Chapter 168: Incorporating Troops 4

October 13, Third War Zone Headquarters: "Unbelievable! Absolutely unbelievable!"

Li Yuxuan slapped the mahogany desk, making the tea cups clang. The mountain‑high pile of complaint letters slipped to the floor with a whoosh, and a few stood out— a "Blood‑Crying Petition" written in vermilion brush by the Division Commander of the 87th Division, an "Extremely Urgent" stamped with the private seal of the Army Commander of the Fourth Army, and even the quartermaster office sent a politely worded "Abnormal Material Flow Report". How many times has this happened?

The Chief of Staff carefully picked up the scattered letters, grimacing, "Commander, Xuewen really caused a big mess this time. Yesterday he Requisitioned an entire wounded‑soldier battalion of the 54th Army, personnel and equipment alike; the Division Commander reported it straight to the principal. I heard the principal smashed a cup in his office..."

Li Yuxuan massaged his throbbing temples, feeling a headache like never before in his life. He recalled another call he received this morning—a call from Madam Song herself; her tone was gentle, yet she was subtly urging him to keep an eye on that "mischievous little fellow".

"That damn thing…," Li Yuxuan gritted his teeth, "I haven't settled the money‑skimming he did on the Suzhou River, and now he's outright looting!"

"Commander, actually Li Nian'an's intentions were good…" the Chief of Staff tried to smooth things over, "The th Brigade fought bravely on the Suzhou River, but now its manpower is insufficient; absorbing some stragglers is understandable…"

"Understandable?" Li Yuxuan snapped to his feet, "He took the wounded‑soldier battalion of the 54th Army! Those wounded can barely walk, yet he forced them into the Logistics Department! The Division Commander said he even swiped two stretchers!"

The Chief of Staff suppressed a smile, cleared his throat, "So… what do we do now? The principal must give an explanation."

Li Yuxuan let out a long sigh and weakly sank back into his chair. His son is a fine combatant, but his feather‑picking temperament is even more excessive than in his youth.

"Relay my order," he finally gestured helplessly, "Have the th Brigade immediately relocate to Qingpu for rest. Say… say that the unit fought bravely on the Suzhou River and needs to rest and resupply."

The Chief of Staff was taken aback, "Commander, the section of the Suzhou River the th Brigade is defending is a key position…"

"Execute the order!" Li Yuxuan glared at him, "If we keep him on the front line, all the Third War Zone's allies will be stripped away by him!"

That night, the th Brigade headquarters shouted "Relocate?" Li Nian'an slammed the order onto the desk, making the tea cup jump, "The old man is trying to throw us under the bus! We fought for our lives on the Suzhou River, and now he wants us to make way for newcomers?"

The Adjutant carefully urged, "Brigade Commander, the commander's doing this for your good. I heard the principal has already inquired; if this continues…"

"What about the principal?" Li Nian'an glared, "I, Li Nian'an, sit upright and everything is for the Anti‑Japanese cause! Go ask whether the equipment I seized is being used to fight the Japanese! Whether the troops I absorbed are bleeding and dying on the front line?"

Wang Weilin gave a wry smile and handed over a list, "Brigade Commander, this is the material list we 'Requisitioned' this month. One wounded‑soldier battalion of the 54th Army, two Artillery Companies of the 87th Division, six trucks of ammunition from the Fourth Army, five Heavy Machine Guns from the 36th Division… Also, this morning did you again detain a transport unit of the Tax Police Corps?"

Li Nian'an's expression remained unchanged, "Can we call that a detention? Those allies got lost; we're just taking them in temporarily! Moreover, those young officers of the Tax Police Corps hiding in the rear with the best gear—does that make sense?"

He suddenly twitched his eye, a sly grin curling his mouth, "Since we're relocating, we can't leave empty‑handed. Send orders to each regiment to prepare for relocation. However… before we go, we should leave some souvenirs for the allies."

Wang Tieniu asked eagerly, "Brigade Commander, are we to leave gifts for the allies?"

"Exactly!" Li Nian'an waved his hand, "Relay my order: the 1st Regiment is to 'Requisition' the Field Telephone Line of the 36th Division, the 2nd Regiment to 'help' move the surplus ammunition of the 87th Division, the 3rd Regiment to see what equipment the Fourth Army still needs 'Custody on Behalf' of. Remember, act quickly and with good attitude!"

At midnight, the moonlight hazed over the Suzhou River defensive line, and the th Brigade's positions were bustling with shadows—quite lively.

"Hurry, hurry! Load those boxes of shells onto the trucks!"

"We need that Heavy Machine Gun too—just say we're taking it into Custody on Behalf!"

"Don't leave the Barbed Wire either—dismantle and pack it!"

Li Nian'an personally commanded on site, looking like a chief overseer of a moving company. Seeing the soldiers of the 3rd Battalion dismantling the 36th Division's Field Telephone Line, he reminded, "Take care when you dismantle, don't damage it; we'll need it again later!"

A regiment commander could no longer stand it, "Brigade Commander, this is the 36th Division's telephone line; what we're doing… isn't right, is it?"

"What's wrong with it?" Li Nian'an replied confidently, "These are Anti‑Japanese supplies now! Are we supposed to give them to the Japanese? I'm just easing the burden for our allies!"

At that moment, a staff officer from the 87th Division rushed over in a fury, "Brigade Commander Li! What are you doing? Why are you moving all our division's ammunition?"

Li Nian'an's smile was affable as he met him, "Staff Officer Zhang, you're just in time. We've been ordered to relocate; those ammunition piles here are too dangerous—if Japanese artillery hits them, it's a needless loss. We'll temporarily keep them for you and return them once we reach the new defensive area."

"But…"

"No 'but'," Li Nian'an kindly clapped his shoulder, "I heard your Division Commander has been unwell lately? I have top‑grade American Ginseng here; I'll get some for you to take back later."

Staff Officer Zhang was left speechless, half laughing, half crying, and before he could react, two "enthusiastic" guards "invited" him for tea.

In the early hours, the th Brigade finally left the defensive line it had tended for over a dozen days with Reluctant Parting. A long convoy loaded with various items under Custody on Behalf rolled majestically backward. Those unaware might think an entire army group was relocating.