Chapter 26: Agreement
Du Yunzhang seemed to have anticipated Deng Erniang's question and answered calmly, "The pigtail army is naturally not involved with the Cao Gang, but as the people living on both sides of the canal, which village or town can guarantee that there are no Cao Gang members? I believe that Old Master Huang knows that there should be many people in Chenjia Village who are related to the Cao Gang. The current situation is that the north and the south are in opposition. The Yuan family in the north and the Sun family in the south are at loggerheads. A war is imminent. The key garrison is where the canal and the Huai River meet. Chenjia Village is located in the middle of it. It is unknown when it will be caught in the flames of war. Although the Cao Gang does not have the ability to stop the war, even if For the sake of our Cao Gang, we must hold out for as long as possible. The Cao Gang deeply admires your courage and boldness in launching a surprise attack on the Independent Regiment of the Pigtail Army, but this will only intensify the complex and hidden forces within the Independent Regiment, especially the death of its leader, Chen Hui. Perhaps this incident will trigger a war between the North and South. Although my companions and I were caught up in this by accident, if we can uncover the truth behind Chen Hui's death, we can temporarily suppress the impending war and at least buy time for peace for the people living near the canal and the Cao Gang members."
Deng Erniang listened to Du Yunzhang's endless rant in silence, displaying unusual patience. When he finally finished, she spoke, "I've heard you speak so long, as if every word concerns the safety of the common people. But I'm the head of the Liu family. I don't understand peace and prosperity. I only care about ensuring my men have enough to eat and drink. We're just as miserable as they are, so who cares? Just tell me straight up, what does all this talk have to do with our Black Cloud Village?"
Du Yunzhang was stunned for a moment, then gritted his teeth and replied, "If you, Boss, feel that this matter has nothing to do with your Black Cloud Village, you can disregard what I've said and simply execute Huang Tan. But if you attempt to target the Independent Regiment again, I'm afraid it will be extremely difficult. Furthermore... I just received news from the Qing army camp that Zhang Xun's military supervisor has arrived at the Independent Regiment. Upon hearing about the barracks being robbed, he was furious. Not only has he strengthened the guards, he's also ordered the Independent Regiment to eliminate the banditry surrounding this area within a certain timeframe, even if it means razing all nearby villages. Think about it, why did the Independent Regiment not harm Chenjia Village before? It was because Captain Shen, out of consideration for the people, ordered his subordinates to be restrained. Now that Chen Hui is dead, will the Qing army still care about a few insignificant villages? So... Boss, don't think the Huang family compound is safe. The next day, the Independent Regiment might descend en masse and exterminate the entire Chenjia Village without a single survivor. Unless the truth behind Captain Shen's death is uncovered..."
Du Yunzhang's words had indeed worked. Deng Erniang remained silent for a long time, fiddling with her Spanish-made Mauser pistol, glancing from time to time at Huang Tan and from time to time at Du Yunzhang. After a long pause, she finally spoke: "Come to think of it, you do have some truth to it. But I don't understand. Huang Tan is just a small-time soldier in the independent regiment's reconnaissance squad. How much can he contribute to uncovering the truth about Shen Hui's death?"
Du Yunzhang smiled slightly. "I heard that Black Cloud Village is well-informed about the area around the Grand Canal. I wonder if the boss has heard of the name of Yin Chuan, the 'Grand Canal Spy'?"
Before Deng Erniang could say anything, Zilai Hong beside her interjected, "I've heard from the spies and the Caipan brothers that there's a rumor going around in the canal area about a very powerful figure in the Cao Gang, known as the 'Canal Spy.' His name is Yin Chuan, and he's a master at solving strange cases. He's seen through the combined efforts of the four major clans of Guojiaying, Feng, Ma, Yanque, and Que. He recently solved the Tang family's Luyuanzhuang case in just five days. There really is such a person."
Du Yunzhang nodded. "My partner is none other than the brilliant detective Yin Chuan. He was the one who specifically asked me to leave the barracks and search for the escaped Huang Tan. Since he confirmed that Huang Tan is the key witness to solving the case, he must be right. Boss, do you still have any doubts?"
Deng Erniang thought that she had indeed heard of the name of "Canal Spy" Yin Chuan. Although she had never met him, anyone who could make a name for himself on both sides of the canal must be no ordinary person, not to mention that he had such a powerful force as the Cao Gang backing him up. It would be best not to offend him.
"In that case, I'll trust you this time," Deng Erniang said. "Huang Tan, you can stay here. However... if the Qing army is still ready to attack when the snow stops outside, our Black Cloud Village will not sit idly by and wait for death. We will definitely take the initiative and attack them again!"
Du Yunzhang clasped his fists towards Deng Erniang and said, "Thank you, Boss, for your help." Then an idea struck him. "However, I am not very talented. I need your help with something."
"What's up?"
When Du Yunzhang expressed his thoughts, Deng Erniang frowned. "This is quite a risk! Do you trust me so much?"
Du Yunzhang smiled and said, "Don't worry. We will bear all the risks ourselves. Since the boss is a brave man, he will not go back on his word. I have been in the martial arts world for a long time and know that trust is the foundation of survival."
"Well... okay, I promise. Just do it when the time comes, and I will definitely cooperate."
Just as the two of them were talking here, they heard footsteps outside the door. Du Yunzhang turned around and looked outside, only to see another strong man in a braided military uniform walking into the hall of the Huang family compound. Deng Erniang smiled as soon as she saw him, "Old Zhang, Old Zhang, why are you back just now?"
As soon as the visitor entered the room, he pulled off his fake braid, then bowed to Deng Erniang and said, "Boss, I heard you were planning to attack the pigtail army again. Is that true?"
"Look, it's snowing outside again. I thought I'd take advantage of the weather and give them another blow, just like before."
"Alas, I advise you to calm down..." He was about to continue to persuade Deng Erniang when he suddenly noticed Du Yunzhang next to him. His face suddenly changed, "Why is it you?"
Du Yunzhang had already recognized the person, "I never thought you were the traitor in the independent regiment!"
The man chuckled and said, "Don't be so harsh, Mr. Du. Your two so-called comrades are still busy investigating the case in the barracks, right? They probably don't need my help anymore."
Du Yunzhang thought to himself, what he said is true, but the premise is that the conclusion of the autopsy is not mixed with lies. ——Yes, this person is Zhang Sixiang, the military doctor who performed the autopsy on Chen Hui.
"Doctor Zhang, do you know the inside story of Captain Shen's death?"
"Me? No, no, no, I don't know anything."
Deng Erniang continued, "Mr. Du, Lao Zhang is just a friend of mine. He has no grudge against Shen Hui, and it's certainly not possible that he was sent by me to assassinate him. There's no need for you to doubt him."
Seeing Deng Erniang's sincerity, Du Yunzhang reflected that this was her territory, so there was no need for her to lie to him. He nodded and said, "Since the boss says so, I believe the murder has nothing to do with Doctor Zhang. However, I have a question for Doctor Zhang. The barracks clearly stated that there was a deserter in the logistics platoon, and both Platoon Leader Lu Jiyu and Third Battalion Commander Wu Ziqing were punished. How could the deserter be you?"
"Haha, don't you know that military doctors belong to the medical squad within the logistics platoon? Even though I'm the only military doctor in the medical squad, it's still considered an independent organization."
"But I still don't understand. If, as you say, you're the only medic in the logistics platoon's medical squad, then your desertion would be too obvious, wouldn't it? How could they not know who the deserter is?"
Zhang Sixian narrowed his eyes with some pride. "How difficult is that? I can fool them with a little trick. That day, when you were questioning the battalion commanders one by one, I found an unremarkable soldier named Zhao from the logistics platoon and asked him to go to the county town to replenish medicinal materials. I didn't tell anyone else about this. After he left, I started spreading rumors that there was a deserter in the logistics platoon, and later I simply put the hat of traitor on him as well. So the talk of 'there is a traitor in the logistics platoon' became rampant. I was still in the army at the time, so this made Situ Xin believe that the little Zhao who disappeared for no reason was a deserter and a traitor. Before he returned, I quietly left the barracks and came to the Huang family compound to reunite with the boss. That's why I showed up now."
Du Yunzhang suddenly understood. It seemed that this military doctor Zhang was so meticulous that he was worthy of being a powerful figure who could infiltrate the independent regiment and cooperate with the Black Cloud Village.
"It seems I underestimated Doctor Zhang. I admire you! I have a humble request."
"What's the matter, Mr. Du?"
"If possible, I would like you to come back to the barracks with me!"
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