Bright Sword: Starting from Obtaining the Equipment Slot

The bandits of Qingfeng Village ate the drugged food and felt dizzy, lightheaded, and weak in the knees.

Some people were fast asleep on the table, while others were vomiting incessantly against the wall.

Even the guards gradually became restless and started to doze off against the wall.

Liu Laobao's table was even more lively.

He got five or six leaders of Qingfeng Village completely drunk, and they lay on the table like dead pigs, snoring loudly.

Liu Laobao carried a bowl of wine and walked up to Liu Bao.

"Boss! I'd like to propose a toast! On this joyous occasion, I wish you and your new wife a long and happy marriage, and many children!"

Liu Bao glanced at him sideways, picked up his wine bowl, and took a sip.

Liu Laobao tilted his head back and drank it all in one gulp, then poured himself another full bowl.

"Boss! This bowl is a toast to you and the brothers of Qingfeng Village! From now on, the brothers of Black Cloud Village will follow you. We hope you will take good care of us!"

Liu Bao was flattered by his praise and drank several bowls of wine.

Just then, a commotion broke out in the lobby.

The woman sitting next to Liu Bao suddenly had her red veil fall off, revealing a beautiful face.

The woman was in her early twenties, with delicate features and large, bright eyes, but her eyes burned with the flames of anger.

Her hands were tied behind her back, and a piece of cloth was stuffed in her mouth.

The woman forcefully spat out the cloth from her mouth and shouted, "You bandits! You beasts! I'd rather die than let you succeed!"

Liu Bao's face darkened, and he slammed his hand on the table.

"You slut! It's your good fortune that I've taken a liking to you! How dare you spoil my fun! I'll strip you naked right now and show the brothers what real beauty looks like!"

The woman looked coldly at Liu Bao and said, word by word, "I am a member of the Eighth Route Army, on a top-secret mission. You'd better let me go, otherwise the Eighth Route Army will eventually storm the mountains and wipe out your band of bandits!"

These words shocked everyone in the room.

Liu Bao's face twitched a few times, then he burst into laughter.

"So she's an Eighth Route Army soldier? No wonder she had a radio on her! Brothers, when we captured this woman, she desperately tried to hide something, but it turned out to be a lump of iron! We had our men search for half an hour before we dug it out of the ravine! Hahahaha!"

Upon hearing this, the woman's expression changed. She was ordered to take the radio to the headquarters of the 129th Division, but she encountered a robbery at Qingfeng Village, and all three Eighth Route Army soldiers escorting her were killed.

Before being captured, she desperately hid the radio, but the bandits still managed to find it.

Liu Bao stood up, walked up to the woman, grabbed her chin, and sneered, "Little wench, listen up. Marrying me, Liu Bao, is your good fortune!"

"If you behave yourself from now on, I'll make sure you live the high life! If you don't, I'll sell you to a brothel in the county town!"

The woman suddenly turned her head and bit Liu Bao's hand.

Liu Bao screamed and threw the woman away, his hands covered in blood.

"You bitch!"

Enraged, Liu Bao drew his pistol from his waist and pointed it at the woman's forehead.

Wei Dayong's eyes narrowed, and he quietly placed his hand on the handle of the gun at his waist.

Just then, Zhao Wanhe quickly stopped Liu Bao.

"Brother, calm down! Calm down! What's the point of all this fighting and getting all sentimental? My sister-in-law is young and doesn't understand things; she'll be fine in a while! Besides, today is an auspicious day; it's unlucky to resort to violence!"

Liu Bao snorted coldly, put away his gun, and glared fiercely at the woman.

"I'll deal with you after I finish my drink!"

Wei Dayong loosened the grip of the gun, his gaze lingering on the woman's face for a moment.

She's so good-looking, no wonder she attracts so many bandits!

The banquet continued, and Liu Bao and Zhao Wanhe drank even more enthusiastically.

Old Liu used all his skills to offer toasts, bowl after bowl.

His alcohol tolerance was indeed astonishing; he downed three jin of sorghum liquor without even turning red in the face.

Liu Bao and Zhao Wanhe, however, became increasingly intoxicated with the drinking, and their speech became slurred.

"Brother Liu...you can hold your liquor..." Liu Bao stammered.

"The boss has a huge capacity for alcohol! I'm ashamed to admit I can't match it!" Old Liu poured another bowl full. "Come on! Boil it down!"

Another half hour passed, and Liu Bao finally collapsed on the table, snoring loudly.

Zhao Wanhe was also slumped in the chair, muttering something, unconscious.

The yard was a complete mess.

The bandits of Qingfeng Village lay scattered on the ground, some drunk, some drugged, and only a few still able to stand.

Chen Tieshan glanced at Wei Dayong, and Wei Dayong nodded.

it's time.

Chen Tieshan suddenly stood up and pulled out the Mauser pistol hidden in his arms.

"Let's do it!"

A loud shout exploded like a thunderclap.

The bandits who had surrendered from Black Cloud Village suddenly sprang into action, each pulling out weapons hidden in their clothes.

Before the Qingfeng Village bandits who were still standing could react, they were swept to the ground by a volley of gunfire.

Gunshots echoed through the valley, making people's eardrums tingle.

Wei Dayong leaped into the lobby like a bolt of lightning.

Two guards who remained by Liu Bao's side drew their guns and fired. The moment the gunshot rang out, Wei Dayong dodged to the side, and the bullet grazed his shoulder before hitting the roof beam, sending wood chips flying everywhere.

Wei Dayong fired two shots with a backhand, hitting both men squarely between the eyebrows.

Blood splattered on the red "double happiness" character, a shocking sight.

Liu Bao was awakened by the gunshot. He drunkenly tried to reach for the gun, but his fingers wouldn't obey him.

Wei Dayong rushed to the table and kicked Liu Bao in the chest.

Liu Bao screamed and fell backward, chair and all, his head hitting the ground, where he immediately lost consciousness.

Zhao Wanhe woke up in fright, turned around and ran, staggering.

"Stop him!" Wei Dayong shouted.

Chen Tieshan took a step to the side and tripped Zhao Wanhe to the ground with a sweeping leg kick. He then stepped on Zhao Wanhe's back and pressed the muzzle of his gun against the back of his head.

"Don't move! I'll kill you if you move!"

Zhao Wanhe lay on the ground, trembling with fear, his pants soaked.

At the same time, Zhou Quanheng and Sun Dequan led their men into the control room on the stockade wall.

Several guards loyal to Liu Bao were about to activate the mechanism when they were shot dead from behind.

Craftsman Zhang quickly checked the control levers of the crossbow and confirmed that all mechanisms had been locked.

"All the mechanisms are jammed! The machine gun's turning gear on the arrow tower has also had its safety removed; it's just for show now!" Craftsman Zhang reported loudly.

Zhou Quanheng immediately raised a torch and waved it three times towards the outside of the village.

This is the agreed-upon signal.

In the dense forest outside the village gate, Wang Xiao saw the signal fire and immediately gave the order.

"superior!!"

Soldiers from the First and Second Companies rushed out of the dense forest.

Just as Sun Dequan had said, the trench in the northwest corner was dry, and the bamboo skewers at the bottom were rusty and broke easily when stepped on.

Several soldiers jumped into the trench, wielding machetes to cut through the bamboo skewers, and quickly cleared a passage.

Wang Xiao led the assault team to the gate of the village. Two soldiers grabbed crowbars and pried hard at both ends of the iron bolt.

The iron bolt was pried out of shape, making a harsh creaking sound.

The hollow structure inside was exposed, the sheet metal was cracked, and the fracture marks at the break point clearly indicated that it was made of crudely manufactured iron.

"Pry it open again!!"

The two soldiers took a deep breath, tensed their muscles, and pressed down hard.

With a crisp snap, the iron bolt broke in two.

The gate to the village was pushed open.

The soldiers of the First and Second Companies charged into the mountain stronghold with shouts, and gunfire erupted in rapid succession.

The remaining bandits of Qingfeng Village tried to resist, but most of them were still unconscious under the influence of the sleeping pills, and the few who were awake were greatly weakened in their fighting ability.

Upon witnessing this, Qian Gui slapped the bandit beside him across the face: "This is what you call a harbinger of prosperity? They're a bunch of jinxes!"

In less than half an hour, the entire Qingfeng Village was completely under control.

Wei Dayong stood at the entrance of the main hall of Zhongzhai, looking at the captured bandits filling the courtyard with a cold gaze.

The bandits of Qingfeng Village squatted on the ground, their hands covering their heads, their arrogance vanished without a trace.

Chen Tieshan dragged Liu Bao out of the hall like a dead dog and threw him in the middle of the courtyard.

Liu Bao woke up from the fall, looked up and saw the courtyard full of assault battalion soldiers, his face pale.

"Who...who are you?"

Wei Dayong walked up to him and looked down at him.

"My name is Wei Dayong, and I am the battalion commander of the Independent Assault Battalion of the National Revolutionary Army."

Liu Bao was stunned, then burst into a tirade: "Wei Dayong? Zhao Liugen! You dare to lie to me! You broke the rules, do you know that?"

Zhao Liugen limped up to him and grinned.

"Who's going to keep their word with scum like you? Liu Bao, you've bullied men and women, committed countless atrocities, and today you deserve to pay for your crimes in blood! I'm not like you, I'm a government official now!"

Liu Bao's face turned ashen, and he struggled violently to stand up.

Wei Dayong raised his hand and fired a shot, the bullet piercing Liu Bao's knee.

Liu Bao screamed and collapsed to the ground, clutching his knees and rolling around, blood splattering everywhere.

"This shot is fired on behalf of the people down the mountain who have been harmed by you."

Wei Dayong walked up to him and pressed the muzzle of a gun against his forehead.

Liu Bao trembled with fear, begging for mercy repeatedly, "Spare me! Spare me! I'll give you everything in the village! Just let me live!"

Wei Dayong stared coldly at him and pulled the trigger.

The gunshot rang out, and Liu Bao's head snapped back, his body collapsing to the ground, blood gushing from the bullet hole in his forehead.

Wei Dayong didn't even glance at Liu Bao's corpse before turning and walking towards Zhao Wanhe.

Zhao Wanhe knelt on the ground, kowtowing repeatedly.

"Sir, spare me! Sir, spare me! Liu Bao forced me to do it! I was forced!"

"Forced?" Wei Dayong sneered. "Was it your brain that forced you to use your hands?"

Zhao Wanhe's face was deathly pale, and he was trembling so much that he couldn't even speak.

Wei Dayong didn't waste any more words and fired a shot at him.

Qian Gui was dragged out of the corner by several soldiers and brought before Wei Dayong.

The smile on his face was long gone, replaced only by fear.

"Battalion Commander Wei, Battalion Commander Wei! I surrender! I'm willing to join your ranks! I'll serve you like a slave—"

Wei Dayong drew his dagger and slashed it across Wei Dayong's throat with a backhand motion.

Qian Gui's eyes widened as blood gushed from the wound on his neck, and his body slumped to the ground.

Wei Dayong wiped the blood off the dagger, turned around, and walked up the stockade wall.

In the square of Qingfeng Village, the soldiers of the assault battalion stood tall, their hands gripping their guns tightly.

The captured bandits were ashen-faced and trembling with fear.

Wei Dayong stood on a high place and raised his arm.

"Brothers, Qingfeng Village is destroyed!!!"

The soldiers roared in unison, "Kill!!!"

"kill!!!"

"kill!!!"

The sound echoed through the valley, lingering for a long time.

After the battle ended, Lao Wu led the logistics platoon to take stock of the supplies.

Qingfeng Village was richer than Heiyun Village, with its warehouses filled with grain, cloth, medicinal herbs, silver coins, and weapons and ammunition.

The granary contained at least eight hundred bushels of grain, as well as a large quantity of cured meat and dried vegetables.

More than 20,000 silver dollars and a lot of gold and silver jewelry were found in the vault.

The armory contained over 180 rifles, over 30 Mauser pistols, five light machine guns, two heavy machine guns, and a large quantity of ammunition.

Behind the village, there are also more than forty mules and horses and more than twenty cattle.

"Battalion Commander!" Old Wu ran over excitedly, holding the account book. "This harvest is even greater than at Black Cloud Stronghold! The grain alone is enough to feed us for more than half a year, and the ammunition can equip a reinforced battalion!"

Wei Dayong nodded: "Organize the supplies and prepare to transport them back to Black Cloud Village."

Zhou Quanheng also came over with several craftsmen to report.

"Battalion Commander, the headquarters fortifications have all been inspected. The main structure is intact, but it has been in disrepair for many years. With some time and materials spent on repairs, it can be fully restored to use."

Looking at the valley, Wei Dayong had already made up his mind.

Qingfeng Village is strategically located and has the fortifications and mechanisms left by the Zhou family, making it a perfect secret base.

Black Cloud Village is in front, and Clear Wind Village is behind. The two villages are mutually supportive, allowing for both offense and defense.

"Master Zhou, Master Sun," Wei Dayong said, "you and Master Zhang, along with the craftsmen, should repair all the fortifications. Just tell Old Wu how much material you need."

Zhou Quanheng and Sun Dequan exchanged a glance and smiled.

"Yes, sir!"

After dealing with the village affairs, Wei Dayong remembered the female Eighth Route Army soldier.

He walked back to the main hall of Zhongzhai and saw that the woman was still sitting in the chair, and the ropes binding her had been untied.

The woman stood up when she saw Wei Dayong come in.

"Thank you for saving my life, sir." The woman's voice was a little hoarse. "My name is Shen Yan, and I am a radio communications officer in the communications battalion of the 129th Division of the Eighth Route Army."

Wei Dayong nodded: "Wei Dayong, commander of the independent assault battalion. I know a little about your situation; I've already had the radio located."

Shen Yan's eyes lit up: "The radio station is still there?"

"Yes," Wei Dayong said. "Those bandits didn't understand the value of the radio; they just left it in a corner of the warehouse, and it's perfectly fine."

Shen Yan let out a long sigh of relief, a look of relief appearing on her face.

"Battalion Commander Wei, the three comrades who escorted me have all sacrificed their lives. They died protecting me." Her eyes reddened. "I must get to the division headquarters as soon as possible and deliver the radio there."

Wei Dayong thought for a moment and said, "You should rest here for a while. Once you've rested, I'll send someone to take you to the 129th Division headquarters."

Shen Yan hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

Just then, Wang Xiao strode in, a troubled expression on his face.

"Battalion Commander, I have a problem."

Wei Dayong looked at him.

"There are still seventy or eighty women being held captive in the village, women who were abducted by bandits," Wang Xiao said, frowning. "Some of them are from nearby villages and haven't been abducted long, so they can still find their families. But most of them are refugees from other places; their families were killed when they were abducted, leaving them homeless."

Wang Xiao continued, "Just now, two women were trying to commit suicide by jumping into the well, but the soldiers stopped them. If these women were released, they would be homeless and penniless, burdened with the stigma of being kidnapped by bandits. They would either starve to death or be taken away by other bandits."

Wei Dayong remained silent for a moment before walking into the courtyard.

A group of women were standing in the courtyard.

They were dressed in tattered clothes, their faces showing fear and confusion.

Some were shivering, some were huddled together, and some were staring blankly at the ground.

Several young women still had tear stains on their faces and their eyes were red and swollen.

An older woman looked up at Wei Dayong, then quickly lowered her head again.

Wei Dayong's heart sank.

These women were all abducted during the chaos of war.

Their plight is infuriating just to think about.

Back in the main hall of Zhongzhai, Wang Xiao sighed and said, "Battalion Commander, we need to find a way to settle those women who can't find their families."

Wei Dayong looked at him and suddenly recalled a famous scene from later generations.

A slight smile appeared on his lips as he patted Wang Xiao on the shoulder.

"Wang Xiao, want a wife?"