44: Chapter 44 The Brigade Commander Snatches People!

"Li Yunlong, I congratulate you on striking it rich!"

As soon as these words were spoken, Old Li shivered instantly.

He had originally prepared to boast a bit, but now he immediately started crying poverty.

"Oh, my dear Brigade Commander, where did you hear that? Our Independent Regiment is so poor we can barely put food on the table!"

The Brigade Commander glared with his tiger-like eyes: "Quit the damn feigning ignorance with me! What is that you're carrying on your back?"

The Brigade Commander pointed to the type 56 submachine gun slung over Li Yunlong's back.

Old Li hurriedly clutched the type 56 submachine gun tightly in his arms: "Brigade Commander, this is a welcome gift from Shen Wang; you can't snatch it!"

Upon hearing this, the Brigade Commander sucked his teeth.

He had heard about it; that damn thing was a whole company's worth of machine guns!

And light machine guns!

It was said there was also a terrifying type of individual heavy firepower!

Is this supposed to be a 'welcome gift'?

Even the Deputy Commander doesn't have that much pull!

However, the equipment had already been distributed to the soldiers, and the Brigade Commander couldn't bring himself to forcibly snatch it from them.

But… there are always more solutions than problems.

The Brigade Commander coughed twice and said: "Alright, enough joking. Li Yunlong, you completed this mission excellently!"

"Especially under the command of Shen Wang, wiping out eighteen enemy strongholds and displaying the might of our Eighth Route Army! I have already requested credit for you from The Chiefs."

Upon hearing this, Li Yunlong beamed, looking as if he'd eaten honey, and bowed repeatedly: "Thank you, Brigade Commander! Thank you for your cultivation, Brigade Commander!"

It wasn't that he valued merit so much; it was mainly that if his record was thick enough, it would be easier to make up for future mistakes, right?

Seeing that Li Yunlong had taken the bait, a glimmer of cunning flashed in the Brigade Commander's eyes, and he smiled slightly:

"Your merits will naturally be decided by The Chiefs. However…"

"This Cavalry Company under your command performed exceptionally well this time. I have decided that from now on, this Cavalry Company will be under the direct command of the Brigade Headquarters!"

Since he couldn't forcibly snatch it from the soldiers, he would just snatch the people along with it!

Now Li Yunlong was thoroughly anxious.

"What?"

"Brigade Commander! You can't do this! We… we agreed from the start that you would leave me a Cavalry Company!"

The Brigade Commander nodded: "The horses can be left to you!"

Li Yunlong was dumbfounded.

He had never seen such… *cough cough*…

"Brigade Commander, you can't… Brigade Commander, you… this…"

Old Li was so anxious he couldn't speak.

He was counting on this elite force to sweep through the enemy strongholds around the garrison!

And now, in the blink of an eye, both the men and the guns were going to be gone?

In his desperation, Li Yunlong's eyes rolled, and he set his sights on Shen Wang, shouting: "Brigade Commander! You… if you want good equipment, ask Shen Wang! If you just have Shen Wang give you a welcome gift, wouldn't that solve it!"

As soon as he finished speaking—

"Presumptuous!"

The Brigade Commander's face darkened, and he shouted, startling Li Yunlong into shrinking his neck.

This kid Li Yunlong really had no filter; he actually asked for a gift in public!

What more could he want?

"Li Yunlong! Shen Wang is an honored guest of our Eighth Route Army! Do you think this is a landlord dividing up family property? Asking for gifts? What kind of behavior is that!"

On the side, Shen Wang was enjoying watching the famous "congratulations on striking it rich" scene, not expecting to be involved himself.

He looked at Old Li, then at the Brigade Commander, muttering to himself: Are these two putting on a double act for me here?

However… it didn't matter.

Shen Wang stepped forward with a smile, interrupting the Brigade Commander's "criticism" of Li Yunlong.

"Brigade Commander, you speak too seriously; Regiment Commander Li is just a man of straightforward character."

"Come to think of it, it was my lack of consideration. I didn't expect you to come in person; I really should have prepared a welcome gift."

The Brigade Commander hurriedly waved his hand, his attitude firm: "Shen Wang, this absolutely will not do!"

"You have already bestowed a great kindness upon us; we are too grateful as it is. How could we accept such a valuable gift from you again?"

"This brat Li Yunlong, I can't control him; he actually opened his mouth to ask for a gift. He has made a fool of himself in front of you, Shen Wang!"

No, why does this dialogue sound so familiar?

Shen Wang smiled and continued: "Brigade Commander, since I gave Regiment Commander Li a 'machine gun company'…"

"Then giving you, a Brigade Commander, a 'machine gun battalion' shouldn't be too much, right?"

"Hiss—!"

Even though the Brigade Commander was mentally prepared, hearing the words "machine gun battalion" still made him gasp!

A battalion!

That's three companies!

That means 240 type 56 submachine guns! 30 Type 56 light machine guns! And 30 of those terrifyingly powerful 40mm rocket launchers!

Such a "machine gun battalion" fully equipped with automatic firepower and individual heavy firepower would likely have more explosive firepower than an entire enemy regiment!

The expression on the Brigade Commander's face instantly became extremely colorful; conflict, excitement, principles, desire… various emotions intertwined.

He opened his mouth, wanting to refuse again, but the words of refusal swirled in his throat a few times.

Finally, the Brigade Commander let out a heavy sigh.

"Shen Wang… great kindness needs no thanks! I… I thank you on behalf of all the soldiers of the 386th Brigade!"

This generous gift was something he truly could not, and was unwilling to, refuse.

However, this "generous gift" incident made it awkward for the Brigade Commander to immediately ask about that 99A tank, which he had originally intended to inquire about in detail.

Someone had just given a massive gift, and to turn around and probe into their hidden treasures would be truly impolite.

The two sides exchanged pleasantries for a while longer, and then the Brigade Commander warmly invited Shen Wang, Ding Zhijian, and the others to the regiment headquarters for a meal.

The kitchen squad had long since prepared the best food they could manage, and Li Yunlong also had people bring out the captured enemy canned goods and liquor; the atmosphere during the meal was very warm and harmonious.

After everyone had eaten and drunk their fill, Ding Zhijian suddenly stood up and said solemnly to Shen Wang and the Brigade Commander:

"Brigade Commander, Shen Wang, we had already discussed this on the road; once we reached the base, we wanted to ask you all to bear witness as this child, Sha Zhenjiang, officially becomes an apprentice to Shen Wang!"

"We originally intended to ask Regiment Commander Li and Political Commissar Zhao to bear witness, but since you are here, Brigade Commander, that is even better!"

Upon hearing this, the Brigade Commander thought this was a wonderful thing!

He immediately agreed: "Good! Then I will be this witness!"

Thus, a simple yet solemn apprenticeship ceremony was held at the Independent Regiment headquarters.

Sha Zhenjiang changed into a clean set of clothes, his expression excited and nervous, and he even solemnly wrote a letter of apprenticeship.

In this era, a letter of apprenticeship was very important.

It is said that even the bald man once submitted a letter of apprenticeship to the Green Gang.

Under the witness of the Brigade Commander, Li Yunlong, Zhao Gang, and others, Sha Zhenjiang bowed deeply and presented the letter of apprenticeship with both hands.

Shen Wang took it and signed the name of his Great-Grandfather, Shen Mingyuan.

Next, the Brigade Commander signed his own name in the position for the witness.

Finally, it was returned to Shen Wang, who carefully put it away.

This was a good thing!

It not only had Sha Zhenjiang's signature but even the Brigade Commander's signature; it was unclear whether Sha Ruijin would recognize it if taken back to the modern era.

The apprenticeship ceremony was completed, and the atmosphere became even more harmonious.

Only then did the Brigade Commander find an opportunity, asking deliberatively: "Shen Wang, there is a question that might be a bit presumptuous…"