Volume 1: First Battle Chapter 13: Zhang Zizhong
They don't need blood ties or acquaintances... They are together for a very simple reason - to live and die together.
Ten minutes later, we walked into the barracks amidst the cheers of the people.
"Attention! At ease..."
Under the leadership of the officer, we stood in formation in the military camp, but our appearance was really not worthy of praise. We were all covered in blood and soot, with torn clothes, looking like beggars compared to other soldiers in the camp...
"Comrades!" The officer stood before us, adjusting his uniform and said: "Today, although you lost the South Garden, you killed countless enemies! This is the greatest victory our army has achieved since the war with the little devils began. I, Chang Zongzhung, represent the party and the 29th Army in paying respects to you! In paying respects to the fallen heroes on the battlefield!"
He stood up straight and saluted us with a dignified bow, the other soldiers in the military camp also spontaneously followed him to salute us.
My heart skipped a beat as I couldn't believe that the young officer standing in front of me was Zhang Zizhong, the famous anti-Japanese general!
After a long while, Zhang Zizhong finally put down his hand and said: "For your deputy commander... A man should die in battle, wrapped in horse leather, this is also the lifelong wish of your deputy commander, so brothers don't be sad, I am a good son of China, with a heart full of hot blood, I swear here: wipe out the little Japanese, avenge the deputy commander!"
"Kill all little Japanese!"
"For revenge on behalf of Vice General!"
……
The warriors shouted one after another, including those standing outside the ranks.
I have to admit that Zhang Zizhong indeed has such a personal charm. The Battle of Nan Yuan can be said to be glorious even in defeat, but the sacrifice of Tong Lin Ge, the highest commander of the military training division and also the deputy army commander, had a significant impact on our morale. However, Zhang Zizhong's brief words not only downplayed the negative impact of Tong Lin Ge's sacrifice, but also stirred up the soldiers' desire for revenge...
"Good job, little brother!"
"Well done! Brothers!"
"How's your injury? Medic..."
……
As soon as Zhang Zizhong announced the disbandment, the other warriors rushed over to ask about his well-being and congratulate him. Some shook hands with him, while others immediately called for medical personnel to bandage the wounded soldiers. Others even took out their brand new military uniforms and gave them to the soldiers whose clothes were tattered.
I'm a bit skeptical that it was their first meeting, but I had to believe it, because in front of me there were also several warriors who bandaged my wounds like close brothers, and I was absolutely certain that I had never seen them before!
This is perhaps the camaraderie of comrades! They don't need blood ties, they don't need to know each other... They are together for a very simple reason - to live and die together. Yet because of this simple and primitive reason, they can be closer than friends who have known each other for decades, even closer than biological brothers!
We were arranged to rest in a tent of several dozen square meters, with quilts and food all ready. Although the space was a bit cramped for a row of people, none of us complained because we knew that these tents were actually given up by soldiers to let us live in, and they also crowded into a small space like us.
It was only later that I found out these soldiers were from Zhang Zizhong's 3rd Division, and this place was the division's military camp...
"Excellent!"
"Excellent!"
……
Following the gaze of the warriors, I saw Commander Xu walk in with a solemn expression. I hastily went up to him and asked: "Commander, what's the situation? Are our casualties heavy?"
Xu Lianzhang silently shook his head, casually found a place to sit down, pulled out a cigarette from his pocket and lit it up. He took a few deep puffs and exhaled a mouthful of thick smoke, sighing: "The casualties in the troops aren't too severe, almost everyone has returned, all told there are probably only around 400 or 500 wounded..."
Upon hearing this, all the warriors couldn't help but show joy on their faces. At the cost of 400 to 500 casualties, we burned to death 4,000 to 5,000 devils, and what's more, we successfully thwarted the Japanese army's strategic intention to annihilate our troops despite being outnumbered. This is an unprecedented victory, both tactically and strategically, and no one wouldn't feel thrilled about it!
"Just... " Xu Lianzhang raised his head and looked at me, saying: "The deputy commander has not returned, and the people sent out can't find his body..."
At these words, all the warriors fell silent, and the military camp was suddenly so quiet that even a needle dropping to the ground could be heard.
"If Deputy Commander Zhang were to sacrifice himself, what would happen to our troops?" Old Squad Leader furrowed his brow: "Who would we take orders from? What formation would we be in?"
No one answered, and I suddenly felt like our military training team was like a child without a mother...
After a while, Xu Lianchang stood up and said: "The superior will naturally have arrangements, let's not worry about this too much! Brothers all make good preparations for battle, Little Japan has lost to us and will definitely not give up!"
"What are you afraid of?" Chen Dalie raised the rifle in his hand and said, "I was worried that the little devils wouldn't come up, now they've come I can kill a few more to avenge Vice Military Seat..."
"Things won't be that simple!" Xu Lian furrowed his brow, as if he had sensed something.
"Brothers...... it's bad, it's bad......" Just then the monkey rushed in from outside in a fluster and saw the company commander standing at the door, hastily stood up straight and saluted.
"What's wrong? What's the hurry?" Xulian Zhang scolded.
"Report to Commander!" The monkey replied somewhat hesitantly: "I... I heard the news, the little devils have set out negotiation conditions..."
"Hmm, let's talk!" At this, all the warriors perked up their ears.
"The little devils are too bullying!" The monkey said with eyes blazing: "They put forward three conditions: First, they demand that the military apologize; Second, they demand that the 29th Army withdraw from Beiping entirely; Third..."
The monkey looked at me and said, "The little devil still wants us to hand over the person in charge of burning the riverbank brigade in Nanyuan...".
"What?" Upon hearing this, the warriors burst into a loud clamor.
Chen Dalie sneered and said, "What does this little devil think we are? After losing the battle, he still has the nerve to ask us to surrender our men and city? I've never seen anyone so shameless!"
"Grandma!" The neighbor, Pool Chang, also heard the rumor and scolded at the door: "Why should we hand over people? Can't we even protect our own necks from being beheaded? You little devil can dream on!"
"Fang Pailong, don't worry!" Some people also advised me: "Jun Zu will never agree to such conditions, this is too absurd!"
"That's right! The military seat will not do such a thing as destroying the Great Wall!"
……
I looked at Xu Lianchang for a long time, but Xu Lianchang didn't say anything and just kept smoking... So I quickly understood that Song Zheyuan might really hand me over, just like he ordered the demolition of Beiping's city defenses a few days ago.
The warriors beside me may not understand or believe that Song Zheyuan would do such a thing, but I know it's entirely possible because Song Zheyuan is now in a dilemma of advancing and retreating...
Are you hitting? Although the total strength of the 29th Army was almost the same as that of the Japanese army, the equipment and quality of the entire army were far behind those of the Japanese army. Even if the 29th Army could hold on to Beiping, it would be a miserable victory, and from then on, Song Zheyuan no longer had the capital to dominate one side.
Won't you fight? The little Japanese army is pressing in step by step, this can't go on!
So for Song Zheyuan, the most ideal thing is that the Japanese army can propose negotiation conditions and peacefully resolve the dispute. Only in this way can Song Zheyuan preserve the strength of the 29th Army and continue to be his overlord. The little Japan also saw through Song Zheyuan's mind, so he dared to make big demands after just suffering a defeat... The Japanese are using military force and political deception to achieve their goal of getting the greatest benefit at the smallest cost!
And historically, Song Zheyuan also withdrew the 29th Army from Beiping at this time, and naively believed that Little Japan was sincere in negotiating and left Zhang Zizhong to deal with the Japanese...
It's all over! Thinking of this, my heart sank, and I couldn't help but wonder if Song Zheyuan would really hand me over for the sake of "preserving the overall situation"... Who would have thought that after coming to this world, I wouldn't die on the battlefield, but rather die from the political blackmail of Little Japan!
"Which direction?" Just then a signal soldier came to the entrance, and the warriors were stunned, casting their eyes on me one after another.
"Are you the guide?" The communication soldier rushed towards me and said: "The commander wants you to go immediately!"
"Huh? Which master?" I asked unnecessarily.
"Third Battalion Commander Zhang!" The communications soldier frowned slightly, seemingly displeased.
As soon as I heard that it was Zhang Zizhong who wanted to see me, my heart which had been hanging in suspense, dropped by half. Zhang Zizhong is a legendary anti-Japanese general with a rich color, he wouldn't just hand me over like this, would he?
Soul did not guard the house and followed the communication soldier to turn around in the military camp, confused and came to a attic, shouted a report and went in.
There was a desk, calligraphy and painting, tea sets... it seemed like a study. Zhang Zizhong was practicing calligraphy with a brush as thick as his fist. I took a look at the rice paper, and the words "Dedication to the Country" were dancing on it, so I put my mind at ease a bit more.
"What's your direction?" Zhang Zizhong asked, putting down his pen as he saw me coming in.
"Yes!" I stood up straight and replied.
"I heard it was your idea to set fire to the Japanese army?"
"Yes!" I hesitated for a moment before standing up straight again.
When I made the decision, all the officers and men of the whole regiment were present, so it's meaningless to deny it now.
"Hmm!" Zhang Zizhong walked up to me and nodded, saying: "The one who came up with the idea of burning down the Japanese army's headquarters wasn't you, it was Vice Commander, got it?"
