The Entire Mountain Is My Hunting Ground

But right now, he had to consider whether Zhao Jun’s plan was feasible. Would it waste all that manpower, only for them to end up with nothing to show for it?

Zhao Jun saw what was on Tao Dabao’s mind. He stepped aside without a word, quietly waiting for Tao Dabao to make a decision.

After a moment, Tao Dabao looked up at Zhao Jun and asked, "And then? Is there anything else we need?"

Tao Dabao was asking Zhao Jun if there were any other difficulties. If there weren’t, and it was just a matter of cutting branches, Tao Dabao might make one decision. But if there were other troubles, he might make a different one entirely.

"There are," Zhao Jun said directly, not holding anything back. "We need to prepare several sets of wild-boar-skin skis, and get the ski poles ready too. Then, we cut some branches like I said. Also, for manpower, I’m afraid we’ll need the people we have now."

Tao Dabao nodded but remained noncommittal about what Zhao Jun had said. He just told everyone to head back.

Once they returned to the Yongxing Brigade, Tao Dabao discussed the matter with Yu Xuewen. Yu Xuewen personally took charge, organizing about two hundred people and dispatching thirty armed militiamen to escort them up the mountain to cut branches.

That evening, Tao Dabao came to Tao Erbao’s house and told Zhao Jun that the slope had been cleared and they could proceed with the plan tomorrow.

Early the next morning, Zhao Jun and Li Baoyu were up bright and early.

Today, Li Yunxiang was making dumplings again, but she had switched to a wild boar and pickled cabbage filling.

During the meal, the four members of the Tao Family repeatedly warned the two of them to be extremely careful today.

After breakfast, Zhao Jun and Li Baoyu both returned to their room to wrap their leg bindings.

Once his leg bindings were wrapped, Zhao Jun walked out empty-handed, without shouldering his rifle or his bag.

According to Tao Dabao, over fifty militiamen with live ammunition would be there today to stand guard, and they would absolutely not let that Tiger hurt anyone.

When Zhao Jun came out of the house, Hua Xiao’Er, unlike its lazy self from yesterday, lunged at him again and again. But tied up by a rope, Hua Xiao’Er was brought to a stop halfway through each charge.

Unable to reach Zhao Jun, Hua Xiao’Er started whining and whimpering.

Zhao Jun glanced at Hua Xiao’Er. ’Looks like its energy is back,’ he thought. But he had already decided yesterday that he wouldn’t be taking Hua Xiao’Er into the mountains to hunt anymore.

But hearing Hua Xiao’Er’s sorrowful cries, Li Baoyu walked over to it in a couple of steps. He knelt down, placed his hands on either side of Hua Xiao’Er’s neck, and petted it up and down. Paying no mind to whether Hua Xiao’Er could understand, he just said, "Hua Xiao’Er, we’re not taking you today. We’re going to hunt a Tiger, and that’s not something you can handle."

It was hard to say if Hua Xiao’Er understood. It just kept whimpering at Li Baoyu. Just then, they heard Zhao Jun shout, "Baoyu, let’s go."

Li Baoyu patted Hua Xiao’Er’s head, then got up and followed Zhao Jun out of the courtyard. Today, Tao Fulun, Li Yunxiang, and Tao Fei didn’t just see the two of them to the gate, but walked a few extra steps with them.

As they walked, Tao Fulun reminded the two of them, "You have to be extremely, extremely careful on this trip. Don’t let Big Claw pounce on you, or you’ll be in real danger."

"Don’t you worry, Grandpa," Zhao Jun said to him. "My Uncle Tao has arranged for over fifty militiamen today. With more than fifty rifles, Big Claw couldn’t escape even if it sprouted wings."

"That’s true," Tao Fulun mused. With over fifty semi-automatics aimed at it, even an elephant would be shot dead.

Just then, Zhao Jun said to Li Yunxiang, "Auntie, you should take Grandpa back inside. It’s pretty cold out here."

"Alright then. You two be careful," Li Yunxiang urged Zhao Jun and Li Baoyu one last time, before she and Tao Fei helped the old man back toward the house.

Zhao Jun and Li Baoyu turned and headed for the brigade headquarters.

The three generations of the Tao family had just reached their front door when they saw Hua Xiao’Er burst out of the courtyard.

After Zhao Jun left, Hua Xiao’Er had kept pulling and tugging at its rope in the courtyard until it somehow managed to break free.

"Ah!" Tao Fei lunged forward to try and stop Hua Xiao’Er, but he couldn’t. He could only watch as Hua Xiao’Er bolted in the direction Zhao Jun had gone, chasing after him.