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

The man recounted everything he had learned.

"Early this morning, their regimental commander sent a squad leader with a squad of soldiers."

"Following the village chief of Lijia Yu, we went to several surrounding villages."

"I visited Zhao Jia Gou, Liu Shu Village, Shi Tou Ling, and those other small villages."

Tian Chengjun's fingers stopped tapping.

How many people did you hire?

"The exact figures are unclear."

The person shook their head.

"But I heard that in Zhaojiagou village alone, more than 20 people signed up."

"There are quite a few from Liushu Village and Shitouling, plus those from Lijia Yu Village itself, there must be at least a hundred or eighty people."

The Hall of Gathering Righteousness fell silent.

Tian Chengjun remained silent, as did Li Shengjun.

There were more than 120 veterans, plus 180 newly recruited soldiers, making a total of more than 200 people.

We already have a battalion of soldiers.

Tian Chengjun took a deep breath and slowly exhaled.

That's incredibly fast.

He once led more than a hundred brothers to live as outlaws in Wolf Valley.

It took three whole months to go from having nothing to gaining a foothold.

We also have to be wary of Black Wind Stronghold's potential annexation and the Japanese invasion.

They also had to be wary of the resentment from the surrounding residents.

Every step was taken with trepidation, as if walking on thin ice.

But what about others?

Two days.

They settled the camp in just two days and won over the hearts of the people.

They destroyed Black Wind Stronghold and expanded their forces.

He accomplished in two days what it might have taken him three months to achieve.

This is the gap.

"Big brother."

Li Shengjun spoke, his voice somewhat hoarse.

"Those Eighth Route Army soldiers recruit so quickly, it won't be long before they can muster a regiment of troops."

"By then, they will have completely established themselves in this area."

"Brother, we need to make a decision quickly."

Li Shengjun's tone was somewhat urgent.

"If we drag this out any longer, and they become too powerful, we'll really be at a disadvantage."

Tian Chengjun glanced at him and remained silent for a moment.

"Shengjun, what do you think we should do?"

Li Shengjun thought for a moment and then spoke.

"Brother, I think we should take the initiative to go find them."

"Let's sound them out and see how they really want to treat us."

"Whether to fight or make peace, whether to incorporate or annihilate, there has to be a decision."

Tian Chengjun turned around and looked at him.

"Under what identity should I go?"

Li Shengjun opened his mouth, but didn't say anything more.

Yes, in what capacity?

They were bandits.

Although they were bandits who ruled the mountains, they did not rob or beat ordinary people, and they fought against the Japanese.

But officially, and in the eyes of the Eighth Route Army, they were bandits.

A bandit leader took the initiative to seek out the Eighth Route Army.

What will people think?

"Big brother, are we just going to wait here?"

Li Shengjun's voice was somewhat hoarse.

Tian Chengjun remained silent.

He walked back to the table, sat down, picked up the bowl, and took another sip of water.

My mind is racing.

Actively seeking it out won't work.

If your status and attitude are not right, you will only humiliate yourself if you go.

It won't work if we don't go looking for it.

Once they have time to spare, they might be the next ones to be dealt with.

Neither advancing nor retreating is an option.

difficult.

"Big brother."

At that moment, another scout walked in from outside the door.

It was the person sent to keep an eye on the direction of Black Wind Stronghold.

"What's going on?"

Tian Chengjun looked up at him.

"The Eighth Route Army left a platoon to garrison Heifengzhai."

The man walked to the table and told them what he had found out.

"About thirty people cleaned up the village and reinforced the village walls."

"It seems they're not just temporarily occupying the territory, but intend to stay there long-term."

Tian Chengjun's brows furrowed even more.

He knew the terrain of Black Wind Village well.

It is easy to defend and difficult to attack, with only one road leading up, and cliffs on both sides.

If that place is used as a base, it can be used for both offense and defense.

Even if the Japanese came, they might not be able to take it.

Tian Chengjun nodded without saying anything.

The Hall of Gathering Righteousness fell silent again.

Two spies stood inside the room, waiting for Tian Chengjun to give the order.

Li Shengjun sat beside him, watching him.

Tian Chengjun lowered his head and tapped his fingers lightly on the table.

It took him a while to raise his head.

"Shengjun, tell me, what kind of person is Zhou Tianyang?"

Li Shengjun was taken aback, not expecting his older brother to ask this question.

He thought for a moment, then spoke.

"The regimental commander, who was in his early twenties, led more than 120 men and wiped out Black Wind Stronghold in just two days."

"He was able to lead his troops to a zero-casualty victory and win over the hearts of the people in such a short time."

"This kind of person is not simple."

Tian Chengjun nodded.

"You're right, he's not simple."

He stood up and began pacing around the room again.

"When I was in the National Revolutionary Army, I met quite a few officers."

"Some can fight, some can't."

"Some are good at leading troops, and some are not."

"But I've never seen anyone like him."

He stopped and turned to look at Li Shengjun.

"With only a little over 120 men, they dared to attack Black Wind Stronghold, which had a larger number of men."

"This kind of person is either a born general or a madman."

Li Shengjun looked at him.

"Brother, do you think he's a talented general or a madman?"

Tian Chengjun remained silent for a moment.

"A talented general."

He spoke slowly, his tone resolute.

"A madman can't wage a war of annihilation with zero casualties."

"A madman cannot win the hearts of the people."

"A madman wouldn't leave a platoon to garrison the village after he's taken it over."

"Therefore, he was born to be a general."

Li Shengjun did not speak again.

Tian Chengjun walked back to the table and sat down.

Leaning back in the chair, I closed my eyes.

He was still thinking about that young man named Zhou Tianyang.

A regimental commander who has influence among the people.

This kind of person is sure to have a bright future.

If he could lead his team to join Zhou Tianyang, then he would have a promising future.

But he is no longer a member of the Eighth Route Army.

He was a bandit.

Bandits who ruled the mountains.

Even if he wanted to seek refuge with them, would they accept him?

Even if we accept it.

Was it to recruit bandits or to recruit defeated soldiers?

These two identities are worlds apart.

The Hall of Gathering Righteousness was very quiet.

Li Shengjun and the two spies were all looking at him, waiting for him to speak.

"Victorious army".

Tian Chengjun opened his eyes, his voice not loud.

But he spoke each word slowly and deliberately.

"What do you think those Eighth Route Army soldiers will do next?"

Li Shengjun thought for a moment and then said:

"The new recruits need to be trained, Black Wind Stronghold needs to be consolidated, and the garrison needs to be built. There's a lot to do."

"But I think their most important task is to expand their workforce."

"It's embarrassing to say that a group only has a little over two hundred people."

Tian Chengjun nodded.

"Yes, expand."

"They have over two hundred people now, which is still far from the size of a regiment."

"Recruiting new soldiers is too slow. New soldiers need training and adjustment. They can't go to the battlefield in less than three to five months."

"The quickest way is to incorporate them."

Li Shengjun's eyes lit up slightly.

"Big brother, do you mean they'll come and recruit us?"

Tian Chengjun did not answer, and remained silent for a while, looking at Li Shengjun.

"Tell me, are the hundred or so people in our Wild Wolf Valley worth recruiting?"

"value."

Li Shengjun answered decisively.

"All of us, about a hundred brothers, are veterans who fought our way from Niangziguan Pass."

"Having fought the Japanese and seen blood, in terms of combat experience, they are no less than those Eighth Route Army soldiers."

"Moreover, we don't rob or beat ordinary people, and our discipline doesn't conflict with theirs."

Tian Chengjun nodded, picked up the bowl, took a sip of water to moisten his throat, and continued:

"But the question is, will they come to us on their own initiative?"

Li Shengjun opened his mouth, but no words came out.

Yes, will they come to us on their own initiative?

The initiative is in their hands, not theirs.

They can incorporate us if they want, or they can refuse to incorporate us if they don't.

They could only wait, waiting for people to come to them, or for them not to come at all.