Chapter 5: Zuizi Mountain

Looking at the few of them, I could only brace myself and continue speaking: "Have you heard about the fire at Zhao's Building? That was done by us. Originally, I was assigned to set the fire that day, but my nephew misheard and thought it was Cao's Building, so he led people to set fire to Manager Cao's house across the street. This time, over two thousand students were arrested during the student movement, but they were all released, and my nephew was wanted, accused of arson. There was really no way out, so I had to borrow a few dollars from my classmates to make my escape... This time, over two thousand students were arrested during the student movement, but they were all released, and my nephew was wanted, accused of arson. There was really no way out, so I had to borrow a few dollars from my classmates to make my escape..."

Shen Liancheng turned to glance at me, signaling me to refrain from continuing. Noticing that the soldiers were not paying attention to us, he then spoke in a voice as faint as a mosquito's: "Don't make a fuss, let things be. May the heavens bless us; once we reach the frog's mouth, it will be no concern of ours."

Hearing the words of the adjutant, the three of us were also pushed and shoved by the soldiers as we were hurried off the truck. It was only then that we saw at the foot of the already visible Maizi Mountain, where five or six soldiers were carrying a cylindrical Maxim heavy machine gun down from the truck.

Seeing the grim expression on Captain Lang's face, Shen Liancheng hurriedly squeezed out from the crowd. He quickly walked up to Captain Lang, wearing a smile, and said: "I am Shen Liancheng, honored by the villagers to serve as the head of this village. Captain Lang, your mission to eliminate bandits is also for the sake of our fortress's common people, to prevent the bandits from causing harm. Not to mention that you are offering compensation; even if you were not to give a single cent, sending two people to guide the army is a rightful duty. However, since you are not from the local area, you may not be aware of the dangers of the 'Frog's Mouth'..."

The visible bayonet is far more intimidating than an invisible bullet. At this moment, the timid women and children have already been frightened to tears. Shen Liancheng hurriedly stepped in front of Commander Lang and said: "Commander Lang, please calm down... The villagers have never seen the world, so if there is anything, direct it at me. This way, there is no need to look for others. I earned these thirty dollars, and I also grew up on Zui Zi Mountain. Last year, when the old chief sent someone to draw the map, I was the one who took them up there. I earned these thirty dollars, and I also grew up on Zui Zi Mountain. Last year, when the old chief sent someone to draw the map, I was the one who took them up there. The ghostly disturbances at the Toad's Mouth, no one dared to go up there, yet it was I who led people up. If you don't believe me, just ask around; everyone in the fortress knows."

It was only after the fact that I learned this batch of Maxim guns was smuggled from the United States at a high price by Zhang Zuolin, the governor of Fengtian. The original intention was to test the firepower in several main regiments, with the aim of eventually replacing the Japanese-made machine guns. Colonel Lang's ragtag unit was not originally entitled to such treatment; it was only through the connections of Chief of Staff Yang Yuting that a single gun was allocated to Colonel Lang to enhance his unit's appearance.

Shen Liancheng was dressed meticulously, clearly not someone who was short of thirty dollars. However, seeing the villagers across from him who were so frightened they could hardly speak, Captain Lang could only nod. After glancing at the half-aged old man in front of him, Captain Lang reinserted his pistol into its holster. He then said to Shen Liancheng: "You alone won't do; if you let the bandits shoot, do I have to come down again to find a guide? You go, find someone else in your fortress. Gather a pair..."

The strong man tucked his hands into his sleeves, bowed slightly to Captain Lang, and said slowly: "My name is Zhao Deyin, and the old and young folks inside the fortress all call me Zhao Laonian. I am more familiar with the toad's mouth than Uncle Shen, but I do not want silver dollars. After coming down, you must give me a big gun... and also thirty bullets."

Not knowing it was Lord Shen, even Captain Lang, who had come over to listen, was somewhat surprised. He also began to inquire what kind of catastrophic disaster I had caused.

Just as Shen Liancheng finished speaking, the truck suddenly came to a stop. Then, a voice from the front truck called out: "We have arrived, everyone get down... and be sure to bring down the precious machine gun. This is a treasure given to our regiment by the commander, so be careful with it... If you damage it, watch out for the consequences!"

At the last moment, Captain Lang suddenly turned hostile and let out a loud roar. Soon, it was evident that almost all the soldiers had fixed their bayonets, the gleaming blades pointed at the already trembling villagers. Observing the villagers shivering in fear, Captain Lang sneered and continued, "If it is because of you poor wretches that I am to be disrespected, I will save a bullet and use my bayonet to skewer all of you."

However, Chief of Staff Yang was somewhat uneasy, worried that Lang's subordinates might sell the Maxim gun to the bandits in the mountains. He repeatedly cautioned, "Old Lang, this Maxim gun is no joke. You must keep a close watch on it for me. If it falls into the hands of those bandits, not only you, but even I, as the Chief of Staff, will face serious consequences."

While speaking, Zhao Laonian cast a somewhat envious glance at the Liao-made Type 13 rifle lying in front of him. The old shotgun he had hidden inside his leather coat had long since worn down its rifling, causing the bullets to tumble out when fired. Unable to rely on firearms, he had recently taken to carrying a bow and arrow when hunting in the mountains

After seeing these soldiers getting off the vehicle one after another, carrying shovels and pickaxes, I moved closer to Shen Liancheng and whispered in his ear: "Uncle, with all this equipment, it doesn't look like they are here to catch bandits. Besides, what kind of place is Frog Mouth? Which gang would dare to set up a den right under the nose of the King of Hell..."

I realized that I could no longer hide the truth, so I lowered my head and briefly recounted the matter of my being wanted in just a few words

"You little brat! I see you are pitiful, having no father or mother, and yet you were adopted and even supported to study at a foreign school in Beiping. Is this how you repay your uncle? You have brought shame to the old Shen family! Enough is enough... Today, I will beat you to death, you little brat..." As he spoke, Shen Liancheng lunged at me, grabbing and clawing.

Listening to Shen Liancheng's fluent bureaucratic language, he spoke with such eloquence that he was more articulate than the local county magistrate. The regiment commander did not dare to underestimate him; after sizing up Shen Liancheng a few times, he waved his hand to interrupt Shen's words and said with a glare: "Stop with the useless talk. You need to find two people who are familiar with the Frog Mouth area to act as guides immediately. If we can capture the bandits this time, I will reward each of them with thirty dollars, and I will also give one dollar to every household in your fortress! But if you refuse to accept this offer, then we will resort to using bayonets on everyone!"

During the time in Beiping, the Beiyang government, in order to suppress the student movement, once brought out this large weapon. However, they ultimately did not dare to open fire on the students, but instead fired more than one hundred shots into an empty area. At that time, I was right beside it and witnessed a whole wall being instantly brought down, and a tree that four or five people could embrace was also broken in half. Later, I learned that this iron weapon was the famous Maxim machine gun from the European War, and the sound of its gunfire, which resembled cannon fire, still lingers in my ears to this day.

Shen Liancheng was taken aback by my words, and immediately widened his eyes and said: "Isn't it said that the law does not hold the masses accountable? Tens of thousands of students are protesting, and they are after you?"

"Do not make it difficult for Lord Shen, count me in as well," before Captain Lang could finish speaking, a sturdy man dressed in a tattered leather coat stepped out from the crowd. The man had barely taken a few steps when he was stopped by a soldier with a bayonet. Upon seeing this person, Shen Liancheng hurriedly introduced him to Captain Lang: "This is our hunter from Shenjiabao, the only one brave enough to wander near the toad's mouth in the entire fortress. Old Nianba, tell Captain Lang yourself, what is your surname and name."

"As long as we can catch the bandits, I will give you one hundred rounds of ammunition to shoot birds with." Commander Lang waved his hand, signaling the soldiers to bring Zhao Laonian over. After stuffing him and Shen Liancheng into the truck, Commander Lang left two soldiers to watch over the villagers, and then drove with the main force towards the foot of Mount Zuizi.

Not long after setting off, the truck suddenly came to a halt, followed by the sound of the officer's curses. Through the gap in the truck compartment, Shen Liancheng saw that I had been captured by the soldiers. Without a second thought, he jumped down from the vehicle to rescue me. This is the account of what happened in the past

At present, Captain Lang guaranteed the safety of his entire family, which alleviated Yang Yuting's concerns. However, from that point on, Captain Lang had to bring this cumbersome fellow with him wherever he went. Even this time when entering the mountains, he did not forget to have the soldiers carry this heavy machine gun up the mountain

At this moment, Shen Liancheng also recalled my return from Beiping. Watching the soldiers transport supplies, he continued, "Kid, this is neither a festival nor a holiday. How can you just come back? You didn't cause any trouble in Beiping, did you? When you were in school, I specifically warned you, if you dare to visit brothels, gamble, or smoke opium in Beiping, I will break your legs..."

Seeing me run away in fright, Shen Liancheng glanced around and said to the onlooking Commander Lang, "Sir, I must apologize for the disturbance. Today, I must kill this little beast. Please lend me your gun; I will return it to you after I have shot him..." As Shen Liancheng spoke, he reached for the gun in Commander Lang's holster.