Under the repeated questioning of Zhou Xingrui, Zhou Yisheng refused to give a straight answer. He had understood what his "Great-Grandpa" wanted him to do, and a sense of fear followed. Although New Army officers and soldiers looked majestic, that was only when scaring ordinary common people or small merchants. Encountering those powerful and influential people, New Army officers and soldiers were nothing special. Moreover, as someone Pu Guanshui could regard highly, Zhou Yisheng was by no means such a soldier ruffian.

Returning to pick up the families of the New Army this time was a detailed and complex plan. Pu Guanshui repeatedly instructed everyone to obey the plan and listen to commands. Zhou Yisheng was a very obedient child. He suddenly remembered a sentence Pu Guanshui told him before departure. "If you encounter any unsolvable problems, let those people come to find me. Don't act on your own."

With a high-ranking officer like Pu Guanshui backing him up, things would definitely be much easier to handle. As a local, Zhou Yisheng knew how powerful Liu Ba was in Liujiapu. As a small soldier of the New Army, Liu Ba wouldn't take him seriously at all. Moreover, he didn't want to participate in breaking any fortified village at all. He was an officer and soldier anyway, and Anhui New Army Deputy Commander Pu Guanshui was not far away. Even lending Zhou Yisheng a few guts, he wouldn't dare to act on his own like this.

"Great-Grandpa, I didn't come back alone. Our Anhui New Army Commander is nearby, and there are hundreds of brothers coming together. If you have anything to say, go talk to our Commander Lord Pu. Commander personally sent us back to see our families. Lord Pu said if there is anything, just find him to talk."

"You brought hundreds of officers and soldiers back?" Zhou Xingrui's eyes widened. He really felt incredible about this news. "Little Five, what big official have you become in the New Army now?"

Hearing this, Zhou Yisheng hurriedly explained: "Great-Grandpa, I didn't become an official. It was our Commander who knew about the disaster, so he brought us back to see our families."

"What kind of official is this Commander?" Zhou Xingrui asked.

"Ranked second in the Anhui New Army. Doesn't need to kneel when seeing the Governor. The Magistrate's rank is much lower than Commander." Zhou Yisheng hurriedly explained.

Zhou Xingrui thought for a while. He had seen the Magistrate's sedan chair, which was just so-so. Regarding official ranks and positions, Zhou Xingrui had absolutely no concept. Chinese common people only knew that big officials definitely had power. But how this power operated, the common people were completely unaware. Since Zhou Yisheng said a big official came, then a big official should have come. In this disaster year, being able to come back with such healthy complexion and clean appearance, they must have taken the water route. And those who dared to take the water route now were not ordinary people.

Zhou Xingrui asked the question he was most concerned about, "Little Five, tell the truth. Who does this big official decide for exactly?" Common people didn't care about the official positions of officials; they cared about who the officials decided for. Generally speaking, officials never decided for common people. This was the experience accumulated by common people for generations. And this experience was absolutely never wrong.

"Commander said, this time he wants to decide for the New Army brothers." Zhou Yisheng spoke of this with confidence. Pu Guanshui indeed said so. As long as he didn't get involved in breaking the fortified village and didn't cause trouble for the Commander, the Commander would definitely back him up, and that Liu Ba would count as nothing completely.

"That is deciding for you New Army, not deciding for us common people." Zhou Xingrui answered. But hearing that perhaps he could borrow the power of the big official, he was not completely unmoved.

Zhou Yisheng hurriedly answered: "Great-Grandpa, the fleet just heard someone fire a gun. Commander sent us few brothers to come and see. He is waiting for me to go back and report with the fleet at the dock now. How about you go and see with me?" An important reason he said this was also that there was a doctor on the fleet; he was anxious to let the doctor treat his sister.

Zhou Xingrui thought for a while but sighed, "Little Five, I won't go. This time we must attack the fortified village. You don't want to get involved in this matter; I won't force you either. But if you want the fellow villagers to survive, you must not let the officers and soldiers come to suppress us. Otherwise, Little Five, don't say your Great-Grandpa turns his face and doesn't recognize people."

After dropping the harsh words, Zhou Xingrui turned his head back. Hearing this conversation, many fellow villagers nearby already had expressions of hope on their faces. Zhou Xingrui shouted loudly: "Fellow villagers, have you seen a government that speaks for the common people? Little Five also said just now that the big official of the New Army sent Little Five to see his family. Why should they exert effort for us? Besides, we have already eaten the last bit of food. If we don't attack Liu Ba's fortified village, even if the big official of the New Army stays neutral, waiting one more day means starving to death."

"But since there are so many boats coming, we ask them for some food..." Still some common people had illusions.

"Haha," Zhou Xingrui sneered, "Ask officials for grain? Little Five is New Army, and the one coming is a big official of the New Army. Why should they give us grain? Flooded for so long, no one in the county gave us grain. Do we still expect people from the New Army coming from afar to give us grain? What are you thinking?"

These words extinguished everyone's hope instantly. It wasn't that no one ran to the county town trying to ask for life-saving grain, but not a single person could beg for even a grain. There was not even porridge distribution in the county. One's own county was like this; asking soldiers coming from afar for grain? It would be good if soldiers didn't harm the common people.

Seeing everyone temporarily got rid of the illusion about New Army officers, Zhou Xingrui raised the pistol in his hand high, "We have sworn an oath in front of this gun just now. If the heart is not sincere, Heaven kill me, the gun kill me. The bullet has spirit, sanctity, and eyes! Let's go! If you are men, walk forward. Your women and children are still waiting for a mouthful of life-saving food."

Hearing this, Lu Zhengping realized that the strange gunshot just now turned out to be two shots fired when everyone swore an oath. There was no meaning of targeting the fleet at all.

After Zhou Xingrui finished shouting, regardless of how many people followed behind, he took the lead and walked. The common people started walking one after another. Some held hoes, forks, or simply crude spears made of dead tree branches. Some carried ladders, presumably intending to climb the fortified village wall with ladders. The common people either buried their heads and followed Zhou Xingrui; even the common people who turned their heads to look at Zhou Yisheng didn't stop their steps. They were ragged, thin, and haggard. But no one stopped; no one begged anymore. Such a group of common people went resolutely towards the distant landlord's fortified village to survive.

Except for tattered clothes and crude weapons, the common people had nothing. They were about to engage in bloody slaughter. But these common people didn't plunder the Zhou brothers close at hand and Lu Zhengping who was a stranger. Looking at the backs of the common people, Lu Zhengping suddenly felt a kind of unbearableness in his heart. As an Insurance Corps soldier, Lu Zhengping didn't think he should let the Insurance Corps get involved in such a battle, but he himself suddenly wanted to fight with these common people very much. Because what these common people needed was merely to survive. No one had any reason to criticize such a request.

The Zhou brothers were already pulling each other walking in another direction. Lu Zhengping reached out and stopped them, "You come back to the fleet with me now."

Zhou Yisheng was surprised; Lu Zhengping's voice contained a very unfriendly attitude. This was completely different from the friendly practice of Lu Zhengping and another Insurance Corps soldier holding him to march not long ago.

"This brother, I want to go home and see my sister now." Zhou Yisheng explained.

"So many fellow villagers are going to die for nothing soon, and you want to see your sister now?" Lu Zhengping asked word by word, "Is your fucking conscience eaten by dogs?"

Ignoring whatever Zhou Yisheng wanted to say, Lu Zhengping grabbed Zhou Yisheng's shoulder, "Go back to the fleet with me now. We take your brother along. Go report the situation to the Detachment Commander for me immediately."

"Then my sister..." Zhou Yisheng still wanted to explain his reason.

"Don't you just want to see a doctor for your sister? The doctor is over at the fleet. If you really want to save your sister, go find the doctor for me now too." Lu Zhengping was already scolding Zhou Yisheng angrily. After speaking, regardless of what Zhou Yisheng wanted to do, Lu Zhengping dragged the Zhou brothers and walked back.

Seeing the common people had left, and seeing Lu Zhengping dragging people back forcibly, the squad leader of the reconnaissance team hurried to greet him with the other two soldiers. Hearing Lu Zhengping report the situation, the squad leader looked at the indignant Lu Zhengping, the baffled Zhou Yisheng, and the fearful Zhou Yizheng seriously, and just said a simple sentence, "Meet up with the main force immediately."

Seeing the comrades of the reconnaissance team return safely, a big stone in Zhang Yu's heart fell to the ground. But Lu Zhengping's highly tendentious speech made Zhang Yu furious immediately. This operation was for everyone to pick up people, not for everyone to fight. Except that Lu Zhengping didn't dare to say directly to let the Insurance Corps send troops to help the fellow villagers break the fortified village, other hint-like inflammatory language was already very clear. A small scout dared to mess around like this. If it weren't that the Insurance Corps system didn't allow beating and scolding soldiers, and the Soldiers' Committee also had enough ability to check and balance officers, Zhang Yu would almost have cursed loudly in public. Even so, Zhang Yu still said loudly grumpily: "Asking you to report the situation, just report the situation properly. Don't say other useless stuff."

Hearing this, Lu Zhengping also felt he went a bit overboard. Although the chivalrous heart unique to young people in his heart made him want to help those common people very much, no matter what, he still couldn't say the words of letting the Insurance Corps participate in the battle personally. Along the way, Lu Zhengping kept accelerating, but thinking carefully about attacking the fortified village, Lu Zhengping knew this was not as simple as imagined.

When Lu Zhengping reported the situation, Zhou Yisheng dared not utter a sound, although this concerned his family and his fellow villagers. As an old-style soldier, he didn't have the guts to express his opinion bravely like the soldiers of new-style armies like the Insurance Corps. The old army stressed hierarchy most. Except for hierarchy, officers completely lacked the righteous cause to make soldiers obey. So they had to deliberately emphasize the "unalterable principle" of hierarchy even more. Maintain the operation of the old army through various hierarchical privileges. And such a system made soldiers have to obey the will of the superior when facing things. Soldiers dared not make their own requests to the superior at all. Because they knew it was useless to raise them.

Pu Guanshui listened to Lu Zhengping's words quietly, and looked at the trembling Zhou Yisheng. He felt very regretful in his heart. As a soldier, the relationship the army should have in Pu Guanshui's ideal was the relationship between famous generals like Li Guang and soldiers recorded in history. But reality is a ruthless teacher. Pu Guanshui's military experience made him understand that was merely a legend. In the military education received in Germany, soldiers were merely combat units used for consumption. In China, even for existence like the Beiyang New Army, soldiers were just insignificant pawns in this military group. They only had the obligation to obey but no right to speak. Looking at the heartfelt initiative of the Insurance Corps soldiers, Pu Guanshui envied Chen Ke for being able to have such autonomous subordinates.

While thinking, Pu Guanshui saw Zhang Yu look at himself with a probing gaze. He didn't say anything to Zhang Yu but asked Zhou Yisheng, "Yisheng, what plans do you have?"

Being asked by Pu Guanshui like this, Zhou Yisheng hurriedly said: "Lord Pu, I want to let the military doctor see my sister." After speaking, he looked at Pu Guanshui with begging eyes. One cares about one's own affairs most. Zhou Yisheng was mentally prepared; even if beaten and scolded by Pu Guanshui, he would beg until Pu Guanshui agreed. Moreover, Commander Pu was a rare good boss. Zhou Yisheng felt his request could still get Pu Guanshui's approval. Sure enough, Pu Guanshui nodded, "This is natural; I will send a military doctor over immediately. Besides seeing a doctor for your sister, does Yisheng have other thoughts?"

Zhou Yisheng couldn't quite figure out Pu Guanshui's thoughts. He said somewhat shrinking back: "As long as I can save my sister and take my brother and sister back to Fengtai County, I have no other thoughts. Master, please fulfill this lowly person's wish by all means."

"Then those fellow villagers of yours going to attack the fortified village; do you have no other thoughts?" Pu Guanshui asked in a gentle probing tone.

Although Pu Guanshui's original intention was to let Zhou Yisheng relax—if Zhou Yisheng proposed wanting to help fellow villagers attack the fortified village, Pu Guanshui would definitely support Zhou Yisheng's idea—but this tone sounded like a thorough warning to Zhou Yisheng. That was Pu Guanshui warning Zhou Yisheng in a gentle way not to raise any other "excessive thoughts."

"Sir, this lowly person absolutely dares not cause you trouble. Being able to come back to save my family this time, this lowly person is already grateful." Zhou Yisheng answered decisively hurriedly. Honestly speaking, this wasn't polite talk either. If Pu Guanshui didn't let Zhou Yisheng go home, Zhou Yisheng had to obey orders honestly. Even if his hometown was close at hand, it wouldn't work. Otherwise, the harsh military discipline of the New Army would never spare Zhou Yisheng. The Anhui New Army claimed to be a "New Army," but there was no essential difference from other old-style armies.

Hearing this, Pu Guanshui's face sank like water, brows slightly frowned. Lu Zhengping pursed his mouth, and a look of anger appeared on his face. Instead, Zhang Yu felt these words sounded very pleasing to the ear. Publicly and privately, Zhang Yu didn't want to go save people. Publicly, dragging the fleet into unnecessary trouble would only affect the troop's plan. Everyone was in a disaster area; who saves whom? If this Liujiapu was like the current Fengtai County, and Fengtai County's situation was like Liujiapu, Zhang Yu could be sure first that Liujiapu would absolutely not send boats to Fengtai County to pick people up. As for saving Fengtai refugees, it would be good if Liujiapu didn't loot a burning house.

Privately, Zhang Yu believed that although soldiers eating grain was unalterable principles, this grain and equipment were raised by officers. Since soldiers ate the grain, they basically belonged to the officers' property. Selling lives for officers was also unalterable principles. If officers didn't speak, where was the room for soldiers to act on their own? In Zhang Yu's view, Zhou Yisheng's attitude of knowing propriety could be regarded as a model. While Lu Zhengping's mentality was a lawless appearance.

"Captain Zhang, I want to say something with the New Army brothers." Pu Guanshui said to Zhang Yu.

Looking at Pu Guanshui's expression, Zhang Yu had guessed Pu Guanshui's mind. He said seriously: "Commander Pu, my task is to pick up and drop off everyone on time. Please don't make it difficult for me, okay?" Seeing Pu Guanshui didn't speak, Zhang Yu knew his words didn't move Pu Guanshui. He continued: "Commander Pu, you were there when the plan was formulated. If you wanted to help these refugees at that time, why didn't you say it straight then? Moreover, if Brigade Commander Chen wanted to help these refugees at that time, with his straightforward nature, he would have proposed it then. Now you remember to help these refugees, but what about the plan? Commander Pu, if you help the refugees here in Liujiapu attack the fortified village, do you want to help the refugees in the next place? If you do this place by place, is this plan still going to be executed?"

Pu Guanshui listened to Zhang Yu's words silently. He instantly felt only an extreme powerlessness. Zhang Yu was right; if he saved refugees place by place, the original plan would be too late to execute. More importantly, Pu Guanshui himself didn't have enough strength to complete these tasks. The government definitely couldn't be counted on; the power of the Insurance Corps must be borrowed. But now the Insurance Corps was not under Pu Guanshui's command at all. The command power was in Zhang Yu's hands. If Zhang Yu disagreed, Pu Guanshui could only rely on New Army officers and soldiers. Were New Army officers and soldiers willing to risk their lives to break fortified villages for refugees in the disaster area? Pu Guanshui looked at Zhou Yisheng, who lowered his head cautiously beside him, and basically held no illusions in his heart.

But even if he could understand the current situation rationally, there was another voice in Pu Guanshui's chest saying completely different words to him. "Why not try? Chen Ke could make such a big thing in Fengtai County, even seeing victory over natural disasters soon. Why can't I save the fellow villagers of New Army brothers? Can save people throwing themselves into the water along the way, but can't save these common people who dare to attack the fortified village?"

These words in his heart generated a hot thing in Pu Guanshui's chest, making him restless. Pu Guanshui, who always had neat military appearance, stood up abruptly. His fingers touched the tightly buttoned collar hook, almost wanting to unbutton it. To save China from foreigners, shouldn't we first save these common people from death? But, where are the people? Where are the guns? How to tell the brothers following him, "You have to fight for the common people, to die?"

Zhang Yu stared at Pu Guanshui's movements tightly. Seeing Pu Guanshui's face turn red and white, but never speaking, he didn't press further. Zhang Yu came from a family of petty clerks; his family had always taught him how to guess the minds of those in high positions. So far, only a few people in high positions in the People's Party he couldn't see through. Zhang Yu could still guess other people's minds. As long as this impulse in Pu Guanshui's heart subsided, reality would always make Pu Guanshui quiet down. At that time, what Pu Guanshui needed was just an excuse to convince Pu Guanshui himself. And Zhang Yu had already thought of several excuses for Pu Guanshui. At that time, depending on Pu Guanshui's mind, take them out one by one to try; there would always be one that could let Pu Guanshui find a way out. Next, Zhang Yu would act completely according to the plan; just sending people and picking people up would do.

So Zhang Yu waited quietly, saying nothing.

"Sir! Please save our fellow villagers." A mournful cry suddenly erupted in the venue. The one shouting this sentence was not Zhou Yisheng, but Zhou Yisheng's third brother, Zhou Yizheng. After he was brought here with his brother, he hadn't dared to speak all along. This group of strangers was dressed neatly one by one, with good complexions, having the composure of people who had seen the big world in their gestures. Zhou Yizheng, tortured by hunger for a long time, dared not interrupt at all. But listening to these people talk, unexpectedly many people tried to save the common people, tried to help the common people conquer the fortified village. Although he didn't know what status Pu Guanshui had exactly in this group of people, it should be very high. Some hope immediately arose in his heart.

Watching Pu Guanshui prepare to act but stopped by another person who was obviously the leader, Zhou Yizheng's heart became cold again. Since the flood, he struggled on the death line every day, seeing death almost every day. His parents and sister died of hunger; his elder sister was dying. Distant relatives, close neighbors, friends around, or just fellow villagers who could greet each other when meeting, died one by one. Zhou Yizheng felt more and more despair in his heart; self-salvation seemed hopeless. Because of this, Zhou Yizheng longed more and more for someone to come and save them.

And Pu Guanshui, who was preparing to save them, looked worse and worse. Zhou Yizheng's intuition felt very keenly that Pu Guanshui was preparing to give up. If it were before, Zhou Yizheng would absolutely not dare to come and beg. He had always been honest and never dared to provoke those rich and powerful people, let alone the high officials of the Imperial Court. But at this moment, Zhou Yizheng couldn't bear it anymore. He threw himself forward and knelt at Pu Guanshui's feet, hugging Pu Guanshui's legs tightly, shouting hoarsely, "Sir! Save the fellow villagers. Sir! Save the fellow villagers."

Hearing this cry for help, Pu Guanshui's face turned iron-green, but he didn't move. Zhou Yizheng shook Pu Guanshui's leg, trying hard to find words that could convince Pu Guanshui. But he could only repeat again and again, "Sir! Save the fellow villagers. Sir! Save the fellow villagers."

Zhang Yu stared at Zhou Yizheng with disgust in his expression. But the faces of those cadres and soldiers of the reconnaissance battalion were iron-green like Pu Guanshui. Everyone gritted their teeth, fists clenched tightly. Zhou Yisheng saw his big brother begging so desperately, scared pale.

Zhou Yizheng completely couldn't see everyone's expression. Seeing Pu Guanshui silent, he just felt his begging was really unconvincing. But asking people to do things for him, Zhou Yizheng had absolutely nothing to reward. Although this man was honest, he always had backbone. He suddenly stopped begging, looked up, and said loudly: "Sir, as long as you are willing to save everyone, I will be the first to go up when attacking the fortified village; I will be the first to die. Sir, let me be the first to die."

Pu Guanshui took a deep breath. He grabbed Zhou Yizheng's shoulder, but shouted to Zhou Yisheng: "Zhou Yisheng!"

Hearing the Anhui New Army Deputy Commander, this high-ranking officer ranked top three in the Anhui New Army, shout, Zhou Yisheng was scared into kneeling on the ground with a thud. "Sir..." Zhou Yisheng only felt his heart almost stop beating. Looking up at Pu Guanshui's iron-green face, those eyes that seemed to burn with raging fire. His lips trembled, muscles on his face twitched, and he couldn't speak.

"Zhou Yisheng, you go out and pass the order. Let the New Army brothers assemble." Pu Guanshui ordered loudly.

Zhou Yisheng never knew an angry person could emit such a violent aura. That anger made Zhou Yisheng weak all over, almost collapsing completely on the ground. This New Army soldier was used to the rules of the Anhui New Army; the superior's order was heaven and absolutely could not be disobeyed. Although he also wanted to obey the order, his body couldn't move at all. An indescribable terror made Zhou Yisheng numb all over, freezing there.

Pu Guanshui ignored his subordinate. He pulled up Zhou Yizheng kneeling on the ground. Whether because the strength became unusually large under excited emotions, or because long hunger reduced Zhou Yizheng's weight severely, Pu Guanshui only felt he pulled Zhou Yizheng up like lifting a chick.

"Do you really dare to lead the charge for me?" Pu Guanshui stared tightly at Zhou Yizheng's eyes and asked.

"I dare! I dare! If I don't dare, may Heaven destroy me." Zhou Yizheng answered.

"Very good, follow me." After Pu Guanshui finished speaking, he strode out. Zhou Yizheng looked at his fifth brother shivering in place, wanted to say something, but said nothing, just following Pu Guanshui staggeringly and walking out.

The situation changed drastically in an instant, running completely counter to what Zhang Yu thought. Zhang Yu's face turned iron-green with anger. He stared tightly at the backs of Pu Guanshui and Zhou Yizheng. His teeth couldn't help grinding loudly. Just then, he heard someone behind him say: "Captain Zhang, let's also hold a Party member meeting."

Angry Zhang Yu turned his head, only to see the speaker was Li Zhao, Political Commissar of the Waterway Detachment. Not knowing if it was a psychological effect, in Zhang Yu's view, the soldiers seemed to move closer to Li Zhao a lot. Li Zhao, who took two steps forward, seemed to be leading the cadres and soldiers to coerce Zhang Yu at this time.

"Comrades, our task is not to attack the fortified village." Zhang Yu shouted angrily.

No one answered. The cadres and soldiers just stared at Zhang Yu closely, saying nothing.

Zhang Yu was also quite angry, but he could become this detachment commander, occupying a deputy regiment level position. If he didn't know the significance and decisive status of the Party Committee, he could absolutely not be sitting in this position until now.

Sighing deeply, Zhang Yu finally responded, "Then let's hold a meeting!"

After speaking, Zhang Yu turned his head and glared fiercely at Zhou Yisheng who was still kneeling on the ground, "Our Insurance Corps is holding a meeting; you get out first." Zhang Yu finally couldn't help cursing.