Chapter 32: A Fair Fall

After finishing his drink, the Brigade Commander got straight to the point and looked at Li Yunlong: "Li Yunlong, tell me first, how many shells for that Italian cannon did you use? For heaven's sake, you didn't fire them all off, did you?"

"Brigade Commander, look at what you're saying. You only approved five shells for me; even if I had ten thousand guts, I wouldn't dare fire them all," Li Yunlong immediately replied, feigning sincerity.

"How many did you use?" Seeing Li Yunlong’s act, the Brigade Commander didn't want to waste time; he just wanted the results.

"Reporting to the Brigade Commander, the New First Regiment did not consume a single Italian cannon shell during this operation," Li Yunlong answered solemnly.

The Brigade Commander was dumbfounded.

They took down Qiujiazhuang without firing a single Italian cannon shell?

What kind of joke was that!

Qiujiazhuang had forty-five guard towers alone. You, Li Yunlong, took it without using a single shell?

If the Brigade Commander hadn't seen the massive supply of potatoes being transported in continuously, he would have surely cursed Li Yunlong for bragging again.

"Li Yunlong, did you really not use a single Italian cannon shell?" The Brigade Commander found it hard to believe.

"Brigade Commander, if you don't believe me, you can go check the ammunition count in the storage room next door," Li Yunlong said.

"Hmph, I'll see for myself." The Brigade Commander actually went to check.

At the storage room, the Brigade Commander saw the Italian cannon shells—twenty-seven of them, not a single one missing.

Seeing the Brigade Commander’s surprised expression, Li Yunlong laughed, "Brigade Commander, how about that? I wasn't bragging, was I? All twenty-seven ancestors are resting right here."

The Brigade Commander suddenly recalled something and glared at Li Yunlong, "Li Yunlong, don't tell me you hid the true number of those Italian cannons. Did you stash a batch of shells behind my back and use the hidden ones to take Qiujiazhuang?"

"Brigade Commander, you can't just throw baseless accusations at your subordinates!" Li Yunlong immediately protested.

Wu Ze stepped in to speak for Li Yunlong: "Brigade Commander, as for whether the Regiment Commander hid any shells, I believe the Brigade’s intelligence department can verify how many Italian cannon shells the Japanese lost. You can make a call immediately. Of course, you can also head to Qiujiazhuang to see if there are any traces of Italian cannon shell explosions, which would prove whether or not the Regiment Commander used any shells to take the village."

"Right, Brigade Commander, Wu Ze makes a lot of sense; you can verify it immediately," Li Yunlong chimed in, thinking to himself that Wu Ze was truly eloquent and logical.

"Li Yunlong, I was just teasing you. Look at how sensitive you are." The Brigade Commander was indeed just joking. He then asked with great curiosity: "But I am baffled—how did your New First Regiment manage to take Qiujiazhuang without using a single Italian cannon shell?"

"Brigade Commander, it’s mainly because for all these years, we were deceived so badly by that traitorous dog, Qiu Daba." Although Qiu Daba had already been killed by the common folk, Li Yunlong still gritted his teeth when mentioning him. "Qiu Daba moved his father's remains into the tomb of a local physician, which is why we could never lure him out all these years..."

Before Li Yunlong could finish, the Brigade Commander paused: "Li Yunlong, is it true that Qiu Daba moved his father's remains into a physician's tomb?"

"Brigade Commander, this is all thanks to Wu Ze; he found a way to obtain that intelligence." Li Yunlong credited Wu Ze. "Once I got that intel, I immediately organized the troops and the villagers. Even when I had people dig up the remains of Qiu Daba’s father, that traitor still wouldn't send out his troops. It was Wu Ze who had the foresight to have me hide a medical kit in the coffin beforehand to pose as penicillin, framing Qiu Daba for hoarding medicine. With everyone watching, Qiu Daba was forced to send out his troops. Of course, the final straw that broke his spirit was when Wu Ze had someone tie explosives to his father's coffin. That provoked most of the garrison at Qiujiazhuang to come out. After I captured his son, Qiu Yaozu, alive, I used him to force Qiu Daba to surrender the entire village."

"So that’s how it was." The Brigade Commander suddenly understood. It seemed this Wu Ze was a rare talent indeed.

One step after another—Qiu Daba’s downfall was well-deserved.

"That's why I say that for taking Qiujiazhuang this time, Wu Ze deserves the primary credit," Li Yunlong said seriously.

"Li Yunlong, you praise Wu Ze so much in front of me; aren't you afraid I'll snatch him away?" the Brigade Commander joked.

"Brigade Commander, you promised you wouldn't snatch my people," Li Yunlong said. "Besides, Wu Ze is in my New First Regiment, so he's still a man of your 386th Brigade."

"What position have you given Wu Ze?" the Brigade Commander asked.

"I'm letting him recover his health for now. Once he’s fit and I’ve trained him, I’ll have him serve as the Second Battalion Commander," Li Yunlong replied.

Wu Ze was surprised to hear this. He hadn't expected Li Yunlong to already be planning on making him a battalion commander.

"You really have no vision, Li Yunlong," the Brigade Commander scolded. "A talent like this is wasted as a battalion commander. He could even serve as a regimental staff officer."

"You're right, Brigade Commander, you're absolutely right," Li Yunlong nodded immediately.

Military officers were in short supply everywhere, and many regiments didn't even have regimental staff officers; the commanders made all the decisions. Since the Brigade Commander himself suggested Wu Ze as a regimental staff officer, it meant he truly wouldn't snatch his talent.

"Once Wu Ze's background is cleared, come back to me for an appointment letter," the Brigade Commander said.

"Thank you, Brigade Commander!" Li Yunlong thanked him, then looked at the stunned Wu Ze: "Wu Ze, what are you standing there for? Thank the Brigade Commander!"

"Regiment Commander, I just arrived at the New First Regiment. Being made a regimental staff officer immediately doesn't seem to follow regulations," Wu Ze was taken aback.

"What the hell does 'follow regulations' mean? This is wartime! In wartime, we must be flexible. Whoever has the ability gets the position. Since the Brigade Commander said that if your background check is clean you can be a staff officer, then you can," Li Yunlong said. "Once you have enough seniority, being promoted to Chief of Staff won't be a problem either."

"Thank you, Brigade Commander. Thank you, Regiment Commander," Wu Ze suppressed his surprise and expressed his gratitude.

"Why are you thanking me? It’s me, Old Li, who should be thanking you. Because of you, my New First Regiment has reached where it is today," Li Yunlong said, beaming. "Now that Qiujiazhuang is taken, the Italian cannons and the other half of the weapons and ammunition don't need to be handed over, right, Brigade Commander?"

Li Yunlong looked at the Brigade Commander happily.

Facing Li Yunlong's expression, the Brigade Commander nodded: "That's right. Since Qiujiazhuang has been taken by the New First Regiment, the Italian cannons and the rest of the equipment can stay with the regiment. However..."

"However what?" Li Yunlong asked.