Courtyard House: Home Alone

"Hey! Brother Lin, you wouldn't believe it, all the manpower around Zhao Jia Yu has been taken by us and the New First Regiment. It's difficult to recruit even ten or eight men, let alone a thousand."

Li Yunlong said with a worried expression, "Besides, recruiting soldiers is easy, but maintaining them is difficult! Food, clothing, ammunition—all of these cost money and resources. The supplies you sent this time, if used sparingly, will only last for about a thousand men for a while. If we really expand, the deficit will be enormous!"

Lin Yifan smiled slightly: "Can't you think about manpower and supplies in a different way? If you ask me, you should divide the soldiers into companies and platoons and let them develop on their own in the surrounding areas."

By then, you'll have your own soldiers, and you won't have to worry about supplies. Those soldiers might even be better off after they leave than if they were with you. Isn't that killing two birds with one stone?

"Send them out?" Li Yunlong was taken aback for a moment, then his eyes lit up, as if a bolt of lightning had pierced through the fog. "You mean...let them build their own troops?"

"That's right," Lin Yifan nodded. "Think about it, which of our soldiers doesn't have a lot of bitter experiences and deep-seated hatred? Which one doesn't have family and friends? Let them return to their hometowns, or go to enemy-occupied areas or border regions, mobilize the masses, spread anti-Japanese propaganda, and build up their own forces. Isn't that a natural progression?"

He paused, then continued, "Equip each company and platoon with sufficient weapons and ammunition, and let them establish their own base areas and raise their own food and funds."

They know the local situation, they know who their friends and enemies are, which is much better than you just sitting here waiting. Once they develop, won't your independent regiment grow like a snowball, getting bigger and bigger?

Li Yunlong puffed on his pipe, his brows gradually relaxing, the worry on his face vanishing, replaced by a sense of sudden enlightenment and excitement.

"Damn it! Yifan, what's wrong with your brain? That was brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!"

He slapped his thigh suddenly. "That's right! We can't stay cooped up in this little patch of land in Zhao Jia Yu forever! Letting them out is like sowing seeds; they'll take root and sprout anywhere!"

He paced back and forth excitedly in the courtyard, muttering to himself, "Let Zhang Dabiao take a battalion to the west. There are many mountains there, which is suitable for guerrilla warfare."

"Let Shen Quan take the Second Battalion to the east, closer to the railway line, so we can get more supplies from the Japanese; and the Third Battalion..." The more he thought about it, the more specific it became, as if he could already see countless small units like sharp knives piercing the enemy's heart.

"and,"

Lin Yifan added, "In this way, your target is smaller, and the Japanese can't find a target to concentrate their forces to encircle and annihilate you. They are like countless nails, driven under the noses of the Japanese, making them restless."

The food problem is also easier to solve; they can find their own solutions locally, which is much easier than you having to squeeze food out of them.

Zhao Gang then came out, clearly having overheard their conversation. He smiled approvingly and said, "Brother Lin's idea is indeed feasible."

This not only solved the problems of manpower and supplies, but also aligned with our Red Party's policy of mobilizing the masses and independently conducting guerrilla warfare. Decentralized development was both flexible and allowed for the expansion of anti-Japanese base areas, while also training cadres.

Li Yunlong laughed heartily, tossed aside his pipe, and waved his hand, "Good! It's settled then! Old Zhao, you immediately organize a meeting of cadres to convey this message! Have each battalion and company come up with a plan, and set off within three days! Damn it, our Independent Regiment will be everywhere, and let those little devils taste our might!"

He seemed to already see the Independent Regiment growing stronger and dominating the North China Plain; his sense of pride was as if he had just won a great victory.

Suddenly, he turned and stared at Lin Yifan like a hungry wolf eyeing a lamb. Lin Yifan, seeing Li Yunlong's gaze, knew what he was up to. He immediately said, "Commander Li, don't get any ideas about me. I have to go to your headquarters soon, or your superiors will get worried."

Upon hearing this, Li Yunlong's smile vanished instantly. Like a child who hadn't gotten candy, he smacked his lips and said, "Damn it, you slippery fellow! Couldn't you stay a few more days and come up with some more ideas for our Independent Regiment?"

"Your brain is even sharper than Zhuge Liang's! If we keep you here, our Independent Regiment might just wipe out the Japanese devils' entire stronghold!" He rubbed his hands together, his eyes filled with reluctance and a hint of cunning, as if he wanted to say something more to persuade him to stay.

"Old Li, let me tell you the truth, as long as your boss finds out you're keeping me around, I'm sure they'll skin you alive! Do you believe me? Want to make a bet?" Lin Yifan said with a grin.

Li Yunlong stiffened his neck, then deflated like a punctured balloon, and muttered sullenly, "Damn it, these officials are so troublesome! Fine, fine, if they don't want us to stay, they don't want us to stay!"

"But Brother Yifan, you have to promise me that you'll come visit our Independent Regiment often when you have time! Give us some pointers!" He said earnestly, and the slyness in his eyes turned into genuine expectation.

"Besides, if you really have any good ideas, you can even write a note and have someone bring it over! Our entire Independent Regiment is hoping that you, our 'Zhuge Liang,' can give us some advice!"

When the time comes, we'll beat those Japanese devils so badly they'll cry for their parents, and I'll be the first to report the good news to you! You're such a clever little devil! But you're right, we really can't afford to delay things at headquarters.

Okay, I won't stop you! But remember, our Independent Regiment will always be your home, Yifan! Whenever you want to come back and visit, the door is always open for you!

"Next time you come, I, Old Li, guarantee you a big surprise from the Independent Regiment! We'll show you just how big a seedling your 'sowing seeds' method can grow!"

"Alright! I'll remember what you said, Lao Li. We're more than twenty years apart, so this can be considered a friendship despite the age difference. If anything happens in the future, just send someone to Beiping to find me. My home is at No. 95 Nanluoguxiang in Beiping. Just tell them you're looking for me."

"You'd better prepare a feast for me then! We'll have a good drink, brother, until we're both drunk!"

As Li Yunlong spoke, he regained his forthright manner, as if his earlier reluctance had been somewhat diluted by his anticipation of the future.

He stretched out his large, fan-like hand and patted Lin Yifan's shoulder forcefully. "Go on, go on! Be careful on the road! Don't get hit by stray bullets from the Japanese! Our Independent Regiment's 'Zhuge Liang' is very precious!"

Monk! Monk, where have you been? Quick, go and bring two horses from our regiment. You escort my brother Lin to headquarters.

"Monk, you better remember this: you can lose your head, but if even a single hair on my brother Lin's head is harmed, I'll hold you responsible. You hear me?"

"Yes, Commander! Mission accomplished!" A loud voice came from outside the door, and then a burly, bald monk strode in. It was Wei Dayong, Li Yunlong's bodyguard.