Chapter 21

  Our army suffered heavy casualties in this battle, to the extent that the company did not announce the specific number of casualties in order not to affect the morale of the troops, only saying that we killed 75 people from a reinforced platoon of Vietnamese special forces with rich combat experience.

  I still agree with this approach, just like Cao Cao in ancient times knew to use some tactics such as "stopping thirst by thinking of plums" or "killing the grain officer" to stabilize the military morale. In the troops, not all information needs to be transparent and honest. Stabilizing the military morale is the most important thing.

  Although the superior did not announce the number of casualties, the warriors actually all knew in their hearts. The people around them disappeared one by one, and the number of people in the team was reduced by half when they gathered to line up, the warriors couldn't have known...

  As for the squad I led... Although it was on the front line and even the only one to charge into the enemy's position, there were only two casualties due to the surprise attack. One was a rocket launcher operator, who was too slow in climbing the mountain because of the heavy rocket launcher and was killed by the enemy's gunfire. The other was a rifleman, whose leg was injured by shrapnel, and no one knew whether he was hit by the enemy's or his own side's shrapnel, but no one pursued this matter. All I know is... when he was carried away on a stretcher, his face was full of happiness and relief, while other soldiers sent him off with envy in their eyes...

  Yes! Being injured means I can go home, return home alive, and even become a war hero. Maybe I'll never have to set foot on this terrible battlefield again. Who wouldn't envy that?

  After this battle, the soldiers under my command believed even more that following me was not wrong. On the contrary, I blamed myself because... one of my soldiers died and another was injured, but from start to finish, I didn't know their names, nor did I have any impression of what they looked like.

  It's a bit embarrassing to say, but as a class leader, it wasn't until now that I thought of getting to know the soldiers under me.

  After asking, I found out that in this era, the firepower configuration of our army infantry is generally four riflemen per squad, equipped with 56-type semi-automatic rifles; two submachine gunners, equipped with 56-type submachine guns; two machine gunners, equipped with one 56-type squad light machine gun; and two rocket launcher soldiers, equipped with a 56-type or 40mm caliber rocket launcher.

  In other words, the firepower of each of our company's troops is generally four Type 56 semi-automatic rifles, two submachine guns, one light machine gun and a rocket launcher. Although this firepower is more advanced than that during the Anti-Japanese War period, it is still not enough compared to the Vietnamese army, because although the accuracy of the Type 56 semi-automatic rifle is good, its firing speed is too slow. We are firing one bullet at a time with each pull of the trigger, and only hitting one point with each shot, while the AK47 in the hands of the Vietnamese devils fires a burst of bullets with each pull of the trigger, covering an entire area.

  So when our small troops fought against the Vietnamese army, often a platoon's firepower was not as good as a Vietnamese squad. If it was a face-to-face duel, it would be even more miserable. If we didn't knock down the enemy with one shot, we basically wouldn't have the chance to fire a second shot.

  What can we do with poor equipment? In battle, we can only use our soldiers' lives to make up for these deficiencies!

  Considering the heavy casualties we suffered, our superiors called off this reconnaissance mission and had us withdraw back to Laojie. In fact, I think... even if our superiors let us continue scouting ahead, many of us wouldn't be able to withstand that pressure and would collapse directly.

  It can be seen that this battle has had a great impact on the troops, as most of the soldiers are hanging their heads in shame.

  They will behave like this, there is an important reason that they were frightened by the battle just now. Before and after the battle, it was only half an hour, and our regiment had half of the people who were either sacrificed or disabled, so the soldiers would naturally think - what if this happens again? Wouldn't it be their turn then?

  I think so too!

  Those who have not experienced war do not know the horror of war. My past self only knew how to enjoy and live a good life, but after coming here, I finally understand... The most important thing is always one's own life. What glory, wealth, luxury cars, beautiful women, and what nonsense inheritance... are all fleeting clouds.

  If there were a medicine for regret, I would rather be a beggar on the street who is looked down upon by thousands of people than be a hero on this battlefield who is threatened with death at any moment.

  But - the fact is that I am such a small soldier, and the fact is that I always have to worry about being shot by the Vietnamese devils at any moment and my soul will return to heaven.

  Only Scar and Lien Chan, the cadres among the warriors, were still standing tall and giving morale to the warriors. He shouted at the warriors while waving his fist: "Comrades! We must turn our grief into strength, continue to carry forward the heroic fighting spirit, and avenge our fallen comrades!"

  "Comrades! We are the invincible revolutionary soldiers! We must bravely stand up and fight against Soviet revisionism, against Vietnamese revisionism! Bravely stand up and fight to the end against the enemy!"

  ……

  I can understand Dāo Bā and Lián Zhǎng, these cadres are the backbone of the troops. If even they lose morale, then the entire troop is likely to collapse, so they have no choice but to hold on desperately.

  I once heard an old man say that being a grassroots cadre is not easy! Tens or hundreds of soldiers are staring at you from below, bitter and dangerous tasks are all borne by grassroots cadres in the front, even if you have ideas in your heart, you still have to hold back, everything has to be considered from the overall interests of the troops...

  I used to think that the old man's words were not convincing, who said that grassroots cadres suffered? What was said was also in charge of dozens of people. Look at our current cadres, which one is not enjoying good food and drink? If one is not satisfied, they will be given a hard time. But now I truly feel that the old man's words are correct, so there is this saying: "In the army, if you want to be a cadre, be a high-ranking cadre, grassroots cadres are just hard work without any benefits!"

  But anyway... I'm also like a small cadre now.

  Right! Which class am I the monitor of again?

  "Second squad leader... second squad leader!" The company commander shouted loudly.

  A small stone behind me hit me hard, and I suddenly reacted that Lian Chang was calling me, so I hurriedly puffed out my chest and replied: "Present!"

  Lian Chang beckoned to me with a loud shout: "The second squad leader is the hero of this battle, he led the second row of the second class ten comrades secretly climbed up from the high ground flank and successfully cooperated with the main force troops to break through the enemy's defense line! Now, let the second squad leader introduce our combat experience!"

  In an instant, all the warriors' eyes were cast on me, with a flavor that cannot be spoken in their eyes.

  What is it?

  I think it's worship, I didn't misread... indeed it is worship, and also some gratitude.

  After all, if it weren't for us, our troops would have had to face the result of zero casualties on the Vietnamese side and heavy casualties on our side. And among our heavy casualties, there might be them. So, their admiration and gratitude towards me are normal. It's just that I'm still a bit unaccustomed to it.

  In modern times, although I have some money at home, the gaze I receive is often disdainful...

  For some unknown reason, I stood up and was at a loss for what to do. How could I introduce any combat experience? I had only been a soldier for a few days! What experience...

  But I also know that Commander Chang's real intention is not to ask me to introduce any combat experience to the warriors, but to use me as an example to make the warriors think more about our victory and boost the morale of the troops.

  "After some thought, I said to the warriors: 'Comrades! I don't have any combat experience to share with you. What I'm thinking is actually very simple - it's just about staying alive!'"

  "Whoa!" The warriors were taken aback by my words and suddenly became a bit disordered. My words had struck a chord in the hearts of the warriors.

  Lian Chang and the instructor glared at me fiercely, their eyes seeming to say: "At this time, you're still talking about negative and self-preserving words!"

  "Comrades!" I ignored the gaze of Lian Zhang and continued, "But on the battlefield, there's a saying that makes sense: the more cowardly and afraid of death you are, the faster you'll die. Comrades, think about it - the battlefield is a place where either we die or the enemy dies. So, I believe that to protect our own lives, we must unite closely with our comrades beside us, and before the enemy kills us, we must kill them first. Only then can we return alive to see our families, return alive to see our parents and fellow villagers!"

  "Good job!" I don't know if it was said to lead the applause, but other soldiers also rushed to applaud me.

  What I said is not for the country, for the people or for the party's grand principles. What I said is just the heartfelt words of us soldiers who fight on the battlefield, to keep our lives safe and return home to see our families, so they are naturally very willing to accept it.

  "Unite and kill them before they kill us!" The company commander took the opportunity to shout loudly at the soldiers.

  "Unite and kill them before they kill us!" The warriors responded loudly.

  Then what I just said was repeated over and over again by the warriors like a slogan:

  "Go home alive and see your family!"

  "Return home alive and see your parents and fellow villagers!"

  ……

  In fact, on the battlefield, for a soldier, their thoughts are actually very simple, that is - to survive and return!