Under Ren Xiaosu’s leadership, the large group of private troops swept through the forested mountains like a swarm of locusts. As long as there was something edible, they did not miss any of it.
During this period, Ren Xiaosu found three snake dens and caught over 200 hibernating snakes. In addition, some of the snakes were particularly fat. Ren Xiaosu and his men killed all of them before they could even wake up.
This time, everyone was convinced they would get fed as long as they followed this Iron Second commander. This had essentially become a conviction in all of their hearts.
Li Qingzheng chuckled and said, “Xiaosu, you’re really resourceful. There’s no lack of food wherever you go.”
In this wilderness, it was an incredibly exceptional skill to be able to find food wherever one went.
At this moment, Ren Xiaosu turned around to the reinforced company and was taken aback. “Eh? Where’s Liu Taiyu?”.
The reinforced company’s soldiers had been taking turns to carry Liu Taiyu. But as they walked on, Liu Taiyu suddenly disappeared.
Li Qingzheng said softly to Ren Xiaosu, “I saw them secretly dump Liu Taiyu on the side of the road just now. I think they’re finding you more reliable than Liu Taiyu, so they’re pledging their loyalty to you now.”
Ren Xiaosu found this rather lamentable. As the former Iron Second Battalion commander, Liu Taiyu had been “dumped” just like that. If the reinforced company could dump Liu Taiyu today, they could also dump Ren Xiaosu tomorrow in the same manner. Who would dare to desire such “loyalty”?
This incident reminded Ren Xiaosu once again that hardly anyone in the Iron Second was good. So he should not take his role as battalion commander too seriously.
The commander of the reinforced company walked up to Ren Xiaosu and said with a smile, “Battalion Commander, why don’t we set up camp here tonight? I think we already have more than enough food.”
Ren Xiaosu smiled and said, “It’s been hard on you guys, but we still have to walk a little further since it isn’t safe here.”
“Alright then, I’ll get everyone to endure it a little more.” The reinforced company’s commander walked away with a smile. As long as they had food to eat, everything else could be discussed.
The reason why Ren Xiaosu did not want to set up camp here was not that it was unsafe, but that he still had not led the private troops to the designated location yet.
The troops continued marching. Although they still had not eaten yet, everyone was very energetic and motivated.
Suddenly, Ren Xiaosu saw some smoke spiraling up in the valley ahead of them. He called the reinforced company’s commander over and said, “Could friendly forces be up ahead? Let’s go and have a look. We can say hi to them and ask for directions to see if we’re heading the right direction to Mt. Fengyi.”
“OK,” the reinforced company’s commander replied.
Then Ren Xiaosu quietly ordered Li Qingzheng and the rest of the platoon, “I want all of you to head to the back of the troops. Watch the others and ensure that no one leaves the group. If anyone attempts to run away, deal with them as you would with deserters and shoot them on the spot. If a fight breaks out, I want all of you to take cover somewhere in case you get hit by stray gunfire.”
Li Qingzheng was stunned. Since Ren Xiaosu was saying this, it was clear he already knew who was in the mountains on the opposite side. He was deliberately trying to lead these private soldiers over there! Furthermore, Ren Xiaosu seemed absolutely sure that an intense battle was going to take place!
What was going on? Why did Ren Xiaosu know that?
Li Qingzheng suddenly remembered that Ren Xiaosu had been going outside very often during the past few days. Could something have happened over that period?
After another half an hour’s walk, the private troops arrived at the entrance of the valley. The reinforced company’s commander said with a smile as he walked in, “I wonder what troops would camp in a ravine like this. They could be another group of private soldiers just like us.”
Ren Xiaosu smiled and said, “I guess so.”
In reality, Qing Yun’s trusted troops could easily travel on the main mountain paths here. As long as they were willing to place their weapons down when negotiating with the Li Consortium, no one would have them killed. However, Qing Zhen requested for them to keep their movements a secret in case a spy from a third party found out about their negotiations.
After all, it wouldn’t be good if either of the other two organizations found out that the Qing Consortium was negotiating with both of them at the same time.
Therefore, the troops who had been sent here to negotiate could only make their way over in secret. When they reached the designated location, Qing Zhen would get in touch with the Li Consortium’s higher-ups and arrange for a meeting where they would personally come down into the mountains for secret negotiation talks.
However, Qing Zhen had no intention of negotiating with the Li Consortium. Right from the beginning, he was only thinking of leaving Qing Yun’s trusted troops here to die in the Li Consortium’s territory.
When the private troops went into the mountains, the commander of the reinforced company stunned. He saw the other party dressed in the Qing Consortium’s black military uniform and instantly realized they were not the Li Consortium’s private troops at all. So the Qing Consortium’s troops had infiltrated their territory!
When the Qing Consortium soldiers saw the soldiers of the Divine Arms Battalion coming over, their instincts were to raise their hands. “We’re the representatives of the Qing Consortium who have come to negotiate!”
Hundreds of others gradually walked over from the Qing Consortium’s camp as well. Ren Xiaosu saw they had already raised their guns and were ready to shoot at any moment.
However, they remained very suspicious of the situation. Were these a thousand of the Divine Arms Battalion’s soldiers in front of them? Why would they encounter the main force of the Divine Arms Battalion here?
Ren Xiaosu asked suspiciously, “How can you prove that you’re here for negotiations? Why haven’t we received any notification?”
“Our frontline commander, Qing Zhen, is currently in talks with your higher-ups. If you don’t believe it, you can check with them,” the Qing Consortium soldier said.
Ren Xiaosu sneered, “Put down your weapons to express your sincerity. Don’t worry, our Divine Arms Battalion won’t harm any unarmed troops.”
The Qing Consortium’s soldiers looked at one another while their officer clenched his teeth and considered the proposal. To be honest, he didn’t expect to encounter the Divine Arms Battalion here, and he knew very well that they would not stand a chance against a 1,000 of their soldiers with only 400 of them.
Since they were here to negotiate, they would only return alive if the talks proceeded smoothly. Even if they managed to defeat them and run away at this moment, could they escape the Li Consortium’s territory? But even So, would a proper military unit like them just place down their weapons after a few words from their enemies?!
The atmosphere got even more tense!
The reinforced company’s commander was already trembling. It was not only him; all the private soldiers were also feeling the same.
How could any of them imagine that their Iron Second commander would be so ballsy as to even impersonate the Divine Arms Battalion to force the enemy to capitulate! So what if they were wearing the uniforms of the Divine Arms Battalion?
While they were stuck in a stalemate, Ren Xiaosu suddenly said, “Why don’t we each take a step back? I’ll hand over our reinforced company’s commander to you as hostage to show our sincerity.”
The reinforced company’s commander was speechless. When did he become an offer of sincerity?! Whoever wanted to volunteer could go instead!
But before he could react, he was pushed out by Ren Xiaosu and stumbled across to the Qing Consortium’s camp. When a group of their people pointed their guns at him, he was dumbfounded!
Ren Xiaosu said coldly, “If y’all still think that’s not enough, I suspect that you aren’t sincere at all and that you aren’t here to negotiate!”
The Qing Consortium’s officer slowly replied, “Attention, put down your weapons!”
But while the Qing Consortium’s troops were putting down their weapons, Ren Xiaosu took out a pistol and shot the Qing Consortium’s officer dead. Everyone was dumbfounded as the crack of the gunshot reverberated through the valley!
How could he go back on his words?!
Ren Xiaosu roared, “They’re defenseless now! Those who kill the Qing Consortium’s troops will have rendered a great service. Follow my lead!”
The people behind him were dazed. Some of them followed right after him and rushed forward as well. Although some of the soldiers tried to run away, Li Qingzheng’s group was watching them from behind with their guns. Li Qingzheng raised his firearm and said with a grin, “Let’s see who dares to escape!”
.
Their entire group was suddenly forced to fight as they rushed forward with their guns The battle descended into chaos and some people did not even know what was going on.
Seeing Ren Xiaosu rushing forward so fearlessly, they subconsciously followed him and started shooting mercilessly!
When the Qing Consortium’s soldiers saw this, they immediately pulled out the pistols they had hidden up their sleeves. In fact, they were only willing to put down their weapons earlier because they still had guns hidden. They were not really unarmed!
When Ren Xiaosu who was furthest in front flicked his wrist, a reinforced company soldier went in front of Ren Xiaosu and shielded him.
The wrist flick was so concealed it looked like the soldier had decided to block the bullet for Ren Xiaosu.
Ren Xiaosu shouted in distress, “Don’t!”
At this moment, the reinforced company’s commander was lying on the ground with blood oozing from his mouth. He was the only person who saw what Ren Xiaosu did.
He mumbled, “What the fuck…”
No one heard what the company commander said amid the intense gunfire.
