ebookland Chapter 218: War breaks out, bravely aid compatriots
Chapter 218: War breaks out, bravely aid compatriots
The restaurant was bustling with activity, the air thick with the scent of alcohol. Huang Hu said, "Brother Lei, don't worry! We'll definitely remember this rule and won't let anything go wrong."
Li Shuiyang sat in the corner, leaning forward slightly, and said in a low but firm voice: "Brother Lei, I will try my best to remember it, and promise not to hold anyone back." His voice was not loud, but every word was clear, and his thin body seemed to contain endless strength.
Lei Tao looked at his team members with satisfaction, his eyes sweeping over each one. He slowly said, "We're a team. As long as we work together and strictly abide by the rules, no difficulty can defeat us. Come, everyone, have another toast. I wish our business will continue to prosper!" As he spoke, he raised his glass with an expectant smile on his face. Everyone responded, and the glasses clinked together with a crisp sound. Then everyone raised their heads and drank the wine in one gulp. The spicy wine flowed down their throats, seemingly igniting everyone's fighting spirit, preparing them to face the difficult "business" behind enemy lines.
After three rounds of drinks, everyone's faces flushed with alcohol, chatting and laughing cheerfully. Suddenly, a sudden burst of gunfire echoed faintly from the distant street. The sound of gunfire was particularly piercing in the silent night, instantly shattering the lively atmosphere of the restaurant. Everyone fell silent, as if under a spell, their eyes filled with vigilance. Some unconsciously clenched their fists, while others stopped their movements. The only sound echoing throughout the restaurant was the approaching gunshots.
As time went on, the sound of gunfire not only didn't diminish, but became clearer, steadily approaching the restaurant they were in. Each gunshot was like a sledgehammer hitting everyone's heart.
Lei Tao's expression froze, and he quickly put down his wine glass and whispered, "Don't panic, everyone. Listen to my instructions." He winked at Liu Zishan, who was closest to the door. Liu Zishan understood instantly, turned around and walked out of the private room, closing the door gently but quickly. Then he stood guard outside the door like a statue, vigilantly watching the movements around him.
Lei Tao quietly walked to the window and reached into his coat to fiddle with it. When everyone saw him take his hand out of his coat again, he had an exquisite mini telescope in his hand. He raised the telescope and squinted his eyes to peek out through the crack of the window. There were shadowy figures on the street, and people were running around in panic, raising a cloud of dust. Some people hugged their heads and ran desperately into the depths of the alley; some people fell to the ground, struggled to get up and continue running. The whole street was in chaos, and at the center of the chaos was a fierce chase.
The day before, a carefully selected elite task force from the Independent Regiment of the 386th Brigade of the 129th Division of the Eighth Route Army had disguised themselves as ordinary civilians and escorted a group of enthusiastic and progressive young people to a certain anti-Japanese military academy. Pingyi County, the gateway to the academy, was a crucial point, and they had originally planned to pass through it quietly. However, fate was full of twists and turns. That afternoon, as these progressive young people passed through Pingyi County in batches, several female university students in the group, their youthful beauty making them stand out from the crowd, were targeted by a detective squad composed of traitors. These traitors, who had earned wealth and fame by currying favor with their Japanese masters, hurriedly reported their discovery to the Japanese second lieutenant on duty at the gate.
The two Eighth Route Army soldiers escorting the female university students were incredibly alert and quickly noticed something was amiss. Knowing the situation was critical, they quickly took these progressive young people into hiding in the county town's maze of alleyways. But the Japanese and the traitors wouldn't give up. Like wolves scenting blood, they scoured the streets, searching for them. The gunfire was the result of the female students being discovered, and the task force had no choice but to shoot the Japanese soldiers to cover their escape.
Through his telescope, Lei Tao saw two young men, armed with Mauser 20-shooter pistols, firing intermittently at the Japanese soldiers pursuing them. Their movements were skillful and decisive, each shot accompanied by a roar, as if venting their rage on the enemy. Under their cover, seven young women in the uniforms of a girls' school, carrying wicker suitcases, hurriedly fled the streets. Their faces were filled with fear, their hair disheveled by the wind, but their eyes shone with determination. One woman even carried a box resembling a medicine chest, and despite their breathless run, she never let go of the box.
Lei Tao was extremely anxious and knew that he could no longer sit idly by. He turned around and said to everyone, "Wait here." After that, he quickly went out.
Lei Tao went to a secluded corner of the restaurant, checked for occupants, and opened his Bagua spinning space. A strange light shone from it, and soon he pulled out two sacks, one large and one small. One was filled with bulletproof vests and skull masks, the other with a pistol and magazines loaded with armor-piercing rounds. He also had a briefcase filled with 35 M1 grenades.
Lei Tao took a breath, gathered his thoughts, and after confirming everything was correct, he lifted two sacks in each hand and clamped the box containing the grenade between his arms. His arm muscles were tense, beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, and his steps were slightly heavy. He laboriously carried the two sacks back to the stairs of the private room and called Liu Zishan for help, carrying the sack containing the bulletproof vest into the private room.
After closing the door, Lei Tao said seriously, "I originally planned to equip everyone with these supplies before the next operation, but now it seems that they will have to be used beforehand." He asked Liu Zishan to open the sack of bulletproof vests and continued, "This is a good thing to save your life on the battlefield. Bulletproof vests, one for each person, put them on quickly."
The team members came forward to receive their bulletproof vests, moving quickly and in an orderly manner. Some couldn't wait to put them on, pulling them hard to test the size, while others carefully examined every detail of the vest to ensure there were no problems.
After distributing the bulletproof vests, Lei Tao opened the sack in his hand and said, "These are Colt M1911 pistols. Each pistol comes with five magazines filled with armor-piercing ammunition, one for each person." He then distributed the pistols and magazines to the team members one by one. The team members took the pistols, their eyes filled with excitement and anticipation, and began to examine their weapons. Some pulled the bolt to listen; others weighed the guns...
Then, Lei Tao opened the briefcase filled with 35 M1 grenades and said, "Everyone has used this thing, five for each person." As he spoke, he began to distribute grenades to the team members.
Huang Hu couldn't wait to pick up a grenade, weighed it in his hand, and grinned: "Brother Lei, this thing is so powerful. With it, no matter how many Japanese come, we can blow them to the sky!" His laughter was full of heroism.
Li Shuiyang carefully took the grenade, looked at it carefully, and said softly: "With these equipment, our chances of saving people this time are much greater." His eyes were full of excitement.
At this moment, Lei Tao remembered something, his eyes suddenly brightened, and he reached into the sack containing the bulletproof vests again. He fumbled inside for a while, sinking his arm deep into the sack, and finally pulled out a stack of neatly stacked skull masks. The material of the masks felt a little rough, and the surface seemed to be coated with a special layer of paint. Under the dim light, the pale color exuded a cold aura, and the empty eye sockets and grinning mouth...
Lei Tao handed the masks to the team members one by one, his expression solemn. His gaze lingered on each person's face for a moment, and he said, "After we leave the restaurant, wear these masks when we take action. We want to let the Japanese see what fear is. On the battlefield, psychological warfare is equally important. When they see a group of people wearing skull masks coming towards them, they will inevitably be frightened and panic. This can create more combat advantages for us."
Huang Hu eagerly took the mask and examined it carefully. He rubbed his hands excitedly and grinned, "Brother Lei, this thing is incredible! When the Japanese see us, their legs will probably go limp and they won't even have time to shoot."
Lei Tao frowned slightly, his tone becoming serious: "Huang Hu, don't get too excited. Let me emphasize again: judging by their attire and behavior, they are Eighth Route Army soldiers and progressive female students, both of whom we must protect.
He paused slightly, then raised his voice and continued, "When you put on this mask, don't let it get you started by trying to show off or rushing around and hitting people. That way, you'll miss out on saving lives."
Huang Hu scratched his head, a bit embarrassed, but his chest thumped loudly: "Brother Lei, I understand. I didn't think it through before. Don't worry, this time I will definitely put saving people first and will not hold you back."
Lei Tao nodded and said seriously, "Everyone, listen carefully. These weapons can give us a greater advantage in battle, but we must not take them lightly. Grenades are extremely powerful. When using them, you must choose the right time to ensure that they can be used to the greatest extent possible. At the same time, you must also pay attention to your own safety."
The team members nodded to show that they understood.
Then, he looked at Hu Hansi, Shuiniu, and Huang Hu and said, "Hansi, you, Shuiniu, and Huang Hu go out the back door of the restaurant and go around behind the Japanese. First, attack them hard from behind and make them split up to chase you. When you lead them into a long and narrow alley, use grenades to blow up these damn bastards. Remember, be careful and don't fight too long. You can handle the details yourself. Pay attention to safety..."