Bright Sword: Starting from Obtaining the Equipment Slot

"Battalion Commander, Ma Feng is back!"

Wei Dayong had just returned from inspecting the maintenance of the government offices on the back mountain of Qingfeng Village when Wang Xiao hurriedly came to greet him, his expression somewhat strange.

Upon hearing this, Wei Dayong strode into the Hall of Gathering Righteousness, where, sure enough, Ma Feng was already waiting.

"Battalion Commander, Chu Yunfei invites you to Dagu Town for a chat."

Ma Feng recounted what had happened, and Wei Dayong listened and nodded thoughtfully.

"If he dares to invite me, I dare to go."

Wei Dayong looked around and then at Wang Xiao: "You lead the brothers to intensify their training. I'm going to Dagu Town tomorrow."

Wang Xiao was somewhat worried: "Battalion Commander, are you sure you want to go? The 358th Regiment isn't exactly a pushover. What if they..."

"If they dare to touch me, they'll have to ask the guys in my hands if they agree!" Wei Dayong smiled. "Besides, some things need to be made clear face to face."

He turned to Ma Feng and said, "Choose a few reliable brothers to come with me tomorrow."

Ma Feng nodded and turned to prepare.

The next morning, Wei Dayong, along with Ma Feng and six guards, dressed in bandit attire and rode off towards Daguzhen.

At the entrance to Dagu Town, two sentries were chatting idly against the doorframe when they suddenly saw dust billowing in the distance, and a troop of people galloping toward the town.

"Who goes there? Stop right there!"

The sentry raised his rifle and shouted.

Wei Dayong reined in his horse, dismounted, and put his hands in his sleeves, looking nonchalant.

"The people from Black Cloud Village have been invited to meet Commander Chu."

The sentry sized him up, and seeing his bandit attire, smiled contemptuously: "So you're a bandit. The regiment has a rule that all guests arriving at the headquarters must dismount and walk, and hand over their weapons."

Wei Dayong frowned: "Commander Chu invited me here as a guest, and this is how you treat your guests?"

The sentry sneered, "Enough talk! Don't even think about getting in until you hand over your gun!"

Several soldiers behind him also raised their guns, pointing them at Wei Dayong.

"Nonsense! We'll live without laying down our armor, and we'll die without surrendering our weapons!"

Wei Dayong glanced at the soldiers and said calmly, "How about this, let's make a bet and see if you're qualified to disarm me! I, Wei, am standing here, and if even one person can push me even half a step, I'll hand over my gun."

The squad leader in charge was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter: "What did you say? Are you trying to save face? Fine, I'll drink it all out today, I'll satisfy you!"

He turned and called out, and several soldiers quickly arrived. A burly man stepped forward and patted Wei Dayong on the shoulder: "Friend, I advise you to cooperate and not cause trouble for yourself."

Wei Dayong didn't say anything, he just stood there.

The big man sneered, grabbed Wei Dayong's shoulders with both hands, and shoved him hard.

Wei Dayong remained completely still.

The big man's expression changed, and he increased his strength, pushing off the ground with both legs, sinking his shoulders, and pushing out again.

Wei Dayong remained as steady as Mount Tai.

The surrounding soldiers were stunned, and even the big man found it unbelievable. He turned around and shouted, "Third brother, fourth brother, come at me!"

Two more soldiers stepped forward, and the three of them together grabbed Wei Dayong's shoulders and arms, their faces turning red as they strained and kicked with all their might.

The blue bricks beneath Wei Dayong's feet cracked, making a slight clicking sound, but he remained rooted to the spot, not moving an inch.

The three of them were panting heavily. They let go of each other's hands, but Wei Dayong was still standing there, not having taken a single step back!

The surrounding soldiers stared in disbelief, and even the sentry's laughter froze on his face.

From a nearby barracks, an officer emerged—it was Qian Bojun. His face turned ashen at the sight, but he ultimately waved his hand: "Let them in."

Wei Dayong dusted himself off and said casually, "The 358th Regiment's welcoming ceremony was quite good!"

After saying that, he led Ma Feng and the other guards toward the regimental headquarters.

The headquarters of the 358th Regiment was located in the courtyard of the town government office, and Chu Yunfei was already standing at the door waiting. When he saw Wei Dayong walk in, he glanced at him and a meaningful smile appeared on his face.

"Master Wei, it's a pleasure to meet you."

Wei Dayong clasped his hands in greeting and said, "Commander Chu, it's a pleasure to meet you."

Chu Yunfei gestured for them to enter: "Since we're on the territory of my 358th Regiment, let's make do with what the host does. I've prepared some food and drinks; let's chat while we drink."

Wei Dayong nodded and followed Chu Yunfei into the reception room.

A sumptuous feast was already laid out in the reception room. The braised pork hock glistened with oil, the steamed mandarin fish emitted an enticing aroma, and the braised pork knuckle, poached chicken, roast goose, and four-happiness meatballs were laid out in abundance. There was also milk soup with cattail shoots and eight-treasure duck. On the table were a jar of Shanxi Fenjiu liquor and a bottle of aged Shaoxing wine.

Chu Yunfei invited Wei Dayong to take a seat, and then had seats arranged for the others.

Fang Ligong sat next to Chu Yunfei, while Qian Bojun sat on the other side.

Chu Yunfei raised his wine cup and laughed, "Chief Wei, the battle of Qingfeng Village has truly broadened my horizons. In all my years of leading troops, I have never seen any army that could take Qingfeng Village in a single night."

Wei Dayong said calmly, "That kid Liu Bao is brainless. I took care of him in just a few moves."

Qian Bojun scoffed, "A few moves? Boss Wei's got quite the nerve."

His gaze swept over the food and wine on the table, then turned to Wei Dayong, his eyes full of contempt: "Hey Wei, you're just a country bumpkin from the mountains, you've probably never had such good food and wine before, have you? Are you staring at it with wide eyes?"

Several officers around him also laughed. Fang Ligong didn't laugh, but his eyes held a scrutinizing look.

Wei Dayong ignored their mockery, picked up his wine glass, took a sip, then put it down, his gaze sweeping over the dishes on the table.

He slowly began, "Commander Chu, this meal looks quite good, but even bandits eat well during the New Year... For example, do you have Australian abalone here?"

Qian Bojun was stunned, and said awkwardly, "Master Wei is joking. This is a desolate place..."

Wei Dayong then asked, "Do you have any four-pound lobsters?"

Qian Bojun's face flushed red: "This...?"

Wei Dayong asked again, "Are there any thousand-year-old tortoises?"

Qian Bojun was completely speechless, his face flushing red and then turning pale, overwhelmed with shame.

Chu Yunfei glanced at Qian Bojun, then looked at Wei Dayong, and smoothed things over, saying, "Master Wei, please don't be offended. It's really hard to find such delicacies in western Shanxi. I'll definitely treat you well when we get to the city another day."

Wei Dayong nodded slightly, said nothing more, and began to eat his food.

He was outwardly polite and courteous, but inwardly he thought, "A bunch of bumpkins! What haven't I eaten in this world? Trying to brag about how I ate a state banquet at the Great Hall of the People!"

After several rounds of drinks, Chu Yunfei finally asked his question.

"Chief Wei, how exactly was Qingfeng Village captured?"

Wei Dayong gave a fabricated account, deliberately downplaying it as if the fortifications and more than three hundred bandits of Qingfeng Village were nothing to mention.

Fang Ligong couldn't help but ask, "How many men does Chief Wei have under his command?"

Wei Dayong feigned modesty: "We only have a little over a hundred brothers, all of them roughnecks from the mountains."

Qian Bojun sneered, "A little over a hundred people, and you think you can take over Qingfeng Village? Boss Wei, do you take me for a three-year-old?"

Wei Dayong ignored him and continued drinking and eating.

Chu Yunfei saw through his attitude, smiled, and didn't press the matter further.

"Chief Wei, Chief of Staff Fang promised that if you could capture Qingfeng Village within a week, the lost weapons and equipment would not be returned, and the 358th Regiment would also give you an additional 500 silver dollars as a reward. Now I, Chu Yunfei, am fulfilling my promise."

With a wave of his hand, Fang Ligong took a cloth bag from the side and placed it on the table.

"Here are six hundred silver dollars in total, plus twenty rifles and two thousand rounds of ammunition, as a small token of our appreciation."

Wei Dayong looked at the cloth bag and nodded: "Commander Chu always keeps his word, I admire him."

Chu Yunfei smiled, then suddenly lowered his voice and said, "Chief Wei, I also heard Chief of Staff Fang mention that in half a month, my 358th Regiment will be dealing with the Sakata Brigade. I heard that Chief Wei is interested in this?"

Wei Dayong put down his chopsticks and looked at him: "Is Commander Chu trying to flatter me?"

Chu Yunfei did not deny it: "Although Wei's brothers are bandits, they are no slouch when it comes to fighting. My 358th Regiment needs such helpers."

He paused, then said, "If Chief Wei is interested, why not surrender to the 358th Regiment? I, Chu Yunfei, will guarantee that the brothers will have food to eat."

Wei Dayong politely declined, saying, "Thank you for your kind offer, Commander Chu, but the brothers are used to life in the mountains and are not quite ready for regular army life."

Chu Yunfei nodded, as if he had expected him to refuse.

"Could Master Wei lend me a hand?"

Wei Dayong thought for a moment and said, "Commander Chu, I can help you, but on one condition."

"What are the conditions?"

"Bandits have a bad reputation, so we'll disguise ourselves as Eighth Route Army soldiers. Don't be surprised, Commander Chu."

Chu Yunfei waved his hand dismissively: "It's just over a hundred people. Do whatever you want. You're all just helping out anyway."

Qian Bojun sneered from the side: "The Sakata Regiment? My battalion can wipe them out with a single barrage of fire! You can just stand by and watch, don't get in the way."

Knowing the strength of the Sakata Regiment from his memories of the future, Wei Dayong reminded him, "Battalion Commander Qian, the Sakata Regiment is not to be trifled with. Your regiment should prepare accordingly."

Qian Bojun scoffed, "I've fought so many wars, and I've never seen any of those Japanese devils do anything to me!"

Chu Yunfei waved his hand: "Chief Wei is overthinking it. Battalion Commander Qian will not let me down."

Wei Dayong nodded and said nothing more.

He looked at Qian Bojun's arrogant and conceited manner and sneered inwardly. This Qian Bojun thinks he's invincible just because he's the battalion commander of the 1st Battalion of the 358th Regiment? He'd better teach them a lesson today, or they'll never know their place.

After a hearty meal, Wei Dayong calmly activated his "Seeing in All Directions" skill.

The map in his mind unfolded rapidly, and the terrain and personnel locations within a five-kilometer radius around him were all visible.

The machine gun positions were set up on the west side of the town, providing firepower to the main entrance, but the left flank was indeed weak, and the enemy could easily break into the town once they bypassed it.

The location of the bunker on the back mountain is somewhat remote, with a large blind spot that cannot cover the northeast slope. If someone sneaks up from there, they will not be detected at all.

The command post was located behind the town government office, and the communication line extended all the way to the front line. This line was so long that if someone cut it off, the command post would become deaf and blind.

There were also several hidden sentries, cleverly positioned, but all of them were detected by Wei Dayong.

Wei Dayong withdrew his skill, now having a clear understanding of the 358th Regiment's defensive deployment.

He stood up, ready to take his leave.

Chu Yunfei and Fang Ligong also stood up.

Wei Dayong suddenly remembered something and said, "Commander Chu, I'll leave you a painting as a gift."

Chu Yunfei was taken aback: "A painting?"

Wei Dayong walked to the table, picked up a brush, and made a few strokes on the paper.

A map depicting the defense deployment of the 358th Regiment in Daguzhen leaps off the page.

Machine gun positions, infantry bunkers, command post locations, patrol routes, and even hidden sentry posts are all clearly marked!

Chu Yunfei's expression changed instantly. He stood up abruptly, walked quickly to Wei Dayong's side, stared intently at the picture, and his hands trembled slightly.

Fang Ligong gasped, nearly dropping his teacup. As the chief of staff, he was intimately familiar with the defense maps, and Wei Dayong's drawing was even more detailed than any he had made himself!

As Wei Dayong drew, he said, "The left flank of the west gate is weak in firepower and easy to break through; the blind spot of the bunker on the back mountain is too large and cannot cover the northeast slope; the communication line between the command post and the forward position is too long, and once it is cut off, we will be deaf and blind."

Everything he said was true!

Qian Bojun broke out in a cold sweat. Even he, the battalion commander of the first battalion, might not be fully aware of these deployment details!

His eyes were filled with fear as he looked at Wei Dayong, and his legs involuntarily took a half step back: "How...how do you know all this?"

Wei Dayong said calmly, "Those who live in the underworld have to have some sense."

He put down his pen, turned around and said, "Commander Chu, I have other matters to attend to, so I won't keep you any longer."

Chu Yunfei stood up solemnly, cupped his hands and said, "Chief Wei is truly a genius! I have memorized this defense map and his instructions."

Wei Dayong clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Commander Chu, you're too kind."

Having said that, he turned and left with Ma Feng and the other guards.

Qian Bojun stood there, his face grim, gritting his teeth without saying a word.

Chu Yunfei watched Wei Dayong's retreating figure, remained silent for a moment, then turned to Ligong and said, "Ligong, have someone prepare those twenty rifles and two thousand rounds of ammunition, and send them over tomorrow."

Fang Ligong nodded: "Commander, this person..."

Chu Yunfei pondered for a moment and said, "This man is no ordinary person. He was able to take over Qingfeng Village in one night and also see through the loopholes in my defenses. This kind of ability is not something an ordinary bandit leader possesses. I'm truly curious about how he did it! It's simply miraculous!"

He paused, then added, "However, whether he submits to us or not depends on his choice. As long as we keep our word and give him all the benefits we're entitled to, the rest is up to fate."

Fang Ligong nodded and said nothing more.

Wei Dayong led Ma Feng and the other guards out of Daguzhen and rode their horses toward Heiyunzhai.

Halfway there, Wei Dayong reined in the horses and said to Ma Feng, "Take the brothers back first and tell Wang Xiao that Qian Bojun is arrogant and conceited, and he's likely to suffer a great loss in this battle. Tell him to have the brothers intensify their training, and I'll go to the Eighth Route Army's base to find outside help and try to coordinate a joint operation."

Ma Feng nodded: "Battalion Commander, shall I go with you?"

"No need, I can go alone." Wei Dayong smiled. "Judging from our previous interactions, Commander Kong is a straightforward person. I'll go and discuss something with him."

After saying that, he turned his horse around and galloped towards Yang Village.

At the entrance of Yangcun, the site of the Eighth Route Army Independent Regiment, two soldiers stood guard.

Wei Dayong dismounted and stepped forward, saying, "I am Wei Dayong from the Independent Assault Battalion. I request an audience with Commander Kong."

The soldier glanced at him, then turned and went inside to report.

A moment later, Kong Jie strode out with a smile on his face.

"Battalion Commander Wei! What brings you here?"

Wei Dayong clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Commander Kong, I have something I'd like to discuss with you."

Kong Jie warmly grabbed his hand: "Come, come inside! Let's talk while we drink!"

Wei Dayong followed him into a room where a simple meal was laid out on the kang (a heated brick bed): a dish of peanuts, a dish of pickled vegetables, two steamed buns, and a pot of loose white liquor.

Although rough, it was steaming hot.

Wei Dayong sat down, picked up a cornbread, took a bite, and thought to himself, "This simple meal is much more comfortable than Chu Yunfei's lavish feast."

Kong Jie poured him a glass of wine and said with a smile, "Battalion Commander Wei, this place is simple, please don't mind."

Wei Dayong waved his hand: "Commander Kong, you're too kind. A thousand cups of wine are not enough when drinking with a bosom friend, but even half a sentence is too much when talking to someone with whom you don't see eye to eye."

After a few drinks, Wei Dayong put down his glass and said, "Commander Kong, I've come to discuss something with you. In half a month, the 358th Regiment is planning to attack the passing Sakata Brigade. I'm worried they won't be able to withstand the attack, so I'd like to ask you to cooperate with us and support each other."

After listening, Kong Jie remained silent for a moment, then said, "The Sakata Regiment is going to pass through here... We really didn't know this, we need to think about it carefully."

He paused, then said, "Battalion Commander Wei, now that you mention it, I have an idea. Our two units' garrisons are positioned to support each other, allowing us to look out for one another."

Wei Dayong nodded: "That's what I meant too."

The two drank a few more glasses of wine and were talking when a loud voice suddenly came from outside the door.

"Old Kong! Have you finished those two bottles of sweet potato liquor the brigade commander gave you? Let me have a sip!"

Upon hearing the voice, Wei Dayong turned sharply to look at the door, a look of surprise flashing in his eyes—he recognized that voice all too well!