Chapter 39: Conspiracy! The Headquarters in Peril!

The Brigade Commander briefed Zhao Gang on the situation concerning Lin Ran, as this was the primary purpose of Zhao’s assignment.

As he listened, Zhao Gang’s shock grew, and the calm expression he wore could no longer be maintained.

Hundreds of tons of food, thousands of rifles, hundreds of artillery pieces...

It was simply inconceivable! Had these words not come directly from the Brigade Commander himself, he would never have believed them.

Finally, the Brigade Commander said slowly, "Therefore, Comrade Zhao Gang, the organization hopes that you can maintain, consolidate, and develop this precious relationship we have with Mr. Lin!"

"Do everything possible to unite with him! Even... to win him over!"

An invisible burden, heavy as a thousand jun, crashed onto Zhao Gang’s shoulders. He realized then that he had been sent here with a mission of earth-shattering importance.

He took a deep breath. "Please rest assured, the organization can count on me. I, Zhao Gang, swear to maintain this relationship with Mr. Lin and will strive with all my might to win his support!"

...

Meanwhile, on the other side.

Li Yunlong stomped out of the regimental headquarters like a stubborn donkey that had just been provoked. He walked with his head down and hands behind his back, kicking clumps of dirt far ahead of him.

"Regimental Commander!"
"Regimental Commander!"

The two sentries at the gate stood at attention and saluted as they saw Li Yunlong. Although he had been demoted to battalion commander, in the hearts of the entire New First Regiment, Li Yunlong would always be their commander.

Li Yunlong grunted through his nose, his face still dark. A political commissar had been sent from above, and whether he liked it or not, life would likely be difficult from here on out.

Just as he was trudging along, mulling over how to give this new political commissar a rough welcome, a tall figure suddenly blocked his path.

Li Yunlong snapped his head up, his eyes sharpening like blades. The man before him had a head shaved clean, and more importantly, he was wearing a Central Army uniform.

"Little brother, who are you?"

The big man rubbed his hands together, looking slightly nervous, but his eyes were startlingly bright.

"My name is Wei Dayong. Are you Regimental Commander Li Yunlong? The commander who wiped out the Sato Brigade?"

Li Yunlong raised an eyebrow. "That’s right, it’s me. What about it? Something on your mind?"

Upon hearing this, Wei Dayong’s face flushed with excitement. He slapped his chest hard. "Commander Li! I... I want to follow you! I want to fight the devils under your command! Please take me in!"

...

"Follow me?"

Li Yunlong let out a scoff, cocking his head as he circled Wei Dayong. "You want to follow me, Li Yunlong? That depends on whether you’ve got real skills! I don’t keep freeloaders in my ranks!"

Wei Dayong nodded vigorously, his eyes showing no sign of retreat, only eagerness. "I understand! I understand! Watch this, Commander Li!"

With that, Wei Dayong looked around. Soon, his gaze locked onto a sturdy-looking rammed-earth wall about waist-high nearby.

Wei Dayong grinned, flashing a row of white teeth. He took a deep breath, his chest expanding as the muscles all over his body tensed. Then, with a low roar, he lunged toward the wall like an arrow released from a bow.

He kicked the thickest part of the wall with a thunderous, unadorned strike!

*BOOM!*

The seemingly solid wall collapsed under Wei Dayong’s earth-shattering kick, instantly reduced to a pile of scattered debris.

Amidst the dust, Wei Dayong landed steadily, brushed the dirt from his trousers, and looked at Li Yunlong with a simple, honest smile.

"Commander Li, what do you think of my skills?"

Li Yunlong looked at the ruins, then at the man before him—who seemed simple-minded yet possessed immense strength—and waved his hand.

"Good! You’re a real man! From now on, you follow me, Li Yunlong!"

Wei Dayong was overjoyed. "Thank you, Commander Li! I promise to be obedient; I’ll do whatever you tell me to."

Li Yunlong nodded in satisfaction and patted Wei Dayong on the shoulder.

"Alright then. First, you take that wall you broke... and rebuild it for me exactly as it was! Remember, it has to be just as sturdy as before! If even a single clod of dirt is missing, I’m holding you responsible!"

Wei Dayong: "..."

...

Taiyuan, First Army Headquarters.

Commander Shinozuka Kazuo knelt behind a tea table, sipping fragrant tea.

"Hai!"

A communications staff officer stood respectfully, presenting a telegram with both hands. "Report to the Commander! General Tada (Commander of the North China Area Army) has replied, agreeing to loan us 20 150mm howitzers. They are already on their way."

"Yoshi!"

A trace of satisfaction flickered across Shinozuka’s lips.

The staff officer continued, "Additionally, intelligence from the Special Higher Police reports that the Eighth Route Army is urgently training a large number of artillerymen. We assess this is in preparation for our army’s future offensives, and we must be particularly wary of their mortar groups."

"Mortars..."

Shinozuka’s face turned grave. He had already received news that the mysterious wealthy merchant had gifted the Eighth Route Army over 1,000 mortars. That was no small number—more than all the grenade launchers in his entire First Army!

However, thinking of his upcoming plan, Shinozuka’s lips curled upward again.

Loaning the heavy artillery was just a ruse! Assembling the troops was also a ruse! The Chinese must think he intends to wipe out one of their units, right?

*Heh,* fools!

A strategy of deception, hitting where they least expect! The Chinese possess such treasures and secret techniques yet do not know how to use them—it is a waste!

Then, he, Shinozuka Kazuo, would teach these Chinese what "The Art of War" truly means.

With that thought, Shinozuka set down his teacup.

"Go, call Yamamoto-kun."

"Hai!"

The staff officer bowed and retreated. Soon, a figure wearing a helmet and grenades slung across his shoulders appeared at the door. It was the commander of the "Yamato Soul" Commando Unit, Yamamoto Ichiki.

"Hai! Commander Shinozuka!" Yamamoto bowed slightly.

Shinozuka raised a hand. "Yamamoto-kun, please sit." He poured a cup of hot tea. "Yamamoto-kun, there is a difficult mission that requires your commando unit's intervention. It concerns the honor of the First Army!"

"Hai! I do not know what the mission is, but please instruct me, Commander!"

Shinozuka’s lips curled slightly as he spoke slowly: "Wipe out the headquarters of the Eighth Route Army and capture their leader alive..."