Chapter 218: Lice Don’t Itch When There Are Too Many, Debts Don’t Worry When There Are Too Many
“We do need some weapons support. The little devils have never relaxed their city entry checks, not even for convoys doing business with Ruixin General Store.”
“Now the comrades in the city only have a few C96 pistols, and we really do need some weapons and ammunition support.” Old Luo nodded solemnly, not slapping his face to look fat and insisting on being stubborn, but very frankly admitting it.
“However, if you provide weapons, will it affect you?”
Compared to this batch of supplies from the little devils, in his eyes, Cao Weida’s safety was more important.
If this matter would lead to Cao Weida being suspected, he absolutely would not agree!
Cao Weida shook his head and reassured, “Don’t worry, providing arms to you won’t implicate me.”
With the navy occupying that army armory as backing, taking out a portion of the Japanese Army’s arms would all be blamed on that exploded armory.
No matter how they investigated, it absolutely wouldn’t trace back to him, just like the previous Tokyo Hotel Assassination Case.
“That’s good.” Old Luo breathed a sigh of relief, “How many weapons can you provide? If it’s convenient, tell me first so I can select suitable manpower.”
Hearing that support was needed, Cao Weida immediately counted on his fingers: “I can provide 10 Type 99 light machine guns, 30 rifles, is 100 melon grenades enough? If you want mortars, I can get two.”
“Enough, enough, forget the mortars, they’re hard to hide, and we don’t have anyone who knows how to use them.” Old Luo hurriedly stopped him. To be honest, hearing Cao Weida list the weapons one by one, he was completely stunned.
Good grief, with these weapons, forget a guerrilla team, he could form a whole platoon!
And one with plentiful firepower at that!
With these weapons, what guerrilla team? It was practically a regular army!!
Speaking of which, compared to these weapons, their Underground Party’s weapons were downright meager!
To prevent resistance elements from causing destruction in the city, the Japanese Army controlled weapons extremely strictly. Whether Communist Party or Kuomintang special agents, acquiring weapons was extremely difficult.
Mostly relying on capturing enemy weapons, obtaining small quantities through secret transport lines or purchases, weapons were extremely scarce.
Therefore, many times when a group executing an exterminate traitors mission needed weapons but was short on equipment, borrowing from other groups with relatively ample weapon stores was routine!
Look at them—what C96 pistols, they come with light machine guns, and can even get mortars.
He looked at Cao Weida with shock and suspicion, especially at his completely untroubled expression, and hesitated, “Cao Ye, can I ask you a question?”
“Go ahead.”
“That is… the Tokyo Hotel Assassination Case a few days ago—those weapons and ammunition weren’t provided by you, were they?”
No wonder Old Luo suspected this; the weapon configurations were too similar.
Cao Weida hesitated a bit, but ultimately nodded and admitted, “Yes, I provided the weapons. It’s all to resist Japan, so I naturally have to do my humble part. I’m still holding a Military Statistics Bureau captain rank.”
“So that’s how it is.” Old Luo thought to himself, as expected—his guess was right.
He had thought Military Statistics Bureau special agents’ channels were indeed more numerous than their Underground Party’s, but not to the point of suddenly getting so many weapons, even using mortars.
Now it turned out it was this capable person Cao Weida helping.
“With this batch of weapons, the action to hijack the supplies will be much easier.”
He didn’t ask in detail where these weapons came from; there was no need.
“It’s all for the country and nation, so I won’t stand on ceremony with you. Anyway, our organization already owes you plenty; now it’s like lice too many don’t itch, debts too many don’t worry!”
This action was extremely important. If Cao Weida could provide weapons and ammunition support, Old Luo naturally had no reason to refuse.
Old Luo’s self-teasing made Cao Weida chuckle, “You said it yourself—it’s for the country and nation, so no need to stand on ceremony with me.”
“Alright, less chit-chat, time is tight, let’s get to action.”
“I’ll put the weapons in Half-tail Hutong.”
After both sides agreed, Cao Weida first went to the courtyard in Half-tail Hutong and put all the weapons and ammunition inside.
Then, hurrying along, he rushed toward Sesame Hutong.
The action would take place at night; he now had to show his face in the courtyard to completely clear his suspicion.
At the courtyard house entrance, two armed guards respectfully said, “Cao Ye, you’re back.”
They were all loyal and reliable brothers from Little Ear’s group, specially responsible for the courtyard house’s security.
They ate and lived entirely in the front courtyard, a total of ten brothers, each with a service pistol—this had been specially approved by Ono Shiota before.
“Mm, thanks for your hard work.” He handed over a pack of cigarettes tucked under his arm: “Take it for the brothers to smoke.”
These two were named Zhang San and Wang Meng—ordinary names, ordinary looks, but honest characters, very loyal to him.
These brothers were his own for guarding home and courtyard, so Cao Weida naturally wasn’t stingy—not only giving full monthly pay, but also frequent little perks.
“Thanks, Cao Ye!” Zhang San and Wang Meng grinned sheepishly and took them without any pretense.
They all knew Cao Ye’s way of doing things very well; fake politeness would be out of place.
“Master, why are you back so late? Have you had dinner?” Just entering the inner courtyard, he was spotted by Xinghong.
“Not yet, have someone bring something simple to tide me over.”
“Quick, make a dish for Master.” Xinghong pulled Cao Weida inside, walking and asking with concern:
“Yesterday the city entry checks were strict again, and you didn’t come back so late—we sisters were worried to death.”
“Don’t worry, the street checks weren’t for traitors, but to catch a greedy, murdering, loot-taking inside thief.” At this point, Cao Weida wanted to laugh.
What nonsense inside thief—no one knew the killer better than him: it was none other than himself, Cao Weida!
Originally, he had just impulsively wanted to fake a crime scene to mislead the little devils’ case-solving direction.
But unexpectedly, things developed unusually smoothly; the little devils’ attention was really drawn to the vanished ‘inside thief.’
And that inside thief had long been buried by him in some deserted spot—if the little devils could find it, that would be ghostly.
He didn’t know if the little devils truly confirmed the perpetrator as the ‘inside thief’ or were doing it deliberately, but anyway, the development was what he hoped to see; he didn’t care about the rest.
“Scary! A murdering, loot-taking inside thief?” Xinghong was clearly frightened, “Master, who was killed?”
“A die-hard pro-Japanese element.”
“Isn’t that just a traitor?! Good riddance!”
Cao Weida amusingly glanced at the beauty who had been somewhat frightened before but was now gloating, pinched her tender cheek, and laughed:
“You, say less of that kind of thing in the future, lest disaster comes from the mouth. Remember, walls have ears.”
Although a word or two from his family wouldn’t affect his current favored status, being cautious in all things was never wrong.
He absolutely wouldn’t get arrogant just because he was ‘in favor’ now. If those little devils really went berserk, who knew what they might do.
Even if they wouldn’t now, who knew about later?
Those little devils had no humanity!
“Oh, I get it.” Xinghong stuck out her tongue; she realized she had been a bit loose-lipped.
“You.” Cao Weida shook his head and strode into the hall.
“Master, you’re back.”
“Master.”
The concubines of various beauties greeted him coquettishly one by one.
“Mm, all sit.”
“These few days, all of you behave, don’t go out on the streets if you can avoid it. If you need to buy something, tell the servants to help buy it, or directly telephone the shop to have it delivered.”
Whenever there were searches, that was when order was most chaotic.
Although with his name, it was unlikely any fool would dare provoke his concubines, but minimizing trouble was still best.
Especially tonight and tomorrow, there might be a big action.
Who knew if they might really break the sky open then; if they ran into the gun muzzle, who knew if those little devils would still give him face?
So, the best way was to stay in the courtyard and not go anywhere.
“Yes, Master.”
“Don’t worry, Master, we won’t go out, staying home is pretty good.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
“Us sisters play some mahjong at home when idle, it’s so much fun, no need to go out in wind and sun.”
These concubines were quite obedient. Like Du Shiniang and Xinghong, they had been trained from young, with obedience at the core.
Ru Qiulan had the demeanor of a great lady, rarely leaving the big manor gates since childhood.
Though now just a concubine, compared to life in Ruizi Mansion, it was far more comfortable, with so many sisters, she didn’t feel bored even staying in.
Mohe had her own opinions, but at bottom, her upbringing was still three obediences and four virtues, marry a chicken follow the chicken.
Master said not to go out, so sensible and obedient her naturally had no objection.
As for Liu Rusi… she was even less likely to go out.
Although days had passed, the search for her hadn’t stopped a moment; her gunshot wound wasn’t fully healed yet—she’d have to be dumb to go out and throw herself into the net.
As long as staying in the mansion, with Cao Weida’s relationship, no fool would dare come search.
“Alright, as long as you know, all go back to your rooms.”
The concubines obediently returned to their rooms. Liu Rusi, walking last, slowed a few steps, and after they all left, leaned to his ear and whispered:
“Master, Rusi still needs a back scrubber, come quick, I’ll have the maidservant boil water now.”
Rolling hot breath puffed on his ear, making Cao Weida’s heart itch.
He patted her plump buttocks, sending real ripples, “You little demon, quite good at seducing, go on, I’ll come serve you after dinner.”
Hearing the answer she wanted, Liu Rusi satisfiedly stood, cast a flirtatious glance full of charm, and swayed her hips out.
