Chapter 38: The Arrival of Zhao Gang and Monk Wei

Director Zhang looked at Lin Ran’s retreating figure and finally let out a sigh.

"This matter... has blown up!"

"My head isn't sturdy enough to carry this burden; better to leave the headache to those above!"

Director Zhang packed up the photos he had taken and sent them directly to his immediate superior. Upon seeing them, the superior was also shocked and hurriedly forwarded them to their own superior. The superior’s superior, breaking out in a cold sweat, quickly passed them further up the chain. Thus, it was uploaded layer by layer until it finally reached a certain special department.

...

In a parallel world.

At the headquarters of the New First Regiment.

The Brigade Commander paced back and forth in the crude office with his hands behind his back, the atmosphere tense. Unsurprisingly, Li Yunlong was being scolded again.

"Not bad, Li Yunlong! You actually managed to persuade Mr. Lin to plead on your behalf. I truly underestimated you."

Li Yunlong chuckled, "Brigade Commander, what are you saying? How would I, old Li, have such ability? Mr. Lin, that wealthy benefactor, volunteered to speak up for me out of a sense of justice."

"Cut the crap!" the Brigade Commander roared. "Li Yunlong, I know exactly what you’re up to the moment you twitch your backside! You dare tell me you had nothing to do with this?"

Who was the Brigade Commander? He was an old fox who had crawled out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood! Li Yunlong’s little schemes were transparent to him. Even if Lin Ran had written the letter voluntarily, nine times out of ten, Li Yunlong had been stoking the flames behind the scenes, perhaps even playing the victim!

"Hehe, nothing escapes your sharp eyes!" Seeing he couldn't hide it, Li Yunlong decided to come clean.

The Brigade Commander’s tiger-like eyes glared. "Hmph! I knew it!" Seeing that Li Yunlong was being relatively honest, his anger subsided slightly. "The organization reviewed Mr. Lin’s letter and takes it very seriously! We have decided to give you a chance to redeem yourself for your past mistakes!"

When Li Yunlong heard this, his mouth stretched almost to the back of his head. *It’s still Brother Lin—his influence is truly immense!*

"Brigade Commander, how shall I redeem myself?" he asked eagerly.

Seeing him instantly spring back to life, the Brigade Commander was both annoyed and amused. "In the upcoming tough battle, if you can win it brilliantly for me, not only will you be restored to your original rank..." The Brigade Commander paused deliberately, watching Li Yunlong hold his breath, before continuing slowly:

"The organization is also considering giving you more responsibility!"

"More responsibility?"

Li Yunlong’s heart hammered, and hot blood rushed to his head. "Brigade Commander! You can rest easy! In this battle, even if I have to risk my life, I will fight with such ferocity that the Japanese devils will know who they are dealing with!"

A hint of a smile finally crossed the Brigade Commander’s tense face. *This stubborn mule needs the whip to drive him and a carrot to lead him.*

Just as he was about to give further instructions, a guard trotted in. "Report! The political commissar sent by headquarters has arrived outside!"

"Political Commissar?"

The excitement on Li Yunlong’s face froze instantly, his eyes widening. "What the hell kind of political commissar? When did I say I wanted a political commissar?" He whipped his head around to look at the Brigade Commander.

The smile at the corner of the Brigade Commander’s mouth widened; the Monkey King’s headband-tightening spell had finally arrived. "What? Can’t I assign you a political commissar? Is this unit your family’s private property? Go on, bring him in!"

The last sentence was directed at the guard.

"Yes!" The guard turned and ran out. Soon, footsteps could be heard approaching. The young soldier led three men inside. The man in the lead wore a washed-out yet impeccably neat Eighth Route Army uniform; he stood tall and straight with refined features. It was Zhao Gang. Two staff officers from headquarters followed behind, accompanying him to his new post.

"Oh, Brigade Commander, you’re here too? That’s perfect; it saves us a trip to the brigade headquarters," one of the staff officers, who clearly recognized the commander, said with a smile after saluting.

The staff officer then got straight to the point, pointing at Zhao Gang. "Brigade Commander, this is Comrade Zhao Gang, carefully selected by headquarters to serve as the political commissar for the New First Regiment!" He then turned to Zhao Gang, "Comrade Zhao Gang, this is the commander of our 386th Brigade."

"Greetings, Chief!" Zhao Gang stood at attention and gave a standard military salute.

"Good, good, good! Comrade Zhao Gang, welcome!" The Brigade Commander returned the salute with a rare, warm smile. *Mm, he looks cultured and well-bred. To deal with a stubborn mule like Li Yunlong, this is exactly what’s needed!*

The staff officer continued the introduction, pointing to Li Yunlong, whose face was as dark as the bottom of a pot. "Comrade Zhao Gang, this is the commander of the New First Regiment, Li Yunlong."

"From now on, the two of you are partners. You must work in sincere unity to build the New First Regiment into an iron-willed force!"

Zhao Gang turned his gaze toward Li Yunlong and proactively reached out a hand. "Commander Li, hello. I am Zhao Gang. I look forward to your guidance in the future."

Li Yunlong, however, acted as if he didn't see the outstretched hand and didn't even lift his eyelids. "Don't call me commander! I’m just a battalion commander now!"

"CLAP—!!!"

The Brigade Commander slammed his palm onto the broken wooden table, making the tea mug on it jump. "Li Yunlong! You son of a bitch, are you acting up again? You know you’re a battalion commander? When a battalion commander sees his superior, does he not know how to salute and greet them? Stand up! Attention!"

Li Yunlong’s neck stiffened, and he stood up reluctantly and sluggishly. With a face long enough to hang an oil bottle, he gave a perfunctory wave in Zhao Gang’s direction, passing it off as a salute.

"Greetings, Chief! Chief, you are a person of great stature, please don't hold it against a brute like me!"

After the salute, Li Yunlong turned directly to the Brigade Commander and the two staff officers and dropped a blunt remark: "Since I am just a battalion commander, I won't delay you chiefs in your important business. I’m rolling out!"

With that, Li Yunlong actually walked out.

"This... Brigade Commander, this..." The two staff officers from headquarters were completely stunned, looking at each other in bewilderment. The appointment ceremony hadn't even begun, and one of the main protagonists had just walked off the job? This Li Yunlong was truly too lawless!

The Brigade Commander was also fuming at Li Yunlong’s incorrigible attitude, his temples throbbing. "Enough, ignore that stubborn mule. Let him go wherever he wants. Let’s discuss the real business first!"

The Brigade Commander looked at Zhao Gang. "Comrade Zhao Gang, you saw it just now. Li Yunlong... he has such a foul temper! Like a rock in a latrine—stinking and hard! But he is a good soldier in battle."

The Brigade Commander paused, his tone becoming serious. "The organization sent you here with the primary mission of fostering unity! Especially unity with Comrade Li Yunlong! Don't let him run wild!"

Zhao Gang looked solemn. "Please rest assured, Brigade Commander! Please rest assured, organization! I will do my utmost to foster unity and ensure that no unnecessary conflicts occur with Comrade Li Yunlong!"

The Brigade Commander nodded. "Actually, the organization sent you to the New First Regiment with another extremely important task."

Zhao Gang’s eyes sharpened. "Please instruct me, Chief! No matter how difficult, I, Zhao Gang, guarantee the mission will be completed!"

The Brigade Commander looked at Zhao Gang and spoke slowly: "It is like this: not long ago, there was a patriotic businessman, whom we all refer to as Mr. Lin..."