Chapter 7: Old Li Defies Orders

Chapter 7: Li Yunlong Defies Orders

Back to Li Yunlong, he briefed Wu Ze in detail on the situation at Xiaowang Village. He explained that there were even some undercover agents within the village. Of course, these were only peripheral informants who did not possess full knowledge of the village’s defensive layout. However, Li had clearly mapped out the critical defensive points, which gave him the confidence to drag his "Italian cannon" straight to Xiaowang Village.

"Commander, I heard you say that as long as we use the Italian cannon to blow up the key defensive watchtowers, the puppet troops will soil their pants and flee. But even if you have the New First Regiment surround the village in advance, if the puppets break out and engage in combat, the regiment will surely suffer casualties, right?" Wu Ze asked.

Li replied, "My New First Regiment was just formed; the troops lack training and combat experience. I must provide them with opportunities to gain both. When facing three hundred Japanese soldiers, my regiment has no choice but to avoid their sharp edge. But when it comes to puppet troops, even if we take some losses, wiping them out is definitely within our reach."

"The Art of War says that winning without fighting is the supreme excellence," Wu Ze noted. "Subduing the enemy without direct engagement is the best strategy."

"Wu Ze, tell me then, what method do you have for my regiment to take Xiaowang Village without a fight?" Li asked. If he could take the village with zero casualties, he would certainly be eager to do so.

"Commander, here is what I think," Wu Ze said. "Keep the original plan of cutting the phone lines and surrounding the village, but before you have the artillery open fire, I believe you should first launch a psychological offensive. Your Italian cannon has a long range—far beyond the reach of their mortars. You can reveal the cannon outside their range and give the puppet troops an ultimatum to surrender. For every minute they delay, blow up a watchtower to inflict immense psychological pressure. If things go well, you might force them to lay down their arms. Of course, if they persist in their desperate resistance, you can still use your original plan."

Before crossing over, Wu Ze had been a military diplomat, skilled in psychological warfare, intelligence analysis, and emergency command. Optimizing Li Yunlong's tactics was no challenge for him.

Upon hearing this, Li Yunlong’s expression became animated. "Right! Why didn't I think of that? A psychological tactic! If it works, we really could win without a fight." Previously, without heavy weaponry, he couldn't play such games, but now he had the hardware to try.

"Wu Ze, where are you from, and who is your father?" Li asked, suddenly curious about the young man’s background. Someone who possessed such wisdom without being a career soldier clearly didn't come from an ordinary family.

"Commander, to be honest, I don't remember who my father is or where I'm from," Wu Ze replied.

"Are you joking?" Li asked, not believing that someone could forget their own family and home.

"Commander, I don't know what happened. When I woke up, I was in a mass grave," Wu Ze answered. Li looked at the large lump on Wu Ze's head and began to understand. Someone had likely struck him, thinking he was dead, and dumped him there. Wu Ze had woken up with a brain injury, causing his memory to lapse.

"Forget it then," Li said. "From now on, I will protect you. No one will touch a hair on your head. If you remember later, you can tell me then."

"Thank you, Commander," Wu Ze replied.

"Don't thank me. It is I, Li, who should thank you," Li said solemnly. "You helped me get the Italian cannon, and now we have a great chance to take Xiaowang Village with zero casualties. My regiment owes you."

When Li Yunlong arrived near Xiaowang Village with the cannon, Zhang Dabiao had already arrived with eight hundred soldiers from the New First Regiment. Wu Ze looked at Zhang, the most fierce warrior under Li's command, with great admiration.

"Commander, you actually managed to get a mountain gun!" Zhang exclaimed, staring at the Italian cannon in amazement. For the Eighth Route Army, even capturing a grenade launcher was difficult, let alone a mountain gun. The shock among the eight hundred soldiers was palpable as they murmured among themselves about how the commander had finally found the confidence to attack the village.

"Dabiao, surround the village immediately and cut the phone lines!" Li commanded. Zhang executed the order swiftly, and the village was soon encircled.

Li turned to Wang Chengzhu. "Zhu, it's all up to you now. If this shot doesn't..." Before he could finish, Wang patted his chest. "I guarantee I won't let you down."

"Good, that's what I like to hear," Li nodded. "I still need to have something written for—"

Before he could finish, Zhong Zhicheng, the deputy regiment commander, arrived with several staff officers. "Li Yunlong, I am here to convey the Brigade Commander's order: pull your troops back immediately!" Zhong bellowed, but he stopped mid-sentence as his eyes landed on the Italian cannon.

"Li Yunlong, where did you get this mountain gun? Don't tell me you got it from brigade headquarters!"

"Old Zhong, quit it. Our Brigade Commander is so stingy he wouldn't give us a toothpick, let alone this," Li scoffed. "Besides, he doesn't even have one."

"Then where is it from?" Zhong demanded.

"Old Zhong, I've already cut the lines. We don't have time for this," Li said, ignoring the question. "Since you're here and you have good penmanship, help me write something."

"Li Yunlong, even with a mountain gun, attacking Xiaowang Village is no small matter. The Brigade Commander has ordered a retreat!" Zhong insisted sternly.

"Old Zhong, taking the village now is like picking up a gift. Stop using the Brigade Commander to pressure me!" Li interrupted. "Are you going to help me write this or not?"

"Li Yunlong, are you defying the Brigade Commander's orders?" Zhong's voice rose.

"Zhang Dabiao!" Li barked.

"Here!" Zhang ran over.

"Deputy Commander Zhong just remembered he has urgent business to attend to. Send some men to escort him back," Li ordered.

"Li Yunlong, you wouldn't dare—" Before Zhong could finish, the headstrong Zhang Dabiao immediately carried out the order. A platoon of soldiers "escorted" Zhong and his staff away.

"Li Yunlong, you bastard! You have no discipline! Just wait, I will tell the Brigade Commander..." Zhong roared, but his mouth was quickly gagged.

Many soldiers watched the scene with a sense of familiarity; conflicts between the commander and his deputy were a common occurrence. Wu Ze, however, was stunned. He knew from the television show that their relationship was strained, but seeing it in person, he realized just how severe it was. Li was bold enough to defy the Brigade Commander and treat his own deputy this way. But then again, at Cangyun Ridge, Li had even defied the commander-in-chief. Defying a brigade commander was, for Li Yunlong, nothing out of the ordinary.