Chapter 27: Li Yunlong Demoted, Lin Ran's Grand Gift

New First Regiment Headquarters.

Even through the courtyard wall, the Brigade Commander’s roaring could be heard. It was no surprise; Li Yunlong was being reprimanded again.

"Li Yunlong!!!"

"Do you think my words are just wind? In one ear and out the other, huh?"

Inside the room, the Brigade Commander held a shiny, oil-slicked leather belt that nearly poked the tip of Li Yunlong’s nose, his spittle flying everywhere as he bellowed.

Li Yunlong stood his ground, his neck stiff, his face a mix of thirty percent grievance and seventy percent defiance. "Brigade Commander! I’m wronged! I am truly wronged!"

"You said we weren't allowed to liberate the county seat, but you never said we couldn't enter it! Surely those aren't the same thing?"

"Ha! You mother-f***er, are you trying to play word games with me?" The Brigade Commander laughed in sheer fury, slamming his belt against the nearby table with a loud crack.

"I heard you hauled several cartloads of treasures out of that city! What’s the matter? Tired of being a regimental commander and want to switch professions to become a mountain bandit? Have you fed the Eighth Route Army’s discipline to the dogs?"

"Brigade Commander! You can’t just say things like that! That’s a hanging offense!" Li Yunlong was genuinely anxious, his face flushed red.

"Heaven is my witness! If I, Li, touched so much as a single needle or thread belonging to the common folk, may I be struck by lightning! Not only did I not touch them, I opened the Japanese grain storehouses and distributed the food to the villagers! The villagers all saw it!"

The Brigade Commander’s gaze was as sharp as a blade, locking onto him. "Fine! Then tell me, where did those cartloads of treasure pop out from? Which crack in a rock, huh?"

"I seized them from that old devil Sato’s headquarters!" Li Yunlong grew more confident as he spoke. "Brigade Commander, those are my spoils of war!"

In the Battle of Guaizigou, Li Yunlong had struck it rich. Just from the bodies of those thousands of beasts, he had recovered no less than 100,000 silver dollars. Sato’s headquarters had yielded even more—a vast amount of gold and jewelry. There were at least a hundred large gold bars alone, not to mention an endless supply of antiques and calligraphy paintings. Li Yunlong had hauled several carts of them out of Chang County.

The Brigade Commander snorted heavily through his nose, dripping with sarcasm. "Hmph! Seized? Spoils of war? You can talk until you’re blue in the face, but who saw it? Who can vouch for you? Just your word alone?"

"Brigade Commander, this… I…" Li Yunlong was sweating profusely. "Brigade Commander, you know I… I couldn't possibly do something so low-down!"

The Brigade Commander stepped forward, his voice dropping to a low, gravelly tone, yet every word hit Li Yunlong like a hammer:

"I believe you! The Division Commander and the Deputy Commander might believe you too! But what about the common people?"

"What will those villagers think when they see your soldiers driving carts full of treasure, swaggering out of a county seat that was just ravaged by the Japanese? They’ll think: 'Oh, the Eighth Route Army entered the city, didn't fight the Japanese, didn't save the people, but instead hauled away the gold and silver.'"

"What the hell does that make us? Bandits passing through? Tell me, Li Yunlong, what have we become? Common looters?"

*Whoosh!*

Cold sweat instantly broke out on Li Yunlong’s back.

"Brigade Commander, I, I... I really didn't think that far ahead at the time!"

Hearing the Brigade Commander put it this way, the realization finally dawned on him. It might be true, but it didn't *sound* true. Having annihilated a Japanese brigade, they didn't liberate the city but instead hauled away several carts of wealth—what would people call that? This could lead to an extremely serious political fallout!

"Brigade Commander, listen to my explanation!" Li Yunlong panicked. "It was... it was that Mr. Lin. Mr. Lin said last time that he wanted some gold and antiques, so I, Li, tried to find a way to get them."

"He brings in so much supplies at his own cost; we should help him out where we can, right?"

"I... I really didn't consider that aspect! Brigade Commander, I was wrong! I was truly wrong! I’ll write a deep self-criticism!"

Seeing Li Yunlong’s instantly pale face and his heartfelt admission, the raging fire in the Brigade Commander’s chest finally subsided a little. He rubbed his throbbing temples wearily, his head aching.

This idiot! He had just achieved an unparalleled victory, only to turn around and stir up a disaster of epic proportions! If this wasn't handled correctly, the consequences would be unimaginable.

"You, oh you..." The Brigade Commander sighed heavily, his tone grave. "Originally, since you led your troops to annihilate the Sato Brigade and achieved such an earth-shattering kill ratio, the higher-ups... intended to give you more responsibility and expand your regiment..."

Li Yunlong’s heart jumped into his throat. More responsibility? Expansion?!

"And now? Hmph!" The Brigade Commander’s tone shifted, cold as ice water. "I think... you should just prepare for disciplinary action!"

Li’s face fell. He had thought that after such a brilliant battle, he would surely be promoted. It wasn't that he was obsessed with rank, but if he had a higher post, he could fight more Japanese. Then, he could ask that wealthy Mr. Lin for even more weapons and equipment. Who would have thought he might end up demoted instead?

"Don't just stand there!" the Brigade Commander snapped. "Hurry! Immediately! Send a telegram to Headquarters!"

"Confess everything you’ve done, every single detail, without hiding a single thing! Try to beg for leniency! Do you hear me?"

The Brigade Commander had brought two radios from headquarters this time, hoping to keep this kid on a short leash, but even with his haste, he was still a step behind.

Li Yunlong wore a mournful expression, like a wilted eggplant, and listlessly ordered the communications squad to send the telegram. He then waited in agony for the final verdict from Headquarters. The Brigade Commander sat to the side in silence, his brows knitted in a knot. The nature of this incident was too sensitive; it could be minor or major, depending entirely on how Headquarters classified it.

Time ticked by, second by agonizing second. Half an hour later.

"Report!"

A communications soldier walked in with heavy steps, clutching a piece of paper, not daring to lift his head. Li Yunlong jumped up.

"What does Headquarters say?"

The soldier’s lips trembled, his eyes fixed on the text of the telegram, unable to speak.

"Give it here!" The Brigade Commander snatched the telegram. Looking at the decision from Headquarters, he knit his brows and sighed heavily.

"Sigh!"

Li Yunlong’s heart sank to the bottom of his chest, his voice trembling. "Bri... Brigade Commander, please don't sigh! What... what does Headquarters say?"

The Brigade Commander looked at Li Yunlong, his eyes filled with frustration at his inability to live up to expectations. "Headquarters orders: Comrade Li Yunlong has severely violated mass discipline, with extremely negative influence. To uphold military discipline and educate the individual, it is decided: Li Yunlong is removed from his post as Commander of the New First Regiment and demoted to Commander of the First Battalion of the New First Regiment! The former First Battalion Commander, Zhang Dabiao, will serve as interim Commander of the New First Regiment!"

"..."

Li Yunlong’s mouth twitched violently. A perfectly good regimental commander turned into a battalion commander. Fine. It wasn't the first time anyway.

Seeing his wilted state, the Brigade Commander’s heart softened. He pulled two crumpled packs of Hademen cigarettes from his pocket and shoved them into Li Yunlong’s hands.

"I’m begging you, can you learn from this next time? Stop acting on impulse and doing whatever you want!"

"But don't complain; Headquarters criticizing you is because they care about you!"

Li Yunlong nodded dully. "Brigade Commander, I know!"

The Brigade Commander patted Li Yunlong’s shoulder firmly, his tone softening. "Alright! Battalion Commander Li! Don't look like your mother just passed away! Cheer up! You’ll still lead your men, and you’ll still fight battles!"

The Brigade Commander shifted gears, pulling two sheets of official paper stamped with bright red seals and elegant calligraphy from his briefcase. "I came here this time not only to bring you radios, but also the things Mr. Lin requested. I’ve brought them for you."

"Next time you see Mr. Lin, remember to give them to him personally."

Li Yunlong’s face instantly lit up. "Good, good, good! When Brother Lin comes again, I’ll finally have something to give him."

Watching his instant "resurrection," the Brigade Commander was both annoyed and amused. He suspected that half of the kid’s previous misery had been an act for his benefit!

"And another thing," he snapped. "I’m warning you for the last time! Keep your tail tucked for a while!"

"The Japanese have suffered such a huge loss; they will never let it go!"

"I estimate that something big is coming! Keep your guard up to the highest level! Do you hear me?"

It had been over a day since the Battle of Guaizigou, and the Japanese were unusually quiet, which was highly abnormal. They were likely plotting something sinister.

Li Yunlong straightened his back, his expression solemn. "Don't worry, Brigade Commander! I, Li, know what I’m doing! I guarantee there will be no slip-ups!"

The Brigade Commander looked at him deeply, said no more, adjusted his leather coat, and strode out.

"I’ve brought the people you asked me for last time, and I’m taking the rest of those weapons with me!"

He had to transport the heavy weaponry that Lin Ran had provided as quickly as possible to arm the entire brigade to the teeth for the coming storm.

Just as he was leaving, the Brigade Commander paused and looked back at Li Yunlong: "You brat, don't go stirring up any more trouble for me, understand?"

Li Yunlong quickly put on a smiling face and chased him to the door. "How could I, Brigade Commander! I promise I won't!"

"Safe travels, Brigade Commander! Take care!"

Watching the Brigade Commander and his party disappear at the edge of the village, the smile on Li Yunlong’s face instantly vanished, and he let out a long sigh.

"Commander..." Zhang Dabiao stepped forward, just as he was about to speak, Li Yunlong raised his hand to stop him.

"Don't call me Commander. You are the Commander now!"

"Yes, Commander!"

...

Night.

A Soviet ZIS-5 military truck rumbled unsteadily over the snow-covered ground. The luxury weapons prepared by Lin Ran had finally arrived...