More than two months later, through Zhao Gang's unremitting efforts and the reputation created by the Independent Brigade, a huge number of people signed up to join the army in these two months.
Today's independent brigade is saturated with troops, and all the weapons and equipment that were previously vacant are now fully equipped.
The Independent Brigade now has four infantry regiments under its jurisdiction. After recruiting troops again, it expanded by one regiment. Each regiment has a strength of more than 3,000 people.
Due to the addition of new mountain guns and various types of mortars, the number of artillery regiments also expanded from 1,500 to more than 3,000.
The reconnaissance battalion and the guard battalion have not changed. These two units have good soldiers, but no more.
Another change was that Li Qiufan re-established the cavalry, and it was not the previous cavalry battalion, but a cavalry regiment.
The establishment of the cavalry regiment mainly benefited from the horses captured during the previous sweeps around Shanglin County, as well as several battles fought in Lin County, in which the puppet army and Japanese horses were captured, and a cavalry regiment of more than 2,000 people was formed.
After this reorganization, the independent brigade already has more than 18,000 people, and its strength is equivalent to the Japanese's second-class division.
Looking at the strong troops, Li Qiufan was in a good mood, humming a cheerful ditty wherever he went.
"Qiu Fan, have you heard something? Li Yunlong has also been promoted to brigade commander."
Li Qiufan was sunbathing in his yard when Zhao Gang suddenly walked in with a smile.
"Lao Li was promoted to brigade commander?"
Li Qiufan sat up from the chair where he was lying and looked at Zhao Gang doubtfully.
"Don't you know? I thought you had gotten the news a long time ago."
Zhao Gang was a little surprised, but he didn't expect that Li Qiufan didn't get the news.
"Old Zhao, I just have nothing to do recently. I'm going to see Lao Li!"
Li Qiufan couldn't sit still, and since he had some free time recently, he immediately wanted to go to Li Yunlong's place to see him.
"Hey, I said you really don't care about anything. You want to exhaust me to death!"
Zhao Gang glared at Li Qiufan with an angry expression on his face.
"Haha, you, Mr. Zhao, can you please do so much? I'll go take a look and I'll be back soon."
Li Qiufan smiled awkwardly. Zhao Gang had been really busy recently, and he felt a little sorry.
"Okay, okay, leave early and come back early, pay attention to safety!"
Zhao Gang waved his hands helplessly. Li Qiufan couldn't really help him at his job, so he could only complain a few words to him.
"Okay! Monk, bring my horse over here!"
After getting Zhao Gang's consent, Li Qiufan ran out happily, shouting to the monk to lead the horse.
Li Qiufan led the guard battalion and galloped all the way, and arrived at Li Yunlong's station in a short time.
"Old Li! Old Li! Even after being promoted, you don't even know how to treat me to a drink. You don't regard me as your brother!"
As soon as he entered Li Yunlong's yard, Li Qiufan shouted loudly.
When Li Qiufan walked into the house, he found that Li Yunlong was drinking wine by himself, looking depressed.
"Old Li, what's wrong with you? Didn't you get promoted? Why are you still depressed?"
Li Qiufan asked unclearly, not understanding Li Yunlong's situation.
"Hmph, it's better not to be promoted to this official position. I feel aggrieved when I get promoted!"
Li Yunlong snorted coldly and said angrily.
"what's the situation?"
Li Qiufan was confused and didn't understand what was wrong about being promoted.
"Do you know what the number of my unit is?"
"I do not know."
Li Qiufan looked at Li Yunlong in confusion. Even the news of Li Yunlong's promotion was told to him by Zhao Gang. How did he know the number?
"My current designation is the Second Independent Brigade!"
Li Yunlong glared at Li Qiufan and said angrily.
"What? The Second Independent Brigade?"
Hearing the number, Li Qiufan seemed to understand something, and understood why Li Yunlong was depressed. It turned out to be this.
"Humph, now, brother, I'm sitting under your butt!"
Li Yunlong rolled his eyes at Li Qiufan, then took a pottery bowl from the side, filled it with wine and pushed it in front of Li Qiufan.
"Huh, what did I think it was? It's just a serial number, so what does it mean?"
Li Qiufan touched the wine bowl with Lao Li and said nonchalantly.
"Brother, please tell me, is this appropriate? You were the battalion commander when you first came in, and we, Lao Li, are already the regiment commanders, and now we are the second brigade. It sounds like two donkeys!"
Li Yunlong couldn't accept it, but he couldn't blame the others. If he had made fewer mistakes, he would have been promoted earlier than Li Qiufan based on his qualifications.
"Okay, Lao Li, who is first and second among us brothers?"
Li Qiufan put his arm around Li Yunlong's shoulders and comforted him.
"Brother, I heard that you had a big battle in Lin County some time ago?"
The relieved Lao Li felt a little better, and then asked about the previous affairs in Lin County.
"Yes, the Japanese 35th Division was eaten, and some puppet troops were added to fill in the gaps."
Li Qiufan nodded and told Li Yunlong the situation of the battle.
"I really envy you, brother. You have caught up with me in this meat-eating battle!"
Li Yunlong looked at Li Qiufan with envy. He didn't go to such a big scene, so he cursed in his heart.
"Stop talking about this, what's the situation with your troops now?"
Li Qiufan noticed Li Yunlong's envy and immediately changed the subject.
"My second brigade now has three main regiments, as well as a special agent battalion, a guard battalion, an artillery battalion, and a cavalry company. In total, there are probably more than 12,000 people."
Li Yunlong took a sip of his wine and said proudly, and then asked Li Qiufan: "What about you, brother, how is your army doing now?"
"Yeah, we're pretty much the same."
Li Qiufan hesitated vaguely and did not say anything about the situation of his troops.
"What do you mean it's almost the same? Tell me quickly!"
Li Qiufan didn't want to hit him, but Li Yunlong didn't want to let Li Qiufan go, pulling on his sleeve and asking.
Li Qiufan shook his head helplessly when he saw this, wondering why this old Li acted like an old child.
"I now have four main regiments, an artillery regiment, a cavalry regiment, as well as a reconnaissance battalion and a guard battalion, totaling more than 18,000 people."
Being questioned, Li Qiufan had no choice but to tell the situation.
"What the hell? More than 18,000 people? Are you a human trafficker?"
Hearing the strength of Li Qiufan's troops, Li Yunlong looked at him with wide eyes.
"My dear, forget about the artillery regiment. We, Lao Li, know this. When did you expand an infantry regiment and a cavalry regiment?"
Li Yunlong settled the accounts for Li Qiufan in detail, wondering when he had so many extra troops.
"Just recently, we expanded after returning from the war in Lin County. The main reason is that we have too much equipment, so we have to find ways to recruit people."
Li Qiufan drank a small drink and said carelessly, without caring about Li Yunlong's mood at this time.
Sure enough, after hearing Li Qiufan's words, Lao Li's resentful eyes deepened, like an angry little daughter-in-law.
