Chapter 7: Eliminating Bandits

  Gao Yang leaned back on the sofa and blew out a smoke ring, looking at Lu Ge and saying "What are you worried about? Afraid I won't have enough money to pay the balance?"

  Lu Ge muttered to himself, "This is exactly what I'm afraid of. You're so impulsive and only paid a quarter of the money after everything was done. At your age, how can you still be so reckless?" But he said aloud, "No problem, Mr. Gao's financial resources are something I trust very much."

  Gao Yang laughed and said to Ruger, "You're really funny. We've only met once, do you know what my capabilities are? Are you really a German?" Ruger's cold sweat immediately flowed down. Although he had received a large sum of money, it was not cheap to concentrate these military supplies in the Magic Capital. More importantly, this business had already alarmed his department. If Gao Yang ended it here and didn't give him any more money, although Li and Yang Trading Company would make a small profit, but having used many connections to secretly smuggle military supplies into the Magic Capital, it was best for him to pack up and leave.

  Looking at the flustered Ruge, Gao Yang smiled happily. Just before Ruge was about to speak, Gao Yang placed a check in front of him.

  Seeing the numbers on the check, Lu Ge calmed down. He picked up the teapot and poured tea for Gao Yang.

  He picked up the teacup and took a light sip, then said to Ruger, "The balance will be paid when all the arms are delivered and the mercenaries disembark. As for the goods that arrive first, they can be stored in your warehouse, and I'll come to collect them at any time." He paused, then added, "And I won't pay storage fees, okay?"

  Ruger muttered to himself "As long as you pay, there's no problem." He said aloud "How could we possibly charge you for such a small matter?"

  "Hmm." Gao Yang stood up and said, "Let your German headquarters start recruiting mercenaries and prepare the remaining ammunition." How could Ruge's nonsense not be heard by Gao Yang? After finishing speaking, he left Lihe Foreign Firm.

  After three days, Gao Yang returned to Feng County, and his subordinates rushed to report. Li Zhengcheng reported that he had found Liu Sandao's lair, in a small fishing village on the banks of the Huai River, less than 50 kilometers from Feng County.

  Gao Yang thought for a moment and said to Li Zhengcheng, "Choose a good place, let the boss of Jinbao Pawnshop lure Liu San Dao in, and solve everything." Gao Yang didn't want to waste his energy on a group of small-time bandits, so it was up to Li Zhengcheng to figure out how to get the boss of Jinbao Pawnshop to deceive the bandits.

  Next came Yang Dong, who had been recruiting continuously during this period. According to the standard set by Gao Yang, physically healthy, under 25 years old, with family members at home, and a height of 1 meter 65. At that time, the vast majority of people in the country were living in poverty, and under Gao Yang's Pacific offensive, Yang Dong's recruitment work went smoothly.

  "Sir, as of yesterday, the recruitment office has recruited a total of 1,197 new soldiers. The total expenditure for settlement fees and advance payment of three months' salary is 95,760 yuan." Yang Dong closed the file and ended his report.

  Gao Yang took out a cigarette, and Yang Dong immediately pulled out a match to light it for him. After exhaling a ring of smoke, he said to Yang Dong, "Give all the soldiers 10 yuan in Spring Festival bonuses. Select some excellent trainees from the new recruits, at least one from each village, and give them three days off. Have someone spread the word throughout the county that the Security Team is recruiting for the last five days, after which it will be too late."

  "Since you are wise, I will go and do it." Yang Dongyi bowed and turned to leave.

  "Officer, Wang Da Fu reporting." The thin Wang Da Fu walked in. Opening the file to report "A total of 62 family members of all colleagues have been relocated to the new barracks, and the relocation expenses totaled 7,759 yuan. During this period, the construction costs of the barracks, daily necessities procurement costs, and food expenses totaled 14,118 yuan." After finishing, he closed the file and looked at Gao Yang.

  Until he extinguished the cigarette, Gao Yang said to Wang Da Fu, "Who has done corrupt things?" Gao Yang's voice was very cold.

  "Sir, nothing of the sort has happened." Wang Daifu said loudly.

  "Alright, you can go." Gao Yang did not confirm or deny Wang Da Fu's guarantee.

  Gao Youcai walked in and said to Gao Yang, "Commander, the new recruits' training is not yet complete. It's very dangerous to let them participate in battle at this time."

  "But they're just a bunch of bandits, with a dozen or so broken guns and some kitchen knives and shovels. This won't solve the problem of wasting so much money on useless people?" Gaoyang said, clapping his hands. Twelve soldiers in uniform walked out from the inner room.

  Gao Youcai could tell at a glance that they were soldiers, and after many years in the army, he still had this kind of discerning eye. "Assign them to the company as cultural instructors," Gao Yang said.

  "Yes, sir." Gao Youcai replied. After a pause, he continued, "The provincial government has issued a notice requiring our county to collect special military taxes of three yuan per household."

  "Make an announcement: if there is a family member serving in the security team, this tax will be exempt. If not, pay it. From now on, as long as someone in the household serves in the army, all taxes will be exempt." Gao Yang instructed.

  "They are all from France to help me at home, you take them to arrange." Gaoyang said and then gestured for Gaoyou to leave.

  Gao Yang couldn't wait to spend the 2000 energy points after completing Van Gogh's task, using 800 points to learn standard German and 1200 points to manufacture twelve biochemical warriors. The original description is "The lowest-level cannon fodder in interstellar war, with wisdom but no soul, having complete execution ability for orders."

  Gao Yang doesn't need them to be cannon fodder, the current Gao Yang can't even afford such expensive cannon fodder. What Gao Yang needs from them is their complete knowledge chain up to university graduation, and they are absolutely loyal in this regard. All arrangements for them to guide soldiers' spirits, and by the way, teach them to read and write.

  It only took two days for the recruitment point at the gate of the security team to be packed with people crying and shouting to join the army. Gao Yang even saw an old grandfather with a big white beard waiting in line at the recruitment point.

  In just a few days, the number of recruits in the security team had exceeded 4,000. In this era, as long as you have money, you can recruit more people. On the fifth day, in the morning, Gao Youcai, Li Guangbiao and Yang Dong led two companies of Beiyang soldiers and hundreds of new recruits carrying two Maxim guns to set out for a broken temple on the banks of the Huai River. Gao Yang also went along with them.

  Afternoon rushed to the place to arrange the ambush, starting quietly waiting. Although it's close to spring, the weather is still abnormally cold. From a modern society rich in materials, Gaoyang was wrapped up like a round penguin. Still feeling unbearably cold, looking at the thin-clothed soldiers wearing canvas shoes beside him, Gaoyang sighed that the quality of enduring hardship is unmatched from ancient times to the present.

  In the late afternoon, the weather became colder and his stomach was growling with hunger. Gao Yang called out to Yang Dong, "Is it confirmed?"

  "Li San Dao will definitely be here before tonight." Yang Dong said with certainty.

  "En." Gaoyang didn't say anything else.

  When the last ray of sunlight disappeared on the horizon, 4 fishing boats slowly sailed over. After docking, more than a hundred people walked ashore and headed towards the broken temple.

  His numb hands and feet slowly raised a Han Yang rifle, aiming at the person in front. Although Gao Yang had never used a gun before, he had his origin point, which allowed him to spend 70 energy points to activate his shooting ability, enabling him to shoot like a sniper with the Han Yang rifle.

  The people opposite were indeed bandits, loudly making a ruckus and waving torches about. Gaoyang curled his lip and muttered, "Is this really worth over 3000 energy points?"

  A crisp gunshot rang out, followed by a burst of popping sounds interspersed with the dull thud of machine guns. A group of rookie soldiers ambushed a gang of bandits, but most of their shots went wild. The main damage was done by two squads of seasoned Northern soldiers and two Maxim guns. Gao Yang stopped firing after five rounds, his first time killing someone. Although he managed to keep a straight face, inside he was on the verge of collapse.

  Within two or three minutes, the Maxim gun ceased firing. The officers and old soldiers then stopped the new recruits from wasting ammunition. The bandits on the opposite side were unable to return a single shot from start to finish, and none of them could stand up anymore. The fishing boats by the shore were also riddled with bullets by the Maxim gun.

  The new recruits who had finally calmed down began to clean up the battlefield under the leadership of the veterans. Gao Yang leaned against a tree, lit a cigarette, and didn't dare to look at the battlefield.

  He lit two cigarettes in a row, and Gao Yang calmed down his mood. He took a step towards the battlefield. The rekindled torches illuminated a bright light. White snow, black human shadows, and crimson blood. Various bizarre postures of corpses, and the mournful wails of the wounded dealt a great blow to Gao Yang's heart.

  The battlefield described in the book is thrilling, but experiencing it firsthand reveals how cruel reality is. Standing before Liu San Dao's corpse, Gao Yang silently gazes at this notorious thief who had wreaked havoc across several counties for nearly a decade. Gao Yang's first shot was aimed directly at him. The 7.92mm bullet blew Liu San Dao's entire head to pieces.

  In Feng County, Liu San Dao, who could stop children from crying at night, was deceived by a merchant's servant and lost his life. When Gao Yang felt indignant, Gao You Cai came to his side and said, "Your Honor, let's deal with those seriously injured on the spot."

  Gao Yang's fierce gaze made him uncomfortable, the cold and stern look in his eyes made Gao Youcai feel uneasy. For people living in modern society, such inhumane words are unacceptable.

  He calmed down and said to Gao Youcai, "The battle is over. They can be captives but not dead yet! Take them all back for treatment, whether they live or die depends on themselves."

  The battlefield has been swept clean, and we have captured 19 old-fashioned rifles made in Hanyang, six shotguns, dozens of landmines, dozens of kitchen knives, and less than 200 rounds of ammunition. As for the silver dollars found on the bandits' bodies, they were all divided up by the soldiers, and the officers turned a blind eye to this. Gao Yang even saw some soldiers stripping the clothes off the dead!

  Strictly prohibited such things, arranged for the body to be buried. The whole boarded the fishing boat and started returning.

  The next morning, they returned to the camp, arranged for the wounded, and gathered everyone to announce that bandit Liu San Dao had been eliminated. Under everyone's admiring gaze, Gao Yang distributed bonuses to each of the soldiers who participated in the battle.

  "Tell the master of Jinbao Inn to hand over half of his property and get out of Feng County. If he dares to utter a single word, I'll treat him as a bandit." Gaoyang said to Yang Dong.

  In just a few days, the provincial government also sent a commendation order, commending Feng County's security team for defending the border and ensuring the people's safety, and specially rewarding them for eliminating bandits.

  Throw the award certificate into the trash can, start the time-space shuttle back to Bern, and put a large box of materials into the storage space. The next day, he went to Berlin, still the counterfeit group last time, but this time he booked not only pounds, but also US dollars, yen and new rubles before 1924. Then return to the villa in Bern and start the time-space shuttle again to come to Shanghai in 1924.