Chapter Seventeen: The Japanese Make Their Move

August 1st was designated as the Founding Day of the Chinese Guardians’ Army.

Xiao Fei’s first armed force took inspiration from both regular armies and local bandit groups, combining their strengths so that it could be said his forces were neither strictly soldiers nor bandits, and yet both at once. However, when it came to certain titles within the army, Xiao Fei forged his own path. For instance, as the leader, he was addressed by his subordinates as “Monarch.”

Zhen Sanjiang, Zhang Zhixiang, Hu Changqing, and Qin Tianbao were ranked consecutively as Second, Third, Fourth, and Fifth Chiefs—also known as Second Brother, Third Brother, Fourth Brother, and Fifth Brother. Meanwhile, Qin Zhong, Wei Qingfeng, Zhong Jialie, and Li Dagang, several senior veterans, were appointed as high military advisors to help Xiao Fei devise strategies.

On the Founding Day, Xiao Fei personally led the three thousand warriors of Mount Qinglong in a solemn ceremony of worship.

“First, we bow to Heaven, may it grant China favorable winds and timely rain!”

“Second, we bow to the earth, may our land yield abundant harvests!”

“Third, we bow to our elders, may our people enjoy happiness and health!”

Xiao Fei’s voice resounded with power and conviction; with each phrase he spoke, the entire assembly echoed his words, their voices rolling across the mountains, rising and falling in waves.

………………………………………A stark dividing line………………………………………

With a resounding crash, Hu Baiwan, his fury boiling over, slammed the table. “What? Say that again!”

“Commander, I’ve already confirmed the news—your nephew was not only captured by the bandits of Mount Qinglong, but... but also…”

“But what? Spit it out already!” Hu Baiwan glared, his mustache bristling with rage.

“And he defected to the bandits. All his five hundred men joined the bandit ranks of Mount Qinglong.” The subordinate stammered, trembling.

“What?! Outrageous, simply outrageous! That wretched boy dares commit such treason—he’ll be the death of me!” With a kick, Hu Baiwan sent the messenger sprawling. “Get out! Out of my sight!”

Hu Changqing was his nephew, and also his most capable general. The revelation that he had defected to the bandit army left Hu Baiwan utterly humiliated.

Worse still, the reason he had dispatched his most elite troops to wipe out Mount Qinglong was to give the Japanese an explanation. Yet now, things had backfired spectacularly. He had already accepted one hundred thousand yuan from them—having taken their money, he was bound to solve their problems. How could he possibly answer for this?

“Commander, report, sir!”

In the midst of his rage, another subordinate rushed in.

“What is it? Speak!” Hu Baiwan snapped.

“Sir… Mr. Fujino requests an audience.”

The subordinate had no idea why the commander was so furious.

“What? Those Japanese dogs are alarmingly well-informed!” Hu Baiwan drew a sharp breath, sweat beading on his brow.

A voice arrived before the man himself. “Ha ha, General Hu, what has so provoked your temper?”

Before Hu Baiwan could reply, a short man with a thin mustache swaggered in, followed by two Japanese samurai with swords at their waists and odd tufts of hair on their otherwise shaven heads—a repulsive sight.

Ordinarily, no one would have been admitted without Hu Baiwan’s express permission. But these were Japanese, and his guards dared not stop them; even their own commander treated the Japanese with servile deference.

Sure enough, seeing the Japanese stride in, Hu Baiwan dared not show the least anger. He hurried up with the eager air of a lapdog greeting its master.

“Mr. Fujiwara, what wind brings you here today?” Hu Baiwan inquired at once.

“General Hu, how quickly you forget. We agreed: I provide the funds, you provide the men. Within three days, you were to capture Chen Yongjie’s precious daughter. This is now the fourth day.” Fujiwara Ichiro said, seating himself.

“Mr. Fujiwara, I assure you, I haven’t forgotten. However…”

“However, what?”

“You may not be aware, Mr. Fujiwara, but the bandits of Mount Qinglong are not easily dealt with. In Jiangnan, their army is the oldest established, with several famous generals from the former Qing joining their ranks. Their foundation runs deep, and the mountain is easy to defend, hard to attack. But rest assured, my suppression force has already gained the upper hand. My men have surrounded Mount Qinglong for three days and nights, and many of their leaders have already fallen to our guns…”

“Hmph! Even now you try to deceive me. You Chinese are all cunning!” Fujiwara Ichiro slammed the table before Hu Baiwan could finish.

Hu Baiwan’s heart leapt in fear. “Mr. Fujiwara, what do you mean?”

“Hu Baiwan, don’t think I don’t know. Your subordinate—your own nephew, Hu Changqing—not only failed to take Mount Qinglong, but defected with his five hundred men. Is this your so-called victory?”

Hu Baiwan wiped his brow repeatedly. Realizing he could hide the truth no longer, he confessed.

Chen Yongjie’s wife, unwilling to implicate her husband’s family, had bitten off her tongue and died. Thus, to threaten Chen Yongjie, his daughter Chen Xiangyi became the only possible leverage, which explained the Japanese urgency to capture her.

“Well, Hu Baiwan, things have come to this. I’ll give you three more days. If I do not see Chen Xiangyi by then, you know what we’ll do.” With a final threat, Fujiwara Ichiro stormed out.

“Wait, Mr. Fujiwara, wait…” Hu Baiwan hurried after him, only to be blocked by the two samurai.

Once the Japanese had gone, Chief of Staff Diao Deyi approached. “Commander, the Japanese are on our turf. Why should we fear them? Why not just—”

Before he could finish, Hu Baiwan slapped him hard across the face. “Nonsense! Think for a moment—why else would I, with so many troops, stoop to the Japanese, if even those above us don’t defer to them? You call yourselves strategists, yet never offer me a decent plan, only this kind of rubbish! Out, all of you!”

“Yes, yes!” Frightened, the subordinates retreated without another word.

“Wait! Come back, all of you! Summon every officer above regimental rank. I will raze Mount Qinglong to the ground!” Hu Baiwan bellowed.

Soon, the high command assembled, awaiting his orders.

Yet for all his bluster, Hu Baiwan’s submission to the Japanese was for money alone. On the surface, he postured and played at bravado, while behind the scenes he used every means to enrich himself, stalling and bargaining with the Japanese for as long as possible.

Desperate to capture Chen Yongjie’s daughter, the Japanese sent another fifty thousand taels of silver as military expenses.

But this was far from enough for Hu Baiwan’s greed. He immediately dispatched large numbers of troops to extort donations from every household. Those unable to pay were robbed of their possessions; those with nothing left were taken themselves—all under the pretense of working for the people’s welfare and vowing to wipe out the Qinglong Mountain bandits to the last man.