Chapter 14: Join My Seventh Division of the Feng Army, and I’ll Bring the Veterans Home!
Just as Jiang Bai was pondering how to quickly gather weapons and equipment, Deputy Division Commander Wang Yijin offered a suggestion beside him.
“Commander, since we can’t resolve the issue of weapons and equipment for now, and the Seventh Division still has a shortfall of nearly ten thousand men, why don’t we begin recruitment first as part of the army’s reorganization?”
Jiang Bai, brought back to the present, smiled and replied, “Very well, we’ll split the tasks. Recruitment is in your hands. I’ll go secure some new equipment for the Seventh Division.”
New equipment?
This remark left both men slightly surprised—what was the commander planning?
The Western District was a gathering place for refugees in Chengyun City: already desolate, rife with violence and chaos. The establishment of the military depot had only made the disorder worse. Defeated soldiers and homeless wanderers were piled here like abandoned ruins, discarded without mercy.
“Honestly, switching to black market trading wouldn’t be so bad.”
Yet every time Milong closed his eyes, he saw the strong men from his village conscripted to the battlefield, their families in utter despair. He could never forget his younger brother, who during the Russo-Japanese War had gone to the border to work for the Bear Dynasty to support the family, only to be brutally murdered by the enemy and thrown into a cauldron of boiling oil.
Vengeance unfulfilled, no way home—this was the true state of mind for the defeated soldiers of the Chengyun Army.
But just as this thought arose, the roar of engines shattered Milong’s uneasy calm. The gates of the depot burst open under a violent impact, and several military trucks filled with military police stormed inside.
“Alert everyone, assemble at once!”
At Jiang Bai’s command, a squadron of heavily armed, grim-faced guards scattered, firing warning shots as they went.
“Assemble! The commander will address you! Gather immediately!”
In an instant, the entire depot was in an uproar.
“Damn it! These officials never let us have a moment’s peace!”
...
Amid the commotion, whether willing or not, everyone was herded to the depot’s perimeter.
Jiang Bai looked ahead, his expression calm as he addressed the defeated soldiers.
“I’m here to say just three things.”
“First, for those willing to join the Seventh Division of the Chengyun Army with me, all these white buns and pork vermicelli soup behind me will be yours!”
A guard pulled back the cover on a truck, revealing a load of steaming white buns, making every eye widen in disbelief. And the pots of piping hot pork vermicelli soup filled the air with savory aroma, driving the soldiers wild with hunger.
A swarm of starving soldiers pushed forward, shouting over each other:
“Commander! I’m willing! I’ll follow you as long as I can eat my fill!”
“If I get to eat this pork soup, even dying in battle tomorrow would be worth it!”
“Meat! I can finally eat meat again!”
...
In the midst of the clamor, several guards used loudspeakers to announce:
“If you want to eat your fill, come register over here!”
With thousands surging over, the depot was soon half empty.
“Men die for wealth, birds for food—this commander is really generous!”
A crippled, one-armed veteran hobbled over to the unmoved Milong and asked, “Hey kid, aren’t you going?”
“Go where?” Milong sprawled on his bamboo chair with a sneer. “Sell my life for a meal like cannon fodder?”
“If I wanted, I could eat every day! I’m not desperate for a single meal!”
Before Milong finished, Jiang Bai spoke again.
“You think that’s all? The best is yet to come!”
Milong turned in surprise.
Jiang Bai stood atop a truck, smiling kindly as he produced a rifle.
“Second, those who follow me will get this top-quality Mauser 1898 rifle!”
“And this Browning 190018 light machine gun—twenty rounds, light and agile!”
“It may predate the enemy’s Taisho 11 model, but it’s far superior!”
“Brand new uniforms, boots, socks, training suits, and winter coats will be issued the moment you reach camp!”
“We have anti-tank guns, field guns, mountain guns—equipment you know and equipment you don’t, the Seventh Division has it all!”
At the sight of these new firearms, even the hardened old soldiers could not hide their excitement.
None of them had expected this young commander to display such resolve!
With small arms alone, the outfit rivaled an elite unit—let alone with all the heavy weapons.
In these chaotic times, what soldier wouldn’t hope to join such a force? It meant much greater safety, and no longer being cannon fodder.
Even the promise of honor and achievement was enough to stir the hearts of countless battle-hardened men.
“Commander, is all this you’re saying true?” a dark-skinned, burly veteran in tattered clothes rasped.
“What if you go back on your word?”
“If I fail in any of my promises, you’re free to use your guns to end my life.”
At these words, the seasoned soldiers instantly placed their trust in Jiang Bai.
The atmosphere reached a fever pitch.
“All I ever dreamed of was a new rifle! Wang Sheng, former reconnaissance company commander of the 24th Brigade—saluting you, sir!”
“Me, Old Wang, I’ve lived my whole life and never worn a clean set of clothes! If you can give me that, my life is yours! Wang Mazi, former vanguard of the infantry regiment—saluting you, sir!”
“I’ll join too! With this gear, we’ll drive the invaders back to the sea!”
...
In a moment, thousands of battle-scarred veterans signed up.
Even Milong, who had been lounging listlessly on his bamboo chair, now showed a subtle change of expression.
He couldn’t take his eyes off the Browning 190018 light machine gun Jiang Bai was displaying, as if his very soul was drawn to it.
“Hey, old soldier,” Milong suddenly called out, “if I go over there, do you think I could get that gun?”
“With your build, of course you could.”
Even as Milong hesitated, Jiang Bai’s voice rang out again.
“I’ve said two things already. Now, let’s talk about the third!”
If Milong’s previous attitude toward Jiang Bai was indifferent, even somewhat scornful, now, as the third promise was about to be revealed, he listened with rapt attention.
Clearly, from what Jiang Bai had said so far, the importance of each issue was increasing.
First he solved the soldiers’ basic needs.
Then came the question of weapons.
What, then, could be more crucial than those two?
In an instant, the once-noisy crowd fell silent, every eye fixed on Jiang Bai.
Amid this sea of gazes, Jiang Bai raised his hand gently, looked toward the sky, and spoke calmly.
“The third thing is about a promise.”
“I promise you, once you join my Seventh Division…”
“From now on, you can stand tall with pride, never again fearing anyone!”
“From now on, your guns will only be turned against the enemy—never against the people!”
“From now on, you will have the chance to return home in glory, to honor your ancestors!”
“If your homeland has been taken, do not worry—I will lead you to reclaim it!”
Lead you home!
Since the Russo-Japanese War, how long had it been since anyone went home?
Milong’s face twisted with struggle, but finally he stood and walked toward Jiang Bai.
“Hey kid, where are you going?”
“I want to go home. I want revenge.”
...