The Mysterious Soldier of the Anti-Japanese War

Chapter 110 The Japanese pirates have returned again, and the world will not tolerate them

Lei Tao followed the group towards the tribe, observing his surroundings along the way. The area was surrounded by dense forests, with faint traces of ancient architectural ruins and stone tablets inscribed with strange symbols.

After arriving at the tribal camp, Lei Tao discovered that the people here lived a simple and orderly life. The wooden houses were scattered in an orderly manner, with a large campfire in the middle. The men, women, and children of the tribe gathered around curiously, their eyes full of vigilance and curiosity.

The old man led Lei Tao to a larger wooden house, motioned him to wait outside, and then went inside to discuss matters with the elders of the clan. Lei Tao could hear the faint sound of discussion coming from inside the house, but he couldn't make out the specifics.

After a while, the old man emerged, followed by several solemn elders. One of them spoke, "Outsider, we don't know where you come from, but this place holds a grave secret, and we can't let you leave easily. You must remain in the tribe for a while until we are certain you have no ill intentions."

He stepped forward and addressed the elders, "Everyone, I understand your concerns, but I must inform you that a team of Japanese special agents is tracking me through this mountain jungle. Even if I stay, they'll most likely find their way here. Given their inherent greed, if they discover the existence of the General's Tomb, there will be no peace! We cannot let the secrets of the General's Tomb become their treacherous trophies. So, either let me go, and I'll lead them away from this area; or I'll work with you to prepare for defense and keep them out at all costs."

After hearing this, the elders all showed determination on their faces. One of the elders clenched his fists and said, "The Japanese pirates have made a comeback again. Heaven and earth will not tolerate this! But let's decide after the divination results before making any plans." After that, several elders turned solemnly and walked towards the ancient stone house in the center of the tribe.

The crowd filed into the room, dimly lit except for a circular stone table in the center, which shone faintly. The table was engraved with ancient and complex runes. The elders gathered around the stone table. A white-haired man retrieved an exquisite tortoise shell and a handful of dried yarrow from a wooden cabinet in the corner. He held the shell and yarrow in his hands and slowly walked toward the stone table, muttering something in a deep, hoarse voice, as if he were conversing with an ancient deity.

The old man then gently placed the tortoise shell on the stone platform and carefully arranged the yarrow in his hands before beginning the divination ritual. He first pulled out a yarrow blade and placed it on one side of the tortoise shell. He then waved the remaining yarrow blades in his hands, causing them to fly through the air. He then randomly picked up some and placed them on the other side of the tortoise shell. He repeated this process several times, each movement so solemn that the air around him seemed to freeze.

The other elders watched the old man's every move intently, their eyes filled with awe and anticipation. As he continued to manipulate the yarrow, a strange arrangement gradually emerged on the stone platform. The old man stared at it all, his brow furrowed slightly, and he pondered for a long time. The room was silent, only the soft breathing of the people could be heard.

Finally, the old man raised his head and slowly spoke, "Although the divination is obscure and difficult to understand, it seems to carry a warning and a sign of a turning point. It seems that this battle is a test of fate for us. Although it is surrounded by dangers, there is still a possibility of success. We should follow the will of heaven and fight against the Japanese pirates together with these young outsiders."

After hearing the divination results, the elders exchanged firm glances with each other, and then said to Lei Tao in unison: "Outsider, we are willing to fight alongside you to protect the general's tomb." A warm current surged in Lei Tao's heart, and he saluted the elders with his fists to express his gratitude.

Lei Tao learned from his conversations with the tribe that most of the men, women, and children in the tomb-guarding tribe possessed the Qi Family Army's "Xinyou Sword Technique," a technique passed down from generation to generation, as well as excellent archery skills. Some elders were also proficient in Mohist mechanical techniques. Lei Tao's eyes lit up, and he began to formulate a battle plan that combined the strengths of everyone involved.

During his spare time preparing for war, Lei Tao discovered that the tribe's existing crossbows were limited, and some were quite old. He decided to teach the Tomb Guards how to make crossbows using local materials. He led the young men of the tribe through the forests to search for suitable wood, selecting tough and flexible branches. He explained how to bend the wood into shape to create the bow shaft. He also used rattan to weave the bowstring and demonstrated how to reinforce the bow shaft with processed animal tendons. Regarding crossbow construction, Lei Tao used stone to polish key components and taught everyone how to assemble the crossbow mechanism, using sharpened wooden sticks as crossbow arrows. He emphasized the importance of matching the length and weight of the arrow with the crossbow's draw weight to ensure accurate and powerful shots.

He asked the tribesmen who were good at archery to ambush on a high place behind the fortifications, and ordered: "Your archery is accurate. When the Japanese army approaches, you must shoot their vanguard first and disrupt their formation." He also said to the tribesmen who were proficient in the Qi family swordsmanship: "You are at the front of the fortifications. When the enemy approaches, use your sharp swordsmanship to fight them in close combat. Don't be afraid." Lei Tao turned to face the old man who was proficient in Mohist mechanical techniques, and asked respectfully: "Senior, your mechanical techniques will surely help us. I wonder if you can set up some hidden mechanisms on the road that the Japanese army must pass?" The old man stroked his beard and nodded, and took several young people to act quickly. They cleverly arranged trigger-type crossbow mechanisms and pits on the path in the woods. The bottom of the pit was full of sharp wooden stakes.

In the days that followed, the tribe sprang into action. Under Lei Tao's guidance, the men reinforced their traps and constructed more sophisticated fortifications, taking advantage of the forest's concealment. The women busied themselves preparing rations, herbs, and other supplies. The children also worked tirelessly, carrying messages throughout the tribe. Lei Tao meticulously taught the warriors his familiarity with the Japanese military's combat methods and countermeasures. Day and night drills kept morale high.

However, time passed quickly, and the Japanese army's tracks gradually approached. It turned out that the Japanese army, led by a special agent team and about half an infantry squadron, followed some subtle clues inadvertently left by Lei Tao while traveling through the jungle, and slowly found the outer edge of the Bagua formation jungle in front of the general's mausoleum.

Kazuya Uesugami gazed at the dense and mysterious jungle before him. Although he harbored doubts, he vowed to capture the "Ghost Assassin" and "make him reckless." He waved his hand, signaling his troops to advance. Shortly after entering the jungle, several soldiers triggered the Mohist mechanism, sending crossbow arrows raining down like raindrops. In an instant, several Japanese soldiers screamed and fell to the ground. Kazuya Uesugami's face changed, and he shouted at his soldiers to be cautious. In the panic, several more fell into the pit and were impaled by the sharp wooden stakes, leaving them in a bloody mess. At this time, the tribe's archers also began to shoot, throwing the Japanese troops into disarray. But Kazuya Uesugami quickly calmed himself and organized a firepower counterattack. With their sophisticated equipment, the special forces team gradually stabilized the situation and began to advance towards the tribe's fortifications. Lei Tao, observing the aggressive enemy, knew that a fierce battle was inevitable. He gripped his gun tightly...