Bright Sword: From Northwest Shanxi to Changjin Lake, a Hundred Battles, a Hundred Victories

Chapter 39: The Outcome of Chen Ming's Handling
Upon hearing that the brigade commander was about to announce the headquarters' decision regarding his actions, Chen Ming immediately stood at attention, saluted, and listened attentively.

"Given that Comrade Chen Ming, without authorization, mobilized troops to attack the Japanese railway transport line, causing heavy casualties, he should have been severely punished. However, after consideration, it was found that Comrade Chen Ming led his troops to successfully ambush the Japanese transport train, annihilating a large number of Japanese soldiers and capturing a large amount of supplies, making the enemy pay a heavy price."

"Therefore, Comrade Chen Ming's serious mistakes will not be investigated, and his military achievements will not be commended; his merits and demerits will cancel each other out."

The brigade commander finished reading the headquarters' decision regarding Chen Ming's punishment.

Hearing that he hadn't even been demoted or dismissed, Chen Ming breathed a sigh of relief and a smile appeared on his face.

"Thank you, brigade commander. Thank you, brigade commander."

Chen Ming knew that the brigade commander must have done a lot to prevent him from even being demoted this time.

Seeing the smile on Chen Ming's face, the brigade commander chuckled and teased, "Did you eat bee droppings? You're all smiles."

"Haha, I thought I would at least be demoted this time, but I didn't expect the head of headquarters to not punish me. My merits and demerits cancel each other out."

"Look at you, you little rascal, what a pathetic kid you are," the brigade commander said with a laugh.

"Now, you should focus on improving the combat effectiveness of your troops. If you embarrass me during the counter-sweep, I won't let you off the hook."

The combat effectiveness of the Independent Second Regiment is evident to all; it can already be said to have the combat capability of a main force regiment.

"Yes, I guarantee to complete the mission. If headquarters or the brigade commander need my help, please give the order. I will not hesitate to obey." Chen Ming saluted and assured them.

"really?"

"It's definitely true. When have we ever lied to you?" Chen Ming said with a smile.

"Alright, I'm planning to form a new second regiment, and I need a group of officers. I think your sharpshooter company is quite good. Transfer a platoon to me for a while," the brigade commander said.

what?
Chen Ming was taken aback. He hadn't expected the brigade commander to be so impolite. Was this appropriate?
The 73 soldiers of the sharpshooter company were Chen Ming's precious treasures; he would be heartbroken if even one of them were missing.

He also planned to build this company into a sharp blade, so that the Second Independent Regiment could send out this unit whenever it wanted to do something sideline.

As a regimental commander, mobilizing company-level troops for ambushes, harassment, and other missions falls within his regular authority and does not require prior approval.

Therefore, it does not count as mobilizing troops without authorization.

Given the elite status of the sharpshooter company, their combat effectiveness is stronger than that of one or two regular battalions.

Unexpectedly, the brigade commander asked to borrow an entire platoon of his precious lads.

"What? You're already going back on your word after you just said it?" the brigade commander teased with a smile.

"Brigade Commander, I... you'll pay me back, right?" Chen Ming scratched the back of his neck and asked, looking puzzled.

However, his tone sounded uncertain no matter how you listened to it.

"Alright, it'll only take a month at most. Do you think I'll lose an entire platoon?" The brigade commander shook his head and said helplessly.

That's hard to say.

Chen Ming thought to himself, but he dared not say it aloud, otherwise the brigade commander's whip would not be to be trifled with.

“Alright, brigade commander, I’ll accept your kind offer. I’ll have a platoon of soldiers report to the brigade headquarters tomorrow,” Chen Ming said.

"Hahaha." The brigade commander laughed heartily, looking very happy.

"Brigade Commander, it's almost lunchtime. How about we grab a bite at the headquarters of my Independent Second Regiment?" Chen Ming tentatively suggested.

He dared not let the brigade commander wander around anymore, otherwise if he took a fancy to something from the Independent Second Regiment, some of them would probably be poached.

The non-combat personnel of the Independent Second Regiment were also Chen Ming's treasures, especially the maintenance company. The soldiers and technicians responsible for repairing equipment were rare gems.

Chen Ming spent a very long time and invested a lot of resources, relying on the badges to cultivate a highly skilled company. Chen Ming also plans to use these technicians to develop some weapons.

At that point, we won't need to rely on captured weapons and ammunition supplied by headquarters to fight the war.

This precious gem must not be discovered by the brigade commander.

“Okay, then let’s finish eating before we go.” Hearing Chen Ming speak, the brigade commander readily agreed.

After arriving at the headquarters of the Independent Second Regiment, Chen Ming asked Da Biao to arrange for the guards and officers brought by the brigade commander, and also asked the cooks to prepare two dishes.

Chen Ming usually eats whatever the soldiers eat.

The only difference is that Chen Ming can have an extra dish of peanuts or a small cold dish as a snack with his drinks, but Chen Ming doesn't drink much, just one cup at a time to moisten his throat.

Chen Ming knew that the brigade commander didn't want to make any special arrangements, so the dishes he had the cooks prepare were very simple.

The staple food was the same millet porridge as the soldiers, and the side dishes were hot and sour shredded potatoes and pickled radishes.

The brigade commander saw that the food prepared by Chen Ming was within acceptable limits and happily began to eat.

The brigade commander was from Hunan and liked spicy and pickled foods, so he enjoyed the meal very much.

After finishing the meal, Chen Ming took out a pack of cigarettes that he had seized from the Japanese and handed it to the brigade commander.

After the brigade commander accepted the gift, Chen Ming was about to light it for him, but the brigade commander waved his hand and refused.

"No, I'll do it myself."

The brigade commander took the kerosene lighter that Chen Ming had seized from the Japanese officer, lit a cigarette, and then casually put the lighter into his pocket.

Seeing the brigade commander's practiced movements, Chen Ming smirked, took Da Biao's lighter, lit a cigarette, and casually put it in his pocket.

Da Biao was left standing to the side with a bitter expression, wanting to remind the leader about his lighter, but not daring to speak.

After finishing his cigarette, Chen Ming asked Da Biao to bring a batch of supplies for the brigade commander to take with him.

The conditions at the brigade headquarters are definitely worse than those at the front-line troops.

The brigade headquarters and headquarters are responsible for both sending cadres to the front-line grassroots and allocating supplies to where they are needed.

Frontline troops could capture a considerable amount of goods from the Japanese, puppet troops, and traitors.

Now that the brigade commander has come all this way to the Independent Second Regiment, Chen Ming certainly can't let him go back empty-handed.

Weapons and ammunition cannot be provided, but the Independent Second Regiment still needs them, and the brigade commander doesn't value what the Independent Second Regiment has.

Then, in the name of the regimental headquarters, allocate a batch of living supplies, such as tea, wine, and canned goods—supplies with united front value—to support the work of the brigade headquarters.

After seeing the brigade commander off, Chen Ming finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Commander, my lighter."

At this point, Da Biao finally mustered the courage to bring up the fact that Chen Ming had taken his lighter and hadn't returned it.

"What do you mean, 'your lighter'? Does it have your name on it?" Chen Ming retorted.

His lighter was stolen by the brigade commander, and he has no one to complain to!
Seeing that the regimental commander had shamelessly taken away his lighter, Da Biao felt wronged but couldn't say anything.

He could only secretly resolve that if he ever captured a Japanese lighter again, he would definitely have his name engraved on it.

(End of this chapter)