Chapter 169: Absorbing Troops 5

At the same time, the Japanese 11th Division headquarters. "What? Chinese Army 259th Brigade has relocated?"

Shanshi Zongwu, a lieutenant general, stared at the map, his face full of disbelief.

Chief of Staff Tanaka Takayoshi handed over a report: "Yes, General. According to the scouts, the 259th Brigade, during its relocation, carried a huge amount of supplies, with a convoy stretching for miles."

Shanshi Zongwu furrowed his brow: "That Li Nian'an, what tricks is he up to now?"

Lately, the 259th Brigade has become a thorn in the side of Japanese commanders. This unit, barely ten thousand strong, is not only fiercely combat‑effective but also behaves extremely oddly. Sometimes it fights more ferociously than a regular division; other times it vanishes suddenly, only to reappear in an unexpected location.

"General, I think this is an opportunity," Tanaka suggested. "After the 259th Brigade's relocation, there will be a gap on the Suzhou River defensive line, and we could …"

"No!" Shanshi Zongwu cut him off abruptly. "That Li Nian'an is too cunning! This is likely a trap to lure the enemy!"

He recalled previous encounters with the 259th Brigade: each time they thought they had seized a weakness, they ended up falling into a trap. Once they assumed the brigade's ammunition was exhausted and launched a final assault, only to be battered by hidden fire points; another time they flanked the brigade, only to find the side already littered with mines.

"Order the troops to hold off the attack," Shanshi Zongwu said gravely. "First find out exactly what Li Nian'an is up to!"

October 15, Qingpu, the 259th Brigade's new defensive zone. "Brigade Commander, the numbers are in!" Wang Tieniu ran in, elated. "With this relocation, we 'Requisitioned' thirty‑six light and heavy Heavy Machine Guns, two hundred boxes of ammunition, five radios, and … uh … two trucks of allied rice and three trucks of clothing."

Li Nian'an nodded with satisfaction. "Not bad, not bad. Split those rice and clothing, half to the newly incorporated wounded‑troop camp."

Wang Weilin handed over a telegram, worry etched on his face: "Brigade Commander, this just arrived. The 87th Division, the Fourth Army, and the 36th Division jointly protested to the Military Commission, claiming we used the pretext of relocation to commit robbery …"

"Nonsense!" Li Nian'an snatched the telegram. "I call this Resource Optimization Allocation! You reply, saying the supplies are temporarily under the 259th Brigade's Custody on Behalf, and will be returned once the fighting stabilizes."

"But Brigade Commander, we've already said that many times …"

"Then say it again!" Li Nian'an waved dismissively. "By the way, I heard the 51st Division just suffered a defeat and is recuperating nearby?"

Wang Weilin became instantly alert: "Brigade Commander, please stop scheming against the 51st Division! The principal has already flared up …"

"What are you thinking?" Li Nian'an said with righteous air. "Am I that kind of person? I intend to visit the allies! Go, prepare a few trucks of captured Japanese canned food; I'll go personally to see the brothers of the 51st Division!"

Three days later, the 51st Division commander, "teary‑eyed with gratitude," "lent" two fully formed battalions to the 259th Brigade, also gifting five mortars. The condition: thirty trucks of Japanese supplies and a promise to return them after the war.

The news reached Jinling; the principal was so angry he swept all the documents off his desk onto the floor.

"That Li Nian'an! Does he intend to turn the entire Songhu Battlefield's forces into his own logistics depot?!"

Chen Cheng forced a wry smile and advised: "Principal, calm down. Li Xuewen's methods are … unusual, but the 259th Brigade's combat power is indeed formidable. In the Suzhou River battle, they held off two Japanese regiments' successive attacks …"

"That's a different matter!" the principal's anger lingered. "Look at these reports: seizing allied positions, intercepting military supplies, unilaterally incorporating troops … how many times now? I usually try to rein him in. Now he even takes their rice and clothing! Does he want to be a bandit?"

"Principal, actually …" Chen Cheng said cautiously, "Li Xuewen's actions, though irregular, have indeed boosted the 259th Brigade's combat strength. Moreover, the seized supplies have truly been used for the Anti‑Japanese effort …"

The principal sank heavily back into his chair, massaging his temples. He recalled the days when he led Li Xuewen, remembering his obedient, cute childhood self—how did he grow into this?

"Tell Jingxing," he finally said helplessly, "to keep an eye on his son! If this continues, Military Law will intervene!"

October 20, the 259th Brigade headquarters. Li Nian'an looked at the Ultimatum his father had sent via a messenger and smiled dismissively.

【7】 "Brigade Commander, the Commander seems truly angry this time," Wang Weilin said anxiously.

"Brigade Commander, the Commander this time really seems to have gotten angry," Wang Weilin said, worried.

"Angry about what?" Li Nian'an tossed the telegram into the fire pit. "If he's really furious, it won't be a telegram that comes, but people from Military Law."

He walked to the map, his finger tracing several sector numbers around the new defensive zone: "I heard the 78th Division just received a batch of fresh recruits?"

"Brigade Commander! Please don't …" Wang Weilin was on the verge of crying.

"What are you thinking?" Li Nian'an glared at him. "Am I that greedy person? Go, prepare a few trucks of Japanese sake; I'll go to visit the new‑recruit brothers."

Wang Weilin: "……"

At that moment, a runner delivered an urgent telegram: the Japanese launched a massive offensive, the allied front collapsed, and higher command ordered the 259th Brigade to rush to the rescue.

Li Nian'an finished reading the telegram, a faint smile curling his lips. "Finally, a big deal. Dispatch: the whole brigade departs! Remember, fighting is secondary; the priority is to 'Requisition' the equipment the allies abandoned!"

Wang Weilin couldn't help reminding, "Brigade Commander, this order comes directly from the principal himself …"

"That's why we must go!" Li Nian'an declared confidently. "Otherwise how can we live up to the principal's trust?"

Watching the grand departure of the troops, Wang Weilin shook his head helplessly. This young brigade commander is a skilled combatant, but his opportunistic nature makes people love and hate him.

However, in the Songhu Battlefield's Blood and Flesh Mill, perhaps a commander who defies convention is exactly what's needed to carve a way out of a desperate situation. It's just hard on the allies; every time the 259th Brigade "passes through," they lose a layer of skin.

Japanese 11th Division headquarters. "General! Latest intel! Chinese Army 259th Brigade has moved again!"

Shanshi Zongwu sprang to his feet. "Which direction did they go?"

"Seems they're heading toward Luodian … but their march is slow, as if they're … collecting something along the way …"

Shanshi Zongwu and the Chief of Staff stared at each other, each seeing confusion and caution in the other's eyes.

What on earth is this Li Nian'an up to?