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

If I were in command, as long as I always maintained the appearance of "strong and well-equipped troops, unfathomable depths," I would not let the enemy figure out my strength.

In order to eliminate this major Red Army force that posed a great threat, the Kuomintang would probably have to deploy at least twice as many troops, reaching more than forty regiments!

This pledge can be made!

Meeting Le Shaohua's gaze, he answered frankly, "With our current strength, we certainly don't have a complete guarantee of capturing Fuzhou."

"But if the goal is simply to lure the enemy into using as many troops as possible to encircle us and thus relieve pressure on the Central Soviet Area... I am confident that we can mobilize five to seven enemy divisions, or even more!"

"Of course, there's a condition: Political Commissar Le, you have to promise me you won't restrict my playing style."

"If you want me to mobilize the enemy's main force, and also require me to demonstrate the Red Army's prestige and the grandeur of a regular army, without any detours, escapes, or opportunistic tactics... that would be asking too much of me."

Le Shaohua's face stiffened; he could naturally hear the undisguised sarcasm in Zhou Zeyuan's words. But this time, he didn't react.

"Alright! You will be in full command of the military operation this time, and I won't interfere with your specific tactics! However, I still have one request: if there's an opportunity, you should try your best to complete the mission!"

Zeng Hongyi, who was standing next to him, broke out in a cold sweat, his lips trembling, and he hesitated to speak.

He looked at Le Shaohua, then at Zhou Zeyuan, and felt that the two seemed to have reached a terrifying tacit understanding.

He wanted to object, but his throat felt blocked, and he couldn't say anything.

Fortunately, Zhou Zeyuan spoke again, his tone regaining its former nonchalant composure:

"Haha, Political Commissar, you're overthinking it! I was just joking! If we really face a massive enemy encirclement and annihilation, and we can't win, can't we at least run away?"

"Alright, let's not disturb the legion commander's rest any longer. Let's discuss the next battle plan."

The medic carefully carried Xun Huaizhou to a quieter tent nearby to rest. The remaining men gathered around a military map and began to strategize.

Su Yu spoke first, pointing to the location of Fuzhou on the map:

"In addition to the city's defense forces, Fuzhou was also home to a regiment of the Kuomintang's 87th Division, a direct descendant of the Central Army. They were well-equipped, well-trained, and their combat strength should not be underestimated."

"We lack heavy siege weapons, so a direct assault would be absolutely impossible."

"But so far, Zeyuan's plan to feign strength and deceive the enemy has been progressing very smoothly."

"The enemy still doesn't know our true strength and weaknesses, and thinks we are a main force of the Red Army with heavy weapons and sufficient manpower."

"As long as our army approaches the walls of Fuzhou and launches a full-scale attack, we will surely be able to force the surrounding enemy forces to return in force to reinforce Fuzhou!"

Everyone nodded slightly.

The foreshadowing that Zhou Zeyuan had laid earlier is now bearing fruit.

The enemy did not know the true strength and heavy weaponry of the Seventh Red Army Corps.

Given the fact that Youxi was captured overnight, who dares to say that this Red Army did not have the strength to take Fuzhou?

However, Zhou Zeyuan was alarmed.

Historically, when the advance team advanced to the outskirts of Fuzhou, it did successfully mobilize the 87th and 49th Divisions to return to Fuzhou to provide reinforcements.

But this was clearly far from enough! What the Central Committee wanted was to mobilize the main force of the Eastern Route Army besieging the Soviet areas, at least three or four divisions, in order to greatly alleviate the frontal pressure on the Soviet areas.

Only by completing this level of transfer can the two "decision-makers" in Ruijin be satisfied, silence their objections, and secure more strategic autonomy for themselves.

He didn't hesitate to pour cold water on the idea, saying, "That's an idealized result. But what Peanut is really thinking, none of us know."

"Perhaps on his scales, Fuzhou's status is far less important than Ruijin's. If he had to choose, losing the capital of Fujian province but gaining control of Ruijin and destroying the Central Soviet Area, what would you choose if you were in different locations?"

Everyone felt a chill run down their spines.

Le Shaohua murmured, "Doesn't that mean... we simply can't complete the task assigned to us by the Central Committee?"

Zhou Zeyuan chuckled inwardly. Good, just like that. He'd led you astray, and now you'd be completely at my mercy.

He immediately became serious and said, "There is no task in this world that cannot be accomplished! Peanut might tolerate the loss of Fuzhou because he is confident that he can take it back at any time."

"But what if we lose the entire eastern and northeastern Fujian, or even southern Zhejiang? What if he discovers that we are establishing a large and stable red base area in his backyard, right in front of his old home? Can he still remain indifferent?!"

Upon hearing this, everyone gasped in shock.

Zeng Hongyi was the first to object: "Comrade Zeyuan! Your idea is good, but we don't have enough troops! The deadline given by the Central Committee is tight, and there's simply no time for us to slowly develop our base areas like we did in the Central Soviet Area!"

Zhou Zeyuan waved his hand: "No need to use our main force! Our Party has already established a base area in eastern Fujian, around Luoyuan and Lianjiang. We also have guerrilla zones around Fu'an and Ningde, and we have a strong mass base!"

"My plan is to dispatch a crack force immediately northward! Quickly capture Luoyuan, threaten Ningde and Fu'an, and connect the surrounding scattered guerrilla zones and bases into one contiguous area!"

"At that time, if we capture a few more key county towns, we can bring the entire northeastern Fujian region under our control, and then advance northward towards Wenzhou and Pingyang in southern Zhejiang! Fenghua, the hometown of peanuts, is right in Zhejiang!"

Zeng Hongyi's attitude immediately underwent a complete 180-degree change. He slapped his thigh and exclaimed, "Brilliant! If we can expand our base into Zhejiang and establish a Soviet regime right near Peanut's hometown, he'll be jumping for joy!"

Zhou Zeyuan glanced at him and could clearly sense that Zeng Hongyi's fear was becoming uncontrollable.

He was extremely afraid of following the main force and crashing into that iron plate in Fuzhou.

To him, Zhou Zeyuan's plan to "establish a base in eastern Fujian" was a perfect opportunity to legitimately break away from the main force and avoid the greatest risks!

He still harbored a slight desire to try; if he could personally establish a new base, that would be a great achievement!

Zhou Zeyuan understood immediately and turned to Le Shaohua: "Political Commissar, this mission of entering eastern Fujian and establishing a base area is arduous yet glorious. We need a comrade who is politically reliable, capable of working independently, and familiar with military affairs to serve as the commander-in-chief. Do you have a good candidate?"

Zeng Hongyi subconsciously puffed out his chest and looked at Le Shaohua with eager eyes.