Chapter 30: Human Life is Precious (Part 2)

  At the same time, Hangzhou, the headquarters of the Third War Zone.

  Zhou's deputy officer knocked urgently on Gu Zhu Tong's door and panted: "General, the Bao Shan camp has made contact!"

  "Ah?" Gu Zhu's expression changed greatly, he hastily threw on his clothes and rushed to the telegraph office without even putting on his boots. Fortunately, Deputy Director Zhou was quick-witted and picked up Gu's boots to chase after him.

  Gu Zuotong rushed to the telegraph office at a rapid pace and loudly asked: "Which telegraph station? I want to have direct conversation with Yue Weihan!"

  …………

  Yangcun, temporary command post of Baoshan Garrison.

  Liu Xin's expression was serious as he said to Yue Weihan: "Commander, the deputy commander of the war zone wants to have a direct conversation with you."

  "Good, too good!" Yue Weihan suddenly struck his fist and immediately began to dictate to Liu Xin, "War Zone Headquarters: Our department has just learned that the Shanghai Garrison Commander, Asaka Yoshikazu, has ordered his subordinate divisions by telegram. After Nanjing falls, they will sweep for several days! Sweeping means burning, killing, looting, and massacring innocent civilians, and in principle, no prisoners of war will be taken."

  "This is a matter of great importance, I dare not be negligent. Therefore, the Ministry of War has taken the risk of death to announce that at 2 o'clock this afternoon, the Japanese bandit Kawabata Ryōichi was shot dead in the eastern suburbs of Kunshan! And it is hoped that the superior authorities will immediately present a memorial to the throne and order the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to intervene, so as to expose the sinister plot of the Japanese bandits and save nearly one million innocent people in Nanjing from impending disaster."

  "Ministry of Employment, Yue Weihan, December 10, 1937, 24 o'clock."

  …………

  Hangzhou, Headquarters of the Third War Zone.

  When the last telegram was translated, there was a sudden burst of jubilation inside the telegraph office!

  It is said that the Baoshan Camp has killed the Japanese Shanghai Garrison Commander, Asaka Palace Kiyoshi. When the news arrived, the staff officers who rushed to the headquarters clenched their fists tightly. The beautiful female telegraph operators were so excited that their faces turned red, their eyes welled up with tears. Even Vice Commander-in-Chief Gu Zhuotong couldn't help but swing his fist fiercely.

  "Baoshan Camp: Your telegram has been received, it will be presented to the Commander-in-Chief tonight, do not worry."

  "Your troops have held out in the warehouse of the Fourth Line for over 20 days, inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy. After breaking through the siege, you risked your life to rescue the people of Nanjing from the Japanese devils, and then again risked your life to kill the Japanese bandit Chōshō Koizumi in the suburbs of Kunshan. Your bravery is beyond that of ordinary men, and your military strategy is worthy of praise. You are a model for the entire party and army."

  "I will telegraph the war zone departments to report and reward, all soldiers of Baoshan Camp will be rewarded with 20 silver dollars! Officers above the rank of platoon leader will each be awarded a Bao Ding medal, and there will also be heavy rewards!"

  "Headquarters Department, Gu Zhu Tong, December 10th, 1937, 24 o'clock."

  …………

  Yangcun, temporary command post of Baoshan Garrison.

  When Liu Xin read out the telegram from Deputy Director Gu, Cao Xinglong, Chi Chengfeng, Niu Dagen, Hua Hanlin and other officers and soldiers of the Baoshan Camp gathered around him immediately cheered.

  "He's really something, this is more like it."

  "No need to say more, Director Gu is a man of his word." Cao Xinglong also said, "The blood of our brothers has not been shed in vain."

  Only Niu Da Gen cautiously said: "I always feel that if Guang Yang doesn't get it in his hands, he won't be at ease."

  "What's the point of putting on a show?" Yue Weihan couldn't help but slap Niudagen's forehead, "Are we fighting the devils to get promoted and rich? No! We're fighting the devils so our family members won't be bullied, so our wives and children can live a good life! So the Chinese nation can stand up straight in the world like a man and speak out loud! Not like now, where anyone can ride on our heads and shit!"

  …………

  Hangzhou, Headquarters of the Third War Zone.

  Gu Zuotang said: "Baoshan Camp: Your unit is in a dangerous situation and may be surrounded by the Japanese army at any time. In order to preserve your useful body for long-term resistance, I hereby order your unit to move towards the direction of Dianshan Lake. General Xia Zhongyu will lead the 98th Division to meet you in the area of Jiashan and Pinghu. If possible, we will also dispatch air forces to guide your direction."

  …………

  Yangcun, temporary command post of Baoshan Garrison.

  "Headquarters of the War Zone: The fierce battle in Nanjing is still raging, as a soldier of the party and state, I have no reason to retreat from the battlefield. I have decided to lead my troops westward to coordinate with General Tang's defense of Nanjing. Although we are only over a hundred scattered soldiers, our efforts may not contribute much to the overall situation, but what I hope for is to comfort the spirit of sacrifice and loyalty of all officers and men in Baoshan Camp."

  …………

  Hangzhou, Headquarters of the Third War Zone.

  Gu Zu sighed and said, "Baoshan Camp: Your troops have decided to sacrifice themselves for the sake of righteousness. What can I do but admire you? I will immediately telegram the Nanjing Garrison Command that your troops will be transferred from the 15th Army's 98th Division to the Central Military Academy's Instructional Corps, with no change in organization. Please keep the radio station open and await further instructions."

  "Headquarters Department, Gu Zhu Tong, December 11th, 1937, dawn."

  …………

  Yangcun, temporary command post of Baoshan Garrison.

  Yue Weihan turned off the radio and said to Cao Xinglong and others: "Alright, we should go."

  Although Yue Weihan did not think the Japanese army could catch up so quickly, Yangcun absolutely could not stay any longer.

  Cao Xinglong suddenly said: "Ying Zu, there's something I almost forgot."

  "What's the matter?"

  Cao Xinglong said: "A fellow villager told me during the day that the devils are secretly building a concentration camp in the eastern suburbs of Kunshan County, and it's possible that several thousand National Army brothers are being held inside. Do you want to rescue them?"

  "Nonsense, we're all comrades in arms, how can there be a reason for seeing someone die and not saving them?" Yue Weihan said without hesitation.

  Originally, Yue Weihan had been thinking of leading a troop to Shanxi to join the Eighth Route Army. In these times, it's not good to be without an army, and with only this small group of less than a hundred soldiers under his command, he wasn't qualified to be a district commander. Now that there was a good opportunity to gather more soldiers and expand his troop, how could Yue Weihan possibly let it slip away?

  "Go and bring that fellow here." Yue Weihan immediately turned to Chi Chengfeng and Niu Dagen, "Old Chi, Big Root, assemble the troops, count the ammunition and equipment, prepare to depart!"

  …………

  Wuhan, on an expedition.

  Chairman Chiang was gently awakened from his sleep by someone, and when he opened his eyes, it was his wife.

  "Darling, good news." Madame Chiang whispered softly into Chairman Chiang's ear, "Just now, Gu Zhuang sent an urgent telegram, he has already made contact with the Baoshan camp."

  "Ah?" Chairman Chiang slowly sat up and said, "What did Gu Zhu say? How is the situation at Baoshan Camp?"

  Madam Chiang said: "According to Koo Ch'iu-t'ung, the Paoshan Camp is near Kunshan, and conditions should be good. Moreover, it was they who killed the Japanese Shanghai Garrison Commander, Asaka Yasuhiko."

  "Moreover, Gu Zhong also relayed in the telegram that Yue Weihan had intercepted a Japanese military order to massacre innocent civilians and kill all Nationalist prisoners of war after capturing Nanjing, which would be a violation of the Geneva Convention and must be stopped."

  "Niáng xī pǐ, zhè xiē rì jiǎo jiǎn zhí bù rú!" Jiǎng wěi yuàn zhǎng yī tīng yě jí le, gǎn jǐn pī yī qǐ chuáng dào, "mǎ shàng ràng shì hé lái jiàn wǒ."

  Translation:

  "Good heavens! These Japanese are simply unbearable!" Chairman Chiang was also alarmed and hastily got out of bed, saying, "Immediately summon Shih-hui to see me."

  When Chairman Chiang was dressed and arrived at the outer room, Guard Commander Wang Shih-chieh was already waiting there.

  Chiang Kai-shek immediately said: "Shi He, quickly call Wang Gongguan on the phone and have Liang Chu come see me right away."

  Wang Zhengting, also known as Liangchou, was the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China at that time. Chiang Kai-shek summoned Wang Zhengting in the middle of the night, apparently getting anxious too. As the leader of the National Government, if hundreds of thousands of people in Nanjing were really slaughtered by the Japanese invaders, it would be a great loss of face for him and unbearable for his conscience.

  …………

  Yangcun, Baoshan Garrison

  Yue Weihan gave a standard military salute to Liu Baichang, who had rushed to the scene upon hearing the news. The more than 90 officers and soldiers standing behind him also followed suit, lifting their guns in salute. Liu Baichang hastily bowed repeatedly, saying: "I don't dare to accept such grand courtesy from all of you gentlemen! Moreover, taking in wounded soldiers for the party and country is something that I should do, I really don't dare to take credit for it!"

  "The ceremony is over." Yüeh Wei-han said and then turned to Hua Hsu-lin, "Hsu-lin, bring it here."

  Hua Hanlin has now replaced Liu Tiezhu as the platoon leader of the Baoshan Camp Guard Platoon. He took out a bag of silver dollars from his pocket and handed it to Liu Baochang, saying: "Liu Baochang, take this money and distribute it to the villagers who are taking care of the wounded soldiers. They're not having an easy time either, we can't just eat and drink for free."

  "This won't do, this absolutely won't do." Liu Baochang immediately declined repeatedly.

  "Take it!" Yue Weihan stuffed the light into Liu Baochang's hand without saying a word, and then shook hands with the six seriously injured soldiers on the stretcher to bid farewell. Finally, he walked in front of Liu Tiezhu and said solemnly: "Zhu, I'm entrusting these six brothers to you now. You must bring them back unharmed in the future. If you fail, I'll kill you."

  "Yes!" Liu Tiezhu suddenly sat up straight and saluted with his hand, "Liu Tiezhu guarantees to complete the task."

  Yu Weihan took a deep look at the seriously wounded soldiers, as if to imprint their faces in his mind. He then turned around abruptly and shouted to the officers and men of the Baoshan camp who were standing at attention: "Depart!"

  More than 90 officers and soldiers turned around at the same time, pouring out of the courtyard like a fish. Outside the courtyard, the night was dark, and the winter rain poured down.

  The female lieutenant, Liu Xin, walking in the middle of the formation, didn't know which string had been touched in her heart, but suddenly felt a sour nose and two lines of clear tears slid down her pretty face.