Chapter Twelve: "Kill!"

  Iwai's head was wrapped in a bloody bandage, he jumped out of the trench, holding his sword high and shouting "Charge!"

  Japanese soldiers rushed out of their trenches and charged towards the National Army's position.

  The National Army soldiers fired fiercely at the charging Japanese army, and the Japanese soldiers who were rushing forward were suddenly knocked to the ground by a row of bullets. The other soldiers fell down one after another, crawling on the ground and firing at the National Army's position.

  On the National Army's position, Old Cao and Qin Zhiyong vented all their anger in their hearts on the enemy, both of them fiercely shooting at the enemy.

  Zhou Guangren hugged his head and crouched in the trench, his whole body trembling non-stop.

  Iwai hid behind a hill, waving his saber and directing a Japanese machine gunner to fire at the National Army position.

  On the National Army's position, many soldiers were wounded. The medical orderly bandaged the wounds of lightly wounded warriors, and the stretcher bearer carried away the seriously injured and dead warriors.

  At this time, Old Yang and Little Cow carried the pole to send food in batches. Old Yang looked at the soldier's body being carried away and sighed: "Alas, they didn't even get to eat a hot meal."

  The two men put down their carrying poles and Old Yang used a ladle to strike the water bucket: "It's time to pay respects! It's time to pay respects!"

  The warriors were still crouching on the bunker shooting, and the calf was serving meals for the lightly wounded.

  Old Yang walked up to Old Cao, who was shooting, with a stoop: "Old Cao, it's time for dinner, I'll take over for a while."

  Old Cao pointed his hand at the front of the array: "Pay attention to the northeast direction."

  Old Yang pushed Old Cao: "Don't you trust me yet?"

  Lao Cao went down to eat, Lao Yang set up a machine gun. At this time, more than 20 enemies appeared in the northeast direction of the front position.

  Old Yang spat two mouthfuls of saliva into his palm and rubbed his hands together.

  About twenty Japanese soldiers came up in a scattered line under the command of a small squad leader from the northeast corner.

  The Japanese army squad leader waved his military sword and commanded the soldiers to launch a charge.

  Old Yang reloaded his machine gun with a new clip, his finger hooked on the trigger, and his eyes fixed on the enemy rushing towards him.

  The deputy machine gunner saw that Lao Yang did not open fire immediately, and the enemy was getting closer and closer, so he urged: "Lao Yang, shoot quickly!"

  Old Yang did not make a sound, and the Japanese soldiers' cries grew clearer.

  "Assistant gunner panicked: 'Old Yang, what are you waiting for? Can't you shoot?!'"

  Old Yang calmly said: "Wait a bit longer, what's the hurry."

  Japanese soldiers had rushed to a distance of fifty or sixty meters when Old Yang's machine gun suddenly opened fire, and the Japanese troops fell down in batches before quickly retreating.

  Old Yang burst out laughing.

  The deputy machine gunner excitedly shouted: "The devils have retreated!"

  Lao Cao wiped his mouth and came back, looking at the Japanese army's abandoned corpses on the battlefield, and praised: "Well done, Old Yang!"

  Old Yang smiled complacently: "A small dish."

  Old Yang handed the machine gun to Old Cao and said to everyone, "Stop fighting, it's time for dinner! Haven't you seen that even the little devils have gone back to eat? Hurry up and eat, fill your bellies first before continuing to fight, don't become starving ghosts!"

  The warriors left their shelters one after another and started eating.

  A soldier looked at the dish in his bowl and was surprised: "Hey! There's meat!"

  Old Yang: "This is a treat for you all!"

  The calf serves rice for the warriors.

  Qin Zhiyong suddenly hugged Old Yang from behind, and Old Yang turned around to see that it was Qin Zhiyong. He was very happy: "Ah, stupid Zhiyong! I heard you've made a great achievement."

  "Guai Zi: Now it's the class monitor."

  Old Yang: "Alright kiddo, you're pretty fast! Your uncle was a soldier for over a decade and didn't even make squad leader."

  Qin Zhiyong suddenly became sorrowful: "Little White Sister..."

  Lao Yang said in a low tone: "I already know... Let's eat..."

  Old Yang squats down to serve rice.

  Qin Zhiyong: "If it wasn't for you carrying me to the hospital, if it wasn't for Little White giving me a blood transfusion, I, Qin Zhiyong, would have died long ago."

  Old Yang handed a bowl of rice to Qin Zhiyong: "That's not false, but the one who carried you to the hospital was not me, it was Old Cao."

  Qin Zhiyong was somewhat surprised: "Old Cao..."

  Old Yang finished speaking and was busy serving rice to other soldiers.

  Qin Zhiyong held his rice bowl and hesitated as he walked towards Old Cao, who turned around when he saw Qin approaching. Qin had no choice but to quietly walk away.

  The warriors wolfed down their food, Old Yang and Little Cow were clearing the bowls and chopsticks when they suddenly saw Director Sun walking towards them. Old Yang was startled, hastily lowering his head to hide, but was called out by Director Sun: "Hey, isn't that Old Yang?"

  Lao Yang had no choice but to stand up and salute Sun: "Director Sun - no, Commissar Sun, it's me."

  "Son, you're still alive?"

  Old Yang smiled wryly: "Alive."

  Sun's advisor took a steamed bun from his food box and took a bite: "Didn't your Commander Feng say you were dead?"

  The surrounding soldiers all burst out laughing, and Old Yang also awkwardly let out a couple of dry laughs.

  The calf handed a bowl of soup to Sun, and Sun took the bowl and drank a mouthful. He looked at the Japanese corpses on the battlefield again, eating and saying: "It was a good fight just now! Old Yang, I saw it all, how about going back to the combat unit?"

  Old Cao also smiled at Old Yang: "Yes, Old Yang, you'd better come back soon. Without you, life is meaningless."

  "Old Yang, if you come back, I'll let you be the class leader! How about that?"

  Old Yang was putting away bowls and chopsticks while chuckling: "All five of my predecessors as class monitor died before my eyes, I don't want to be the sixth."

  Lao Cao: "Company Commander, you don't know, Lao Yang is saving up to get married." As he spoke, Lao Cao walked over and flipped through Lao Yang's pockets. "How much have you saved? Let the Company Commander take a look."

  Old Yang angrily pushed Old Cao: "Go away!"

  Lao Cao laughed loudly at Sun's advisor: "He doesn't want to die now."

  Sun Ziming stared straight at Old Yang: "What? Are you afraid of death?"

  Old Yang hastily defended himself: "No, Lian Zhang, I'm old and my arms and legs are no longer strong, I can barely cook for the younger brothers."

  Sun Ziming pointed at his belly: "This old leg of yours kicked me in the stomach and it still hurts now."

  Old Yang looked up at Sun's advisor and said awkwardly: "Thank you, Director Sun. You are magnanimous and didn't pursue the matter further..."

  "Isn't it because of your magnanimity, General, but rather because Captain Feng risked his life to protect you? Do you know that?"

  Old Yang lowered his head and whispered: "Yes, I know."

  Sun's advisor: "Feng Lianzhang told the regimental commander that if he punished you, he would quit his job as a company commander. The regimental commander scolded him severely over the phone."

  Old Yang suddenly felt something stuck in his throat, he suppressed his emotions and forced a smile: "Feng Lianchang - protect the calf."

  Sun Zimou put the empty bowl back into Old Yang's bucket and sighed, "Old Yang, you shouldn't be holding onto these things!"

  Old Yang muttered: "Can - can do what, then just do it." Old Yang gave a salute to Sun's advisor and called out to Little Cow: "Little Cow! Let's go!"

  The calf replied: "Uh-huh."

  Old Yang shouldered his pole and hastily walked away with his head lowered.

  Sun's advisor shouted at Old Yang's back, "Old Yang, when you go back to wash the dishes and noodles, think about Commander Feng, think about how Little White Nurse died! Ah!"

  Old Yang carried a pole, seemingly not hearing anything, walking quickly with his head down, and the little cow followed closely behind him.

  "Enemy will attack soon." Then he shouted at Old Yang's back, "Don't be a turtle with its head shrunk in!"

  Old Yang stumbled and almost fell down.

  The warriors rushed towards the bunker and prepared for shooting.

  The calf tilted its head and looked at Old Yang: "Uncle, why are you crying?"

  Old Yang wiped his eyes: "It's just the wind."

  "Uncle, I also want to take a gun and shoot the devils."

  Old Yang: "What do you know, you little brat?"

  An old man and a young boy carried poles and walked away.

  The Japanese army began firing mortar shells, and the shells kept exploding on the National Army's position, killing many soldiers.

  Lao Cao crawled out of the soft mud and found that his Czech light machine gun had been blown to pieces, with the deputy machine gunner lying dead beside him.

  At this time, the Japanese machine gun in front responded again. Old Cao lay on the bunker and saw the Japanese machine gunner hiding behind the hillside shooting. Old Cao drew out his big knife from behind his back, jumped out of the trench, crouched down, went around the hillside, and approached the Japanese machine gunner from the side.

  The Japanese machine gunner was lying on the ground, intently firing away when suddenly Old Cao's big knife came chopping down. The Japanese machine gunner instinctively raised his hand to block it and one arm was chopped off. The machine gunner let out a blood-curdling scream, clutching at his severed arm as he tumbled to the ground. Old Cao grabbed the machine gun and ammunition box and took off running.

  Iwai and Kuroda rushed over, Iwai saw the Japanese machine gunner covering his broken arm and screaming in agony, he couldn't help but get furious, raised his military sword and beheaded the machine gunner with one slash.

  Kuroda saw Old Cao running with a machine gun and shot at him, hitting his leg. Old Cao fell to the ground, dropping the machine gun and ammunition box.

  A dozen Japanese soldiers yelled and rushed towards Old Cao.

  The warriors on the battlefield all anxiously shouted: "Old Cao! Get up! Hurry!"

  Lao Cao dragged his injured leg and crawled towards the machine gun with difficulty.

  Suddenly, Qin Zhiyong shouted loudly: "Zhuāngzi, cover me!"

  Qin Zhiyong jumped out of the trench and ran towards Lao Cao, Huang Xintian and a soldier also followed closely behind, jumping out of the trench.

  Zhuangzi, Zhou Guangren and other soldiers fired at the charging Japanese troops, preventing them from approaching Lao Cao.

  The Japanese soldiers who rushed towards Lao Cao were suppressed by firepower and fell to the ground one after another.

  Lao Cao was lying on the ground and saw Qin Zhiyong running towards him, with Huang Xintian and a soldier closely following behind.

  Qin Zhiyong rushed to Lao Cao's side first, raised his gun and shot dead a Japanese soldier who was rushing up.

  Huang Xintian also rushed over and carried Old Cao on his back as they ran. Old Cao shouted loudly, "Machine guns! Machine guns! There are still machine guns!"

  Another warrior picked up a machine gun and ammunition box, closely following Huang Xintian. Qin Zhiyong covered them as they fought and retreated.

  Huang Xintian carried Old Cao into the trench, another soldier also rolled and crawled into the trench with his machine gun. Qin Zhiyong returned as well, and the soldiers let out a cheer.

  "Huang Xintian shouted loudly: 'Medic!'"

  The stretcher bearer rushed over to bandage Old Cao's leg wound.

  At this time, the enemy began to charge again. Old Cao pushed away the stretcher bearer and set up the captured "crooked handle" machine gun on the bunker.

  Lao Cao: "Second Ghost, prepare bullets for me."

  "Yes!"

  Zhou Guangren picked up the ammunition box and loaded bullets for Old Cao.

  Old Cao stared at the enemy in front of him: "Second Devil Brother, watch me beat up these little devils!"

  "Old Cao, big brother, I'm Zhou Guangren——"

  Zhou Guangren's voice was drowned out by Old Cao's machine gun fire.

  The warriors opened fire simultaneously, and the Japanese soldiers fell in batches, and then rushed up like a tide, getting closer and closer.

  "Sound the charge!"

  The warriors fixed bayonets.

  Qin Zhiyong also calmly took out a good dagger.

  Old Cao patted Huang Xintian's shoulder: "Old Huang, thank you---"

  Huang Xintian said to Old Cao while sharpening his knife: "It was Qin squad leader who rushed out first."

  Lao Cao took a look at Qin Zhiyong, who was now glaring angrily at the approaching Japanese soldiers. Lao Cao walked towards Qin Zhiyong.

  Sun's advisor stood upright with a bayonet and jumped out of the trench, shouting: Charge!

  The warriors followed Sun's advisor and charged out.

  Lao Cao grabbed Qin Zhiyong who was about to jump out of the trench: "Brother——"

  Qin Zhiyong smiled at Old Cao: "No need to say anything else, you've saved me before too."

  Qin Zhiyong finished speaking and jumped out of the trench.

  Lao Cao looked at Qin Zhiyong's back, smiled, pulled out the big knife behind his back, jumped out of the trench and rushed onto the battlefield. Zhou Guangren also held a bayonet and followed Lao Cao in a charge.

  Qin Zhiyong, with his bayonet at the ready, met Kuroda head-on. Qin recognized Kuroda and let out a loud shout, thrusting his gun forward with great force. Kuroda dodged to the side, avoiding the bayonet, and Qin lost his balance due to the force of his attack, stumbling past Kuroda and falling to the ground. Kuroda took advantage of the opportunity to strike at Qin, but Old Cao intervened, swinging his large knife at Kuroda. The two engaged in a fierce battle, with Kuroda being forced back step by step by Old Cao's powerful blows. Just as it seemed that Old Cao was gaining the upper hand, two Japanese soldiers rushed forward and surrounded him, relieving Kuroda from the pressure.

  More and more Japanese soldiers rushed up, many warriors were stabbed down by bayonets. Iwai and Kuroda led the Japanese soldiers with bayonets, step by step approaching. Sun Canmou, Qin Zhiyong, Shu Zi, Lao Cao, Huang Xintian, Zhou Guangren and more than a dozen warriors were all covered in blood, holding bayonets, glaring at the enemy who was approaching step by step.

  At a critical moment, the bugle sounded on the flank of the Japanese army, and Dong Tuanzhang led the reinforcements to arrive.

  Kuroda busily led Iwai's horse, helped Iwai mount the horse, and Iwai and Kuroda led the Japanese army in a rout.

  The reinforcements rushed past Sun's advisors, guns at the ready and shouting.

  Gao Zi watched excitedly as the reinforcements rushed over, and he cheered enthusiastically: "Charge! Kill!"

  Autumn 2005.

  At the dinner table in front of the Qin family hall, Gu Changsheng recalled the past to everyone: "The second Changsha battle was fought very hard, and many brothers died! In the end, we drove the devils back to the north bank of Xinwan River."

  Qin Zhiyong was still lying in the house, as if he had fallen asleep.

  A loud voice came from outside: "Isn't the Japanese devils' bayonet charge very fierce?"

  Gu Changsheng: "Yes, it's fierce, but we're not afraid, we have big knives!" Gu Changsheng suddenly sang out loud, "Big knives chopping down on the devils' heads, brothers of the 29th Army..."

  The hoarse and aged singing voice came into Qin Zhiyong's room, he slowly sat up from the bed, listening carefully.

  "...the day of resistance war has come, the day of resistance war has come..."

  Qiang Jun also sang softly along with him.

  Qin Zhiyong sat on the bed, his eyes shining brightly.

  "...In front of us are the Northeast Righteous and Brave Army, behind us are the people from all over the country, our 29th army is not a lone army..."

  Qin Zhiyong struggled to get out of bed, didn't even take his cane, and stumbled towards the door.

  "Take aim at the enemy and wipe them out! Wipe them out! Charge! Slash your big knives at the devils' heads!"

  Qin Zhiyong stood at the door, one hand grasping the door frame and the other exerting all his strength to make a fierce slash in mid-air, letting out a thunderous roar: "Kill!"

  The people at the dinner table turned their heads in shock, staring at Qin Zhiyong, and were stunned. Gu Changsheng stood up, looking at Qin Zhiyong with excitement.

  Qin Zhiyong walked towards Gu Changshou with a swagger, Gu Changshou raised his right hand and gave Qin Zhiyong a military salute, shouting: "Attention!"

  Qin Zhiyong stood at attention and raised his right hand to return the salute, shouting loudly: "Attention dismissed!"

  Two people hugged each other tightly, Qin Zhiyong: "Shuazi, is it really you?"

  "It's me, Zhì Yǒng Gē!"

  Qin Zhiyong: "You...are still alive?"

  Gu Changsheng nodded continuously: "Still alive, still alive."

  Two old men wept bitterly.