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

3 PM.

The Black Wind Stronghold is almost completely cleared up.

"Wenlong".

Zhou Tianyang turned around and looked at Zhao Wenlong standing behind him.

"arrive!"

"You and the second platoon stay behind to guard the area, the third platoon will come back to Lijia Yu with me."

Zhao Wenlong was taken aback.

"Commander, should we keep just one platoon?"

"Are thirty-odd people enough?"

That's enough.

Zhou Tianyang patted him on the shoulder, his gaze sweeping across the entire village.

"The main force of Black Wind Stronghold has been completely wiped out by us. There is no force within dozens of miles that can threaten this place."

"The people from Wild Wolf Valley won't make a move for now, and the three-family alliance doesn't have the guts."

"The Japanese stronghold is at least twenty or thirty miles away from here, they won't come here easily."

He paused, then added.

"The second platoon's task is not to fight, but to defend the village and keep an eye on the stored supplies."

"Repair the village walls, tidy up the houses, and set up the sentry posts."

"If anything happens, immediately send someone back to Lijia Yu to report."

"yes!"

Zhao Wenlong stood at attention, saluted, and then ran towards the second row.

Zhou Tianyang turned around and looked at the three rows behind him.

More than thirty soldiers, carrying guns and supplies, stood in neat rows, all with smiles on their faces.

Two major victories were won, and so much was captured; anyone would be excited.

"Those in the third row, follow me."

Zhou Tianyang waved his hand and strode down the mountain.

Zhao Wenlong stood at the entrance of the village, watching Zhou Tianyang's figure gradually disappear into the distance, vanishing at the end of the winding mountain road.

He turned around and shouted to the soldiers in the second platoon.

"Hey, you in the second row, stop standing there!"

"Close the village gates, repair what needs repairing, patch what needs patching, and set up guard posts where necessary!"

"Tonight, we'll spend the night in this bandit's den!"

"yes!"

More than thirty soldiers answered in unison, their voices echoing through the valley.

……

Zhou Tianyang led his team back along the mountain path.

The mountain road was full of potholes and dust kicked up as they walked, but the soldiers' steps remained steady.

After walking for about an hour, it gradually got dark.

We'll be arriving at Lijia Yu soon.

Zhou Tianyang raised his head and looked ahead.

As dusk fell, the outline of Lijia Yu appeared and disappeared.

But the village was bustling with activity at that moment.

As Zhou Tianyang approached, he could finally see the scene at the threshing ground at the village entrance.

Several large iron pots were placed on a makeshift stove, the fire in the stove was burning brightly, and the water in the pots was bubbling away.

Several elderly women squatted beside the stove, some adding firewood, others stirring the meat broth in the pot.

The aroma of the broth filled the air and could be smelled from afar.

Several old men were chopping wood by the threshing floor, their axes swirling and splintering wood.

Several children were running around, laughing and playing nearby.

Village Chief Li stood in the middle of the threshing ground, holding a wooden stick, directing the work.

"Old Liu, put more salt in that pot of soup. Don't be stingy!"

"Aunt Li, let that pot of meat simmer a little longer. Horse meat is tough; it won't soften properly and you won't be able to chew it!"

"Ergouzi, stop running around like that, go and move that firewood over there!"

He shouted at the top of his lungs, his voice echoing across the threshing ground.

"Village Chief! Commander Zhou and the others are back!"

A young man ran from the village entrance, panting as he shouted.

Village Chief Li turned around abruptly, nearly dropping the wooden stick in his hand.

He walked briskly towards the village entrance, almost jogging.

At the village entrance, Zhou Tianyang led his team in.

The soldiers carried guns and supplies, standing in neat rows.

Zhou Tianyang, who was walking at the front, had his military uniform soaked with sweat and his trouser legs covered in yellow dust.

"Commander Zhou!"

Village Chief Li went to greet them.

He grabbed Zhou Tianyang's hand and shook it hard.

His eyes were a little red, and his lips trembled several times as he tried to say something, but nothing came out.

She just kept shaking Zhou Tianyang's hand.

It was as if all the gratitude in my heart was being conveyed through this handshake.

"Village Chief Li, we're back."

Zhou Tianyang smiled and gently patted the back of his hand.

"You're back, it's good that you're back!"

Village Chief Li released his grip, turned around, and shouted towards the threshing ground.

"Fellow villagers!"

"Commander Zhou and the others are back!"

On the threshing floor, the villagers put down their work and gathered around.

"Commander Zhou, you've worked hard!"

"Commander Zhou, we've heard you've won a great victory!"

"Those bastards from Black Wind Stronghold have finally been wiped out!"

"God has finally opened his eyes!"

"It wasn't divine intervention, it was the Eighth Route Army that avenged us!"

The people chattered excitedly and gratefully.

Zhou Tianyang's gaze swept across their faces.

I saw tears, and I saw smiles.

I could see their barely suppressed excitement and gratitude.

"Fellow villagers."

His voice wasn't loud, but every word was clear.

"The bandits of Black Wind Stronghold have been completely wiped out by us."

"Bandit leader Liu Feng and second-in-command Ma Sandao have both been killed."

"From today onwards, there will be no more Black Wind Stronghold in this area."

The threshing floor fell silent for a moment.

Then, a deafening cheer erupted.

"good!"

"Well played!"

"Long live the Eighth Route Army!"

"Long live Commander Zhou!"

The people shouted, laughed, and cried.

Some elderly women clasped their hands together and muttered something to the sky.

Village Chief Li stood in the middle of the crowd, tears streaming down his face.

He turned around, faced Zhou Tianyang, and bowed deeply.

Zhou Tianyang quickly helped him up.

"Village Chief Li, what are you doing?"

"Commander Zhou, on behalf of the villagers of Lijia Yu and the people in this area, thank you."

Village Chief Li's voice choked with emotion.

"Those beasts from Black Wind Stronghold have been harming us for years."

"They looted grain, they kidnapped girls, they killed and injured so many people..."

He couldn't continue, and tears streamed down his face, etched with wrinkles.

Zhou Tianyang held his arm without saying a word.

"Commander Zhou, you've only been here for two days and you've already wiped out Black Wind Stronghold."

Village Chief Li wiped away his tears, looked up at Zhou Tianyang, and spoke in a hoarse but firm voice.

"I've lived for over sixty years, seen the Nationalist army, the Japanese invaders, and bandits, but I've never seen a force like yours."

"We will not take a single needle or thread from the people; we will return borrowed items, compensate for damaged items, and even share meat with the people..."

He paused, then raised his voice a few decibels.

"Folks, what do you think? Is this kind of team good?"

"good!"

The people answered in unison.

"What do you think? Should we support a team like this?"

"Should!"

Another chorus of responses followed.

Village Chief Li turned around, looked at Zhou Tianyang, and finally a smile appeared on his face.

"Commander Zhou, did you hear that?"

"This is the voice of the villagers."

Zhou Tianyang nodded, his gaze sweeping across the entire room.

"Fellow villagers, I, Zhou Tianyang, hereby make this promise to you."

"As long as our New Second Regiment is here, we will not let the Japanese bully you, nor will we let the bandits harm you."

"Whoever comes, we'll beat them up."

His voice wasn't loud, but every word he spoke was firm and resounding.

The threshing ground fell silent for a moment.

Then cheers erupted again.

……

It got completely dark.

On the threshing floor, the horse meat in several large pots was almost cooked.

The broth was bubbling and bubbling, its aroma filling the entire village.

The soldiers and villagers gathered around the stove, bowls in hand, waiting for their meal to be served.

Village Chief Li stood in front of the stove, holding a large ladle, personally cooking.

"Come one at a time, don't push, everyone gets a share!"

He scooped up the meat while shouting, his wrinkles crinkling into a smile.

The soldiers, holding bowls, lined up and took turns receiving the horse meat and broth that Village Chief Li scooped for them.

The horse meat was stewed until it was quite tender, although it was a bit tough.

But in those days, being able to eat meat was already a great luxury.

The soldiers squatted on the edge of the threshing ground.

He ate heartily, his mouth greasy, and he couldn't stop smiling.

Zhou Tianyang was also holding a bowl of horse meat.

They squatted under the big willow tree by the threshing ground and ate slowly.