No one wants to be a traitor. Anyone who takes the initiative to be a traitor must be an opportunist. Li Youde is such a person. As the chairman of the maintenance association, he is very glorious under the big tree. However, the Li family is already very glorious, and there is no shortage of such face to be scolded behind the back. In addition to safety, there is no other benefit. Instead, he has to work for the imperial army and pay tribute every year. In the long run, he will be squeezed dry by the Japanese sooner or later.
Li Youde was famous in the area within dozens of miles and they were all fellow villagers. He couldn't bring himself to go astray and increase the exploitation of the people to make up for his losses like some people did. He was thinking about whether he should contact the bandits and do something with them, but Hu Yi and his men showed up by accident. Li Youde immediately realized the opportunity and his heart lit up.
If you want to make money from the Japanese, the Eighth Route Army is the best target! They have integrity, credibility, quality assurance, lower prices and value for money. You don't have to worry about the news being exposed, because they are natural enemies of the Imperial Army. How can those bandits compare? This is the golden thug, the spokesperson for a good partner. You'd be a fool not to use them.
Originally, Hu Yi thought that the gambling traitor Li Youcai was a weird person, but now he found that his brother Li Youde, the chairman of the maintenance association, was even more powerful. He was the one who would eat people without leaving any bones. Hu Yi came here to ask for food, but now he suddenly used his relationship to do business. In this case, he couldn't be a beggar and lose face. He didn't say anything more, just told Li Youde to go back and wait, and there would be a reply soon, and then left.
In the darkness of the night, after Class 9 quietly left Luoye Village for a while, Luo Fugui, who had lost his temper, finally asked, "Boss Hu, what happened just now? How did you find Li Youde? Why didn't you tie him up?"
Hu Yi did not answer Luo Fugui's question, but said: "Don't tell anyone about what happened tonight. Just pretend it never happened. Remember?"
Although no one understood what was going on, they all nodded without hesitation.
Hu Yi took a deep breath and began to think about the next step. This was a big deal, and the Ninth Squad was definitely not going to do it. Logically, they should have returned to the Independent Regiment and reported to the political commissar first, but at present, there were only a few dozen wounded soldiers in the First Company in Dabei Village, and what could the political commissar do? They didn't know where the Third Company was, and they could only count on the Second Company, and the Second Company was nearby, so there was no point in going back to report.
In addition, food is also a problem at the moment. Just now, out of face, I did not ask Li Youde for food. Even if the food robbery plan is implemented as soon as possible, it will take two or three days to solve the problem. It's not just the ninth squad, but the second company as well.
Hu Yi frowned in silence for a while, sorted out all the problems, and made a decision. He asked Ma Liang to go to Qingshan Village to find Lao Luo and his men, and asked them to take the bag of food and all the equipment given to them, and quickly go to the location where the Second Company was camping tonight to meet up with the Ninth Squad. He himself took the Ninth Squad and went to find the Second Company now, and met Gao Yidao first, in case he was transferred and could not be found.
…
When the Second Company was roasting the chicken, the Ninth Team left in disgrace. Later, the Second Company finished eating the chicken happily and prepared to have a good rest to relieve the fatigue of the past few days. In the middle of the night, the Ninth Team hurried back.
After identifying themselves with the guards stationed outside the Second Company, Luo Fugui, Xiao Hongying and the others returned to the fire where they left, relit it, and rested around it. Hu Yi walked alone to the Second Company's rest area a few dozen meters away, and in the eyes of surprise or contempt, he came to Gao Yidao, who was lying on his back beside the fire.
"Get up, follow me, I have something to say."
"Follow you? Who do you think you are? Just talk right here!" Gao Yidao didn't even move and continued to count the stars.
At this time, Hu Yi didn't want to argue with this guy, so he just answered with two words: "Robbery!"
… Gao Yidao was silent for a moment, then suddenly realized what was happening and sat up with a thud: “What did you say?”
Hu Yi didn't want too many people to know about Li Youde, so he glanced at the soldiers of the Second Company by the campfire and said to Gao Yidao again: "Let's talk alone."
Although there was a hostility between the two, through their many "friendly exchanges", both sides could see each other's true character and understand each other more deeply and thoroughly. There was no need for either side to be polite or to save face. They were naked with each other. No matter how deep the friendship was, it could not compare to this.
Public is public, private is private. Gao Yidao knew that Hu Yi would never make a fuss about such a thing, so he said to the soldiers who were resting by the campfire: "Hurry up and light another pile in the distance. Hurry!"
Hu Yi looked at the black face illuminated by the firelight and thought to himself that you are still good at putting on airs. It would certainly be more comfortable to talk by the campfire, so he sat down by the fire without hesitation.
"Are you talking about robbing food?" Gao Yidao asked immediately when the soldiers were far away.
"Forty thousand pounds." In order to allow Gao Yidao to get into the state as quickly as possible, Hu Yi reported the number first.
Gulu—Gao Yidao swallowed a mouthful of saliva and was stunned.
"We decide the departure time of the grain team, we can control the route, and we can also know the escort troops in advance."
"What? This... How is it possible?" Gao Yidao suspected that Hu Yi was talking in his sleep.
Hu Yi then briefly explained Li Youde's situation to Gao Yidao, and then added: "This is the situation. The ambush site must be set outside the area of Li Youde's responsibility. After the mission is accomplished, we will keep half and the other half will belong to him."
"Fuck him, this traitor just talked a little, we have to fight for our lives, and he dares to take half of it?"
Hu Yi picked up a branch and poked the charcoal fire in front of him, reminding Gao Yidao: "Keep your voice down. There's no point in saying this. Now think about what to do about this. Should we report to the political commissar or do it directly?"
"Except for the wounded soldiers in the first company, there is no one else in the regiment. What's the point of reporting but no reinforcements?" Gao Yidao and Hu Yi had the same idea. He paused for a moment and asked, "Do you know how many people are escorting the grain now?"
"According to Li Youde's guess, there will be 20 mule-drawn carts, a company of puppet soldiers responsible for driving and loading, and a small team of the Japanese to guard safety. When they come to get the food, we will be able to see them on the road in advance."
Gao Yidao couldn't help but sigh. It was not going to be easy. Fifty or sixty devils alone were a big problem. Adding a hundred puppet soldiers would make it even more difficult. However, even if he sighed, if he didn't fight in this situation, what else could he fight? The independent regiment was in imminent danger of running out of food. With 20,000 kilograms of food, he had to do it even if he couldn't. Even if the Second Company was exhausted, he had to do it!
Gritting his teeth, Gao Yidao forced out a word to Hu Yi: "Hit him!"
If the third company commander Hao Ping or the first company commander Wu Yan were here, they would not have made such a decision. If compared under normal circumstances, the combat effectiveness of a small team of Japanese soldiers is almost equal to that of two companies of the Eighth Route Army, not to mention that the other side also has a company of puppet troops. Would they not be brave enough to fight
Hu Yi also wanted to fight because he was forced by food shortage. If he didn't fight, they would all starve. However, his idea was slightly different from Gao Yidao's. Hu Yi's attitude was to fight and see how it went. If it didn't work, he would run away. He couldn't miss the opportunity.
At this point, the two people's strategic opinions were unified. The next issue was tactics. The first was command. Gao Yidao was the company commander, so he was in charge. However, the 9th squad was also a strange one. It was an independent squad, and the two sides were incompatible. If the regiment had given the task, Hu Yi would have no objection. However, this time, just like the time when they attacked the artillery tower, the two of them had come up with it privately. What should they do
Gao Yidao glared at Hu Yi for a while, knowing that the title of company commander would not be enough to suppress him. Fortunately, he had learned from the previous experience, so he did not need to bother with it this time. He said to Hu Yi, "Like last time, your squad 9 is considered a friendly force. I will make the plan. You have the right to propose amendments to the tasks assigned to you, or to act on your own accord. You do not need to worry about anything else."
To Gao Yidao's surprise, Hu Yi did not agree immediately this time, and just kept looking at the campfire without saying anything. Class 9 has autonomy, and from the perspective of Class 9, this is enough, but this time it is for food, which concerns the entire group. Hu Yi will not only consider the safety of Class 9, but also want to strive for success.
It was easy to capture the artillery tower at the beginning, but it will be difficult to rob the grain this time. Although we have the advantage of time and place, the serious lack of troops is our weak point. We must be careful and consider again and again. Can Gao Yidao handle it alone
After thinking it over carefully, Hu Yi raised his head and looked directly at Gao Yidao: "Okay, but I want to add one more condition."
"Tell me about it."
“I want to be involved in planning.”
"Are you getting ahead of yourself?" Gao Yidao thought to himself that if I can't say ten sentences to a bastard like you, you'll get scolded. Now this topic is semi-public and semi-private, so I can't indulge you anymore.
Gao Yidao's reaction was within Hu Yi's expectations. Being involved in the planning was equivalent to having half the command power. It would be strange if Gao Yidao agreed. So Hu Yi did not react to Gao Yidao's rude words and continued, "Listen, first, I am the only one who can contact Li Youde. If you disagree, we will part ways. I will go back to the regiment and let the political commissar come out to take charge of the situation. Second, you have to wait here for two or three days at a time. I can take care of the food and drink for your second company. If I am not there, I don't believe you will have much strength to work when you dig wild vegetables."
Hu Yi did not mention the matter of asking Ma Liang to bring Lao Luo and the others to fetch food, so Gao Yidao certainly didn't know about it. So after Hu Yi said this, Gao Yidao was filled with hatred but could do nothing about it.
"You said you still have food?"
"Yes, enough for all of us for two days."
"Then why are you hungry now?"
"You don't have to worry about this. Just tell me if it's okay, okay?"
Gao Yidao looked at Hu Yi fiercely, and hesitated to speak. Is it your turn to be on an equal footing with me? You are just a shitty squad leader, with only a few subordinates, and you are pretending to be a big shot in front of me. I won't accept it!
Seeing Gao Yidao's face flushed and his neck thick with silence, Hu Yi threw the branch in his hand into the campfire, patted the dust off his hands, stood up leisurely, and prepared to return to Class Nine.
"Stop!" Gao Yidao spoke in a stiff tone.
"Agreed?"
"Half agreed."
Hu Yi turned around in surprise and frowned at Gao Yidao. He really couldn't understand what this "agree halfway" meant.
"You will be the advisor." Gao Yidao was really unwilling to give up power to his mortal enemy Hu Yi, so he gave this answer in a hurry.
Hu Yi almost laughed. It was a pity that he could think of such a thing. A staff officer, at least at the regimental level, has the power of suggestion but no power of decision. Gao Yidao is really creative! It seems that this is Gao Yidao's bottom line. Hu Yi thought about it and decided that there was no need to be hypocritical. He would just be a staff officer and sat down again.
Thus, Hu Yi temporarily became the first company-level staff officer who was not legitimate; thus, Gao Yidao became the first company commander with a staff officer. A pair of bastards created a ridiculous thing...