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

The deputy chief of staff nodded.

"The boss is right."

"Regardless of who did it, Kiyoshi Katsuki is dead, that's a fact."

"We should be happy that this old Japanese devil is dead."

Commander Liu's lips curled up slightly, revealing a rare smile.

"I'm happy, but I still want to know who did it."

"If this is something big, and it was done by one of our people, then we need to consider how to reward them."

"If it was done by the Military Intelligence Bureau, then we should be aware of the situation."

The deputy commander picked up the intelligence report on the table and read it again.

Then put it down and lean back in the chair.

"Old Liu is right."

"This matter must be thoroughly investigated."

"Whoever did it, we must find out the truth."

He turned around and looked at a senior staff officer sitting in the corner.

"Staff Officer Li, send a telegram to all the units and ask them if there have been any unusual developments recently."

"Has anyone gone outside? Has anyone been injured?"

"Ask carefully, don't overlook any clues."

"yes!"

Staff Officer Li stood up, answered at attention, and strode out.

The deputy commander then looked at the deputy chief of staff.

"You should also send an order to the intelligence system, instructing their informants in Taiyuan to investigate the details of this matter as soon as possible."

The deputy chief of staff nodded.

"Okay, I'll make the arrangements right away."

He stood up, picked up the teacup on the table, and strode out.

The deputy commander-in-chief, Division Commander Liu, the political commissar, and several senior staff officers remained in the room.

The deputy commander's gaze fell on the battle map on the wall.

"Let's discuss this matter after we've investigated it thoroughly."

"Kiyoshi Kazuki is dead. This is a heavy blow to the Japanese."

He looked at the people in the room, his voice rising a few decibels.

"Comrades, this is an opportunity."

"An opportunity to demoralize the Japanese and boost the confidence of the military and civilians."

"We must make good use of this opportunity."

Commander Liu nodded.

"Regardless of who did it, this news should be widely disseminated within our base."

"Let the people know, let the soldiers know, let those traitors and lackeys know."

"The Japanese are not invincible. Their high-ranking officers can also die and be killed."

The political commissar nodded as well.

"When promoting, pay attention to the methods and approaches."

"It cannot be exaggerated, nor can it be minimized."

"Be realistic and say what you mean."

"Kiyoshi Kazuki is dead, that's a fact."

"As for who killed him, we don't know, so we'll say it's unknown."

"This way, we won't make a fool of ourselves, nor will we disappoint the people."

The deputy commander-in-chief picked up his teacup and took a sip of water.

"That's settled then."

He paused, then added.

"In addition, send a telegram to all units to warn them to be on high alert."

"Kiyoshi Katsuki is dead. The Japanese are likely to retaliate."

"We must be prepared to deal with a Japanese sweep."

"yes!"

A senior staff officer stood up, stood at attention, and answered.

The deputy commander leaned back in his chair and let out a long sigh of relief.

His gaze fell on the intelligence report on the table again, and the corners of his mouth turned up slightly.

"Comrades, let's keep up the good work!"

"Strive to drive the Japanese invaders out of our country as soon as possible."

……

Time flies.

Before we knew it, it was June 5th.

Lijia Yu.

Early that morning, just as dawn broke, Zhou Tianyang woke up.

He lay on the kang (a heated brick bed), his hands behind his head, his eyes fixed on the ceiling.

Today is the day I agreed with the three battalions to return to my unit.

Zhao Wenlong headed north to the Yushe and Heshun areas.

Sun Shengli went south to the area around Lucheng and Licheng.

Although Tian Chengjun was stationed at the regimental headquarters.

However, his Second Battalion also sent out a recruitment team, led by his former subordinate, Company Commander Li Shengjun.

Zhou Tianyang mentally reviewed the training plan.

When new recruits are brought in, the first thing they do is basic training.

Queuing and discipline are the basics.

Then comes physical training.

The physique-enhancing liquid is ready; it will be administered to the new recruits as soon as they arrive.

Two weeks later, the new recruits' physical condition will be up to par.

We'll arrange high-intensity training then so that they can withstand it.

He picked up the pocket watch from the bedside table, opened it, and looked at it.

6:10 a.m.

Zhou Tianyang got dressed, pushed open the door, and went out.

In the courtyard, Tian Chengjun was leading the sixty soldiers who remained behind in morning exercises.

The commands were especially loud in the early morning air.

"One, two, three, four!"

Sixty soldiers, in neat rows, ran around the threshing ground.

Their steps were synchronized, their slogans were loud, and they were full of energy.

Zhou Tianyang stood at the entrance of the regimental department.

After watching for a while, he turned and walked towards the cooking squad.

Old Ma, the cook, was squatting next to the stove, adding firewood to the firebox.

"Old Ma, prepare more food today."

Zhou Tianyang squatted beside the stove, looking at the pot of porridge.

"The soldiers who went out to recruit are coming back today. Don't let them go hungry."

Old Ma grinned.

"Commander, don't worry, I've already made preparations."

"Is there enough food?"

"Enough, enough!"

Old Ma nodded, unable to suppress the smile on his face.

"We still have plenty of the grain we seized last time."

"Even if many more soldiers return today, there will be enough to eat."

Zhou Tianyang nodded, stood up, and patted Lao Ma on the shoulder.

"Okay, you go ahead and do your thing."

He turned and walked back to the regimental headquarters, sat down at the table, picked up his teacup and took a sip of water.

Then he leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes.

He was waiting for those who had gone out to recruit soldiers to return.

It was a little after 8 a.m.

A series of hurried footsteps came from outside the courtyard.

"Commander!"

Tian Chengjun's voice came from outside.

Zhou Tianyang opened his eyes, stood up, and walked to the door.

Tian Chengjun strode into the courtyard, his face beaming with undisguised excitement.

"Commander, Li Shengjun and the others are back!"

Where are they?

"At the village entrance, almost there!"

Zhou Tianyang strode out of the courtyard and headed towards the village entrance.

Tian Chengjun followed behind him.

At the village entrance, a group of people were walking towards the village along the dirt road.

Walking at the very front.

It was Li Shengjun, the company commander of the second battalion.

Behind him followed a long line of people.

Zhou Tianyang stood at the village entrance, his gaze sweeping over the group of people.

Upon seeing Zhou Tianyang, Li Shengjun quickened his pace.

I walked up to him, stood at attention, saluted, and spoke in a loud voice.

"Commander!"

"Second Battalion, return to your unit!"

Zhou Tianyang nodded, his gaze passing over Li Shengjun and landing on the new recruits behind him.

There were at least a hundred people.

"How many did you recruit?"

Zhou Tianyang asked.

Li Shengjun turned around and looked at the team behind him.

Then he turned around, looked at Zhou Tianyang, and his voice was filled with undisguised excitement.

"Commander, this time we went south, and the furthest we went was the area around Lucheng and Licheng."

"The people in those areas were very enthusiastic when they heard that the Eighth Route Army was recruiting soldiers."

His voice rose a few decibels.

"A total of 182 new recruits were recruited!"

Zhou Tianyang's eyes lit up slightly.

"Were they all voluntary?"

"Is there any coercion involved?"

"No!"

Li Shengjun answered decisively.

"Commander, don't worry, it's all voluntary."

Zhou Tianyang nodded, his gaze sweeping over the new recruits.