Holding the original shares, they fought all the way to the Korean War!

The following morning.

Zhou Tianyang woke up as soon as it was light.

He didn't get up immediately, but lay on the wooden bed, listening to the sounds of the city gradually rising outside the window.

In the distance, there were the sounds of rickshaw bells, the shouts of breakfast vendors, and the whirring of bicycle chains as they passed by.

He sat up, got dressed, and went out the door.

The courtyard was quiet.

The late-night conversation last night kept Liu Ping from going to bed until very late after returning to his room.

But Zhou Tianyang knew that Liu Ping wouldn't stay in bed.

People who work underground have a more acute sense of time than ordinary people.

Sure enough, just as he finished washing his face by the well, Liu Ping came out from the next room.

He was wearing a felt hat and looked like an ordinary city office worker on his way to work.

"Commander Zhou, you're up so early."

Liu Ping walked to the well, bent down to wash his face, and wiped it with his sleeve.

Then he straightened up, his gaze serious.

"I'm getting ready to go out."

Zhou Tianyang nodded without asking any further questions.

He turned and called out into the courtyard.

Ma Yong immediately walked in through the side gate, followed by four soldiers.

The four men, some wearing short jackets and others wearing old suits, looked like ordinary city dwellers.

"Ma Yong, have four soldiers follow Comrade Liu Ping out."

Zhou Tianyang's tone was not loud, but every word was clear.

"Don't get too close, but don't stay too far away either."

"Keep your distance and don't let people know you're traveling together."

"If any situation arises, our priority should be ensuring Comrade Liu Ping's safe evacuation."

Ma Yong didn't ask any further questions, he just nodded in response.

He turned and whispered a few words to the four soldiers.

Then he looked at Liu Ping, his tone casual and polite.

"Comrade Liu Ping, you go first, they will follow behind."

Liu Ping glanced at Zhou Tianyang, then hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but didn't.

He wanted to say that there was no need to make such a fuss, but seeing Zhou Tianyang's uncompromising expression, he swallowed his words.

He nodded, pushed open the courtyard gate, and went out.

Ma Yong and four soldiers followed him out.

After they went outside, they dispersed, some walking to the left and some to the right.

Some stopped at the alley entrance and bought two sesame seed cakes, like strangers to each other.

Zhou Tianyang stood at the gate of the courtyard.

Watching Liu Ping's figure disappear around the corner of the alley, and then watching the four soldiers pass by the alley entrance one by one at different paces.

Then he turned around and walked back into the yard.

"What about the rest?"

He asked the remaining soldier behind him.

That was Liu Changhe, the deputy platoon leader of the guard platoon. He was also a veteran who had followed Zhou Tianyang for several years.

He is not tall but very sturdy, doesn't talk much, and is meticulous in his work.

"They're all waiting in that room in the back; we can leave at any time."

Zhou Tianyang nodded and glanced at the sky again.

He was silent for a moment.

He seemed to be thinking about something, and then he said something.

"Changhe, you stay here and keep an eye on the rest of the brothers. Don't go out, and wait for me to come back."

"Commander, are you going out?"

"Let's go out for a walk."

Zhou Tianyang spoke casually, as if he really just wanted to go shopping.

Liu Changhe opened his mouth as if to say something, but after looking at Zhou Tianyang's expression, he swallowed his words back.

Having followed Zhou Tianyang for so many years, he knew that if the regimental commander said that, he must have his reasons.

He also knew that the commander was the kind of person who would never change his mind once he made a decision.

"Then you should bring the platoon leader with you."

Liu Changhe settled for second best.

"Commander, I'm worried about you going out alone."

"Shanghai is not like our southeastern Shanxi; it's full of Japanese devils and traitors. What if something happens..."

"Okay, I'll take him."

Liu Changhe was finally able to relax a little.

About half an hour later.

Ma Yong then returned from outside.

He entered quickly, but his demeanor was relaxed, showing no signs of tension.

He walked up to Zhou Tianyang and whispered a report.

"Commander, Comrade Liu Ping is all set. He's made contact with Lao Shen."

Zhou Tianyang nodded, not surprised by the result.

Having worked underground for so many years, Liu Ping's ability to make contacts was ingrained in his bones.

As long as Lao Shen's connection remains intact, today's meeting will proceed smoothly.

"Ma Yong, come out with me for a bit."

Ma Yong paused for a moment, but didn't ask any further questions.

He turned around and gave Liu Changhe a few instructions.

Then he followed Zhou Tianyang out of the courtyard.

The two of them left the alley one after the other, turned onto the main street, and blended into the crowd.

The shops on both sides of the main street are lined up one after another, and their facades are decorated quite respectably.

Some have Chinese signs, some have Japanese signs, and some simply have both languages ​​written on them.

The shop window was filled with all sorts of goods: silk, clocks, radios, cosmetics—a dazzling array.

This formed a stark contrast with the dilapidated villages and towns he passed through along the way.

There were quite a few people on the street.

Merchants in long gowns hurried past, while workers in short clothes slowly pushed their carts by.

Several women in cheongsams walked along the street, chatting and laughing, while holding parasols.

There were also groups of two or three Japanese women wearing kimonos walking on the sidewalk.

His gait was relaxed and his expression was composed, as if he were walking on his own street.

Zhou Tianyang walked at a moderate pace, his gaze seemingly casually sweeping over the shops and pedestrians on both sides.

At each intersection, he would subtly glance at the layout of the street corner, as if he were memorizing something.

We've arrived at the French Concession.

The street scene here is different from the road we just walked.

The villas along the roadside stood side by side, some with small gardens, and some with black cars parked in front.

Occasionally, you can see a few police officers standing at the intersection.

They looked lazy and nonchalant, leaning against the wall with their arms crossed.

Occasionally, he would shout something to the roadside vendors in heavily accented Chinese, then turn back to continue chatting.

"Commander, what are you looking at?"

Ma Yong walked to his side, turned his head slightly, and lowered his voice.

"Just browsing."

Zhou Tianyang continued walking, his gaze never wavering.

The streets of the French Concession were much quieter than those of the Chinese-controlled areas, with fewer pedestrians and vehicles.

Occasionally, a rickshaw would drive by, the driver running barefoot at breakneck speed, with a passenger in a suit sitting inside, legs crossed, a cigarette between his fingers, looking relaxed.

There is a Western restaurant by the roadside, and through the floor-to-ceiling windows you can see several tables of customers sitting inside.

Some were drinking coffee, some were talking in hushed tones, and occasionally a laugh could be heard.

Zhou Tianyang stopped and looked through the glass window for a moment.

"Commander, I've heard that the French Concession is different from other places."

Ma Yong stood next to him and followed his gaze to look at the Western restaurant.

Then he continued in that lowered voice.

"The Japanese soldiers couldn't just enter the French Concession to arrest people. The French had their own police force, and they were quite strict about it."

"Some people who can't stay anywhere else will come to the French Concession to avoid trouble."