29: Chapter 29: My First Meeting with Li Yunlong!

"Mr. Shen, it's a misunderstanding! It must be a misunderstanding!"

Ding Zhijian also noticed the aggressive stance from the other side, so he quickly spoke up to explain.

"They must have mistaken us for the Japanese! They are definitely not targeting you; this is a misunderstanding! A huge misunderstanding!"

Ding Zhijian was extremely nervous, fearing that Shen Wang might develop a misunderstanding about the organization, the loss of which would be immeasurable.

Shen Wang had risked his life for them; if he were to leave in disappointment because of his comrades' misunderstanding, Ding Zhijian would be unable to atone for his guilt even if he died ten thousand times!

"That's right, Master, this is definitely a misunderstanding!"

"Mr. Shen, you must not fire!"

Sha Zhenjiang and Meng Guanglin also chimed in to soothe the situation.

Of course, Shen Wang was not angry; instead, he found it somewhat amusing.

"Don't be nervous, I understand."

Seeing that Shen Wang's tone was normal and that he truly had no intention of getting angry, the hearts of Ding Zhijian and the others felt slightly more at ease.

"Mr. Shen, let me go down and negotiate with them! If some soldier gets nervous and accidentally fires, this misunderstanding will get out of hand!"

Ding Zhijian volunteered; the current situation had to be resolved immediately.

Hearing this, Shen Wang pondered for a moment and nodded.

This was the safest method for now. He couldn't just drive the 99A over them, or wait for the other side to throw grenades before explaining; that would be too late.

"Alright, you go, but be careful."

He then ordered the vehicle to reverse: "Little Sha, reverse! Keep your distance, back up to outside their effective range!"

Shen Wang was also afraid that if an accidental discharge occurred, Old Ding might get killed, and that would be a disaster!

Sha Zhenjiang immediately operated the controls. After a day of driving, he had completely mastered the techniques of operating the tank.

Rumble—

Under the astonished gaze of the Cavalry Company soldiers, the 99A did not advance; instead, it began to steadily retreat.

It retreated until it was several hundred meters away from the ambush circle, stopping at a relatively safe distance.

Next, a hatch on the side of the 99A turret was pushed open from the inside, and Ding Zhijian climbed out.

"comrades on the other side! Do not fire! We are on the same side! We are on the same side—!!"

...

Behind the earthen slope, Li Yunlong held up his binoculars, feeling a bit confused.

"Hey! That's strange! Why did this iron turtle reverse? And someone crawled out of the vehicle?"

He muttered, his binoculars locked firmly onto the figure that was raising both hands and gradually approaching.

"Regimental Commander, it looks like... they really don't look like Japanese or traitors." Sun Desheng, who was beside him, also noticed some clues.

Wei the Monk scratched his head: "Then what the hell is going on..."

Li Yunlong was full of doubts, but he still maintained a high level of vigilance.

He thought for a moment and then roared: "Listen up, person on the other side! Just you alone, walk over slowly! Keep your hands raised high, let me see clearly!"

With just one person, he wasn't afraid of the other side trying any tricks.

Ding Zhijian complied, raising his hands high and approaching step by step.

When he walked to about fifty meters from the position, Li Yunlong signaled, and Wei the Monk immediately led two agile soldiers forward to search him.

"Regimental Commander, he's clean!" Wei the Monk reported.

Only then did Li Yunlong stand up from behind the earthen slope: "Tell me... who are you?"

Looking at the fierce-looking commander in front of him, Ding Zhijian was even more certain that this was his comrade.

Clothes can be faked, but the temperament forged from years of hardship, hunger, and hiding cannot be faked.

"comrade, my name is Ding Zhijian. I was originally part of the Beijing intelligence unit. We were exposed a short while ago, and I just escaped from Beijing."

"What?"

"You are Ding Zhijian?"

Old Li was completely dumbfounded.

The person they risked their lives to rescue had actually appeared before them in such a comical way?

But... that's not right, is it?

Didn't Headquarters say it was an armored car?

How did it become a tank?

Li Yunlong's shock and confusion were beyond measure.

Fortunately, before setting out, Headquarters had given him a code for the rendezvous.

A code that only true Beijing underground personnel would know.

"In Beijing city, the nightingale sings; when spring comes, how many branches bloom?"

Huh?

Once this code was spoken, it was Ding Zhijian's turn to be dumbfounded!

This code was one of the highest-level emergency contact codes for their Beijing underground organization.

It was only used when the organization faced a devastating blow or when core personnel needed to confirm their identities, and the circle of those who knew it was extremely small!

"Who on earth are you? How do you know this phrase? Who told you?"

Ding Zhijian immediately entered a state of high alert.

Li Yunlong hurriedly explained: "Don't be nervous, Headquarters already knows about the Beijing 'Nightingale' unit and has specifically ordered my troops to come and assist."

"However, to prove your identity, please say the second half!"

Boom—

In an instant, Ding Zhijian's eyes turned red!

This man, who hadn't even frowned after being tortured for over ten days, wanted to burst into tears at this moment!

It was the organization!

The organization hadn't given up on them!

And they had used the highest-level secure channel!

Ding Zhijian's lips trembled, and he choked out: "...Not fearing the floating clouds blocking the view, only because one is at the highest level!"

It matched!

Li Yunlong took a sudden step forward, tightly grasped Ding Zhijian's hand, and shook it vigorously:

"comrade, we finally found you! You have suffered!"

Ding Zhijian gripped Li Yunlong's large hand tightly, biting his lip. He had thousands of words in his heart, but in the end, he couldn't say a single one.

Li Yunlong held Ding Zhijian's hand and wouldn't let go, then asked: "comrade Ding, what's the deal with that iron... that tank of yours?"

Although Ding Zhijian's identity was confirmed, Old Li still had many doubts.

First of all, how did the armored vehicle turn into a tank?

Also, how did they escape?

Ding Zhijian took a deep breath and began to explain to Li Yunlong what had happened along the way.

"Regimental Commander Li, this is a long story. All of this is thanks to a Mr. Shen..."

From causing chaos in Beijing city, to shelling the Morita Battalion, to going head-to-head against ten type 95 heavy tanks...

Ding Zhijian told the story vividly!

Li Yunlong and the Cavalry Company soldiers listened with wide eyes!

"Hiss—!"

A collective gasp sounded across the position.

Sun Desheng, the tough Cavalry Company commander, felt his throat go dry at this moment and muttered: "My God..."

Along the way, the other side not only remained unscathed but also wiped out over a thousand Japanese soldiers?

And even... wiped out ten type 95 heavy tanks?

They wouldn't even dare to dream of such a thing!

After hearing this, Li Yunlong was not only shocked but also felt lingering fear.

It was a good thing he hadn't rushed up to fight that tank; he really couldn't have won!

"comrade Zhijian! Don't say anything else! Quickly! Quickly take me, Old Li, to meet this Mr. Shen!"

"In my life, I, Old Li, haven't admired many people, but this Mr. Shen definitely counts as one!"

"This battle was fought beautifully!"

Li Yunlong's face was filled with admiration.

If for no other reason, just the fact that Shen Wang dared to take a full volley of nine shots from Japanese tanks head-on made him, Old Li, admire him from the bottom of his heart!

And in the face of the Japanese encirclement, instead of fleeing, he wanted to wipe out the Japanese entirely?

This temper and this courage suited his, Li Yunlong's, taste.

To show his respect, Li Yunlong ordered his troops to wait in place and took only Wei the Monk with him to meet Shen Wang.

Sun Desheng quickly stopped Li Yunlong: "Regimental Commander, maybe you should take a few more men."

Li Yunlong rolled his big eyes and said indignantly: "What for? Do you think I, Old Li, am a spineless coward?"

"Besides, even if I took all of you with me, would it be useful?"

Sun Desheng thought about it, and it seemed that was true.

Even if they took the entire Cavalry Company, they couldn't defeat that tank over there.

With armor that even a 70mm tank gun couldn't penetrate, having more men was useless.

"Alright, you wait here."

After saying this, Li Yunlong led Wei the Monk and followed Ding Zhijian toward the 99A in the distance.

Upon reaching the 99A, one could feel that sense of oppression even more clearly.

Especially that terrifying gun barrel, comparable to a 105mm Howitzer.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk... No wonder it could penetrate the Japanese type 95 heavy tank!"

To be honest, Li Yunlong had never seen such a thick and long tank gun barrel.

On the other side, Ding Zhijian stepped forward and shouted into the tank cabin: "Mr. Shen! Guanglin! Zhenjiang! Come out, it's our own people! It's comrades sent by Headquarters to rescue us!"

The hatch opened, and a few people walked out.

Meng Guanglin and Sha Zhenjiang were both filled with excitement.

"Old Ding, what did you say? This comrade was sent by Headquarters?"

Ding Zhijian nodded and said: "That's right, it's the unit specifically sent by the Headquarters Leaders to rescue us; I have already confirmed it!"

Now, Meng Guanglin and Sha Zhenjiang were even more excited.

Having survived a desperate situation and hearing news from the organization, the two tough men also felt like crying.

Ding Zhijian turned to Li Yunlong and said: "Regimental Commander Li, this is Meng Guanglin, and this is Sha Zhenjiang; they belong to the Beijing Nightingale unit with me."

Li Yunlong quickly stepped forward to shake their hands and greet them one by one.

"comrade Guanglin, comrade Zhenjiang, you have worked hard! I am late!"

"Not late, not late..."

The few of them exchanged pleasantries.

At this moment, Shen Wang also walked over.

Alike! So alike!

It's just like Li Yunlong himself!

Ding Zhijian quickly introduced the two sides: "Mr. Shen, this is the Regimental Commander of the Independent Regiment of the 386th Brigade, 129th Division of the Eighth Route Army, Regimental Commander Li Yunlong!"

"Regimental Commander Li, this is the one I told you about, our savior, Shen Mingyuan, Mr. Shen!"

Li Yunlong turned to look at Shen Wang.

So young!

Even younger than he had imagined.

"Mr. Shen! I, Old Li, am a rough man; I don't know how to say those fancy, scholarly words! But I have heard from comrade Ding Zhijian about what you have done!"

"Amazing! It's damn amazing!"

"I, Old Li, admire you! On behalf of the Independent Regiment, on behalf of the Eighth Route Army, thank you!"

"Thank you for saving our comrades, thank you for teaching those damn Japanese bastards a lesson!"

Shen Wang smiled and reached out both hands to shake Li Yunlong's large hand tightly.

"Regimental Commander Li... I have long heard of your name!"