Chapter 54: Presenting the Regimental Flag to Lin Ran (Extra Chapter)

In Chengzheng, inside the headquarters of the Takekumo,

Aside from Lin Ran and Li Yunlong, Zhao Gang and Kong Jie were also present.

Lin Ran had met Zhao Gang once before, but this was his first time meeting Kong Jie.

Kong Jie stood straight at attention, his expression carrying a rare and solemn air as he took the initiative to step forward:

"Mr. Lin, hello! I am Kong Jie, Commander of the Independent Regiment of the Eighth Route Army's 386th Brigade! I have long heard of your esteemed name, and to finally meet you today is the greatest fortune of my life!"

Lin Ran hurriedly extended both hands to shake his: "Commander Kong, hello! Your reputation is like thunder piercing the ear, delighted to meet you, truly delighted!"

Watching the two men shake hands firmly in such a harmonious atmosphere, Li Yunlong standing nearby felt a little sour in his heart.

"I say, Kong Second-Blockhead, when did you start talking all scholarly? Did you secretly learn that from Old Zhao?"

Kong Jie's weathered face flushed. He had indeed consulted Zhao Gang beforehand, wanting to leave a good impression on Lin Ran.

He hadn't expected his old comrade to mercilessly expose him right off the bat.

He glared at Li Yunlong: "Mind your own business! Li Yunlong, how much better than me could you possibly be?"

"Hehehe!" Li Yunlong chuckled smugly, offering no rebuttal.

At that moment, a communications soldier hurried in:

"Reporting! The headquarters has wired back, expressing their gratitude to Mr. Lin. The pilots are already on their way and are expected to arrive before dawn. At the same time, they are bringing calligraphy works sent by the superiors specifically for Mr. Lin."

Upon hearing this, Lin Ran's eyes lit up instantly.

When he was drinking with the brigade commander last time, he had indeed mentioned it in passing. He hadn't expected the bigwigs at headquarters to take it so to heart and prepare it so quickly!

This was a true "priceless treasure"!

On the other side, Li Yunlong waved a hand: "Understood, dismissed."

Then, Li Yunlong turned to Lin Ran: "Brother Lin, since headquarters has already sent people over, you shouldn't leave tonight."

"Once that precious pilot arrives, you can give him some guidance!"

Lin Ran nodded.

The J-5 was different from the aircraft of this era; he really did need to teach him.

Actually, Lin Ran didn't know all that much about it himself; he had simply searched for a bunch of videos online right before coming and taught himself on the spot.

Seeing Lin Ran agree, Li Yunlong laughed heartily: "Good, good, good! Then tonight, we drink until we drop!"

As he spoke, Li Yunlong cast a sidelong glance at Zhao Gang.

Ever since this political commissar had arrived, he had placed a daily limit on his alcohol intake—he couldn't even have an extra bowl if he wanted to.

Seeing that Zhao Gang said nothing, Li Yunlong's heart blossomed with joy.

Brother Lin still carried the most weight!

With that, Li Yunlong instructed someone to prepare food and wine.

Lin Ran was indeed hungry, so he didn't decline.

Having just endured the agonizing feeling of needles on his back, bones in his throat, and thorns on his seat, a late-night snack came at just the right time.

Taking advantage of the time it took to prepare the food and wine, Li Yunlong gave a grand wave of his hand: "Bring them up!"

A dozen soldiers responded in unison, carrying several heavy wooden chests and placing them on the ground.

"Brother Lin, these are the spoils of war we captured this time. Higher-ups gave the word: all the gold and antiques among them belong entirely to you!"

Li Yunlong stepped forward and personally opened one of the chests.

In an instant, a golden radiance filled the entire room!

"There are over fifteen hundred large gold bars in total, along with various antiques and paintings. Brother Lin, you can take them back and examine them at your leisure—Old Li here doesn't understand a thing about such things."

Looking at the dazzling golden light, Lin Ran couldn't help but suck in a breath through his teeth.

Those fifteen hundred large gold bars alone were worth an astronomical fortune.

"This is too precious, far too precious!" Lin Ran waved his hands.

Seeing Lin Ran refuse, Zhao Gang wore an expression of deep admiration.

"Mr. Lin, compared to the weapons you brought us, this is merely a drop in the ocean. Please don't decline."

Kong Jie also hastily chimed in: "That's right, Mr. Lin! You are, after all, our Eighth Route Army's..."

"Kong Second-Blockhead, don't interrupt!"

Before Kong Jie could finish his sentence, Li Yunlong unceremoniously cut him off.

Li Yunlong leaned in close to Lin Ran with a mysterious air, carefully lifting a long, strip-shaped brocade box out of another chest.

"Brother Lin, there is one more treasure I want to present to you."

"Oh?"

Lin Ran's interest was piqued.

"Commander Li, what treasure is it?"

Li Yunlong chuckled mischievously and opened the brocade box, revealing a military sabre resting inside.

"The lieutenant general's ceremonial sword of the 36th Division commander, that old ghost Takekumo! Brother Lin, what do you think?"

Lin Ran's eyes lit up.

"Good!"

After all, men always harbored a special fondness for blades, guns, and martial implements.

Let alone a Japanese lieutenant general's ceremonial sword?

Seeing this, Kong Jie tried to speak up again: "If Mr. Lin likes it, next time my Old Kong..."

"Kong Second-Blockhead, pipe down for a moment."

Li Yunlong interrupted Kong Jie once more.

"Brother Lin, we're not done yet—there's still one more treasure!"

With that, Li Yunlong pulled out a golden flagpole and a banner.

Upon seeing this banner, Lin Ran sprang to his feet.

"A regimental colors?!"

"Brother has a sharp eye!" Li Yunlong gave Lin Ran a thumbs-up. "Precisely the little Japanese devils' regimental colors!"

Receiving confirmation, Lin Ran was utterly shocked.

During this period, he had crammed a fair amount of history regarding the War of Resistance and World War II, and regimental colors carried an immense significance.

Even if he brought over Okamura's general's sword, it still wouldn't compare to this banner.

"Commander Li, is this... is this really for me? Does your headquarters know about this?" He worried that Li Yunlong was acting on his own authority.

Li Yunlong chuckled: "Of course they know, and furthermore, it was headquarters that issued the order directly!"

"What?"

Lin Ran was even more astonished.

Headquarters could not possibly fail to understand the strategic significance and symbolic value of this banner; how could they possibly...

Seeing Lin Ran's bewildered expression, Zhao Gang hurriedly explained: "It's like this, Mr. Lin. This time, we captured a total of four sets of regimental colors."

"Four sets?"

Lin Ran gasped sharply.

It seemed he had still underestimated this annihilation battle.

Zhao Gang nodded and said solemnly, "That's right, four sets! The leadership at headquarters unanimously agreed that for this unprecedented sweeping victory, Mr. Lin's contributions are monumental! You deserve one as a keepsake."

Lin Ran took a deep breath. If that was the case, taking one for himself was entirely justifiable.

Without further ado, Li Yunlong shoved the regimental colors, flagpole and all, directly into Lin Ran's hands.

"It's just a tattered flag anyway! If Brother Lin likes it, next time Old Li will capture you another one."

Holding the flag of extraordinary significance, Lin Ran was torn between laughter and tears.

Was this kind of item something you could just capture on a whim whenever you wanted?

Kong Jie held it in for as long as he could before finally finding an opening: "Right! Mr. Lin, my Old Kong also..."

"Alright, alright! Stop standing around like wooden posts!" Li Yunlong waved a grand hand. "Serve the food! Pour the wine! Tonight, we keep Brother Lin company and drink until we drop!"

Kong Jie glared furiously at Li Yunlong.

What the hell do you mean by that?!

Li Yunlong chuckled inwardly—don't even think about poaching his Brother Lin!

Soon, the food and wine were brought out.

Actually, there wasn't much to it—just the pork stewed with vermicelli that Lin Ran had brought last time, along with some newly captured canned beef.

Li Yunlong raised his bowl of wine: "Brother Lin, Old Li proposes a toast to you!"

Kong Jie also hastily raised his wine bowl: "Mr. Lin, my Old Kong also..."

"Kong Second-Blockhead, you keep quiet for a second..."

...

The next day.

Just as dawn was breaking.

Li Yunlong lowered his voice and called out softly outside Lin Ran's room:

"Brother Lin, are you awake? The pilot sent by headquarters has arrived..."