Chapter 30: Brigade Commander Shows Favoritism
386 Brigade Brigade Headquarters
“Deputy Brigade Commander, the Brigade Commander is back.”
The Deputy Brigade Commander was looking at the Puppet Army list information when a staff officer excitedly ran over to report, “It looks like the Brigade Commander got rich.”
The Deputy Brigade Commander stood up immediately upon hearing this and quickly walked out.
Outside the Brigade Headquarters, Li Yunlong and the Brigade Commander returned fully loaded, their expressions happy like it was New Year’s.
The Deputy Brigade Commander came over: “Brigade Commander, you took down the Xikou Warehouse. How much did you loot?”
Although the Deputy Brigade Commander knew the Xikou Warehouse had plenty of profits, he wouldn’t know the exact amount until it was taken down.
“Not that much either.” The Brigade Commander’s tone sounded reluctant, “Just enough fine grain food for our brigade to eat for over a month, plus weapons and equipment for more than half a regiment, and finally, some machinery and equipment.”
The Brigade Commander’s tone was reluctant, but his demeanor was completely different, like he had drunk wedding wine.
Li Yunlong said to the Deputy Brigade Commander on the side: “The Brigade Commander said these machinery and equipment can make cannon shells, and there are some we don’t recognize. We’re planning to trade them with Logistics Minister Zhang for two cannons.”
Machinery and equipment for two cannons?
The Deputy Brigade Commander was overjoyed upon hearing this: “If we can trade for two cannons, won’t our brigade be comparable to a division-level unit?”
“That’s right. Who makes our brigade the most capable!” Li Yunlong was praising both the leader and himself.
“Have your people do a detailed inventory of the supplies I brought back, make sure everything is checked and stored. I’m going to talk to Zhang Wanhe right now.” The Brigade Commander instructed the Deputy Brigade Commander.
After saying that, the Brigade Commander said to Li Yunlong: “Pick some white rice, white flour, and such from the supplies to bring along when talking business with Minister Zhang. Can’t go empty-handed.”
“Yes, Brigade Commander.” Li Yunlong acknowledged and was about to do as the Brigade Commander said.
The Deputy Brigade Commander spoke up from the side: “Brigade Commander, Li Yunlong, you don’t need to go to Minister Zhang. You can talk directly to Li Muzhi at the Border Region Arsenal.”
The Brigade Commander looked suspicious upon hearing this: “Could it be that Headquarters leaders issued some instructions?”
If Li Muzhi can make cannons, once reported to Headquarters, the Headquarters leaders would definitely pay utmost attention and very likely issue new instructions.
The Brigade Commander had taken Li Yunlong to do the job and wasn’t at the Brigade Headquarters, so he hadn’t received any new instructions during that time.
“Headquarters did indeed issue instructions, specifying that if our combat troops have no combat missions and the arsenal needs military industry production, we need to cooperate with the arsenal.” The Deputy Brigade Commander nodded as he said this.
The Brigade Commander immediately turned to Li Yunlong and said: “Li Yunlong, then we’ll bypass Minister Zhang and talk directly to Li Muzhi. No need for white flour, white rice, and such. Bring all the canned meat, cured meat, biscuits, and Fen wine—don’t leave any out.”
“Brigade Commander, you’re treating them differently. If this gets to Old Zhang in logistics…” Li Yunlong didn’t finish his words.
The Brigade Commander glared: “What nonsense are you spouting? Who is Li Muzhi? He’s our army’s top military industry talent. Shouldn’t I save the best stuff for him? Is there anything wrong with that?”
“No mistake, no mistake. Brigade Commander, you’re doing exactly right!” Li Yunlong raised both hands in agreement.
If Old Zhang finds out later, that’ll be his own problem.
Who told you to be so stingy, who told you you’re no match for Li Muzhi? Old Zhang should look for the problem in himself.
Li Yunlong moved quickly and immediately started preparing the things.
The Deputy Brigade Commander handed the Puppet Army list to the Brigade Commander: “Brigade Commander, according to your orders, these are the Puppet Army officers preliminarily screened out. They come from wealthy families, so there’s a higher chance they have sugar.”
The Brigade Commander had robbed the Xikou Warehouse and returned, the operation a success, which would undoubtedly greatly stimulate the Japanese invaders.
In other words, the Japanese invaders would definitely immediately issue a reward for clues on our heavy cannons.
We can hurry up and go fishing. These traitors eager for merit are just our targets!
The Brigade Commander took it, looked it over, then handed the list back to the Deputy Brigade Commander: “Mm, as soon as we get intelligence on the Japanese invaders’ reward, we’ll start fishing right away.”
“Yes.” The Deputy Brigade Commander nodded, took back the list, and continued: “There’s one more thing I need to report to you.”
“What is it?” The Brigade Commander looked at the Deputy Brigade Commander.
“While you and Li Yunlong were hitting the Xikou Warehouse, Kong Jie from the New Second Regiment came to the Brigade Headquarters. He said Li Muzhi at the arsenal told Kong Jie to bring the New Second Regiment to help him with coal mining, do three days of work, and in return, give Kong Jie one Hell Cannon shell.” The Deputy Brigade Commander reported, “I’ve already ordered Kong Jie to take his troops to help Li Muzhi with coal mining immediately.”
“There’s such a thing?” The Brigade Commander paused.
Li Muzhi had Kong Jie help him with coal mining?
This sounds a bit off.
The arsenal right now doesn’t seem to need coal either.
However, the Brigade Commander soon nodded: “Mm, you did very right. Kong Jie digs three days of coal for Li Muzhi and can get one Hell Cannon shell. From now on, this Kong Jie will be our brigade’s logistics for supplying cannon shells.”
The Brigade Commander could foresee that once they got a thousand jin of sugar, with the arsenal producing cannon shells, getting shells wouldn’t be that easy—most likely there would be conditions.
Kong Jie digging three days of coal for Li Muzhi to get one shell was a great deal.
Li Yunlong interjected from the side: “Brigade Commander, we can’t have Kong Er Lengzi always working as a coal miner for Li Muzhi, right? The New Second Regiment is newly formed, but it’s still a combat troop after all.”
“You think coal mining doesn’t train the troops?” The Brigade Commander said to Li Yunlong, “Those soldiers in the New Second Regiment are all skinny and weak, one gust of wind could knock them over. The New Second Regiment’s provisions are also scarce, full one meal and hungry the next. Going to dig coal for Li Muzhi, won’t Li Muzhi provide food? The New Second Regiment gets meals, and working is like exercising their bodies. When the soldiers come back strong and sturdy from digging coal, with a solid foundation, equipped with weapons, and see some blood on the battlefield—won’t they be elite then!”
Headquarters leaders have issued orders that combat troops need to cooperate with the arsenal for the Border Region Arsenal’s production.
This is us carrying out Headquarters leaders’ orders.
From one perspective, since Headquarters places such importance on the arsenal, then… the arsenal’s meal standards will definitely be greatly upgraded.
In other words, the arsenal is probably the best-fed in the whole army.
His Kong Jie’s New Second Regiment gets fed by Li Muzhi, the New Second Regiment soldiers eat well—plenty of people would envy that.
What’s more, three days of work for one shell—once this spreads, who knows how many units will envy the New Second Regiment and want to take their place.
“That makes sense. Old Kong got dog’s luck. Even Old Li here is a bit envious.” Li Yunlong, hearing the Brigade Commander’s analysis, said he was envious, but Li Yunlong knew this path wasn’t for him.
Old Li is the restless type, still likes looting on the battlefield, doesn’t like staying in the rear.
