Courtyard House: Home Alone

Lin Yifan said, "The transport team's routes and schedules are confidential, and I also need to contact them through specific methods."

"But please rest assured, Commander and Political Commissar, as long as you are prepared, I can take you to pick up the supplies tonight. I will contact the transport team in advance to have them deliver the supplies to the vicinity."

Li Yunlong's eyes widened like saucers, and his voice unconsciously rose eight octaves: "Tonight? Good! Good! Good! I've been waiting for tonight!"

He paced back and forth in the room a few times, like a tiger about to pounce on its prey. "Brother Yifan, name your number. How many men do you need? Are you going to move cannons or carry guns? Our Independent Regiment has plenty of men. We guarantee we'll bring your stuff back intact!"

Zhao Gang added from the side, "Comrade Lin Yifan, safety must be our top priority. While the target is smaller at night, accidents are more likely to happen. Shouldn't we send a small number of reconnaissance personnel to scout the area around the planned location first, to ensure everything is foolproof?"

Lin Yifan shook his head: "No need. The whereabouts of the transport team are kept strictly confidential. I will have them place the supplies nearby as much as possible. As for manpower, you can decide how to allocate it yourselves."

I'm prepared to give you two thousand Type 38 rifles, one hundred light machine guns, fifty heavy machine guns, two hundred grenade launchers, ten mortars, and six mountain guns. Ammunition and shells will be supplied in ten-unit increments each.

Oh, and I'll also provide you with two thousand sets of bedding, ten tons of rice, and ten tons of flour. As for medicine? I can only give you some painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs.

That's about all the stuff. You can arrange how many people you need yourself. I'll go out and take a look in a bit to find a suitable place for the handover.

Upon hearing these specific numbers, Li Yunlong's eyes widened, and he kept muttering, "Two thousand rifles...one hundred light machine guns...fifty heavy machine guns...Good heavens, Brother Yifan, are you trying to arm our Independent Regiment like nouveau riche!"

He became more and more excited as he spoke, slamming his hand on the table so hard that the bowls bounced. "That's enough! Absolutely enough! With so many good guys, there's more than enough to expand into a brigade, let alone an independent regiment!"

He turned to Zhao Gang excitedly and said, "Old Zhao, did you hear that? Two hundred grenade launchers! Ten mortars! Six mountain guns! And ten loads of ammunition! We're going to strike it rich!"

Zhao Gang was also excited. He quickly calculated in his mind: two thousand rifles could almost equip every soldier with a new gun and replace those old and worn-out ones.

The number of light and heavy machine guns has increased several times over, resulting in a qualitative improvement in firepower density;

The addition of grenade launchers, mortars, and mountain guns further enhanced the Independent Regiment's ability to conduct assaults and long-range strikes.

The provision of food and bedding was a timely help in resolving the logistical needs of the troops.

He took a deep breath, trying to calm his excited emotions, and solemnly said to Lin Yifan, "Comrade Lin Yifan, all the officers and soldiers of the Independent Regiment will remember this kindness! These supplies will undoubtedly give our Independent Regiment a leap forward in combat effectiveness. We will certainly live up to your expectations and repay you with the blood of the Japanese devils!"

Li Yunlong, unable to contain himself any longer, rubbed his hands together and said, "Manpower? Easy! I'll have the entire First and Second Battalions assembled, plus the regimental guard company. We'll all be out there tonight! I guarantee we'll bring these precious darlings back to you safely! Anyone who dares to get in our way, I'll stab them through the air with my bayonet!"

Lin Yifan waved his hand: "Team leader, we don't need too many people. The key is to be lean and efficient, and to keep a low profile. Being too big a target will easily expose us."

"In that case, select five hundred nimble and experienced veterans, preferably with mules and horse-drawn carts, and have them prepare in advance to await my orders tonight."

"Five hundred men? Is that enough?" Li Yunlong was a little worried. "Those cannons are quite heavy."

"That's enough," Lin Yifan said firmly. "The main tasks are moving and guarding. Too many people will only cause trouble. I'll scout out the location first and choose a secluded place that's convenient for transportation."

"You all hurry up and make sure the soldiers are well-fed and rested, because there's a tough battle tonight—not with the Japanese, but with these 'treasures.' We have to get them back to the base intact!"

Li Yunlong laughed heartily: "No problem! I guarantee they'll all be top-notch! Brother Yifan, just you wait and see! Tonight, our Independent Regiment will be ready to upgrade our weaponry and finally hold our heads high!"

He excitedly circled the yard, as if he could already see the brand-new weapons piled up like small mountains.

Zhao Gang also showed a rare smile, looking at Lin Yifan with eyes full of gratitude and expectation. This young man who suddenly appeared brought an unexpected turning point to the Independent Regiment, which was in dire straits.

Soon, Lin Yifan found a mountain hollow about three kilometers away from Zhao Jiayu. It was right by the road leading into Zhao Jiayu, making it easy to get in and out. The hollow was also quite spacious, and there was no problem putting the supplies down there.

Even if I stay in Zhao Jia Yu at night, I can still drop the supplies in my space into the mountain valley. Now my domain has a radius of more than 5000 meters.

Lin Yifan wandered around outside for a while, and also sorted out the supplies that he was going to hand over to the Independent Regiment that night. Then he strolled back to Zhao Jia Yu by himself.

Time quickly came to nine o'clock in the evening, and Lin Yifan set off with Li Yunlong, Zhao Gang, Wei Heshang, and the soldiers in charge of transporting the supplies.

When he was still two kilometers away from the ravine, he began to drop weapons, ammunition and other supplies into the ravine. By the time he was one kilometer away, he had finished dropping them in categories.

When they were about 500 meters from the ravine, Lin Yifan stopped the group and then turned to Li Yunlong, saying, "Commander Li, please wait with the group for a moment. I need to go and make contact with the transport team. Their whereabouts are top secret, so it's not convenient for them to meet with you."

Li Yunlong nodded and patted Lin Yifan on the shoulder: "Alright! Brother Yifan, be careful! Old Li will be waiting right here!"

Lin Yifan responded and disappeared into the night in a flash.

Li Yunlong and Zhao Gang led their soldiers to stand by. The five hundred veterans were completely silent, with only the soft breathing and the rustling of leaves in the night wind. Everyone's eyes gleamed with excitement in the darkness, their eyes fixed on the direction where Lin Yifan had disappeared.

Wei Heshang gripped the pistol at his waist, cautiously observing his surroundings like a cheetah poised to pounce.

Time ticked by, each second feeling like torture. Li Yunlong kept rubbing his hands together, muttering to himself, "Why isn't he out yet... Could something have gone wrong...?"

Although Zhao Gang was also somewhat anxious, he still said in a deep voice, "Old Li, calm down. Brother Lin is sensible in his actions."

Just then, a few low, rhythmic signal whistles faintly drifted from the distant mountain valley.