Chapter 11: The Regiment Commander’s Great Joy (Humbly Asking for Recommendation Votes and Monthly Votes)
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Chapter 11: The Brigade Commander Is Delighted
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“Hahahaha! That little rascal Li Yunlong actually managed to get his hands on a mountain gun. What a damn impressive feat!”
After hanging up the phone, the brigade commander’s furious expression instantly turned to one of immense delight.
The combined forces of the Eighth Route Army’s three divisions possessed only a handful of mountain guns. Half of them were abandoned enemy weapons that had been scrapped and were completely unusable.
Mountain guns were normally assigned at the division level; brigade-level units did not have any.
Li Yunlong had somehow acquired one. That had brought enormous credit to the 386th Brigade—and to its commander.
“Someone come here!” the brigade commander shouted.
“Commander, what are your orders?” someone hurried over. Seeing the commander’s expression transform from gloomy to radiant, he could not help feeling puzzled.
“Go. Bring Commander Cheng of the 772nd Regiment here at once,” the brigade commander ordered.
He had just given Blind Cheng a thorough dressing-down and punished him by making him stand facing the wall in reflection.
Now that his worries had vanished, the brigade commander decided to lift the punishment. Naturally, he would still take the opportunity to lecture Blind Cheng a little.
“Yes, Commander.”
Blind Cheng was still standing in front of the wall when someone from brigade headquarters came running over to tell him that the commander wanted to see him immediately.
He had just been given a brutal scolding, so the moment he heard that the commander wanted him there at once, his neck instinctively shrank.
Could it be that Li Yunlong’s blunder had become impossible to salvage and that, with the damage already done, the commander intended to use him, Blind Cheng, as a punching bag once more?
Blind Cheng asked cautiously, “How is the commander’s mood?”
“I don’t know what happened either. He’s suddenly in an excellent mood, as if he’s encountered some enormous stroke of good fortune,” the man from brigade headquarters replied.
Blind Cheng was instantly dumbfounded.
The commander was in an excellent mood?
What was going on? Could that little rascal Li Yunlong really have captured Xiaowang Village?
Impossible!
Absolutely impossible!
The New First Regiment under Li Yunlong had not even developed real combat strength. It did not possess so much as a decent grenade launcher. What could it possibly use to break through a fortified position?
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Blind Cheng stared nervously at the man from brigade headquarters. “Comrade, you must be joking. You’re only trying to comfort me, aren’t you? The commander must still be in a thunderous rage…”
Before he could finish, the man interrupted him. “Commander Cheng, I’m not deceiving you, and I’m not joking. The commander’s mood really did suddenly improve.”
“It really improved?” Blind Cheng asked skeptically. Could Li Yunlong truly have captured Xiaowang Village?
“Yes, Commander Cheng. Hurry over,” the man said, nodding.
Blind Cheng did not dare waste any time and hurried to brigade headquarters.
When he arrived, he found the brigade commander waiting for him with a broad smile.
“Commander, what happened to make you this happy?” Blind Cheng asked, somewhat uncomfortably. He really was not used to seeing the commander like this.
Not long ago, the commander had been raging at him and giving him a thorough dressing-down. Now he was as cheerful as if it were New Year’s. The whole thing felt somewhat unreal.
“Take a guess,” the commander said, looking at Blind Cheng with a smile.
“Commander, don’t tell me Li Yunlong really captured Xiaowang Village?” Blind Cheng asked suspiciously.
“Would merely capturing Xiaowang Village be enough to make me this happy?” The brigade commander looked at him with a perfectly serious expression.
“Why wouldn’t it be? Of course it would be enough to make you this happy,” Blind Cheng replied.
If Li Yunlong captured Xiaowang Village, the New First Regiment could seize a considerable quantity of weapons and equipment. The regiment would no longer face the danger of annihilation, and the brigade commander would not have to be dragged down by Li Yunlong either.
“A mere Xiaowang Village? What is that worth?” the brigade commander said. “That boy Li Yunlong—give him a little freedom, and he comes up with one surprise after another. If I had known, I should have handed him authority over his own operations much sooner.”
Blind Cheng was instantly bewildered.
Only a short while ago, the brigade commander had been regretting giving Li Yunlong that authority.
Now he was regretting not giving it to him earlier. Could it be…
“What surprise?” Blind Cheng asked. He had a sudden premonition. Could that rascal Li Yunlong have managed to obtain a cannon?
To capture Xiaowang Village, Li Yunlong would certainly need a weapon capable of breaking through fortifications—something like a cannon.
Only obtaining a cannon could explain why the brigade commander was so delighted. That would make perfect sense.
“Commander Cheng, at this point, I have to say a few words to you.” The brigade commander’s expression suddenly turned stern. “Look at Li Yunlong. Without making a fuss, he managed to get himself a mountain gun and brought our brigade tremendous honor. Now look at you. You obtained a mortar and nearly made sure the whole world knew about it. You even tried to get your hands on Li Yunlong’s artillery unit. How is it that you have so little ambition?”
The moment Blind Cheng heard this, his mind exploded with a roar.
That rascal Li Yunlong had really obtained a cannon!
Seeing Blind Cheng’s stunned expression, the brigade commander deliberately said, “What is it? You still don’t believe me? I’m heading to the New First Regiment right now. You can come along…”
Before he could finish, Blind Cheng came to his senses and hurriedly said, “Commander, I’ve suddenly remembered that there are still some matters to deal with in the 772nd Regiment. I need to return to regimental headquarters.”
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What a joke.
Not long ago, Blind Cheng and Li Yunlong had gotten into an argument, trading barbs at each other.
Li Yunlong had boasted that he would soon capture the stronghold and obtain a cannon.
Blind Cheng had mocked him for boasting without even thinking.
And now Li Yunlong had actually gotten a cannon. He would certainly be able to capture Xiaowang Village.
If Blind Cheng went with the brigade commander to the New First Regiment at a time like this, would he not be laughed to death by Li Yunlong?
He could not go. Absolutely not.
The brigade commander naturally saw through Blind Cheng’s excuse. He had merely mentioned the idea in passing and had never truly intended to make Blind Cheng accompany him to the New First Regiment. He had only wanted to take the opportunity to teach him a lesson.
The brigade commander said to him, “Commander Cheng, a man needs his dignity, just as a tree needs its bark. There are some things I need not say aloud. You should understand what I mean, shouldn’t you?”
“I understand, I understand. Commander, I’ll make you proud,” Blind Cheng said, nodding repeatedly.
How could he fail to understand the commander’s meaning?
Li Yunlong had acquired a mountain gun, and that had made the commander value him far more.
If Blind Cheng got into another conflict with Li Yunlong in the future, the commander would no longer be so quick to take Blind Cheng’s side.
The commander had said before that a man’s reputation had to be earned through his own ability.
In the past, Blind Cheng had been able to keep Li Yunlong beneath him by relying on the 772nd Regiment’s battle record.
But if he did not find a way to win more merits and suppress Li Yunlong, then the days ahead would surely be…
Blind Cheng was inwardly苦恼. Acquiring a mortar had already cost him enormous effort, not to mention the considerable casualties.
To restore his standing, he would have to obtain a mountain gun. But how in the world was he supposed to get one?
“All right. Go back to your 772nd Regiment. I hope you remember what you just said,” the brigade commander said, waving his hand.
“Yes.”
Blind Cheng lowered his head and withdrew.
“Someone come here! Prepare a fast horse. I’m going to the New First Regiment at once,” the brigade commander ordered.
“Yes.”
End of Chapter