Chapter 167: Absorbing the Troops 3

Watching Zhang Wancai being "escorted" away by the guards, Wang Tieniu couldn't help but raise his thumb: "Brigade Commander, that move of yours is truly superb! What does your Luo Uncle call this technique again?"

"Psychological game." Li Nian'an swayed his little notebook proudly, "My Luo Uncle also taught me that to deal with stingy people, you must strike the snake at the seven‑inch point. They care most about money, but they care even more about their lives. As long as you grasp that balance, ninety‑five percent of their assets can't escape."

In the next few hours, a series of dramas unfolded along the Suzhou River.

When hardware merchant Zhao Dezhu was "invited" over, he stuck his neck out and refused to admit anything: "I, Zhao Dezhu, act righteously and sit upright, I have only a hundred thousand in capital—believe it or not!"

Li Nian'an remained calm, pulling a slip of paper from his chest: "Boss Zhao, you have 150,000 deposited at HSBC in the French Concession, 80,000 at the Citibank in the British Concession, and thirty gold bars buried under your bedroom floor. Shall I send someone to dig them up for verification?"

Zhao Dezhu was stunned, and after a while he wept, his face mournful: "Young Master Li, you… you are taking my life!"

"Boss Zhao, you're being dramatic," Li Nian'an smiled harmlessly, "I'm actually saving your life. When the Japanese attack, these money would just become cheap for outsiders, right? Better donate them to the nation for the anti‑Japanese cause, and you'll keep a good reputation."

The most spectacular part was dealing with the opium dealer Qian Youcai. The old slickster immediately played the poor man: "Young Master Li, although I, Qian Youcai, once dealt in opium, I've long washed my hands of it! Now my household is so poor it rattles, I can barely afford rice!"

Li Nian'an was unperturbed and ordered the guard: "Invite the money boss to the side room to rest; give him a proper reception."

Calling it a reception was a ruse; they locked him inside, while soldiers set off a few firecrackers outside, pretending to be Japanese artillery. Yet after half an hour, Qian Youcai was terrified, shaking and urinating, pounding the door and shouting: "I'll donate! I'll donate everything! I have three properties in the concessions and two hundred gold bars; I'll give them all to the nation for the anti‑Japanese cause!"

As the sunset faded and the mist cleared, Li Nian'an stood in the underground vault of the Huaxia Bank branch, gazing at the mountain of silver yuan, gold bars, and US dollars, his mouth stretched almost to his ears.

Wang Tieniu came running, clutching the ledger, excited: "Brigade Commander, the tally is in! We've collected 23 million silver yuan, 320 gold bars, and 800 000 US dollars—about ninety‑five percent of those capitalists' total assets!"

"Beautiful!" Li Nian'an clapped his hands lightly, recalling his Luo Uncle's "Aftercare Key", and ordered, "Distribute the passes, send the brothers to escort them to the concessions. To the outside world, say these bosses voluntarily donated to support the anti‑war effort, giving them a bit of face."

At that moment, a guard hurried in: "Young commander, Commander Li has sent a telegram inquiring about the progress here on the Suzhou River."

Li Nian'an took the telegram, thought briefly, and wrote back a line: "We have raised a certain amount of anti‑war troops' pay, all from voluntary civilian donations; father, do not worry." After writing, he laughed—if his father knew how many "Luo Uncle Style" tactics he'd used, he'd be unsure whether to praise his cleverness or scold his nonsense.

Dusk deepened, and the small steamboat on the Suzhou River carried the capitalists and their remaining half‑finished belongings, slowly heading toward the concessions. Li Nian'an stood at the bridgehead, watching the intermittent artillery in the distance, calculating: this money is enough to outfit his troops with the finest German gear and stock six months of supplies. If Luo Uncle knew he had applied the "Art of Negotiation" to the anti‑Japanese rescue of the nation, he would surely be pleased.

"Brothers, pack up, return to camp!" he turned and shouted to the guards, "We'll take this money to equip our frontline comrades with the best gear and drive those little devils back to their Eastern home!"

The evening breeze brushed by, fluttering the edge of his uniform. Li Nian'an felt that this trip along the Suzhou River had not only secured troops' pay but also harvested confidence in victory. All of this owed thanks to Luo Uncle's month‑long meticulous teaching—indeed, knowledge is power, especially knowledge that makes people willingly part with their money.

Late at night, the 259th Brigade headquarters. "Brigade Commander, you're about to offend all our allies!" Chief of Staff Wang Weilin said, looking at the room full of gold and silver, both delighted and worried.

Li Nian'an nonchalantly counted the gold bars: "What's there to fear? My father is the Third War Zone Commander; who dares to say no?"

"But Brigade Commander, today the 87th Division commander sent someone to ask, saying they lost another Artillery Company…"

"What Artillery Company of theirs?" Li Nian'an's eyes widened, "They're friendly troops who got lost; I feel sorry for them, so we'll temporarily shelter them. Go, send twenty crates of grenades to the 87th Division and say it's a token of goodwill from the 259th Brigade."

Wang Weilin could only laugh and cry: "And the Fourth Army…"

"The Fourth Army need not worry," Li Nian'an waved his hand, "Their army commander Wu Qiwei is a good colleague of my father; last year he even got a requisition from my father for equipment. Go, send them ten light machine guns to shut their mouths."

As he spoke, the Adjutant rushed in, excited: "Brigade Commander, we just intercepted a Japanese transport convoy and seized a batch of canned food and medicines!"

Li Nian'an's eyes lit up: "Quick, send half the medicines to the field hospital, claim they're my personal donation. Keep the canned food; tonight we'll give the brothers an extra meal!"

Wang Weilin couldn't help shaking his head: "Brigade Commander, your ability to take in with the left hand and give out with the right is getting more and more skillful."

"That's called Overall Coordination," Li Nian'an declared confidently, "My Luo Uncle once said that resources must flow to create value. Fighting on the front lines is the greatest value, isn't it?"

Night fell, and the scent of canned meat drifted over the 259th Brigade's positions. Li Nian'an inspected the camp, watching the soldiers eat heartily, and mentally planned how to "comfort" the 51st Division, which had just suffered a defeat, tomorrow.

"Brigade Commander," a fresh‑faced soldier suddenly stood up, "thank you for the canned food!"

Li Nian'an patted his shoulder: "Eat well; only when you're full will you have the strength to fight the devils."

Stepping out of the tent, he gazed at the star‑filled sky and let out a light laugh. In these chaotic times, one must know how to fight and how to "make money," be able to act as a gentleman and also become a "bandit." And Li Nian'an, of all people, insisted on playing both contradictory roles to perfection.

After all, Luo Uncle never taught him how to be a modest gentleman on the battlefield.