Chapter 7 "It's not easy to catch a devil prisoner on the battlefield!"

  On the National Army's position, soldiers were sitting around eating hastily. Feng Lianzhang was lying in the trench, seemingly asleep.

  Qin Zhiyong held a pancake in one hand and a bowl of egg drop soup in the other, drinking from it.

  Old Yang crouched in the trench, chewing on a roasted flatbread, his eyes fixed on Qin Zhiyong: "I'm asking you, stupid egg, how did you figure out it was the enemy?"

  Qin Zhiyong: "There is a devil I have seen, it was him who injured me."

  Lao Yang: "What does he look like?"

  Qin Zhiyong took a look at Old Cao who was squatting opposite him with a full beard: "Just like him."

  Old Yang took a glance at Old Cao and burst out laughing.

  Old Cao angrily said: "You dare say I'm like a devil..."

  Kuroda pulled the trigger...

  Old Cao was so angry that he picked up a clod of earth and threw it at Qin Zhiyong, who quickly lowered his head. Suddenly, a gunshot rang out, and the bullet flew over Qin Zhiyong's head. A soldier who had just stood up to refill his bowl with soup raised his hands behind him and fell down, hit by the bullet. The rice bowl and half a bun in his hands were thrown into the air.

  Lao Cao and Lao Yang quickly got down, and the two of them looked at each other in surprise.

  Kuroda put down his gun and furrowed his brow.

  Old Cao crawled over to take a look at the fallen soldier: "He's dead."

  Feng Lian stood up: "Bring two people, take him away."

  Two soldiers came over with a stretcher and carried the body away, while the others changed seats and continued eating.

  Feng Lianchang on the observation post hidden with branches: Be careful and observe!

  Feng Lianzhang finished speaking and lay down again.

  Qin Zhiyong put down his rice bowl and gazed sorrowfully at the soldier's corpse.

  The Japanese artillery began firing mortar shells, which exploded on the position, filling the air with smoke.

  "Feng Lianchang loudly ordered: 'All troops enter the artillery cave!'"

  Everyone cursed and put down their rice bowls, rushing to hide in the air raid shelters. The shells whizzed through the air, exploding all around the position, shaking the earth.

  Qin Zhiyong was frightened and ran wildly in all directions, with shells constantly exploding around him.

  Old Yang shouted loudly: "Fool! Get down quickly!"

  Qin Zhiyong ran until he was exhausted and fell to the ground. A shell landed beside him, sticking into the earth.

  Lao Yang and Lao Cao hastily hugged their heads and lay on the ground, Qin Zhiyong lay on the ground, wanting to crawl up and run again, but he really didn't have the strength anymore. He took a glance at the tail wing spinning rapidly and thought "if I'm going to die, then so be it", and thus closed his eyes in resignation.

  After a while, Qin Zhiyong slowly opened his eyes and saw the rotating tail of the shell slowly coming to a stop.

  Lao Yang and Lao Cao stared at the shell in shock, then looked at Qin Zhiyong, slowly getting up from the ground. Lao Yang whispered: "This kid... really has a bit of evil spirit."

  On the Japanese army's position, Iwai drew out his command sword and swung it in the air. The soldiers of the unit simultaneously fixed bayonets, making a chilling sound.

  The Japanese army took advantage of the cover of artillery fire and crossed the Loukou River.

  Feng Lianchang saw the Japanese army stop shelling and shouted: "The whole company enters the position!"

  The soldiers rushed into the bunker and aimed their guns.

  The sentry suddenly shouted: "Report to the company commander, more than 200 enemies have crossed the Luo Dao River and are gathering on the mountain slope in front of us."

  "Feng Lianchang: 'Got it, keep a close watch.'"

  In front of the position, more than 200 Japanese soldiers with bayonets on their Type 38 rifles formed a skirmish line and walked slowly towards the National Army's position, their steel helmets and bayonets flashing dazzling white light.

  "Feng Lianchang: 'Don't shoot indiscriminately!'"

  Lao Cao held a Czech light machine gun aiming at the enemy, with several clips placed on the bunker in front of him.

  Qin Zhiyong crouched beside Old Yang, his breathing was a bit urgent, sweat streaming down his forehead, and the hand on the trigger trembled uncontrollably.

  Feng Lianchang took a glance at Qin Zhiyong and shouted loudly: "Everyone, don't panic. Put the devils within 100 meters before shooting. No one is allowed to fire without orders."

  The enemy is getting closer and closer.

  Feng Lianchang raised his shotgun and fired a shot into the sky, shouting "Fire!" at the same time.

  Gunfire suddenly rang out in unison, and dozens of Japanese soldiers fell to the ground in front of the position. More Japanese soldiers, armed with bayonets, charged forward in multiple skirmish lines, shouting "Long live His Imperial Majesty!" as they ran.

  The Japanese soldiers' battle cries were getting closer and closer.

  Feng Lianchang shouted: "Get ready with hand grenades!"

  The warriors placed hand grenades on the bunker.

  The Japanese soldiers were getting closer and closer, Qin Zhiyong could clearly see their arrogant and ferocious faces.

  Feng Lianchang picked up the whistle hanging on his chest and blew a loud blast.

  With a sharp whistle, the warriors threw out hand grenades one after another.

  With the sound of explosions, the Japanese soldiers who were charging forward were blown down in a heap.

  Qin Zhiyong was about to throw a hand grenade without pulling the fuse, but Old Yang snatched it from him, pulled the fuse and threw it out, killing two Japanese soldiers.

  The Japanese soldiers came up again like waves one after another.

  Lao Cao's machine gun swept wildly, Japanese soldiers fell down in batches, and those behind followed up.

  Lao Yang pressed down on the bullets while bitterly smiling: "It seems that no matter which country, a soldier's life is worthless!"

  Huang Xintian took aim at a Japanese squad leader who was charging forward with his sword raised, and with one shot, the Japanese squad leader fell to the ground.

  Feng Lianchang exclaimed: "Huang Xintian, well done!"

  Feng Lian ran up to Huang Xintian's side and pointed at another Japanese squad leader who was charging with a knife: "See that? Give him a name."

  Huang Xintian pulled the trigger again, and the Japanese squad leader also fell to his death.

  The orderly shouted anxiously: "The enemy has infiltrated our assault position! Company Commander, hand grenades are running out!"

  Dozens of Japanese soldiers, bayonets at the ready, charged forward shouting.

  "Feng Lian shouted loudly: 'Draw your bayonets!'"

  All the soldiers drew their bayonets. Old Cao and Old Yang also pulled out their big knives from behind.

  Qin Zhiyong's hands kept trembling and he stuttered twice before finally putting the bayonet on.

  Old Yang stretched out his big hand and grasped Qin Zhiyong's hand, helping him to buckle the bayonet. He reminded him: "When charging, follow me from behind, don't rush around like a headless fly."

  Qin Zhiyong nodded with a terrified expression on his face.

  The Japanese soldiers were getting closer and closer, their battle cries growing clearer and clearer.

  On the battlefield, the psychological defenses of two soldiers finally collapsed. They threw away their guns, crawled out of the trenches and ran towards the rear of the position. Other soldiers were also somewhat panicked.

  Feng Lianchang looked at the two soldiers who were fleeing backwards, raised his shotgun decisively and fired two shots in a row, killing the two fleeing soldiers.

  Old Yang sighed.

  Feng Lianchang put the pistol back in his waist, picked up the rifle with a bayonet, looked at the charging Japanese soldiers, and sneered: "What are these Japanese devils? They can give up their lives, why should we be afraid of death? They can run tens of thousands of miles to come and die, and we don't dare to die in front of our own door?"

  Feng Lianchang charged out of the trench with a bayonet, standing on the bunker and shouting: "Kill the devils!"

  The warriors held bayonets in some hands and big knives in others, following Feng Lianzhang, shouting as they charged towards the enemy.

  A Japanese soldier with a bayonet charged at Qin Zhiyong, who hastily raised his gun and fired two shots but missed. The Japanese soldier had already rushed to his front, raised his gun and stabbed, Qin Zhiyong hurriedly stretched out his gun to block, the gun was knocked open by the opponent's bayonet, the Japanese soldier's bayonet again stabbed towards Qin Zhiyong's chest, in a panic Qin Zhiyong retreated several steps back, fell to the ground. At the critical moment, Feng Lianzhang drew out his pistol and fired one shot, knocking down the Japanese soldier.

  A Japanese soldier thrust his bayonet at Old Yang, who raised his knife and parried the bayonet with a swipe upwards. The knife in his hand then chopped down with the momentum, cutting off the Japanese soldier's neck.

  The warriors engaged in hand-to-hand combat with the enemy.

  Lao Yang turned back to look for Qin Zhiyong and found that Qin Zhiyong was wandering alone on the battlefield like a sleepwalker.

  A warrior and a Japanese soldier yelled at each other as they simultaneously stabbed at each other, their bayonets sinking into each other's chests. The two men slowly fell to the ground together.

  A Japanese soldier was about to stab Qin Zhiyong when he was killed by Old Yang with one knife.

  A warrior and a Japanese soldier were hugging each other, rolling back and forth on the ground. The Japanese soldier finally gained the upper hand, pinning the warrior under him, his hands tightly grasping the warrior's neck. The warrior struggled desperately, slowly losing breath. Just as the Japanese soldier was about to stand up, Old Cao rushed over and swung his large knife, chopping off the Japanese soldier's head.

  Feng Lianchang was fighting a Japanese soldier with bayonets, another Japanese soldier stabbed Feng Lianchang from behind, Old Yang rushed forward and chopped the Japanese soldier to death. Old Yang swung his big knife and stayed close to Feng Lianchang all the time.

  A Japanese soldier thrust his bayonet at Huang Xintian, who was about to dodge, but collided with Qin Zhiyong standing stupidly on the side. Both Huang Xintian and Qin Zhiyong fell to the ground. The Japanese soldier's bayonet stabbed at Huang Xintian again. Huang Xintian quickly threw away his gun, stretched out his hand to grab the Japanese soldier's gun barrel, and with the other hand pulled out a hunting knife from his waist. A curved line flashed by, and the Japanese soldier's neck was severed. Qin Zhiyong watched in stunned amazement beside him.

  Huang Xintian rushed forward and shouted loudly at Qin Zhiyong: "Get out of here!"

  Qin Zhiyong hastily retreated and hid beside the corpse of a Japanese soldier who had been shot dead by Feng Lianchang.

  The warriors fought more and more bravely, the enemy gradually collapsed, dropped dozens of corpses, and retreated.

  Feng Lianchang was stabbed in the shoulder by an enemy bayonet and a soldier bandaged his wound.

  The Japanese soldier who was hit by Feng Lianchang suddenly sat up next to Qin Zhiyong, holding a Japanese-style hand grenade in his hand. He smashed it on the ground and prepared to throw it at Feng Lianchang. Old Yang quickly rushed over, swung his big knife, and chopped off the Japanese soldier's wrist. The Japanese soldier let out a blood-curdling scream as the severed hand holding the grenade fell in front of Qin Zhiyong. Qin Zhiyong was shocked and lost color. Old Yang kicked the severed hand into the trench with one swift kick, and the grenade exploded with a loud "boom" in the trench.

  Old Yang raised his big knife again to chop the Japanese soldier to death, but was loudly stopped by Feng Lianchang: "Old Yang! You want to live!"

  Old Yang reluctantly put away his big knife. The Japanese soldier clutched at his severed arm and wailed incessantly. Several soldiers rushed over and tied him up.

  The Japanese soldier struggled incessantly, still cursing in poor Chinese: "Zhīnà zhū! Zhīnà zhū!" (Chinese pig! Chinese pig!)

  A warrior kicked him twice.

  Qin Zhiyong sat on the ground, staring blankly, Old Yang walked in front of him, somewhat surprised: "Foolish egg, you're still alive!"

  Qin Zhiyong's eyes stared blankly at Old Yang, without any reaction.

  Old Yang: "Scared silly?"

  Old Yang waved his hand in front of Qin Zhiyong's eyes, but Qin Zhiyong's gaze didn't react at all.

  Old Cao pushed Old Yang: "Get out of the way and watch me."

  Old Cao said, raising his hand and slapping Qin Zhiyong's face fiercely. Qin Zhiyong covered his face, as if waking up from a dream.

  Old Cao smiled: "This trick works."

  Qin Zhiyong suddenly grabbed Old Yang's arm and exclaimed in a panic, "Uncle, just now this place was full of devils, I told you not to believe me——"

  Old Yang and Old Cao and the other fighters all burst out laughing.

  Feng Lianchang walked over: "Old Yang, you take the captive to the battalion headquarters. If he dies on the way, I'll hold you responsible!"

  Old Yang gave a salute: "Yes! Company Commander. Foolish egg, follow me."

  Qin Zhiyong and Old Yang carried the wounded Japanese captive on a stretcher and ran towards the rear.

  Inside Changsha Field Hospital.

  Seriously wounded people were constantly being carried in, doctors and nurses were busily rushing about, the ground was covered with bloody clothes, bandages and severed limbs.

  Nurse Xiaobai was carrying a basin of bloody bandages and was about to push the door out when it was knocked open. Old Yang and Qin Zhiyong carried in a stretcher, on which the Japanese captive with a severed hand was tied up with ropes.

  He struggled on one side and was still scolding in Chinese: "Japanese pig! Japanese pig!"

  Old Yang was so angry that he stretched out his big hand and slapped him several times, and the Japanese captive was beaten unconscious.

  "Is it you who caught them?"

  Old Yang proudly said: "I caught it!"

  Xiao Bai asked in confusion: "What's the point of sending him here?"

  Old Yang smiled and said: "It's a gift for you, how about it? I'm a man of my word."

  Xiao Bai looked at the captive who had fainted and resentfully said: "I don't want him alive!"

  Xiao Bai said she was going to leave, but Old Yang stopped her: "Hey, Xiao Bai, let us take him to the brigade department. You just bandage him simply, I'm afraid it's not good for him to die on the way."

  Xiao Bai hastily said: "With so many wounded to rescue, who has the energy to care about him? Don't bother!"

  Xiaobai pushed away Lao Yang and stormed out of the ward.

  A seriously injured man was carried in, the wounded man lay on a stretcher, holding his exposed intestines with his hands, Qin Zhiyong looked at him and felt nauseous to the point of vomiting.

  Xiao Bai walked out of the hospital with a bandaged head, and Sun Zong, the team leader, came rushing towards him with two orderlies.

  Xiao Bai walked past Sun's advisor, who stopped in his tracks and turned around, shouting: "Xiao Bai!"

  Xiaobai looked back at Sun Zongcai with a dazed expression, and Sun Zongcai smiled: "What? Don't you recognize me? If it wasn't for you guarding me for a whole night last year, feeding me medicine spoon by spoon, I, Sun Fulin, would have died long ago."

  Xiao Bai exclaimed in surprise: "Oh, is it Advisor Sun?"

  Sun Zi said: "It's me! You've forgotten about me, but I can never forget you, my great benefactor!"

  Xiaobai: "You were covered in gauze at that time... Ah, how did you come?"

  Sun's advisor: "Is it true that a Japanese prisoner of war has been sent over? I have orders to escort him back to the regimental headquarters."

  Xiao Bai: "He's sent one over and even asked me to bandage him up, I'm not going to bother."

  Sun's advisor smiled: "You really have to bandage him, it's not easy to capture a devil prisoner on the battlefield! The regimental commander ordered me to bring him back alive."

  Xiao Bai: "I don't care, go find someone else."

  Xiao Bai was about to leave when Sun Zongcao grabbed her: "Who can I find at this time, everyone is busy, and I only know you."

  Sun Ziming dragged Xiao Bai back without giving him a chance to explain.

  In the ward, Qin Zhiyong was squatting in the corner of the wall and vomiting.

  Sun and Xiao Bai walked into the ward, followed by two orderlies.

  Xiao Bai said to Lao Yang: "Lao Yang, this is Sun from the headquarters, he wants to take away the captives."

  Lao Yang bowed respectfully to Sun's advisor, and Sun's advisor returned the bow.

  Xiao Bai saw Qin Zhiyong squatting in the corner of the wall and vomiting, and angrily said: "Get out and vomit!"

  Qin Zhiyong stood up, embarrassedly wiping his mouth. Just as he was about to speak, he felt like vomiting again and hurriedly covered his mouth and ran out.

  Sun's advisor walked straight up to the stretcher of the Japanese captive and asked in Japanese: "What is your name? Which unit do you belong to?"

  Ri looked at the Japanese captive with his eyes closed and not speaking, Sun Zongcai was somewhat anxious and asked Lao Yang: "What's wrong with him? Isn't he dead?"

  Old Yang: "Not dead, not dead, seriously injured, fainted."

  "Untie the rope for him and bandage him immediately."

  Lao Yang untied the ropes binding the Japanese captive, and Xiao Bai reluctantly brought over gauze and medicine to dress his wounds. Xiao Bai's movements were rough, and the Japanese captive was awakened by the pain. He suddenly pounced forward, biting down hard on Xiao Bai's left wrist. Xiao Bai cried out in agony as Lao Yang rushed over, trying to pry open the captive's jaws. But the captive refused to let go of Xiao Bai's wrist, enraging Lao Yang, who pulled out a dagger from his waist and stabbed it into the captive's neck. Blood splattered all over Xiao Bai, and the Japanese captive rolled back his eyes, stretched out his legs, and died.

  Sun's advisor rushed forward to check and found that the captive was dead, he was extremely angry in his heart. He looked up and down at Old Yang: "The knife method is not bad."

  Old Yang wiped the blood on the captive's clothes with his dagger and put it back in its scabbard, saying unknowingly: "It's still usable."

  Sun's advisor suddenly shouted at two orderlies: "Tie him up!"

  Two soldiers rushed up, picked up the rope that bound the prisoner and tried to bind Old Yang, but were knocked to the ground by Old Yang's three punches and two kicks. Sun, the advisor, rushed up to grab Old Yang, but was kicked back repeatedly by Old Yang's leg and fell to the ground without any defense.

  Sun's advisor scrambled up in a sorry state, pulled out his pistol and pointed it at Old Yang.

  At this time, Qin Zhiyong pushed the door and came in. He saw Sun Canmou pointing his gun at Old Yang, so Qin Zhiyong quickly aimed his rifle at Sun Canmou.

  Sun Zongmou saw Qin Zhīyǒng pointing his gun at him, rubbed the gun butt, and angrily shouted: "You... you want to rebel?!"

  Two soldiers who had been knocked down also got up from the ground, pulled out their rifles and aimed at Old Yang and Qin Zhiyong.

  Xiao Bai stepped forward and shielded Lao Yang and Qin Zhiyong behind him. Sun, the advisor, raised his gun at Xiao Bai, exasperated: "This has nothing to do with you, scram!"

  Xiao Bai refused to back down: "Sun Zongcai, take me away too!"

  Sun's advisor was so angry that he trembled with rage: "He beat up the officials and killed the captives, how can I go back and explain this?"

  "That beast deserves to die!"

  Hearing the sound of quarreling, a group of wounded soldiers gathered around.

  Old Yang looked at the wounded soldiers surrounding him, thought for a moment, gently pressed down Qin Zhiyong's gun muzzle, and suddenly knelt in front of Sun with a crying tone: "Officer, spare my life! I was momentarily enraged when I killed that devil, and just now I acted out of fear. We soldiers are most afraid of being tied up..."

  Xiao Bai pulled up Lao Yang: "Get up! What are you kneeling for?"

  The wounded soldiers on the side also discussed it in an uproar:

  "What's the big deal about killing a devil prisoner! Do we need to arrest people for this?"

  "How many of our captured brothers were killed by the devils!"

  "Good kill!"

  Sun Zimou looked at the small white figure in front of him who didn't back down, then looked at the wounded soldiers around him with angry faces, and couldn't help but sigh. He pointed at Old Yang: "You wait!"

  He put away his gun and left with two orderlies.

  The wounded soldiers gradually dispersed.

  Old Yang grasped Xiaobai's wrist which had been bitten through, and painfully asked: "Little sister, does it hurt?"

  Xiao Bai took the medicine bottle, applied some to his own wrist, and muttered: "This mad dog! Deserved to be killed! Old Yang, this knife of yours is really satisfying! I didn't misjudge you!"

  Old Yang chuckled twice and said gratefully to Xiaobai: "Thanks to you for saving me today..."

  Xiao Bai smiled and lowered his head, using gauze to bandage his own wrist.

  Old Yang helped her tie the gauze on her wrist while leaning close to her ear and whispered, "Sister, I think the devils are different this time when they attack Changsha, they're really furious, Changsha may not be able to hold on, we should retreat as soon as possible."

  Xiao Bai put away his smile and raised his head: "Why don't you withdraw?"

  Lao Yang: "I'm a soldier, how can I withdraw?"

  Xiao Bai: "Me too!"

  Xiaobai finished speaking and struggled free from Old Yang's grasp, turning her head and walking away.

  Old Yang was stunned and looked at Xiaobai's back, silently sighing: "Good sister, take care of yourself, may heaven bless us to live on."