“This ambush at Xiao Wang Zhuang yielded 60 Type 38 rifles, 8,000 rounds of ammunition, two Type 11 Light Machine Guns, and 3,000 rounds of ammunition for them.
Three grenade launchers with over 70 grenades, six 80mm mortars, and 300 mortar shells.
1,000 bolts of cotton cloth, 50,000 jin of grain, and over 2,000 jin of meat!”
Wang Yan reported with a beaming smile, his excitement palpable.
Their 399th Brigade had just arrived in the Jinbei area to develop a base, and all supplies were in short supply.
As the one in charge of logistics and ideological work, he had been in a frantic state for a while now, even developing sores in his mouth.
This haul was a godsend for the 399th Brigade’s immediate needs.
Not to mention the weapons and equipment, especially the six 80mm mortars, which would be a significant upgrade to the 399th’s heavy firepower!
Xiao Yun nodded in agreement, sharing the joy. The weapons and equipment weren't the main thing. Aside from the six mortars and ammunition he had personally requisitioned.
The rest were from the Japanese transport squad, good but not exceptional. A squad's arsenal was negligible compared to the vast size of the 399th Brigade. It was more of a bonus.
The supplies the Japanese transport team carried were the real treasure.
Winter was just a few months away, and many of the 399th Brigade's soldiers were still wearing thin summer uniforms.
Li Yunlong and Kong Jie's New First and Independent Regiments even had soldiers wearing their pre-enlistment clothes.
These 1,000 bolts of cotton cloth could be sent to the rear's clothing factory to be made into winter uniforms, giving those lacking them a new set.
The 50,000 jin of grain was also a valuable asset, enough to feed the hundreds of people in his brigade headquarters for half a year.
The 2,000 jin of meat would be a treat for the soldiers, giving them a proper meal and nourishing their bodies.
The Eighth Route Army soldiers were generally taller and stronger than the Japanese, but they lacked food and nutrition, leaving them malnourished and their performance in close combat far inferior to the Japanese.
If they could eat their fill daily and have meat a few times a week, they could surely make the Japanese cry for their mothers.
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“Old Wang, tell the cooks to start making a fire and prepare a meal. Use the meat we captured today and give the soldiers a good meal!”
“Also, take the Type 38 rifles we captured today, add them to the guns from the arsenal, making a total of 100 rifles, along with 5,000 rounds of ammunition. Then grab 200 jin of meat and send it to Li Yunlong.
That guy is probably cursing us for taking his two mortars, and we need to appease him!”
“Oh, and send 200 jin of meat to Kong Jie’s Independent Regiment, and 500 jin each to the 811th and 812th Regiments.”
Xiao Yun smiled and said to Political Commissar Wang Yan.
It wasn't that Xiao Yun was favoring one over the other, or being stingy with the meat for the New First and Independent Regiments.
The Independent Regiment and the New First Regiment were both mixed units with around 1,000 men, while the 811th and 812th Regiments were both regular regiments with 2,500 men each.
This was a per capita distribution, all about fairness!
“Old Xiao, you really know Li Yunlong. He just took over the New First Regiment, and he’s definitely in dire need of guns and ammo. Giving him almost a company’s worth of weapons and ammunition will surely make him happy.”
Political Commissar Wang Yan chuckled.
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Soon, the 399th Brigade headquarters kitchen cooked several pots of meat, and the soldiers enjoyed a delicious meal.
Meanwhile, several wagons loaded with guns, ammunition, and meat left the brigade’s base in Yan Ao village, heading towards the various regiments’ locations.
At the New First Regiment’s base, Li Yunlong sat dejectedly on his kang, sipping sweet potato liquor.
The thought of the two mortars Xiao Yun had just taken from him made even the sweet potato liquor taste bland.
“Report, Commander!”
Just then, the voice of Battalion Commander Zhang Da Miao came from outside.
“Come in!”
Li Yunlong took another swig of the liquor, the pungent aroma stinging his nostrils, making him let out a sharp “tsk” sound.
“Report, Commander, someone from the brigade is here, right at the village entrance.”
Zhang Da Miao glanced at the half-full cup of sweet potato liquor in Li Yunlong’s hand, unable to resist licking his lips.
“More people? Didn’t they just finish robbing us? Even landlords aren’t so greedy, especially since we’re not landlords, just tenants at best!”
Li Yunlong’s face immediately turned sour, unable to vent his anger at Xiao Yun, he instead directed his annoyance at Zhang Da Miao, who was coveting his sweet potato liquor, and kicked out at him.
“What are you looking at? What are you looking at? Don’t you have any? Are you counting on the few drops in my bowl?!”
Zhang Da Miao agilely dodged Li Yunlong’s kick.
“Commander, the brigade commander isn’t here to rob us this time, they’re here to send things! The wagons are still parked at the village entrance. You don’t believe me, go see for yourself!”
“Heh, I knew the old man had a heart for us! Zhang Da Biao, come on, let’s go see what good stuff the brigade commander sent to our New First Regiment!”
Li Yunlong’s face immediately brightened, his grin stretching from ear to ear.