Bright Sword: Japs, times have changed

Headquarters of the 358th Regiment.

Fang Ligong held a telegram in his hand, his face showing neither a smile nor worry. He came to Chu Yunfei and said, "Commander, you should take a look at this telegram from the front line. I think you will be interested."

"Oh? What's the content?"

After saying that, Chu Yunfei took the telegram and read it carefully. After a moment, a happy smile appeared on his face: "Good! Well done! Really well done!"

The telegram reported in detail all the information including the destruction of the Japanese railway station and the dozens of Eighth Route Army troops blocking the Japanese pursuers.

Last time, he had an inexplicable conflict with the Japanese and was ordered to announce to the public that it was a misunderstanding. However, Chu Yunfei has no intention of following the order until now.

The Japs were killed, so what misunderstanding could there be?

Unlike Chu Yunfei's cheerful expression, Fang Ligong's face gradually showed worry. "Commander, according to intelligence, this Eighth Route Army unit attacked the Japanese train station with mortars. The Japanese bunker was destroyed in one fell swoop without even a shot being fired."

Chu Yunfei said nonchalantly, "It's not surprising that the Eighth Route Army has a few mortars. It would be surprising if they also had howitzers."

Fang Ligong's face was filled with worry as he continued, "Commander, this isn't the main force of the Eighth Route Army. When we were fighting the Japanese, they only had a force of about thirty people, yet they managed to defeat an entire squadron! If the Japanese reinforcements hadn't arrived, the battle wouldn't have lasted long, and they would have been completely wiped out."

Hearing this, Chu Yunfei glanced at Fang Ligong and asked, "This is a good thing. Why do you look so worried, Brother Ligong?"

"Commander, guess where this Eighth Route Army unit chose to base itself?"

After hearing Fang Ligong's words, Chu Yunfei came to the map and carefully looked along the Qinghe Town Railway Station area. When he saw Heiyun Village, he stopped, but still shifted his gaze elsewhere.

In the end, after looking for a long time, I still couldn't find a suitable place to stay.

At this time, Fang Ligong stepped forward and pointed at the location of Heiyun Village on the map, saying, "This is where the Eighth Route Army is stationed."

"Black Cloud Village?"

Chu Yunfei was a little surprised and asked, "Isn't Black Cloud Village Xie Baoqing's territory? Could it be that Xie Baoqing has been recruited by the Eighth Route Army?"

But after thinking about it carefully, it seemed unlikely. After all, Chu Yunfei had sent people there several times to discuss the matter of recruiting Xie Baoqing.

Xie Baoqing became a bandit just to be free and have enough food to eat.

With the conditions of the Eighth Route Army, it was impossible for Xie Baoqing to be tempted, which made Chu Yunfei very puzzled.

Fang Ligong smiled and said, "How could Xie Baoqing agree to be recruited? We don't know the details of what happened, but the bandits in Heiyun Village are completely gone."

"But what does this have to do with us?"

Fang Ligong pointed to another place on the map and said, "Black Cloud Village is only five miles away from our main transportation route. Commander, this is not good news for us."

"The conditions in the Eighth Route Army were difficult, and it was hard to guarantee that there wouldn't be troops stealing our supplies disguised as bandits."

"We will discuss this later."

Chu Yunfei ignored Fang Ligong and went outside and shouted, "Adjutant Sun!"

Adjutant Sun Ming quickly came up to Chu Yunfei and saluted, "Commander, are you looking for me?"

"Go and deliver a message to the Eighth Route Army in Heiyun Village."

Chu Yunfei put his hands behind his back, a faint smile on his face, and said slowly: "Let's just say that my 358th Regiment admires heroes and sincerely invites you to fight the enemy together with me. If you are willing to come, I still have a vacant position for company commander under me."

As Sun Ming was about to leave, Chu Yunfei stopped him again and said, "Don't go empty-handed. Didn't we seize a lot of Japanese weapons last time? We don't need them, so let's do you a favor."

"Yes!"

Soon, Sun Ming led a small group of people and headed towards Heiyun Village along the main road.

At noon, a row of forward observation posts ran to Lin Qiang who was training his troops and reported: "Report to the platoon leader, a group of people have come down the mountain. They say they are from the 358th Regiment of the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army. They have been ordered to bring us a gift."

Someone from the 358th Regiment?

Zhang Yuntian also had some understanding of this team of the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army. He knew that it was the ace unit of the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army. The Japanese had repeatedly emphasized that there should be no conflict with the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army.

Even Lin Qiang couldn't guess what the other party's intention was when he suddenly visited at this time.

"Where are the people now?"

"We were stopped by the sentries at the foot of the mountain."

Lin Qiang thought for a moment and said, "Let them come up."

"Yes!"

As the sentry left, Lin Qiang gave orders to Zhang Yuntian and the others: "Have the soldiers put down their guns. Huzi, have your team change into the border area rifles and gather in the yard. The rest of you, go to the back and help the villagers. Today's training ends here."

"Yes!"

Soon, Sun Ming brought the team to the yard. When he saw the team training, an expression of "as expected" appeared on his face.

The situation of this team was the same as he had expected on the road, but like Chu Yunfei, he was a pure soldier and admired heroes like Lin Qiang!

While the other party was focusing on him, Lin Qiang turned his attention to the carriage behind the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army.

Retracting his gaze, Lin Qiang stepped forward with a smile and greeted, "I am Lin Qiang, Platoon Leader of the First Company, Third Battalion, Independent Regiment, 386th Brigade, 129th Division of the Eighth Route Army. Welcome all friendly troops."

Sun Ming also retracted his gaze and looked directly at the platoon leader of the Eighth Route Army in front of him. He extended his hand and said, "Adjutant Sun Ming of the 358th Regiment of the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army has come here on the orders of our regimental commander to deliver a gift to your army."

Sun Ming did not state his purpose directly, but made way and signaled his men to lift the tarpaulin on the carriage.

When the contents under the tarpaulin appeared, Sun Ming noticed the changes in the expressions of Lin Qiang and the others, and said with a smile, "Our regimental commander is well aware of the difficult conditions your army is facing, and specifically asked me to bring this gift to you."

The Eighth Route Army was all a little shocked. Although the two armies belonged to the same battle sequence and were both teams defending the country, their communication was very weak. This was the first time that they had sent assistance such as weapons and ammunition.

The carriage was pulling a lot of the Japanese Type 38 rifles, as well as a large number of bullets and grenades. It seemed that Chu Yunfei's 358th Regiment had the upper hand in the last battle.

Lin Qiang's face was filled with joy. He stepped forward and excitedly shook Sun Ming's hand. "I didn't expect your commander to give me such a valuable gift. I'm truly grateful. Please also tell your commander that I, Lin, will definitely repay your army in the future!"

After saying that, he let go of Sun Ming's hand and shouted to the soldiers nearby: "Don't just stand there, help move all the things away."

Lin Qiang played the role of the miser to perfection. Sun Ming wanted to laugh but was too embarrassed to do so, and it was very difficult for him to hold it back.

Turning back, Lin Qiang invited a few more people into the house for tea, but Sun Ming refused because it was getting late: "Platoon Leader Lin, I won't have tea, but our regimental commander has a message for your army."

Lin Qiang was stunned for a moment, then asked, "What else did your leader say?"

"Cough cough."

Sun Ming coughed deliberately, hoping to attract everyone's attention. After achieving his goal, he said loudly, "The commander has said that you are all soldiers who have fought bravely to protect our country. You are heroes. I am willing to take you under my command and fight together against the enemy!"

Then he whispered to Lin Qiang, "Platoon Leader Lin, our regimental commander also said that there is a vacant position for company commander in the team. I wonder if you are interested."

This time Chu Yunfei took the initiative to show goodwill. Lin Qiang thought of many possibilities, but he never thought that Chu Yunfei would actually try to win him over.

It would be understandable if he wanted to win over the battalion commander Zhang Dabiao or the regiment commander Li Yunlong, but Lin Qiang really couldn't figure out what was so special about himself that was worthy of Chu Yunfei's active efforts to win him over.

Anyway, it won’t be the territory of Heiyun Village.

If Chu Yunfei wanted it, he could just send an artillery battalion to the front of the village, and Xie Baoqing would have to give it up obediently, and he would also have to be afraid that Chu Yunfei would not want it.

Suddenly, Lin Qiang thought of another possibility. He, Chu Yunfei, was worried that he would intercept the supply team of the 358th Regiment, or that if there was friction between the two sides in the future, the strategic location of Heiyunzhai could directly cut off most of the supply routes of the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army.

Perhaps only this possibility can explain why Chu Yunfei took the initiative to show goodwill to a small platoon leader.

Thinking of this, Lin Qiang politely declined, "Thank you for taking the trouble, Adjutant Sun, to come here in person. I've already accepted this gift. If I refuse, you can't take it back, right?"

Sun Ming really couldn't hold back this time and burst out laughing: "Platoon Leader Lin really is joking. The gift is one thing, and this invitation is another. I will convey Platoon Leader Lin's meaning to the regimental commander."

"I have to go back and report, Platoon Leader Lin. See you later!"