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

In the main hall of Quanzhou County Government, Su Yu sat in the center of the armchair, with a newly drawn city defense map spread out on the long table in front of him.

The officers on either side of the hall were either sitting or standing, and the atmosphere was relaxed yet somewhat excited.

An aide stood in the hall, holding a newly compiled ledger, his voice brimming with barely concealed excitement:

"Chief of Staff, as of noon today, the seizure operation in Quanzhou has been preliminarily completed. The customs treasury has seized 870,000 silver dollars, 42 boxes of silver ingots, and approximately 32,000 taels of gold."

"The total amount of cash in the various banks and money shops is 1.16 million yuan, and the value of foreign currency and bills is about 400,000 yuan. In addition, there are cash and jewelry worth more than 300,000 yuan in churches, trading companies, remittance agencies and other places."

A low gasp rippled through the audience.

Su Yu remained expressionless, only nodding slightly: "Continue."

The staff officer turned a page: "In Quanzhou, there is a small machinery factory, a branch of a shipyard, three textile factories, and a number of grain and oil processing equipment."

"The comrades sent by the Military Industry Bureau are counting and cataloging each item. It is estimated that no fewer than sixty machine tools, drilling machines and other equipment can be transported, along with three diesel generators and sixteen lathes."

Su Yu slapped the armrest with delight, "Great! These machines and equipment are the real treasures. Gold and silver are good, but they're ultimately inanimate. These machines, once transported back to the rear, will be worth several years of hard work. What about supplies?"

"The grain depot contains approximately 500 tons of grain, 200,000 bolts of cloth, and dozens of wagons of various supplies including salt, medicine, gasoline, and tung oil."

"What's particularly noteworthy are the two pharmacies, the one run by the Germans and the branch of the British trading company. Their inventory of Western medicines and medical equipment, combined, is quite valuable. Our rear hospitals will certainly have plenty to use now."

The regimental commanders below whispered among themselves, their faces beaming with barely suppressed joy.

Before attacking Quanzhou, everyone was a little apprehensive.

After all, the city where Commander Zeyuan attacked was the provincial capital, and the assets he found there were several times the total assets of the Seventh Red Army Corps.

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that they became rich overnight.

Although Quanzhou is a major port in southern Fujian, it is still a level below.

But now, looking back, although the gains can't compare to that "home run" in Fuzhou, it's still enough to make one's heart burn with excitement.

Just as Su Yu was about to begin outlining the next steps for defense and material transfer, a series of hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside the hall.

A staff officer on duty pushed open the door and saluted him.

"Chief of Staff, a businessman has arrived. He claims to have top-secret intelligence and must report to you in person."

The murmurs below immediately ceased. Several regimental commanders exchanged glances, and one impatient one already snorted:

"What top-secret intelligence? We just captured Quanzhou, and the news hasn't even spread yet, and this guy is already showing up at our door? He's probably a Nationalist spy."

The staff officer added, "He said he wasn't a member of the Nationalist Army, and that he had a grasp of the overall situation in southern Fujian, which was of great importance, and he could only tell you."

Su Yu raised an eyebrow, pondered for a moment, and asked, "What's your background?"

"He said he came from the south."

The hall fell silent for a moment.

Well, in Fujian, if someone says they came from the south, they're either from Guangdong or Guangxi.

As for Hainan, these days Hainan is part of Guangdong!

That's very interesting. This person is most likely sent by the Guangdong Army or the Guangxi Army.

After a moment's thought, Su Yu instructed, "Bring it up."

Before long, a middle-aged merchant wearing a gray silk robe was led in.

The man was in his early forties, slightly overweight, wearing a thin straw hat, and had the usual amiable smile of a businessman on his face, but his eyes, when surveying his surroundings, held a sharp edge.

Su Yu noticed that he walked in with steady steps and landed silently, unlike a merchant who usually travels the streets and alleys.

The man walked into the hall and cupped his hands in greeting to Su Yu: "This must be Chief of Staff Su of the Red Army, right? I've long admired your name."

Su Yu replied calmly, "What information do you have? You can tell me now."

The man looked around, then cupped his hands and said, "Chief of Staff Su, the matter I'm about to discuss is of great importance. Could you gentlemen please step aside for the time being?"

Before the words were even finished, a dark-faced regimental commander slammed his fist on the table: "Bullshit! You, a nobody of unknown origin, dare to tell us to leave in front of our chief of staff? Who do you think you are?"

Several officers nearby chimed in, and the hall became noisy.

The merchant wasn't in a hurry; he just looked at Su Yu with a smile.

Su Yu raised her hand and pressed it down, and the voices in the hall immediately lowered.

He stared at the man for a few seconds, then said, "Comrades, please step outside for a moment."

The dark-faced regimental commander panicked: "Chief of Staff! This guy's origins are unknown; what if he's an assassin..."

Su Yu reached into her waistband and drew the gleaming Mauser pistol, placing it on the table. Her tone was calm, yet her confidence was unwavering:

"Even if this gentleman was searched before he came in, and even if he was carrying a weapon and wanted to assassinate me, Su Yu, he would be the one who dies. Get out."

The crowd looked at each other, but ultimately dared not disobey the order, and had no choice but to leave one by one.

The dark-faced regimental commander turned back and glared at the merchant as he reached the door, then whispered, "Kid, don't try anything funny. I'm right outside. You dare to make a move and see what happens..."

Su Yu waved her hand, and he reluctantly left, closing the door behind him.

The hall fell silent, leaving only Su Yu and the merchant.

Su Yu didn't speak, but leaned back in her chair, her fingers lightly resting on the gun handle on the table, her gaze fixed intently on the other person.

The man let out a long breath and cupped his hands in greeting: "Chief of Staff Su, let's not beat around the bush, I was sent by Commander-in-Chief Chen Jitang."

Su Yu's eyes narrowed slightly. "Our army and your army have no prior grudges and have always kept to ourselves. I wonder what instructions Commander-in-Chief Chen has for us?"

The man lowered his voice: "Actually, the Red Army and our army... have long had channels of communication. We've always had a tacit understanding in southern Jiangxi. Commander-in-Chief Chen sent me here this time hoping to discuss a deal with your army in person."

Su Yu nodded: "Although I do not hold a position in the central government, I have heard about this matter. Before I left, an elder also advised me to try to avoid a direct conflict with the Guangdong army."

Upon hearing this, the merchant's expression visibly relaxed. He took half a step forward: "The one in Nanchang is currently suffering from extreme anxiety, and Commander-in-Chief Chen is under tremendous pressure."

"His point is that the war still needs to be fought; we can't let anyone see our weakness. But how to fight, which side to fight, and to what extent we can discuss those things."

Su Yu immediately became interested, "Tell me your conditions."

"It's very simple. Just tell us what your army needs. Guns, bullets, shells, medicine, even machinery—as long as the money is right, we can send them to southern Fujian. When you take southern Fujian, we'll deliver the goods along the way."

"In exchange, Commander-in-Chief Chen hopes that your army... can cooperate with the Guangdong army's actions at the appropriate time."