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

As the urgent bugle call sounded outside the barracks in the darkness, Li Shutong, a student soldier who had been in the army for three months, almost reflexively jumped out of his bed.

He grabbed his military uniform and put it on, quickly buttoning it from bottom to top. He bent down to pick up the rifle on the ground, grabbed the ammunition pouch hanging on the head of the bed, and slung it over his shoulder. The whole set of movements was done in one smooth motion.

He rushed out of the tent, only a breath slower than Zheng Dayou in front of him.

Under the moonlight, each company and platoon had already lined up on the parade ground.

The flags fluttered in the night wind; no one spoke, only the sounds of counting off rose and fell.

Regiment Commander Zhao Zhiming stood at the front of the line.

He didn't give any pre-battle pep talk; he simply waved behind him and was the first to walk towards the camp gate.

The column began to move, its footsteps rhythmic and dense.

Li Shutong followed behind squad leader Wu Guisheng, but he had some doubts in his heart.

In the past, during emergency assemblies, the regimental commander or division commander would always stand at the front and say a few words, even if they were brief, they would explain the direction and mission.

But this time, from the moment we gathered until we set off, not a single extra word was spoken.

"This time it's not a short-distance raid," Wu Guisheng said in a low voice as he walked at the front of the group, turning his head to the side.

Li Shutong quickened his pace and moved closer. "Squad leader, how did you figure that out?"

"If it were a short distance, three to five kilometers, we could just jog it. But look at the speed now, everyone is walking briskly, not even panting."

Wu Guisheng kept walking, tilting his head slightly. "Only when the distance is far enough can we focus more on stamina planning, rather than speed. This is a warm-up."

"Alright, I'll be careful with my energy later, so I won't be too tired to fight when we get there."

Another veteran chimed in, "This isn't something you can just save as you please, Xiao Li. You're in for it later."

Li Shutong recognized Zheng Dayou's voice and said without turning his head, "Old Zheng, don't look down on me. Today I'll show you the results of my three months of training. If you're left behind by me, don't give me a hard time."

Zheng Dayou chuckled and didn't reply.

The team's pace noticeably increased after leaving the camp; the footsteps became more frequent, some started jogging, and others continued walking briskly, but the overall rhythm of the formation remained consistent.

The railway station in Xintangbian Town, western Jiangshan County.

The platform was brightly lit, and several freight cars were parked on the tracks. People were bustling around in front of the open doors, and soldiers were busy loading boxes into the cars.

The platform was piled high with document boxes, ammunition boxes, and clothing bags, and several officers were checking the list item by item with flashlights.

In the distance, as the railway tracks stretched out, signal lights flashed a dark red light in the night.

In the two-story building next to the train station, Xia Chuzhong, commander of the 98th Division, stood by the window, watching the busy figures on the platform.

Behind him, staff officer Li Zhiwen was holding a folder and reporting on the loading progress, his voice carrying the crispness and smoothness unique to young people.

"Commander, all the important documents, communication equipment, and stockpiled weapons and ammunition for the command headquarters have been loaded onto the trucks. The officers of the command headquarters have also boarded the trucks."

"However, the space inside the train is limited, and some officers and soldiers still don't have a seat. We'll wait for the next train to arrive, and then we can set off."

Xia Chuzhong frowned slightly: "That's not right, is it? We still have at least three thousand people who haven't boarded the train yet. Is one train enough?"

Li Zhiwen chuckled, "Commander, we're running for our lives, not going on a trip. Who cares about those lowly soldiers?"

"It's not difficult to cram 3,000 people into a dozen or so carriages, but we really don't have any extra transport capacity, so we have to abandon some of the supplies."

"It's just some grain, not worth much money." Xia Chuzhong waved his hand. "We'll just requisition another batch when we get to Quzhou."

Li Zhiwen's smile faded slightly, and he took half a step forward: "Commander, it's not just about grain. You've forgotten, we also have a small treasury in the county town; all the tributes from those gentlemen are in there."

Xia Chuzhong's expression changed drastically, and he glared at him: "Little Li, Little Li, you've been with me for so long, how could you forget something so important? Why didn't you bring these things with you when you came from the county? That's my family's wealth!"

Li Zhiwen looked annoyed: "It was my oversight. I didn't expect it either. I thought we were gathering here to fight a war."

"As soon as I heard the order to retreat, I immediately sent people to the county, but it seems there's no time. If it's really too late... then we'll just have to give them to the Red Army, after all, money is not as important as life."

"Bullshit! How can we let the Red Army benefit? That's aiding the enemy!" Xia Chuzhong glared at him and said, "I'm asking you, how much longer until we arrive?"

Li Zhiwen felt relieved, but pretended to ponder for a while before replying, "Judging by the time, it should take another two hours."

Xia Chuzhong paced around the room with his hands behind his back, then waved his hand and said, "Then let's wait a little longer. Anyway, the next train will take time to arrive, so let's wait until everyone is here before we set off. The Red Army is still dozens of miles away; they don't have wings, they can't fly over."

Li Zhiwen nodded repeatedly, a smile plastered on his face: "Yes, yes, yes, the commander is so thoughtful. I'll take some men and go urge them on myself right away, so there won't be any delays on the way."

"Hmm." Xia Chuzhong nodded in satisfaction, but his expression suddenly turned playful as he teased, "Remember to bring your newlywed sixth concubine along. The young lady is quite pretty; it would be a shame if she fell into the hands of the Red Army."

Li Zhiwen chuckled, "I can't hide it from the commander after all. I've already arranged a position for her."

"Hmph, you think you can fool my sharp eyes?" Xia Chuzhong snorted. "Everyone says you're greedy and lustful, but in my opinion, your greed is purely for lust. Of every 100 silver dollars, at least 99 have been spent on women's bellies."

"Take it easy at such a young age. If you ruin your kidneys, you'll have plenty of time to live your life later."

Li Zhiwen's smile remained unchanged. "It's alright. I found an old traditional Chinese medicine doctor in Quzhou who prescribed some medicine, and it's quite effective."

"Well, I've heard that this old traditional Chinese medicine doctor is quite skilled at treating sprains and bruises. Has your back injury been flaring up frequently lately? When we get to Quzhou, I'll take you to see him."

Xia Chuzhong touched his lower back, a look of confusion flashing in his eyes: "I have a back injury? How come I didn't know?"

He immediately realized what was going on, glanced around the room, and coughed twice: "We really need to take a good look. Little Li, everyone knows you're a roughneck. Which of us roughnecks in the army doesn't have some old injuries? In the future, if you have any resources in this area, don't keep them to yourself."

Li Zhiwen nodded repeatedly, smiled, and left the room.

The smile on his face vanished for a moment as the door closed behind him.

A cold glint flashed in his eyes.

But he quickly reverted to his cynical demeanor.

He straightened his collar, strode down the stairs, and his figure disappeared in the dim light of the platform.

In the distance, at the edge of the night, a long dragon was surging toward Xintangbian Town at a speed far exceeding the expectations of the Nationalist army.