Chapter 282: Heaven-sent Opportunity
Meanwhile, in another village surrounded by mountains, the headquarters of the Independent Regiment of the Eighth Route Army was also filled with a heavy atmosphere, but for entirely different reasons.
In a crude adobe house, the newly appointed regiment commander Li Yunlong, who hadn’t been in the position long, and the political commissar Zhao Gang, who had just been sent by superiors, were facing off like two bulls ready to fight.
One sat boldly at one end of the table, his face dark, head down smoking heavily, surrounded by swirling smoke that obscured his expression.
The other paced back and forth at the other end of the room, his fair scholar’s face flushed red, chest heaving violently.
Between them, deputy regiment commander Kong Jie was anxious like an ant on a hot pan, rubbing his hands, looking at one then the other, opening his mouth several times but unable to say a word, only able to fret helplessly.
The cause was simple: Li Yunlong, this fearless guy, didn’t even greet the new political commissar before unilaterally taking the first battalion to raid the Japanese cavalry company in Wanjia Town. Although it was a great victory and they brought back over three hundred tall warhorses, it completely infuriated the principled and discipline-oriented Zhao Gang.
The two had a big argument over it and were now in a cold war phase.
In this suffocating silence, a series of rapid yet heavy footsteps suddenly sounded outside the door, followed by a vigorous, slightly mocking loud voice that echoed through the entire headquarters.
“Li Yunlong… I congratulate you on striking it rich!”
Hearing this voice, Li Yunlong, who had been sulking in his chair like a grumpy old farmer, jumped up as if pricked by a needle under his butt, the stubborn defiance on his face vanishing instantly, replaced by an almost fawning expression.
Before he could finish, along with the voice, a burly figure strode in. The man wore dusty Eighth Route Army cadre uniform and carried a gleaming horsewhip in his hand; it was their immediate superior…
“Hello, division commander!”
Li Yunlong, Zhao Gang, and Kong Jie in the room all jumped up simultaneously like a conditioned reflex, legs together, backs straight, shouting at the top of their lungs.
“Mm…”
Without even glancing at the other two, he walked straight to Li Yunlong, pointed at his nose with the other end of the horsewhip, and said with a fake smile:
“Li Yunlong… I heard you’ve made a fortune and plan to form a cavalry battalion? Then as your division commander, shouldn’t I get a share and form a cavalry regiment for some fun?”
“No… that’s not… division commander…」Cold sweat instantly beaded on Li Yunlong’s forehead as he stammered in explanation, “Who the hell snitched on me? I… I didn’t…”
“Didn’t my ass!” He slammed the table and roared:
“I’m giving you two choices now! One, you keep one company’s worth of horses and equipment, and send the rest—men, gear, and horses—to division headquarters honestly before nightfall! Two, I pursue you right now for unauthorized troop movement and breaking discipline. Choose yourself.”
Hearing this merciless ultimatum, Li Yunlong’s earlier toughness evaporated instantly; he deflated like a punctured ball. He hung his head, face full of pain and reluctance, muttering:
“Fine… fine… the higher rank crushes all; who let you be the division commander? I’ll give, okay?”
His aggrieved look was just like a child whose candy had been snatched.
Seeing Li Yunlong like this, he was instead amused. He tapped Li Yunlong’s shoulder with the horsewhip and laughed scoldingly: “You sly Li Yunlong, others might not know you, but how could I not? Don’t play dumb with me, kid!”
He changed the subject, his gaze sharpening: “These days, have you been secretly cozying up to that Shanxi militia’s Su Yaoyang, getting a bunch of good weapons from them?
Now in our entire 386th Division, your Independent Regiment has the best equipment—even the damn Japanese Type 92 infantry guns! And you dare play poor with me?”
Hearing this, Li Yunlong immediately panicked, jumping and yelling: “Division commander! Heaven and earth as my witness! All that was earned with my skills, hard money swapped for lives! You’re a lofty division commander; you can’t bully us poor folks like this!”
“Alright, alright… stop howling!” He waved impatiently, cutting off the whining. “Don’t worry, I’m not here today to squeeze those meager scraps from you.”
“If you look down on meager scraps, give my cavalry battalion back…” Li Yunlong muttered so low it was barely audible, his eyes brimming with tangible grievance.
“What did you say?”
With sharp ears, his eyes suddenly glared, menacingly at Li Yunlong.
Li Yunlong shuddered, shaking his head like a rattle, face full of forced smiles: “Huh? Nothing, nothing… I didn’t say anything. I said you’re wise and brilliant, with far-reaching vision!”
“Hmph!”
With a cold snort, he ignored the clowning guy.
He turned his head, gaze falling on Kong Jie who had stood woodenly from start to finish, his face turning serious.
“Kong Jie!”
“Here!”
Kong Jie instinctively stood at attention, voice resounding.
Looking at him, his tone grew solemn: “Lately, the base area has developed rapidly, and troops are expanding.
A few days ago, I reported to the division commander and headquarters leaders, recommending you. Headquarters just wired back approval, formally appointing you as commander of the newly formed New Second Regiment, ordering you to proceed immediately. Once in your new post, work hard and don’t betray headquarters’ trust and expectations!”
This sudden appointment stunned Kong Jie, then immense joy surged. He never dreamed he’d be restored to his position so soon.
“Yes! Guarantee mission accomplished!” Kong Jie shouted at the top of his lungs, face flushed with excitement.
Seeing Kong Jie’s thrilled, red-eyed state, he nodded satisfiedly, tone softening a bit.
“Once with your new troops, learn from your last battlefield failure, lead well, make me proud, and strive to turn the New Second Regiment into a top-notch main force regiment soon.”
“Thank you for your concern, commander! If I disgrace you again, I’ll bring my own head to see you!”
Kong Jie knew this was guidance and a rebirth chance for this “defeated general.” He saluted with all his strength, voice choking.
“Alright, your matter is settled for now.”
Casually waving it off, he moved on. Then, his face grew serious again, sharp gaze turning to the still pained-faced Li Yunlong.
“Li Yunlong… tell me, a while back, did you hear about Su Yaoyang of the Shanxi militia nearly getting assassinated by Japanese spies?”
“I know!”
At this, Li Yunlong dropped his smirking face, nodded with real anger: “A few days ago, I specially sent my guard to Wuta County to visit brother Su, bringing some local base area specialties.
Though old Li’s a poor ghost and can’t give fancy stuff, the courtesy can’t be skipped.
Damn those little devils—can’t win in battle, so they pull despicable dirty tricks!”
“Mm.”
Nodding approvingly, clearly satisfied with Li Yunlong’s attitude.
He continued: “That Su Yaoyang isn’t one to swallow his teeth after losing them.
After such a big loss, would he let it go? Per our intel, he’s been mobilizing and preparing heavily lately. Rumor has it… he’s planning to attack Taiyuan.”
“What? He’s hitting Taiyuan?!”
This news exploded like a bombshell in the small headquarters.
Now, forget Li Yunlong and Kong Jie who were just thrilled and sad over horses and promotions—even the usually calmest Zhao Gang’s eyes widened in disbelief.
All three gasped simultaneously.
What was Taiyuan? Shanxi’s capital, Japanese rule’s core there, with solid defenses and Major General Xiaozuka Yoshio’s First Army main force garrisoned.
Just Su Yaoyang’s militia?
To attack Taiyuan?
This… wasn’t that striking a stone with an egg? But thinking again, with Su Yaoyang’s strength and personality, it didn’t seem like empty talk.
If… if Taiyuan really fell, the entire anti-Japanese situation in Shanxi—no, all North China—would reverse completely!
“Absolutely true!”
He nodded gravely, confirming their guess and dropping even more shocking intel.
“Our intel agents in enemy areas cross-verified: it’s solid. Now, Shanxi militia main forces are advancing nonstop from Dingxiang, Wuta, Meng County toward Taiyuan.”
He paused, seeing their dazed faces, then dropped a bigger bomb:
“Our agents in Taiyuan City risked death to report: this morning, Shanxi militia launched at least hundreds of plane sorties, carpet-bombing all outer defenses.
Now, all Japanese defenses around Taiyuan are shrouded in smoke; reportedly, the sky over Taiyuan is so darkened you can barely see the sun!”
“My god!”
Li Yunlong’s mouth gaped wide enough for a fist, unable to imagine the scene.
“Hundreds of sorties… that’s… how fierce a bombing?” He muttered, mind blank.
Beside him, Zhao Gang’s eyes also widened; though he’d never seen such apocalyptic destruction, his knowledge let him picture it.
Countless bombs raining down, plowing up fortifications and earth, deafening blasts, sky-high smoke pillars… absolute power beyond human resistance.
The headquarters fell deathly silent, only their heavy breathing.
After a long while, war maniac Li Yunlong recovered first from shock. His eyes held no horror, but the gleaming hunger of a wolf eyeing fat meat.
He rubbed his hands, leaning in tentatively: “Division commander, you came specially to tell us this… planning to let our Independent Regiment join in, make a fortune with brother Su?”
“Oh… not bad.”
Seeing his eager monkey-like state, he finally laughed, patting his shoulder approvingly, continuing.
Seeing Li Yunlong’s impatience, his smile deepened; he knew this brave general’s blood was fully roused.
He cleared his throat, speaking flatly yet blood-boilingly:
“This morning, Su Yaoyang formally notified our Eighth Route Army headquarters and Yan Xishan’s Second War Zone command of this battle plan. He invites us to join the counterattack against the Japanese invaders.”
Seeing their faces change instantly, he tossed the key bait:
“Moreover, Su Yaoyang stated that any friendly forces joining will get full Shanxi militia logistics support.
Plus, all captured guns, ammo, and gear—his Shanxi militia wants none; all goes to participating troops!”
These words froze the air. Zhao Gang and Kong Jie’s eyes bulged, unable to believe their ears. No logistics demand, free captures?
Where’s such a deal? Is Su Yaoyang mad or stupid?
Only Li Yunlong, after brief shock, spun his calculating mind fast, seizing the core sensitive point.
“What about the captured territory?” Li Yunlong blurted, voice trembling.
Approving glance, slowly:
“Whoever takes it, keeps it.”
“Great! What a deal!”
Li Yunlong slapped his thigh, face blooming in joy, more excited than the Wanjia Town raid with three hundred horses.
He paced excitedly: “Brother Su’s straightforward and loyal!
Since he promised logistics support, he won’t renege! Guns to take, land to hold, no supply worries—why not fight?
This is heaven-sent; miss it and face divine punishment!”
