Chapter 10, Engaging in Side Businesses

I tell you, I have done it, so what now

The grenade launchers and mortars are completely out of sight.

Zhao Gang roughly estimated that this cavalry unit has at least over 300 warhorses, each carrying heavy wooden boxes and burlap sacks on their backs

Moreover, almost all the soldiers of the First Battalion were carrying two rifles each

He knows why Kong Jie is unhappy; such a large sum of profit has nothing to do with him. How can he possibly be happy?

"Team Leader," Zhao Gang walked up to Li Yunlong and stood still, "I have something to discuss with you"

"Comrade Zhao, don't pay attention to him; he is just a simpleton." Li Yunlong chuckled.

Guan Dashan is in a very good mood

Got it

However, you cannot impose a tight restriction on me, can you

Having finished speaking, Li Yunlong turned and ran outside

Of course I have heard of it," Zhao Gang said, "I have heard from comrades in the Political Department that you, Commander Li, led the New First Regiment to decisively defeat the Sakata Brigade from the front and killed the commander of the Sakata Brigade. Who among the entire Jin-Cha-Ji forces does not know this?

Li Yunlong's words were amusing, and Zhao Gang couldn't help but laugh, asking: "What did the brigade commander say?"

Ask the stationed guard, they all say they do not know what the situation is

Salute! Accompanied by the command of the guard, Zhao Gang stormed in angrily

Li Yunlong was pacing in the courtyard with a cigarette in hand

Without this financial backing, how could I dare to confront the Sakata team head-on? It's a pipe dream.

The rifle is an old tube, manufactured in Hanyang, with the rifling completely worn down

Guan Dashan exclaimed excitedly: "This time we have truly struck it rich, with three hundred sixty-two warhorses, nine light machine guns modeled after the Czech design, two hundred sixty cavalry rifles, two hundred sixty sabers, in addition to these, there are thirty thousand rounds of rifle ammunition, over fifty thousand silver dollars, plus over one hundred thousand jin of wheat and millet! Commander, this year our independent regiment can enjoy a truly prosperous year!"

Deputy Commander Kong ... ... '' Zhao Gang still wanted to greet him, but was pulled away by Li Yunlong

However, you can rest assured that I will definitely return before nightfall today

In the past two days, Comrade Zhao, you have visited the Second and Third Battalions, so you should be well aware of the situation regarding the Independent Regiment

Today it was supposed to be the turn of the First Battalion, but when Zhao Gang hurried to the First Battalion's station, he found it completely deserted. Not a single person could be seen, as over three hundred officers and soldiers below the battalion commander were mysteriously absent.

This is exactly what I have been waiting for

Let me get a gun? No problem

Old Kong! Li Yunlong spotted Kong Jie in the crowd and hurriedly approached him

You know it, and that's enough. Li Yunlong nodded and continued, "When I first took over the new regiment, the troops had not yet formed combat capability. The troops lacked training, lacked practical combat experience, and most importantly, lacked weapons and equipment"

The warhorses are being pressed to the point where they can barely move forward

Li Yunlong became somewhat impatient and interrupted Zhao Gang, saying: "Rest assured, my political commissar, haha, those puppet troops are merely for show, and those horses are practically being given away."

Are you going to report to the commanding officer?

I went to ask the brigade commander, can you guess what the brigade commander said

Li Yunlong said: "A batch of military horses has arrived in Wanjia Town, and I instructed the First Battalion to bring the horses back, just that simple"

Wanjia Town? Zhao Gang's expression changed, and he said, "The cavalry battalion of the Eighth Mixed Brigade of the puppet army?"

The commander said, "If you want a gun, there is none; if you want a life, there is one."

Li Yunlong immediately perked up and said, "They are back, Deputy Commander Kong and Xiao Wang have returned! It seems they must have struck it rich. Come on, let's go take a look!"

At that moment, Li Yunlong suppressed his anger and said in a deep voice: "Comrade Zhao, have you heard of the New Regiment?"

Upon seeing this, Li Yunlong burst into laughter, exclaiming, "Hahaha, we have struck it rich!"

Li Yunlong said: "Combat mission? There isn't one, would I not tell you if there were?"

He then asked: "Where has the First Battalion gone? Also, Deputy Commander Kong and Xiao Wang are not here either. I want to ask the Commander what exactly has happened in the regiment. Why are you keeping this from me?"

Zhao Gang is indeed a workaholic. After finishing the meeting with Li Yunlong and Kong Jie yesterday, he immediately immersed himself in work, going down to various battalions, companies, and platoons to familiarize himself with the situation

Yang Village, Independent Regiment Headquarters

Spent more than two days visiting all the companies and platoons of the 3rd Battalion and the 2nd Battalion

The current independent regiment is not much stronger than the new regiment I just took over, with only nine light machine guns, not a single heavy machine gun, and just over five hundred rifles

Saying this, he continued: "I apologize, Chief Political Officer, it is like this: I had Deputy Commander Kong take a battalion to engage in some side business, and due to a shortage of personnel, I had Xiao Wang brought along."

A dozen or so adolescents were shouting, jumping, and laughing, surrounding the front of this cavalry unit

Thus, neither of the two individuals could obtain a single gun

Li Yunlong also became furious, glaring with both eyes and scolding: "Zhao Gang, stop glaring at me. When I was fighting in the Eyu-Wan region, you didn't even know where you were."

Zhao Gang imagined the awkward situation of Li Yunlong at that time and couldn't help but ask, "So what will you do?"

As the two individuals burst through the door, they were met with the sight of a cavalry unit approaching the regiment headquarters

After speaking, Li Yunlong turned and walked away, but Zhao Gang relentlessly pursued him and caught up to Li Yunlong.

With such limited resources, we cannot even afford to conduct a small-scale ambush.

Light machine guns, fewer than ten in the entire regiment, and not a single heavy machine gun.

Wanjia Town is adjacent to Zhengtai Road, and I just passed by there last week

In just under a year, the new group has everything.

What do you think the brigade commander said? The brigade commander said, "What do I need you, Li Yunlong, for with my equipment?"

Zhao Gang's anger was immediately suppressed

"Captain, our independent regiment has struck it rich!"

Zhao Gang said: "I would like to ask the leader, are there any combat missions?"

"You, Li Yunlong, look at how many guns my head is worth; if you want, just chop it off and use it to exchange for guns"

Li Yunlong smiled faintly and said, "Look at my memory, I forgot about this matter"

Zhao Gang said anxiously: "At that time, there was a county brigade providing cover for me, and even so, we encountered danger. The enemy situation there was very complex, how could you possibly..."

Old Kong, please tell us, how much benefit did our independent regiment gain from this operation

Zhao Gang was also somewhat excited, and he gained a deeper understanding of what Li Yunlong referred to as "engaging in side businesses." It seems that for the Eighth Route Army to strengthen its armed forces, engaging in side businesses is crucial

It seems I understand a bit now Zhao Gang nodded and said again Team Leader, my attitude was somewhat impatient earlier, I hope you can be more forgiving However, in the future, if there are matters to discuss, can we first consult with each other? You mentioned such a significant issue, and as the political commissar, I was not informed about it, which is certainly not ideal

Because he realized that arguing with someone like Li Yunlong would not solve the problem, but only make the situation more rigid, which was not the outcome he hoped to see

"Team Leader, what do you mean by engaging in a side business?" Zhao Gang said angrily, his face darkening, "This is a military operation! What authority do you have to mobilize the troops without permission?"

There is also this bullet, and each gun has less than ten rounds!

Zhao Gang had no choice but to return to the regiment headquarters to ask Li Yunlong

Kong Jie, however, was in a bad mood, casting a cold glance at Li Yunlong before walking straight away

"Side business?" Zhao Gang asked, "What side business? Please clarify."

Ang, since you have the ability to be the leader of the group, you should also have the ability to handle firearms; otherwise, go home and take care of the children, and do not embarrass me here.

"I say the same thing," Li Yunlong said. "I am a regiment commander of a proper regular army, how can I be inferior to a county battalion? Isn't this tarnishing the reputation of our division?"

What a magnificent horse, it is simply being wasted in the hands of the puppet army

Zhao Gang's reaction surprised Li Yunlong somewhat

Li Yunlong said: "The brigade commander said, 'Go, go, go, figure it out yourself. I won't take care of anything, I won't ask anything. I warn you, Li Yunlong, don't bother me with these trivial matters.'"

With a good weapon in hand, we stand tall and firm

You are an old comrade, and both your political experience and military combat experience are indeed more extensive than mine. I should learn from you; however, in this matter, your actions are indeed inappropriate

Ang, you are seriously violating the discipline

This white-faced scholar is surprisingly not panicking? Nor is he in a hurry to report to his superiors?

They want me to handle a gun while also expecting me to be a good child; this is simply unreasonable

Without engaging in some side business, when will the independent regiment be able to form combat effectiveness

You have to give me some autonomy; you can't take charge of everything.

Zhao Gang is also somewhat looking forward to it, and quickly catches up

No problem.Li Yunlong said, "Let's discuss the matter."

Li Yunlong said with some surprise: "You also know Wanjia Town?"

"Type 92, grenade launcher, mortar."

After a pause, Li Yunlong said to Zhao Gang: "Comrade Zhao, do you understand now?"

Whether to kill or to maim, I, Li Yunlong, will face it head-on

As soon as the words were spoken, a sudden neighing of horses came from outside the door

"Company Commander? Company Commander!" Li Yunlong called Company Commander Guan Dashan over and said, "Quickly tell me, how much benefit did our Independent Regiment gain from this operation?"

Zhao Gang quickly calmed down and said: "Captain, let us all remain calm and not argue; arguing will not solve the problem"

Li Yunlong scrutinized Zhao Gang up and down a few times and asked, "Comrade Zhao, what instructions do you have?"