Chapter 25: Negotiations with the Bandit Leader
Du Yunzhang, eavesdropping from the window, couldn't help but feel curious. Unsure of who Deng Erniang had called, he cautiously raised his head and peered through the crack in the window. He saw the gunner, surnamed Hong, who had just gone to the stable to check on the horses, leading in a man. The man was short, had a rat-tail braid, and wore the uniform of the Independent Regiment. He looked around with a look of trepidation.
"Huang Tan? Why are you here?" Old Master Huang asked in surprise.
Du Yunzhang then realized that this person was Huang Tan, who had escaped from the reconnaissance squad. Yin Chuan's guess was correct; he was indeed from the Huang family compound. However, for some reason, Old Master Huang was quite surprised by his escape, while Deng Erniang knew everything.
"Grandpa, I..."
Before Huang Tan could continue, Deng Erniang interrupted, "You didn't know, did you? He took advantage of the chaos last night and secretly escaped from the military camp. Don't worry, I definitely won't harbor any grudges against the Huang family compound just because he joined the camp as a soldier, not to mention that he brought back some unexpected good news."
"Good news? What good news?"
"Huang Tan, you say!"
Huang Tan said tremblingly, "It was…it was…after the barracks were attacked at night by bandits…oh no, not really…by the heroes of Black Cloud Village, the commander of the independent regiment, Chen Hui, was killed in the barracks!"
"Ah? Captain Shen was killed? Who killed him?" Old Master Huang was shocked.
"I don't know. When I escaped, the higher-ups above the battalion level were investigating this matter. Deputy Battalion Commander Situ and Staff Officer Han stayed up all night because of this, and they also ordered the battalion commanders not to spread the news of Commander Shen's death."
"Then how did you know?" Deng Erniang asked. Du Yunzhang could tell from her tone that she was asking despite knowing the answer.
"Someone told me."
"Who? Who told you?" the old man asked.
"I...I don't know who that person is?"
"Do you believe anything he says?"
"I can't help but believe it! Old Master, because that man came to me with the body of Duan Biao, Captain Shen's personal guard!"
"Then why did he come to you?"
"This... He didn't tell me. He just held me at gunpoint and forced me to help him bury Duan Biao's body in the snow next to the reconnaissance squad barracks. Then he encouraged me to escape from the barracks. I thought that with such a big mess in the barracks, if people found out that I was also involved in the murder of Captain Shen, even if I was just Captain Shen's bodyguard, I would definitely be tortured and interrogated. It would be better to just leave. So I listened to him and escaped from the barracks overnight."
"Old Master, what do you think?" Deng Erniang said, "With Chen Hui's death, the Independent Regiment is now leaderless. Those officers are definitely making their own plans. So why don't I take this opportunity, take advantage of the snow, and strike him again with all my strength? I'm sure we can achieve another great victory."
"This... Second Mother, I advise you to think twice before you act." Old Master Huang was still a little uneasy. He wasn't worried about the Black Cloud Village losing soldiers and generals, but if Second Mother Deng was defeated and the army traced her connection to the Huang family, the entire Huang family, and even Chenjia Village, would suffer.
"No need to think twice, isn't there Huangtan? You are familiar with the military camp, so show us the way."
Huang Tan shook his head repeatedly, "No, no, I won't go back. Isn't this going to kill me?"
"You dare not go?" Deng Erniang glared at him, pulled out a revolver from her waist, and pointed the muzzle at Huang Tan. "Do you believe I will kill you right now?"
Huang Tan was so frightened that his face turned pale. He stretched out his hands to cover his face, but he kept muttering, "No! No! I can't go back even if you kill me!"
Deng Erniang pulled the safety button in a rage, and ignoring the constant persuasion of Old Master Huang beside her, she took two quick steps and put the muzzle of the gun against Huang Tan's forehead. Even so, Huang Tan was still trembling and shaking his head.
Seeing that Deng Erniang was about to shoot, Du Yunzhang, who was hiding under the window, finally couldn't help but yelled, "Stop! Spare his life!"
His sudden shout startled all the Huang family members and the bandits inside and outside the house. Those who had guns took out their weapons and pointed them at the window where Du Yunzhang was.
"Who's hiding there? Come out!" Deng Er Niang shouted sternly.
Du Yunzhang remained calm, his expression unfazed. He acted like a man facing a mountain collapse, slowly walking around the window and out the main hall. Zi Laihong approached, holding a gun to Du Yunzhang in one hand while trying to wrestle him to the ground with the other. Du Yunzhang, too, was stubborn, extending his arm to block the attack, then backhanding the other man's arm back. Zi Laihong cried out in pain, "Ouch!" Du Yunzhang then pushed him out, sending him sprawling onto the steps.
"Good boy, do you still have some tricks up your sleeve? I'll poke an eye into your head!" Zi Laihong was furious. He pulled the bolt of his gun and was about to shoot Du Yunzhang viciously.
"Wait a minute, Old Hong! Let me ask you about your situation first." Seeing the newcomer's impressive skills, Deng Erniang in the main hall hurriedly asked, "Where did this brave man make his fortune?"
Du Yunzhang brushed himself off slowly and said casually, "Cao Gang."
"The Cao Gang?" Deng Erniang was a little surprised. "Although our Black Cloud Village is not far from the canal, we have always kept our distance from the Cao Gang. What is your intention in trespassing on our Liuzi territory?"
"Your territory? When did a royal place like Chenjia Village become the territory of you bandits?" Du Yunzhang said confidently, not caring at all that he was surrounded by tigers and wolves.
"Hehe, a place ruled by the king? Since when did the Cao Gang start speaking in official language? Besides, it's the Republic of China now, where is the saying of 'a place ruled by the king'?" Deng Erniang deliberately imitated Du Yunzhang's tone and asked back, "You can ask the head of the Huang family on the spot whether he obeys the so-called 'king's' control, or prefers the protection of our Black Cloud Village?" As she spoke, she glanced at Old Master Huang.
Old Master Huang, a seasoned veteran, quickly took over the conversation, "Oh, yes, our Huang Family Compound, and even Chen Family Village, are all under the protection of Black Cloud Village. How could those Republican officials and generals speak for us, the common people?"
Du Yunzhang snorted lightly, "Master Deng, please stop playing this double act with me. I don't care who the Huang Family Courtyard favors."
"So what are you doing here?"
Du Yunzhang pointed at the yellow pond lying on the ground and said, "You can't kill this man."
Deng Erniang frowned, looked at Huang Tan, then at Du Yunzhang, "I haven't asked for your name yet, sir?"
"My surname is Du, Du Yunzhang, and I'm from Wuhe County, Zhili."
"Wuhe County... that's where the Cao Gang's headquarters is. But what was your intention in sneaking into the Huang family compound to protect Huang Tan?"
"I believe the boss has already known about the murder of Captain Chen Hui after your Black Cloud Village's night raid on the pigtail army camp. My two companions and I are investigating the truth behind Chen Hui's death, and this Huang Tan is the key witness."
"Investigate the truth?" Deng Erniang looked at Du Yunzhang coldly. "What does the death of a general leading a braided army have to do with your Cao Gang? Why are you investigating the truth for him?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
