Chapter 53: Handing Over the Barefoot Doctor's Manual, Iron-Pot Stewed Goose Conquers the Brigade Commander

Ding Ling said calmly, “It’s my duty. If there’s nothing else, I’ll get back to work.”

Li Yunlong nodded. “Go ahead.”

The brigade commander watched the exchange in astonishment.

Since when had Li Yunlong become so gentle? And this young woman was rather aloof!

But what was this manual she had just handed over?

Ever since the Militia Military Training Manual had made an impression on him, the brigade commander had taken a keen interest in manuals.

After Ding Ling left, he couldn’t help asking, “Li Yunlong, who is that young woman? And how dare she give you the cold shoulder?”

Li Yunlong smiled. “She’s Ding Ling, a doctor at the regiment’s medical station.”

“Don’t let the fact that she’s a woman fool you—she’s an excellent doctor. That’s just how she is. She may seem cold, but she’s very kindhearted.”

“You’ll get used to her.”

“I see.” The brigade commander nodded, then asked curiously, “What was the manual she just handed over?”

Li Yunlong passed it to him. “It’s a medical handbook I came across by chance.”

“I hadn’t submitted it because I couldn’t yet verify that the information was accurate.”

“Now that Dr. Ding and the others have reviewed it and approved it, I think we can use it to improve the skills of our medical personnel.”

The brigade commander accepted the handbook, stunned. After hearing Li Yunlong’s explanation, it felt as though the book weighed a thousand pounds.

Our army lacked medical supplies, and the skills of our medical personnel were limited. As a result, our standards of medical care were poor.

When soldiers were seriously wounded, their survival often came down to sheer luck. If they couldn’t hold on, death was the only outcome.

And even when they did survive, the ordeal was agonizing to watch.

This had long been a source of worry for commanders like him. They had tried to improve matters, but with little success.

Li Yunlong’s words kindled a glimmer of hope.

“Li Yunlong, is this really true?”

Li Yunlong understood what was at stake, so he had been cautious. Otherwise, he would have submitted it along with the Militia Military Training Manual.

Now that Ding Ling and the other doctors had reviewed it, there was good reason to believe the Barefoot Doctor’s Manual could be put to use even at this time.

“Absolutely.”

“Still, I ask that you send it to headquarters for evaluation by qualified medical personnel.”

“If it checks out, I hope headquarters can arrange for it to be printed and distributed, and for medical personnel to be trained.”

With Li Yunlong’s confirmation, the brigade commander’s face lit up with excitement.

“Good! Very good!”

“Excellent! If this succeeds, it’ll be a major achievement. I’ll personally put in a commendation request for you with headquarters.”

Li Yunlong smiled. “Then I’ll thank you in advance, Commander.”

Li Yunlong wasn’t after a reward, but having the achievement officially recorded would add to his merits when the time came for promotions.

So he had no reason to refuse.

The brigade commander casually flipped through the Barefoot Doctor’s Manual. He didn’t understand every detail, but he was astonished by how accessible and comprehensive it was.

This really was a remarkable book!

Excellent!

“Li Yunlong, you really are a lucky fellow. Hahaha…”

“That’s right. I’ve always had good luck!” Li Yunlong laughed.

Just as Li Yunlong and the brigade commander were talking, Liu Yuan returned after arranging dinner.

“Commander, Regiment Commander, dinner is ready.”

Li Yunlong nodded and gestured toward the door.

“After you, Commander.”

“Now that you mention it, I’m getting hungry.” The brigade commander laughed and headed out without hesitation. He and Li Yunlong followed Liu Yuan to a nearby room.

Before they even entered, the rich smell of meat wafted out, and the brigade commander couldn’t help swallowing.

Inside, he saw a huge iron pot bubbling away. The savory aroma was coming from it.

Looking closely, he realized they were stewing goose.

Liu Yuan gestured toward the table. “Please, Commander.”

“We don’t have anything fancy—just goose stewed in an iron pot. I hope you won’t mind.”

The brigade commander looked delighted. “This is a rare treat. One dish is more than enough!”

Li Yunlong handed him a pair of chopsticks. “Commander, let me share in your good fortune and try this rare delicacy too.”

He took a bite.

As he ate, he praised the cooks, saying their skills had improved considerably.

The three of them enjoyed a pleasant meal together, chatting as they ate.

“This meat is stewed to perfection!”

“…”

“Li Yunlong, since the Japanese Third Regiment has set its sights on you, you’ll need to be careful.”

“That Third Regiment is one of the enemy’s elite units. Back then, it chased two divisions of the Central Army all over the place…”

Li Yunlong nodded as he listened, then replied with fervor and confidence, “The Third Regiment doesn’t scare me. Even if the Japanese Emperor’s own guards came, we’d fight them just the same!”

“We make a point of taking on the enemy’s best!”

“Now that’s the spirit!” the brigade commander praised him.

“When you really defeat the Third Regiment, I’ll personally put in a request for you to be commended by headquarters!”

Li Yunlong seized the opportunity. “Then it’s a deal!”

An hour later, they had finally finished eating. The brigade commander and Li Yunlong strolled together as he explained the current situation.

Li Yunlong gained a fresh understanding of the state of affairs.

Overall, the situation was extremely grave.

In addition to Japanese raids on our bases, friendly forces were also hemming us in and laying obstacles in our path.

By his reckoning, in two months the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army would launch an encirclement campaign against the New Army led by our forces.

From what the brigade commander said, it seemed our army had already sensed what was coming.

“Li Yunlong, keep your eyes open whenever you’re on the move. Understand?”

Li Yunlong nodded at the warning. “Understood!”

“Don’t worry. I won’t let them take advantage of me.”

“I’m not worried about you,” the brigade commander said with a smile, his tone grave. “But you have to keep the larger picture in mind. We must never let anyone accuse us of breaking the united front.”

“And the situation is far from favorable. We have to turn our guns in one direction and face the enemy…”

Li Yunlong nodded. “I’ll be careful.”

As the two walked and talked, the brigade commander’s gaze fell on a position in the distance, and his attention was drawn to it.

It was one of the New First Regiment’s positions, equipped with a twenty-millimeter autocannon.

Its main purpose was to guard against low-flying enemy aircraft and to engage enemy troops approaching on the ground.

“Li Yunlong, I didn’t realize you’d already put autocannons into service.”

“Good. This will strengthen your defenses considerably.”

Li Yunlong explained, “This is only on the outer perimeter of my arsenal. It’ll help to some extent, but we still need to stay on our guard.”

“Since you’re here, Commander, I take it you’ve come about the arsenal?”

“You’re a sharp one.” The brigade commander nodded.

“The New First Regiment is close to the arsenal. If anything happens, we’ll need your men to provide support at once.”

“Of course,” Li Yunlong agreed. “You know how the New First Regiment is deployed. We can help protect the arsenal to a certain extent.”

“Good.” The brigade commander nodded.

He then inspected the soldiers’ proficiency with the autocannons. Seeing how skillfully they operated them, he praised them.

After that, he returned to base to rest.

The next day.

Just after dawn, the brigade commander was jolted awake by a voice brimming with hope.

He followed the sound, and the sight before him left him rooted to the spot.

This…

…

Bonus chapter. The rules are the same as before.