Chapter 22: Scarface Qiu Must Be Publicly Exposed

Chapter 22: We Must Expose Qiu Dab scar to the Public

Zhong Zhicheng listened to Li Yunlong’s tone and sensed this was not just a false hope given by Wu Ze. Puzzled, he asked, “Commander, I heard that Wu Ze has a way to help us capture Qiu Family Village. What exactly is going on?”

“Old Zhong, here’s the thing. On the night of Qiu Dab scar’s father’s funeral, he secretly sent someone to transfer his father’s corpse to the doctor Lang’s tomb…” Li Yunlong explained.

“What? Commander, did you say Qiu Dab scar’s father’s body was moved to Doctor Lang’s grave? How is that possible?” Zhong Zhicheng’s anger flared instantly upon hearing this.

He had often burned paper offerings at Doctor Lang’s grave and had personally added soil there during Qingming Festival this year.

Zhong Zhicheng was deputy commander of the New First Regiment. He was responsible for maintaining the regiment’s image and liaising with the locals.

Doctor Lang held a highly respected place in the hearts of the people.

Zhong Zhicheng’s ritual visits to the grave were meant to strengthen ties with the community.

Now Li Yunlong was telling him that the one he had been honoring was not Doctor Lang, but the corpse of the iron-willed traitor Qiu Dab scar’s father???!!!

“Wu Ze, you explain it to him.” Li Yunlong was so furious he didn’t want to say more.

“Deputy Commander Zhong, here’s the situation. I went to Wanjia Town…” Wu Ze recounted everything to Zhong Zhicheng.

“Damn it! That Qiu Dab scar, I will personally kill him!” Zhong Zhicheng’s short temper flared before Wu Ze finished speaking.

He stomped his foot furiously and shouted outside, “Xiao Zhang, you immediately…”

“Forget it, I’ll go myself.” Zhong Zhicheng quickly changed his mind and said to Li Yunlong, “Commander, I’ll personally go and capture that bastard Cui Baozhong for interrogation. Once we verify the facts and take Qiu Family Village, I want to hang Qiu Dab scar in public to make an example!”

After saying this, Zhong Zhicheng hurried to leave but was stopped by Wu Ze.

“Deputy Commander Zhong, you should let someone else go. When angry, people often act rashly.”

Wu Ze wasn’t worried that Zhong Zhicheng might kill Cui Baozhong by mistake, but feared something might go wrong if he acted in his current state of fury.

“Wu Ze, don’t stop me, I…” Zhong Zhicheng tried to brush past Wu Ze.

Wu Ze turned to Li Yunlong, “Commander, if Deputy Commander Zhong goes in such a rage, something might go wrong.”

Hearing this, Li Yunlong immediately stopped Zhong Zhicheng, “Old Zhong, don’t go. Let Xiao Zhang handle it.”

Then Li Yunlong called Xiao Zhang over. “Xiao Zhang, go to Wanjia Town immediately. Contact our comrades there and arrest Cui Baozhong, the head of the Cui family fortress. And remember, bring him back alive at all costs. Absolutely no killing.”

Xiao Zhang was a seasoned veteran who usually dealt with local anti-traitor squads.

“Commander, if we move on Cui Baozhong, it will have a big impact. He…” Xiao Zhang hesitated.

Cui Baozhong had good relations with several Japanese officers under Hirata Ichiro, so acting against him could cause serious trouble.

“This Cui Baozhong is crucial for whether we can capture Qiu Family Village and keep the Italian artillery,” Li Yunlong interrupted Xiao Zhang. “I’m telling you, if you fail, don’t blame me for turning against you.”

Upon hearing how important Cui Baozhong was, Xiao Zhang didn’t hesitate and left immediately.

“Old Zhong, Xiao Zhang is very capable. Let’s wait at the regiment headquarters for the arrest to be made,” Li Yunlong said to Zhong Zhicheng.

“That damned Qiu Dab scar, he’s just too cunning,” Zhong Zhicheng still fumed.

“All right, Old Zhong, no matter how angry you are, we’ve already paid respects to Qiu Dab scar’s father. We’ll take it back from both father and son,” Li Yunlong suppressed his anger.

“Hmph, I swear I’ll hang Qiu Dab scar in public!” Zhong Zhicheng snorted, then praised Wu Ze, “Wu Ze, I never expected you to find such a flaw in Qiu Dab scar. If we can capture Qiu Family Village, you’ll be the first to be honored.”

“Deputy Commander Zhong, the situation hasn’t been verified yet. Wait until it’s confirmed before awarding merits,” Wu Ze replied.

“It can’t be wrong. I have a feeling. The situation must be like this,” Zhong Zhicheng judged by years of experience.

In fact, when they previously dug up Qiu Dab scar’s father’s grave, Qiu Dab scar never sent troops. Zhong Zhicheng had suspected something then.

He had repeatedly visited locals and investigated in many ways but never found any flaws, and the matter was dropped.

Now Wu Ze had miraculously uncovered a breakthrough. Zhong Zhicheng immediately saw the light—everything fit perfectly.

Though Cui Baozhong hadn’t been captured and the situation verified, Zhong Zhicheng subconsciously accepted the truth.

“Wu Ze, what reward do you want?” Li Yunlong, sharing the same conviction though the verification was pending, said to Wu Ze, “Tell the commander whatever you want; if it’s possible, I’ll arrange it for you. If not, I’ll find some way.”

Hearing this, Wu Ze suddenly recalled a classic scene from a TV drama.

Zhao Jiayu’s Women’s Rescue Association leader Yang Xiuqin, Li Yunlong’s first wife.

When Li Yunlong’s troops were stationed at Zhao Jiayu for rest, he and Yang Xiuqin had just met and were not yet married.

Yang Xiuqin brought new shoes to Li Yunlong’s soldiers. At that time, Deputy Commander Zhao Gang formally thanked her in official language, which Li Yunlong mocked. Then Li Yunlong expressed his thanks in plain speech.

Taking the opportunity, Yang Xiuqin asked Li Yunlong for a gun. Li Yunlong’s flattering words were out, and Zhao Gang wouldn’t help now.

Li Yunlong had no choice but to grit his teeth and give Yang Xiuqin a Browning pistol that Chu Yunfei had given him.

Zhao Gang mocked, “Old Li, you lost out. If you meet Chu Yunfei later and he asks for the gun, how will you explain?”

Li Yunlong replied seriously, “I’ll say it’s for my wife. That should settle it.”

Zhao Gang teased Li Yunlong for never blushing when telling lies.

Later, some viewers analyzed this scene, saying Li Yunlong was cunning.

Why didn’t he just give Yang Xiuqin any gun, but chose to give a Browning, a heavy gift?

Was Li Yunlong foolish?

Not at all.

When he gave the gun, he only gave a few bullets.

When the bullets ran out, Yang Xiuqin would have to come back to him.

Besides, Li Yunlong said plainly, “I gave the gun to my wife.”

On the surface, this sounded like a joke. In reality, Li was planting the idea firmly.

He was telling everyone that Yang Xiuqin was already his wife, that he had given her the token of commitment.

Who would dare to make a move on Yang Xiuqin now?

As long as Yang Xiuqin could still contact Li Yunlong, there was room for their relationship to develop.

So while Li Yunlong seemed a rough man, he was actually very thoughtful—this was textbook strategy for courting a woman.

Now, Commander Li Yunlong was speaking such plain talk about himself.

Wu Ze didn’t have many wishes. His only wish was to fight alongside Li Yunlong against the Japanese.

Now he was officially a member of the New First Regiment.

Wu Ze smiled at Li Yunlong, “Commander, I don’t want much. As long as I can stay in the New First Regiment and fight the Japanese, I’m satisfied.”

“Haha, good kid,” Li Yunlong laughed heartily. “When your health recovers, I’ll personally teach you how to shoot and fight with knives.”

Li Yunlong had seen Wu Ze’s hands and confirmed he had never handled any weapons before.

Once Wu Ze got the hang of it, he could become the second battalion commander of the New First Regiment.

“Thank you, Commander,” Wu Ze expressed his gratitude. “Commander, I’m a bit tired and would like to rest first.”

After three days of hard work outside, Wu Ze hadn’t had a good sleep.

“All right, all right, no problem. Rest first. The New First Regiment can’t afford to have anyone more exhausted than you.”

(End of chapter)