Bright Sword: Construction starts from southeastern Shanxi

"It's not Lao Li's fault. Lao Li and I have been busy ambushing small Japanese troops and guarding the Jingxing-Yangquan railway line. We can't eat the big ones, but the small ones add up. Every time I come back, Lao Li brings his men to keep an eye on the railway." Yang Guilin explained with a smile, "I think the Japanese will soon send out a squadron."

"No, wait a minute, Lao Zhong, what's the news? Tell me quickly." Li Yunlong said hurriedly.

"The regiment sent a message two days ago, saying that the brigade headquarters would send someone in a few days to talk about the expansion of the troops and the establishment of a base. You were away these two days, so I will wait for you to come back and tell you." Zhong Zhicheng said with a smile.

"Expansion is a good thing. Once the army is expanded, we will have more people and we will be more confident in fighting the Japanese." Li Yunlong was immediately happy. After all, once the army was expanded, most of his battalion commanders would be promoted to regimental commanders. After all, having the title of regimental commander was definitely much better than that of battalion commander.

"Yes, our regiment political commissar told me about this before. He said that the brigade had this plan a long time ago." Zhong Zhicheng nodded.

"Old Li, I have another piece of gossip I want to hear. It's about you." Zhong Zhicheng said mysteriously.

"What's the news, Lao Zhong? Could it be that our Lao Li is going to be promoted?"

"That's right. The brigade commander told the regiment commander that they are going to form a new regiment for you to lead. You are the first among us battalion-level cadres to be promoted by the brigade commander." Zhong Zhicheng said with envy.

Li Yunlong laughed even louder after hearing this. "Hey, Lao Zhong, you guys are jealous, but who am I? I was promoted by the brigade commander. I know the brigade commander still cares about us, Lao Li."

"I used to be the guard of the division commander, and later I was assigned to the brigade commander's division. The brigade commander thought I was a genius at the time, and taught me personally. What do you think, Old Zhong, Old Yang, and Old Qiu can have this ability? You're dreaming." After saying this, he was as proud as a rooster.

Several people laughed after hearing this. "Just keep bragging, Old Li! You've blown everyone in this village up like crazy! Why don't you tell us how many times the brigade commander has beaten you and sent you packing?" Qiu Jiayuan said.

"Hehe, how is that possible? The brigade commander thought I was ready to go on a mission, so he sent me to support the brother troops." Li Yunlong said with his eyes wide open.

Hahahaha, several people were immediately amused by Li Yunlong's shamelessness.

The next day, the regiment sent someone to convey the latest order from the brigade headquarters, asking Yang Guilin to take over from Li Yunlong as the commander of the third battalion, and Qiu Jiayuan as the battalion political instructor, and to take the third battalion back to the regiment headquarters immediately to await further instructions. Li Yunlong and Zhong Zhicheng immediately rushed to the brigade headquarters to wait for new appointments.

When they arrived at the regiment headquarters, Yang Guilin and the others said goodbye to Li Yunlong with envy on their faces, "Old Li, you are going to be promoted. When you become rich, don't forget me and Old Qiu."

"No problem, no problem. If I, Old Li, eat, you, Old Yang and Old Qiu, will have soup." Li Yunlong's face suddenly beamed, his wrinkles almost squeezing together with laughter. Regimental Commander Chen Zifeng and Political Commissar Xu Ce watched Li Yunlong's intoxicated expression, chuckling inwardly. They wondered if Li Yunlong would be able to smile again when they got to brigade headquarters.

After saying that, Li Yunlong and Zhong Zhicheng bid farewell to the 782nd Regiment and went to the brigade headquarters.

At noon that day, Li Yunlong and Zhong Zhicheng rushed to the brigade headquarters.

From a distance across the brigade headquarters gate, Li Yunlong shouted in his signature loud voice.

"Commander, my great commander, I, Old Li, have come back to see you again."

Zeng Jiwen was at the brigade headquarters at the time, considering the practical problems and situations in the construction of the base with his staff. He heard Li Yunlong shouting outside the door and immediately laughed.

"Li Yunlong, what are you shouting for? Am I deaf? Why do you have to be so loud? Come in now."

Li Yunlong and Zhong Zhicheng hurried into the brigade headquarters and saw the brigade commander, deputy political commissar Liu Ming, and deputy staff officer Cai Xu discussing something at the table. The two of them quickly saluted.