Resistance against Japan: Starting with the local militia

Chapter 64 Discovering the Spy

"Captain, Captain, some vendors have come to our village, and they don't look like good people," Wang Erdan said hurriedly as he ran to the captain's house.

"What's going on?" The village guard captain knew that several peddlers had come to the village that morning. These days, it was difficult to do business in the city, so more and more people were coming to the village to sell their goods. The village guard captain didn't think anything was unusual.

"Captain, these guys are acting suspiciously. They're selling goods, but they're also asking everyone if they've seen any military operations. The other day, Instructor Li from the regiment said that anyone who's gathering information should be listed as a suspect. Let me think... Oh, right, call them 'key suspects'." Wang Erdan scratched his head and said.

"Also, I just passed by my second aunt's house, and she told me that the vendor this time was a fool. The goods he was selling were much cheaper than the last time the peddler came. My second aunt bought a lot of things at once and told me to take advantage of this opportunity to buy more. My second aunt also said that such a good thing is rare."

"Captain, who sells things at a loss? Anyone who does that is either an idiot or, as the instructor said, an enemy spy," Wang Erdan asserted.

After all, Wang Erdan had received formal training from the militia, so the village protection team leader listened to him.

"Oh, in that case, Wang Erdan, you go to Wolong Mountain now and inform the militia. I'll take some men to keep an eye on them," the captain said.

"Alright, I'll head right now." After leaving the team leader's house, Wang Erdan headed straight for Wolong Mountain.

The team leader also left his house and wandered around the village, intentionally or unintentionally observing the peddlers who had come to the village.

"Report, Director Li, Wang Erdan, the intelligence officer from Xiaowangzhuang, has come over and says he has intelligence to report," Sun Qiang reported to Li Qukou as he walked in.

Sun Qiang was a highly capable intelligence operative discovered by Li Qukou within the militia. Realizing the militia members were important, Li Qukou decisively recruited him into the intelligence department.

Li Qukou had to approach Tang Xiaohu several times before Tang Xiaohu agreed to let him join the intelligence department for Sun Qiang's sake.

It's true that outstanding people are in high demand everywhere.

"Oh, let him in quickly." Li Qukou hurriedly asked Sun Qiang at the door to bring Wang Erdan over.

"Hello, Instructor!" Wang Erdan greeted Li Qukou excitedly.

"Wang Erdan, I have a deep impression of you. You were an outstanding student in the first intelligence officer training class of our militia," Li Qukou praised.

"Wang Erdan, what intelligence do you have to report this time?" Li Qukou asked directly.

"Reporting to the instructor, a few peddlers came to Xiaowangzhuang this morning. Not only were they selling their goods at a loss, but they were also asking around. In the instructor's words, these guys are suspicious individuals." Wang Erdan reported in detail.

“Very good, Wang Erdan, you truly are an outstanding student I have trained. You are very observant. In that case, these people are highly suspicious.”

Li Qukou said with a smile. Seeing the outstanding intelligence agent he had trained performing so well, Li Qukou felt a sense of shared honor and disgrace.

"Wang Xiaoer, come on, take me to see this," Li Qukou said.

"By the way, Wang Erdan, sit for a while. I need to change my clothes. I can't show up in front of them in this military uniform. Sun Qiang, you go change too. Let's go together," Li Qukou said.

"Yes, Director."

"Okay, instructor." Wang Erdan sat down in the chair somewhat awkwardly.

"Correspondent, pour Wang Erdan a cup of tea," Li Qukou instructed the on-duty correspondent before leaving.

"No need, instructor, I don't drink tea," Wang Erdan said shyly.

"It's alright, drink up. Wait for me a bit, I'll be right back." After saying that, Li Qukou left, leaving Wang Erdan alone in the office. Wang Erdan looked around curiously.

A short while later, Li Qukou changed into a set of commoner's clothes, which were patched in several places. To make himself look even more like a commoner, Li Qukou also smeared some pot broth on his face. Sun Qiang, who was following behind him, dressed up in the same way.

At that moment, the two of them looked just like ordinary people who had just finished their work and were returning home.

"Instructor, you two are really good at pretending," Wang Erdan said.

"Hurry up and let's go, it's time to leave." Li Qukou said before leading them out the door. Wang Erdan led the way, and the three of them hurried towards Xiaowangzhuang.

When Li Qukou arrived at Xiaowangzhuang, Village Captain Wang was waiting for them at the village entrance. Upon seeing Wang Erdan, he asked:

"Erdan, where are the militia members? I didn't see you bring them." Captain Wang asked, looking puzzled.

"Captain Wang, these two men beside me are them," Wang Erdan stepped forward and introduced them to Captain Wang.

"Captain Wang, these two are the militia instructors. This is Instructor Li, and this is Instructor Sun," Wang Erdan introduced them one by one.

Captain Wang looked at the two disheveled civilians in front of him and was momentarily surprised, but then he spoke:

"Commander Li, Commander Wang, you two are dressed so much like ordinary people that I really didn't recognize you. I hope you won't blame me for being so blind," Captain Wang said with a forced smile.

"Captain Wang, what you're saying is actually praising our excellent disguise skills. How could I possibly blame you?" Li Qukou said with a smile.

"By the way, Captain Wang, what about those peddlers?" Li Qukou asked.

"Hey, look at my head! I was waiting for you at the village entrance to tell you that they left Xiaowangzhuang and are now heading to Xiaolizhuang. You can still make it there if you hurry over now," Captain Wang said hurriedly.

"Okay, thank you very much, Captain Wang." Li Qukou cupped his hands in thanks to Captain Wang.

"Wang Erdan, you stay here. Sun Qiang and I will go."

“Instructor, my third aunt is from Lijiazhuang. I know Lijiazhuang well, and I can help you if I go there,” Wang Erdan quickly said.

“Alright, that’s good too, let’s set off together.” Li Qukou and the others quickly turned back to Xiaolizhuang.

"Captain Jia, we didn't get any useful information from Xiaowangzhuang just now, so it won't be good if we can't sell the goods. Look, it's getting late, let's go back early, I'm exhausted." Lao Liu sat on the ground and rubbed his legs. He had walked so much today, he was really suffering.

"You bastard, are you the only one who's tired? Don't you think I'm tired too? Have you ever seen a peddler come this early?" Jia Chusheng cursed at Lao Liu.

"We'll leave after it gets dark. You all better keep a close eye on things, understand?"

"Yes, Captain," the old man and his men said weakly. They were used to bullying others in the county town and couldn't stand this old man's punishment.

Just as Li Qukou entered Xiaolizhuang, he bumped into Jia Xuke and his group. At that moment, Wang Erdan secretly tugged at Li Qukou.

Li Qukou subtly glanced at the group of people in front of him, then continued walking forward with Wang Erdan without stopping, brushing past Jia Chusheng and the others.

After Li Qukou had gone some distance and could no longer see Jia Chusheng and the others, he stopped and said:

"As expected, they are enemy spies, and the leader is Jia Chusheng from the county detective team."