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

Village Chief Li stood aside, watching this scene, and his eyes reddened again.

He turned around, looked at the distant mountains, and let out a long sigh of relief.

Commander Zhou, did you see that?

This is the trust that ordinary people have in the Eighth Route Army.

The people remember everything you've done.

They repay you in the simplest way.

Send your son to the army so he can go fight the Japanese devils with you.

In the afternoon, Village Chief Li, along with Zhao Xiaohu and the soldiers, finally finished visiting all the surrounding villages.

They sat on a large rock by the roadside.

Zhao Xiaohu opened his notebook and added up the number of people who had signed up.

There are 22 in Zhaojiagou, 16 in Liushucun, 29 in Shitouling, and 23 in the other small villages.

There were a total of ninety people.

Zhao Xiaohu's heart raced as he looked at the number.

"Village Chief Li, there are ninety people, plus the seventeen from Lijia Yu, that makes one hundred and seven."

Village Chief Li nodded.

The smile on her face was impossible to stop.

"Let's go back!"

Village Chief Li stood up and patted the dirt off his backside.

"Go tell Commander Zhou this good news!"

The group walked back along the mountain path, their pace much faster than when they came.

The soldiers had smiles on their faces and walked very fast, as if they wanted to cross back to Lijia Yu in one step.

Village Chief Li walked at a decent pace, but being over sixty years old, his legs were starting to feel weak after walking for most of the day.

Zhao Xiaohu noticed his fatigue, slowed his pace, and walked beside him.

"Village Chief Li, please slow down, there's no rush."

Village Chief Li glared at him.

"One hundred and seven young men are waiting to join the Eighth Route Army, how can I not be anxious?"

Zhao Xiaohu chuckled and said nothing more.

Around 3 p.m., they returned to Lijia Yu.

Village Chief Li led Zhao Xiaohu straight to the regimental headquarters.

Before even entering the courtyard, he started shouting at the top of his lungs.

"Commander Zhou! Commander Zhou!"

Zhou Tianyang was studying a map inside the room.

Hearing the shout, I put down my pencil, stood up, and walked to the door.

As soon as I opened the door, I saw Village Chief Li stride into the yard, his face beaming with joy.

"Commander Zhou, great news!"

Village Chief Li walked up to him, his voice full of excitement.

"Those villages in Zhao Jia Gou have a total of ninety people!"

"Adding the seventeen from our village, that makes a total of one hundred and seven!"

Zhou Tianyang's eyes brightened slightly, but his face remained calm.

He turned and went back into the house, picked up the tea mug from the table, poured a bowl of water, and handed it to Village Chief Li.

"Village Chief Li, you've worked hard. Have some water first."

Village Chief Li took it and gulped it down in one go.

Then he plopped down in the chair and let out a long sigh of relief.

"Commander Zhou, all 107 young men are outstanding."

"They were strong, hardworking, and capable of doing the work, and they all volunteered; none of them were forced."

Zhou Tianyang nodded and looked at Zhao Xiaohu.

"Little Tiger, have all the registered participants been properly registered?"

"Registration is complete."

Zhao Xiaohu handed the notebook to Zhou Tianyang.

"Commander, look, everyone's name, age, and family situation are all written down clearly."

Zhou Tianyang took the notebook and flipped through it page by page.

Zhao Sanzhu, 21 years old, has parents and two older brothers.

Zhao Shitou, nineteen years old, has parents and a younger sister.

Zhao Daniu, 23 years old, has parents and a younger brother.

Zhao Xiaoliu, eighteen years old, has parents and three older sisters...

A name is the hope of a family.

Zhou Tianyang closed the notebook, placed it on the table, and then looked up at Village Chief Li.

"Village Chief Li, we will incorporate them into the team first thing tomorrow morning."

"good!"

Village Chief Li slapped his thigh.

The two then chatted for a few more minutes.

Village Chief Li stood up, turned around, and walked towards the door.

As she reached the door, she turned back to look at Zhou Tianyang.

"Commander Zhou, let me tell you something from the bottom of my heart."

Zhou Tianyang looked at him.

"The people in our area have suffered for many years."

"The Japanese devils bullied us, the bandits bullied us, and some soldiers bullied us too."

"We ordinary people are like the crops in the field, being trampled on again and again, until we can hardly survive."

His voice was a little hoarse.

"But you came, and we saw hope."

"I'm not exaggerating, but the people all have their own sense of right and wrong."

"We ordinary people know very well what kind of people you Eighth Route Army soldiers are."

He paused, then raised his voice a few decibels.

"So, Commander Zhou, you can rest assured."

"As long as you are here, the people will support you."

"We will provide manpower and food as needed, without any hesitation."

After saying that, he turned around and strode out.

Zhou Tianyang stood at the door.

He watched as Village Chief Li's figure disappeared outside the courtyard gate and remained silent for a long time.

Then, he turned around, walked back to the table, sat down, opened the notebook, and looked at the densely packed names on it.

One hundred and seven names, one hundred and seven young people.

Starting tomorrow, they will be soldiers of the new Second Regiment.

Starting tomorrow, they will receive training, learn to fire a gun, and learn how to fight.

Starting tomorrow, they will face life and death, and charge into battle amidst a hail of bullets.

They may get injured, they may die, and they may never be able to go home again.

Zhou Tianyang closed the notebook and placed it on the table.

Then he stood up and walked to the window.

One hundred and seven new recruits, plus one hundred and twenty-six veterans, totaling two hundred and thirty-three people.

The framework for the new Second Regiment has finally been set up.

……

at the same time.

Wolf Valley.

Tian Chengjun sat on the grand master's chair in the Hall of Gathering Righteousness.

His gaze fell on the doorway, his brows furrowed slightly, and his fingers tapped unconsciously on the table.

He has sent out two groups of people to gather information since this morning.

The first group went to inquire about the Eighth Route Army's unit designation and location.

The second group went to keep an eye on the direction of Black Wind Village to see if the Eighth Route Army would take any further action.

Two groups of people, and neither of them has returned yet.

"Big brother."

Li Shengjun sat in the chair next to him, watching him.

"Don't worry, the brothers should be back soon."

Just then, hurried footsteps came from outside.

A figure rushed in from outside the door, panting heavily.

He was the spy sent out to gather information about the Eighth Route Army.

Tian Chengjun leaned forward slightly and asked anxiously.

"How is it?"

The man took a few deep breaths before he recovered.

"Brother, I've found out."

He walked to the table, picked up the bowl on the table, took a big gulp of water, and then wiped his mouth with his sleeve.

"The Eighth Route Army unit was the 2nd New Regiment of the 386th Brigade of the 129th Division."

"The regimental commander's surname is Zhou, his name is Zhou Tianyang, and he is in his early twenties."

Tian Chengjun's eyes narrowed slightly.

New Second Regiment.

Zhou Tianyang.

He silently repeated the name in his mind.

"Where is the base?"

"The base is located in Lijia Yu."

That person answered very decisively.

"It's about forty miles from our Wild Wolf Valley. Head southwest and cross two mountain ridges to get there."

"Lijia Yu?"

Tian Chengjun repeated the name.

He had an impression of this village.

It's a small village hidden in a mountain valley, with fifty or sixty households.

He had borrowed grain there once before.

"How long have they been stationed in Lijia Yu?"

"In just a few days."

After thinking for a moment, the man recounted all the information he had gathered.

"It is said that they were separated from the 772nd Regiment. The brigade headquarters asked them to form a new second regiment, bringing a company of veterans from the old unit, more than 120 people."

"We arrived at Lijia Yu the day before yesterday and wiped out Black Wind Village yesterday."

After listening, Tian Chengjun leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes.

They arrived the day before yesterday and wiped out Black Wind Stronghold yesterday.

That was incredibly fast.

It was so fast that no one had time to react.

"Anything else?"

He opened his eyes and looked at the spy.

"besides……"

The man paused, his expression turning somewhat strange.

"Brother, those Eighth Route Army soldiers started recruiting in the surrounding villages today."

Tian Chengjun frowned slightly.

"Recruit soldiers?"