Chapter 82: Finding A Backer For The Brigade Commander
After finishing the meal, the Brigade Commander didn’t stay long either. He took Li Yunlong and Ding Wei to bid farewell to Li Muzhi and Zhang Wanhe: “You two, we’ll head back first.”
“Let me see you off.” Li Muzhi said.
“No need to see us off.”
The Brigade Commander waved his hand, Li Yunlong and Ding Wei also waved, and they left the Arsenal.
No sooner had they left the Arsenal than Li Yunlong wanted to slip away right after: “Brigade Commander, I’ll go back and rest first.”
“Stop right there, did I let you go!” The Brigade Commander grabbed Li Yunlong’s arm.
“Brigade Commander, what’s wrong? Who’s pissed you off again?” Li Yunlong pretended to be clueless.
“Li Yunlong, oh Li Yunlong, you’ve got some nerve, even daring to eye my Hell Cannon!” The Brigade Commander roared like a lion from Hedong.
Ding Wei on the side was very shocked.
He didn’t believe Li Yunlong could get the Brigade Commander’s Hell Cannon for him. Ding Wei was even less able to believe that this bastard Li Yunlong really dared to do it!
“Ouch, Brigade Commander, you’re wronging me with that. How would I dare touch your precious baby…” Before Li Yunlong could finish, the Brigade Commander, furious, was about to draw his gun. Li Yunlong quickly held the Brigade Commander back. “Brigade Commander, Brigade Commander, let’s talk it out, talk it out.”
Lately, the Brigade Commander’s temper had really been getting worse and worse. Why did he always reach for his gun at the drop of a hat?
Li Yunlong wore a smiling face: “Brigade Commander, look at it from another angle. Ding Wei’s New First Regiment is under your brigade. If you transfer the Hell Cannon from your hands to Ding Wei, isn’t that Hell Cannon still yours? It’s just stored in a different place. Isn’t that right?”
“Li Yunlong, oh Li Yunlong, that mouth of yours sure can talk.” The Brigade Commander gritted his teeth, momentarily at a loss for how to refute.
Immediately after, the Brigade Commander still angrily continued to roar: “So you went to Li Muzhi to be your backer, do you think I’m this Brigade Commander…”
Without waiting for the Brigade Commander to finish, Li Yunlong smiled and explained: “Brigade Commander, how is that finding a backer for myself? I’m finding a backer for you.”
“Finding a backer for me?” The Brigade Commander didn’t understand what Li Yunlong meant.
“Brigade Commander, you know me. Once battle starts, I can hardly control myself, so I often get you into trouble. It’s not easy for you to clean up my messes.” Li Yunlong explained, “But now it’s different. Younger Brother Li from the Arsenal said that as long as it’s for the production and construction of the Arsenal, no matter how big a mess I make, if you can’t cover for me, Brigade Commander, he’ll cover for me. Brigade Commander, listen, listen. Doesn’t that mean we’ve found you a backer? In the future, if we stir up trouble and you can’t handle it, Brigade Commander, there’s Younger Brother Li from the Arsenal…”
The Brigade Commander cut him off with a curse: “So that means I won’t be able to command you anymore, huh.”
“No, no, you’ll always be my superior. I’m just finding a guarantee for our brigade.” Li Yunlong coaxed.
“Hmph, all those little schemes in your belly, how come you always use them on me!” The Brigade Commander cursed again, but his emotions eased a bit.
This kid Li Yunlong eyeing his own Hell Cannon was indeed infuriating.
But this kid managing to bring in Li Muzhi as a backer—for things the Brigade Commander couldn’t cover, with Li Muzhi standing behind—that was actually noteworthy.
After all, the Brigade Commander knew that it’s easy to change rivers and mountains, but hard to change one’s nature!
Li Yunlong’s habit of causing trouble on the battlefield was hard to eradicate, especially now that this kid had a Hell Cannon—it was like a fierce tiger descending the mountain, like a tiger with wings.
The Brigade Commander could foresee that sooner or later, this kid would turn Northwestern Shanxi upside down.
For something that big, the Brigade Commander definitely couldn’t cover it.
If Li Muzhi stepped in to intervene, then the matter would be much easier to handle.
Seeing the Brigade Commander’s emotions stabilize a bit, Li Yunlong immediately wanted to slip away again: “Brigade Commander, I’m really sleepy now. Can I go back and rest first?”
The Brigade Commander’s hand gripping Li Yunlong didn’t loosen; he even tightened it a couple more notches. “Brigade Headquarters is about to hold an important military meeting. Try missing it!”
“Brigade Commander, is this meeting going to give your Hell Cannon to Ding Wei?” Li Yunlong asked with a cheeky grin.
“Hmm!!!” The Brigade Commander’s eyes glared fiercely.
Li Mouren immediately shrank his neck: “Brigade Commander, I know, I know. It’s to discuss the military mission of snatching the Japanese Locomotive, right? I’ll attend, I didn’t say I wouldn’t.”
“Get the hell out of here.” The Brigade Commander kicked Li Yunlong to the side.
“Ding Wei, come here.” The Brigade Commander called out to Ding Wei.
Ding Wei hurriedly came up to the Brigade Commander: “Brigade Commander.”
“Have you learned from Li Yunlong how to operate the Hell Cannon?” the Brigade Commander asked.
“I have, but no live ammo practice.” Ding Wei nodded quickly, his heart immediately filled with anticipation.
He had just overheard the conversation between Li Yunlong and the Brigade Commander from the side.
Although the Brigade Commander was pissed off to the point of smoking by Li Yunlong, he had ultimately suppressed his anger.
What did that mean? It meant their Hell Cannon might really be in play.
This kid Li Yunlong seemed like he could actually pull it off.
“Come back to Brigade Headquarters with me for the meeting first. When you return to the New First Regiment, take Brigade Headquarters’ Hell Cannon with you.” The Brigade Commander said, “Once the cannonballs from the Arsenal are supplied, go find a target yourself and do live ammo practice at top speed.”
“Yes, Brigade Commander.” Ding Wei’s voice was loud, full of excitement. He couldn’t believe it was real!
This way, both the Independent Regiment and the New First Regiment would have Hell Cannons, while the 772nd and 771st Regiments wouldn’t. As Li Yunlong put it, that would steal quite the show.
“Don’t get too happy yet. Do you know why I’m giving you the Hell Cannon?” The Brigade Commander’s expression was serious.
“Is it because I snatched the money in Heyuan County Town and made a contribution?” Ding Wei looked at the Brigade Commander.
“Not just that.” The Brigade Commander shook his head, then added, “You’re different from Cheng Xiazi, Kong Jie, and the others. At key moments, you can stay calm and handle problems, especially when it comes to this kid Li Yunlong causing trouble—you’ve done very well. Giving you the Hell Cannon, I hope you can cooperate with Li Yunlong to the maximum extent.”
Hearing the Brigade Commander say this, Ding Wei was a bit stunned: “Brigade Commander, does that mean if Li Yunlong causes trouble for you, I also…”
The Brigade Commander interrupted: “As long as it’s advantageous and no loss, handle it at your discretion. Only…”
The Brigade Commander paused heavily here, then continued: “Only, when you think it’s time to stop, you must rein in this stubborn donkey Li Yunlong for me!!!”
“Yes, Brigade Commander. Guarantee to complete the mission.” Ding Wei nodded solemnly.
After communicating with the Brigade Commander, Ding Wei happily came over to Li Yunlong: “Old Li, thank you. My Hell Cannon is settled.”
“Haha.” Li Yunlong laughed heartily, full of swagger. “Old Ding, what did I say? Getting the Hell Cannon from the Brigade Commander’s hands for you—that’s no brag. Later, see if that Kong Er Lengzi still digs coal, hahaha.”
……
