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

Why?

Liu Dama looked at him.

"First, the Eighth Route Army has just wiped out Black Wind Village and has newly recruited soldiers to train. They have a lot to do and can't take care of us for the time being."

Sun Wukong extended one finger, then extended a second one.

"Secondly, we are different from Black Wind Stronghold."

"Black Wind Village has ravaged the people, robbing them of grain and girls, and killing and injuring innocent civilians. They have incurred the wrath of the people."

"If the Eighth Route Army wants to win over the hearts and minds of the people, the first thing they have to do is attack Black Wind Village."

"Although our three families also occupy the mountains and rule the area, we have never harmed the common people or caused any deaths."

After listening, Liu Dama nodded, but his brows remained furrowed.

Sun Wukong extended another finger, lowering his voice slightly.

"Third, although we don't have many people, the three families together have more than 140 people, and our terrain is not bad either."

"So, I think they won't touch us for the time being."

After Sun Wukong finished speaking, he picked up the bowl, took a sip of water, squinted at Liu Damazi, and waited for him to express his opinion.

Liu Dama was silent for a moment before slowly speaking.

"Old Sun, you're right."

"But there's one thing you didn't expect."

"Those Eighth Route Army soldiers were no ordinary troops."

Liu Dama's voice was deep, but every word was heavy.

"They were able to wipe out Black Wind Stronghold in a single day and recruit a hundred or eighty new soldiers in two days."

"A person who can win over the hearts of the people within three days cannot be judged by ordinary standards."

Sun Wukong frowned slightly, and his hand, which was stroking his beard, stopped in mid-air.

"Do you think they'll target us?"

"Sun Wukong asked."

Liu Damaizi did not answer directly.

"Old Sun, Old Six, I have a question for you."

The two looked at each other but said nothing.

"How long have we, the Three Mountains Alliance, been operating in this area?"

Sun Wukong thought for a moment and then said:

"I was one of the first to come up the mountain, more than three years ago."

"Big brother, you're six months younger than me, and the sixth brother is the latest, it's been more than two years."

Liu Dama looked at the two of them.

"It's been three years, and the three of us combined still have a little over 140 people."

"We're still stuck on these few hilltops, afraid to go out and expand."

"It's been three years, and we're still bandits."

He paused, then raised his voice a few decibels.

"But what about them?"

"They came for three days and accomplished what we couldn't do in three years."

The main room fell silent again.

Zhang Laoliu had his head down, seemingly lost in thought.

Sun Wukong stopped stroking his beard, squinted, and his expression was somewhat complicated.

Liu Dama's gaze swept across the two men's faces.

"I'm not trying to boost others' morale while diminishing my own."

"I want to tell you that times have changed."

"In the past, we could close our doors and live our own lives, without bothering anyone, and no one could afford to bother us."

"But now that the Eighth Route Army has arrived, the situation in this area has changed."

"We can no longer look at problems with old perspectives."

Zhang Laoliu raised his head and looked at Liu Damazi.

"Brother, what do you suggest we do?"

Liu Damaizi did not rush to answer.

He picked up the wine pot on the table, poured himself a bowl of sweet potato liquor, and took a sip.

Then he put down the bowl and his expression became serious.

What I mean is...

"First, starting today, restrain your brothers and forbid anyone from going down the mountain to harm the people."

Sun Wukong and Zhang Laoliu exchanged a glance but neither spoke.

"Second, send someone to Lijia Yu to make contact with the Eighth Route Army."

"Let's sound them out and see what their attitude is towards us."

"We can't just wait around cluelessly. If they come knocking on our door, we won't even know what's going on."

Sun Wukong stroked his beard and nodded.

"Brother is right. Only by knowing yourself and your enemy can you have confidence."

"I will send someone to Lijia Yu tomorrow."

Liu Dama nodded.

"Third, and most importantly."

"From today onwards, the three of us can no longer fight our own battles."

"We need to stick together and support each other."

"The strength of the Eighth Route Army is undeniable, and the fate of Black Wind Stronghold is clear."

"If we continue to look after ourselves like before, we'll be picked off one by one sooner or later."

Sun Wukong and Zhang Laoliu's expressions both turned serious.

"Brother, do you mean we three should merge?" Sun Wukong asked.

"It's not a merger, it's an alliance."

Liu Dama shook his head.

"The three families are still the three families, each managing their own people and guarding their own territory."

"But when it comes to major events, the three parties discuss and act together."

"Sharing happiness and hardship together."

"If one of them gets attacked, the other two families have to come to their rescue."

"If one of them is short of food or weapons, the other two must lend a hand."

His gaze was sharp as a knife, sweeping across the two faces.

"Is it possible?"

There was a moment of silence in the main room.

Sun Wukong spoke first, his voice not loud, but very firm.

"Brother, although I, Sun Wukong, am not exactly a gentleman, I keep my word."

"I accept the rules you set."

Zhang Laoliu also expressed his opinion.

"Big brother, I'll listen to you."

Liu Dama nodded and picked up his wine bowl.

"Then it's settled."

"From today onwards, the Three Mountains Alliance is no longer a loose alliance, but a true brotherhood."

"Anyone who breaks their promise should not blame me for turning my back on them."

The three of them picked up their bowls, clinked them together, and then drank them dry.

Liu Damaizi put down his bowl, leaned back in his chair, and let out a long sigh.

"Old Sun, do you think those Eighth Route Army soldiers will accept our overtures?"

Sun Wukong stroked his beard, thought for a moment, and then slowly spoke.

"Brother, it depends on what stance we take."

"What do you mean?"

"The Eighth Route Army is not a bandit; they are a regular army with discipline and policies."

"If we still act like bandits and try to negotiate or act superior, they definitely won't pay any attention to us."

Sun Wukong spoke slowly, but every word was carefully chosen.

"But if we lower our stance and take the initiative to show goodwill..."

"This shows that we don't want to cause trouble for the people, and that we are willing to coexist peacefully with the Eighth Route Army."

"Even if they were willing to help them fight the Japanese."

"I don't think they'll push us to the brink."

Liu Dama nodded.

"you're right."

"Old Sun, when you send someone to Lijia Yu tomorrow, please take a message with you."

"What did you say?"

Liu the Pockmarked turned around, looked at Sun Wukong, and said, word by word:

"They said that the Three Mountains Alliance was willing to keep to itself and not interfere with the Eighth Route Army, and would not harass the people again."

"If the Eighth Route Army ever needs anything from the Sanshan Alliance, just ask, and the Sanshan Alliance will not hesitate to help."

Sun Wukong's eyes lit up slightly.

"Brother, what's wrong?"

"It's not about seeking refuge, it's about showing goodwill."

Liu Dama interrupted him.

"We can't go against the Eighth Route Army; we can't win, and we can't afford to lose."

"But we can't be too soft either, or people will think we're easy to bully."

"Therefore, we need to find a middle ground, where we can each keep to ourselves and live our own lives."

"Let them fight their Japanese devils, we'll guard our mountain, and neither of us will provoke the other."

Sun Wukong stroked his beard and nodded.

"Brother, this approach will work."

Zhang Laoliu nodded in agreement.

"I'll listen to my older brother."

Liu Dama picked up his wine bowl and remained silent for a long time.

"Alright, everyone go back and rest."

"Tomorrow morning, everyone go back to the mountain and take care of your own people."

He put down his bowl and glanced at the two men's faces.

"Remember, from today onwards, no one is allowed to go down the mountain and cause trouble."

Sun Wukong and Zhang Laoliu stood up, cupped their hands in greeting, and turned to leave.

The sound of footsteps gradually faded away in the courtyard.

Only Liu Damazi remained in the main room.

He sat in the armchair, holding the bowl of sweet potato soup in his hand, sipping it slowly.

He recalled the time when he first arrived at Qinglong Mountain three years ago.

He only had about twenty men and a dozen broken guns, and they couldn't even get enough to eat.

Three years have passed, and the population, guns, and territory have grown.

But life still felt filled with anxiety and trepidation.

When the Japanese devils came, we were afraid of them; when Black Wind Village came, we were afraid of Black Wind Village.

Now that the Eighth Route Army has arrived, they are afraid of the Eighth Route Army.

Liu Dama Zi drank the wine in his bowl in one gulp and slammed the bowl down on the table.

"Damn it, when will this ever end?"