Chapter 42: Promoted to Battalion Commander on the Spot

"Nothing much, just that when you fight the next battle, how about getting me a Japanese officer's saber?"

Zhang Wanhe leaned back slightly. "This condition shouldn't be too difficult, right?!"

Li Yunron chuckled inwardly. What a coincidence—wasn't he just holding two lieutenant's sabers in his own hands?

Li Yunlong quickly calculated the accounts in his mind. According to the price Brother Xu gave him, a second lieutenant's saber could be exchanged for one hundred silver dollars, which meant ten rifles if converted.

However, trading it for three hundred sets of uniforms and two thousand catties of rations—now that was a worthwhile deal!

Li Yunlong burst into hearty laughter. "Hahahaha... And here I thought it was some priceless treasure! No need to wait for another day, I'll bring it to you today! It's a lieutenant's saber, Old Zhang, don't you go looking down on it!"

Zhang Wanhe pondered for a moment, made up his mind, and nodded. "Fine, a lieutenant's saber it is!"

With that, Zhang Wanhe couldn't help but chuckle. "Heh heh, you rascal, you must have calculated this long ago and were just waiting for me here!"

How could Li Yunlong ever admit to that? His face was the picture of utter grievance. "As if! No way, absolutely not!"

See? It really was better to be thick-skinned. Wasn't the reward coming in right now?

Did he think he could get away with taking advantage while still playing innocent? If he didn't run now, when would he? Li Yunlong laughed it off and immediately greased his heels, leaving Zhang Wanhe not a single chance to take his words back.

Zhang Wanhe reached out to keep him. "Hey, it's not too late to have a meal before you leave!"

By the time Li Yunlong's figure vanished from sight, Zhang Wanhe shook his head with an amused smile. "That Li Yunlong!"

Li Yunlong returned to the troop's temporary encampment in high spirits and found Liu Bo. "Hahaha, Platoon Leader Liu, pass the word down! We don't need to hand over our weapons!"

"Tomorrow, take everyone to the logistics headquarters and receive three hundred sets of uniforms and two thousand catties of rations!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Bo was stunned at first, and then his face lit up with radiant joy. "Really? Company Commander!"

After getting Li Yunlong's affirmative reply, Liu Bo cheerfully ran off to inform the soldiers.

When the soldiers learned the news, their previous depression over having to surrender their weapons instantly vanished into thin air, and they all began showering Li Yunlong with praise.

Their company commander was truly capable, able to squeeze supplies right out of the logistics headquarters.

Today's good news came one after another. Just as night had barely fallen, Huzi, accompanied by Zhang Dabiao and Wang Chengzhu, rushed over without stopping to rest, looking dusty and travel-worn.

The moment they met, the excitement of Zhang Dabiao and Wang Chengzhu was beyond words. The two of them snapped a respectful salute and called out a warm "Regimental Commander," instantly warming anyone's heart.

Li Yunlong was immensely happy and enthusiastically patted both of their shoulders. "Hahaha, it's only been two days since we last parted, did you miss your Old Li this much?!"

"Good, you must be tired! The three of you go wash your faces first and get something hot to eat!"

After the three of them finished eating, Li Yunlong had a serious talk with them. "Dabiao, you'll have to suffer a little grievance for the time being."

Zhang Dabiao didn't mind in the least. "Serving under the regimental commander, what grievance could there be!"

Li Yunlong laughed out loud. "Good! Here is the situation: today we recruited about a company's worth of new soldiers. I'm splitting out some veterans and combining them with the new recruits to form a brand new company. You'll lead this company for now!"

"No problem, Regimental Commander!"

Zhang Dabiao suddenly chuckled. "Oh right, Regimental Commander, I heard that the superior leaders promised that if you can pull together a full division, they'll let you be a division commander!"

Li Yunlong tilted his head. "Ha! You rascal are certainly well-informed!"

With a wave of his large hand, he dismissed it. "Let's not talk about those distant things for now. First, help your Old Li scrape together a full regiment!"

Without any false modesty, Zhang Dabiao immediately claimed his position. "Then just you wait and see, Regimental Commander, my 1st Battalion Commander position is guaranteed to remain Zhang Dabiao's!"

Li Yunlong put his hands behind his back and chuckled. "Heh heh, then you'd better put in some extra effort. This 1st Platoon Leader Liu Bo has quite some skills! When the time comes and you can't compare to him, don't come crying to me to pull strings through the back door!"

Zhang Dabiao's interest was piqued. "Oh?! Then I'll definitely have to find some time to spar with him!"

Li Yunlong turned his head to look at Wang Chengzhu standing nearby. "Zhuzi, you have a mission this time too!"

"Yes, Regimental Commander, mission guaranteed!" Wang Chengzhu puffed out his chest and answered with utmost crispness.

"Next, you need to train more artillerymen for me—the more the better. Don't let a situation happen where we have cannons later, but no one knows how to operate them! I happen to know that you, kid, have used both mountain guns and howitzers!"

Hearing Li Yunlong say this, Wang Chengzhu's eyes instantly lit up, and he asked in pleasant surprise, "Regimental Commander, do we have mountain guns and howitzers?!"

"Heh heh, once we reach our destination, as long as you, Wang Chengzhu, can train enough artillerymen, no matter what I have to do, I'll set up an artillery battalion and let you be a battalion commander too!"

Li Yunlong spun a dazzling picture of the future and finally gave Wang Chengzhu a firm promise.

Pulling back his smile, Li Yunlong straightened his face. "Alright, stop daydreaming. Zhuzi, I'm giving you priority in choosing soldiers. Within our troop, whichever recruits catch your eye, you get first pick!"

"Alright, all of you go get some early rest. Tomorrow morning at dawn, we still need to go find Minister Zhang to receive the supplies!"

The next day, just as dawn was breaking and the thin morning mist had yet to disperse, the crisp morning bugle sounded right on time.

The soldiers of the Provisional 7th Company swarmed out of the cave dwellings, and under the guidance of the veterans, the new recruits quickly organized and formed ranks.

Standing before the formation, Li Yunlong first introduced Zhang Dabiao and Wang Chengzhu, and then announced a new decision.

"Our troop now has over two hundred men, which already exceeds the scale of a single company. From now on, we are the Provisional 7th Battalion!"

"Therefore, I have decided:"

"To split the troop into two companies, with Zhang Dabiao and Liu Bo respectively serving as company commanders!"

"The mortar squad and grenade ammunition squad will be merged to form an artillery platoon, commanded by Wang Chengzhu as platoon leader!"

"Carry out the orders!"

In the end, under Li Yunlong's reorganization, Liu Bo's 1st Platoon and Xie Xiaoming's 3rd Platoon, along with a small number of new recruits, formed the 1st Company. Zhang Wei's 2nd Platoon and the majority of new recruits formed the 2nd Company, placed under Zhang Dabiao's command.

Wang Chengzhu's artillery platoon would be led directly by Li Yunlong himself.

The troop reorganization went very smoothly. With Liu Bo as company commander, no one had any objections. As for Zhang Dabiao, everyone already knew that he was originally a battalion commander, yet he had willingly relinquished his rank to follow Li Yunlong—for this alone, everyone gave him a thumbs-up!

Wang Chengzhu went without saying; he was the legendary master gunner who had blown Sakada to pieces with a single shell, a celebrated hero commended by the entire military command.

When the troop integration was complete, the sun had climbed just right, and Li Yunlong gave a great wave of his hand. "Move out!"

Passing through layers of sentry posts, Li Yunlong led the troop outside the logistics headquarters' warehouse.

From afar, they spotted Zhang Wanhe, who had been waiting for quite some time, and Li Yunlong strode forward to meet him.

"Haha, Old fellow Zhang, you really are a man of your word. Here, this is yours!" Li Yunlong shoved the command saber directly into Zhang Wanhe's arms.

Zhang Wanhe fumbled clumsily as he caught the saber. "Take it easy, Old Li, my old bones can't handle your rough housing!"

"Alright, these are your things, hurry up and haul them away, haul them away!"

He pointed to the warehouse behind him, where the courtyard was already neatly stocked with three hundred military uniforms and a large cart loaded with grain.

"Hahaha, Old Li, I'll invite you for a drink another day!"

Li Yunlong was immensely pleased, turned around, and waved his hand. "Hurry up, don't just stand there staring, be quick about it, move all our things out!"