Chapter 32: Lin Ran's Plan, Li Yunlong Reports in Person

He paused, a hint of concern crossing his face. "However... this plan sounds far too risky. The higher-ups... I’m afraid they’ll have a hard time giving the green light."

Lin Ran smiled. "Commander Li, you wiped out the Sato Brigade and poked such a massive hornet's nest, yet the Japanese are as quiet as a stagnant pool. Don't you think... this silence is a bit chilling?"

Li Yunlong furrowed his brows. "The higher-ups said the same—the Japanese are definitely brewing something sinister. They’ve ordered us to stay vigilant and fortify our defenses!"

"Exactly!" Lin Ran waved his hand sharply. "That’s precisely why this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!"

"They think we’re hunkering down in defense, and we think they’re plotting a conspiracy! So, let’s do the opposite—let’s go against their expectations!"

"The best defense is a good offense!"

"Strike hard once, and avoid a hundred future blows!"

"Instead of waiting in fear for them to make a move, we should take the initiative, catch them off guard, and cripple them!"

"We’ll strike when they least expect it, right while they think we’re pulling back into our shells!"

"From now on, we’ll make sure the Japanese have to sleep with one eye open!"

Lin Ran’s words were like a lit powder keg, every syllable striking a chord in Li Yunlong’s heart!

The more he listened, the more his blood boiled!

The more he listened, the more that stifling sense of frustration was replaced by a soaring, heroic spirit!

"That’s right! Why should we just sit here and take a beating?" Li Yunlong’s large eyes widened.

If this night raid succeeded, the Japanese would never sleep soundly again!

Just thinking about it was satisfying!

"Good! Brother Lin! I trust you!" A sharp light glinted in Li Yunlong’s eyes, and he hesitated no longer. "I will relay your words to headquarters exactly as you said them, not missing a single word!"

No matter how flowery Lin Ran’s words were, a matter this big had to be reported.

Lin Ran understood this, of course.

After a moment of thought, he turned to the truck and retrieved two walkie-talkies from his system.

"Commander Li, these are called walkie-talkies. Within a ten-kilometer range, you can talk through them just as if you were face-to-face!"

"With these, when our artillery strikes outside the city, the brothers inside can tell you immediately if the shots hit the mark! They can report the impact points in real-time!"

Lin Ran shoved the walkie-talkies into Li Yunlong’s hands.

"Commander Li, I suggest you go to headquarters in person to report this. If we send a telegram, there’s a chance the Japanese could intercept it."

"Also, take these walkie-talkies and the 107mm rocket launchers with you. Let the leaders see them with their own eyes and try them out for themselves!"

After all, launching an offensive against an entire division required more than just a piece of paper, and there was a risk of leaks.

If news of the surprise attack got out once the enemy was prepared, or if they turned the tables on us, it would be a disaster.

Li Yunlong considered this and nodded, fully aware of the gravity of the situation.

"Then I, Old Li, will head to headquarters myself!"

At that moment, Lin Ran spoke again: "I’ll write a note for you to take along as well."

Li Yunlong asked quickly, "Brother Lin, what kind of note are you writing?"

Lin Ran raised an eyebrow. "To claim credit for you, of course!"

"You went into the city and seized that gold and those antiques for my sake; I can’t let you take the fall for me!"

"As for pleading your case, I won't interfere with the decisions made by your headquarters. But it was solely because of your reputation, Commander Li, that I delivered these supplies."

"I have to put in a good word for you!"

"Oh, goodness! No, no, you mustn't! Brother Lin! This... this is too much trouble! How could I possibly accept this!"

Though Li Yunlong demurred, his face was beaming with joy.

Lin Ran smiled.

***

That old Li!

In the end, he did write the note for Li Yunlong.

He didn't plead for him; he didn't want to interfere with the organization's decisions.

He simply heaped praise upon Li Yunlong.

Yes, he called him "Commander Li" in every other sentence!

Li Yunlong clutched the light piece of paper, which felt heavier than a thousand gold bars, feeling even better than if he were holding ten bars of gold!

He smiled until his eyes disappeared, feeling as if he’d just eaten honey—sweetness filled his heart!

Afterward, this fellow, full of high spirits, took Lin Ran’s note, the RPGs, the 107mm rocket launchers, the walkie-talkies, and Lin Ran’s bold plan, and with a platoon of guards, set off for headquarters under the cover of night.

...

In the real world.

Lin Ran checked the time: 7:30 AM.

Even though he had just woken up, he felt sleepy again.

He pulled out his phone, found a contact labeled "Crazy Girl," and dialed.

It rang a dozen times before a groggy voice, thick with the grumpiness of being woken up, came through:

"Hello! My dear brother, what brings you to call your poor, beautiful, mother-half-sister who is currently in her growth phase?"

Lin Ran shook his head. "What are you doing?"

"I was sleeping, obviously. Until you woke me up," came the slightly disgruntled voice.

"What time is it? Don't you have classes this morning?"

"Morning classes at 8 AM? Not even a dog would go to those!"

Lin Ran felt a vein pulse on his forehead.

"What's your bank account number? Send it to me."

"Why? Trying to use your sister's info to take out a loan? Do you want me to send you some photos of me holding my ID card too?"

"Xiang Wan!" Lin Ran’s voice dropped.

"Oh, I'm just kidding! We used to bathe together when we were little, and you saw everything anyway! Why act like such a gentleman now..."

Childhood memories he’d rather forget flashed instantly before Lin Ran’s eyes, and he dared not dwell on them.

"Enough nonsense! The account number! Now! Immediately!"

"Alright, alright, why so fierce? I sent it to your WeChat! But... Big Brother, why do you suddenly need my account number?" Xiang Wan’s curiosity was piqued.

"I made a bit of money recently. Just giving you some pocket money," Lin Ran said flatly.

"Wow! Really? That's perfect, Mom hasn't sent my living expenses for this month yet. Love you!" Xiang Wan’s voice turned eight degrees sweeter instantly.

"Alright, I'm hanging up."

Lin Ran hung up and saw the account number on WeChat.

After a moment's thought, he opened his mobile banking app and entered a long string of numbers—

1,000,000.00.

Almost as soon as the transfer success notification vanished, Xiang Wan called back, her voice screeching in disbelief:

"Brother!!!!!! Did... did your hand slip and add two extra zeros?"

"Wait! Where did you get this much money?! Did you... did you rob a bank? Or... or did you do something illegal or harmful? Tell me!"

Listening to the unmistakable tension and care in his sister’s voice, a wave of warmth washed over Lin Ran.

Thinking of what Young Master Shen said yesterday, he felt it was necessary to give his sister a heads-up.

"Don't worry, your brother is... on the up and up now, very legitimate!"

"In the future, if you need money, just tell me. Don't go wondering about things on your own. Remember, stay away from those shady, slick-looking types! Did you hear me?"

There was a silence on the other end for a few seconds, followed by Xiang Wan’s exclamation of realization, dripping with gossip:

"Brother, judging by what you're saying, you're not... being kept by someone, are you?"

In Xiang Wan's mind, her brother, who shared the same mother but a different father, had no redeeming qualities other than being rich and handsome.

Combining that with his warning to stay away from shady people... could it be... had her brother "sacrificed himself"?

Thinking this, Xiang Wan’s voice filled with "concern": "Brother! If... if your health can't keep up... tell your sister! I’ll go buy you some potent tonics! Ginseng, deer antler, tiger whip wine! I’ll make sure you stay vigorous!"

"I can't take this million for nothing; I'll be your health and nutrition consultant..."

"Click!"

Lin Ran hung up, veins popping on his forehead.

His sister’s train of thought was always breathtakingly bizarre!

Still, sending her a million ensured she wouldn't get into any trouble over money for a while.

After finishing this, Lin Ran headed out to a time-honored shop at the mouth of the alley and downed a bowl of authentic, tangy, and invigorating fermented bean juice.

Then, he returned to his small room and fell straight to sleep.

After a night of high-tension maneuvering with Old Li, even a man of iron couldn't hold out any longer.

...

Chenjiayu, Eighth Route Army Headquarters.

The command center was brightly lit and thick with cigarette smoke.

The Deputy Commander paced with his hands behind his back, staring intently at the tactical map on the wall, his brows furrowed into a deep frown.

The Chief of Staff and the Division Commander were whispering about the enemy situation nearby; the atmosphere was heavy.

"Report!" A booming voice rang out from outside the door.

"Come in!" The Deputy Commander didn't even turn his head.

Li Yunlong walked in with his head held high and a purposeful stride, snapping to attention:

"Report to the leader! Li Yunlong, Commander of the First Battalion of the New First Regiment, 386th Brigade, reporting for duty!"

He took special care to enunciate the words "Battalion Commander" with extra clarity and volume.

The Deputy Commander glanced at Li Yunlong. "What? Feeling aggrieved that after winning an unprecedented victory, you didn't get a promotion but a demotion, so you came to headquarters to complain?"

"Report, no!" Li Yunlong held his neck stiff.

"Hmph!" The Deputy Commander snorted again, clearly not believing him, but he didn't press the matter. "Speak! What is so urgent that a battalion commander had to run all the way here in person?"

Li Yunlong had contacted headquarters by radio earlier; he wouldn't have dared to leave his post without permission.

"Report!" Li Yunlong took a deep breath. "It’s Mr. Lin. He..."

"What?"

Before Li Yunlong could finish, the Deputy Commander, the Chief of Staff, and the Division Commander all turned simultaneously, staring fixedly at him.

"That Mr. Lin who sent all those supplies? Is he back?"

"Yes! And it was Mr. Lin who told me to come to headquarters to report!" Li Yunlong shouted.

The Deputy Commander, the Chief of Staff, and the Division Commander exchanged glances, all of them seeing the gravity in each other's eyes.

"Speak. What did Mr. Lin... entrust you to pass on?"