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

It was evening.

Smoke is already rising from the chimneys in Lijia Yu.

The two sentries at the village entrance were chatting casually.

Suddenly, one of the sentries stopped moving.

He squinted and looked toward the winding mountain road in the distance.

"Hey, look over there..."

Another sentry followed his gaze.

"My God, that's the regimental commander!"

They ran towards the village almost simultaneously, shouting as they ran.

"The commander is back!"

The shouts were like pebbles thrown into a calm lake, creating ripples that spread rapidly.

Zhou Tianyang walked at the front of the group, his steps still light and steady.

But there was an extra, subtle sense of relaxation compared to usual.

His gaze swept over the familiar village entrance.

I glanced at the familiar faces that emerged from the village.

A sense of security, which I couldn't quite put into words, arose within me.

After taking so many detours and fighting so many battles, we are finally standing at our own doorstep.

Behind him, a procession of more than 300 people entered the village one by one along the mountain road.

Deng Chen walked at the front of the group.

His steps remained upright, his back ramrod straight, but there was something in his eyes that was completely different from usual.

That was a transformation.

Ma Yong quickly ran up from the back of the line.

They stopped next to Zhou Tianyang.

"Commander, we're home."

Zhou Tianyang glanced at him, and the corners of his mouth curved slightly.

"Yes, I'm home."

He strode into the village.

The news spread like wildfire, from the village entrance to the threshing ground, and then from the threshing ground to the regimental headquarters.

When Zhou Tianyang arrived at the entrance of the regimental headquarters courtyard, the familiar wooden door had already been pushed open from the inside.

Brigade Commander Chen stood at the door with his hands behind his back.

His gaze fell on Zhou Tianyang, scanning him from head to toe.

After confirming that he had no obvious injuries, he nodded slightly.

He stepped aside, clearing the doorway.

"Come in."

Zhou Tianyang walked into the courtyard.

Wang Xiuying was standing next to the stone table, holding a teacup in her hand, her gaze fixed on Zhou Tianyang, with the gentle look of an elder watching a younger person return safely.

She didn't rush to speak, but first looked him up and down, then her lips curved slightly.

"He's lost a little weight, but he's full of energy."

Zhou Tianyang smiled.

"Big sister, the food along the way has been alright, it's just that we've been rushing."

Brigade Commander Chen sat back down on the stone bench, his gaze passing over Zhou Tianyang's shoulder.

Looking out at the unfamiliar faces entering the village one after another.

"Who are they?"

Zhou Tianyang also looked back at the outside of the courtyard.

"Deng Chen, the former battalion commander of the 88th Division of the National Revolutionary Army, led more than 300 veterans to join the outlaws after retreating from the Battle of Shanghai."

"I ran into them on my way back, so I brought them back with me."

Brigade Commander Chen did not rush to express his opinion.

His gaze lingered for a moment on the veterans carrying various guns.

Then he looked away and stared at Zhou Tianyang.

"Over three hundred people, all veterans?"

"They're all veterans."

Zhou Tianyang's tone was firm.

"Those who fought in the Battle of Shanghai and the Battle of Nanjing, and survived those kinds of battles, are all top-notch fighters."

"Although I've been living as an outlaw in the mountains for over a year, my skills are still there, and I haven't lost my fighting ability."

Commander Chen remained silent for a moment, then slowly nodded.

"Settle them down first, give them some hot food, and we'll talk about everything else tomorrow."

Zhou Tianyang turned and walked out of the courtyard.

Deng Chen was standing at the edge of the threshing ground, his gaze sweeping over the soldiers of the New Second Regiment.

He observed very carefully, noting their posture, the equipment in their hands, and their gait.

"Battalion Commander Deng."

Zhou Tianyang walked to his side.

"The accommodations have been arranged. Soldiers, settle in and have something to eat. We can talk about everything tomorrow."

Deng Chen turned his gaze back to Zhou Tianyang's face and nodded.

"it is good."

Ma Yong was already waiting in front of the row of empty adobe houses on the east side of the threshing ground.

Deng Chen and his group of over three hundred people were divided into several groups and entered the rooms one by one.

No one made a fuss, and no one looked around.

Everyone quietly did what they were supposed to do.

Zhao Wenlong strode over from the First Battalion.

He spotted Zhou Tianyang from afar and quickened his pace.

As he approached, he grinned and then stood at attention and saluted.

"Commander, you're back!"

Zhou Tianyang looked at his tanned face and smiled.

"I'm back."

"How's things at home while I was away?"

Zhao Wenlong lowered his hand, his tone filled with an irrepressible pride.

"Training has continued without interruption for a single day. The new recruits are almost fully integrated, and all three battalions are in good condition and ready to go into battle."

He paused, then added.

"The brigade commander has been stationed in our regiment for the past two weeks, personally overseeing training and defense."

Zhou Tianyang nodded and patted Zhao Wenlong on the shoulder.

"Thanks for your hard work."

Zhao Wenlong chuckled.

His gaze passed over Zhou Tianyang's shoulder and landed on the unfamiliar faces in front of the row of adobe houses.

"Commander, are those the ones you brought back from outside?"

"Um."

"They don't look like a normal team."

Zhao Wenlong's gaze swept over the group of veterans again.

"He walks with energy and his eyes are bright; you can tell he's from a regular army."

You're right.

Zhou Tianyang turned around and glanced in the same direction as Zhao Wenlong.

"They are all veterans of the 88th Division of the former National Revolutionary Army, who fought their way through the Battle of Shanghai."

Zhao Wenlong raised his eyebrows slightly.

"The 88th Division?"

"right."

Zhao Wenlong didn't ask any more questions, but glanced in that direction again, his gaze holding something different from before.

Night fell.

Old Ma, the cook, and a few others set up several large pots by the threshing ground, stewed a big pot of meat soup, and steamed several trays of mixed grain buns.

The soldiers of the new Second Regiment and the veterans brought back by Deng Chen sat together in the threshing ground.

Each person held a bowl, slurping down hot soup and munching on steamed buns.

At first, he was a little reserved, but after a few bowls of hot soup, he gradually became more talkative.

A soldier from the new Second Regiment approached an old soldier under Deng Chen's command, holding a bowl.

"Hey bro, where are you guys from?"

The old soldier swallowed a mouthful of steamed bun and wiped his mouth with his sleeve.

"Shandong".

He paused, then added.

"We fought several battles along the way and captured a lot of valuable goods."

"How many battles have been fought?"

"We've played several matches."

Another veteran chimed in, his tone carrying a quiet pride.

The soldiers of the new Second Regiment listened with their eyes lit up and asked several more questions.

The veterans nearby responded casually, without trying to show off.

Zhou Tianyang squatted on the stone steps at the entrance of the regimental department, holding a bowl of meat soup, and slowly drank it.

Brigade Commander Chen, who had somehow also brought a bowl of soup, sat down on the steps next to him.

Neither of them spoke; they simply drank their soup in silence.

Listen to the intermittent voices and laughter from the threshing ground.

A while later.

Brigade Commander Chen then spoke.

"Tianyang, you've gained a lot from this trip."

Zhou Tianyang put down the bowl and glanced at the brigade commander.

"It is indeed quite large."

"Comrade Liu Ping has been safely delivered to Shanghai, where an intelligence network has been initially established."

"On the way back, we incorporated Battalion Commander Deng's troops and fought a few battles along the way."

Brigade Commander Chen listened quietly without immediately responding.

He lowered his head, took a sip of soup, and then slowly said:

"None of the things you mentioned are simple."

"To be able to handle the other things so efficiently while completing the main task."