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

"Commander Zhou, I've got it."

Sun Wukong released his grip and turned to walk towards the door.

When I got to the door.

He turned back and looked at Zhou Tianyang.

"Commander Zhou, may I ask you a question?"

"explain."

"Aren't you afraid that our Three Mountains Alliance is just feigning surrender?"

"You verbally agreed to those three things, but then you went back to doing whatever you wanted?"

Zhou Tianyang looked at him, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"You've seen what happened to Black Wind Stronghold."

"If you think your brains are harder than Liu Feng's, feel free to try."

Sun Wukong felt a chill run down his spine, quickly cupped his hands in greeting, turned around, and strode out.

Sun Wukong walked at a moderate pace, but his heart was beating very fast.

This young Eighth Route Army regimental commander was far more capable than he had imagined.

Neither humble nor arrogant, neither weak nor hard.

Be firm when you need to be firm, and loosen up when you need to be loose.

With just a few words, he established three rules, leaving him speechless.

"This guy is someone we can't afford to mess with."

Sun Wukong thought to himself.

At the village entrance, two bandits were still standing there.

Upon seeing Sun Wukong emerge, they hurriedly went to greet him.

"Second-in-command, how's it going?"

Sun Wukong waved his hand.

"We'll talk about it when we get back."

He picked up the gun from the ground, slung it over his shoulder, and strode out of the village.

……

After Sun Wukong left.

Zhou Tianyang turned around and walked back into the house, sitting back down at the table.

He picked up the teacup and took a sip.

"The Three Mountains Alliance".

Zhou Tianyang put down his teacup and tapped his fingers lightly on the table.

Sun Wukong arrived today, and he made his statement quite quickly, adopting a very humble attitude.

He would not harm the common people, was willing to fight the Japanese, and would not become a traitor. He accepted all three rules.

There wasn't a single word of bargaining.

But Zhou Tianyang knew the truth.

These people may readily agree verbally, but they may not truly be convinced in their hearts.

What they feared was the guns of the New Second Regiment, what they feared was that the fate of Black Wind Village would befall them, and what they feared was that the Eighth Route Army would really target them.

As for fighting the Japanese?

Expecting this group of people to fight the Japanese to the death is a pipe dream.

Zhou Tianyang's gaze fell on the location of the three mountain peaks of the Three Mountains Alliance.

Qinglong Mountain, Eagle Beak Cliff, Tiger Head Ridge.

The three mountain peaks are arranged in a triangle, with only twenty or thirty miles between them, making it convenient for them to support each other.

But precisely because it's convenient, the three companies banded together for mutual support, giving them more leverage to negotiate with him.

"I don't expect you to fight the Japanese, just don't hold me back."

Zhou Tianyang muttered to himself, tapping lightly on the map with his finger.

He knew very well what the Three Mountains Alliance was like.

They would not pose a threat, but they would never voluntarily defect to the Eighth Route Army.

They had territory, guns, and men. Although they lived in constant fear, they were, at least, local tyrants.

They were unwilling and resigned to laying down their guns and becoming Eighth Route Army soldiers, obeying orders and being controlled by others.

Zhou Tianyang did not intend to force him.

He understands the principle that forced relationships are never sweet.

Even if he forcibly recruits the people of the Three Mountains Alliance into his team, these people will not genuinely follow him, and things might even go wrong.

Instead of doing that, we should try to stabilize them first.

As long as they don't harm ordinary people, don't become traitors, and don't cause him trouble, then let's leave them be for now.

Once the new Second Regiment has grown stronger, and once they've really hurt the Japanese, then...

Once they have completely established themselves in this area...

He won't need to persuade them; those people will come to him on their own.

"However, what about Wolf Valley..."

Zhou Tianyang shifted his gaze from the location of the Three Mountains Alliance to the direction of Wild Wolf Valley to the north.

"There's been absolutely no movement from Wolf Valley?"

His brow furrowed slightly.

The news of Black Wind Stronghold's destruction had already spread far and wide.

The Three Mountains Alliance couldn't sit still any longer, so Sun Wukong personally came to express his opinion.

But over at Wolf Valley, it was eerily quiet. Not only were people not sent, but not even a scout was seen.

What does this mean?

Is it disdain? Or are they observing from the sidelines?

Zhou Tianyang tapped his fingers on the table more frequently.

After thinking it over, he concluded that Tian Chengjun was probably just observing the situation.

He wasn't a pure bandit like the Three Mountains Alliance.

He served in the regular army, led troops, and fought in battles; he has his own judgment.

He should have known that the arrival of the Eighth Route Army would change the situation in this area.

But he wasn't sure how the Eighth Route Army would treat him.

The primary approach should be either incorporation or annihilation.

He dared not send anyone rashly, fearing that if he lowered his stance, he would be looked down upon, or that if he failed to negotiate the terms, he would be sold out.

"Since you're not coming, then I'll come find you."

Zhou Tianyang stood up and walked to the window.

On the threshing floor, Zhao Wenlong was training the new recruits.

Zhou Tianyang looked around for a moment, then strode out of the regimental headquarters.

On the threshing ground, the new recruits were practicing enthusiastically.

One hundred and seven new recruits were divided into more than a dozen groups, each led by a veteran, and were practicing the most basic drills.

Attention, at ease, left turn, right turn—over and over again, it's incredibly tedious.

But none of the new recruits complained of being tired; they all had serious expressions on their faces.

Zhao Wenlong stood in the middle of the threshing ground, hands on his hips.

His gaze swept over each group, occasionally walking over to correct their movements.

Zhou Tianyang stood on the edge of the threshing ground.

After watching for a while, the corners of his mouth turned up slightly.

Although the new recruits were not very bright, they had a good attitude and were willing to learn and practice.

At this rate, it won't be long.

These new recruits will look like soldiers now.

"Wenlong!"

Zhou Tianyang called out.

Zhao Wenlong turned his head and saw Zhou Tianyang standing by the threshing ground. He quickly ran over and stood at attention.

"Commander!"

"How's the training?"

Zhou Tianyang asked.

Zhao Wenlong wiped his sweat and grinned.

"Commander, these new recruits may be a bit slow, but they are all willing to learn."

"After practicing all morning, the formation is starting to look decent."

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

"Another class will be added tonight, political education."

"Let them know what our Eighth Route Army does, why we fight the Japanese, and for whom we carry guns."

"yes!"

Zhao Wenlong stood at attention and saluted.

Zhou Tianyang looked at him, remained silent for a moment, and then spoke.

"Wenlong, I'm going to Wolf Valley tomorrow morning."

Zhao Wenlong paused for a moment, and the smile on his face faded slightly.

"Commander, what are you doing going to Wolf Valley?"

"Let's meet with Tian Chengjun."

Zhou Tianyang spoke casually, as if he were just going to visit someone.

Zhao Wenlong frowned.

"Commander, are you going alone?"

"Just bring a few people."

"That won't do!"

Zhao Wenlong grew anxious, and his voice rose several decibels.

"Commander, those hundred or so men in Wild Wolf Valley, although they don't rob civilians, are still bandits after all."

"What if something happens if you go alone..."

"What could possibly happen?"

Zhou Tianyang interrupted him, his tone calm.

"Tian Chengjun isn't stupid."

"But……"

"There's no 'but' about it."

Zhou Tianyang waved his hand, his tone leaving no room for argument.

"Wolf Valley is currently holding back, neither coming to pledge allegiance nor making any statement. I don't want to wait any longer."

Zhao Wenlong opened his mouth, as if to say something.

But seeing Zhou Tianyang's expression, he swallowed back the words he was about to say.

"So, commander, how many people do you plan to take?"

Zhao Wenlong asked, his tone tinged with helplessness.

"Teaching a class of ten is enough."

Zhou Tianyang thought for a moment and then said.

"If I bring too many people, Tian Chengjun will think I'm going to show off, which will make it harder to negotiate."

"If I bring too few people, he'll feel like I'm looking down on him, and that won't work either."

"One class, no more, no less, just right."

Zhao Wenlong nodded and then asked.

"Commander, are you planning to talk to him about incorporating him into your unit?"

Zhou Tianyang nodded, turned around, and looked at the distant, rolling mountains.

"He, Tian Chengjun, led about a hundred brothers to occupy the mountain and became king, living a life of constant fear and trepidation."

"He didn't want to be a bandit; he wanted to fight the Japanese; he wanted to lead his brothers to wear military uniforms with dignity."

"Then I'll give him that chance."

After listening, Zhao Wenlong remained silent for a moment before speaking.

"Commander, do you think Tian Chengjun will agree?"

"meeting."

Zhou Tianyang spoke with absolute certainty.

"If he didn't want to be incorporated, he should have sent someone to express his stance long ago, just like the Three Mountains Alliance did."

"He didn't come not because he didn't want to, but because he didn't dare, because he didn't know how to bring it up."

"Then I'll give him a way out, so he can join the army with dignity."

Zhao Wenlong nodded, secretly admiring him.

The regimental commander was a skilled fighter and also adept at ideological work.

They even managed to recruit bandits in such a methodical way.

"Commander, I'll go with you tomorrow."

Zhao Wenlong said.

"no."

Zhou Tianyang shook his head.

"You have to stay; training the new recruits can't stop."

"Whether the new Second Regiment can quickly form combat capability depends on how you train them."

"Then I'll send Sun Shengli with you. He's quick-witted and skilled."

Zhao Wenlong settled for second best.

Zhou Tianyang thought for a moment and nodded.

"Alright, let Sun Shengli pick nine people to come with me first thing tomorrow morning."

"yes!"

Zhao Wenlong stood at attention and saluted.

Zhou Tianyang patted him on the shoulder and turned to walk towards the regimental headquarters.