Bright Sword: Starting from Obtaining the Equipment Slot

The curtain was lifted, and a man strode in, plopped down, picked up a wine bottle from the table, poured himself a bowl, and gulped it down.

Upon seeing the newcomer, Kong Jie's face immediately lit up with surprise and delight: "Li Yunlong! What brings you here?"

"What? Not welcome?" Li Yunlong wiped his mouth. "Old Kong, I called you here to talk to you about something."

He had barely finished speaking when his gaze fell on Wei Dayong beside him, and he paused for a moment, then asked, "And who is this?"

"Oh, I forgot to tell you two," Kong Jie then remembered to introduce them, "This is Wei Dayong, the battalion commander of the Jinxi Anti-Japanese Assault Battalion. Dayong, this is Li Yunlong, the commander of the Eighth Route Army's New First Regiment."

"I've long admired your name, Commander Li." Wei Dayong extended his hand.

Li Yunlong glanced at his hand, didn't shake it, and poured himself another bowl of wine: "Jinxi Anti-Japanese Assault Battalion? I've never heard of it."

Kong Jie slapped his thigh: "Yunlong, don't underestimate this Battalion Commander Wei! You know Qingfeng Village, right? The Jin-Sui Army tried to besiege it three times but failed, and he took it down in one night!"

"You're just bragging!" Li Yunlong put down his wine bowl, glaring at him. "Qingfeng Village was besieged by the Jin-Sui Army three times and they couldn't take it. He took it down in one night? I don't believe it!"

Wei Dayong smiled faintly: "Believe it or not, the facts speak for themselves."

"Hey! You're pretty arrogant, kid!" Li Yunlong slammed his hand on the table, sending his wine bowl soaring high into the air. "Dare to challenge me? Let me see what you're really made of!"

Kong Jie, who was watching the commotion from the sidelines, smiled and fanned the flames: "Li Yunlong, Dayong is a trained fighter, be careful not to fall."

"A martial arts expert?" Li Yunlong scoffed. "When I was wielding a broadsword against the White bandits, he was probably still wearing his diapers somewhere."

Looking at Li Yunlong's indomitable spirit, Wei Dayong found it rather amusing.

"Since Commander Li is interested, let's have a match." Wei Dayong didn't refuse and stood up.

"Great!" Li Yunlong slapped his thigh, stood up, and said, "Let's go outside. If I start fighting, it'll be too loud. Let's not smash up Old Kong's house."

Wei Dayong didn't hesitate either; he reached out and grabbed Li Yunlong's arm, pulling him outside.

Li Yunlong felt a tremendous force come over him, and his 150-160 pound body was easily pulled away.

"Hey, hey, wait a minute!" Li Yunlong was startled; this kid was incredibly strong! He tried to pull his arm back but found it wouldn't budge. He quickly laughed it off, "Just kidding, just kidding, let's have a drink!"

"Since Commander Li said he wanted to spar, how could he back down at the last minute?" Wei Dayong smiled slightly, his strength undiminished, and pulled Li Yunlong out of the house.

In the courtyard, Kong Jie stood to one side with his arms crossed, waiting to see what would happen.

Li Yunlong was pulled into the courtyard, his mind already wavering, but he still stubbornly insisted, "Fine! Let's spar! But let's make it clear first, stop when we've made our point, don't ruin the harmony!"

"Don't worry, I won't hurt you." Wei Dayong nodded and assumed a defensive stance.

Li Yunlong took a deep breath, pushed off with his feet, and charged towards Wei Dayong like a cannonball, his right fist whistling as it aimed straight for his face.

Wei Dayong didn't move his feet, but only slightly turned his body. Li Yunlong's fist whistled past his shoulder. Before Li Yunlong could retract his fist, Wei Dayong reached out with his right hand and grabbed his wrist. Then, with a clever movement of his foot, he pushed with his left hand.

"Ouch!" Li Yunlong felt a tremendous force coming from his wrist, and his body involuntarily tumbled forward, falling flat on his face. He grimaced in pain.

"I concede in the first round," Wei Dayong said, withdrawing his hand and feigning indifference.

"Damn it!" Li Yunlong scrambled to his feet, rubbing his sore chin, his face ashen. "You little brat, you played dirty! I hadn't even gotten my footing yet!"

"Commander Li, you charged in yourself," Wei Dayong smiled slightly. "Again?"

"Come on then!" Li Yunlong gritted his teeth. This time he had learned his lesson and no longer charged recklessly. Instead, he circled Wei Dayong twice, his eyes fixed on his shoulders and hips, looking for an opening.

Kong Jie watched with great interest, lighting his pipe and occasionally shouting, "Li Yunlong, go easy on him! Don't hurt Brother Dayong!"

Li Yunlong glared at Kong Jie, then suddenly accelerated, his body swaying as he feigned an attack with his left leg while his right leg swept out to strike Wei Dayong's lower body.

Li Yunlong immediately launched a feint attack.

Wei Dayong's lips curled slightly upwards, and instead of retreating, he advanced, pressing down on Li Yunlong like a mountain. His left hand precisely gripped Li Yunlong's sweeping right ankle, while his right hand gently lifted behind Li Yunlong's knee.

"Thump!" Li Yunlong lost his balance and fell sideways to the ground. This time the fall was even harder, his back slamming heavily onto the muddy ground, making his internal organs churn.

"Round two." Wei Dayong withdrew his hand, still with that calm and collected demeanor.

"You! You!" Li Yunlong lay on the ground, panting heavily, veins bulging on his forehead. "I don't believe in this! Let's try again!"

He struggled to his feet, this time abandoning all pretense of technique, and pounced on Wei Dayong, grabbing his waist and trying to overturn him with brute force.

A hint of a smile flashed in Wei Dayong's eyes. He gently placed his hands on Li Yunlong's shoulders, shifting his weight slightly to use the momentum against him. Li Yunlong felt as if he were hugging not a person, but a thousand-year-old tree. No matter how hard he tried, Wei Dayong remained completely still.

Suddenly, Wei Dayong tripped and shrugged slightly. Li Yunlong felt a tremendous force and was thrown out like a sack, landing heavily several steps away.

"Round three." Wei Dayong dusted off his hands, his tone still calm.

The courtyard was completely silent.

Kong Jie stared wide-eyed, dropping his pipe to the ground. He had seen Wei Dayong's skills before, but he hadn't expected him to be this formidable; Li Yunlong seemed like a child in comparison.

Li Yunlong lay on the ground, not moving for a long time.

Just as Kong Jie thought he was about to explode in anger, Li Yunlong suddenly burst into a hearty laugh: "Hahahaha! What a man! You're a real man! I'm impressed!"

He patted his backside as he stood up, walked over to Wei Dayong, and gave him a thumbs up: "Battalion Commander Wei, no, Brother Wei! Your skills are truly unparalleled! How about following me? Once we get to the New First Regiment, I guarantee you'll live the high life!"

"Thank you for your kind offer, Commander Li, but I'm used to a free and easy life and I'm afraid it's not suitable for a regular army," Wei Dayong politely declined.

"Hey! Why won't you agree?" Li Yunlong said anxiously. "The New First Regiment is a main force regiment of the Eighth Route Army. It's well-equipped and has high pay. It's much better than you being in some nobody battalion you've never even heard of!"

"Yunlong, don't force him," Kong Jie interjected with a smile. "Besides, I knew Wei Dayong first. If he's going to join the Eighth Route Army, he should come to the Independent Regiment!"

"The Independent Regiment?" Li Yunlong put down his wine bowl and scoffed. "Old Kong, what's your Independent Regiment? The New First Regiment is the main force! How many men does the Independent Regiment have, and how many rifles?"

"You!" Kong Jie blushed, his neck stiffening as he retorted, "What's wrong with the Independent Regiment? The Independent Regiment is no less effective than the New First Regiment at fighting the Japanese! Last time we ambushed Hirata's supply convoy, we still routed the Japanese!"

"What kind of skill is an ambush? If you're so capable, go and fight the Japanese head-on!" Li Yunlong slammed his fist on the table, spitting as he spoke.

"A head-on confrontation? That's just brute force!" Kong Jie retorted, not to be outdone. "Warfare is about tactics, not brute force!"

The two argued back and forth, their faces flushed and spittle flying.

Wei Dayong watched the two regimental commanders arguing with great interest, secretly chuckling to himself: These two are really a pair of clowns. Indeed, you have to see the show live!

"Commanders, stop arguing," Wei Dayong said. "Actually, I think it's better for the three of us to cooperate, forming a strong alliance within our respective jurisdictions, supporting and helping each other. Wouldn't that be better than going it alone?"

"The Iron Triangle?" Li Yunlong and Kong Jie exchanged a glance, both stunned, and then fell into deep thought.

Kong Jie stroked his chin and pondered, "A triangular formation... that's a novel idea. Three parties working together is indeed stronger than fighting alone."

Li Yunlong frowned and pondered, "Brother Wei, tell me, how exactly do you set up this triangular formation?"

"It's about mutual support when one area is in trouble." Wei Dayong nodded. "No matter who the Japanese devils attack, we'll surround the point and intercept any reinforcements, preventing them from easily passing through our territory!"

He paused, then briefly mentioned his contact with Chu Yunfei, concluding, "In half a month, the 358th Regiment will be preparing to deal with the Sakata Brigade. We can go and pick up some loose ends, and also get some practice in real combat. The Sakata Brigade is formidable, but the four of us combined are no pushovers!"

Li Yunlong and Kong Jie exchanged a glance, both seeing approval in each other's eyes. Kong Jie nodded first: "That's a good idea! A three-way alliance is indeed much better than fighting alone."

Li Yunlong stroked his chin and nodded slowly: "Hmm... Brother Wei, your idea of ​​a triangular formation does make some sense."

The three stood in the courtyard for a moment, and Kong Jie spoke first: "It's windy outside, let's go inside and talk."

Wei Dayong nodded and walked into the house. Li Yunlong dusted himself off and followed, muttering, "I left early today and didn't have time for breakfast, so I'm not really in the zone!"

The three returned to the house, and Kong Jie had the wine and dishes set out again.

Li Yunlong picked up his wine bowl and looked solemnly at Wei Dayong and Kong Jie: "Come on, let's have a toast here today! From now on, the New First Regiment, the Independent Regiment, and the Assault Battalion are brothers! We'll share the good times and the bad!"

Kong Jie and Wei Dayong also raised their wine bowls, and the three of them clinked them together: "We'll share the good times and the bad!"

"Cheers!" The three of them downed their drinks in one gulp.

Setting down his wine bowl, Li Yunlong patted Wei Dayong on the shoulder: "Brother Wei, your idea of ​​a triangular formation is great! From now on, we're brothers! If anyone attacks me, you have to help me fight them; if I attack someone, you have to help me fight them too!"

He paused, then asked curiously, "By the way, Brother Wei, I heard you contacted the 358th Regiment under the guise of a bandit? And you're planning to impersonate an Eighth Route Army soldier in the battle two weeks from now?"

"That's right." Wei Dayong nodded. "I didn't want to have a direct conflict with the Jin-Sui Army, so I said I was a bandit from Black Cloud Village."

"You bandit leader, you actually dared to scheme against our Eighth Route Army! This is a two-birds-with-one-stone plan!" Li Yunlong laughed and scolded. "You look honest and kind on the outside, but I never expected you to be so cunning!"

Kong Jie laughed along, "That's right, Dayong, you're really quick-witted! You've outsmarted both us and the 358th Regiment!"

"You two are too kind," Wei Dayong said with a slight smile, putting down his wine bowl and speaking seriously. "However, now that we have formed a triangular alliance, we can't just talk the talk without walking the walk. I, Wei Dayong, am a straightforward man who believes in clear accounts even among close brothers, and we share the benefits together."

"Oh?" Li Yunlong's eyes lit up. He put down his wine bowl, leaned forward slightly, and asked, "Brother Wei, what do you mean by that?"

"That's how it is," Wei Dayong said. "Yesterday I went to Dagu Town to see Chu Yunfei. To thank me for helping him eliminate Qingfeng Village, he promised to give me 20 rifles and 2000 rounds of ammunition. I figured that since we're going to join forces to deal with the Sakata Regiment, the more weapons and ammunition we have, the better. So I plan to use this as a gift and pass these supplies on to the two regimental commanders."

"What?" Li Yunlong and Kong Jie exclaimed simultaneously, jumping to their feet. "20 rifles and 2000 rounds of ammunition?"

"That's right." Wei Dayong nodded. "You can all split it equally, each getting 10 rifles and 1000 rounds of ammunition. This way, the two regimental commanders will have a stronger financial foundation and be more confident in dealing with the Japanese."

"Great! Great! That's wonderful!" Li Yunlong was so excited he almost jumped up, grabbing Wei Dayong's hand. "Brother Wei, you're truly a friend! I, Li Yunlong, will remember this favor!"

Kong Jie, beaming, raised his wine bowl: "Da Yong, come on, let me toast you! If you ever need anything, just let me know!"

Just as the two were getting into a good mood, Li Yunlong suddenly realized something, released Wei Dayong's hand, and frowned, saying, "Wait, Brother Wei, what about you? Doesn't your assault battalion need weapons and ammunition?"

"Me?" Wei Dayong smiled slightly, picked up his wine bowl and took a sip. "My assault battalion's equipment is much better than this."

"Even better than this?" Li Yunlong and Kong Jie exchanged a glance, both somewhat incredulous. In their view, a battalion-level unit was lucky to have a few dozen guns; how could it possibly be better than what the 358th Regiment sent?

"To be honest, my assault battalion has more than 400 men now," Wei Dayong said calmly, putting down his wine bowl.

"More than 400 men! That's almost half a regiment!" Li Yunlong raised an eyebrow. The number was indeed large, but the equipment couldn't be very good. A regiment of the Eighth Route Army only had about a thousand men, and their equipment varied greatly.

"Everyone has a rifle," Wei Dayong continued. "There are about 18 light machine guns, about 5 heavy machine guns, about 15 Type 89 grenade launchers, and two Shanxi-made 75mm mortars."

"What?"

Li Yunlong's wine bowl slammed onto the table with a "clatter," splashing wine all over himself. Kong Jie's pipe also fell to the ground with a crisp sound.

The two of them suddenly stood up, their expressions shifting from surprise to shock, then from shock to disbelief, and finally to a state of near-frozen disbelief.

"18 light machine guns? 5 heavy machine guns? 15 grenade launchers? 2 mortars?" Li Yunlong's voice trembled slightly as he grabbed Wei Dayong's shoulder. "Brother Wei, you're not kidding, are you? The firepower of your battalion is almost equivalent to half a brigade of our Eighth Route Army!"

Kong Jie was also dumbfounded, his mouth agape for a long time: "Brother Wei, where did you get so much equipment? Even the Japanese troops don't necessarily have this much firepower!"

"We stole them from fighting the Japanese, seized them from bandits, and some were 'borrowed' from the Jin-Sui Army," Wei Dayong said casually, as if he were talking about a trivial matter.

Li Yunlong and Kong Jie exchanged a glance, both seeing deep envy, jealousy, and hatred in each other's eyes.

They were all thinking to themselves: This kid is really good at stealing!

If I weren't outmatched, I'd really like to steal it from him!

No, I have to find a way to get something out of him!

However, neither of them dared to ask for more, since Wei Dayong had already given them 10 rifles and 1000 rounds of ammunition. It would be too dishonest to ask for more.

A brief silence fell over the room, broken only by the sound of the wind outside the window and the distant barking of dogs.

Li Yunlong coughed and scratched his head awkwardly: "Well... Brother Wei, your assault battalion does have strong firepower."

Wei Dayong saw through their thoughts and smiled slightly: "Commanders, I think that since we are allies, we should help each other. Although my assault battalion is well-equipped, the training level of our soldiers still needs improvement. If you two commanders are willing to send some veteran soldiers to serve as instructors for half a month, I am willing to send another 10 rifles and 1000 rounds of ammunition."

"Really?" Li Yunlong and Kong Jie's eyes lit up simultaneously. "Brother Wei, you're a real genius! I absolutely love this idea!"

"Of course it's true." Wei Dayong nodded. "You send 10 veterans, and I'll give you 10 rifles and 1000 rounds of ammunition."

"I'll pay! I'll pay!" Kong Jie quickly said.

"Wait!" Li Yunlong exclaimed anxiously. "Old Kong, don't rush ahead! Brother Wei, we can't afford to lose sight of the bigger picture! Our New First Regiment is willing to offer 20 instructors in exchange for 20 rifles!"

Wei Dayong shook his head: "Commander Li, my assault battalion is small; 10 men are enough."

"Huh?" Li Yunlong wiped the drool from the corner of his mouth and said with a touch of affectation, "Then what should we do? It's not that I, Old Li, am after these weapons and ammunition; it's just that we men in the New First Regiment are all warm-hearted and want to help Brother Wei as much as possible!"

Just as Li Yunlong was feeling disappointed, Wei Dayong spoke up again: "How about this, Commander Li, I really need to borrow one man from the New First Regiment for three months. The payment will be 10 rifles and 1000 rounds of ammunition!"

"Really?" Li Yunlong's eyes lit up, and he slapped his thigh, saying, "Who do you want to borrow? Just tell me! It doesn't matter who it is, even if you borrow me, Old Li, myself! But there will be a different price!"

"It's a deal!" Wei Dayong looked at Li Yunlong, a slight smile playing on his lips, a sly glint in his eyes, and slowly uttered a name.