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

The fire at the city defense command headquarters is still raging.

The Red Army soldiers and the surrounding citizens worked together, using buckets and basins to fetch water and vigorously splashing it onto the surrounding buildings.

Soaked cotton quilts were laid out under the eaves, forming a makeshift firebreak.

The flames tried several times to lick the neighboring houses, but were blocked by this defensive line.

Thick smoke billowed and flames soared into the sky from the headquarters compound.

Because the white dog had doused the fire with gasoline before retreating, the fire couldn't be extinguished at all. Everyone could only stand on the outside and watch helplessly as the ornately decorated mansion crackled and popped in the sea of ​​fire.

As dawn approached, the fire gradually subsided, leaving only ruins and rubble, still emitting wisps of smoke.

The flames that shot into the sky in Fuzhou illuminated half the sky and naturally caught the eye of the officers and soldiers of the Second Battalion of the National Army on Wufeng Mountain.

Second Battalion Commander Qian Guodong stood at the observation post on the mountaintop, his forehead covered in sweat.

He knew that location all too well; it was the city defense command post, he could walk there with his eyes closed.

"Is it still impossible to get through to headquarters by phone?" he asked his adjutant behind him without turning his head.

The adjutant put down the phone and shook his head: "Battalion Commander, there's been no response at all. Either the phone line was cut, or it's something at headquarters..."

Before he could finish speaking, Zhou Dashan, the company commander standing next to him, spat out:

"What a load of rubbish! A fire this big is obvious to even a blind person. With the headquarters area burning like this, if the division commander and the others were still in the city, wouldn't they have made a move?"

Zhou Dashan was a sworn brother who had followed the battalion commander for over ten years. Everyone called him Zhou Laosan. He was a righteous man, but his tongue was like it had been coated with bee venom.

"Brother, if you ask me, we should surrender. Who knows, our families might already be in the hands of the Red Army. If they really force our mother to the foot of the mountain to be a human shield, will you surrender or not?"

Upon hearing this, the entire observation post fell into a deathly silence.

The company commanders and platoon leaders looked at each other in bewilderment.

Qian Guodong opened his mouth, wanting to curse, but found that something was stuck in his throat, and he couldn't say a word.

Finally, as if all his strength had been drained, he slumped into a chair: "Alright... Third brother, you're usually the most quick-witted. I'll leave the negotiations to you."

"Fuzhou is so big, and the Red Army just captured it. I reckon they won't be able to attend to us for a while. If we go to negotiate now, we might be able to get better treatment. Let's go."

Zhou Laosan nodded. "Don't worry, brother. It's not too late to negotiate now. As long as it's not dawn, we still have value."

Zhou Laosan, accompanied by two guards and carrying a white flag, slowly walked down the mountain path.

At the foot of the mountain, when Political Commissar Fang Zhicheng received the report, he was studying a map in the temporary command post.

"The Nationalist army at Wufeng Mountain sent negotiators?" He looked up, somewhat surprised.

"Yes, they said they wanted to negotiate with us," the communications soldier reported.

Fang Zhicheng pondered for a moment, then put down his pencil: "Bring him to see me."

Not long after, Zhou Laosan was brought before Fang Zhicheng.

He raised his hand in salute, his attitude was fairly polite.

"Greetings, sir. I am Zhou Dashan, the company commander of the 1st Company, 2nd Battalion, 518th Regiment, 261st Brigade, 87th Division of the National Revolutionary Army. The brothers all call me Zhou Laosan."

Fang Zhicheng sized him up. The man looked to be in his early thirties, with a sturdy build, a weathered face, and a shrewd glint in his eyes.

"I am Fang Zhicheng, political commissar of the 1st Regiment of the 3rd Division of the Red Army. Our Red Army treats prisoners of war well. If you have any questions about the relevant policies, you can consult me."

Zhou Laosan's heart sank. This Red Army officer's attitude was very tough, and it seemed that things would be difficult to negotiate next!

"Commander Fang, we are not here to surrender."

Fang Zhicheng raised an eyebrow: "Oh? So what are you here for?"

Zhou Laosan steadied himself and said calmly, "We still have over three hundred men on the mountain, with ample food, ammunition, and water. We are holding our position firmly in fortifications. If your forces want to take us down, you'll likely have to pay a considerable price. If we're taken prisoner without any conditions, do you think that's reasonable?"

Fang Zhicheng looked at him with a playful smile: "Company Commander Zhou, what you said is quite interesting. Your unit is completely surrounded, with no reinforcements. In fact, you're just one step away from annihilation. Our heavy artillery units only need to turn their guns around and fire a volley, and you'll all be finished."

Zhou Laosan chuckled: "Commander Fang is joking. Heavy artillery shells are so precious. Wouldn't it be a waste to use them on rough men like us? We just want to get some better treatment."

Fang Zhicheng nodded inwardly. This Zhou Laosan did indeed have some courage and eloquence.

"Oh? Tell me, what kind of treatment do you want?"

Zhou Laosan cleared his throat: "First, ensure the safety of officers and soldiers. Do not kill prisoners, do not beat or scold them, do not mistreat them, and ensure that wounded soldiers receive medical treatment."

Fang Zhicheng nodded: "That's no problem. The Red Army treats prisoners of war well; that's our policy."

"Second, all our troops were to be disarmed, but officers were allowed to keep their pistols—this is a matter of military dignity."

Fang Zhicheng frowned slightly. Although pistols weren't very lethal, they were still a risk. But then he thought, as long as the rifles and heavy weapons were confiscated, a few dozen pistols wouldn't cause much trouble.

He didn't immediately express his opinion, but simply nodded silently, signaling the other person to continue.

Seeing that he did not object, Zhou Laosan felt reassured and continued, "Third, we will not force our prisoners of war to join the Red Army, we will not hold public trials, we will not parade them through the streets, and officers will be allowed to write personal letters to their families to let them know they are safe."

"Fourth, travel expenses shall be provided to officers and soldiers who wish to return to their hometowns, and the detention period shall not exceed one week."

Fang Zhicheng's face darkened, and he sneered, "Company Commander Zhou, if your unit had proposed such conditions at the very beginning of the battle, we would certainly have accepted them."

"But the overall situation is now settled. Our army has begun to pursue and eliminate the remaining enemy forces. Your annihilation is only a matter of time. We cannot agree to such conditions. Please return."

Zhou Laosan panicked and quickly took a step forward, saying, "Hey! No, no, no! We can talk this out! You've asked for an outrageous price; you have to bargain down to something!"

Fang Zhicheng stopped, turned around to look at him, and said, "Alright, I can agree to the first and second conditions. What do you think?"

Zhou Laosan shook his head, his tone resolute: "That won't do. At the very least, you must agree to the third condition. Otherwise, we'd rather fight to the death."

"Commander Fang, let me tell you something from the bottom of my heart. What the brothers fear most is not death, but being paraded through the streets as reactionaries after death, making their families unable to hold their heads up in shame."

"If you don't even agree to this, I won't be able to explain myself to the brothers when I get back. We'll have no choice but to fight each other."

Fang Zhicheng stared into his eyes for a long time to make sure he wasn't bluffing.

"Alright. I don't have the authority to make that decision. I need to consult the legion commander first. You wait here while I send someone to inquire."