Anti-Japanese War: I have unlimited assistance

Chapter 363 Political Commissar Zhao returns!
Within two or three days, the news that the Eighth Route Army had captured the county town spread like a hurricane throughout Ping'an County and surrounding counties.

Some are happy and some are sad.

The common people cheered, while the Japanese and puppet troops trembled in fear.

Afterwards, Li Yunlong moved the regiment headquarters to Ping'an County.

Ping'an County has a better geographical location than Pianguan County. It is closer to Beitongpu Road and has more convenient transportation.

Moreover, there is a large piece of flat land around Ping'an County, which can be used to build an airport.

The young and strong people in Ping'an County enthusiastically joined the Eighth Route Army, and even the threshold of the recruitment office was crowded.

The new regiment recruited the first batch of 2500 new soldiers, all of whom were young men.

Wangjiacun.

New recruit Wang Yousheng and five other new recruits were wearing the newly issued uniforms of the Eighth Route Army, wearing helmets on their heads, and carrying the newly issued guns of the Eighth Route Army.

He was riding a horse with a big red flower on his chest, and the villagers came to see him off with gongs and drums.

The village beauty flirted with Wang Yousheng, but Wang Yousheng turned a deaf ear to her. Now Wang Yousheng only wanted to fight the Japanese.

In Dongjia Village, Dong Dahai and a dozen young men had the same expression as Wang Yousheng.

"The Eighth Route Army is still the best."

The old man in the village looked at the young man walking away with a sigh in his tone.

This scene of farewell with drums and gongs formed a sharp contrast with Yan Laoxi's Shanxi-Suiyuan Army entering the village to conscript able-bodied men.

……

half a month later.

Ping'an County.

The new regiment headquarters.

Chief of Staff Zhang Dabiao reported to Li Yunlong:

"Captain, we have already received 3000 tons of grain, and there are still 8000 tons of grain left to be received."

"In addition, 12 152mm howitzers and 12 105mm howitzers have not been received."

Ding Wei and Kong Jie were also not idle. They recaptured a county town near their respective bases and made a name for themselves.

As a result, Li Yunlong's troops recaptured a total of 11 county towns during this period.

Although the eight county towns on Tongpu Road were captured by the Japanese troops of the 14th Division.

But the Eighth Route Army came to nine county towns controlled in northwestern Shanxi.

Compared to the 120th Division period, the territory increased by one third in less than a month!

Because they had just arrived, the Eighth Route Army had insufficient warehouses, so some weapons and food had not yet been received.

Li Yunlong nodded and said, "Then let the soldiers of the engineering battalion speed up and build more tunnel warehouses. The sooner the tunnel warehouses are built, the sooner the goods can be received."

The so-called underground warehouses of the New 1st Regiment were mainly hollowed out from the hills around Ping'an County and used to store weapons and food.

Currently, Boss Lin has provided 5 stone-drilling machines, and the soldiers of the engineering battalion are digging the mountain around the clock.

However, it will take some time to build the actual warehouse. After digging, it will need to be reinforced with concrete and waterproofed.

After these warehouses were built, the Japanese's heavy aerial bombs could not destroy them, so heavy artillery, food, tanks, weapons and ammunition could be hidden inside, making them very safe.

Zhang Dabiao said, "Yes."

Then, Zhang Dabiao took out another map and handed it to Li Yunlong: "Commander, this is a defense map I drew recently while scouting the area around our base. Based on the terrain and the map information provided by Boss Lin, we can build tunnels and concrete fortifications in these marked areas."

Li Yunlong took the map and looked at it, his expression extremely satisfied. "I was right about you. You are a genius, born to be the chief of staff. It was a waste of your talent to be a small platoon leader in the 29th Army."

"Commander, I only learned a set of sword techniques in the 29th Army. It was only after I learned from you in the New st Regiment that I improved my military level. I, Zhang Dabiao, have reached the level I have today thanks to your trust in me. Without you, there would be no Zhang Dabiao." Zhang Dabiao's eyes were sharp and his little mouth seemed to be smeared with honey.

"Don't flatter me, kid. You've reached your current level entirely thanks to your own hard work." Li Yunlong made some adjustments to the map before returning it to Zhang Dabiao. "You only have one defensive fortification here, but you need to add two more. According to this defense plan, build tunnels and concrete fortifications in these areas. The standards should be the same as those of the Jinzhong Military Region."

The Japanese were strong in both men and horses, with great power, planes roaring in the sky and tanks and heavy artillery on the ground.

Moreover, the Japanese must have known that the main force of the Jinzhong Military Region had arrived in northwest Shanxi.

It won't be long before the Japanese will send a large army to raid the base in northwestern Shanxi.

Today, the New 1st Regiment is well-equipped with dozens of heavy artillery pieces, dozens of tanks, nearly 10,000 tons of food, a large amount of ammunition, and hundreds of large trucks.

The terrain in northwest Shanxi is complex, with many mountains and few roads. It is impossible to go into the mountains with such a rich fortune and fight guerrilla warfare with the Japanese.

Then we must have strong defensive fortifications to withstand the Japanese attack on northwest Shanxi.

After repelling the enemy's attack, we will wait for an opportunity to recapture other counties and build tunnels and concrete fortifications.

After repeating this process several times, the population in northwest Shanxi was sufficient and the situation in northwest Shanxi was completely revitalized.

"Yes, Captain, I will arrange it as soon as possible." Zhang Dabiao responded with a look of admiration on his face.

ding ding ding-

At this moment, the phone on the table rang. Zhang Dabiao quickly walked over and picked it up: "This is the regiment headquarters!"

After a while, Zhang Dabiao hung up the phone and said with a smile:

"Captain, good news! Political Commissar Zhao and 300 intellectuals have arrived in Baode County."

Li Yunlong's expression brightened with joy, and he shouted loudly: "Hu Zi..."

Then he remembered that Hu Zi had been assigned by Li Yunlong to be the company commander of the Zhan Hu Company. Li Yunlong changed his tone and said, "Da Biao, immediately send a motor vehicle company to Baode County to pick up Political Commissar Zhao and his men."

The Sharp Blade Commando was sent by Li Yunlong to the Heiyu Ferry in Xing County to pick up Political Commissar Zhao and his men.

Xing County is Ding Wei's territory, and Heiyu Ferry is a ferry controlled by the Eighth Route Army, so their safety is guaranteed along the way.

However, in order to meet Zhao Gang as soon as possible, Li Yunlong still planned to send a motor vehicle company.

"Yes, Captain."

After a pause, Zhang Dabiao continued:
"How about I choose a guard for you from the Blade Commando?"

Li Yunlong waved his hand and refused:

"No need. Every member of the Blade Commando is a treasure. It would be a waste of their talent to serve as a guard for me. When I have some free time, I'll go around to each camp and choose one myself."

Li Yunlong has high requirements for his guards. They need to have excellent individual combat capabilities, good skills, accurate shooting skills, quick reactions, and the ability to make quick judgments and solve problems when encountering emergencies.

"Okay." Zhang Dabiao nodded, turned around and went to pass on the order.

……

Early the next morning.

Li Yunlong turned over and saw that it was just dawn outside. He was about to turn over and take a nap.

"who!"

Suddenly, Li Yunlong jumped up from the bed, grabbed the Desert Eagle and loaded the bullet into the gun.

There was a person sitting beside the bed.

"Old Li, don't get excited." Zhao Gang was startled and said quickly, "I'm Zhao Gang."

He was very clear about the power of the Desert Eagle, which could blow a person's head off with one shot, because he also had one.

"Xiao Zhao?"

Hearing Zhao Gang's voice, Li Yunlong quickly put away the Desert Eagle:
"Damn it, I almost shot you dead just now."

"When did you come in? How come I didn't know?"

"It's been half an hour," Zhao Gang said with a smile. "You were sound asleep, so I didn't have the heart to wake you up. But I'm telling you, why are you so low on your guard right now? If I were an enemy spy, your head would be gone by now. Your head is worth hundreds of thousands of dollars to the Japanese."

Although Li Yunlong sent a car company to Baode County to pick up Zhao Gang and others yesterday.

But yesterday afternoon, there were Japanese reconnaissance planes operating in northwest Shanxi. To be on the safe side, we took a bus back to Ping'an County in the evening.

"If an enemy spy could get close to me and find my bedside in the middle of the night," Li Yunlong stood up and put on his uniform, "then there's only one possibility: my guard battalion has collectively rebelled, so you can't be an enemy spy."

"Haha, you really haven't changed at all," Zhao Gang laughed. "Still as eloquent as ever. Also, I'm now the political commissar of the new First Regiment appointed by the Political Department of the Headquarters. Isn't it time you address me differently?"

"Haha."

Li Yunlong smiled and said:
"No problem, I've been looking forward to this day for a long time, Lao Zhao, welcome back."

Now Li Yunlong is in charge of the huge New 1st Regiment alone and is busy all day long.

I wish Political Commissar Zhao would come back to help me share the work.

If he asks the headquarters for a deputy regiment commander, he can become a hands-off boss and focus on studying how to fight the Japanese.

"Old Li."

"Old Zhao."

When the two met, they put their arms around each other's shoulders.

Li Yunlong asked, "How's your study in Yan'an? Have you improved your marksmanship? You're no longer the best sniper in our regiment."

Zhao Gang nodded and said, "I've gained a lot from studying in Yan'an this time! I've used up all the 300 rounds of 12.7mm ammunition I brought with me, and my marksmanship has improved greatly. I heard that Wang Xikui from our regiment killed Major General Hirata Kenkichi, commander of the Japanese 39th Brigade, and was awarded Second Class Merit and the honorary title of Sharpshooter. This news has spread throughout Yan'an."

"There was also the ambush on the Baijin Highway, which almost completely wiped out the Japanese 108th Division."

"In the Battle of Beitongpu Road, eight county towns were recaptured within 25 days."

"Your name, Li Yunlong, is now being blown out the window like a trumpet—your reputation is well-known."

Zhao Gang was not exaggerating at all when he said this. Li Yunlong's fame in Yan'an was now second only to the head of the headquarters and the commanders of the divisions.

Li Yunlong's fame across the country is even higher than that of any other division commander.

"It's just empty fame." Li Yunlong was secretly happy, but on the surface he looked calm and indifferent. "This person is afraid of fame like a pig is afraid of getting fat. Too much fame is not a good thing."

Zhao Gang said, "Even the leader praised you."

"You met the commander?" Li Yunlong's expression changed. "What did he praise me for?"

"I saw him," Zhao Gang said. "He praised you for your courage and wisdom, and said you were a talented leader."

"Ha ha…"

Li Yunlong showed a smile that came from the heart.

Li Yunlong may not care about other people's praise, but the praise from his leader is worth a thousand gold.

After a pause, Zhao Gang asked, "By the way, Lao Li, has Brother Lin come to northwest Shanxi?"

"Here I am." Li Yunlong asked, "Do you have something to ask him?"

Zhao Gang's eyes lit up: "I brought some local specialties from Yan'an for Brother Lin."

(End of this chapter)