Chapter 6 "Devils everywhere..."

  The bright moon hangs high in the sky above the battlefield.

  Qin Zhiyong held his gun and crouched in the trench with other soldiers, listening intently.

  Distant shouts and screams echoed through the air, mixed with the clanging of metal and the wails of the enemy...

  Faintly heard Feng Lianchang's roar: "Those wearing steel helmets are devils! Slash the devils' heads with big knives!"

  The roars, battle cries and curses stood out all the more clearly in the stillness of the night.

  The cries of killing gradually became smaller, occasionally ringing out with scattered gunfire, and the night finally returned to calmness, the moon was still so bright.

  Qin Zhiyong and the other soldiers stood up, nervously looking towards the right wing of the battlefield, no one speaking.

  The sky is gradually brightening.

  Everyone sat in the trenches with their heads hung low, leaving only one lookout lying on the bunker to observe, and the air was filled with a sense of despair.

  After an unknown period of time, suddenly, the sentry shouted: "Someone is coming!"

  Everyone scrambled to their feet and looked towards the front of the camp, only to see in the dawn's glow a dozen or so people with tattered clothes, covered in blood, holding dripping knives, supporting each other as they walked towards them.

  "It's definitely Commander Feng and his men!"

  Everyone jumped out of the trenches and rushed forward.

  Among more than a dozen people, Feng Lianzhang walked in front, followed by Old Yang, Old Cao and Huang Xintian.

  Old Yang was the first to jump into the trench, with a spirited expression: "Great! It's really great! Like chopping melons and cutting vegetables."

  A soldier eagerly asked: "Has the position been retaken?"

  Lao Cao also jumped down into the trench, waving the bloody big knife in his hand, with a heroic and passionate look: "Needless to say!"

  Another soldier: "Is someone guarding over there?"

  Lao Cao: "The battalion commander has sent a reserve team up there. Our company's mission is still to defend this position."

  Another soldier: "Is it just you people?"

  The people who returned all lowered their heads and walked away in silence.

  Two soldiers supported Feng Lianzhang as he jumped into the trench, with a bandage wrapped around his head.

  Old Yang asked Huang Xintian as he walked: "Old Huang, how many did you kill?"

  Huang Xintian raised one hand holding a large knife: "This - three." The other hand pulled out the hunting knife from his waist, "This - two. How about you?"

  Old Yang praised: "One less than Old Huang!"

  Huang Xintian nodded understandingly: "Your mission is to protect Lian Zhang well."

  Feng Lianzhang walked past Qin Zhiyong's side and stopped in front of him, staring at him: "Are you afraid to die?"

  Qin Zhiyong shook his head: "Don't be afraid! My dad and mom were both killed by the devils..."

  "Feng Lianchang: 'What's your name——'"

  Qin Zhiyong: "Qin Zhiyong!"

  Feng Lianchang nodded: "Right, Qin Zhiyong, you said it. Old Yang!"

  Old Yang hurried over.

  Feng Lianchang: "Take him with you and find him a military uniform."

  Old Yang: "Alright."

  Feng Lianchang turned his head to the duty soldier: "Go and count the casualties, I need to report to the regimental headquarters."

  Feng Lianchang finished speaking and returned to the command post.

  Old Yang sat on an ammunition box, puffing on his pipe, and shouted at Qin Zhiyong: "You! Come here!"

  Qin Zhiyong hastily ran in front of Old Yang, who spat a mouthful of smoke onto Qin Zhiyong's face: "What's your name?"

  Qin Zhiyong: "Qin——"

  Old Yang interrupted him: "Forget it, I won't ask anymore. A new recruit like you will probably not survive for three days. Let's just call you 'Dumb Egg', have you ever fired a gun?"

  Qin Zhiyong stuttered: "Shot... bird gun..."

  Old Yang: "Have you hunted birds?"

  Qin Zhiyong: "I've also hit rabbits."

  Old Yang: "Alright, alright! Finally met a new recruit who's actually fired a gun before. Sit down!"

  Qin Zhiyong obediently sat on the ground beside Old Yang.

  Old Yang: "When we start fighting, follow me and watch what I do. You do the same thing. Got it?"

  Qin Zhiyong nodded: "Got it."

  Old Yang said bluntly: "Following the old soldiers is always right. There are generals who don't know how to fight, but there are no old soldiers who don't know how to fight."

  Old Cao cursed with a smile: "What the hell is he bragging about?"

  Old Yang: "You're fine now, right? Go find him a military uniform!"

  Lao Cao: "Where can we go at this time?"

  Old Yang pointed to the corpses of the fallen soldiers laid out on the open ground outside the command post: "Do I need to teach you this?"

  Lao Cao reluctantly walked over and saw Feng Lianzhang standing there silently.

  Lao Cao walked to the back of Feng Lianzhang's body and heard Feng Lianzhang muttering to himself towards the corpse: "......Go first, brothers, we'll follow soon, when we get there, I'll still be your company commander..."

  Old Yang is holding Qin Zhiyong's rifle and explaining shooting techniques to him.

  Old Yang made a aiming motion: "...... watch closely, three points in a line, don't shake your hand, hold your breath, pull the trigger, it's not difficult, you just treat the little devils as rabbits to shoot." Old Yang pointed with his tobacco pouch at Huang Xintian who was dozing off beside him, "His name is Huang Xintian, later when shooting guns you should learn from him more, he is our company's godly marksman."

  Qin Zhiyong saw a knife hanging from Huang Xintian's waist and was very curious: "Why is there a knife hanging from his waist?"

  Old Yang: "That's a hunting knife, he is a Tujia person, used to be a hunter."

  Old Yang put down his gun and picked up a wooden-handled grenade, unscrewing the cap: "Before throwing it, don't forget to pull the ring."

  At this time, Old Cao walked over with a set of military uniforms stained with blood and bullet holes: "This one is still relatively clean, wear it for now."

  Lao Cao threw his military uniform over Qin Zhiyong's head: "Old Yang, don't waste your breath anymore. Is it still possible to teach him now? Such a greenhorn, as soon as the gun goes off, he'll definitely wet his pants, hahaha!"

  Qin Zhiyong tore off his military uniform and stood up, staring at Old Cao: "You're the one who's been pulling my leg!"

  Old Yang and the surrounding soldiers burst out laughing together. Old Yang laughed: "Good! You've got guts!"

  Lao Cao was provoked by the new soldier and got a bit angry: "Are you looking for death?!"

  Lao Cao knocked Qin Zhiyong to the ground with one punch, and Qin Zhiyong got up to fight back.

  Old Yang stretched out his rifle to block Qin Zhiyong: "You little devil just arrived and dared to defy the old soldier, don't you want to live anymore!"

  Qin Zhiyong wiped away the blood from the corner of his mouth and gave Old Cao a fierce stare.

  Night.

  Qin Zhiyong wore a military uniform that was obviously a bit small, holding his gun and sitting nervously in the trench. The exhausted soldiers were sleeping in twos and threes in the trenches. Old Yang lay beside Qin Zhiyong, snoring loudly.

  Qin Zhiyong felt as if he had heard something, and nervously got up to look towards the front of the position. He couldn't help but be shocked: in front of the position, a large group of Japanese soldiers had appeared, crouching down and holding bayonets as they slowly approached the position step by step.

  Qin Zhiyong was so frightened that he quickly squatted down, wanting to shout but unable to make a sound. After a while, he slowly stuck his head out of the bunker again to look forward, and the Japanese soldiers he had seen earlier were nowhere to be found.

  Qin Zhiyong's face was full of confusion, he slowly sat down, and suddenly found many Japanese soldiers walking around in the trenches.

  Qin Zhiyong hastily went to push old Yang beside him and whispered: "Uncle, wake up quickly!"

  Lao Yang suddenly sat up: "What's wrong?"

  Qin Zhiyong pointed around and whispered: "Devils..."

  Old Yang hastily picked up his rifle and vigilantly looked around: "Where?"

  Qin Zhiyong: "Everywhere is a devil..."

  Lao Yang looked around and put down his gun. He slapped Qin Zhiyong's head with a loud slap, "Are you dreaming?"

  Qin Zhiyong rubbed his eyes and looked around, except for the sleeping comrades, no enemy was seen.

  Qin Zhiyong looked puzzled: "I clearly saw..."

  Old Yang deliberately scared him: "What you see are all ghosts! Damn it, just fell asleep."

  Old Yang let out a yawn and lay back down, and from the darkness came Old Cao's gloating laughter.

  Old Cao: "Old Yang, you'd better return his bullets first, be careful he takes you for a devils."

  Lao Yang got up again, snatched the gun from Qin Zhiyong, ejected the bullets, put them in his own pocket, and threw the gun back to Qin Zhiyong before lying down to continue sleeping.

  In the darkness, there came the laughter of other soldiers. Qin Zhiyong's face was full of shame and he had no desire to sleep.

  The sky gradually brightened, and Qin Zhiyong's first night as a soldier had passed like this.

  Soldiers hid in twos and threes in the trenches, scattered and sparse, an observation post lay on the cover to observe the situation ahead.

  Feng Lian lay in the trench, his military cap covering his face, as if he were asleep.

  Qin Zhiyong learned from the old soldier's appearance, lit a cigarette, took a hard drag, and was choked into non-stop coughing.

  Old Yang strode over with his hands on his hips and asked loudly, "Who's smoking?"

  "It's me."

  Old Yang snatched the cigarette from Qin Zhiyong's hand, put it in his own mouth and took a few hard puffs. Then he pulled out the bullets from his pocket and returned them to Qin Zhiyong, warning him: "From now on, don't be so jumpy, be careful not to misfire."

  Qin Zhiyong responded with a sound, took over the bullet and loaded it into the gun. Old Yang's hand holding the cigarette was slightly trembling.

  Qin Zhiyong: "Uncle, are you afraid?"

  Old Yang fiercely spat out a mouthful of smoke, glanced at Feng Lianzhang lying on one side, and intentionally raised his voice: "What's the use of being afraid? Those who are afraid to die will die first, those who are not afraid to die will die later. Sooner or later, it's all death. If you don't die at the hands of the devils, then you'll die at the hands of the officials. That's just the life of a soldier!"

  Feng Lianchang was still lying there: "Old Yang, what are you talking nonsense?"

  Old Yang hurriedly ran to Feng Lianchang's side: "Hey, you're still awake!"

  Feng Lianzhang lifted his military cap and sat up, looking at Old Yang: "I fell asleep and was scolded awake by you."

  Old Yang: "How dare I scold you!"

  Qin Zhiyong looked at Old Yang's mischievous grin and couldn't help but sneak a smile.

  Feng Lianchang smiled all over his face, pulled Old Yang to his mouth and lowered his voice: "If you dare to make me lose face in front of the comrades again and disrupt military morale, I'll shoot you with one bullet."

  Lao Yang said carelessly: "I don't believe it."

  Feng Lianchang's face suddenly changed: "You try saying it again!"

  Seeing Lian Chang's expression, Old Yang was somewhat afraid: "I believe... I believe it, and next time I won't dare to do it again."

  "This is the battlefield, there's no joking around in the army."

  Old Yang nodded repeatedly: "Yes, yes, Old Yang understands."

  Qin Zhiyong also restrained his smile and looked at Feng Lianchang with a serious face.

  The sentry shouted to Commander Feng: "Report to the company commander, there are people crossing the river ahead!"

  Feng Lianchang hastily lay down on the bunker and looked towards the Slope Knife River in front of the position with binoculars.

  Everyone also got up and lay on the bunker looking out.

  At this time, in the river of Lo Knife, dozens of refugees with tattered clothes were wading across the river with big and small packages on their backs, one refugee was pushing a wooden single-wheel cart.

  Lao Cao let out a sigh of relief: "They're refugees."

  Qin Zhiyong, however, recognized one of the refugees as resembling the devil who had wounded him. He snatched the binoculars from Feng Lianchang and took a closer look.

  Lao Cao was about to hit Qin Zhiyong and was stopped by Feng Lianchang.

  Qin Zhiyong saw through the telescope that the refugee with a full beard was the devil who had wounded him, and his face had been forever imprinted on his mind. At this moment, the devil was stretching out his hand to pull down the tattered hem of his long gown, covering up the exposed rifle butt that had accidentally been revealed.

  Qin Zhiyong saw the person who was Hei Tian, wearing a tattered long gown with a "crooked handle" light machine gun hidden inside, leading this group of "refugees" disguised as Japanese soldiers attempting to cross the river and launch a surprise attack on the National Army's position.

  Kuroda turned around and said softly to Kojima, who was wearing similarly tattered clothes: "Kojima, follow me."

  The little island replied softly: "Yes."

  At this moment, on the Japanese army's position, Lieutenant Iwai was also holding a pair of binoculars to observe the "refugees" who were wading across the river, with a sinister smile hanging at the corner of his mouth.

  Qin Zhiyong put down his binoculars and shouted: "It's a devil!"

  Qin Zhiyong raised his gun and shot Hei Tian once.

  The bullet flew over Kuroda's head, and Kuroda was shocked.

  Old Yang rushed over and reached out to grab Qin Zhiyong's gun: "You crazy old ancestor..."

  "It's a devil!"

  Everyone was stunned, and Old Yang was half-believing and half-doubtful: "How did you know it's a ghost?"

  At this time, the sentry suddenly shouted: "Company Commander! Look quickly!"

  Everyone rushed to look towards the river.

  Qin Zhiyong's shot made Kuroda think he had been exposed, so he pulled out the submachine gun hidden in his long gown and ordered the soldiers beside him: "Advance!"

  These Japanese soldiers disguised as refugees took out hidden weapons from the wheelbarrows and charged towards the National Army positions on the south bank while shooting.

  Feng Lianchang gave orders hastily: "Enter the position! Fire!"

  The soldiers rushed to the bunker and fired at the enemy in the river together.

  Lao Cao fired his machine gun in short bursts while continuously counting with his mouth: "...... seven, eight......"

  In the river, Japanese soldiers disguised as refugees continued to fall down after being shot.

  Iwai let out a deep sigh and put down his binoculars.

  Kojima was shot in the leg and fell into the river. Kuroda hurriedly carried Kojima on his back and ordered the soldiers to retreat.

  The Japanese sneak attack was repelled, and there were cheers all over the position.

  Feng Lianchang pulled Qin Zhiyong aside: "Zhiyong, how did you find out?"

  Qin Zhiyong gritted his teeth and his eyes turned red: "There's a ghost I've seen..."

  Feng Lianchang nodded and didn't ask any more questions. He turned to everyone: "The devils' sneak attack failed, they won't give up easily. Everyone hurry up and take turns eating."

  Old Cao leaned over to Old Yang and whispered, "This kid is a bit evil."

  Lao Yang was also somewhat surprised and looked Qin Zhiyong up and down.

  Qin Zhiyong sat in the trench, pulled out a handkerchief from his pocket, and his eyes were filled with tears...

  Dongmei sat alone on a bamboo stool in the courtyard, gazing blankly at the moon in the sky. Suddenly, she heard Qin Zhiyong's voice: "In the future, we will have a big bunch of kids, both boys and girls..."

  Changshan Niang walked out of the house and saw Dongmei sitting there. She went up to her: "Thinking about Tuozi, aren't you?"

  Dongmei hastily stood up, forcing a smile: "Mother, you haven't slept yet?"

  Changshan's wife pulled Dongmei down to sit together: "Can't sleep."

  Dongmei: "I wonder where Zhangzi is at this moment?"

  Changshan Niang shook her head and sighed, "Who knows? It's really worrying! Heaven bless our son to come back safely. If he can come back safely, I won't let him leave again. You also help me persuade him."

  Winter plum nodded: "Uh-huh."

  At this time, Zhangzi was running panting on the mountain road with several self-defense team members.

  Lu Baochang led the self-defense team members to ambush on the mountain array, overlooking the highway below. Lu Baochang saw Duanzi and others running up to the array, hastily asking: "Have you buried it?"

  "Alright, it's buried. Now let's wait for the explosion."

  Lu Baochang smiled: "In a while, the devils' transport team will arrive. If there's no response, I'll throw you little devil down from here."

  One of the team members joked: "Bao Chang, then his new daughter-in-law will be mine!"

  Causing a burst of laughter from other team members.

  "Stop chopping off my head! But who knows if the devils' convoy can make it through this road?"

  Lu Baochang put away his smile: "Stop laughing, all of you. Perk up your ears and listen carefully."

  Everyone fell silent.

  Temporary Japanese Army Hospital

  There were more than a dozen wounded soldiers lying in the infirmary, and the medical orderly with a red cross armband was examining their wounds.

  Kojima was lying on his bed, a medic bandaging his wound, while Kuroda came in carrying a lunchbox.

  The medic bandaged the wound and bowed to Xiaoyu: Please rest now.

  Xiao Dao sat up: You've worked hard!

  The medic left. Kuroda put the food box on the bed, and Shima suddenly noticed a clear palm print on Kuroda's face, and hastily asked: "Was it the captain who hit you?"

  Kuroda smiled carelessly: "You didn't complete your mission!"

  Xiao Dao: "If I hadn't been injured, Dong Zheng might not have retreated."

  Kuroda's face was stern: "Am I supposed to abandon my duties for you? Don't be ridiculous! Eat your meal quickly."

  Kojima gazed straight at Kuroda, who was quite helpless: "Since we've already been discovered by the enemy, we've lost the value of a surprise attack. Withdrawing is also necessary. Alright, let's eat quickly."

  Kuroda saw Kojima's leg wrapped in gauze and felt a pang of distress: "Has the wound been examined?"

  The little island comforted him: "It didn't hurt your bones."

  Kuroda was deeply grieved: "When I left my hometown, I promised Auntie that I would take good care of you..."

  "It's not your fault..."

  Kuroda sat down beside the bed: "From childhood to adulthood, Aunt treated me like a mother. If something happened to you, how could I have the face to see her again..."

  The little island muttered in a low voice: "Why always say that."

  Kuroda opened the lunchbox and arranged the rice balls, canned fish, canned pineapple, boiled egg, and miso soup on the bed.

  Kuroda: "Let's eat quickly!"

  "Wow, what a feast! I'm starving!"

  Kuroda sighed: "At this time, I really miss Auntie's New Year's cake!"

  "Yes!"

  "Those years if it wasn't for Auntie's bean paste dumplings, this poor orphan would have starved to death..."

  "Stop saying that all the time, let's eat quickly, I'm starving too."

  Kuroda still recalled the past: "I remember that year's heavy snow, I was starving and fell in the snowy ground, if it wasn't for my aunt who carried me back home... My aunt's kindness, forever unforgettable!"

  Xiao Dao picked up his chopsticks and interrupted him: "Dong Zheng, how many times have you said these things?! Are we going to eat or not?!"

  Kuroda: "Ah——right, right, let's eat quickly, don't say anything more."

  "Then I'll get started!" Xiao Dao shouted loudly.

  Kuroda picked up his chopsticks and also loudly said: "I'm starting!"

  Xiao Dao picked up a piece of fish meat with chopsticks: "Do you still remember when we were kids and went fishing in the river together? It was so much fun back then!"

  Kuroda: "I know, I really want to go back to that time!"

  Xiao Dao suddenly burst out laughing: "One time I climbed up from the river and couldn't find my pants, it turned out that Dong Zheng Ge had hidden them!"

  Kuroda burst out laughing: "Hahaha! Oshima, you were on the verge of tears back then!"

  Kojima wiped away tears of laughter: "Yeah, lost my clothes, gonna get a beating when I go home." Kojima looked at Kuroda with deep feeling, "It's been ages since I've had such a fun chat like this with Tōma-san."

  Kuroda: "Yes, marching and fighting all day, attending to duties..."

  The little island was somewhat regretful: "It would be great if there was wine, it's been a long time since I had a good drink with Dong Zheng!"

  Kuroda patted his forehead and slowly pulled out a bottle of sake from his backpack, waving it in front of the island: "Look! What's this?"

  "Ah! It's great! I really did it!"

  Kuroda: "I had really forgotten if you hadn't mentioned it."

  Kuroda poured sake for Kohshima and himself, and the two raised their cups.

  "For Aunt's health!"

  "For an early return home!"

  Two people drank it all up in one go.

  Kuroda put down his wine glass and refilled it for himself and Oshima: "This is the last bottle, I heard that the car we ordered will arrive today."

  Four Japanese military trucks carrying supplies and troops were slowly moving along the mountain road, each truck's cab was equipped with a machine gun on top, and the cargo compartment was filled with Japanese soldiers, their steel helmets and bayonets reflecting dazzling light in the sunlight.

  Lu Baochang and Duanzi crouched on the battlefield, nervously watching as the truck drove towards the place where they had laid the landmines.

  The truck drove past the buried mine, Lu Baochang angrily shouted: "Why didn't it explode! Quickly throw a hand grenade!"

  Lu Baochang immediately threw out a hand grenade, which exploded next to the first truck, causing it to crash into rocks at the side of the road.

  Zhang Tiezhu slapped his own head in frustration. The squad members threw out hand grenades, the grenades exploded around the truck, and the ammunition on one of the trucks was detonated, sending the Japanese soldiers flying into the air.

  Japanese soldiers on other vehicles jumped off the vehicle, quickly organized and occupied advantageous terrain, firing at the mountain. Japanese machine gunners also quickly set up their machine guns and swept the mountain with fire.

  Several team members were shot and killed. Lu Baochang was also shot in the chest, and his comrade rushed over, crying: "Baochang..."

  Lu Baochang shouted with difficulty: "Zongzi, lead everyone to retreat quickly!"

  "Fall back!" Zhang Fei shouted to his troops.

  Japanese soldiers began charging up the mountain...

  Temporary Japanese Army Hospital

  Xiao Dao put down his chopsticks and said loudly: "I'm done eating!"

  Kuroda also put down his chopsticks and loudly said: "I'm done eating!"

  The two of them burst out laughing happily together!

  Suddenly, the assembly call sounded outside.

  Kuroda stood up and picked up his gun, looking at Kojima with full confidence: "May your military luck be long-lasting!"

  "Long-lasting martial arts!"

  Kuroda ran out of the infirmary.

  Iwai squad has assembled.

  Iwai faced all soldiers: "The order has been received, and the attack will start at 10 o'clock sharp."

  The soldiers all looked at their watches on their wrists simultaneously.

  Iwai orders: "Enter the formation!"

  Kuroda and the other soldiers entered the trenches. Kuroda mounted a scope on his rifle, aiming at the enemy's position across from them. Suddenly, through the lens of the scope, he saw Qin Zhiyong poking his head out from behind cover, eating a roasted bun. Kuroda was startled, and he lowered his gun, carefully recalling something. A face appeared in his mind - that of the young man he had shot and killed by the river.

  Kuroda suddenly pulled the bolt back and raised his rifle again, aiming at the opposite side through the scope.

  In the scope of the rifle, the crosshairs locked onto Qin Zhiyong.

  Kuroda's index finger was on the trigger, ready to fire at any moment...