Chapter 8 "Captain, let's meet again in our next life."

  In the dense forest of the mountains outside Changsha City.

  Lu Baochang was carrying a wounded comrade on his back and walking with difficulty, followed by more than a dozen team members, many of whom were also injured.

  Lu Baochang: "Zhuangzi, you...you put me down."

  The nurse put Lu Baochang on the ground.

  Lu Baozhang opened his eyes and looked around at everyone: "Is this all that's left?"

  The little girl nodded tearfully.

  Lu Baochang: "Do you regret following me out to fight the devils?"

  Team members expressed:

  "No regrets!"

  "We didn't kill enough of those devils!"

  Lu Baochangs gasped for breath and said intermittently: "You living people - must fight to the end - even if you die, you cannot be a slave of a lost country"

  The little girl nodded vigorously while crying.

  Lu Baochang slowly closed his eyes.

  Diaozi knelt on Lu Baochang's body and wailed: "Lu Baochang——"

  The team members also burst into tears.

  National Army position, outside the company command post. The sound of gunfire is continuous.

  Lao Yang stood dejectedly in front of Feng Lianchang, while Qin Zhiyong hid far away and peeked at them.

  Feng Lianzhang pointed at Old Yang, shouting in a hoarse voice: "...... You're getting bolder and bolder! Not only did you kill the prisoners, but you also dared to beat up the regimental advisor! Sun Advisor is the team leader's right-hand man, my living ancestor!"

  Old Yang looked innocent: "They want to tie me up..."

  Feng Lianchang: "You should be tied up! It's not easy to catch a prisoner, and you killed him. You're quite pleased with yourself!"

  Old Yang nodded: "It's really damn refreshing!"

  Feng Lianchang: "Alright, go ahead and be frank. I'll tell you, even the battalion commander has inquired about this matter and said it must be thoroughly investigated."

  Old Yang was frightened: "What? Investigate and handle? How, how investigate and handle?"

  "Feng Lianchang: 'Fire!' "

  Old Yang was shocked: "Ah!"

  Feng Lianchang: "Still feel good?"

  Old Yang jumped up and down, shouting: "For this little fart of a thing you're going to kill me? I don't believe it!"

  "Feng Lianchang: 'Killing prisoners is a serious breach of discipline, and on top of that you also assaulted an officer. Is it unjust to execute you?'"

  Old Yang bowed his head and thought for a moment, then suddenly knelt down in front of Feng Lianchang with tears streaming down his face: "Commander Lian, considering the years I've followed you, you have to save me! You're like my parents, you're my everything!"

  Feng Lianchang rubbed his temples: "Alright alright alright, stop with this nonsense."

  Qin Zhiyong stood at a distance and saw Old Yang's wolf-like appearance, and couldn't help but secretly laugh.

  Lao Yang stood up again, talking wildly: "I don't care, you have to think of a way for me, otherwise I'll tell them it was you who told me to kill the captive."

  Feng Lianchang cried and laughed: "That Sun advisor was also beaten by you at my instigation?"

  Old Yang said straightforwardly and confidently: "Yes, you've been looking at him with disapproval for a long time."

  "Feng Lianchang was furious: 'You're my elder! You're my respected elder brother from now on!'"

  Old Yang smiled slyly.

  "Feng Lianchang bowed his head in thought for a moment: 'You go to the cooking class first, and show up again after this battle.'"

  Old Yang happily saluted Feng Lianchang: "Yes! Thank you, Commander, for saving my life!"

  Feng Lianchang: "Demote two ranks!"

  Old Yang cried with a sad face: "Huh?"

  Feng Lianchang: "What's with the 'ah'? Are you going or not?"

  Old Yang hastily: "Go! I'm going!"

  Feng Lian let out a sigh: "Old Yang, what can I say about you? When I was a soldier, you were just a lower-ranking officer. Now that I'm the company commander, you're still just a lower-ranking officer. Can't you show some improvement?"

  Old Yang chuckled: "I don't want to be an official, officials die quickly, I still want to keep this life for the future to marry a wife."

  Feng Lianchang: "Have you saved enough money?"

  Old Yang patted his pocket and said with embarrassment: "Hehe, still a bit short."

  Feng Lianchang was somewhat emotional: "You've also been a soldier for over a decade, and there are still many fierce battles to be fought in the future. After this battle is won, I'll let you go, find a woman, and live a good life."

  Lao Yang was also deeply moved: "Lian Chang, I, Lao Yang, will never forget you..."

  Feng Lianchang nodded: "Go."

  Feng Lianchang turned around just as he was about to leave, and Old Yang suddenly remembered: "Ah - Lianchang, didn't you promise to help me ask Little White Nurse something?"

  Feng Lianchang sneered: "You're kidding, right? Look at your behavior, who would be interested in you?"

  At this time, a messenger ran over: "Report to the company commander, it's a call from the regimental headquarters."

  Feng Lianchang turned and walked towards the command post, muttering to himself as he went: "Stop daydreaming! Get to the kitchen squad and report for duty right away! Don't let me see you again!"

  Old Yang said to Feng Lianchang's back: "If the top asks questions, what will you say?"

  Feng Lian said without turning his head: "You're dead."

  Old Yang hastily saluted the back of Feng Lianchang: "You old man, slow down." Old Yang lowered his head and thought for a moment, then smiled wryly to himself: "Heh heh, if I'm dead, I'm dead. The sooner I die, the sooner I'll be reborn."

  Old Yang raised his head and saw Qin Zhiyong standing in the distance, sneaking a peek. He couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed. He beckoned to Qin Zhiyong: "Silly egg, come here!"

  Qin Zhiyong hastily ran in front of Old Yang, who straightened his back: "At attention!"

  Qin Zhiyong quickly stood up straight.

  Old Yang: "At ease!"

  Qin Zhiyong didn't understand and remained standing at attention. Old Yang kicked his foot, and Qin Zhiyong finally stretched out one leg.

  Old Yang: "What did you just see?"

  Qin Zhiyong suppressed his smile and shook his head.

  Old Yang: "I'm not afraid even if I see it! A real man can yield and stretch, when to beg for mercy then beg for mercy, when to kneel down then kneel down. What's shameful about that? Even if Lian Zhang wants to bully me, I won't ask him for help, he still won't abandon me to death. Lian Zhang and I have been through thick and thin for many years, we're sworn brothers! Do you understand?"

  "Got it."

  Old Yang became spirited again: "I've captured prisoners and killed them, I've hit officers too, what's the big deal? Not a single hair was harmed. Learn from me, kid."

  Qin Zhiyong nodded repeatedly.

  Old Yang suddenly thought of something and looked Qin Zhiyong up and down: "I said you little devil is even bolder than me, daring to point the muzzle at a superior officer, don't you want your life anymore!"

  Qin Zhiyong "heh heh" foolishly smiled twice: "I don't know him anyway."

  Old Yang nodded in satisfaction: "Alright, you've got spirit! I haven't taught you in vain. But don't dare to do this again in the future, there are many rules in the army and offending a superior can cost you your head, remember?"

  "Ah, got it."

  "Go."

  Qin Zhiyong stood still: "Uncle, are you going to the cooking class?"

  Old Yang: "Go hide there first. Damn it, killing a devil is no big deal, and I was demoted two ranks, becoming a first-class soldier again, making a fuss over nothing."

  Qin Zhiyong was somewhat nervous: "Then in the future——"

  Old Yang patted Qin Zhiyong's shoulder: "From now on, it's all up to your own luck. Having fought in a battle and not dying makes you an old soldier. What's your name?"

  Qin Zhiyong: "Qin Zhiyong."

  Suddenly a shell exploded nearby and both of them quickly lay down.

  Old Yang shouted loudly in Qin Zhiyong's ear: "Zhiyong, don't be soft-hearted on the battlefield! The little devils are good at playing dead, and even if you see a devil's corpse, you must stab it a few more times! Remember?"

  "Uncle! I remember! Then I'll be off!" Qin Zhiyong replied loudly.

  Old Yang: "Let's hurry up."

  Qin Zhiyong braved the artillery fire and ran towards the position with his waist bent.

  Feng Lianchang walked into the command post and took over the phone from the communications soldier: "Hello! Commander, it's me."

  "Captain Feng? Your company must cover the withdrawal of the troops and hold on until 10 o'clock tonight!" came the voice of Commissar Dong over the radio.

  Feng Lianchang: "Understood, 10 o'clock tonight."

  "Old Feng, when there's no other choice, move to the south bank of the Xiang River."

  Feng Lianchang: "Soldiers have no choice but to fight!"

  Comrade Dong hesitated for a moment: "We must strive to break out of the encirclement."

  Feng Lianzhang hung up the phone and followed two orderlies out of the command post.

  A messenger who was walking in front had just climbed up a high slope when he was blown to pieces by a shell, and his limbs fell at the feet of Commander Feng. Blood splattered on his face. Commander Feng took out his handkerchief, wiped off the blood from his face, and calmly climbed up the slope.

  Outside Changsha Field Hospital.

  The wounded were being brought to the hospital one after another, Xiao Bai stood at the entrance of the hospital, sweating profusely as he examined a wounded soldier's injuries, then shook his head at the stretcher bearer: "Take him away, there's no hope." After finishing, he went to examine another wounded soldier's injuries, and said to the stretcher bearer: "Bring him in! That one can wait!"

  Changsha city was in a state of chaos, with civilians fleeing in droves, carrying their families and crying out in panic.

  A group of soldiers also followed the civilians and ran backwards. A stretcher bearer grabbed a soldier: "How's the fight up front?"

  The soldiers were in a panic: "The devils have broken through the first line of defense and are approaching Changsha quickly!"

  The soldier finished speaking and ran away in a flurry, several stretcher bearers who heard him also threw down their stretchers and followed suit.

  Xiaobai was so angry that he stomped his feet and shouted loudly at the retreating stretcher bearers: "Come back! You bunch of bastards!"

  At this moment, outside Changsha City, a large Japanese army is continuously crossing the Laodao River.

  On the battlefield, enemy planes were bombing and shelling continuously, with bombs constantly falling on the position. A medic was bandaging Commander Feng's head wound.

  Feng Lianchang held a shotgun and looked at the heavily wounded soldiers, his voice hoarse: "Brothers, we must hold on until 10 o'clock tonight, do you have confidence?"

  Lao Cao, Huang Xintian, Qin Zhiyong and the soldiers all replied in unison: "Yes!"

  On the Japanese military position.

  Iwai crouched on the bunker, holding a telescope to observe the front of the position. Kuroda crouched beside him.

  The soldier next to Sugiyama whispered, "The enemy in front of us seems tough."

  Kuroda glared at Saionji and said to Iwai, "Captain, let me take a small team to outflank the enemy from the side!"

  Iwai lowered his binoculars and nodded at Kuroda.

  National Army position.

  Old Cao whispered to Huang Xintian beside him: "Where did that old rascal Old Yang hide?"

  Huang Xintian shook his head.

  Lao Cao asked Qin Zhiyong beside him: "Do you know?"

  Qin Zhiyong: "The company commander sent him to the cooking squad."

  "Hey, he's really gotten off cheap."

  The sentry suddenly shouted: "Report to the company commander, a small enemy squad is circling around our flank from the south."

  Feng Lianchang hastily picked up his binoculars and looked to the side, and indeed saw a group of Japanese soldiers flanking their position.

  Feng Lianchang put down his binoculars and ordered the messenger: "Order the first row to intercept the enemy on our flank!"

  Orderly: "Yes!"

  The orderly ran to deliver the order. At this time, the Japanese army in front began to charge.

  The soldiers fired at and threw grenades at the charging enemy, with shells constantly exploding around them.

  Soldiers carrying ammunition boxes of bullets and grenades are moving through trenches and fortifications, with piles of bullets and hand grenades placed beside the soldiers.

  Medics ran in the smoke to bandage the wounded. The wounded were constantly being carried away, and fallen soldiers were also dragged off the battlefield and laid aside.

  Lao Cao reloaded his machine gun with a new clip, muttering to himself: "This old fellow has profited from misfortune!"

  Inside Changsha city, the streets were packed with people fleeing to the outskirts, while Old Yang, wearing a first-class military uniform, was running against the tide, panting and carrying a portable cooking pot on his back.

  Distant gunfire echoed through the air.

  More and more wounded soldiers were being carried to the gate of the field hospital, Xiao Bai was still busy outside the hospital gate, Lao Yang ran to Xiao Bai's side, anxiously: "Sister, let's go quickly, the devils are about to enter Changsha!"

  Xiao Bai saw a big pot on Old Yang's back and was surprised: "What are you carrying a pot for? To block bullets?"

  Old Yang: "Haven't you gotten into trouble? The squad leader is afraid of being questioned by the higher-ups, so he's sending me to hide in the kitchen."

  Xiaobai was examining the wounded soldier's injuries while asking without looking up: "What can you do in the cooking class?"

  Old Yang smiled: "Knead dough? I can knead dough. I can also roll out noodles. Later, I'll make some for you to eat, how's that?"

  Xiao Bai ran to another wounded soldier and asked: "Why did you cook for me?"

  Old Yang followed closely behind Xiao Bai, embarrassed: "Why - no need to ask, I and you - the two of us from now on..."

  Xiaobai looked up at Lao Yang with a puzzled expression: "The two of us? What's going on in the future?"

  The sound of gunfire grew louder and closer from afar.

  Old Yang urged anxiously: "Cough, don't ask anymore, come with me quickly! If we don't leave now, we won't be able to leave at all!"

  Old Yang pulled Xiao Bai's hand and was about to leave, but Xiao Bai suddenly shook his hand off: "Why should I follow you? Let me abandon these wounded soldiers and follow you? Who are you to me?"

  Old Yang stuttered: "Sister - I am - I like you - I want -"

  Xiao Bai: "Take your noodles and go! You old Yang, are you going to use noodle dough to fight the devils in the future? You're also a man!"

  Old Yang wanted to say something else, but Xiao Bai picked up the axe for splitting firewood from the ground and brandished it at Old Yang: "Get out! Don't let me see you again!"

  Old Yang couldn't help but sigh and turned around to leave.

  Xiao Bai watched as Old Yang's figure disappeared into the distance, and then slammed his axe down onto the ground.

  Night. On the National Army's position.

  The bodies of fallen soldiers are increasing, and the bullets and grenades beside them are decreasing.

  The Japanese troops again charged up the position.

  The orderly held the phone in one hand and pulled the telephone line with the other, running to the front of Commander Feng, handing over the phone: "Commander, it's a call from the regiment commander."

  Feng Lianchang answered the phone, and Dong's urgent voice came from the other end: "You've already completed your mission, why haven't you withdrawn yet?"

  "Feng Lianchang: 'Commander, it's not that we don't want to withdraw, but we can't withdraw anymore. We've been surrounded by the enemy.'"

  "Director Dong's tone was somewhat heavy: 'We must think of a way to break out!'"

  Feng Lianchang remained silent.

  "Hey! Hey! Can you hear me?"

  "Feng Lianchang said calmly: 'Captain, let's meet again in our next life.'"

  Feng Lianchang heavily hung up the phone and looked at the remaining thirty or so soldiers of the entire regiment, most of whom were wounded.

  "Feng Lianchang: 'Brothers, we have done something for the country and it is not in vain that our parents educated us.'"

  Suddenly a shell exploded near Feng Lianzhang, shrapnel wounded his abdomen, Feng Lianzhang tightened his belt, and fresh blood stained his uniform.

  The orderly rushed up, crying and shouting: "Company Commander..."

  Lao Cao also found Feng Lianzhang injured and hurried over: "Lianzhang, you're wounded!"

  Feng Lianchang covered the wound and ordered the orderly: "Hurry up - call the regiment commander to report - the position is about to be lost - please take measures to deal with it - wish them success, wish the motherland victory!"

  The orderly soldier saluted with tears: "Yes! Company Commander."

  The orderly went away in tears to make the phone call.

  Feng Lianchang looked at everyone: "Brothers, we have completed our mission. Old Cao, leave the machine gun behind and lead the remaining brothers to immediately move towards the south bank of Liuyang River."

  Lao Cao hastily said: "Company Commander, I'll carry you on my back!"

  Huang Xintian also became anxious: "If the company commander doesn't leave, none of us will leave!"

  Qin Zhiyong and other soldiers who were resisting the enemy also said in unison: "Right! We won't leave! None of us will leave!"

  Feng Lianchang took a glance at the enemy who was getting closer and closer, staring at Old Cao, leaving no room for doubt: "Hurry up, there's no time left, do you want all the brothers to die here?"

  Looking at Old Cao standing still, Feng Lianchang opened the breech of his rifle, pointing the muzzle at Old Cao, and suddenly changed color: "Do you want to disobey my order?"

  Lao Cao refused to back down: "You can beat me to death, but I won't leave!"

  Feng Lianchang slowly lowered his gun, his eyes somewhat moist: "Old Cao, hurry up and take the brothers away! The lives of these people are now in your hands."

  Lao Cao put down his machine gun and remaining bullets in front of Feng Lianzhang, then loudly shouted to the remaining soldiers: "Withdraw!"

  Other soldiers also left their remaining bullets and grenades in front of Feng Lianzhang.

  Lao Cao led everyone in retreat.

  Feng Lianchang saw that everyone had walked far away, set up the machine gun, loaded the magazine, and fiercely swept the charging enemy, and the enemies who charged in front fell down one after another.

  Lao Cao led the soldiers who had withdrawn under a hail of bullets and artillery fire in a breakout towards the south bank of the Xiang River.

  A shell exploded nearby, killing several soldiers. The blast threw Qin Zhiyong into the air and slammed him to the ground.

  Qin Zhiyong gazed up at the sky, the stars twinkling in his eyes gradually becoming blurry, and faintly heard the voices of Old Cao and Huang Xintian beside him:

  Huang Xintian: "Qin Zhiyong is injured!"

  Lao Cao: "Can't control so many things! Withdraw quickly!"

  Qin Zhiyong slowly closed his eyes...