On their way here, Zhao Gang and his group saw Xu Gaoxiang and others from a distance. They thought they were merchants who were selling goods and didn't think too much about them.
Not far from the mountain pass, Zhao Gang and others were stopped by the soldiers stationed here.
"Hello, Chief, please show your letter of introduction and explain your purpose of coming!"
The soldiers stationed there inspected Zhao Gang and the others in accordance with the team's regulations.
Zhao Gang did not refuse, and very cooperatively took out the appointment letter he brought from the Political Department, "Hello, comrade, this is my appointment letter!"
The soldiers stationed at the garrison took the appointment letter. Those who could be sent to inspect it were all literate. After looking at it carefully, the soldier immediately saluted respectfully.
"Hello, political commissar!"
Zhao Gang saluted in return and took the appointment letter handed back by the soldier.
Other soldiers in the squad who were still on guard also saluted. The squad leader took over the soldier's place and said, "Hello, political commissar, I am Wei Delu, squad leader of the third squad of the second platoon of the fourth company. We have been ordered to be on guard duty here!"
"Hello, Squad Leader Wei, comrades, there is no need to be like this, continue your mission."
Zhao Gang took a look at the soldiers in this class. They were all wearing brand new military uniforms and weapons they had never seen before. The bullet bags hanging on their bodies were also full.
The machine guns mounted behind the sandbag bunkers were also hung with long ammunition chains. Even Squad Leader Wei and another soldier were carrying submachine guns!
At the brigade headquarters, none of the guard platoons on guard were equipped with such complete firepower.
Zhao Gang asked Wei Delu, "Squad Leader Wei, are all the weapons in our team configured like this?!"
Since he was his own political commissar, Wei Delu did not hide anything and spoke happily, "Political commissar, our configuration is just an ordinary one. The first and second companies have higher configurations than us!"
Zhao Gang's expression changed, "Oh? Better than this?!"
Thinking of what the brigade commander had told him before leaving, Zhao Gang understood that this was the assistance brought by Li Yunlong's so-called brother!
The fact that the other party could provide such great assistance to the team showed that the other party was also a patriotic activist. Zhao Gang couldn't wait to meet this person.
It is best to get the other party to join the party organization and become a like-minded comrade.
Declining squad leader Wei's request to lead the way, Zhao Gang and others entered Baiwanyu on their own.
Not far from the mountain pass, we saw the barracks of the fourth company. The operating room built some time ago has not been dismantled.
Outside the barracks, the soldiers of the fourth company were undergoing daily training, and weapons were placed aside. Zhao Gang was very pleased with the luxurious weapon configuration.
The soldiers accompanying him from the brigade headquarters also drooled with envy.
"Look, their company actually has two mortars?!"
"Drive", Zhao Gang quickened his pace, eager to see the team with his own eyes.
Soon, Baiwan Valley was in sight, and in the fields beside the road, the villagers who had settled down had reclaimed a lot of wasteland.
At this time, after a few days of recuperation, some of the villagers who were in good health and recovered quickly entered the clothing factory, and some chose to reclaim wasteland.
Most people chose to join the Eighth Route Army to fight against the Japs and regain their homes.
This time, the size of Li Yunlong's team exploded. It doubled in size and reached more than 900 people. It could already be called a previous team!
In the past few days, with Xu Gaoxiang helping to run the quilt factory, he couldn't get involved in the ordnance office, so Li Yunlong focused on training new recruits.
In view of the fact that these recruits have not yet fully recovered, they have conducted a military formation training in the past few days, and let the veterans act as squad leaders of the recruits to explain the various rules and military orders of the team.
So when Zhao Gang came to the training ground at the foot of the mountain east of Baiwan Valley, this was what he saw.
Hundreds of soldiers wearing brand-new military uniforms were forming company and platoon units, either practicing formation and walking in unison, or sitting on the ground surrounding the veterans, listening attentively to the veterans' explanation of various regulations and military orders.
Next to a stone mill on the sidelines, Zhao Gang found Li Yunlong, who was taking the monk and Huzi to instill his combat philosophy into the recruits.
"Who do you think you are, a little devil?!"
"He is a piece of meat in our mouths!"
"Show your courage and chew up all the little devil's flesh and bones for me!"
"Remember, when we meet on a narrow road, the brave wins!"
Zhao Gang was the first to take the lead in applauding fiercely, "Okay! Comrade Li Yunlong said it well!"
The soldiers also clapped and shouted loudly, "When we meet on a narrow road, the brave wins!"
Li Yunlong looked at Zhao Gang in surprise, frowned slightly, and twitched the corner of his mouth, "No, why are you really just thinking about it?!"
Li Yunlong took a look at him and immediately felt a little unhappy, "Here comes another white-faced scholar!"
Li Yunlong waved to the soldiers, "Haha, okay, everyone, let's go practice formation!"
Li Yunlong led the monk and Huzi towards Zhao Gang. With a quick thought, he had already figured out how to arrange the political commissar.
Zhao Gang strode forward to greet him and saluted solemnly, "Hello, Comrade Li Yunlong, my name is Zhao Gang. I am your future work partner. Please give me your advice!"
After speaking, Zhao Gang took the initiative to reach out to Li Yunlong and wanted to shake his hand.
Li Yunlong tilted his head and looked Zhao Gang up and down with empty eyes. His hands were still behind his back and he had no intention of shaking hands with Zhao Gang.
This made the smile on Zhao Gang's face fade away. He took back his hand and began to make preparations in his heart. It seemed that the brigade commander was right, this was a protracted battle.
However, this identity still needs to be recognized. Li Yunlong chuckled and said, "Haha, Political Commissar Zhao must have had a hard time along the way."
Li Yunlong turned around and looked at Huzi, "Huzi, let our political commissar make arrangements and let them have a good rest!"
Zhao Gang rejected Li Yunlong's arrangement, "It doesn't have to be like this. It's been a smooth journey. I still hope to start work as soon as possible!"
Li Yunlong nodded, "Haha, Political Commissar Zhao is indeed an excellent cadre, so be it!"
"This is the first time we have met. In order to carry out the work better, let's agree first that the military and political affairs should be separated, and we can each do our own thing!"
Li Yunlong clasped his hands behind his back and leaned forward, "From now on, I have the final say on war matters, and you have the final say on life matters. Is that okay?!"
Zhao Gang knew that this was already a good breakthrough, which showed that Comrade Li Yunlong was only worried about his own ability and would hold back the team, and did not have the idea of an independent mountain.
"Of course there is no problem with everyone performing their duties. As long as it does not violate principles, I will support Comrade Li Yunlong's decision!"
"However, I still have to take care of things within the political commissar's responsibilities!"
Li Yunlong glanced at Zhao Gang in surprise, but he didn't refute himself, but this was a good thing!
"Haha, well, you have also seen Political Commissar Zhao. We have just recruited a lot of new recruits. This political and ideological work will cause a lot of trouble for you!"
"No trouble, I should complete this!" Zhao Gang was very motivated.
Li Yunlong pointed at Huzi, "Okay, then I'll leave it to you, the political commissar. If you need anything, tell Huzi, and I'll assign him to you as a guard!"
