At five o'clock the next evening, a group of common fur merchants from the north, with more than a dozen people, rode their horses and walked towards the Lama Temple from a distance. When they arrived outside the temple, the team stopped on the road and did not approach immediately.

In the dark twilight, it was seen that the leader of the horse team was a burly man wearing a leather hat and sent his subordinates to explore the way. The man walked to the gate of the Lama Temple, went in, and ran back soon, saying that a group of local garrison troops were already waiting as promised.

The leader looked forward, and sure enough, he saw an officer wearing a local garrison uniform coming out of the door, smiling and leading the people behind him to strode towards him.

"You are not Staff Officer Zhou! You promised to meet him! Where are others?"

The team leader signaled his subordinates not to get close. Before he finished speaking, his face changed and he suddenly shouted: "No! Go quickly!"

A person quickly poured out from behind the door of the Lama Temple, fired, and the two sides fought. The leader was the target of greeting and could not escape at all. He didn't retreat very far. Soon, he was shot in the back and was beaten like a hornet's nest. The man fell off the horse's back.

The officer rushed up, turned the person over from the ground, looked at his face, and shouted: "It's not Lian Liuchang!"

A moment ago, although Lian Liuchang arrived, out of caution, he did not immediately go to Lama Temple to meet people as promised. Instead, he sent a subordinate who was somewhat similar to his body to explore the way first. The person stopped on a high ground on the river beach several miles away from Lama Temple, observing from a high place. When he heard the gunshots, he knew something was wrong. He cursed and immediately took the people around him to retreat.

Ding Chunshan received the whereabouts of Lian Liuchang and his group from the secret spies along the road. He was the one who he guarded himself, so he could not escape. He had been following him far away and ambushed around him. When the group of people hurriedly descended to the high ground and retreated to the low-lying river beach, which was conducive to encirclement and annihilation, he immediately showed up and shot with his men.

Even Liu Chang found that he had fallen into the siege. After a brief fury, under the protection of his confidants, the man lay on the horse's back and fled, and then threw bombs one after another. With a loud bang, he finally rushed out of the surrounding depression, escaped from the fire circle, and rushed onto the road.

His confidant was still blocking the firepower for him, and the rest were either beaten to death or escaped. There was no one around him.

Behind him, the bullets shot were still whizzing through his ears. Fortunately, he was riding with great difficulty and had survived several times before. He remained calm in the face of danger and always firmly controlled the horse under him. The man lay on the back of the horse, flew and turned around, shot the last bullet in the gun and chased the nearest person, then calmed down and looked around quickly.

The dusk was heavy, and the sky was about to get dark, and I could no longer see the distance. But I observed a scattered forest on the side of the wilderness.

As long as you escape, it will be an excellent hiding place. When it gets completely dark, there will be a chance to escape.

He immediately made a decision, dismounted, and hit the horse hard with the empty gun in his hand, causing the horse to continue running forward. Then, he held the leg that had been shot in the chaos, and stumbled into the underground road under the cover of twilight and fled towards the forest.

Sure enough, the group of people who surrounded and annihilated themselves just now chased the wrong direction and chased them in the direction of the horse's escape.

Lian Liuchang was excited and continued to run wildly. He was about to run, but suddenly, his steps stopped.

In front of the forest, there was the shallow that had just been bent from the high ground.

In the heavy twilight that enveloped the fields, from the direction of the horizon diagonally opposite, along the rocky road beside the beach, the shadow of a car appeared, galloping, as if in the blink of an eye, roaring, driving closer, stopping, crossing his way in front of him, blocking his way.

The car door was pushed open from the inside. He saw a young man wearing a top hat getting out of the car and walked towards him.

The dusk mist was deep, and the man's figure was like a thin sword, bringing the shadow of death.

Even Liu Chang gasped heavily, stayed in place, staring at the person who was getting closer and closer to each other. When he saw the person's face clearly, the shadow of death also quickly descended and covered his eye mask.

Soon, he dragged his injured leg and stepped forward, stumbled towards the other party.

"He Hanzhu, I know we were not in harmony before, and I have also stumbling on you, but, in his position, he has no control over himself, you are a person, I don't believe you don't have such a stubbornness. Tell me, how can you let me go, I can pay for as much money, one million? two million? As long as you speak! Not only that, if you look down on me, we can also abandon past grudges and work together to do big things! Only the benefits in this world are real, and everything else is false! I advise you to consider your future. Wang Xiaokun can deal with me like this today, and he can deal with you like this in the future..."

His voice came to an abrupt end.

He Hanzhu slowly raised the gun in his hand, aimed the black muzzle at his forehead, and without saying a word, he pulled the trigger.

With a "bang", dirty blood gushed out from the forehead hole that was exploded by the bullets and splashed around.

Lian Liu Chang's body leaned back and fell to the ground with a bang, dying from anger.

He Hanzhu stood in the vast dusk mist. After a moment, he took out a handkerchief, wiped the blood on his face, lowered his head, and slowly wiped the muzzle.

Ding Chunshan came with his men, looked at the corpse on the ground, and looked ashamed: "Commander, I--"

He Hanzhu waved his hand, put away his gun, and asked about the situation at the Lama Temple.

Ding Chunshan immediately reported that the operation was over. He also said that when his subordinates entered the temple, they found dozens of women locked up in a cave in the back temple. They were not covered with clothes. There were girls in their 16 or 17 years old, and women in their 20s and 30s. After interrogation, they were all wives and daughters from nearby tenant farmers' homes. They were forcibly robbed here because they could not pay the rent rent and were locked up here, and they had long been dedicated to the lama's lust.

"Commander, what should I do? The lama also has more than a dozen guns in his hand. When his subordinates entered, they probably realized something was wrong and actually fired, exchanged the fire, and injured a brother."

"The woman was released. All the lamas who resisted were shot on the spot, and no one was left behind!"

He Hanzhu looked at the shadow of the Lama Temple in the distance and said.

It was getting dark, and Shang Yipeng, the commander of the Rehe garrison, arrived at Mujiayingzi as planned, waiting for Zhou Yun's return. He heard a commotion outside and was about to go out to check the truth. The adjutant rushed in and shouted, "Commander, it's not good! It seems that something happened, there is a fire in the Lama Temple!"

Shang Yipeng was shocked and ran out of the barracks, climbed up to the observation deck, took his glasses, looked at the firelight in the distance, and after looking for a while, he sent someone to immediately go to Lama Temple to check the truth. Soon, the battalion commander of Mujiayingzi hurried in and reported that even Liu Chang's men were attacked by a group of people outside the Lama Temple, and there were heavy casualties. Even Liu Chang escaped, and his whereabouts were unknown. The Lama Temple was also burned by the fire by those people.

Shang Yipeng was furious and asked the group what origins were. He asked where Master Zhou Yun had gone and why there was no news yet.

The battalion commander hesitated, as if he was afraid to speak.

"explain!"

The battalion commander hurriedly said, "One of his subordinates ran back just now and said it was done by He Hanzhu's people. In charge of staff officer Zhou... He was arrested and had no choice but to surrender..."

Shang Yipeng was furious and took out his gun, ordered the gathering of people and chased him immediately.

The battalion commander was busy summoning soldiers.

Shang Yipeng was quite strict in governing the army and often trained soldiers. Soon, hundreds of troops in the camp were integrated, and the battalion commander ran away and asked Shang Yipeng to issue an order.

But Shang Yipeng stopped talking, staring at the burning flames in the distance that almost reflected the red light of half of the night sky, hesitating.

All the hundreds of people in the camp were watching him.

"Report—" A sentry rushed in, breaking the silence.

"Report to the commander! Someone came outside and claimed to be He Hanzhu, saying that he wanted to meet you in front of the commander!"

The soldiers were surprised and turned their heads to look at the direction of the barracks gate and whispered.

Shang Yipeng was stunned at first, and soon, his eyes flashed slightly, and he said, "Bring him in!"

He Hanzhu asked Ding Chunshan and others to wait outside, and let the other party take his gun, step forward, and walked into Shang Yipeng's barracks under the silent stare of hundreds of local soldiers. As soon as he entered, several personal soldiers rushed up and pointed their guns at him.

He Hanzhu stopped and looked at the person sitting opposite him.

Shang Yipeng sat upright with a square face and wide forehead, looking at him.

He Hanzhu raised his hand and pushed the pole that was pressed against his chest away, continued walking over, sat down without any invitation, took a tea cup from the table, picked up a pot and poured tea himself, and said, "But I haven't seen you for two years, Commander Shang's way of hospitality is too grand."

Shang Yipeng said coldly: "He Hanzhu, this is my business with Wang Xiaokun. I would like to advise you not to interfere."

He Hanzhu took a sip of tea and said with a smile: "The thing that President Wang is mine, don't you know? Besides, I've already inserted my hand, and your advice is too late."

He put down the teacup, took out a strip wrapped in cloth from his pocket and threw it onto the table.

Shang Yipeng shook open, and a thumb with a lettering ring suddenly rolled out from the strip of cloth. The broken root was covered with blood. He was shocked and jumped up suddenly.

"You killed Lian Liuchang?"

He Hanzhu's smile disappeared and he said coldly: "Collecting the Japanese and trying to build a country in Kansai is his best end!"

Shang Yipeng gritted his teeth and said, "He Hanzhu, do you think I really don't dare to kill you?"

He Hanzhu leaned against the chair, glanced at him and rushed up to hold the gun at his soldiers, slowly raised his eyebrows, stared at Shang Yipeng's eyes, and said, "I bet you don't dare. If you really dare to tear your face now, half a month ago, it wouldn't be as simple as detaining President Wang's person."

Shang Yipeng's corners of his eyes kept twitching, and after a moment, he slowly raised his hand and whipped it.

The soldiers collected their guns and retreated one after another.

He Hanzhu looked at the broken finger on the table and said, "Since you are swaying, I will help you make up your mind. Even if Liu Chang dies, he dies on your territory, as the lessons of the past, if you don't know what to do or what to do, what to wait for you, the pressure from the Guanxi Army and General Wang is putting on both sides. Ask yourself, do you have the ability to fight with both hands?"

Shang Yipeng gritted his teeth and said, "Is it Wang Xiaokun who sent you to negotiate?"

"It's not a negotiation, it's a way to stop the horse and give you a last chance."

The surroundings became quiet, and He Hanzhu stared at Shang Yipeng with a blue face and said, "But, Commander Shang, I said bluntly. Even if you don't have the intention of President Wang, personally, I don't want to see you go astray because of a momentary aura. I know that you are from a poor peasant boy, and you have nothing. Over the past few decades, you have won the blood in your eyes and kill people like numb, but which one is not a life-threatening death? Who will be easier?"

"Although we had no close friendship in the past, I still admire you. I know that you have some restraints on soldiers. As for Lian Liuchang's people, what kind of soldiers? They are just bandits. A few years ago, when local wars were fought, they openly pulled the women from the people into trenches, which was notorious. You wouldn't know? Besides, now they are colluding with the Japanese. Are you really willing to join such troops?"

Shang Yipeng turned his back and was silent.

He Hanzhu stopped talking, picked up the teacup and drank tea.

After a moment, Shang Yipeng turned around suddenly.

"Commander He, I am grateful for your high regard for me, but to be honest, Wang Xiaokun, I can't believe it! I am not a direct descendant. When he fought, he brought me people in front of him. There is no good thing, and it is not my turn to raise the military pay. Now this land has been scraped three feet away. If you add taxes, the people cannot survive. If you take care of the people, the soldiers will not be able to pay the money and make trouble!"

"I'm just doing this, I'm just protecting myself! Besides, I've offended Wang Xiaokun now. Even if I surrender again, I don't believe that he will have no grudges against me. Maybe he will kill me again!"

He walked to He Hanzhu.

"Commander He, I know you, although you are not old, but I am more willing to believe you than Wang Xiaokun. Since you are here to be a lobbyist today, I can give you this face, but I want you to give me a word. If I surrender, Wang Xiaokun will not be able to touch me."

"As long as you say it's okay, I'll let go of the person I detained last time!"

He stared at He Hanzhu, and said word by word.

Nearly an hour passed.

Ding Chunshan, who was waiting outside, saw that people had been in for so long, still had not come out. He couldn't help but feel anxious and wandered outside the gate of the barracks. In the end, he couldn't help but step in and was blocked by the soldiers at the door.

Ding Chunshan held the soldiers firmly with his backhand, and put his gun on his head. He was about to go in as a hostage, but suddenly he saw a figure walking out of the depths of the barracks. As if he was entering, he recognized He Hanzhu. He breathed a sigh of relief and let out the soldier who was calling in his hand and continued to wait at the door.

He Hanzhu walked out of the barracks gate.

Ding Chunshan ran over and opened the car door for him.

He walked to the car, stopped, looked at the raging fire in the night sky in the distance again, focused for a moment, turned around and looked at the dark night sky far southwest.

Under that night sky is where she is.

Almost a week ago, she made an appointment with him and said she would be waiting for him there.

He also promised her that he would go back before the end of the year and spend the New Year with her to celebrate the New Year.

He quickly withdrew his gaze, bent down and got into the car, and disappeared into the night under the gaze of the local soldiers behind him.
To be continued...