Holding the original shares, they fought all the way to the Korean War!

Then.

Wang Xiuying held up one finger.

Points to the location of Chakou Town on the map.

"Zhou Guilan's branch is the one that can truly be incorporated."

"Her troops are well-disciplined, have feelings for the people, and hate the Japanese. People like her won't cause any problems when they join the Second Division."

"Moreover, she is a local and knows the terrain and local customs of this area very well. After we take her in, she can help us gain a foothold in Lan County."

"My opinion is that we should take it, and quickly."

"Take advantage of the time before she is crushed by the Japanese, and incorporate them into our ranks as soon as possible."

She then extended a second finger, pointing to the location of Liujia'ao.

"We can discuss Liu Mantun's branch."

"They were all hunters, good marksmen, and familiar with the mountain and forest terrain."

"But his men were also rather undisciplined, and it would take time to train them after they were incorporated."

"However, this can be done gradually. First, establish a cooperative relationship, and then gradually incorporate them."

"Don't ask him to bring the person over right away, that will only make him more resistant."

She paused, then held up her third finger.

His tone was noticeably more serious than before.

"We need to be cautious about Zhao Laoshuan's branch."

Zhou Tianyang looked at her with a steady gaze.

"How so?"

"His men are a mixed bag, numbering over a hundred with seventy or eighty guns, but it's hard to say how many are actually veterans who have fought in battle."

"A significant portion of his men were refugees and deserters, and they were poorly disciplined."

"When I visited the village, I heard from the locals that Zhao Laoshuan's men would occasionally come down the mountain to take things. Although it wasn't exactly robbery, it was not much different from taking things without paying them."

"If we directly incorporate them, it would be like bringing a bunch of bandits into the new Second Division. Not only would it not bring us combat power, it would also ruin our morale."

She looked into Zhou Tianyang's eyes, her tone serious and resolute.

"My opinion is that we should first make contact and cooperate with Zhao Laoshuan, but not rush to incorporate him."

"Once we've established a foothold in northwestern Shanxi and he feels the pressure, then we can discuss incorporating him into our ranks."

"By then, the initiative will be in our hands."

"If he wants to come, he has to follow our rules."

"He doesn't want to come, and we don't need those hundred-plus people."

After listening, Zhou Tianyang nodded and turned his gaze to Deng Chen.

"Chief of Staff, what's your opinion?"

Deng Chen thought for a moment, then leaned forward slightly and placed his hands on the table.

"I agree with the political commissar's judgment."

"However, I'd like to add something."

"you say."

"Of these three teams, Zhou Guilan is the easiest to recruit, but also the one in the most urgent need."

"She had few men, few guns, and a shortage of bullets, so the Japanese were keeping a close watch on her."

"If the Japanese army launches a full-scale attack, she might not be able to hold out."

"We'd better reach an agreement with her as soon as possible and bring her people to Black Cloud Village."

He paused, his gaze lingering on the location of Liujia'ao on the map.

"We can send a capable person to Liu Mantun to negotiate and establish a formal cooperative relationship first."

"Establish a unified command framework, but don't expect him to bring people over immediately."

"His place is geographically far from ours, so it's good to have a buffer zone."

"As for Zhao Laoshuan, I tend to leave it alone for now."

After listening to their opinions, Zhou Tianyang leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and remained silent for a few seconds.

The hall was quiet.

A moment later, he opened his eyes and sat up straight.

"We'll do as you say."

He looked at Deng Chen, his tone firm and decisive.

"Chief of Staff, please make arrangements to send someone to deliver a letter to Zhou Guilan, saying that I would like to talk to her in person."

"I'll go see her whenever it's convenient for her."

Deng Chen was slightly taken aback, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

"Commander, are you going yourself?"

"Um."

Zhou Tianyang nodded, his tone leaving no room for negotiation.

"She is the most crucial link in the three teams, and I want to see what kind of person she is in person."

"Moreover, she is a woman who has led the team on the mountain for so long. My going there can express our sincerity."

"Sending someone else wouldn't be enough."

Wang Xiuying glanced at him, her lips twitching slightly, as if she wanted to say something.

But in the end, he simply nodded slightly and did not voice any objection.

Zhou Tianyang continued:

"Send someone eloquent and experienced to Liu Mantun's side."

Who do you think is suitable?

Deng Chen thought about it for a moment, and then almost hesitated.

"Let Sun Shengli go."

"He's a smooth talker, he knows how to talk to different people, and he himself has come through the toughest times, so he can talk to people like Liu Mantun who come from a hunter's background."

"He's led three regiments for so long, he's managed all sorts of people, and he knows how to deal with different kinds of people."

"OK."

Zhou Tianyang nodded and turned his gaze to Wang Xiuying.

"Leave Zhao Laoshuan alone for now, there's no need to rush into contact, but the reconnaissance platoon's activities in that area cannot be interrupted."

"Find out exactly how many capable fighters he has under his command, and how many are just there to coast along."

"This information will be useful later."

"I'll arrange it right away."

Deng Chen responded.

Zhou Tianyang stood up, walked to the entrance of the hall, and looked at the new recruits who were training in the distance.

The young men, dressed in military uniforms, stood in neat rows on the training ground, their steps brisk and their slogans loud and clear.

At the edge of the training field, Zhao Wenlong was shouting commands through a tin megaphone.

"The guerrilla campaign, in the final analysis, is just a move in a game of chess."

His voice wasn't loud, but every word was clear.

It sounded like it was being said to the two of them.

It was as if he was talking to himself.

"If the anti-Japanese forces in northwestern Shanxi are not integrated, they will be a disorganized mess."

"The Japanese devils will be defeated one by one; none of them will survive long."

"But if integrated well, it will be a powerful force."

"What the new Second Division needs to do is to clench this fist tightly."

He turned around and looked at the two of them.

"Within half a month, there must be a clear explanation regarding these two guerrilla groups."

"No matter what the outcome of the negotiations, we can't delay any longer."

Wang Xiuying stood up and put the notebook away.

"I'll head to Lan County this afternoon to do some groundwork with Zhou Guilan."

"So that when you meet her, you won't feel too awkward."

Zhou Tianyang nodded.

"it is good."

Deng Chen also stood up.

"Commander, I'll go and make arrangements for Sun Shengli's side."

"Also, I've instructed the reconnaissance platoon to keep an eye on Zhao Laoshuan and report back every three days."

"Go."

The three of them left the hall and went their separate ways.

Zhou Tianyang stood on the steps, watching Wang Xiuying and Deng Chen's figures disappear in two different directions from the village.

He stood there, silent for a long time.

He is gradually gaining control of the situation in northwestern Shanxi.

But time is always the greatest enemy.

He turned around and strode back into the hall.

I sat back down at the table and picked up my pencil.

He looked at the three red marks on the map one by one.

Heihugou, Chakou Town, Liujia'ao.

Three teams, three directions.

If all of these can be brought together, the territory of the Second Division will expand significantly outward from Black Cloud Village.

From Kelan to Lanxian, from Wuzhai to Jingle.

The entire north-central region of northwestern Shanxi will be included in the scope of activities of the new Second Division.

By then, even if a whole brigade of Japanese soldiers came...

He also has enough depth and room to maneuver to deal with the situation.

Zhou Tianyang put down his pencil, leaned back in his chair, and looked out the window at the rolling mountain shadows.

The distant mountains appeared exceptionally clear under the winter sun, layer upon layer, stretching as far as the eye could see.

This land will soon become the foundation of the new Second Division.

And those who were willing to fight the Japanese alongside the Second New Division.

Whether they are veterans or new recruits, whether they are regular soldiers or guerrillas.

They will all become part of this foundation.

He walked out of the hall and headed towards the training ground.

Go and see those new recruits.

Those people are the true future of the new Second Division.