0p0 Chapter 229: Suppressing Anger, Just for Safe Escort
Chapter 229: Suppressing Anger, Just for Safe Escort
Upon hearing this, everyone relaxed and hurried to the stream's edge, squatting. They plunged their hands into the water, a refreshing sensation instantly spreading throughout their bodies, relieving the heat and fatigue. Some scooped up the water and brought it to their mouths, drinking deeply, the sweet stream water moistening their dry throats. They drank heartily.
Lei Tao took off his backpack and reached into it (actually the Bagua spinning top space) to pull out several cans of beef and a dozen compressed dry rations, distributing them to everyone. The two Eighth Route Army soldiers, Wang Hu and Li Dashan, saw the cans of beef and their eyes flashed with an unconcealable desire.
Young Wang Hu subconsciously licked his lips, his eyes full of anticipation, but his good sense of discipline prevented him from reaching out. Li Dashan saw this and gently patted Wang Hu on the shoulder, signaling him to be more restrained.
Lei Tao saw all of this and handed them two cans of beef with a smile, saying, "Here, you two have worked hard along the way. Now that we've escaped safely this time, we can be considered comrades fighting side by side."
Wang Hu took the can with some embarrassment, scratched his head, and said, "Thank you very much, Captain Lei. We in the Eighth Route Army usually live in difficult conditions, and we haven't eaten such good food in a long time."
Li Dashan also hurriedly said, "Yes, we will remember this favor. After this mission is over, Captain Lei, you and your team must come to our place as guests. I will ask our chef to prepare a good meal for you..."
Lei Tao smiled heartily, waved his hand and said, "There's no need to thank me. We are all in the same team fighting the Japanese invaders, so it's only natural for us to help each other. This can is a testimony to the friendship between our two troops." Wang Hu and Li Dashan held the can tightly, their eyes full of gratitude and respect.
Everyone gathered by the stream, opened their cans of food and rations, and devoured them ravenously. The aroma of canned beef filled the air, temporarily making everyone forget their fatigue and fear.
As they ate, they shared their adventures. Huang Hu vividly recounted his thrilling encounters in the tomb, mimicking strange noises and nervous gestures, causing everyone to hold their breath and burst into laughter.
After dinner, Lei Tao stood up, looked at the starry sky, and thought about their next journey. Although they had temporarily escaped the threat of the ancient tomb and the Japanese army, they were still in enemy-occupied territory and danger was still looming. They had to find a safe place as soon as possible.
"Has everyone had a good rest?" Lei Tao asked, "We can't stay here for long, we have to keep going. If we continue walking for a few more hours, we'll probably be out of this mountainous area and reach a safe area."
Everyone stood up, packed their gear, and prepared to continue on their journey. Moonlight and flashlights intertwined as they followed the stream deeper into the valley, their figures gradually fading into the darkness.
As they walked, Lei Tao faintly heard the roar of a large number of truck engines on the road. He suddenly stopped, turned off his flashlight, and shouted in a low voice: "Something's happening, scatter and hide!" His eyes suddenly became sharp, staring intently at the front. Everyone immediately understood and quickly dispersed, looking for cover.
The night was as dark as ink. Seventy or eighty trucks lined up in a row, the roar of their engines shattering the stillness of the valley. One after another, like a giant steel beast, they snaked down the mountain road. Inside the trucks, Japanese soldiers stood or sat, their postures either erect or hunched.
Lei Tao hid behind a massive rock, his body pressed against the rough stone wall. He poked his head out slightly, his eyes as sharp as an owl's, watching for even the slightest movement of the Japanese soldiers. The moonlight dappled across his face, illuminating his solemn expression.
Through the swaying shadows of the trees, Lei Tao saw the dark figures on the trucks. Among them, a few points of light flickered, those of Japanese soldiers smoking. The red glow of cigarette butts occasionally illuminated the halves of their faces hidden by their hat brims, outlining their tired and grim features. Other soldiers huddled together, whispering, their voices muffled by the noise of the trucks, making them inaudible. But judging by their occasional gestures and hurried movements, they seemed to be secretly en route to a certain area to carry out military operations...
Suddenly, a gust of wind with a strong smell of tobacco blew over, and Lei Tao subconsciously held his breath, his heartbeat suddenly accelerating. He quietly retreated behind a huge rock, but his eyes remained fixed on the Japanese convoy.
Not far from Lei Tao, Huang Hu hid in the bushes, his hands tightly gripping his gun, his knuckles white from the effort. His eyes were filled with tension and a hint of anger as he stared intently at the Japanese trucks, as if ready to rush out and fight the enemy at any moment.
Li Dashan and Wang Hu hid behind a sturdy tree. Li Dashan hunched his body slightly, not daring to take his eyes off the Japanese soldiers. He lowered his voice and said to Wang Hu, "Xiaohu, don't be impulsive. Follow Captain Lei's instructions." Wang Hu nodded slightly. Although he was young and energetic, he also understood the danger of the moment and suppressed his inner excitement.
At this time, the lead truck of the Japanese convoy had gradually driven away from their sight, but there were still two trucks behind it. Lei Tao's nerves were still tense, he knew that the most dangerous moment was not over yet.
At that moment, the last truck suddenly stopped less than fifty meters from their hiding place. A Japanese officer jumped out of the passenger seat and shouted, as if ordering the soldiers to get out and inspect. A dozen Japanese soldiers jumped out of the truck bed, rifles drawn, and began to disperse in all directions.
Lei Tao's heart sank suddenly. He knew that if the Japanese soldiers searched in the direction of their hiding place, they would have nowhere to hide. He quietly took out a grenade from his waist, held it in his hand, and prepared for the worst.
Huang Hu became increasingly agitated when he saw the Japanese soldiers disembarking, his finger already on the trigger. Lei Tao noticed Huang Hu's unusual movements and quickly gave him a look, signaling him not to act rashly. Huang Hu gritted his teeth, suppressed his anger, and slowly released the trigger.
The Japanese soldiers searched in a fan-shaped pattern, their footsteps getting closer and closer. The place where Lei Tao and his men were hiding was only covered by a few bushes and boulders, and they could be discovered at any time.
Just as a Japanese soldier was about to reach the bushes where Huang Hu was hiding, a hare suddenly jumped out of the bushes. Startled, the Japanese soldier instinctively raised his gun and shot at the hare. "Bang bang!" The gunshots rang out, and the hare was instantly riddled with bullets.
The other Japanese soldiers gathered around after hearing the gunfire. The soldier who had fired the shot was saying something loudly in Japanese, as if showing off his marksmanship to his comrades. He even untied his belt and began to urinate, twisting his hips and humming a little tune as he did so. His urine dripped onto the ground near where Huang Hu was lurking, splattering his face with urine-smelling dirt. A Japanese officer approached, looked at the dead hare, then saw the soldier who had just finished urinating, cursed a few times, and then ordered the soldiers back to the vehicle. The convoy's engines began to roar again, slowly driving off into the distance. Huang Hu waited until the Japanese were completely gone before emerging from the bushes, his face filled with anger and resentment. He wiped the urine-smelling dirt off his face while muttering curses.
Lei Tao hurried over and handed Huang Hu a kettle. Huang Hu grabbed it with a mixture of eagerness and irritation. He unscrewed the lid, then held the spout to his face. The water rushed down, and urine-smelling dirt slid down his cheeks. He rubbed it vigorously, wanting to wash away the humiliation and disgust. After washing, he handed the kettle back to Lei Tao heavily, the anger in his eyes still lingering. He whispered, "Letting them go like this is too easy for these little devils!"
Lei Tao looked at Huang Hu and said in a deep voice, "Now is not the time to act impulsively. Protecting these young women and getting them out safely is the top priority. The Japanese have committed many evil deeds, and they will be held accountable sooner or later."