Chapter 7: That Someone Who Hasn't Betrayed Us Yet

(I)

"Reporting to the Platoon Leader, let me be the one to deliver the letters to Medical Officer Liu and County Magistrate Wang! I was in Zhang Village just a few days ago, so I know the way!" Guan Shan volunteered again as he handed the two letters to Dong Dahai.

"Good! That works!" Dong Dahai readily handed the letters back to Guan Shan.

"Platoon Leader, could you issue me a rifle? I’m thinking that Medical Officer Liu and the wounded soldiers over there don't have weapons, and I might need to cover their evacuation... If that’s not possible, a few extra grenades would do!" Guan Shan seized the opportunity to make his request.

Dong Dahai pondered for a moment, then turned and shouted, "Wang Lei, take Shan-zi to the armory and get him a rifle! And throw in a few grenades too!"

"Yes, sir!" Wang Lei replied with a sharp salute.

"Thank you, Platoon Leader!" Guan Shan was surprised and delighted that it had been so easy to secure a weapon, and he thanked Dong Dahai profusely.

"Don't mention it. We're all moving out anyway, so it doesn't matter who carries it. Just keep in mind that you'll have to turn it back in later; consider that a heads-up," Dong Dahai said, pulling a small notebook from his pocket to quickly write out a requisition slip.

"Yes, understood!" Guan Shan tucked the letters into his satchel, stood at attention to salute, and took the slip from Dong Dahai. He followed Wang Lei out at a light jog, but, distracted, he nearly collided with someone.

"My apologies, so sorry!" Guan Shan quickly apologized.

"No worries, no worries! Go on with your business!" Zhu Ziming, an officer from the Security Section, waved his hand with a smile and walked into the building.

*Zhu Ziming?* Guan Shan froze for a second, watching the man's retreating figure.

"Hurry up, Shan-zi!" Wang Lei urged.

"Oh, coming!" Guan Shan quickly snapped out of it and caught up.

(II)

It wasn't an old rifle with a worn-out barrel, but a rifle in eighty-percent new condition, complete with a bayonet!

The armory had actually issued Guan Shan an eighty-percent new Zhongzheng rifle and ten rounds of ammunition! And these ten rounds were not reloaded—they were brand-new, original cartridges!

Old Xiao, who was in charge of distributing arms and ammunition at the armory, had clearly shown Guan Shan great favor. Perhaps the hard training Guan Shan had been doing in the regimental headquarters courtyard over the past few days had left a good impression on the staff and soldiers.

Old Xiao told Guan Shan to take as many grenades as he wanted. After expressing his gratitude, Guan Shan took eight, and Old Xiao even threw in two canvas grenade pouches, suggesting he fasten them to his duty belt so they wouldn't bounce around while moving.

Fully equipped, Guan Shan felt the adrenaline and hormones in his bones, muscles, and blood firing off like firecrackers. However, the excitement was fleeting, quickly overshadowed by the impression left by that retreating figure earlier.

(III)

On the way to the Zhang Village infirmary, Guan Shan spent the entire journey meticulously recalling every detail he knew about Zhu Ziming from "Drawing Sword."

Whether in the television adaptation or the original novel, the description of Zhu Ziming, the traitor, was sparse and vague. The book merely stated he had "been captured while on an assignment and subsequently defected," eventually acting as an inside man for Yamamoto Ichiki’s special forces at Zhaojiayu Village, which led to devastating losses for the Independent Regiment.

The original book provided no specific timeline for his capture, nor did it clarify if he had provided the Japanese with any other intelligence besides the information regarding Zhaojiayu. The TV series had a clearer timeline, placing his capture and defection when the regimental headquarters was stationed at Zhaojiayu.

In the current timeline, they hadn't even broken through the encirclement in Central Shanxi to reach the northwest, which meant that, as far as he could tell, Zhu Ziming hadn't defected yet. But was the world he had transmigrated into faithful to the book or the TV series?

Guan Shan couldn't be entirely sure. Much like the ambush at Wild Wolf Ravine involving the Kwantung Army, which existed in his memories but never appeared in the series. He couldn't help but call out to the system again and again, but the system remained silent.

(IV)

"What? Medical Officer Liu is in the middle of a surgery?" After hearing Head Nurse Zhang’s report, Guan Shan frowned, opened the letter, and took out the orders.

*Holy cow!* Looking at the locations and the evacuation route on the note, Guan Shan nearly cried out.

What a coincidence! The destination for the infirmary’s evacuation was Niutoushan Village—the location of the township government in his previous life, and the birthplace of both Guan Shan and Wang Gensheng in this one!

It felt as if his life in the previous world was a "newbie starter pack" prepared specifically for this one.

"What's wrong?" Head Nurse Zhang asked curiously, observing the dramatic shifts in Guan Shan’s expression.

"Oh, Nurse Zhang, I happen to be very familiar with our destination for this transfer!" Guan Shan tucked the orders back into the envelope, put them in his bag, and pulled out paper and pen. "Head Nurse Zhang, do you know how many people are participating in this transfer and how much equipment we have?"

"There's Shanzao, Yangtao, Medical Officer Liu, myself, four other staff members, and three wounded soldiers. Comrade Xiao Lin, who just finished surgery, will need a stretcher, and Squad Leader Qin and Squad Leader Hu will likely need stretchers as well. There isn't much equipment; everyone has their clothes and bedding packed in their own bedrolls, and the medical supplies can be carried on a shoulder pole..." Head Nurse Zhang recited the list like she knew it by heart; it was clearly not their first time handling an evacuation.

Guan Shan nodded. "Understood! Head Nurse Zhang, the orders from the Regimental Commander and the Political Commissar are that the infirmary must evacuate Zhang Village before nightfall—the sooner, the better! Since Medical Officer Liu is in surgery, you should get everyone to start packing and preparing for the move immediately. I’ll go notify County Magistrate Wang, and I’ll come back later to brief you on the route and lead you out!"

"Understood! Don't worry, I'll get it arranged!" Head Nurse Zhang agreed readily.

Guan Shan took two steps away, then turned back. "Nurse Zhang, we have a stretch of mountain road to cover, and it'll be at night. If we could find two donkeys or mules and a couple of locals who know the path, wouldn't it be better to strap Squad Leader Qin and Squad Leader Hu onto the animals? Do you think that’s doable?"

"Oh, I see," the nurse replied, pondering for a moment. "Comrade Xiao Guan, did the commanders say whether the villagers are coming with us?"

Guan Shan shook his head. "The villagers are being covered by the County Brigade and moving into the mountains on a different route. The County Committee and the Special Committee leaders are split into two groups—one is following the County Brigade, and the other is with us."

"Good, I understand!" The nurse nodded. "Go on with your tasks; I’ll arrange what you asked for right now!"

Watching Guan Shan walk away, Head Nurse Zhang mused to herself, "That young man is very meticulous. Could he be an officer? He seems a bit young, though!"

(V)

"Wait, you're County Magistrate Wang?" Guan Shan’s eyes widened as he stared at the... young girl in front of him.

Looking through the eyes of a 33-year-old man from his past life, the 21-year-old County Magistrate Wang—with her round face, short hair, wearing a small blue floral jacket, and standing about 1.6 meters tall and quite petite—was nothing more than a little girl!