Chapter 31: You Brat Are So Greedy
“Li Yunlong, don’t envy Kong Jie anymore. Once we trade with Li Muzhi for two cannons, you’ll get rich on the battlefield with the cannons, and Kong Jie might not eat as well as you!”
The Brigade Commander said to Li Yunlong.
Taking down the Xikou Warehouse with one cannon and two cannonballs, Brigade Headquarters could eat white flour and white rice for over a month.
With two cannons, it would be like celebrating the New Year every day!
“That’s true.” Li Yunlong grinned at the Brigade Commander: “Brigade Commander, when the time comes, don’t keep scolding me for causing you trouble. As the ancient saying goes, returns and risks are directly proportional. I…”
The Brigade Commander cursed: “Give you a bit of autonomy, and you really think you’re free to do as you please?”
“Heh heh, no, no, I’m just a kite, with the string always held by you, Brigade Commander. How dare I poke a hole in the sky?” Li Yunlong wore a smiling face, excitedly rubbing his hands, “You said it. When the time comes, if we really get two cannons, give both to me.”
“Did I say that?” The Brigade Commander glared, “You’re so greedy, wanting both cannons, leaving me, the Brigade Commander, empty-handed?”
“Brigade Commander, didn’t you say, trade with Li Muzhi for two cannons, I’ll get rich on the battlefield with the cannons, and Kong Jie might not eat as well as me. Doesn’t that mean both go to me…” Li Yunlong didn’t finish his words.
“Keep dreaming your big dreams. We’ll see how you perform then. If I’m happy, I might consider giving you one. If you cause me trouble, forget about cannons—you won’t even get cannon slag.” The Brigade Commander cursed.
“Heh heh, Brigade Commander, rest assured, I’ll perform well, definitely well.” Li Yunlong chuckled.
Li Yunlong certainly understood that getting both cannons was simply unrealistic.
The reason for saying that was to lock it in with the Brigade Commander in advance, so he could get one when the time came.
Now with the Brigade Commander saying this, heh heh, he really had a chance to get one.
“Of course I’m reassured.” The Brigade Commander tossed a sentence to Li Yunlong, “You said trading with Li Muzhi for two cannons. If we only get one, my cannon will be safely in the bag. As for your cannon, Li Yunlong, you’re on your own.”
The Brigade Commander said he would use the equipment to trade with Li Muzhi for two cannons, but that was just the Brigade Commander’s temporary wishful thinking.
It was still unknown if Li Muzhi would agree.
As for those other machines, he didn’t recognize them either, and didn’t know their value.
“Brigade Commander, you’re a top graduate of the first Whampoa class. You need to have confidence in yourself!” Li Yunlong quickly said.
“Cut the crap. Is the stuff ready? Time to go!” The Brigade Commander urged.
“Almost, almost. Give me two more minutes.” Li Yunlong agreed, then turned and shouted to Zhang Dabiao: “Dabiao, why are you so slow? Not ready yet?”
“Regiment Commander, it’s ready, ready.” Zhang Dabiao quickly responded to Li Yunlong.
Li Yunlong turned back with a grin to the Brigade Commander: “Brigade Commander, the stuff is ready. We can head to the Border Region Arsenal now.”
“You didn’t secretly withhold any for your own waist pouch?” the Brigade Commander asked.
“How dare I, how dare I.”
“Then let’s go.”
“Dabiao, move out.”
Li Yunlong and the Brigade Commander took the stuff, left Brigade Headquarters, and headed to the Border Region Arsenal.
Just as the Brigade Commander and Li Yunlong left, the New First Regiment’s Communications Soldier arrived and reported to the Deputy Brigade Commander: “Report, Deputy Brigade Commander. Our New First Regiment successfully lured away the enemy’s pursuing troops and smoothly shook off the enemy.”
“Mm.” The Deputy Brigade Commander acknowledged and asked: “The New First Regiment did excellent cover work. Tell Ding Wei that the Brigade Commander and Li Yunlong have safely returned with the stuff. Have Ding Wei take the New First Regiment back to rest.”
“Yes, Deputy Brigade Commander.”
……
Heyuan Japanese Gendarmerie
Hirata Ichiro paced back and forth in the office, like ants on a hot pan.
News came from the Xikou Warehouse of an Eighth Route Army attack, and the Eighth Route Army had brought heavy cannons.
Although many reinforcements had been sent to the Xikou Warehouse, there had been no success.
This time, the Eighth Route Army did not ambush the reinforcement troops; they escaped.
If they couldn’t catch up, the threat of the Eighth Route Army’s heavy cannons would persist, and the supplies lost from the Xikou Warehouse couldn’t be recovered.
How could this not make Hirata Ichiro anxious.
Zheng Qianyi came before Hirata Ichiro with a grave expression: “Sir, news from the reinforcements—they didn’t find the Eighth Route Army, and their pursuit failed.”
“Baka!”
Hearing this, Hirata Ichiro slammed the table hard: “I don’t believe it. I don’t believe it. There’s so much supplies from the Xikou Warehouse; the Eighth Route Army couldn’t move fast with it. How could they not catch up!”
“They said they fell for the Eighth Route Army’s lure the tiger away from the mountain stratagem. They were misled in their pursuit direction by one Eighth Route Army unit, while another group took the opportunity to escape with the Xikou Warehouse supplies.”
“Baka, baka, a bunch of idiots!” Hirata Ichiro couldn’t help but slam the table again, then glared viciously at Zheng Qianyi: “The Eighth Route Army’s heavy cannon threat is too great. Immediately issue a reward for me—whoever provides clues on the Eighth Route Army’s heavy cannons will be heavily rewarded!”
“Yes, Sir.” Zheng Qianyi nodded but didn’t step away.
“Why haven’t you gone? Something else?” Hirata Ichiro looked at Zheng Qianyi suspiciously.
“Sir, among the supplies lost from the Xikou Warehouse, there was also a batch of equipment originally planned to be shipped out in a few days, but then…” Zheng Qianyi didn’t finish.
Hirata Ichiro interrupted: “What equipment? Why don’t I know about it!”
“The Imperial Army accidentally discovered an arsenal for assembling mortars and producing cannonballs. I reported it to you earlier—didn’t you see it?” Zheng Qianyi asked suspiciously.
“When did you report it?” Hirata Ichiro truly hadn’t seen this report.
“The Wednesday two weeks ago.” Zheng Qianyi answered.
“My god, I remember now.” Hirata Ichiro slapped his forehead, remembered, and glared at Zheng Qianyi: “Wasn’t this batch of equipment supposed to be shipped out last week? Why delayed until now?”
“I’m not clear on the specific reason. Ono Yuichi Sir also perished.” Zheng Qianyi shook his head, meaning Ono Yuichi should have known why it wasn’t shipped out in time.
But with the man dead, investigating the reason would be difficult.
However, investigating the reason now seemed to have little meaning.
The important thing was to hurry and recover the stuff.
“Baka, that idiot Ono Yuichi—why didn’t he ship the stuff out earlier.” Hirata Ichiro cursed loudly, “If the Eighth Route Army uses this batch of equipment to make mortars, it’ll be big trouble for us. Their guerrilla warfare is already so troublesome, and mortars are easy to carry. Then, the rear security troops will definitely curse up a storm.”
Zheng Qianyi comforted: “Sir, perhaps you’re worrying too much. Those equipment are mainly for producing cannonballs. Even if the Eighth Route Army gets the equipment, without electricity, they can’t make cannonballs. Also, it’s for assembling mortars, not producing them. Even if some cannon barrels fall into Eighth Route Army hands, to them they’re just iron lumps—they don’t have the related parts to assemble mortars.”
