Chapter 48: A Special Method of Identification, the Brigade Commander is Dumbfounded: I've Been Disarmed?

Meanwhile, a group of people dressed in ragged clothes, disguised as common civilians, were looking around anxiously to gather useful intelligence.

Ever since the Eighth Route Army launched attacks on the Huangyadong Arsenal and numerous other small towns, uprooting various checkpoints and blockades, the Japanese and their puppet troops had completely lost control of the area. To figure out what was going on, Nobutaka Sakata ordered an investigation to prepare for subsequent sweeping operations.

These men were intelligence operatives belonging to his forces. In order to ascertain the specific situation, they had disguised themselves as ordinary civilians and infiltrated the New First Regiment's base area. After scouting for some time, the Japanese secret agents had already gathered some basic information. This included intelligence such as the fact that the troops who recaptured these areas belonged to the New First Regiment, commanded by a man named Li Yunlong. However, because Li Yunlong rarely showed his face in public, the Japanese agents had no idea what he looked like.

Just as the Japanese agents were walking forward, preparing to enter the core area of the New First Regiment, the local militia on guard duty noticed that their movements were somewhat abnormal. They lacked the easygoing demeanor of ordinary folk, which naturally aroused the militia's suspicion. After all, the relationship between our army and the local people was remarkably harmonious, whereas these individuals exuded an extra layer of vigilance and caution, seemingly reluctant to interact much with anyone, or rather, having only one person among them handle all negotiations.

To verify his suspicion, the militia squad leader instructed one of the militia members to draw that person away.

"Hey there, old fellow, please come over here. We have a few things we'd like to ask you."

Hearing this, the collaborator's expression changed slightly. He asked, "Comrade, what is it? Can't you just say it here? We're in a hurry!"

The militia squad leader smiled warmly and said, "Old fellow, no matter how rushed you are, there's always time to rest. We've prepared some hot water and food over here. It won't hurt to have a cup of water and a bite to eat before you continue your journey."

"That's right~" another militia member chimed in, "Sharpening your axe won't delay your woodcutting! Please~"

Faced with the warm invitations of several militia members, the collaborator found it impossible to refuse. Following a subtle cue from the Japanese agents, he reluctantly followed them over.

While the militia were interrogating these individuals, two men not far away were watching the scene with keen interest. These two were none other than Commander Chen, who had just finished inspecting the security arrangements at the arsenal, and his guard.

Commander Chen had sensed something amiss about these so-called "civilians" from the very beginning. However, they had no intention of interfering immediately; instead, they wanted to use this opportunity to test the vigilance of the New First Regiment's base area.

"Commander... Boss, did these people discover them?"

"Hard to say. We'll find out soon enough," Commander Chen replied, shaking his head slightly with an amused smile as he watched closely, stepping a bit closer.

They saw the militia questioning the remaining "civilians." Yet these "civilians" remained tight-lipped, or answered in somewhat halting and awkward Chinese. Their attitude was entirely wrong, lacking the natural ease of genuine locals, especially when compared against other actual villagers.

At that moment, one of the militia members suddenly shouted at the group, "Hey, I fucked your ancestors!"

Hearing this, the Japanese agents actually nodded slightly and responded with welcoming smiles.

Witnessing this, Commander Chen and his guard, who were watching the spectacle, were momentarily stunned before struggling to suppress their laughter. By now, they could be completely certain that the people before them were Japanese secret agents, while the man pulled aside earlier must be their guide—a traitorous collaborator.

Judging by this, the New First Regiment's vigilance was remarkably high. Yet, this method of identification was truly bizarre, fitting precisely the crude and unorthodox style invented by Li Yunlong.

The collaborator who had been dragged to the side felt like dying on the spot. He never imagined that the Eighth Route Army's method of verification would be so eccentric and utterly impossible to guard against.

It was over!

However, before he could make any move, the militia members nearby had already stripped them of their firearms, giving them zero opportunity to resist.

"Don't move!"
"Confess honestly!"
"We've had our eyes on you for a long time. If you dare to lie, I'll make you regret it!"

Terrified, the collaborator collapsed onto the ground. The other Japanese agents attempted to fight back, but facing well-prepared militia members, they stood no chance at all.

Several gunshots rang out.

One Japanese agent was killed instantly, while two others were wounded. The agent who tried to draw his gun and resist was shot dead on the spot, and the remaining two Japanese agents were hit in the shoulders and thighs.

The entire skirmish ended in less than a minute.

This scene left Commander Chen quite astonished, and his guard was left utterly dumbfounded. Neither of them had expected the soldiers of the New First Regiment to react with such speed and decisiveness.

This brief moment of distraction, however, immediately caught the eye of the militia squad leader. After all, when ordinary villagers heard gunshots, they instantly scattered in all directions out of fear of being caught in the crossfire. In contrast, Commander Chen and his guard, accustomed to battle as they were, maintained absolute composure and did not flee immediately.

This made them stand out like cranes among chickens, making it difficult for them not to attract attention. Sensing potential danger at such a moment, the militia squad leader’s vigilance spiked, and he waved his hand, giving the order: "Seize those two!"

"Yes!"

Seeing this, the guard instinctively reached for his gun to protect the commander's safety, but Commander Chen stopped him with lightning-fast reflexes.

"Don't move recklessly, lest someone gets accidentally hurt!"

Hearing this, the guard had no choice but to relax his posture.

"Comrade, don't shoot," Commander Chen explained calmly. "This is all a misunderstanding! Actually, we are—"

Before the commander could finish his sentence, a militia member barked sternly, "Put your hands up where we can see them! Whether it's a misunderstanding or not, we'll investigate it ourselves. Right now, cooperating and behaving yourselves is best for everyone."

The guard rebuked angrily, "You have a lot of nerve demanding our surrender! I want to see your regimental commander!"

Commander Chen smiled with serene composure and explained, "Comrade, we are on the same side."

Noticing the extraordinary bearing of the man before him, the militia squad leader asked cautiously, "Comrade? What unit do you belong to?"

Realizing that continuing their undercover stroll was no longer possible under these circumstances, Commander Chen decided to reveal his identity.

"I am the commander of the 386th Brigade! If you don't believe me, you can have your regimental commander, Li Yunlong, come over here, or summon someone from the regimental headquarters, and you'll know the truth."

Hearing this, the militia squad leader's expression froze. Half-doubting and half-believing, he said, "Since we cannot verify your identity yet, for everyone's safety, please hand over your weapons for us to keep. If there has been any offense, please forgive us."

Confiscate his own weapons?

This... even left Commander Chen dumbfounded.

"Ha-ha-ha... I never imagined there'd come a day when I'd be disarmed, and even less did I expect it to be by my own people."

The guard shouted indignantly, "You'd better think carefully about the consequences of doing this!"

Seeing this, the militia squad leader felt a surge of nervous tension, but unable to confirm their identities on the spot, he hardened his resolve and insisted, "Please forgive us. We are doing this for everyone's safety, so please cooperate. If there is any blame afterwards, I am willing to bear all consequences!"

Seeing the militia squad leader's steadfastness, a flicker of admiration appeared in Commander Chen's eyes.

"What is your name?"
"Chen Ming!"
"Very well," Commander Chen nodded, then drew his pistol, handed it over, and said, "Chen Ming, I remember you!"

Just as Chen Ming reached out to take the pistol, Li Yunlong hurried over, having rushed to the scene after hearing the commotion.