Southern guerrilla warfare: I led the Red Seventh Army Corps to amassed a million troops.

Zhou Zeyuan then poured cold water on the idea: "There are eleven divisions that are considered a division. The Nationalist Army's security regiments in Zhejiang were built according to the standards of the regular army. This Second Security Column can be considered a field division of the enemy."

"Are these security regiments also in the same situation as Wang Yaowu?" Su Yu quickly asked. So far, among the Nationalist Army field forces they had encountered, the First Supplementary Brigade was indeed the strongest in terms of combat power.

"Of course, it can't compare to the First Supplementary Brigade. Not everyone is Wang Yaowu." Zhou Zeyuan shook his head.

"But Yu Jishi, who commanded these security regiments, was no ordinary man. In terms of commanding operations, he might only be considered second-rate, but he had unique skills in executing orders and training troops."

Xun Huaizhou slammed his fist into his palm: "Since that's the case, we can't just stand by and watch the enemy's encirclement take shape. We should strike first."

Zhou Zeyuan rolled his eyes at him. "The Nationalist army is constantly increasing its troops, but our army is also constantly expanding. As time goes by, the strategic situation may not necessarily get worse."

"We don't need to take this risk. More importantly, with the expansion of our base area, it has become difficult to concentrate our forces. The risk of combat has increased dramatically."

Zeng Hongyi was the first to agree, saying, "I think Comrade Zeyuan's idea makes a lot of sense. We are currently forming the Northern Fujian Independent Division, and all units are actively undergoing training. Taking a break for a period of time and then striking later might not be a bad strategy."

Holy crap! Zhou Zeyuan finally understood why emperors liked treacherous officials.

Because those loyal subjects are all too righteous and their beliefs are too firm; once they've made up their minds, not even nine oxen could sway them.

But a faction can only have one will.

Strictly speaking, both Zhou Zeyuan's and Xun Huaizhou's ideas are correct, each with its own advantages and disadvantages.

Whether you take a radical or gradual approach, you can win if you execute it well.

But the problem is that the two opinions will not be able to reach a consensus, and in the end, a compromise will be reached.

The result was that neither of them was implemented properly.

However, under the current circumstances, Zhou Zeyuan could not possibly agree with Xun Huaizhou's idea.

He prioritized ensuring the survival of the base areas, rather than taking his troops into one gamble-like war after another.

Seeing Xun Huaizhou's unconvinced expression, Su Yu couldn't understand why the two friends had suddenly started arguing.

But he always adhered to the principle of valuing harmony, and immediately became a peacemaker.

"I think both Comrade Zeyuan's and Comrade Huaizhou's ideas have their own merits. We have just won a battle, and we haven't even finished digesting the fat we have in our mouths. It would be inappropriate to immediately fight another battle."

Su Yu then changed the subject, "But it is also an objective fact that Pingnan lacks strategic depth. Therefore, I advocate that we should take Gutian as soon as possible and eliminate this threat on the flank."

Zhou Zeyuan gave him a meaningful look. "Comrade Su Yu, your words are contradictory."

"It's not contradictory. Sometimes, capturing a county doesn't necessarily require a fierce battle. As the art of war says, 'Use orthodox tactics to engage, and unorthodox tactics to win.' Sometimes, underhanded methods can be surprisingly effective."

Liu Shengmu nodded. "The Chief of Staff is always resourceful. It seems we'll get to witness your brilliant strategies again today."

Xun Huaizhou looked around and realized that none of the people in the conference room supported him.

To put it bluntly, there isn't a single one that remains neutral.

In the end, he could only sigh in his heart, realizing how difficult it was to save a collapsing building!

It's fortunate that Zhou Zeyuan can't use mind-reading, otherwise he would definitely have mocked him mercilessly.

Just because you're on the chessboard doesn't mean you're a player. Not everyone can be a savior.

Zhou Zeyuan himself felt that he could only barely be considered half a chess player.

To attempt to change the overall situation is like a mayfly trying to shake a tree.

……

Moonlight spilled into the courtyard, casting dappled shadows on the bamboo. The night breeze carried the unique coolness of the mountains, dispelling much of the stuffiness that had filled the conference room during the day.

Zhou Zeyuan took out a jar of wine from the house, put it on the stone table, and then took out three rough porcelain bowls and lined them up in a row.

Xun Huaizhou and Su Yu exchanged a glance, both stunned.

"You're treating us to drinks?" Xun Huaizhou looked Zhou Zeyuan up and down, his tone clearly suspicious. "Don't you never drink? Aside from raising a glass as a formality at a victory celebration, I've never seen you take a sip of this stuff."

Zhou Zeyuan opened the wine seal and poured the wine while saying, "Truth comes out after drinking. Some things are easy to say after a few drinks, as we usually tend to keep them to ourselves."

Su Yu sat down next to him, picked up the bowl and smelled it. "If you want to have a heart-to-heart talk with us, you don't need this jar."

He put down his bowl, turned to look at Xun Huaizhou, and said, "Comrade Huaizhou, what's wrong with you today? Is it really as Zeyuan said, that you've become arrogant and conceited after winning a battle?"

Xun Huaizhou did not answer immediately.

He picked up the wine bowl, stared at the swirling liquid inside for a moment, then gave a wry smile and tilted his head back to gulp down half the bowl.

"It's nothing. I just lost my mind for a moment. I'll never do it again."

Zhou Zeyuan sat on a stone bench, holding a bowl in both hands, looking at Xun Huaizhou.

"You're not out of your mind, you're just hot-blooded."

He put the bowl on the table and sighed.

"You don't usually like politics, so I didn't talk to you about it. Ah, it's my fault for not explaining things clearly. What do you think is the biggest predicament our Red Army faces right now? And who is our biggest enemy?"

Su Yu replied almost without hesitation: "Aren't they the reactionary forces of the Kuomintang?"

Yes and no.

Zhou Zeyuan stood up and paced around the courtyard with his hands behind his back.

The moonlight stretched his shadow long, falling on the bluestone pavement, moving slowly with his footsteps.

After putting on his expert act, he turned around and looked at Su Yu and Xun Huaizhou.

"Our biggest adversary is actually ourselves."

"Since its founding, our Party has been exploring in the darkness, trying to find a path to national strength. If the path is right, then everything will go smoothly. If the path is wrong..."

Xun Huaizhou frowned. "Zeyuan, are you saying that if we're on the wrong path, all the victories we win will be useless?"

"That's right, you could say that. If the strategic direction is wrong, can tactics really make up for it?"

The courtyard was quiet for a moment.

Xun Huaizhou picked up the bowl and took another swig. The wine slid down his throat, burning hot.

"So what can we do now? We can't just do nothing and watch..."

"Wait," Zhou Zeyuan interrupted him. "What we need is to wait, to maintain strategic focus."

He picked up the wine jar and refilled Xun Huaizhou's half-empty bowl, saying as he poured:

"Truth is held by a minority. But for the majority, recognizing this requires paying a bloody price."

A night breeze rustled through the bamboo grove, and a few bamboo leaves drifted down onto the stone table, gleaming silvery-white in the moonlight.

"Then is it possible to avoid paying this price?" Xun Huaizhou looked directly at Zhou Zeyuan, his eyes filled with a pleading expression. "Or... pay less?"

Zhou Zeyuan picked up his bowl, looked down at the shimmering moonlight in it, and a bitter smile appeared on his lips.

"People aren't stones; they all have their own thoughts. We've known each other for many years, and when you had something on your mind, you didn't tell me right away, let alone other people."

These words, though not harsh, pierced Xun Huaizhou's heart like a needle.