk in the POW camp all by yourself? I remember you saying something like, sometimes knowing multiple languages ​​isn't necessarily a good thing. Could it be...?"

Zhou Wenxu gave a wry smile: "Battalion Commander, you still remember? That's right, just because I can speak Japanese, the Japanese have their eyes on me."

Hirata Ichiro, the captain of the Kawamoto Prefecture Military Police. He took me to a prisoner-of-war camp to work as a clerk, ostensibly to translate, but in reality, he was using my family as hostages to force me to work for them!

There are always people watching my house, supposedly for protection, but really it's surveillance. If I dare to run away, they won't survive.

Wei Dayong fell silent.

Heyuan County, Hirata Ichiro...

The two names instantly transported his thoughts to the famous "chicken dinner" adventure in the original story.

Hirata Ichiro, the Japanese military police captain who lorded it over the county town of Heyuan, was finally eliminated by Li Yunlong and Chu Yunfei at his birthday banquet.

I never expected that I would come into contact with this name in this way.

As Zhou Wenxu watched Wei Dayong remain silent for a long time, the expectation on his face gradually faded, replaced by deep disappointment.

"Battalion Commander, I know this is a very difficult situation. There are seven or eight hundred Japanese troops and a puppet army brigade in Heyuan County. Right now, it's a den of dragons and tigers."

I... I'm just so worried about my daughter, that's why I've swallowed my pride and come to ask you for help. If it's inconvenient for you, I... I understand.

He lowered his head, his voice choked with emotion, and said, "Let me think of another way."

"Wait a minute," Wei Dayong's voice suddenly rang out.

Zhou Wenxu suddenly raised his head, a glimmer of hope rekindling in his eyes.

"I'll take care of this for you." Wei Dayong stood up and patted Zhou Wenxu on the shoulder.

Zhou Wenxu was stunned. His expression changed from shock to ecstasy in an instant.

"Battalion...Battalion Commander, are you willing to go?"

"Nonsense, how can I be a battalion commander if I don't even help my own people! I just suddenly remembered something," Wei Dayong walked to the table, picked up a piece of paper and a pen, "Draw the location of your house for me."

Zhou Wenxu hurriedly took the paper and pen, and while drawing, he said, "My home is in a small alley on the west side of the county town, and there is an old locust tree in front of the door."

Only my wife and daughter live at home; strangers often loiter around the neighborhood.

Wei Dayong took the sketch and examined it carefully: "Are there any photos? Photos of your family members?"

Zhou Wenxu took out a yellowed photograph from his pocket and handed it to Wei Dayong.

The photo shows a family of three: Zhou Wenxu, dressed in a long gown and wearing round-framed glasses, looking refined and scholarly; his wife, Wen Wan; and their daughter, with two little braids, smiling brightly.

"Okay." Wei Dayong put the photos away. "I'll bring men over tomorrow to rescue the mother and daughter. You just wait for our news in the village."

"Commander, how can that be? I'm familiar with the town; I can lead the way—"

"No need," Wei Dayong interrupted him. "You stay at the stronghold and help Wang Xiao organize the supplies. Leave the rescue to me. I'm a professional at rescue!"

He thought for a moment and then said, "I'll only take two people with me, Ma Feng and Zheng Dali. Fewer people means less of a target, making it easier to blend in."

Zhou Wenxu was so excited he couldn't speak. He knelt down with a thud: "Battalion Commander, I, Zhou Wenxu, will never forget your great kindness! From this day forward, my life belongs to the Assault Battalion!"

"Get up." Wei Dayong reached out and pulled him up. "If an army can't even protect the families of its own soldiers, what are you talking about protecting your loved ones, your fellow villagers, and the great nation of China?"

He patted Zhou Wenxu on the shoulder: "Next time something like this happens, say so earlier. Don't wait until it's a fire breaking out before coming to me."

Zhou Wenxu nodded repeatedly, his eyes slightly red: "Yes, Battalion Commander! I understand!"

Silent all night.

The next morning, Wei Dayong took the token from Zhou Wenxu, and together with Ma Feng and Zheng Dali, changed into ordinary people's clothes, each hiding a Mauser pistol in their arms, and quietly left Black Cloud Village.

The three of them followed the mountain path, traversing mountains and valleys, and after more than half a day, they finally arrived in Heyuan County around noon.

The county town gate was heavily guarded, with Japanese soldiers patrolling back and forth with rifles, while puppet troops stood aside, checking pedestrians coming and going.

Wei Dayong and his two companions mingled among a group of villagers carrying loads on their shoulders, heads bowed, and slowly walked into the county town.

Following the sketch drawn by Zhou Wenxu, the three quickly found the alley in the west of the city.

The alley was narrow, lined with low bungalows, their corners covered in moss. Deep in the alley, the branches of an old locust tree stretched out, blocking most of the sunlight.

Wei Dayong signaled Ma Feng and Zheng Dali to stop, while he himself used the corner of the wall as cover to quietly observe the situation at Zhou Wenxu's house.

With his keen observation skills, Wei Dayong quickly noticed the anomaly.

It was an ordinary courtyard house. Two men in plainclothes stood at the entrance, leaning against the doorframe, smoking and chatting. Not far away on the street corner, two more men in plainclothes were loitering, glancing in this direction every now and then.

As expected, Zhou Wenxu's disappearance had aroused Hirata Ichiro's suspicion.

However, these plainclothes officers didn't seem nervous at all; in fact, they appeared somewhat lax. After the two guards finished their cigarettes, one of them stretched and said to the other, "Let's go check out the theater; I heard there's a good show today."

The two left the doorway arm in arm and walked out of the alley.

Wei Dayong's heart stirred, and he was about to signal Ma Feng and Zheng Dali to take action when his gaze was suddenly drawn to a figure at the alley entrance.

He was a burly young man, in his early twenties, wearing a faded coarse cloth jacket, holding a steelyard scale in his hand, and several burlap sacks in front of him. The sacks were open, revealing golden millet inside.

He stood in the sunlight, his skin dark and his eyes sharp; he looked like a trained fighter.

Wei Dayong's heart suddenly raced.

Duan Peng!

Unexpectedly, Duan Peng from the original novel was already selling millet in Heyuan County at this time!

He walked over instinctively, stood in front of the millet stall, looked at Duan Peng, and a smile appeared on his lips.

"Do you guarantee your millet is ripe?"

Duan Peng was sorting through the sacks when he heard this. He looked up and stared blankly at Wei Dayong.

Guaranteed ripe? What does that mean?

He looked Wei Dayong up and down, noticing that the man was dressed in ordinary clothes but had an extraordinary air about him, and didn't seem like someone who had come to buy rice.

Duan Peng frowned and asked warily, "What do you mean?"

Wei Dayong then realized he had misspoke. How could people of this era possibly understand internet slang from later generations?

He quickly waved his hand, "Sorry, sorry, just kidding. You look so much like someone I know, I couldn't help it..."

He took out a few silver dollars from his pocket and placed them on the stall: "I'll take all this millet. Consider it an apology."

Duan Peng's eyes lit up when he saw the few silver dollars. In those days, silver dollars were extremely valuable, and these few dollars would keep him busy for more than half a month.

He quickly tied the opening of the sack.

As for being deceived, he was not afraid at all. He had practiced Iron Palm since childhood, and ordinary two or three people could not get close to him.

Wei Dayong gestured for Ma Feng and the other man to come forward and put the millet away.

Although the two were somewhat surprised, wondering what their battalion commander was up to at this critical moment of saving lives, they still obeyed orders.

Zheng Dali was strong and lifted two bags with one hand, while Ma Feng carried the remaining bag.

Seeing that the deal was done, Duan Peng was about to say goodbye and go home.

"No rush. My brother and I felt an instant connection." Wei Dayong stopped him directly, pointing to the opera house not far away. "If you have nothing else to do, why don't you go sit over there? It's on me."

Duan Peng glanced at Wei Dayong, then at Ma Feng and Zheng Dali. Both were burly men, clearly not ordinary people.

But the other party was generous and spoke sincerely, so they didn't seem like a bad person.

He hesitated for a moment, then put the scale away: "Then I'll have to trouble you."

The four of them walked together toward the opera house. The entrance to the opera house was bustling with people.

Wei Dayong bought four tickets and led the three of them into the theater, where they found a corner seat.

On stage, a Peking Opera performance is underway, accompanied by the deafening sounds of gongs and drums and the melodious singing.

Wei Dayong chatted with Duan Peng for a few minutes and learned that he was a local who made a living by selling millet.

Duan Peng also found out that Wei Dayong was a small business owner who came to the county town from another place to purchase goods.

Of course, he didn't believe that at all. He had already vaguely guessed that the people's identities were those of the Eighth Route Army, which was why he was willing to come in for a chat.

Just as the group was chatting casually, a commotion suddenly broke out at the entrance of the theater.

A group of Japanese soldiers in yellow uniforms barged in.