DDT - Chapter 108
Chapter 108: Tycoon's Daughter (16)
In the blink of an eye, the New Year of the Dragon Kingdom's old calendar was approaching. Although the new government, which had taken power after the fall of the previous dynasty, had promoted the use of the Gregorian calendar throughout the nation in line with the West, the people of the Dragon Kingdom were unwilling to discard the traditions that were in their very bones, passed down from generation to generation.
Thus, every year when the old calendar's New Year arrived, the entire Dragon Kingdom would burst into life. People would shop for festive goods, prepare fireworks, and families would gather from all corners of the country for a reunion dinner. They would set off firecrackers and fireworks, using the smoky, festive air to wash away the bad luck of the year that was about to pass and joyfully welcome the new one.
Now, even with the Japanese Army lurking like a tiger just outside the city, and even with several of the Dragon Kingdom's cities having already fallen, the living still placed their hopes in their ancestors and the guardian dragon gods of the kingdom. They prayed for divine protection to repel the invaders.
Huaping City hadn't had a night market in several years. Recently, perhaps because the executioner's blade hung over their necks, with the Japanese Army so close that they could flatten the city at any moment, or perhaps because the new government's authority was steadily eroding, the citizens of Huaping City, with the help of students from various academies, spontaneously began to set up night market stalls. The sounds of hammering echoed as they prepared to hawk New Year's goods and fireworks.
When the new government's patrol squad saw the long lines of stalls stretching for several streets, their first instinct was to interfere. However, the crowd was large, and they were all locals. The patrol squad had come to Huaping City with the new government's army and had no sense of belonging. Over the years, they had grown accustomed to throwing their weight around, and their relationship with the local populace was extremely tense. In previous years, a single move from the squad would have been enough to make the citizens retreat in defeat.
But for some reason, this year, the citizens who usually scattered at the sight of the squad remained completely unfazed.
The squad leader was not having it. Where was he supposed to put his pride?
Seeing the patrol squad arrive to cause trouble, students from the various academies quickly dropped what they were doing and gathered from afar.
The squad leader slammed his military baton on the ground. "Who the fuck told you to set up all this crap on the street?! Take it down, now! Do you believe we'll smash every last fucking thing?!"
The dozens of men in his squad tightened their grips on their batons, waving them menacingly with expressions of utter contempt.
The students exchanged glances, then suddenly dispersed, running toward the sides of the street.
The squad leader tapped his baton on the ground smugly, certain that this group of young students had lost their nerve and were about to flee. But strangely, the local citizens of Huaping City remained rooted to the spot, showing no intention of running. They simply stopped what they were doing and turned to stare at the squad leader.
The squad leader's scalp tingled under their gazes. He felt he needed to give these fools who didn't know their place a show of force. He led his squad forward a few steps, but before he could say anything, he saw the stall vendors pull out iron rods and large machetes that had been hidden under their stalls. Even those with the least to offer had brought out the large cleavers they used for chopping vegetables at home.
Before the squad could process what was happening, the students who had run to the sides of the street returned, carrying long iron rods or bundles of steel rebar. They formed a line at the entrance to the street, creating an impenetrable wall in front of the stalls.
A few of the tallest and strongest-looking boys at the front took several sharp steps forward, swinging their iron rods with a sound that cut through the air as they glared menacingly at the squad leader.
The squad leader didn't last two minutes before realizing the situation was not in his favor. He hastily led his men away, not forgetting to toss a threat over his shoulder before leaving, "You motherfuckers just wait."
A chorus of boos followed them. The squad leader felt he had lost all face and practically jogged back toward the new government's military headquarters. He seethed with resentment for these disobedient citizens and arrogant students, while also cursing how Commander Hou had gradually taken over the city defense forces over the years, stripping his patrol squad of its power. After a former squad leader had accidentally shot and killed a stall vendor with his firearm, an order had come from above to confiscate all firearms from the patrol squads.
If he had a gun in a situation like today, would these snot-nosed brats whose hair hadn't even fully grown in have dared to challenge him?!
He was going back right now! Immediately! Instantly! He was going to apply for a temporary firearm permit! Once he got it, he would make these students kneel on the ground and call him daddy!
The faces of the squad members following him were a mixture of colors. This was an utter humiliation!
Watching the patrol squad flee in disarray, the students happily stomped their iron rods on the ground. It was a great relief.
The local vendors resumed their preparations. A few of the more anxious ones came over to ask questions, but the student leaders reassured them, telling them to carry on without worry.
The students were eager and visibly excited.
The lead student still offered a few words of caution, reminding everyone to be careful.
This New Year's street market operation was, in fact, secretly planned by the Secret Party. The student members who had joined the party were the ones leading the charge.
Huaping City had stalled the Japanese Army's advance into the Dragon Kingdom, much to the displeasure of the Japanese emperor. In his eyes, the Japanese Army was well-equipped and had support from multiple sides; conquering the Dragon Kingdom should have been a piece of cake. Now, J Nation and Y Nation were also applying pressure from the shadows. After all, if Japan could completely swallow the Dragon Kingdom, J Nation and Y Nation would gain more advantages and resources in their war in the West. The Dragon Kingdom was a large pie, and they all wanted a slice.
Various units of the Japanese Army began to converge on Huaping City. Supplies and munitions were being prepared for deployment. At the latest, within a month or two after the New Year, the Japanese Army would launch another large-scale offensive.
As soon as the Japanese Army made a move, the Secret Party received intelligence from their informants. The party felt the time was ripe. The new government's army was not worth considering—they were useless. Whether the Dragon Kingdom could escape its predicament and even launch a counterattack depended on the Secret Party itself.
In just a few days, the Secret Party had assigned dozens of missions, and its members were busy spinning in circles.
Meanwhile, the patrol squad leader and his men rushed to the military headquarters. The men waited in the courtyard while the squad leader strode up and knocked on the door of the city defense office.
The person in charge of the office was one of Commander Hou's trusted men, Director Liang. Director Liang was now responsible for nearly all matters, big and small, concerning the city defense forces. Unless something monumental happened, Commander Hou generally did not make an appearance.
The squad leader walked in and sat down on the sofa in front of the desk, casually calling him "Old Liang," completely oblivious to the look of disdain in the director's eyes.
After whining and complaining in the office for over half an hour, Director Liang refused to budge. He either claimed that the new government's army had extremely strict firearm regulations that were beyond his authority to approve, or that the troops upstairs didn't even have enough firearms for themselves, so there were none to spare.
No matter how much the squad leader pleaded, Director Liang just insisted that it was very difficult and the permit could not be approved.
Finally, Director Liang grew annoyed and told the squad leader to be careful, then got up and left the city defense office.
The squad leader was furious. He remembered the old days when he was a big shot in the city, with hundreds of brothers following him. As for firearms, the newer the model, the sooner he got to use it.
Now, hah, he couldn't even get his hands on a pistol, and his subordinates were dwindling. Damn it all.
He stood up, kicked the sofa, and walked toward the door. Just as his foot crossed the threshold, it occurred to him that someone of Director Liang's rank would definitely be issued a firearm. His eyes darted toward Director Liang's desk.
Leaving the military headquarters, the members of the patrol squad were smart enough not to say a word. One look at their leader's dark face told them things hadn't gone well.
The leader felt the pistol hidden in his pocket. Good thing Director Liang kept his gun in a drawer, he thought. He probably never imagined someone would be bold enough to go through his desk, right?
Hmph, he couldn't be blamed for this. It was Director Liang's fault for not approving his request.
The leader took his gang of brothers and returned to the market entrance. After all this delay, the market was nearly set up and would probably be open for business by evening.
Because of the patrol squad's earlier harassment, the students had organized themselves into small groups to take turns guarding the street entrance, preventing the vendors from being harmed.
Seeing the squad leader approaching again, looking menacing, the students immediately went on alert. The student responsible for signaling blew a whistle. The student leader, who had been in the middle of the street discussing night patrols, immediately ran toward the entrance.
The two sides faced off once more. The student leader arrived and asked with a frown, "What exactly do you want?"
The squad leader was fuming. "Setting up this kind of mess in the city is forbidden! Otherwise, you'll be charged with treason!"
The students were not the least bit intimidated. "When was this rule established? We haven't seen any related documents issued!"
The squad leader gritted his teeth in anger. He abruptly pulled the pistol from his pocket and pointed it straight at the student leader. His threatening intent could not have been more obvious.
The students immediately tensed up. A few of them looked to their leader. The student leader shook his head at them, then calmly pulled a pistol from his own trouser pocket.
The onlookers were startled and silently took a few steps back. For the past two years, the patrol squad had not been authorized to carry firearms. The fact that he had one now most likely meant he had just gotten it from the military headquarters. But how did this student have a firearm as well?
Before the student leader accepted the mission, the organization had made it clear to him that the new government's army was largely incapable of managing the night market anymore. The only ones who might interfere were the irregular, outsourced patrol squads. These squads were not authorized to carry firearms, and the organization had ensured they would be unable to apply for any. However, as a precaution, and because war was imminent and the city could descend into chaos at any moment with people looking to loot, the organization had made the carefully considered decision to arm the students.
Thus, some of the students under the Secret Party's organization had been issued firearms.
Just now, when the other students had looked at their leader, they were asking if they should draw their weapons as well.
The student leader was not at all flustered. He and the squad leader pointed their guns at each other. Then, he advised, "The patrol squads don't have any firearm quotas right now, do they? I don't know where you got that gun, but if a homicide occurs on the street in broad daylight, I don't think you'll be able to escape a military tribunal, will you, Captain? You'll probably pay with your life."
The student leader lowered his gun slightly. "I don't want to get involved in a murder case either."
The squad leader immediately hesitated. He wasn't like the official leaders or officers with military ranks who had kill quotas. If he caused a death, he would definitely not be able to escape. Then he thought, if he, a minor officer in the patrol squad affiliated with the military, couldn't even get a gun, how could this student possibly have a real one?
It must be a fake to scare people!
Since he couldn't take the brat's life, he could still teach him a lesson! Crippling a hand or a leg would be nice.
I bet your gun has no bullets! the squad leader thought.
Then, a smirk crossed his lips, and he pulled the trigger, aiming for the student leader's shoulder.
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