Bright Sword: From Border Region Manufacturing to Major National Heavy Industry

Chapter 46 Can’t wait
386th Brigade Headquarters

"Brigadier, it's starting, it's starting!"

The deputy brigade commander woke up the brigade commander who was sleeping. "Hirata Ichiro has raised the reward for our heavy artillery again. Anyone who provides clues about heavy artillery will be promoted three ranks! Those collaborators and traitors are all up and working through the night. They're all like madmen."

Upon hearing this, the brigade commander laughed and said, "A promotion of three ranks in a row? It seems that Li Yunlong has really angered the Japanese again."

In the brigade commander's view, Hirata Ichiro's promotion of two ranks was already very generous.

The fact that Li Yunlong upgraded the Japanese by three levels clearly shows that he had once again hit a nerve with the Japanese using the Hell Cannon, which is why Hirata Ichiro reacted this way.

“It must be.” The deputy brigade commander nodded and said, “I’ve already sent people to investigate, and we’ll find out soon what that kid Li Yunlong has done this time.”

"No need to investigate anymore, just bring the men back." The brigade commander waved his hand. "Since these traitorous dogs are so eager to get information about our heavy artillery, let's cast our net. Remember this: make sure to secure evidence against any traitor who gave us sugar. Do you understand what I mean?"

Li Yunlong is definitely on his way back. Once he's back, we can ask him and find out what he's been up to this time.

"Of course I know. As long as they give us white sugar, even just a single grain, the Japanese will consider them traitors." The deputy brigade commander admired the brigade commander's move the most; it was killing two birds with one stone.

They could get their hands on sugar and also get leverage over those traitors.

With leverage over them, why would they be afraid that these traitors wouldn't obey?

"Go, hurry up." The brigade commander's tone was still serious. "Although I don't know what Li Yunlong has done this time, I estimate that the Japanese will definitely launch a large-scale retaliatory operation. Try to get the sugar as much as possible so that the arsenal can produce the shells for the Hell Cannon. Then the pressure on us will be less."

"Yes." The deputy brigade commander left.

The brigade commander was no longer sleepy, so he simply waited at the brigade headquarters.

As the brigade commander expected, he waited until late at night and saw Li Yunlong bounce back like he had eaten bee droppings.

"Li Yunlong, why is it that only you came back? Where's Ding Wei? Where are your troops?" the brigade commander asked.

"They took their supplies and headed towards the arsenal first. I came here to report to you," Li Yunlong said with a smile. "We raided the Japanese's No. 5 supply depot and got a lot of oil."

Upon hearing this, the brigade commander paused, "Li Yunlong, you're not kidding me, are you? You've taken over Supply Station No. 5?"

The brigade commander was certainly familiar with Supply Station No. 5; it was a refueling station for the Japanese mechanized forces.

No wonder Hirata Ichiro increased the reward for clues about the heavy artillery to a promotion of three ranks; now I understand why.

Fuel, that's the lifeblood of the Japanese mechanized forces!
Li Yunlong hit the Japanese right where it hurts; no wonder the Japanese went crazy.

"Brigade Commander, all I got after attacking Heyuan County was a meal. That's too humiliating. I definitely have to regain my honor," Li Yunlong said seriously. "As you know, I, Li Yunlong, never return empty-handed once I've taken action. That would be ruining my reputation!"

"Don't I know you? You consider it a loss if you don't pick something up while walking?" the brigade commander scolded. "You're having a blast while I'm worried sick about you at the brigade headquarters. I'm afraid you'll cause a major upheaval in Northwest Shanxi."

"Brigade Commander, I'm back safe and sound, aren't I? How could I dare to cause trouble for you in Northwest Shanxi?" Li Yunlong said with a fawning smile. "Brigade Commander, in the future, you really need to give me more opportunities like this, I can..."

"Shut up, you son of a bitch!" The brigade commander immediately interrupted sternly. "From now on, without my orders, you son of a bitch stay put and don't go anywhere!"

Supply Depot No. 5 has been attacked, and the Japanese will do everything they can to find Li Yunlong. At this crucial moment, it is absolutely essential not to let Li Yunlong out.

"Yes, Brigade Commander." Li Yunlong yawned widely. After a whole night of running around, he was tired and didn't want to go out for the time being.

Once we've rested, we'll ask the brigade commander for autonomy over the next operation.

The brigade commander continued, "I won't go to the arsenal. You can negotiate with Li Muzhi yourself."

Hirata Ichiro's bounty on our heavy artillery leads has driven the traitors crazy. Many details require the brigade commander's personal attention, so the brigade commander cannot easily leave the brigade headquarters and must remain there to oversee things.

"Yes, Brigade Commander." Li Yunlong nodded.

Remembering something, Li Yunlong asked, "Brigade Commander, Ding Wei brought back a lot of money from Heyuan County. Did you bring back the cannon? According to his merits, the cannon should be allocated to Ding Wei, right?"

"The cannons haven't even been produced at the arsenal yet." The brigade commander shook his head and glanced at Li Yunlong. "Did Ding Wei really steal this money, or did you give it to him?"

"Brigade Commander, it's all thanks to Ding Wei." Li Yunlong nodded seriously.

"Alright then, once we get the sugar and the Hell Cannon arrives, I'll call a meeting with you regimental commanders." The brigade commander nodded.

"Yes, brigade commander." Li Yunlong was overjoyed. Although the brigade commander's words were not so explicit, Ding Wei's acquisition of the Hell Cannon was basically a done deal.

Why did the brigade commander call a meeting with several regimental commanders? It was to motivate his subordinates!
In the past, we, the stepchildren, were always used as a typical example for criticism and education by the brigade commander, who told us to learn from the children raised by our biological mothers. This allowed the children raised by our biological mothers to steal the limelight in front of us.

Now that our Independent Regiment has the Hell Cannon, Ding Wei's New First Regiment will soon get its own cannons too. Those who were raised by their own mothers should be used as examples and learn from us, the ones raised by their stepmothers. It's time for us, the ones raised by their stepmothers, to shine.

Just thinking about how Blind Cheng, the commander of the 772nd Regiment, was humiliated when we arrived makes me impatient, hahaha.

"Brigade Commander, I'm leaving." Li Yunlong left the brigade headquarters and caught up with the main force heading to the arsenal as quickly as possible.

Before Li Yunlong could catch up with Ding Wei, his voice caught up first: "Old Ding, congratulations! Your Hell Cannon is all set."

Upon hearing this, Ding Wei exclaimed with delight, "Old Li, you're not kidding, are you? I can really get the Hell Cannon?"

Whether it was attacking Heyuan County or taking out Supply Station No. 5, the power of this hellish cannon truly overwhelmed Ding Wei.

Looking at the grenade launchers and mortars in the soldiers' hands, Ding Wei felt they weren't appealing at all.

A real man should be equipped with a hell cannon!

I never imagined I'd actually have this opportunity; I can hardly believe it.

"Hahaha."

Li Yunlong laughed twice and said, "No joke, the brigade commander said he'll call us regimental commanders together for a meeting. He'll definitely give you the cannon then, which will infuriate those sons of bitches."

(End of this chapter)