Just as He Zudao was pulling up the old man kneeling to him, a woman's scream came over. This sound immediately made everyone look over. It turned out that Third Company Commander Wu Liao was forcibly taking back a steamed bun from a female commoner. Wu Liao had never snatched anything from a woman's hand in his life. The reason he hardened his heart to take back the bun was simple. Starving people could absolutely not resist the temptation of eating food, and their stomachs simply couldn't stand such stimulation. When the First and Second Companies went out to transport grain and materials, the Third and Fourth Companies did the work of maintaining order. He had encountered victims who "died from overeating." Reasoning was useless facing people who had been hungry for a long time. So Wu Liao had to adopt some tough measures.

The soldiers of the Third Company could understand, but the Second Company didn't have such experience. He Zudao knew Wu Liao did nothing wrong, so he ordered the soldiers of the Second Company around him to help. At these critical moments, as a leader, one always has to express a stance. He Zudao knew that someone would definitely come out to gossip about this matter. If he didn't issue such an order, Wu Liao might have to face many people talking behind his back alone. From the grateful look in Wu Liao's eyes, He Zudao understood that his action received support.

After taking back all the buns, He Zudao ordered these people to be arranged to rest on the boats, and then began the pre-war mobilization.

He Zudao's personality was very shy and quiet. Since becoming a Political Commissar and often having to hold meetings, his voice had been practiced to be louder and louder. To make his high-pitched and clear young voice heard clearly by everyone, He Zudao had put in a lot of effort. "The land these fellow villagers want to farm is not their own. Everyone knows this, right?"

"Yes," many comrades answered.

"Do you think these people should starve to death? Hmm. Comrades, answer me!"

"No," many people shouted.

"What's the matter with those who don't speak? Do you think these people should starve to death? I'll ask again, do you think these people should starve to death?"

"No!" All comrades shouted this time.

"I know everyone is afraid because we are going to fight! Fighting costs human lives; not only the enemy will die, but we will also die. Whoever says they are not afraid of death is lying. As the Political Commissar, I'll say this upfront: I will stand at the very front of the team. The enemy can hit me first, so I am also afraid." He Zudao's face was gloomy; these words were not a joke. Before appointing He Zudao as Political Commissar, Chen Ke had talked with He Zudao. Regarding the position of the Political Commissar on the battlefield during combat, he told He Zudao unmistakably. The Insurance Corps was newly built; to establish a style, Political Commissars were absolutely not allowed to shrink back in safety. They must be at the forefront to boost morale. He Zudao agreed.

Seeing the miserable state of the victims, He Zudao, who originally decided to join the revolution to repay Chen Ke for saving his life, now suddenly felt an anger from the bottom of his heart. If they hadn't met the Insurance Corps, it would probably be impossible for these people to last until the grain harvest in this big swamp. There were tens of thousands of victims gathered in the county town now. If they couldn't get land, once the grain in the Insurance Corps' hands was eaten up, it would immediately be a great tragedy. Although Chen Ke was calm on his face, whenever talking about these things, that anxiety still couldn't be hidden. He Zudao knew that Chen Ke could still rely on luck to rescue comrades in Shanghai. But to get rid of landlords in Anhui, such luck couldn't always be there. Zhang Youliang of Yuezhangji had about a hundred people under him; Chen Ke alone couldn't get rid of them.

Even adding up Party members and other activists, the People's Party now only had about a hundred people. There were not many who really dared to fight. Moreover, the backbones Qi Huishen, Chen Tianhua, and Wu Xingchen were not in Anhui, so he must stand up to lead everyone in combat. How to enable the Insurance Corps soldiers to have sufficient combat effectiveness had always been a very difficult matter for He Zudao. These people encountered in the swamp were exactly the best example. The Insurance Corps could bring these 480 soldiers to the battlefield relying on the prestige accumulated in the past and the relief for the victims in the past. And now, he must fully seize any opportunity to boost morale and must tell everyone a bright future to guarantee the will to fight.

"We are not fighting to throw away our lives; we are fighting to save our own relatives. Our Insurance Corps never lies to everyone. Don't look at us having food and drink now, but this grain simply can't last for a few months. If we can't start rush-planting immediately, in a few months, our Insurance Corps, and our parents and sisters, will all go hungry. Everyone knows what we will be like then by looking at these people, right?"

Listening to He Zudao's roar, the soldiers who had just seen the miserable state of these victims with their own eyes all remained silent. People are like this; if they haven't fallen to that stage themselves, no one will think they will be that miserable. The soldiers in the Insurance Corps were very young and hadn't seen such a terrible disaster. They hadn't been hungry for a few days before joining the Insurance Corps. So they themselves were not clear about how miserable it could be. Some of them even felt the flood wasn't that terrible. Until today, everyone saw the tragic reality.

"Now, we are going to attack Zhang Youliang. Why? Because this person refuses to take out the land for everyone to farm. He just wants to starve everyone to death. His family has grain and doesn't worry about the flood. And when everyone starves to death, he can take the opportunity to snatch everyone's land. We can't control natural disasters, but letting these people starve to death alive is a man-made disaster. The Insurance Corps can always manage man-made disasters, right?" He Zudao's eyes were sharp. Accompanied by these explanations, he only felt a righteous spirit suddenly born in his chest. A cognition that he represented justice. And after listening to He Zudao's words, a whisper spread in the Insurance Corps team.

"If you have something to say, stand up and say it," He Zudao said loudly.

"Political Commissar, this year is a disaster year; we attack Zhang Youliang, so be it. But what about next year?" A soldier asked. Hearing this, there was another whisper in the team. Yes, they were about to fight immediately, and they might die; such questions were what everyone cared about.

"As the Political Commissar, I can explain to everyone clearly now what Battalion Commander Chen Ke said. This land belongs to our common people ourselves. This year we snatch the land back and will distribute the land to everyone to farm. If anyone wants to snatch the land distributed to everyone, let alone next year, no matter how long in the future, as long as we still have guns in our hands, as long as the Insurance Corps still has one person who can fight with a gun, then no one should think about snatching the land from our hands again."

In the end, He Zudao shouted loudly: "Moreover, these lands will be managed by our Insurance Corps in the future. Our Insurance Corps only collects thirty percent rent. Except for this thirty percent rent, the Insurance Corps will never increase taxes!"

With a buzz, the team erupted. Everyone looked at He Zudao excitedly and looked at each other. Owning one's own land is the instinct of farmers. Everyone saw joy in others' eyes. When the Insurance Corps recruited soldiers, there were very few middle peasants. Not a single child of landlords or rich peasants was wanted. Everyone naturally had no resistance to dividing the landlords' land. And He Zudao shouting "only collect thirty percent rent, never increase taxes"—this greatly stimulated the nerves of the Insurance Corps soldiers. Land rent in these times generally exceeded sixty percent; thirty percent rent was a life like heaven. That meant the common people could truly get the bulk of the harvest. These soldiers of peasant origin immediately got spirited.

"In our team, even if a comrade dies in battle, his family will definitely be distributed land, and will be distributed more and better." He Zudao continued the pre-war mobilization.

He Zudao's words were heard clearly not only by the soldiers but also by those common people. That old man jumped down from the boat, squeezed into the crowd with quick steps, and squeezed in front of He Zudao. "Benefactor, is what you said true? Joining your Insurance Corps, after attacking Zhang Youliang, land can be distributed? Only thirty percent rent will be collected in the future?"

"Grandpa, I told everyone here. I will absolutely not lie to everyone. If I lie to everyone, may heaven and earth destroy me," He Zudao responded loudly.

"Then can I join our team now?" The old man grabbed He Zudao and said anxiously.

"Grandpa, fighting kills people. You..."

"Young man, I know you dislike that I'm old. If I die in battle, can my family be distributed land?"

"Grandpa. You..."

"Young man, I, a bag of old bones, should have died long ago. As long as I die in battle and my family can be distributed land, I will follow you to fight. You just said you want to stand at the very front. Young man, I'm not good at anything else; I'll stand in front of you as a shield. Let them kill me first. Let them kill me first." The old man said anxiously.

Of course, He Zudao couldn't agree. People of unknown origin couldn't be employed. This was the rule Chen Ke set for this operation. Once this precedent was opened, the trouble would be endless. He flatly refused.

The old man didn't give up; he continued: "I have been to the Zhang family fortified village many times. I know the ways inside. Let me guide the way; I know how to go in that fortified village."

Hearing this, He Zudao smiled bitterly in his heart. The topographical map of the Zhang family fortified village had long been drawn. The old man's information was meaningless. He asked people to half-persuade and half-pull the old man aside. Only then did he continue to shout: "If we don't fight now, in three months, our grain will be eaten up. It will be winter then; we can't farm even if we want to. At that time, everyone will really starve to death. Anyway, it's death. If we die now, our relatives won't have to die. If we die this year, our relatives won't starve to death for hundreds of years to come. Is everyone willing to go fight?"

"Political Commissar He! Do you dare to swear an oath that what you said didn't deceive us?" A soldier shouted.

"Of course I can swear, and I dare to use Battalion Commander Chen Ke to swear with me. If I deceive everyone, Battalion Commander Chen Ke and I will both be destroyed by heaven and earth and die without a burial place." He Zudao shouted with awe-inspiring righteousness.

In these times, the common people still believed in such heavy oaths very much. Hearing He Zudao shout this, everyone believed that what He Zudao said was not false. Everyone was extremely excited. At this time, they heard He Zudao shout: "Capture Yuezhangji, everyone has land to farm."

The slogan was the combat goal; the slogan was the outlook for the future. As soon as such a concise and clear slogan was shouted, all the soldiers understood everything. Everyone shouted: "Capture Yuezhangji, everyone has land to farm." "Capture Yuezhangji, everyone has land to farm." "Capture Yuezhangji, everyone has land to farm."

In this disaster year, in the days when the flood destroyed the old social order, everyone gathered together just for survival. Now this group finally told the soldiers what to do in the future besides living now. Comrades who saw the future direction were completely attracted by such a clear path and reached a combat consensus.

Looking at the excited soldiers, Chai Qingguo was very encouraged. He had a look of high spirit. Gao Yujie didn't have much reaction; he just looked at He Zudao thoughtfully. And Wu Liao was encouraged on one hand, but on the other hand, he wanted to restore order quickly. Because in the marching regulations, noise was not allowed. If this roar of hundreds of people was heard by the people of Yuezhangji, it would be terrible.

Hua Xiongmao was currently inside the wall of the Yuezhangji fortified village. His left arm strangled Zhang Youliang's neck, and his right hand held a knife. Hearing the faint voice seemingly coming from the horizon, he felt joy in his heart. In the military training these days, he had long been accustomed to the sound of slogans during drills. Just hearing it, he could confirm it was the voice of the Insurance Corps' main force.

Zhang Youliang's jaw had been dislocated by Hua Xiongmao. The muscles on his painful face twisted, but he also heard this sound. After all, he was a person who had participated in many wars. This sound was the sound of hundreds or thousands of soldiers roaring together. This was the prelude to launching an attack.

Xu Dian held a long spear in his hand. He stood panting beside the two, assuming a thrusting posture. In front of them, dozens of family servants and lackeys held knives and raised guns. Because the two had their backs to the wall, these people surrounded the three in the center in a semi-encirclement posture. But Zhang Youliang was in Hua Xiongmao's hands; these people hesitated to act for fear of hurting the hostage and didn't dare to get too close. Plus Xu Dian would stab fiercely at anyone trying to get close from time to time, forcing that person to retreat. So it wasn't easy to approach.

When Zhang Youliang had made up his mind to detain the two, Hua Xiongmao had already seen through Zhang Youliang's thoughts. The reason the Insurance Corps sent two people here was originally to use the "degrees/titles" of the two to scare Zhang Youliang. This was also the reason why Yuwen Badu was not allowed to come with Hua Xiongmao this time. If Yuwen Badu came, Zhang Youliang might not dare to touch Hua Xiongmao, but he wouldn't be polite to Yuwen Badu.

It was just that instant; Hua Xiongmao had made up his mind. During the preparation to rescue the comrades imprisoned in Shanghai, Chen Ke taught everyone some authentic "killing techniques" without reservation. Before Zhang Youliang could make the next move, Hua Xiongmao pounced. His target was not Zhang Youliang, but the person on Zhang Youliang's right. Hua Xiongmao didn't know this was Zhang Youliang's third son. The reason the target was this person was simple. There were two people beside Zhang Youliang; one of them had angrily rebuked Hua Xiongmao with "Fart." But he only roared this once. There was anger and a kind of fear in that voice and attitude. Hua Xiongmao understood the mentality of this kind of person. He was indeed awed by Hua Xiongmao's identity as a Military Provincial Graduate.

And the person Hua Xiongmao wanted to get rid of first had not lost emotional control at all from beginning to end. He was also angry, and fearless. The actual situation was indeed so; seeing Hua Xiongmao pounce, that person's first reaction was actually not panic, but curling up his body preparing to kick Hua Xiongmao's lower abdomen with his foot. If Hua Xiongmao just wanted to catch him, this move would be quite good. But this person judged wrong. Hua Xiongmao's target was merely that person's throat. After the throat cartilage is crushed, a person won't die immediately but will die of painful suffocation after the trachea closes. Hua Xiongmao had a reason for striking such a ruthless blow. The feeling Zhang Youliang gave Hua Xiongmao was too familiar; he was too much like Hua Xiongmao's father.

Chen Ke had discussed the issue of class struggle at Party meetings. Landlords were not born bad guys. If a person wanted to succeed, they must serve a certain force loyally. The object of revolutionaries' loyalty was their own country, while the object of landlords' loyalty was their own family. Everyone wasn't stupid; if a person was only for his own benefit, everyone knew it clearly. If one wanted to convince the public, then one must serve everyone's interests. Hua Xiongmao knew very well that if his father made such a decision, he wouldn't be afraid even if he detained people with degrees, wouldn't be afraid even if dealing with organized armed forces. Then even if he captured such a person as a hostage, the only sentence they would shout would be, "Kill us all." Such people were capable of making decisions with backbone. And that angry and fearful person wouldn't order his old father's life to be taken because he dared not take responsibility. But the disciple who could hold his breath and was loyal to the family destiny might not dare not to strike.

Hua Xiongmao had confidence in his skills. After crushing that dangerous person's throat, he still had enough time to subdue Zhang Youliang. So his attack was fast and ruthless. Completely disregarding taking a kick, he must take the other party's life. He did it. After hundreds and thousands of trainings, Hua Xiongmao's fingers gripped the enemy's throat. With just an exertion of force, a *ka-la* sound crushed the cartilage of that person's throat.

And Zhang Youliang also reacted at this time. Not only was he not panicked, but on the contrary, seeing his third son's throat crushed, Zhang Youliang's aging body moved; he pounced towards Hua Xiongmao instead.