|151Kanshu.com text|.| Chapter 2: Sharpening the Sword (Part I)

"That's right. Brother Zhang. Don't shirk it. We're still waiting to learn how to shoot with you?!" Several other teenagers who had rolled on the death line with Zhang Songling also stepped forward. Pleading with anticipation. Fighting for days on end. Zhang Songling's performance has completely convinced them. They can't wait to start learning now. In the future, I hope to be able to dominate the battlefield like the former.

"I.." Zhang Songling was still hesitant. When I was a company deputy in the Secret Service Corps. He has the support of the regimental elder behind him. It still took a long time for the veterans in the company to accept him. Now to the Lamagou guerrillas. There is no credit for being too good. There is no tough backstage either. All at once it entered the leadership core of the team. I'm afraid there will be more challenges.

"That's it. Man big husband. What so many mothers-in-law mothers." Redbeard didn't give him a third chance to resign at all. The arm slammed into his shoulder. Announce it loudly." Listen up, everybody. This is Captain Zhang of our third squadron. Will fight. Literate. It's also very responsible. Who wants to kill a few devils happily in the future. Ask him for advice. Don't lose face. He is a top student who graduated from the No. 1 National High School in Shandong Province."

"Got it." in the crowd. There was a warm response. Not only because of Zhang Songling's efforts for the entire guerrilla force. And because of his learning. To know. On the prairie. Able to finish elementary school. He is already a cultural person. Zhang Songling graduated from National High School. It is equivalent to the past show talent and even lifting people. Wherever you go. All deserve to be looked up to.

"Clap when you know." Redbeard ripped his throat. Keep agitating. lest the brothers show an attitude that is not enthusiastic enough. What shadow did it leave in Zhang Songling's heart.

"Welcome. Welcome. Raise your hands and feet and welcome." The partisans laughed and laughed. Clap vigorously. Even if the wound is pulled. It hurts so much that I grinning my teeth. Also at all costs.

Redbeard nodded in satisfaction. Pulling Zhang Songling to another person." Cadres of our guerrillas. You've seen it all before. I won't tell you about each of them. Let's get to know this. He was my good brother in the Northeast Army back then. Now he is a big shopkeeper in the Anheng Salt Gang. Yan Zhiyong, Yan boss. Our guerrillas can turn defeat into victory this time. But he arrived in time."

"Look up for a long time, look up for a long time." See an outsider present. Zhang Songling didn't want to brush the face of the red beard. Turn around. With the etiquette of the rivers and lakes, he gave his hand to the Yan shopkeeper of the Anheng Salt Gang.

"Don't listen to the old king's nonsense. I'm a smuggler of salt. Where can you afford to be a big treasurer?" The man who was introduced by Redbeard was a strange man in his early forties. Wearing an earthy gray cardigan cotton coat. Wearing a black felt hat. At first glance, he looks like a rich man in Shanxi. But as soon as he spoke. There was a strong smell of marching in his voice." It's your Zhang Songling's name. I've been listening all the way in the last ten days. I almost didn't get my ears out of my calluses. I thought I would never have a chance to see the hero in my life. I didn't expect to run into you here."

Boss Yan laughed. If you are a peddler. This Shanxi, Hebei, Shandong, and Henan provinces do salt industry. No one would dare to call themselves a big deal!" Zhang Songling smiled again. Very sophisticated compliment. At the same time, use the corner of the eye to scan the surrounding crowd again.

I don't know if I don't look at it. I was shocked when I saw it. When he combined the results of his sneaky observations with Redbeard's previous words. The situation is a bit shocking.

Nearby stood with the partisans. Whoever has no wounds on his body; Almost everyone wore a grey cardigan cotton coat. In the distance, some strange figures are scrutinizing the corpses of every devil and horse thief. They are also wearing earthy gray cardigan cotton coats. The total number of people on both sides adds up. There are 300 hanging zeros. It has far exceeded the size of the guerrillas before the war.

Boss Yan was also taken aback by Zhang Songling's youth and age. Stunned. Asked with a smile. How. Brother Zhang had also heard of our Anheng Salt Industry before. Your words have a slight Shanxi accent. Could it be that the elders of the family also came from the west exit?"

"My family is in the grocery business in the Lunan area. Before the start of the war. It is a trip to and from the grassland several times a year. Of course, it is impossible not to have heard of the famous Anheng Salt Industry." Zhang Songling shook his head. Ignore the temptation of the other party without a trace.

"No wonder I feel so close to my little brother as soon as I see him. It turned out to be peers." Boss Yan's brows jumped slightly. Quickly gave up and continued to ask Zhang Songling's heels.

"Isn't it? As soon as I saw you dressed like this. It just feels familiar." Zhang Songling also quietly withdrew his tentacles. Laughing perfunctory.

He hadn't actually heard of the Anheng Salt Gang before. But he is no stranger to the salt trade in the Mongolian steppe. According to my father and brother, who often go out of the jam. Deep in the grassland, there is a large salt lake in a place called Bashang. The lake is in the evening. It automatically produces a white lump of salt like a snowflake. The colder the weather. The purer the texture of the salt. So do the lake salt trading vendors. It has always been in time for autumn to take a truckload of goods to the grassland. Along the way, goods were sold to Han Chinese towns and Mongol tribes outside the Saiwai. Just before arriving at the lake, the goods were sold. Only the empty car remains. The empty cart is then filled with lumps of salt condensed on the surface of the lake. Hurry back south before the first snow falls.

Due to the taste and appearance of lake salt are slightly stronger than sea salt. And there is no cost to chisel salt from the surface of the lake. So the lake salt trade is extremely lucrative. Basically, a truckload of goods is freed up. A cart of salt poured back. It was enough for participants to spend several years. But huge profits. It also often means great risk. Those who smuggle lake salt not only have to deal with the grasslands that will fall at any time. A blizzard that is enough to freeze a walking horse directly. You also have to deal with all kinds of horse thieves, prince's private soldiers, government tax collectors, and tax policemen along the way. In time. Salt dealers and small-scale makeshift teams running out of gangs. and they were all eliminated. The few remaining ones are all big-name brands with sufficient capital, hard backing, and absolutely sharp knives. It's easy for no one to dare to provoke.

In other layman's terms. The so-called Anheng Salt Gang. In fact, it is an armed smuggling gang with a deep background. Specializing in smuggling grassland lake salt into the customs. By the way, some ordinary traders dare not touch the sale of valuable materials into the grassland. It's different from other green forest heroes. The Salt Gang will not attack anyone they encounter along the way. Nor will they rely on the force in their hands to loot. But if someone dares to take the initiative to provoke. The Salt Gang will never back down and tolerate it. It is better to risk the destruction of the whole army. You have to fight with the provocateurs to lose both.

So when the steppe horse thieves went out to "do business". When encountering a large-scale salt gang, they usually take the initiative to take a detour. so as not to kick the iron plate with one kick. I can't get any cheap, but it hurts my bones. And the Salt Gang, no matter how big it is. Nor will they take the initiative to provoke horse thieves. In order not to arouse the hatred of all the whole grassland green forest road. In the end, the personal wealth is empty.

It's the small traders who go into the grasslands in the summer to do business. I hope to meet a Salt Gang when I return south. Grim and grim as he followed the team and fooled around. Usually the Salt Gang finds out about the hawkers' tricks. They will also be forcibly evicted either. Anyway, there are not many hawkers who dare to delay until late autumn on the grasslands and return south every year. Even if you do a good deed. Accumulate a yin virtue for yourself and your family.

Today though. The behavior of the Anheng Salt Gang is obviously not in line with the legendary rules. It's actually under the leadership of Boss Yan. Joined forces with the Lamagou guerrillas to defeat the horse thieves recruited by the Japanese devils. Undoubtedly. This behavior has broken the tacit understanding between the entire salt smuggling lake and all the prairie horse thieves. Once the matter is taken advantage of by someone with a heart. I'm afraid that in the future, the Anheng Salt Gang will no longer be able to swagger back and forth to the grassland as before. It is even very likely to be regarded as the number one target by horse thieves everywhere. Completely disqualified from entering the grasslands.

"Redbeard has friends everywhere. And all of them are friendships that can fight for him.." Secretly glanced at the guerrilla leader Wang Hong. Zhang Songling muttered quietly in his heart. Earlier, I heard from Redbeard that the Lamagou guerrillas had invited foreign aid. He wasn't surprised. After all, it is impossible for the Eighth Route Army to send only one group of men and horses to infiltrate the grassland. Friendly forces are in dangerous condition. Other brother troops rushed over to help. It's a matter of duty. There's no need to make a fuss at all.

But he didn't expect it anyway. The guerrillas were actually a group of salt barons who happened to pass through here. What's even more unexpected. This gang of salt barons is trying to help Redbeard. He didn't even care about his own future business. He would rather give up a trade route and a huge source of money that comes in thousands of dollars a year.

"This is the last time we will come to the grassland." As if I guessed what Zhang Songling was thinking. Boss Yan turned his head. Say goodbye to Redbeard very calmly." The majority shareholder has made enough money. Don't want the guys to risk freezing to death on the road again. So what will happen to you in the future, brother. Even if I want to help. It's impossible to be so coincidental. Hello dude. When you have time, remember to ask someone to bring me a letter. Brother, I will always think about you. If the days are really hard. Then they took the road and went back to the south to find me. Brother, I just need to have a bite to eat. It won't make your brother's people hungry."

"Then I'll make a note of it." Redbeard is still a picture of a hero. I can't see everything lightly." Brother, you're good to go. If you have a chance, remember to come to my side often."

"The opportunity will definitely come." Boss Yan smiled and bowed his hand. Immediately turned around. He shouted at all the people in the gray coats, "Have you rested enough? When you've had enough, get on the horse. Leave all today's seizures to my brother Wang. Let's go to Little Willow and get the cart. Go home."

"Yes." The cardigans agreed in unison. Put down the loot you just found from the Japanese. Fly and jump on the mount. In a moment. A wisp of smoke and dust rose from Zhang Songling's eyes. Roll away. Rolling across the grasslands.