SWDnovel Chapter 11 The Wine That Scammed the Logistics Minister
Chapter 11 The Wine That Scammed the Logistics Minister
Logistics Department of the 129th Division Headquarters.
The Logistics Department's arsenal was located in Gucun, Shanxi, deep in the Taihang Mountains. It was the first arsenal in southern Hebei and produced a large number of weapons, ammunition, and daily necessities for the 129th Division of the Eighth Route Army.
During the joint construction by the military and civilians, soap factories, clothing factories, gun factories, landmine factories, woolen factories, military canteens, and other facilities were scattered throughout the village and in ancient temples.
The guns, ammunition, clothing, and footwear produced by the arsenal were continuously transported from the village to the front line. The supplies were mainly supplied to the division headquarters, the 386th Brigade, and the 385th Brigade.
The primary person in charge of the arsenal was naturally Zhang Wanhe, Li Yunlong's fellow townsman.
Wang Yousheng followed Li Yunlong from the direction of Lijiapo, and it took them three days to reach the arsenal.
The journey was long, which led to Li Yunlong's classic line: "The division headquarters is hundreds of kilometers away from us. By the time we get back after asking for instructions, the cucumbers will be cold..."
Most of the buildings in the ancient village still retain traces of the Ming and Qing dynasties. As Wang Yousheng walked along the village path, he saw ancient watchtowers, gun parts factories, gun assembly factories, grenade factories, radio headquarters, soap factories, and so on.
Finally, we arrived at the logistics department's office building.
It was called an office building, but it was actually just a mud-brick house. The yard was full of potholes and piled up with supplies everywhere.
When Wang Yousheng followed Li Yunlong to the door of the logistics department office, he saw Zhang Wanhe coming out of it.
Zhang Wanhe laughed and said, "Oh? Isn't this Li Yunlong? You've finally decided to report for duty?"
Zhang Wanhe, a native of the Dabie Mountains, was a well-known logistics manager of the 129th Division.
He demonstrated exceptional logistical management skills during his time in the army, and it's said that while crossing the grasslands, he even secretly discussed with Li Yunlong the idea of letting his troops plunder grain...
Li Yunlong glanced at Zhang Wanhe, snapped to attention, saluted, and said, "New recruit Li Yunlong reporting for duty to Minister Zhang!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the soldiers in the courtyard all looked over, their faces showing surprise. They thought to themselves, "Is this Li Yunlong, who went head-to-head with the Sakata Brigade?"
"Wang Yousheng! Reporting for duty!" Wang Yousheng also saluted hurriedly.
"Hilarious!" Zhang Wanhe grinned and said, "Li Yunlong, don't be so upset. The commander-in-chief is criticizing you because he cares about you. Perform well in my logistics department, and headquarters will transfer you to the front lines soon."
Upon hearing this, Wang Yousheng was taken aback, thinking to himself that Zhang Wanhe truly lived up to his reputation as the head of logistics, giving Li Yunlong ample face.
It should be noted that although Li Yunlong became famous after the Battle of Cangyunling, some friendly comrades gossiped behind his back, saying that Li Yunlong was spoiled by headquarters and dared to disobey orders on the battlefield.
When Li Yunlong was demoted to the clothing factory, some comrades in the logistics department were bound to gossip. Zhang Wanhe's words not only gave Li Yunlong a way out, but also told the comrades that Li Yunlong would be transferred back to the battlefield in the future, so no one should gossip.
Li Yunlong laughed heartily and said, "Then thank you, Minister Zhang."
"Come on, come in with me."
Zhang Wanhe waved his hand and led the two into the office.
The office consisted of only a desk and chair, a small cabinet, and a wooden standing filing cabinet. Compared to the front-line battlefield command post, the logistics department's office appeared somewhat monotonous.
As soon as Li Yunlong entered the room, he smelled an odor and his eyes immediately fell on the small cabinet next to the filing cabinet.
When Wang Yousheng transmigrated, he was also a person who loved drinking. The smell wasn't strong, but he could still detect it.
This smells like wine...
Seeing that no one was around, Li Yunlong said without any politeness, "Old Zhang, did you secretly drink some alcohol just now?"
Zhang Wanhe immediately stopped in his tracks, thinking to himself: Damn it, this drunkard still managed to smell it.
He immediately feigned composure and said, "No, no, where's the smell of alcohol? I've been very busy with work lately, I haven't had time to drink."
"Hehe..." Li Yunlong revealed a comical smile.
Li Yunlong was fond of drinking, and everyone in the 129th Division knew this. It was rumored that whenever they fought against the Japanese and puppet troops, besides guns and ammunition, Li Yunlong's favorite thing to capture was the enemy's Fenjiu and Zhuojiu liquor.
Li Yunlong said, "Don't lie to me. I smelled it when we were talking just now. Old Zhang, you're not being honest. Your old comrade is here, and you're hiding it. Are we still fellow villagers?"
Zhang Wanhe said awkwardly, "Ahem, Li Yunlong, you're here to report for duty. Anyone who didn't know better would think you're here to take over my position as logistics minister."
"Stop talking nonsense and get it out. I haven't had a taste of alcohol for days, I'm dying to breathe it."
After Li Yunlong finished speaking, he glared angrily at Zhang Wanhe, looking like he wouldn't give up until he got the answer.
At this point, Zhang Wanhe finally couldn't help but laugh, his hearty laughter filling the entire office.
Zhang Wanhe waved his hand helplessly, "Alright, alright, you were just dismissed, you must be resentful."
As he spoke, Zhang Wanhe took out a bottle of Fenjiu liquor from the cabinet and continued, "This bottle of liquor is a welcome gift for you."
"Hmm, not bad, this is the kind of fellow villager Old Li would have liked, hehe..."
Throughout the entire process, Wang Yousheng was an outsider, but watching his two superiors act silly and joke around was quite amusing.
Chinese culture is profound and extensive. Li Yunlong's handover ceremony as director of the clothing factory was also held over a dinner.
Wang Yousheng's official rank was not high to begin with. He was originally supposed to be by Li Yunlong's side, but Li Yunlong valued him highly. Over time, Wang Yousheng also ended up at the dinner table.
Of course, drinking alcohol is not allowed in the office.
It was lunchtime, and Zhang Wanhe led the two back to his room. The three of them sat around the kang (a heated brick bed) and drank heartily.
After downing half a jin of Fenjiu liquor, Li Yunlong was already quite drunk. Taking advantage of his intoxication, he asked, "Old Zhang, what happened to Zhou Dafu? How did they fall for the Japanese devils' trap?"
Upon hearing this, Zhang Wanhe's eyes welled up with tears.
He sighed, "It's terrible. Three months ago, Lao Zhou learned from the security officer that a batch of cotton was left in Guantai Town. He went there to receive it, but they were ambushed by the Japanese! None of the more than thirty comrades he brought survived."
"Damn it!"
Snapped!
Enraged, Li Yunlong slammed his fist on the table, knocking over the empty wine bowl.
Seeing the regimental commander suddenly lose his temper, Wang Yousheng couldn't help but ask, "Regimental Commander, who is this Comrade Zhou?"
Li Yunlong swallowed hard and said, "The director of the clothing factory is also from my hometown. He slept next to me when we crossed the grasslands."
"Commander, we need to find a way to get revenge," Wang Yousheng blurted out.
This was his true thought. He had been here for more than half a month and had witnessed two major battles. Only then did he realize how brutal the Japanese were.
Countless comrades have died under the Japanese devils' swords. Given the chance, we must make the Japanese devils pay for their blood debts.
Li Yunlong nodded and then asked, "Old Zhang, tell me what happened."
Seeing how agitated the two were, Zhang Wanhe didn't think much of it and recounted what had happened.