Chapter 25: Bamboozling Kong Jie

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Chapter 25: Bluffing Kong Jie

“What? Li Yunlong is going to attack Qiu Family Village?”

The moment Kong Jie heard this, he was stunned.

He had heard that Li Yunlong was going to attack Qiu Family Village. It was a mission the brigade commander had assigned to him.

In Kong Jie’s view, Qiu Family Village was a hard nut to crack. Even if Li Yunlong had grown as fierce as a tiger with wings, there was no way he could capture the village with nothing more than a few shells from his Italian cannon.

And now, the young man Li Yunlong had brought was saying that Li Yunlong intended to attack Qiu Family Village?

“Li Yunlong, is what this young fellow said true? You really intend to attack Qiu Family Village?” Kong Jie stared at him in astonishment.

“That’s right. I’m going to attack Qiu Family Village.” Li Yunlong nodded. “I came to borrow some men from you...”

Before he could finish, Kong Jie cursed, “I knew it! A weasel wishing a chicken well—there’s no good reason behind it! I was wondering why you suddenly brought me grain. That alone was strange enough. You put on an act for half a day just so you could ask me for men to attack Qiu Family Village. Li Yunlong, let me tell you, forget it!”

Kong Jie cursed inwardly. Li Yunlong clearly wanted to borrow his troops and use them as cannon fodder.

“Old Kong, if you won’t lend me the men, then don’t. What are you getting so worked up about?” Li Yunlong shot him a sidelong glance. “I brought you grain, and somehow I’ve earned myself an enemy. Damn it, I’m not drinking this water anymore.”

With that, Li Yunlong grabbed Wu Ze and turned to leave.

The next moment, Kong Jie blocked his path. “Li Yunlong, tell me how you plan to attack Qiu Family Village.”

Although Kong Jie could never quite keep up with Li Yunlong’s way of thinking, he knew that the man never acted without a reason.

Since he had come all this way claiming he could attack Qiu Family Village, perhaps he really did have a way.

If Kong Jie joined in, then once Qiu Family Village was captured, the Independent Regiment could take advantage of the opportunity to gain something. That was probably the benefit Li Yunlong had mentioned.

If he refused, Li Yunlong might actually go looking for Cheng the Blind.

“You already said there was no chance. Why should I tell you anything?” Li Yunlong glared at him.

“Li Yunlong, I apologize. My attitude just now was wrong—truly wrong.” Kong Jie hurriedly apologized again.

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Wu Ze watched the scene, thoroughly impressed by Li Yunlong’s tactics.

He had clearly come to beg Kong Jie for help, yet somehow he had turned the tables and made Kong Jie the one asking him for something.

“Second Fool Kong, here’s the situation. I have a way to lure Scarface Qiu out of his tortoise shell. But when he comes out, he’ll certainly bring a substantial force with him. I plan to set a trap, capture Scarface Qiu alive, and then force Qiu Family Village to surrender,” Li Yunlong explained.

“What method will you use to lure Scarface Qiu out?” Kong Jie asked.

That was precisely the difficulty of attacking strongholds and fortified villages.

Without heavy weapons and sufficient ammunition, if the Japanese and their traitorous collaborators hid inside their tortoise shell and refused to come out, there was nothing anyone could do to them.

Scarface Qiu’s ancestral graves had been dug up so many times, yet he had never emerged. Could Li Yunlong really have found a way now?

“As for the method, you don’t need to ask.” Li Yunlong looked at Kong Jie. “So, what do you say? Will you lend me the men from those two battalions? If my New First Regiment weren’t short-handed, this opportunity wouldn’t have fallen to your Independent Regiment.”

“Li Yunlong, are you certain you want my men to fight Scarface Qiu outside, rather than lead them in a direct assault on Qiu Family Village?” Kong Jie questioned him, still unconvinced that Li Yunlong could actually lure Scarface Qiu out.

“You can rest easy. You may order your men that if I launch a direct assault on Qiu Family Village, they don’t have to obey,” Li Yunlong said.

“Then how will we divide the spoils after taking Qiu Family Village?” Kong Jie asked.

“Second Fool Kong, attacking Qiu Family Village is my operation. I’m only here to borrow some men. Where did you get the nerve to ask for a share of my spoils?” Li Yunlong glared.

“Li Yunlong, after all these years, don’t you think I know you? Whenever there’s a benefit, you want to swallow it all yourself. But your New First Regiment is already rich enough to drip oil. The weapons and ammunition in Qiu Family Village are no small amount. Aren’t you afraid you’ll choke on them?”

“Whether I choke or not is my concern,” Li Yunlong replied.

“Li Yunlong, if I’m helping you, you have to give me some compensation. You can’t expect me to work for you for nothing,” Kong Jie said.

“Second Fool Kong, let me tell you something. If it weren’t for the fact that you’ve had such a hard time building up the Independent Regiment, and that Cheng the Blind gives you no end of dirty looks, I truly wouldn’t want to let you profit from this. But we’ve been old comrades for so many years. You’re in trouble—how could I, your brother, simply stand by and do nothing?” Li Yunlong said.

“Enough nonsense. Say what you came to say.” Kong Jie could not stand Li Yunlong going on about their friendship. In Li Yunlong’s eyes, friendship was worth less than a few machine guns.

“Very well. I’ll lend you all the weapons captured at Qiu Family Village. That’s a generous enough favor, isn’t it?” Li Yunlong said.

Kong Jie nearly wondered whether he had heard correctly. “Li Yunlong, are you serious?”

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If the Independent Regiment could obtain the weapons and ammunition from Qiu Family Village, Kong Jie’s backbone would immediately stiffen.

The next time he encountered Cheng the Blind, he could hold his head high.

More importantly, with better weapons in hand, there would be more opportunities to fight.

With battles came spoils, wealth, meritorious service, and honors. The Independent Regiment could develop rapidly.

“A promise from your old comrade Li is as solid as a nail,” Li Yunlong said solemnly. “But once you’ve made your fortune, you’ll have to return the weapons and ammunition. And you’ll have to write me an IOU.”

“Fine, fine, fine. I’ll write it, I’ll write it.” Kong Jie nodded and immediately picked up a pen to write the IOU.

“Old Kong, actually, I shouldn’t make you write an IOU. Given the friendship between us, an IOU would be rather inappropriate...” Li Yunlong pretended to protest when he saw Kong Jie writing.

“Even brothers must keep clear accounts. An IOU is necessary. I’m writing it.” Kong Jie finished the document and handed it to Li Yunlong.

“Old Kong, really, look at this. How embarrassing...” Li Yunlong accepted the IOU, slipped it into his pocket, and deliberately pressed it down from the outside.

“Li Yunlong, I’ll gather the troops right now. You can take them back with you,” Kong Jie said briskly.

“No rush, no rush. We’re still mobilizing the local villagers over there. You can send the troops tomorrow,” Li Yunlong replied.

“That works, that works.” Kong Jie was delighted. He immediately turned to his deputy, Xing Zhiguo, and ordered, “What are you standing around for? Bring out my reserves at once and entertain Li Yunlong.”

Before long, two bottles of Fenjiu and uncooked rice were brought out, along with an entire chicken.

Li Yunlong cursed, “You old fool, Kong! You had reserves all along, yet you only brought them out now? Liar! I’ve been tricked by you!”

“Heh heh, didn’t I learn it from you?” Kong Jie chuckled. “Back when I was with you, you did the same thing.”

After Kong Jie and Li Yunlong had been drinking at the table for a while, Kong Jie shifted his attention to Wu Ze and asked Li Yunlong, “Where did this young fellow come from? You seem to think highly of him, Old Li.”

End of Chapter