novelaction Chapter 1208 Take them away! Keep them under strict guard.
Chapter 1208 Take them away! Keep them under strict guard.
After his emotions subsided, Zhou Zhengqing's lips curled into a cold smile. His voice, though not loud, carried a penetrating power that clearly reached the ears of everyone present.
"Heh... the Military Intelligence Bureau's training is indeed as good as its reputation."
His gaze slowly swept over Chen Gongshu, then landed on Lan Zichun, who was still in a daze, and Qi Anzhi, who was lying on the ground with weak breaths. His tone contained a hint of approval that was not easily detected.
"But you know what? My favorite prey is always the proud lion, not the cowering mouse, even if the former requires me to expend more bullets."
Upon hearing this, Chen Gongshu frowned even more deeply.
He could hear the unspoken meaning in Zhou Zhengqing's words: it was an acknowledgment of the strong and a contempt for the weak.
This recognition, however, made him even more wary. It was strange in itself that a Japanese general would express admiration for his enemy.
He subconsciously tensed his body, ready to fight back at any moment, and even in dire straits, he would never let anyone manipulate him.
Zhou Zhengqing ignored Chen Gongshu's vigilance. He slowly turned around and glanced at the Japanese military police and soldiers around him.
Most of the soldiers had solemn expressions, with a hint of astonishment and confusion in their eyes. They were ordered to protect Wang Kemin, but they witnessed the general execute this "collaborator" and were at a loss for how to react.
Some soldiers had shifty eyes, clearly still reeling from the sudden turn of events, while others looked at each other, whispering amongst themselves, their voices full of doubt.
Seeing this, Zhou Zhengqing's eyes darkened, and his voice suddenly rose, carrying the unique majesty of a superior that he had begun to develop after transmigrating, echoing throughout the street: "Tell me, warriors of the empire, do you prefer a lion or a mouse as your opponent!"
After he finished speaking, the room fell into a brief silence.
The soldiers looked at each other, still somewhat at a loss.
A hint of impatience flashed in Zhou Zhengqing's eyes. He stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over the soldiers in the front row with piercing intensity. His tone grew increasingly impassioned: "Though lions are fierce, they can hone your skills in duels and demonstrate the glory of the Imperial Warriors."
"Though rats are weak, they only know how to hide in dark corners and eke out a living. Fighting such an opponent will only tarnish your weapons and waste the empire's resources!"
He raised his hand and pointed at Wang Kemin, who was lying on the ground, his tone full of contempt and disdain: "A coward like him, who sells out his country for personal gain, is the most despicable rat!"
He betrayed his country and his people, surviving only by clinging to the empire, always cowering behind others in times of trouble; even in life, he is utterly worthless!
As he spoke, he turned to point at Chen Gongshu and the others, his voice softening slightly but still carrying strength, "And they, though enemies of the empire, possess fearless courage and unwavering faith; they are lions who dare to face us head-on!"
A tall military policeman, his blood boiling with excitement, instinctively took a step forward, gripped his rifle tightly, and shouted loudly.
"Reporting to the general! It's a lion! We must confront the lion!" His voice was loud and firm, breaking the silence of the scene.
A hint of approval flashed in Zhou Zhengqing's eyes. He nodded slightly to the military policeman and said in a deep voice, "Well said! This is the spirit that warriors of the empire should have!"
With the first person taking the lead, the other soldiers were gradually motivated.
The Bushido spirit is ingrained in their bones; their reverence for the strong and their desire for glory instantly dispelled their previous doubts.
"Yes! It's a lion! A mouse is not worthy to be our opponent!"
A young soldier blushed and shouted in agreement, his eyes burning with fierce fighting spirit.
"My bayonet is only drawn for the strong!" Another soldier gripped the bayonet at his waist, his voice ringing out.
Shouts rose and fell, growing louder and louder, and the originally somber atmosphere was replaced by a surge of fighting spirit.
The soldiers stood tall and proud, their eyes burning with fervor. Their gazes towards Chen Gongshu and the others held less murderous intent and more respect for their strength.
Some soldiers even instinctively straightened their chests, as if it were an honor to fight against such an opponent.
Looking at the scene before him, Zhou Zhengqing nodded in satisfaction. This was exactly the effect he wanted. It both calmed the soldiers' emotions and provided a reason for keeping Chen Gongshu and the others, making the soldiers psychologically accept the order to "treat" the enemy well.
Chen Gongshu stood there, listening to the shouts of the Japanese soldiers around him, his brows furrowed, his doubts deepening.
He could clearly sense the change in the soldiers' attitude towards him, from initial hostility and murderous intent to their current awe and respect.
But this change made him even more uneasy.
What exactly was Zhou Zhengqing's purpose in all these actions?
Is the intention to use them to put pressure on the Military Intelligence Bureau? Or is there a deeper political purpose?
He stared intently at Zhou Zhengqing's back, trying to find some answer from the other's posture, but Zhou Zhengqing kept his back to him, his expression unreadable.
"What exactly do you want?" Chen Gongshu's voice was hoarse, yet carried an undeniable firmness, breaking the soldiers' shouts.
His gaze was sharp as a knife, fixed on Zhou Zhengqing. His vigilance remained undiminished, and the eerie atmosphere only heightened his wariness.
The physical pain and inner torment intertwined, making his face even paler, but his back remained straight, like an unyielding pine tree in the cold winter.
Zhou Zhengqing slowly turned around, meeting Chen Gongshu's gaze. His face remained expressionless, and his voice was icy with a unique undertone: "Dignity is the currency between the strong, while cowardice... doesn't even qualify for such dirty transactions."
His gaze fell on Wang Kemin's corpse again, his contempt growing even stronger: "A piece of trash like him betrayed everything and only deserves this end. If he lived, he would only make the world laugh at the empire's judgment."
He paused, took a slight step, and walked back to Chen Gongshu, his tone becoming more serious: "Although you are enemies of the empire, you are a hundred times stronger than him."
You have unwavering faith, fearless courage, and above all, unwavering loyalty to your country. For this alone, you deserve respect.
Chen Gongshu's heart skipped a beat. The wariness in his eyes had not dissipated, but a more complicated look had appeared.
He could sense the sincerity in Zhou Zhengqing's words; it wasn't a feigned perfunctory response, but rather a heartfelt recognition.
The surrounding Japanese soldiers gradually quieted down, and their gazes towards them showed more approval and less murderous intent.
Some military police even subconsciously put away the guns they had placed at their sides, clearly having accepted the general's statement that these opponents deserved respect.
Chen Gongshu looked at Zhou Zhengqing, his wariness still present, but with a hint of complexity in his eyes.
Zhou Zhengqing seemed to see through his thoughts, but he didn't say anything more. He just instructed Matsui Ryosuke beside him: "Take them down to find someone to treat them. Keep a close watch on them. Don't mistreat them or give them any chance to commit suicide."
I want to live, to be whole.
"Yes, sir!" Matsui Ryosuke bowed and replied, then ordered the military police beside him, "Take them away! Keep a close watch on them!"