Rise From Eight Hundred

Although this area is still 30 kilometers away from the front line, there are still many defeated soldiers who have fled here. No wonder the 36th Infantry Brigade has to send many small teams to search in the countryside.

Only two guard squads entered the village where the Japanese army had not yet arrived, and received more than a dozen wounded soldiers left by the hastily retreating army, and seven or eight soldiers who were forced to stay because they had no time to leave.

But the guard platoon had to find a fighter plane to beat the Japanese, and those seriously injured soldiers who could not move could not be brought with them, so they had to be handed over to the villagers. However, considering that the villagers had to flee south and carry seriously injured soldiers, Lao Hei still made compensation.

The property robbed from the village by the ambushed Japanese soldiers really realized the "take from the people and use for the people". Whether it was food or gold and silver, Lao Hei handed it to the villagers according to the number of wounded soldiers he took care of, and asked them to retreat to Jiujiang, Jiangxia and other places and hand over the wounded to the local hospital.

As for the stranded soldiers, Lao Hei did not force them to join the army, but asked them about their own wishes. Those who were willing to join the independent battalion were given guns and immediately joined the army. Those who were unwilling were given a few silver dollars as travel expenses to go to the south to find his old troops.

Tang Dao mainly emphasized the issue of recruiting new soldiers at the military meeting. What the independent battalion needed was real soldiers who were dedicated to fighting the Japanese, not the number of people.

Lao Hei and a group of junior officers faithfully implemented Tang Dao's wishes.

Most of the defeated soldiers had experienced this cruel war, and they had suffered the bitterness of being broken up and wandering in the countryside alone. They had completely lost their fighting spirit and were unwilling to face the Japanese invaders again. Most of them chose to take silver dollars and retreat southward with the villagers carrying bedding and food.

But in the end, there were still people willing to stay and fight with Lao Hei and his men, even though Lao Hei's two guard squads had less than 30 people.

The young man named Deng Guihai was only a sergeant, with an ordinary face and an ordinary rank, but what made Lao Hei very happy was his military branch.

Deng Guihai was a tank gunner of the Central Army, and an elite gunner. In the Battle of Songhu, the tank he was in had a record of destroying two Japanese tanks.

This is a scarce talent!

The independent battalion now has rifle-level marksmen like Niu Er, machine gunners like Hei Zi, machine gunners like Cheng Tieshou and Mo Songzi, and a group of old gunners represented by Pang Dahai, but there is no iron turtle gunner like the tank that can run away.

Although the officers and soldiers of the independent battalion have dealt with the Japanese 89-type or 94-type tanks, they are not inferior to them in defensive battles. The 20mm machine gun is specially prepared for them, but that is a defensive battle after all. Everyone has time to build a solid fortification for the machine gun before firing against it.

What if it is an encounter or a field battle? Iron-shell tanks that can move around are naturally incomparable to machine guns, especially the 57mm tank gun of the Type 89 tank. Once a shot comes, even the three-layer sandbag fortifications cannot stop it, and the fortifications and the personnel behind them are often blown away together.

But the officers and soldiers of the independent battalion with machine guns know better that they are already good. At least they have machine guns to fight against the Japanese tanks, especially the veterans of the former 43rd Army. They fought against the Japanese in Dachang Town at that time. Not to mention machine guns, even mortars were pitifully few. Facing the tanks rushing in from the head, they had nothing else to resist.

Only flesh and blood!

Holding explosive packs or cluster grenades, the blasting team went to blow up the tanks.

But the machine guns equipped on the tanks and the Japanese infantry following behind were not vegetarians. Would they let the infantry approach the tanks so easily?

If you want to blow up a Japanese tank, you often have to lose several blasting teams or even more.

The most painful thing may not be how many people died, but watching the Japanese tanks rolling over the remains of the brothers who were once close to each other, and being unable to stop them even if they risked their lives.

It can be said that tanks are the nightmare of light infantrymen, and the psychological damage caused to the living is not much less than that of heavy artillery.

If one's own troops have tanks that can compete with the Japanese army, how wonderful it would be!

Of course, China is not without tanks. In the Battle of Songhu, China sent its only tank battalion. Although the tank equipment was eventually destroyed due to tactical reasons, it also dealt a heavy blow to the Japanese infantry when it entered the battlefield in the early stage.

In front of the steel behemoth, the flesh and blood of the Japanese army is also vulnerable.

However, with a night attack organized by the Japanese army, the last tank of the only tank battalion in China disappeared in the meat mill, becoming the first Chinese army to withdraw from the battle.

But what is unexpected is that this elite tank gunner would end up in the countryside.

After Lao Hei's surprised and happy but cautious questioning, he learned that this top student from Fujian who graduated from Xiamen University continued to fight with the 87th Division after the tank battalion's equipment was destroyed. He held the ferry in the Jinling Defense War that broke out not long ago, and finally the whole army was defeated before the city fell. The sergeant who was born by the sea and was proficient in water escaped by floating nearly ten kilometers in the surging river. When he drifted here, he was already exhausted and had a high fever. If it weren't for the local villagers taking him in and recuperating for two days, he would have died of illness and starvation in the countryside.

"Sir, I chose to go to the southeast to join the army when I graduated from university, just to defend my country. In this battle, as a Chinese soldier, I failed to defend the city and caused the people of Jinling to suffer. I am deeply ashamed. Please give me another chance to restore my military honor." This is how the young sergeant expressed his determination to Lao Hei.

Without any further hesitation, Lao Hei immediately decided to absorb this 'big baby' into the independent battalion. He also believed that Tang Dao would like this armored sergeant.

Not only was he a rare soldier, Lao Hei and the soldiers in the guard platoon had always had beautiful dreams of tanks, but Lao Hei vaguely saw the shadow of a commander in him.

Not only knowledgeable, but also determined.

Failure is not terrible. What is terrible is that the failed person lies in the pit where he fell and cannot recover.

Tang Dao said that it is difficult for China to defeat Japan, which has strong industrial strength. The most likely outcome is that it will suffer repeated defeats!

This is actually an extremely desperate argument. How many lives had to be lost in that battle? But we still have to lose. Are those human lives so worthless?

But Lao Hei still remembers what Tang Dao added: If we keep fighting and losing, then we will keep fighting and losing! The Japanese have strong industrial strength. We in China have 100 million men and 9.6 million square kilometers of land. One day, they will be so exhausted that they will have to smelt their kitchen knives even to make bullets.

China will definitely win this war! This was Tang Dao's final concluding speech, which undoubtedly gave the officers and soldiers of the Independent Battalion enough confidence.

In other words, Tang Dao is the first commander to anchor a psychological goal for his soldiers. He is not at a loss and moves forward firmly. He is the current independent battalion officers and soldiers and the Chinese soldiers who are frustrated by successive setbacks at this time. The biggest difference is not just being well equipped.

But Lao Hei didn't know at this moment that what Tang Dao said was not groundless. By the end of the war in Japan, even kitchen knives had really turned into wood.

The armored sergeant performed very well. Even without a tank, he was given a rifle and he killed two Japanese soldiers in the next two days of fighting, keeping up with the average level of the soldiers in the guard platoon.

In addition to this armored sergeant who could help the independent battalion in the future, Lao Hei actually met an 'old acquaintance' in a large village with a population of more than 300 people.

It was a child wearing an old cotton robe. Just after Lao Hei finished explaining the stakes to the villagers and urged them to leave their hometown and go south as soon as possible, the child timidly pointed at Lao Hei and said to the woman next to him: "I have seen these uncles. !”

Lao Hei and the soldiers were slightly startled by these words, and then they realized that this child might have seen soldiers wearing the same color.

However, the child's next words stunned Lao Hei: "Uncle is in that big house, a big, big house. Daddy went to heaven because of that big house."

That big house? In Lao Hei's memory, except for the building of Sihang Warehouse, there is no bigger house than that, and there is no battlefield more desperate than that, but there is also no battlefield more exciting than that.

They fought bloody battles on the battlefield surrounded by three sides, and tens of thousands of people cheered and shouted for them on the other side of the river.

That was Lao Hei's most desperate and glorious moment, how could he forget it.

But, how does this little child know that he is in that big house? Even in the independent battalion, only the old comrades in the Sixing Battalion and the soldiers in his guard platoon knew. Also, why his father died because of the Sixing Warehouse. Could it be that he was the orphan of that comrade?

Seeing the change in Lao Hei's face, the woman in a coarse cotton coat next to the child became very nervous and quickly apologized: "Boss, my son is young and has been frightened by the military disaster recently. He often talks nonsense. Please don't blame me, boss!"

"Madam, please don't worry. I don't mean to blame him, but I think he looks very familiar!" Lao Hei's heart moved even more when he saw that the woman knew the book and was polite, and the originally fuzzy memory in his mind became clearer.

His mind was so excited that he strode up to the child, squatted down, and asked softly: "Since you have met uncle, can you tell uncle your name?"

"My name is Yue Yiman. When dad was still here, he often called me Nan'er!" The child stared at Lao Hei's already somewhat tattered dark blue military uniform. "Uncle, I have really seen you. There are many uncles like you. You are fighting Japanese in that big house. I want to give you sugar cookies, but my family is gone, and my parents have no money."

"Haha, I think I know who you are." Lao Hei suddenly laughed loudly. "Your father's name is Yue Changqing, right?"

Lao Heiyuan belonged to Tang Dao's third platoon and was basically stationed on the other side of the building. He rarely had the opportunity to go to the side facing the concession, nor did he have the opportunity to see the little boy who bowed to the army stationed at Sihang Warehouse. He didn't see his brave father who was the first to jump into the river to retrieve the body of his comrade, but this did not prevent the entire defenders of Sihang Warehouse from knowing Yue Changqing's story.

Tantai Mingyue's newspaper article was transported by the death squads along with supplies through secret transportation lines at night. When the soldiers in Sihang Warehouse heard about this, they were all excited.

Since they dared to enter Sihang Warehouse, they had already put life and death aside. Death was no longer the most feared thing for Lao Hei, but he was still afraid. He was afraid that he would die in obscurity here without anyone knowing.

But ever since I heard the voices of the people in the concession across the river, those fears that I once had have disappeared.

They know, they know they are fighting for China in that grave!

Of course, what moved Lao Hei and the soldiers even more was that they were fighting for the country, and the people led by Yue Changqing also dared to risk their lives to fight for them. They were not only soldiers and civilians, but also soldiers. The whole of China stood by Behind them, they have nothing to fear.

Yue Changqing's name was thus enshrined in everyone's heart at the Sihang Warehouse. Even after leaving the Sihang Warehouse, Tang Dao, who had become the battalion commander of the Sihang Battalion, specifically asked Tan Tai Mingyue about Yue Changqing's news. He learned that his wife and children had been properly arranged, and that he had been adopted as a son by a very powerful lady. Tan Tai Mingyue even accepted him as a disciple on behalf of his father, and only then did she feel relieved.

The veterans who came out of the Sihang Battalion were also relieved to hear the news that Yue Changqing's widow and only son could be taken care of in this way.

However, at this time, shouldn't they be in the concession? Why did they appear on this chaotic battlefield? Could it be that those celebrities who were seeking fame and reputation went back on their words and abandoned these two orphans and widows?

"No, our battalion commander specifically inquired about the news of you and your son. Shouldn't you be in the concession at this time? Why are you here? Who is so bad to do such a thing?" Thinking of this, how could Lao Hei not be extremely angry, and he asked in a stern voice.

With his current battlefield experience, even if he didn't kill people like crazy! His subordinates had killed at least 10 or 20 Japanese, so they were naturally murderous when they were angry.

The little boy was frightened and his face turned pale, and the woman couldn't help but clench her son's hand.

"Boss, Madam Yue and Master Yue have always wanted to bury Master Yue's coffin in their hometown, so when the war eased, my master asked me to accompany him. Unexpectedly, we encountered the Japanese army after handling the funeral, and the old man was forced to take Madam and Master to the vicinity of Jinling.

As a result, Jinling was broken a few days ago, and they were stranded here. Fortunately, the villagers were simple and honest, so Madam and Master had the opportunity to meet the bosses of the world-famous 88th Division." An old man in his sixties who had been standing behind the woman stood up, bowed slightly to Lao Hei, and explained the reason.

"You" Lao Hei glanced at the old servant who looked quite strong and angry.

In this chaotic time, an old servant who could only serve tea and water and say some rude words was arranged to take the mother and son back to carry the coffin. This master either thought the mother and son were a burden or was an unreliable master.

However, the old servant was smart enough to protect the mother and son in such a chaotic time, and he was quietly testing the identities of Lao Hei and others.

Even if he directly said Yue Changqing's name, it would not work.

"My battalion is no longer part of the 88th Division. It was reorganized from the Four-Line Battalion to the 43rd Army Independent Battalion. It is now ordered by the military to go to Xuzhou for rest and recuperation. I was originally a sergeant squad leader of the Four-Line Battalion, and now I am the platoon leader of the guard platoon of the independent battalion. Here are all soldiers from my guard platoon." Lao Hei introduced himself very formally.

It was also a reassurance to the old servant and the woman.

But, no matter how good the brain is, on this battlefield, the brain is definitely not as good as force.

He was determined to take the mother and son away, but it was not that they would follow him just because he wanted to. The world-famous Four-Line Camp should still be useful.

"Uncle, don't be angry. Grandpa Han is here to protect me and my mother. No matter how many devils come, Nan'er is not afraid!" The child came to his senses at this time, knowing that the big black-faced uncle in front of him was just angry because of why he was here. He said bravely, pulling out the wooden pistol hidden in his cotton robe while speaking: "Besides, Nan'er has this."

Looking at the child's innocent appearance, Lao Hei's previous anger disappeared instantly, "Good, good child! You know how to fight devils at a young age. If our battalion commander knew that I could meet you and your son, he would be very happy. He is the most capable and will definitely teach you how to fight devils. By the way, you will feel very happy when you come to our military camp. There are also little brothers and sisters there."

"Okay! I want to go. I want to learn the skills of fighting devils. I don't want to study." Hearing that someone was playing, the child was naturally very happy.

"But Boss, I still have to escort my wife and young master back to the Songhu Concession." The sixty-year-old man showed a difficult expression on his face.

"Uncle Han, I don't look down on you. There are hundreds of thousands of Japanese troops around Nanjing, and they have already killed people wantonly without distinguishing between the military and civilians. It is impossible for you to go to the southeast again. The only way is to follow my independent battalion to the north. When the war situation stabilizes in the future, we will find a way to send you back to the concession, okay?" Lao Hei didn't want to embarrass this loyal old servant, and directly told him the current situation.

"Okay then!" The old man surnamed Han could only nod helplessly.

The woman insisted on her own opinion that her husband should be buried in her hometown, but she listened to the old servant surnamed Han for the rest. She looked at the sixty-year-old man, but saw him nodding helplessly, so she stopped talking and just bent slightly to Lao Hei to express her gratitude.

After all, if Lao Hei and others hadn't come, they, the old and the young, couldn't go further, but there were Japanese troops everywhere here, and the ending was imaginable.

"Come with a few people, accompany my sister-in-law and her friends to find Platoon Leader Lu and his men, and have them send my sister-in-law and her three friends back to the company's base safely. Tell Lu Sanjiang that if my sister-in-law and her nephew do anything wrong, he will be whipped by his superiors!" Lao Hei immediately ordered.

Because Lao Hei was quite surprised by the unexpected encounter, he focused all his attention on the mother and son, which led to him making a big mistake.

The woman who adopted Yue Yiman as her adopted son was a great figure in Songhu. How could she make such a low-level mistake and rashly entrust a child who was valued by the celebrities in the concession to an ordinary old man?

And how could an ordinary old man protect a weak woman and a small child in the chaos of war?

However, seeing the old man putting the child on a wheelbarrow full of bedding and utensils and leaving with several soldiers, Lao Hei could only feel lucky that he had met the mother and child.

However, he did not know that compared to the armored sergeant who would become the commander of the first tank in the independent battalion and the future president of the China Charity Foundation, the old man who was still unknown at that time was the one who made Lao Hei dumbfounded.

That was his biggest gain on this trip...

PS: Today is Fengyue's birthday, so I went out with my parents and started writing at night. It was a bit late, so I simply combined two chapters into one, and it was another 5,000-word chapter.