Chapter 12: The Regiment Commander’s Heist

New First Regiment Headquarters.

"Li Yunlong! Stand at attention!"

The Brigade Commander gripped his polished leather belt, holding it like a whip ready to strike at any moment. He pointed a finger at Li Yunlong’s nose, his spit nearly landing on the man’s face.

"You are completely lacking in organization and discipline!"

"You dared to go head-to-head with the Yamazaki Battalion without even a word of notice?! Why the hell didn't you just go straight to Taiyuan and raid Yoshio Shinozuka’s nest instead?!"

Though his words roared like thunder, the corners of the Brigade Commander’s mouth were harder to suppress than a jammed light machine gun.

When he received the news from headquarters that morning, he had nearly fallen off his horse. Three thousand enemies wiped out? In his sector? And he, the Brigade Commander, was the last to know?

Upon hearing it was Li Yunlong’s doing, he had wanted to drag the man out and have him shot. If more than three thousand Japanese and puppet troops were dead, was the New First Regiment even still standing? If they had been wiped out, shooting Li Yunlong ten times over wouldn't be enough!

But when he galloped to the New First Regiment’s encampment, the sight before him left him completely stunned. There was no scene of overwhelming grief or barracks filled with the wounded. The soldiers were full of spirit, standing tall, unable to hide the smug look of triumph on their faces.

After making inquiries, he learned that in the Battle of Black Wind Gorge, they had only lost 33 men. Damn it, they had achieved an incredible kill ratio of 100 to 1! The Brigade Commander felt his head buzzing.

Digging deeper, he discovered that the New First Regiment’s heavy firepower was now more formidable than an entire division! Three hundred Type 11 light machine guns, fifty Type 92 heavy machine guns, and thirty mortars. The Brigade Commander’s eyes turned red with envy.

"I hear you’ve struck it rich lately?" The Brigade Commander narrowed his eyes, weighing the belt in his hand.

Li Yunlong grinned, his face wearing a simple, honest smile. "Nothing escapes your wise eyes, Brigade Commander!"

"None of that cheeky nonsense with me!" The Brigade Commander flicked his wrist, and the belt struck the table with a loud *crack*, making Li Yunlong flinch. "Give me an honest report! What is going on? Where did this windfall come from?!"

Faced with the Brigade Commander’s personal interrogation, Li Yunlong didn't dare to play dumb.

"It’s like this, Brigade Commander..." He rubbed his hands together. "Six days ago, a wealthy man suddenly appeared, claiming to be a patriotic merchant. He specifically asked to do business with me."

"When I went to see him, good heavens!" Li Yunlong gestured wildly. "Over three hundred brand-new light and heavy machine guns! Gleaming and bright!"

"It scared me into a cold sweat! I thought even if you tore me apart and sold the pieces, I couldn't afford a single gun barrel!"

"Hey! And guess what?" Li Yunlong slapped his thigh. "He didn't want a cent! A gift! Gave it all to me for free!"

"Heh, Brigade Commander, looks like I still have a bit of influence out there, don't I?"

Having served under him for years, Li Yunlong knew the Brigade Commander too well. That look in his eyes, the corner of that mouth—it was likely going to be another case of offsetting his merits against his faults.

"Really a gift?" The Brigade Commander stared at Li Yunlong suspiciously, as if trying to see right through him. Weapons of such immense value, practically unobtainable—given away just like that? Where in the world did such a good thing happen?

Li Yunlong thumped his chest, swearing an oath. "Brigade Commander! You know my character, don't you?"

"I might be a bit rough, but when have I ever resorted to looting or plundering?"

"Many soldiers heard it at the time! It was a gift!"

The Brigade Commander nodded thoughtfully. Li Yunlong was reckless, but he had his bottom-line principles. He had already checked; many soldiers had heard it too. It was indeed a gift from that wealthy man.

"And then?" The Brigade Commander eyed him sideways, his tone sharp as a blade. "You took the gear he gave you and, without a word to anyone, mobilized your troops to risk your lives against the Japanese?!"

Li Yunlong’s eyes darted around, and he immediately put on a wronged expression.

"Brigade Commander! You’re misjudging me!"

"The rich man said the guns were free, but they weren't for nothing! There was only one condition: kill the Japanese! Kill them hard!"

He leaned in closer and lowered his voice. "He also said that as long as I kill many and kill them ruthlessly... next time, he can send me more! Better! Even more powerful 'goodies'!"

"What! Is this true?" The Brigade Commander sprang up from his chair as if he had springs beneath him.

"Absolutely true! I swear to heaven! If I’ve said a single lie, may I be struck by lightning!" Li Yunlong gestured toward the sky.

The Brigade Commander slowly sat back down and let out a long breath, his tense nerves finally relaxing.

"Hmm... in that case, there is a reason for your actions."

With this justification, at least he could answer to headquarters. To be honest, he was truly afraid they would lose their temper and execute a lucky general like Li Yunlong.

The Brigade Commander had mixed feelings about Li Yunlong. A 100-to-1 kill ratio was something he hadn't even dared to imagine. If the higher-ups and the people in Chongqing knew that this was the result of a single regiment—and with only 33 casualties—the whole country would be shocked!

The Brigade Commander stood up and straightened his uniform. "Fine. I have to go back to headquarters to report. You keep the firepower of one regiment; I’m taking the rest."

Li Yunlong immediately protested. "Why? Are you robbing me? This was given to me!"

"What’s yours and what’s mine?"

The Brigade Commander glared, his belt raised again. "I’m asking you, with over three hundred light and heavy machine guns, can your New First Regiment even handle them?"

Li Yunlong fell silent.

The Brigade Commander continued, "Each of those Japanese Type 92s requires a twelve-man squad to operate! Fifty Type 92s means six hundred men—two full battalions!"

The Brigade Commander looked at him sideways. "What, you want an infantry regiment equipped with two machine gun battalions? Does that mean I, the Brigade Commander, should have two machine gun regiments?"

"With your reputation, Brigade Commander, even a machine gun division wouldn't be too much," Li Yunlong muttered.

The Brigade Commander waved his hand. "Stop trying to haggle with me!"

"You keep fifty Type 11s, ten Type 92s, and five mortars. I’m taking everything else."

Li Yunlong: ...

***

Chenjia Valley.

Eighth Route Army Headquarters.

The Brigade Commander arrived, travel-worn, as the sky was turning dark.

"Report!"

"Come in!"

"Yes!"

The Brigade Commander straightened his leather coat, took a deep breath, and pushed the door open.

"Report! Commander of the 386th Brigade, reporting as ordered!"

The Deputy Commander-in-Chief turned slowly. There was no joy of victory on his face, only the gravity of a storm about to break. The Chief of Staff and the Division Commander stood on either side, their gazes as sharp as hawks, locked onto the Brigade Commander.

Although a miraculous victory had been achieved, the Eighth Route Army valued discipline above all else. The Deputy Commander-in-Chief would never allow any breach of discipline.

"Speak," the Deputy Commander-in-Chief said, the single word heavy as a mountain.

If the Brigade Commander couldn't explain himself, he might have to face the consequences.

The Brigade Commander’s expression remained unchanged; there was even a faint, elusive smile at the corner of his mouth.

"Report, Chief! It all started seven days ago..."

"That day, a wealthy merchant suddenly approached Li Yunlong, commander of the New First Regiment, saying he wanted to give him 300 Type 11 light machine guns..."

"Wait!" The Deputy Commander-in-Chief raised his hand abruptly, interrupting him.

"You said... how many?"

"Report, 300!"

"Hiss—"

A collective, irrepressible gasp of shock echoed through the headquarters. 300 Type 11s! That was almost the total light machine gun firepower of one of their main-force divisions!

The Deputy Commander-in-Chief’s pupils contracted, but he quickly returned to a calm, deep-pool composure.

"You... continue."

"Yes!" The Brigade Commander continued his report. "Besides the 300 Type 11s, there were 50 Type 92 heavy machine guns..."

"Wait!"

This time, even the usually composed Chief of Staff cried out!

"Say that again! How many heavy machine guns?"

The Brigade Commander straightened his back and repeated firmly, "Report! In addition to the 300 Type 11s, that merchant also gave us 50 Type 92 heavy machine guns!"

The Deputy Commander-in-Chief, the Chief of Staff, and the Division Commander exchanged swift glances, each seeing the tumultuous shock—and perhaps a hint of... excitement?—in the others' eyes.

Was there some earth-shattering secret hidden behind the victory at Black Wind Gorge?

"Ahem, continue."

"Yes. Besides the 50 Type 92 heavy machine guns, the merchant also provided 30 81mm mortars..."