Listening to the Brigade Commander's congratulations on his windfall, Li Yunlong's unease reached its peak.
It was as if something was about to leave him.
Looking at the Brigade Commander's inexplicable smile, Li Yunlong felt his scalp tingle.
"Heh heh, Brigade Commander, it was just a small fortune.
It's not worthy of your esteemed attention, Brigade Commander."
Li Yunlong forced a smile and handed the Japanese commander's saber in his hand to the Brigade Commander, speaking as he did.
"Brigade Commander, this is the saber of the Japanese commander from Linyuan County town.
I thought it would be perfect for you to chop firewood with."
The Brigade Commander took the saber, glanced at the chrysanthemum insignia on the blade, and laughed.
"Li Yunlong, you've got some nerve.
The Emperor of Japan's bestowed military saber is called a firewood-chopping knife by you."
"Fine, my cookhouse squad's cleaver is worn out anyway, so I'll keep it.
Next time, get me a Colonel's saber. The cookhouse squad's vegetable-cutting knives aren't good enough anymore."
"Yes! I guarantee I'll get you a Colonel's saber for cutting vegetables."
"Brigade Commander, what about our battle this time?"
"A minor matter, a minor matter. Didn't I ask you to find a way to break through the Japanese blockade of our base area?"
"Hahaha, thank you, Brigade Commander, thank you, Brigade Commander. Old Li has also prepared a small gift for you."
"What is it?"
"Five hundred rifles, three Type 11 light machine guns. The bullets aren't many, though, just over twenty thousand in total."
"Hahaha, Li Yunlong, you rascal. It seems you had quite a harvest in this battle. Five hundred guns are a small gift?"
"Alright, I accept your small gift. I like it very much.
Send me more small gifts like this in the future. I like these small gifts the most."
The Grand Brigade Commander patted Li Yunlong on the shoulder and beckoned to a guard to receive the small gift Li Yunlong brought.
Then he said to Li Yunlong, "Li Yunlong, you've made such a great contribution this time, I can't treat you unfairly."
"Stay for lunch at the brigade headquarters today. I have a bottle of good wine, and I'll treat you to a drink!"
"Guard, tell the cookhouse squad to fry an egg for our Regimental Commander Li."
"Then Old Li thanks you, Brigade Commander."
Seeing that the Brigade Commander didn't mention the artillery, Li Yunlong felt half the weight lift from his heart.
Li Yunlong really didn't want to give equipment to the brigade headquarters, but he still had artillery.
If he hadn't come, by the time the Brigade Commander went to the New First Regiment, not only the guns but even the artillery might not have been safe.
It was better to send a batch of guns first and act obediently, perhaps the Brigade Commander would let his artillery go.
Although the five hundred rifles Li Yunlong gave away were all old Type 88 rifles, Hanyang-made rifles, and rapid-fire rifles that the New First Regiment had replaced,
he still felt a pang in his heart. It couldn't be helped; that was just his personality.
To others, these were five hundred rifles, but to him, they represented the Fifth Battalion of his New First Regiment, and the heads of the Japanese devils!
Now, giving up five hundred rifles to protect his artillery and getting a meal and a drink, Li Yunlong felt it was worth it.
The "good wine" the Brigade Commander mentioned was actually a bottle of Shanxi Fenjiu liquor.
After taking a sip of wine and eating a piece of radish peel, Li Yunlong suddenly remembered the matter Qin Yangming had entrusted to him.
"By the way, Brigade Commander, this is a training syllabus that Little Rascal came up with.
I've seen the soldiers he trained.
The ordinary new recruits can basically fight one-on-one with the Japanese devils without being at a disadvantage."
After handing the training syllabus to the Brigade Commander,
Li Yunlong told the Brigade Commander everything he knew.
"Who is Little Rascal?"
Listening to Li Yunlong, the Brigade Commander was also a bit confused about who this "Little Rascal" was.
"It's the one who carried the big pot with me when we crossed the grassland."
"Oh, oh, I remember now. It's that guy who used to steal guns and play and got hung up and beaten by the Commander."
Hearing Li Yunlong's explanation, the Brigade Commander immediately recalled who Li Yunlong was talking about.
Li Yunlong was also a bit confused by what the Brigade Commander said.
"Brigade Commander, isn't Qin Yangming, this Little Rascal, always with our field army?"
"No, he used to be in the old base area.
He only went to our side later."
"Now that you mention it, I seem to remember who you're talking about too."
The Political Commissar beside them spoke up, "Is it that very tall guy,
whose neck is almost as thick as his head?"
"Yes, yes, that's him."
The Brigade Commander took a sip of wine, flipped through the training syllabus, and recounted amusing anecdotes about Qin Yangming's childhood.
"This kid was very strong even when he was a child.
His parents were also revolutionaries, and they sacrificed later."
"The Commander and the Headquarters Chief of Staff raised him."
"I'm telling you, this training syllabus is something special."
The Brigade Commander exclaimed as he looked at the training syllabus.
With his military expertise, he could naturally see how valuable the content in this training syllabus was.
It had to be said that the content in the training syllabus was indeed very useful for the Eighth Route Army today.
However, the actual effect would only be known after practical application.
"By the way, Li Yunlong,
I remember it was Qin Yangming who led the men to take down the Japanese headquarters this time,
so you had the opportunity to attack the stronghold, right?"
"Yes, that's right. Qin Yangming deserves the first merit for the New First Regiment achieving such battle results this time."
The Brigade Commander, who had been worrying about how to get Li Yunlong to willingly hand over his artillery, suddenly had an idea upon hearing Li Yunlong's words.
Then the Brigade Commander gave a look to the Political Commissar beside him.
The Political Commissar beside him immediately understood the Brigade Commander's intention.
The pitiable Li Yunlong was still happily chewing on radish peel,
unaware that his artillery would soon no longer belong to him.
"It seems this kid Qin Yangming has some skills.
Coincidentally, my brigade headquarters' Guard Battalion is short of a deputy battalion commander.
I think it would be best to have this kid come to my brigade headquarters as a deputy battalion commander."
Li Yunlong, who had been happily chewing on radish peel, immediately lost his smile.
"No, Brigade Commander, I only have a few capable commanders and fighters.
If you take one away, what will I do?"
"I was planning for him to be a battalion commander."
Seeing Li Yunlong's reaction, the Brigade Commander immediately understood that his method was sound.
The Brigade Commander feigned a sigh, "Alas, Li Yunlong, my brigade headquarters is also short of personnel."
"My Guard Regiment still only has a Guard Battalion of three hundred men.
It's not just the small number of people, their equipment is also not good.
Most of them are still holding old Type 88 rifles."
Hearing the Brigade Commander's words, Li Yunlong hurriedly said.
"Brigade Commander, didn't I just give you five hundred rifles?"
He was truly afraid that the Brigade Commander would transfer Qin Yangming away.
This guy was his lucky star.
"Hmph, Li Yunlong, don't think I don't know what you sent.
I don't even need to look to know it must be those old Type 88 rifles and Hanyang-made rifles your New First Regiment replaced."
"Five hundred rifles, I think only those three Type 11 light machine guns were captured by you, and they were definitely not in perfect condition."
Seeing his little scheme exposed, Li Yunlong instantly understood that the Brigade Commander had not let his artillery go after all.
"Brigade Commander, how about this: I'll give you two more Type 92 heavy machine guns and a 60mm mortar. What do you say?"
"Do I lack these things?"
Li Yunlong had still held onto a sliver of hope, but seeing the Brigade Commander's dismissive look, he knew he really had to make a sacrifice this time.
"They all say drinking leads to trouble.
Li Yunlong, oh Li Yunlong,
why did you stay for a drink when you didn't have to?
The New First Regiment doesn't lack alcohol.
Now, to have a drink, I have to give up a Type 92 infantry gun.
This drink is really damn expensive."
Li Yunlong gritted his teeth, "Brigade Commander, add another Type 92 infantry gun, plus forty artillery shells!"
The Brigade Commander was actually quite satisfied with the equipment Li Yunlong was offering.
However, he habitually tried to bluff a little more.
"Forget it, seeing how stingy you are, I don't want the equipment.
You can take those five hundred rifles back later.
I still think it's better to have Little Qin come over as deputy battalion commander."
"No, Brigade Commander, four Type 92 heavy machine guns,
plus ten thousand rounds of ammunition,
one, no, two 60mm mortars,
plus one hundred artillery shells,
one Type 92 infantry gun,
plus fifty artillery shells!
Brigade Commander, this is the equipment for a machine gun and artillery company.
One person is worth a machine gun and artillery company.
Who is worth this much money!"
Hearing the scale of Li Yunlong's offer, the Brigade Commander was also a bit surprised.
"How many good things did this kid loot? He's almost doubled the offer!"
However, he still spoke with a poker face.
"My head is worth more than a machine gun and artillery company; it's worth an artillery regiment."
"Li Yunlong, confess honestly, how many good things did you loot in this battle?"
"You better not try to play dumb with me.
I'll come down personally to see.
Tell me honestly what equipment your New First Regiment has now."
Li Yunlong had no way to express his bitterness. In just a few sentences, his entire fortune was extracted by the Brigade Commander.
Hearing the fortune Li Yunlong revealed, the Brigade Commander and the Political Commissar were both shocked.
"My heavens, Li Yunlong, you've really struck it rich."
"Li Yunlong, I truly congratulate you on your fortune."