Chapter 166

After hearing Chief of Staff Wang Weilin finish speaking, Li Nian'an didn't even raise an eyebrow: "Where is the Fifth Army's supply convoy?"

"Just passed Qingpu, expected to arrive tonight. However," it is assigned to the 87th Division.

"When it arrives, seize it." Li Nian'an finally sat up, buckled his uniform, "Just say the th Brigade was ordered to requisition supplies, urgently needing equipment."

Chief of Staff Wang Weilin showed a troubled expression: "But Brigade Commander, over at the 87th Division's commander…"

"Let him come find me," Li Nian'an sneered, "Just say it was me, Li Nian'an, who wants the equipment, and have him come personally to take it."

At that moment, a clamor came from outside. The Adjutant hurried in: "Brigade Commander, an Artillery Company from the Fourth Army got lost and entered our defense sector."

Li Nian'an's eyes lit up: "Lost? Isn't that a fat sheep walking right to our door? Go, invite their company commander for tea, and have the guard company 'help' watch the equipment."

"Brigade Commander, this… after all they're allies! …"

"Now we're all anti-Japanese forces, what's the distinction between you and me?" Li Nian'an said with righteous confidence, "Go quickly!"

At dusk, the Fifth Army's supply convoy entered the th Brigade's defense sector, only to be stopped by a company soldier. The leading Major jumped out of the vehicle, fuming: "We are ordered to deliver supplies to the 87th Division; what do you mean by this?"

A battalion commander of the th Brigade smiled: "Sir, calm down. Our Brigade Commander said, please have the brothers rest a moment and have some hot tea."

"Nonsense! This is wartime!" The Major was about to erupt when he suddenly saw Li Nian'an strolling over with a guard.

"Major Wang, long time no see," Li Nian'an said warmly, patting his shoulder, "I heard you were promoted? Congratulations, congratulations."

"Brigade Commander Li, this batch of supplies was specially approved by the military headquarters for the 87th Division, please take a look…"

"Hey, we're all fighting the devils, what's yours and mine?" Li Nian'an clasped the Major and walked toward the command post, "Come, come, I just got a few bottles of fine wine, let's catch up."

Two hours later, Major Wang left, drunk and leading an empty vehicle. The th Brigade's warehouse now held twenty Czech Light Machine Guns, fifty thousand rounds of ammunition, and three hundred boxes of grenades.

On the morning of October 5, 1937, the mist was as thick as milk, so dense it would not disperse, covering the ruined scenery on both banks of the Suzhou River with an ambiguous veil. Li Nian'an rode a magnificent dark‑red horse, his brand‑new Major General uniform making his face look like polished jade; if not for the mud specks on his combat boots from the front line, anyone would think he was a wealthy young master out for a spring outing.

"Brigade Commander, everything is set!" Battalion Commander Wang Tieniu's rough voice shook the mist itself. "Three bridges and two fords are all under our men's watch, the guns are loaded, I guarantee not even a mouse could slip through!"

Li Nian'an leisurely pulled a gilt‑bordered little notebook from his chest, opened to a page densely filled with names, each accompanied by strange symbols: "Zhang Wancai, textile mill owner, assets of one million, most afraid of his wife…" "Zhao Dezhu, hardware merchant, miser to death, money hidden under the bedroom floor…" "Qian Youcai, opium dealer, three rabbit holes, three properties in the concession…"

This information was personally arranged for him by his father's intelligence officer, Tang Zhong, a Sixth Class graduate of Huangpu, who sent agents disguised as concession firm clerks and spent three days gathering the details—more thorough than the Third War Zone's operational map.

"Battalion Commander Wang, remember this," Li Nian'an said, his voice warm and refined like a teacher. "We are conducting a 'War‑time Relief, Recruiting Military Pay', not a robbery. Speak politely, don't frighten them—of course, if anyone refuses to be courteous, we'll invoke my father's title; if that still fails, we'll claim Japan will strike in two hours."

Wang Tieniu scratched his head, a puzzled expression on his face. "Brigade Commander, your father is Commander Li, commanding five hundred thousand troops; wouldn't those Capitalists hand over the money as soon as they hear that name? Why go through such elaborate steps?"

"You don't understand that," Li Nian'an sighed lightly, recalling Uncle Luo's teaching of the Art of Negotiation from his time in the United States. "Uncle Luo said that to make people willingly part with money, you either show them profit or instill fear. In today's situation, fear works better than profit, but you mustn't press them too hard, or the fish die and the net breaks, and we won't catch a single one."

Just then, a squad of guards escorted a middle‑aged man in a silk‑brocade riding coat and gold‑thread glasses. His complexion was ghastly, his grip on a briefcase so tight it seemed to contain his Lifeblood. He was Zhang Wancai, the one on the list marked 'assets of one million, timid as a mouse.'

"Li—Li Young Master!" Zhang Wancai's legs went weak, nearly dropping to his knees. "I am patriotic! Just last month I donated two hundred silver dollars to the front line!"

Li Nian'an deftly dismounted, reached out to steady him, his smile warm as a spring breeze. "I'm well aware of Boss Zhang's patriotic heart; otherwise I wouldn't be waiting here on purpose." He pointed toward the faint sound of artillery in the distance. "Listen, Japan will strike as soon as they speak; if your factory, shop, and your family's gold and silver valuables fall into Japan's hands, it will be total ruin."

Zhang Wancai's face grew even paler, beads of sweat streaming down his temples. "What… what should we do? I want to take my family to the concession for refuge, but the brothers guarding the bridge won't let us pass!"

"Easy enough," Li Nian'an said, taking a stack of crudely printed bonds from the guard. "These are wartime emergency bonds specially approved by the Third War Zone. If you subscribe, I'll issue you a special pass and dispatch a platoon of brothers to escort your entire family to the concession, guaranteed safe."

Zhang Wancai took the bonds, his eyes widening. "How much do we need to subscribe?"

"Not much," Li Nian'an smiled like a sly fox. "Let's base it on 95% of your total assets. My Uncle Luo once taught me that knowing what to give up preserves the bigger picture. Think about it: keep half your fortune, secure the safety of your whole family, and receive bonds that double in value after the war—how advantageous is this deal?"

"Ninety‑five percent?!" Zhang Wancai nearly choked. "Young Master Li, that's far too much! I really can't come up with it!"

Li Nian'an's smile faded slightly, and he turned to Wang Tieniu, lifting his chin. "Battalion Commander Wang, we just received intel that the Japanese Vanguard Unit is only two li from Boss Zhang's factory. How about we withdraw the troops guarding the factory area? Save our brothers from a needless death."

"No, no, no!" Zhang Wancai shouted, hopping anxiously. "I'll donate! Isn't that enough?" He trembled as he fished a passbook and keys from his briefcase. "I have eighty Gold Bars at home and fifty thousand Silver Yuan in the bank—I'll give them all to you!"

Li Nian'an's eyes lit up, kindly patting Zhang Wancai's shoulder. "Boss Zhang truly understands the greater good! Rest assured, I'll send brothers to fetch them right away, and once collected, we'll take you to the concession immediately."