Holding the original shares, they fought all the way to the Korean War!

"There is still an escape route."

Zhou Tianyang added further.

"After the battle, we cannot return by the same route; we must have a backup route."

"The Japanese have suffered a loss and will definitely call for reinforcements."

"If we retreat too slowly and the Japanese get caught up with us, we'll be in a very passive position."

Li Yunlong thought for a moment and then drew a line on the ground.

"On the north side of the gully, there is a small path that can cross the mountain and enter a gully."

"That mountain ravine has a complex terrain and dense forests. Even if the Japanese soldiers chase us in, they won't be able to find us."

Zhou Tianyang glanced at the retreat route and nodded.

"The battle cannot last too long."

He stood up and patted the dirt off his knees.

"From the start of the attack to the withdrawal, the time should not exceed thirty minutes."

"Ambush warfare is all about surprise; you have to strike and run, you can't linger in battle."

Thirty minutes is enough.

Li Yunlong also stood up.

"I've done countless ambushes; the fastest I've ever finished a battle was in fifteen minutes."

"That's different."

Zhou Tianyang looked at him.

"You used to be a battalion commander with three companies under your command, and your weapons and equipment were much better than they are now."

"Right now we only have two companies and a hundred guns, many of which are old-fashioned rifles."

"The firepower is far inferior."

Li Yunlong was silent for a moment, then nodded.

"you're right."

"This battle needs to be fought more skillfully, not recklessly."

The two continued walking, their plan becoming clearer and clearer.

"Old Li, I have an idea."

Zhou Tianyang suddenly spoke.

"explain."

"We two need to take unified command."

Zhou Tianyang's tone was very serious.

"The two companies together only have a little over two hundred people. If we split them into two command structures, it will be even more chaotic."

"There needs to be a commander-in-chief to coordinate everything."

Li Yunlong stopped and looked at him.

"You'll take command?"

Zhou Tianyang shook his head.

"Come here."

Li Yunlong was stunned for a moment.

"You don't want to take command?"

"It's not that I don't want to, it's that you are more familiar with the terrain and the Japanese army's activity patterns than I am."

Zhou Tianyang spoke frankly.

"And you have more experience in ambush warfare than I do."

"This battle is crucial to whether our two regiments can be mobilized; we cannot afford any mistakes."

Li Yunlong stared at him for a few seconds, then suddenly grinned.

"it is good."

"Then I won't be polite."

He paused, then said:

"But you have to be my second-in-command."

"You can refine the details of the battle plan."

"Your brain is more sophisticated than mine."

Zhou Tianyang nodded.

"OK."

The two reached a consensus, and their steps became a little lighter.

"Then when we get back, let's put the two together first."

Li Yunlong began making arrangements.

"Your people and my people, let's not distinguish between the First Regiment and the Second Regiment, we're all one combat unit."

"It's not too late to divide the family after this battle is over."

"Can."

Zhou Tianyang agreed.

"But we need to make it clear to the soldiers that this battle is a collaboration between our two battalions."

"We can't let the soldiers of your First Battalion feel like they're working for our Third Battalion, nor can we let the soldiers of our Third Battalion feel like they're playing supporting roles for your First Battalion."

Li Yunlong waved his hand.

"Don't worry about that, my soldiers are highly motivated."

"As long as they can fight the Japanese and capture their weapons, they don't care who they fight alongside."

Zhou Tianyang smiled and didn't say anything more.

The two continued walking back.

……

It was evening.

Zhou Tianyang and Li Yunlong entered the 772nd Regiment's barracks one after the other.

The soldiers ate their meals in twos and threes, squatting against the wall.

Upon seeing the two return, they both stood up and saluted.

"Battalion Commander Zhou is back!"

"Battalion Commander, is your injury healed?"

Several soldiers from the Third Battalion surrounded them.

His gaze swept over Zhou Tianyang, his eyes filled with surprise.

News of the battalion commander being shot spread throughout the entire regiment.

Everyone thought he would be in the hospital for at least a month or two, but he came back in just a few days.

"alright."

Zhou Tianyang patted a soldier on the shoulder.

"Go eat, stop crowding around."

The soldiers dispersed, and Zhou Tianyang and Li Yunlong parted ways at the intersection.

"Zhou Xiaogui, I'll head back to the First Battalion now."

Li Yunlong said in a low voice.

"OK."

Li Yunlong nodded.

He strode towards the direction of the First Battalion.

Zhou Tianyang turned and walked towards the Third Battalion.

The Third Battalion was stationed in a cluster of houses at the east end of the village.

It's called a residential building, but it's really just a few dilapidated mud-brick houses and a few cave dwellings.

Some soldiers were cleaning their guns in the yard, while others were resting in the cave dwellings.

Everyone was stunned when they saw Zhou Tianyang walk in.

"The battalion commander is back!"

Someone shouted.

The courtyard suddenly became lively.

Zhou Tianyang waved his hand, signaling everyone to be quiet.

Then they walked towards the house at the very end of the courtyard.

That was his residence, and also the temporary headquarters of the Third Battalion.

Pushing open the door, the room was simply furnished.

A wooden plank bed, a crooked table, two broken chairs, and a hand-drawn map of the surrounding terrain hanging on the wall.

Zhou Tianyang placed the cloth bundle on the bed, turned to the sentry at the door, and said:

"Go and call Wang Feng, Zhao Wenlong, Tian Maolin, and Qian Duoduo here."

"yes!"

The sentry turned and ran away.

Zhou Tianyang sat on the edge of the bed, closing his eyes to rest.

Less than fifteen minutes later, footsteps could be heard outside the door.

Wang Feng was the first to walk in.

He was the deputy battalion commander of the third battalion. He was in his early thirties, not very tall, but strong and sturdy, with an honest and simple face.

He was transferred from other units during the Long March.

I worked under Zhou Tianyang for over a year.

It was decent, nothing particularly outstanding, but it also didn't make any major mistakes.

"Battalion Commander, are you healed?"

As soon as Wang Feng entered the room, he asked with concern.

"alright."

Zhou Tianyang nodded.

"Please sit down."

Wang Feng sat down in the chair, his gaze sweeping over Zhou Tianyang, secretly surprised.

With that complexion and that energy, he doesn't look like someone who just crawled back from the brink of death.

Immediately afterwards, Zhao Wenlong strode in.

Zhao Wenlong was twenty-six years old, six years older than Zhou Tianyang. He was tall and strong, with a square face, thick eyebrows, big eyes, and an upright demeanor.

He was from Xingguo, Jiangxi, and joined the Red Army in 1931.

He followed Zhou Tianyang from the beginning of the Long March and was Zhou Tianyang's most trusted person, without exception.

"battalion commander!"

Zhao Wenlong grinned as soon as he entered the door.

"You're finally back!"

Zhou Tianyang smiled and pointed to the stool.

"sit down."

Zhao Wenlong plopped down and glanced around the room.

Seeing that Wang Feng was already there, she nodded slightly as a greeting.

Then, Tian Maolin and Qian Duoduo walked in one after the other.

Tian Maolin was the company commander of the Second Company.

Twenty-five years old, from northern Shaanxi, transferred from the Red Army in northern Shaanxi before the Red Army was reorganized.

He wasn't tall, but he was sturdy and didn't talk much; he was a quiet type.

But when it comes to fighting, they are absolutely ruthless.

Qian Duoduo was the company commander of the Third Company. He was 23 years old, from Sichuan, and joined the Red Army during the Long March.

His name is interesting; it's said that his father named him that because he hoped for more money and food for the family.

Qian Duoduo is lively and quick-witted, and is known as a chatterbox in the Third Battalion.

After the two entered the room.

The room was suddenly packed with people.

Zhou Tianyang stood up, glanced at the four people, and slowly spoke.

"I've called you here today because I have something to announce."

All four of them looked at him, their expressions turning serious.

"This morning, Battalion Commander Li, Battalion Commander Cheng and I went to the brigade headquarters."

Zhou Tianyang's voice wasn't loud, but every word was clear.

"The brigade headquarters has decided that the commander of the 772nd Regiment will be replaced by Cheng Shifa, the commander of the 2nd Battalion."

None of the four spoke, but their expressions were all different.

Wang Feng remained calm, Zhao Wenlong frowned slightly, and Tian Maolin kept his head down, seemingly lost in thought.

Qian Duoduo's mouth moved, but she didn't make a sound.

"Li Yunlong was transferred to be the commander of the new First Regiment, and I was transferred to be the commander of the new Second Regiment."

As soon as he said that, the room erupted in chaos.

"Transferred?"

Qian Duoduo was the first to jump up.

"Battalion Commander, what should we do with our Third Battalion?"

Tian Maolin also looked up, his eyes filled with surprise.

Zhao Wenlong remained silent.

But a complex look flashed in his eyes.

Wang Feng's face was full of reluctance.

At least it seems like they're reluctant to part with it.

He sighed and said:

"Commander, with you gone, the Third Battalion will be..."

Zhou Tianyang raised his hand to signal everyone to be quiet.

"Let me finish."

His tone was calm but unquestionable.

"The brigade headquarters allowed me to take a company of veterans, fifty guns, and five hundred rounds of ammunition from the Third Battalion."

The room fell silent.

All four people's eyes were on Zhou Tianyang, waiting for him to continue.

"I've decided to take the whole company with me."

Zhou Tianyang looked at Zhao Wenlong.

"Zhao Wenlong, come with me."

Zhao Wenlong suddenly stood up and grinned.

The smile held an undisguised excitement.

"yes!"

"battalion commander!"

"No, Commander!"