Chapter 15: Li Yunlong’s Little Scheme

Chapter 15: Li Yunlong’s Little Scheme

After a victorious battle, it was time to celebrate.

Having captured Xiao Wang Village and Xiao Li Village, they seized a considerable amount of supplies, and the food for the new First Regiment immediately improved.

Before, they gnawed on coarse corn buns and drank plain boiled water.

Now, they ate fine white flour bread and drank meat broth made from Japanese canned meat.

“Wu Ze, eat more and take care of your health. I’m afraid Old Li will be relying on you for a long time to come,” Li Yunlong personally prepared a special meal for Wu Ze, bringing him fish soup, eggs, and braised pork.

Wu Ze’s help in temporarily safeguarding the First Regiment’s captured weapons, ammunition, and Italian artillery gave Li Yunlong more opportunities to prosper, so he treasured Wu Ze dearly.

“Commander, I can’t just eat fine food; I also need coarse grains and vegetables,” Wu Ze said frankly in response to Li Yunlong’s attention.

His body was too frail and malnourished; he wanted to recover as best he could.

“Coarse grains aren’t a problem, but vegetables…” Li Yunlong scratched his head. “I’ll talk to Old Wang in the cookhouse. From now on, every meal will have vegetables.”

“Commander, the brigade commander ordered you to attack Fort Village, but somehow I get the feeling you don’t really want to attack it,” Wu Ze asked.

“Wu Ze, it’s not that I don’t want to attack Fort Village, it’s just that we can’t take it,” Li Yunlong didn’t hide his thoughts. “There are 800 soldiers there, all die-hard collaborators. Psychological tactics won’t work, and we don’t have enough shells. If they hide in their turtle shell fortifications and don’t come out, there’s nothing we can do.”

“Then why did you agree to the brigade commander...” Wu Ze questioned.

“There’s half a month’s time. I have Italian artillery, and the First Regiment’s weapons and ammunition are now sufficient. I can make gains elsewhere,” Li Yunlong explained. “Maybe by the time the deadline arrives, I’ll have acquired more weapons and equipment. I can hand over the current batch and still have a surplus.”

“Commander, that’s deceiving the brigade commander,” Wu Ze was surprised by Li Yunlong’s plan. “Aren’t you afraid that if the brigade commander finds out, he’ll be furious and confiscate all the weapons and ammunition you’ve earned in the past half month?”

“No, definitely not,” Li Yunlong shook his head. After a successful operation, he secretly hid the weapons and ammunition outside. This was a closely guarded secret, not even shared with Wu Ze.

“Commander, why don’t you give me a few men and let me scout out Fort Village,” Wu Ze volunteered.

If Fort Village was a target that could directly knock Li Yunlong out, it was surely a tough nut to crack.

But Wu Ze was willing to give it a try.

Li Yunlong treated him well, with good food and drink. He couldn’t just freeload; he had to contribute something to the First Regiment.

“Alright, if you want to learn about Fort Village, go see Zhong Zhicheng. That old fellow controls all kinds of intelligence. I’ll give him a heads-up,” Li Yunlong agreed. Wu Ze was smart—let him try. If he failed, it wouldn’t cost Li Yunlong anything.

But if he succeeded—though Li Yunlong didn’t think it likely—the village lord, Qiu the Scarred, was no fool. He was cunning as could be.

Li Yunlong had tried many times to deal with him but never succeeded, sometimes barely avoiding falling into the bastard’s traps.

Even now, with Italian artillery and five shells approved by the brigade commander, Li Yunlong preferred to target other Japanese–collaborator strongholds rather than waste time and troops on Qiu the Scarred.

“Mm,” Wu Ze hummed, lowering his head to eat the food Li Yunlong had brought.

The brigade commander noticed Li Yunlong’s special treatment of Wu Ze and suspiciously approached. “Li Yunlong, you’re giving Wu Ze special meals that even our wounded can’t get. Isn’t that a bit much?”

“Commander, I’m just protecting—” Li Yunlong began.

“Protect your head!” the brigade commander cut him off angrily. “Zhong Zhicheng already told me about Wu Ze.”

“Damn it, what we fear most is traitors inside our ranks!” Li Yunlong cursed.

Wu Ze was a rare talent. Li Yunlong avoided praising him in front of the brigade commander, fearing that he’d be targeted.

“Li Yunlong, don’t talk nonsense,” the brigade commander glared. “Wu Ze is so smart, if I were in charge, I’d give him special treatment too. Our 386th Brigade’s principle has always been: only capable people deserve special privileges.”

Wu Ze instantly understood.

Li Yunlong’s boldness was entirely the brigade commander’s indulgence.

“Commander, you’re exactly right,” Li Yunlong agreed readily.

“Li Yunlong, don’t worry, I’m not as shameless as you think, won’t undermine your efforts,” the brigade commander said, then seriously warned, “But don’t think I don’t know what you’re scheming.”

“No, commander, I swear I’m not scheming,” Li Yunlong stiffly replied.

Wu Ze sensed something and asked the brigade commander, “Commander, is ordering the regiment to attack Fort Village a mission from higher command that you passed down?”

Wu Ze had just gathered some information about Fort Village: they had planted a large quantity of potatoes, soon to be ripe.

The Eighth Route Army was short not only on guns and ammunition but also food.

Wu Ze believed the brigade commander’s order was not impulsive.

If it were a genuine mission from above, and Li Yunlong shirked it to do other things, it would cause trouble.

Li Yunlong quickly turned to the brigade commander. “Commander, is attacking Fort Village really a mission from higher command?”

The brigade commander nodded solemnly. “Yes, it’s an order for the 386th Brigade. You should understand the organization’s difficulties—lack of food has always been a major problem.”

“Commander, that’s unfair. Only half a month to do this? I’m afraid...” Li Yunlong began to complain openly.

Wu Ze interrupted, asking the commander, “How much time did higher command give?”

“One month,” the brigade commander didn’t hide it.

“Even a month won’t be enough,” Li Yunlong remarked.

The commander’s face turned stern. “Li Yunlong, if you can’t take it, then when I leave, this Italian artillery will—”

“No, no, I can do it! I guarantee to take it within half a month,” Li Yunlong quickly assured him.

“Li Yunlong, within these half months, I don’t care what methods you use, find a way to take Fort Village. If I find you distracted behind my back, don’t say I didn’t warn you!” the brigade commander sternly warned.

Having been Li Yunlong’s superior for years, he knew him well.

He came specifically to warn him.

“Yes,” Li Yunlong gloomily agreed.

Well, this was going to be troublesome.

Other business deals were off the table. He had to grit his teeth and confront Qiu the Scarred head-on.