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

Yu Qiubai was startled. The first thought that flashed through his mind was, "He Jianqian dug up people's ancestral graves, so why are you taking revenge on the brigade leader?"

They've been wronged so badly.

But then I thought about it again. Although Zhou Zeyuan was unscrupulous in his actions, he still had a basic sense of right and wrong and wouldn't do something so unethical.

He stared intently at Zhou Zeyuan: "Is it a real fight or a fake one?"

Zhou Zeyuan leaned back in his chair, his tone calm: "Whether it's true or false doesn't really matter. As long as the captain realizes that we might be the real deal, he'll definitely fall for it."

Yu Qiubai's brow remained furrowed: "Of course he could fall for it. But is it really that exaggerated? Three hundred thousand troops? You can mobilize three hundred thousand troops with just a word?"

Zhou Zeyuan smiled, a smile that carried an all-knowing certainty: "Let me tell you, the effect of our move is even more effective than the siege of Nanjing."

"After all, Nanjing is heavily fortified and heavily guarded, so it might not be easy to take it down in a short time. But Xikou in Fenghua is a different story; its defenses are not as strong as those in Fuzhou."

"Think about how Emperor Chongzhen reacted when the Fengyang Imperial Tombs were captured at the end of the Ming Dynasty. He didn't even grow up in Fengyang. But Xikou is the brigade leader's hometown."

Yu Qiubai's expression shifted slightly, but his brow remained furrowed: "I still think it's a bit of an exaggeration. Three hundred thousand troops? How is that possible? If this matter is handled poorly, it could lead to endless retaliation from the Kuomintang."

Zhou Zeyuan's voice suddenly turned cold: "Is this still going on? Do you think the Kuomintang won't retaliate unless we take drastic measures?"

"Was the Homecoming Corps ruthless enough? Was the Blue Shirts Society ruthless enough? Stones must be cut with a knife, thatch must be burned, and people must be replaced—who was it that shouted that?"

"I want to show the brigade leader that everyone should leave themselves some leeway. Otherwise, if he can be so shameless, so can I. If we end up hurting each other, we might not be the ones who can't handle it first."

These words were spoken with absolute certainty, without the slightest hesitation.

Yu Qiubai was silent for a moment, then slowly nodded: "Your line of thinking makes sense. But how do you convince him that you truly have this determination?"

"I feel like this is like a policeman arresting a criminal's family member, pointing a gun at his head, and trying to coerce the criminal. It's absurd, and even if it's absurd, the criminal might not be afraid."

Zhou Zeyuan sighed, a hint of helplessness in his eyes: "It's all because your reputation as the boss is too good. So I've kept a low profile for so long, it's time for me to make my grand entrance."

He sat up straight. "Recently, our base area received a group of people from Shanghai. I personally arranged jobs for them. I even transferred a few of them to work in the military region."

Yu Qiubai frowned sharply: "They have a problem?"

"Of course. Next, I'll put on a big show for them. I've already come up with the script."

"The withdrawal of the main force of the Central Committee from Ruijin triggered a huge ideological upheaval in the Fujian-Zhejiang Soviet Area. An ambitious young officer seized the opportunity and launched a mutiny on a rainy night, taking control of the core of the Fujian-Zhejiang Soviet Area and beginning to implement radical military policies."

Yu Qiubai's lips twitched. He looked at Zhou Zeyuan's young face with a complicated expression: "Are you sure this is acting? I feel like this play is incredibly real."

Zhou Zeyuan waved his hand dismissively and said, "As long as it gets done, don't worry about the details."

"I want to use these spies to convey two important messages—first, the main force of the Central Committee has left the Soviet area; second, the main force of the Fujian-Zhejiang Soviet area is preparing to go north to carry out an extremely risky military operation."

"Once they have verified the authenticity of the first piece of information, they will naturally have no doubt about the second piece of information."

"Subsequently, they discovered that our army had sent intelligence personnel to Xikou in Fenghua, and that a large number of personnel and supplies were being gathered in northeastern Fujian. Naturally, they would conclude that our army wanted to retaliate in kind."

He paused for a moment, then asked, "What do you think the Kuomintang's top brass will do then?"

Yu Qiubai did not answer immediately. His mind raced, going over that wild idea again and again.

Information about the Kuomintang high command kept flashing through his mind. He had long ago judged them as a group of corrupt bureaucrats dressed in modern clothes but with extremely feudalistic tendencies at their core.

Therefore, they must attach great importance to things like feng shui and ancestral graves.

However, even a revolutionary with very progressive ideas values ​​ancestral graves. This is a sentiment ingrained in the Chinese people.

Having figured this out, he slowly nodded: "The battalion commander may be extremely anxious, or he may pretend not to care. But his men will all try to figure out his intentions and will do their best to dissuade him, even at the cost of disobeying military orders to move troops eastward."

A glint of light flashed in Zhou Zeyuan's eyes: "So, what do you think of my plan? Do you support it?"

Yu Qiubai waved his hand: "I don't have much to say about military matters. Since you've come up with this idea, you must be very confident. But if you leave, who will take charge of the overall situation in the Fujian-Zhejiang Military Region?"

Zhou Zeyuan pointed to the telegram on the table: "The situation in the Central Soviet Area is now extremely precarious, and a large number of revolutionary families are living in constant fear."

"I think it is necessary to transfer them to the Fujian-Zhejiang Soviet Area. This is essential for the long-term revolution and can also stabilize the morale of our party and government leaders."

"This matter is of great importance, so naturally we should send a senior comrade who is outstanding in ability, of high moral character, and with extensive experience to carry it out."

Yu Qiubai glanced at him, a smile playing on his lips: "Alright, alright, no need to say more, I understand. But are you sure you want to give up the position of Commander of the Fujian-Zhejiang Military Region to Old Chen? Besides this position, there aren't any other suitable posts for him in our Fujian-Zhejiang Military Region."

Zhou Zeyuan answered without the slightest hesitation: "We're all on the same side, what's this about 'yours' and 'mine'? I have nothing to be reluctant about; a position is just a tool of the revolution."

Yu Qiubai looked at him with a scrutinizing gaze, but more so with admiration: "Hmm, very good. Although you have a free-spirited nature, your sense of the big picture is just like your teacher's."

Zhou Zeyuan laughed and stood up: "Haha, to receive your praise, my trip tonight was truly worthwhile."

He turned and walked towards the door. When he reached the curtain, he silently mourned for Old Chen for half a second.

Working under the secretary offered no opportunity to realize one's ambitions.

Working in the Fujian-Zhejiang Military Region offers plenty of opportunities, but you must follow the path you've planned.

I wouldn't trust him the way I trust Su Yu and Xun Huaizhou.

However, on the other hand, turning from an unemployed person into a ruthless working machine may not necessarily be a bad thing.

They were both contributing to the revolution, and Old Chen should be able to understand this slight.