Chapter Ninety-One: Storm Clouds Gather on the Horizon

If you asked those foreigners to answer this question, their response would be very simple. Yang the Ghost Killer was not only a villain but an unforgivable one! Russian newspapers didn’t even bother to mention Yang Xiaolin’s name, or even call him Yang the Ghost Killer. Instead, they labeled him as “beast among beasts.”

At this moment, General Akberil was holding a press conference alongside the Russian commander Lopatin to discuss the upcoming operation to encircle and eliminate the bandits at Gulu Mountain. The scale of this press event was much larger than before. Last year, the Russians had planned to handle the siege of Gulu Mountain themselves, but now things had changed. After Yang Xiaolin’s escape from Beijing, foreign journalists had begun to take an interest in the battle.

“Commander, I heard that the Russian forces have deployed ten thousand soldiers this time. Don’t you think it’s a bit of overkill to use ten thousand troops to suppress less than two thousand Chinese bandits? To put it in Chinese terms, it’s like using a sledgehammer to kill a chicken,” a British reporter stood up and asked.

Lopatin was not fond of the British. To him, the British were always aggressive, demanding explanations for everything. British reporters were especially troublesome—if he sent ten thousand troops, they would say it was excessive, but if he sent fewer, they would complain he was underprepared.

Lopatin’s beard twitched as he began to speak confidently, “Let me clarify first: ten thousand was just our initial estimate. Now, with the support of international troops stationed with us in Liaoxi, our troop movements have become more flexible. So, for the upcoming battle, the Russian army will deploy twenty thousand soldiers.”

The reporters below stirred with excitement. Lopatin waved his hand: “I know this seems wasteful. If it were just a fight against bandits, five hundred soldiers would suffice to crush them. But we are deploying twenty thousand because we must ensure that the ‘beast among beasts’ does not slip away this time!”

The French reporter, Elena, stood up: “General, could you share some details of your battle plan?”

Lopatin smiled; he enjoyed talking to beautiful women. “That’s a bit difficult. As you all know, these matters are classified. However, I assure every one of you will receive the most up-to-date battle reports firsthand. I will personally lead the troops into battle, and if any of you are interested, you are welcome to accompany me to witness the fight.”

General Akberil raised his eyebrows and quietly said, “General, you didn’t discuss this with me.”

Lopatin’s face remained smiling. “I know, old friend, but don’t worry. I’ll stay far from the battlefield. Give me five thousand soldiers, and with the bandits numbering only two thousand, there will be no surprises.”

Akberil was annoyed. “No! As commander, you must remain in Liaoyang!”

Lopatin kicked him under the table. “Enough! Just accept that I’m the commander and obey my orders. Everyone’s watching us now. You’d better give me some face, Akberil. One reason you haven’t been promoted yet is because you don’t know how to seize opportunities! Yang the Ghost Killer has already stirred things up. We are no longer just suppressing Qing bandits; we are hunting an international criminal, do you understand?”

Elena asked again, “General, can you tell us how long this battle is expected to last?”

Lopatin stood up and spoke eloquently, “I believe that as soon as our forces enter Gulu Mountain, the battle will be over. Once we locate the bandits, we will surround them without hesitation. Our overwhelming offensive will be unstoppable. No matter what resistance they prepare, it will be weak and hopeless. We will annihilate them under heavy artillery fire. In a sense, once our first shot is fired, it will signal the end of the war!”

The international reporters diligently recorded Lopatin’s words. According to him, any resistance by Yang the Ghost Killer would be weak and hopeless under Russian artillery. Hearing this, Akberil clenched his fists tightly.

Lopatin clearly underestimated those bandits. He had seemingly forgotten the painful lessons Yang Xiaolin had inflicted on the Russians just months earlier. It was easy to say such things, but once printed in newspapers, how many papers would this commander have to swallow to take back his words?

Obviously, Lopatin hadn’t considered this. Full of confidence, he first led the reporters to see the Russian forces preparing to march, even organizing a cocktail party. His hospitality was so extravagant that the reporters almost doubted whether they were at a battlefield or a gala, leaving Akberil utterly speechless.

While Lopatin entertained the journalists, General Akberil stood alone before a military map, his brows furrowed deeply. The contours of Changbai Mountain appeared in his mind: peaks over eight hundred meters, mountain ranges stretching tens of kilometers. Where exactly was Yang the Ghost Killer waiting to let Lopatin fire the first shot signaling the end of the battle? Akberil had no answer.

When Yang Xiaolin returned to the mountain stronghold, Biaozi and the others had already come back. They were amazed that Yang had brought Nirel along. The bandits, who had never seen a black man before, were curious. Although Yang ordered no one to disturb or disrespect Nirel, every bandit kept stealing glances at this unexpected guest. They couldn’t fathom how someone’s skin could be so dark from such prolonged sun exposure.

Jin the Big Knife rushed in the moment he heard Yang had returned. His first words upon entering were, “Boss, are these the black men you worked with in Beijing?”

Yang Xiaolin shot him a glare, then looked at Nirel, who was chatting with Biaozi and the others near the doorway. “Brother Jin, I’m telling you, this man is one of us now. Remember, you can curse him all you want, but never joke about his skin color, got it?”

Jin nodded. “Understood. I’ll tell the brothers. There are a few things I want to inform you about. The Japanese instructors have left. They were teaching well, and the brothers were studying seriously under your orders. But after news spread that you kidnapped foreigners in Beijing, they immediately left. Before leaving, they handed us a batch of rifles and ammunition—bayonets included.”

Yang Xiaolin snorted coldly. That was typical Japanese behavior. They had already realized that lingering with him would only bring trouble, so they left without hesitation. However, they still hoped he would continue to fight the Russians fiercely. The more he battled the Russians, the more advantageous it was for Japan. So, even after he killed Uchida Yasuyasu, the Japanese still left him some weapons to fight the Russians with.