You are ordered to support the War of Resistance against Japan; China enters Level 1 combat readines

The brigade commander stepped forward with a smile that was neither humble nor arrogant.

"Welcome, delegates, for your long journey! I am the commander of the Southeast Shanxi Military Region of the Eighth Route Army, and I have been ordered to welcome you here."

The American representative removed his sunglasses and asked directly, "Commander, where is Mr. Shen? We hope to meet with him as soon as possible."

Their tone was direct, even a bit urging, with no intention of polite small talk, as if their mere presence was already a huge favor and the other party should immediately present them with their most important person.

The English representative chimed in, his tone habitually scrutinizing: "We hope our meeting with Mr. Shen will be formal and efficient."

The distance and condescension in their words were obvious.

They didn't even give a formal response to the brigade commander's welcome, but went straight to the point with an air of entitlement and command.

The brigade commander's calm expression remained unchanged, but a hint of coldness flashed deep in his eyes.

He had originally planned to follow the etiquette for receiving foreign guests, exchange a few simple pleasantries, and introduce the situation along the way.

But since the other party is too lazy to even do this little bit of formality and just goes straight for the big shot, there's no need for him to be so eager to please them.

The brigade commander's tone became concise and harsh. He glanced at the representatives and said indifferently:

"Mr. Shen has been commanding the battle recently and has been working very hard. He is currently resting in the city."

Upon hearing this, the expressions on the faces of the four representatives froze instantly, and then became extremely embarrassed!

What?!

They...they traveled thousands of miles, enduring hardship and displacement, to come to this "remote and impoverished place," and that man surnamed Shen...didn't even come out to greet them?

Still "resting"?

This is not just a simple act of neglect; it is blatant rudeness and contempt!

You should know that even if they went to the mountain city, no matter how busy that principal was, he would definitely make time to personally receive them with the highest level of etiquette.

But when they got to the Eighth Route Army and to Shen Wang, they couldn't even see him and had to wait for him to "rest."

This is utterly outrageous! Absurd beyond belief!

The American representative's face instantly darkened, the British representative's lips twitched with anger, the German representative's eyes turned cold, and the Soviet representative also frowned.

The atmosphere instantly plummeted to freezing point, with awkwardness and a simmering anger filling the air.

The brigade commander, however, seemed oblivious to their expressions, remaining expressionless. He merely gestured to the side, indicating "please," his tone flat and indifferent:

"Distinguished delegates, you must be tired from your journey. Please make yourselves at the command post rest area in the city. We will notify you of when Mr. Shen will be available for a meeting later."

Having said that, he didn't say anything more, turned around, and waved to his men and convoy: "Get in the cars, back to the city!"

The Eighth Route Army personnel acted swiftly, boarding the vehicles one after another.

The brigade commander himself got into the slightly dilapidated Willys Jeep and started the engine.

The representatives of the four countries, along with their entourage and translators, were left standing alone, watching the dust kicked up by the Eighth Route Army convoy, their faces turning red and white in turns.

The representatives stood there, unsure whether to advance or retreat, feeling unprecedented embarrassment and anger.

In the end, it was the comrades sent from the rear to accompany and coordinate that quickly stepped forward to smooth things over.

He said a few polite words, such as "Mr. Shen is indeed very busy with military affairs," "Please settle down first and then we can discuss this further," and "The Eighth Route Army is in a difficult situation, please forgive us for the poor hospitality," which barely gave the foreign dignitaries a way out.

The representatives from the four countries suppressed their anger and frustration, exchanged glances, and saw the dissatisfaction and a hint of wariness in each other's eyes.

That guy surnamed Shen is even more troublesome and...arrogant than they imagined!

Nobody's a fool. Mr. Shen's failure to come out of the city to greet them was clearly an attempt to intimidate them.

More importantly, it gives us the initiative in the negotiations!

If they turn around and leave at this point, that would naturally be a strong response.

They're even taking the initiative back!

But when they thought of the orders from their home countries, the representatives of the four countries gritted their teeth.

The initiative in the negotiations has long been out of their hands!

Left with no other choice, they could only get back into the car with grim faces and follow the brigade commander's convoy.

Since we're already here!

. . .

meeting room.

"Young soldier, I'd like a cup of coffee, no sugar, no milk, please."

The English representative spoke to the young soldier at the door in broken Chinese.

The young soldier turned around, his body as straight as a pine tree. His face was still covered with traces of paint that had not been completely washed off, and his eyes were calm and unwavering, yet they carried a cold sharpness that came from years of battle and having seen countless life and death.

He didn't answer immediately, but instead glanced at the English representative with his eyes.

There was no fear or curiosity about the "foreigner" in his gaze, only an almost indifferent scrutiny, as if he were looking at an object, or a potential threat that needed to be assessed.

Then he spoke, his voice not loud, but clear and crisp, in Mandarin with a Shanxi accent:

"There's no coffee here, only tea."

The English representative was taken aback, and then a surge of anger, feeling offended, suddenly rose to his head.

No coffee? You can't even get a cup of coffee?

This shabby place!

His lips moved, and a habitual, colonial-sounding curse was about to burst out.

But at that moment, his gaze finally transcended his initial arrogance and impatience, and truly fell upon the young soldier.

Upon seeing this, the words that were on the tip of his tongue got stuck in his throat.

This soldier's attire... is extremely unusual!

It wasn't the gray or khaki coarse cloth uniform commonly seen by the Eighth Route Army, but a well-tailored camouflage combat uniform with strange, mottled colors.

It fits snugly against the body, allowing for easy movement while maintaining a sturdy and upright posture.

The hat they wore was not an ordinary cloth hat or a captured Japanese helmet, but a uniquely designed helmet with ear protectors and a suspension system. It had a matte finish and a subtle anti-reflective coating.

What's most eye-catching is his "bulging" vest.

The room was filled with magazine pouches, tool bags, and communication equipment interfaces of various sizes.

He had a dark green, oval-shaped grenade hanging on his chest, a multi-functional pair of pliers and a high-powered flashlight at his waist, and a compact pistol he had never seen before in a quick-draw holster on his thigh.

The main weapon he casually slung across his chest, his fingers lightly resting on the handguard, completely overturned the English representative's understanding of "rifle".

The compact and powerful gun body, the holographic sight integrated on the rail, the foregrip, the flash suppressor... every detail reveals a pure, violent aesthetic that transcends its time.

This young soldier, from head to toe, exuded a cold and efficient aura of futuristic ruthlessness that seemed completely out of place in this simple mud-brick conference room.

He was not an ordinary Eighth Route Army soldier.

How could the Eighth Route Army have soldiers with such terrifying equipment?

The foreigners were completely bewildered!