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

Zhao Wenlong nodded.

I finally understood what the commander meant.

First, attack Black Wind Stronghold to intimidate Wild Wolf Valley and the Three Families Alliance, and then incorporate them.

This tactic is called "killing the chicken to scare the monkey."

Black Wind Village is that chicken.

Wolf Valley and the Three Alliances are just like those monkeys.

Let's wipe out Black Wind Stronghold cleanly and decisively.

Those two bandit groups will then realize how formidable they are.

It will be much easier to send someone to talk to them about incorporation later.

"Commander, I understand."

Zhao Wenlong stood up, his voice filled with excitement.

"Let's attack Black Wind Stronghold first and show our might."

"Wolf Valley and the Three Alliances should think twice after seeing Black Wind Stronghold destroyed."

"It will be easy to recruit them later."

Zhou Tianyang nodded.

"Yes, that makes sense."

He paused, then added.

"But there's one thing you need to remember."

"The attack on Black Wind Stronghold is not about killing people, but about saving them."

"It's so that the people in this area will no longer suffer from their calamities."

"The purpose of incorporating Wolf Valley and the Three Alliances is to expand our strength."

"It's to get these people who were forced into this situation back on the right path."

Zhao Wenlong straightened his back and nodded solemnly.

"Commander, I understand."

Zhou Tianyang stood up and continued:

"Wenlong, tonight, send a few quick-witted soldiers to Black Wind Stronghold to investigate."

He turned around and looked at Zhao Wenlong.

"We don't need many people, three or four will do."

"I need someone who is bold yet meticulous, quick-witted, and agile."

"Ideally, they should have a background in reconnaissance."

Zhao Wenlong thought for a moment and then said:

"There is a soldier in the third platoon of the first company named Sun Shengli."

"I used to be a scout in the Fourth Front Army of the Red Army. I was bold, meticulous, and skilled."

"Last year, when he was in the 772nd Regiment, he sneaked into the Japanese stronghold by himself and drew a map of the Japanese defenses that was almost accurate."

"Let him go, it should be fine."

"Sun Shengli?"

Zhou Tianyang read the name aloud and nodded.

"Okay, let him go."

"Pick two more to go with him."

"Remember, the mission is to find out the situation at Black Wind Stronghold, not to go to war."

"Try to figure it out if you can, otherwise retreat if you can't. Safety first."

"yes!"

Zhao Wenlong stood at attention, saluted, and turned to walk out.

As he reached the door, Zhou Tianyang called out to him again.

"etc."

Zhao Wenlong turned around.

"Have Sun Shengli come to see me before we leave tonight."

"I want to personally tell him the truth."

"yes!"

Zhao Wenlong strode out.

The sound of footsteps gradually faded away in the courtyard.

Zhou Tianyang sat back down at the table.

I picked up the pencil on the table and wrote a few lines on the paper.

Black Wind Village.

Bandit leader Liu Feng.

More than 150 people.

The terrain is treacherous, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack.

Night raid, surprise attack, decapitation.

He stared at those words for a long time, his eyes growing colder and colder.

A bandit stronghold with more than 150 members.

They have been entrenched in this area for many years.

They harmed countless ordinary people, burned down countless houses, looted countless grains, and ruined countless young women.

The village chief's fifteen-year-old granddaughter.

He was killed by these beasts.

This debt needs to be settled.

Zhou Tianyang put down the pencil and closed his eyes.

He started mentally rehearsing battle plans.

According to Village Chief Li, there is only one road leading up to Black Wind Village, with cliffs on both sides.

Several checkpoints were set up along the way, making them easy to defend and difficult to attack.

A direct assault is definitely not an option; the casualties would be too high.

We must outsmart them.

A night raid is the best method.

When it's late at night and everyone is quiet, the bandits are least vigilant.

If we can sneakily take down the level, things will be much easier afterwards.

But there are prerequisites.

We need to find out the situation in the village.

Know yourself and the enemy, a hundred battles will never end.

This saying has been repeated for thousands of years.

But very few people can actually do it.

Zhou Tianyang opened his eyes, picked up the pencil on the table, and began to write and draw on the paper again.

This drawing is a topographical map of Black Wind Village.

According to Village Chief Li's description.

Black Wind Village is located halfway up the mountain, and there is only one road leading up to it.

The road is flanked by cliffs, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack.

There should be a wall or fence surrounding the village.

There should be a watchtower in the village.

Liu Feng lived in the innermost, safest spot of the village.

The armory and granary should be located in the center of the village for easy guarding.

Zhou Tianyang drew a rough sketch.

Then I marked a few key points next to it.

Location of the first checkpoint, location of the second checkpoint, location of the village gate, location of the highest point.

These are all areas that require focused reconnaissance.

After he finished drawing.

He looked at it carefully again, then shook his head.

It's too rough.

This is just speculation.

The true extent of the defenses will only be known once Sun Shengli and his team have figured it out.

There's no use thinking too much about it now.

Zhou Tianyang stood up and walked to the window.

On the threshing floor.

Zhao Wenlong is gathering the soldiers.

It seems like they are explaining something.

Several soldiers surrounded him, listening attentively.

Zhou Tianyang watched this scene unfold.

A complex mix of emotions welled up inside me.

These people are the best soldiers of this era.

They are not afraid of death, hardship, or fatigue.

What they fear is the lack of direction and hope.

Zhou Tianyang took a deep breath.

He turned around, walked back to the table, and sat down again.

Now, all he needs to do is wait.

After reconnaissance.

Then, a detailed battle plan was formulated.

……

Dark as ink.

The outline of the Taihang Mountains was faintly visible in the darkness.

Headquarters of the New Second Regiment.

Zhou Tianyang sat at the table.

A hand-drawn topographical map of southeastern Shanxi lay spread out in front of him, a pencil pressed against the edge of the paper.

There were a few stubbed-out cigarette butts next to it.

He had been sitting like this for almost half an hour.

He mentally rehearsed the terrain of Black Wind Stronghold over and over again.

Footsteps came from outside the door.

"Report!"

The sound wasn't loud, but it was very clear.

"Come in."

The door was pushed open, and a figure walked in.

He looked to be around 25 or 26 years old, and was of medium height.

He was lean and muscular, with a dark complexion and slightly prominent cheekbones.

Her eyes weren't big, but they were very bright.

I glanced around the room as I entered.

Then he turned his attention to Zhou Tianyang.

Sun Shengli.

Zhou Tianyang sized up the soldier.

His military uniform was faded from washing, with patches on his knees and elbows, and a belt around his waist.

A Mauser pistol was tucked into his left hip, and a dagger hung from his right hip.

He stood ramrod straight, his gaze steady.

They weren't as reserved as ordinary soldiers would be when meeting their regimental commander.

"sit."

Zhou Tianyang pointed to the chair opposite him.

Sun Shengli sat down, his back still ramrod straight, his hands resting on his knees.

He looked directly at Zhou Tianyang.

Zhao Wenlong stood to the side.

He leaned against the wall, arms crossed, and didn't say a word.

"Did Battalion Commander Zhao tell you about the mission?"

Zhou Tianyang got straight to the point.

"I said so."

Sun Shengli answered crisply and decisively.

"To uncover the secrets of the Black Wind Village."

"What do you think of this task?"

Sun Shengli thought for a moment and then said:

"Black Wind Stronghold has been entrenched in this area for several years. The terrain is treacherous, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack."

"Finding out their background is not easy, but it's not impossible."