Chapter 22 "What is this thing called love in the world..."

  Changshan saw Iwai and shouted at the top of his lungs, "Captain, captain, it's him who killed those two Imperial Army soldiers, catch him quickly!"

  Several Japanese soldiers rushed up and tied Qin Zhiyong up.

  Iwai walked up to Qin Zhiyong and looked him up and down, while Kuroda also stared at Qin Zhiyong with a puzzled expression, feeling as if he had seen him somewhere before.

  Changshan got up from the ground.

  Iwai brought Japanese soldiers, pushing Qin Zhiyong to walk. Shuangzi hurriedly rushed over, with Dongmei closely following behind. When Shuangzi saw the Japanese soldiers, he wanted to turn around and run again, but it was too late. He had no choice but to stand still, gritting his teeth. Iwai saw him, pointed at him with his hand, and several Japanese soldiers rushed over, grabbing Shuangzi and bringing him before Iwai.

  Changshan lowered his head in fear and didn't dare look at Shuangzi.

  Iwai squinted his eyes and stared at Kanako, asking in Chinese: "You, who are you?"

  Dongmei ran over and stood beside Zhang Dabao, saying coldly: "He is my man."

  Qin Zhiyong listened and hung his head in pain.

  Kuroda's eyes never left Qin Zhiyong as he carefully recalled.

  Changshan glanced at the nail and stammered to Iwai, "Y-yes, he's a relative of mine... a distant relative. He's a good citizen."

  Iwai patted Nagayama's shoulder, saying with great satisfaction: "Nagayama-kun, the friend of the Imperial Army, I trust you!" He gave orders to Kuroda beside him, "Return!"

  Qin Zhiyong recognized Kuroda at this time and rushed towards him, but was firmly pinned down by the Japanese soldiers.

  Kuroda also recognized Qin Zhiyong and said to Iwai: "Captain, I've seen this man before. He's a soldier from Chongqing."

  Iwai nodded.

  Iwai, Kuroda and Japanese soldiers pushed Qin Zhiyong away.

  Dongmei and Duanzi anxiously watched as Qin Zhiyong was taken away by the Japanese soldiers, Dongmei buried her face in Duanzi's shoulder and burst into tears.

  Changshan walked up to Shuizi and said with a mixture of surprise and schadenfreude, "This unlucky devil, I told Captain Iwai that he killed those two Imperial Army soldiers, so we're in the clear this time. Eh, Shuizi, how did you manage to come back?"

  The child stared at the long mountain.

  Changshan: "What are you staring at me for? This is all for your sake! You...you're back again, what for?"

  "Dongmei, I'm leaving, take care of yourself."

  "Dongmei wiped away her tears: 'Dui, where are you going?'"

  He ran towards the village entrance without looking back.

  "Dongmei shouted at the back of Zhuozi: "Zhuozi——""

  Duanzi went crazy and ran to the high cornfield at the village entrance, desperately searching for it. He finally found the two 38-style rifles and bullet boxes, but just as he was about to run away with the guns on his back, he was knocked to the ground by someone.

  Duanzi recognized the person who knocked him down as Old Cao and shouted excitedly: "Old Cao, it's me! Duanzi!"

  Lao Cao loosened his grip, astonished: "It's Lao Yang! It's really Lao Yang!"

  The two of them got up from the ground.

  At this time, Old Yang also emerged from the high cornfield, looking at Shuanzi in surprise: "Shuanzi! Where have you been running for the past few days?"

  "Stop asking, go and rescue Squad Leader quickly! The squad leader has been captured by the devils!"

  Lao Cao: "Ah!"

  Old Yang: "Where did he go?"

  "Follow me!"

  Duanzi finished speaking and ran off with two rifles on his back, Old Yang and Old Cao closely followed behind him.

  "Those devils must be heading back to their stronghold in town. If we take a shortcut, we can catch up with them!"

  Dongzi led Lao Yang and Lao Cao in a sprint towards a fork in the road.

  At this time, Dongmei also ran out of the house, and behind her came a shout from Lao Shan's wife: "Dongmei! Where are you going?"

  Dongmei ran out of the village without caring about anything else, her heart worrying about the safety of two men.

  At this time, Qin Zhiyong was being taken away by the Japanese army on the highway to the stronghold. Iwai rode a horse at the front of the team, and Kuroda occasionally turned his head to stare at Qin Zhiyong.

  Duanzi led Old Yang and Old Cao to take a shortcut and finally arrived ahead of the Iwai unit. The three people ambushed in the cornfield by the side of the road, closely watching the approaching Japanese army.

  Lao Yang took the Type 38 rifle, loaded a clip, aimed at Iwai on horseback and fired. With a loud gunshot, Iwai was hit in the shoulder, fell off his horse, and Japanese soldiers heard the gunfire, falling down one after another.

  Dongmei heard the gunshot and was startled, then ran desperately in the direction of the sound.

  In the high sorghum field, Old Yang fired two more shots and knocked down two Japanese soldiers beside Qin Zhiyong. Heita saw Iwai fall off his horse after being shot and hurriedly ran towards him.

  Duanzi and Lao Cao fired their machine guns at the Japanese soldiers.

  Dongmei climbed up an earth slope and saw the Japanese soldiers on the highway firing into the high cornfield by the roadside, looking for Qin Zhīyǒng and Shuānzi's figures.

  At this time, Qin Zhiyong took advantage of the chaos and rushed towards the high cornfield by the side of the road, with bullets flying over his head.

  Dongmei lay on the slope, watching Qin Zhiyong run into the high cornfield by the side of the road.

  Iwai Fude lay on the ground, one hand covering his wound and the other waving a military sword to command the soldiers to fire. The Japanese soldiers had been trained to take up advantageous positions and fired into the sorghum field, also firing mortar shells into it. The shells exploded in the sorghum field.

  Duanzi saw Qin Zhiyong running into the high cornfield and handed the machine gun to Old Yang, shouting loudly at Qin Zhiyong: "Brother Zhiyong, over here!"

  Qin Zhiyong rushed over at the sound, and Shuizi untied his bonds for him. Qin Zhiyong picked up a rifle and opened fire on the devils.

  Japanese soldiers were rushing over quickly.

  Lao Yang found out that the machine gun had run out of bullets and shouted loudly at Lao Cao: "Lao Cao, bullets!"

  Lao Cao rummaged through his clothes and found the last clip of bullets, tossing it to Lao Yang, who loaded it and continued firing.

  Kuroda directed his soldiers to surround the cornfield.

  The Japanese soldiers were getting closer and closer, everyone had run out of bullets.

  "Guizi has surrounded us!"

  Qin Zhiyong drew his bayonet, and so did Zhangzi. Old Yang and Old Cao raised the butt of their machine guns, ready to engage in close combat with the enemy.

  Old Cao said with a scowl: "Damn it, I didn't bring the big knife."

  At this time, a gunshot suddenly rang out from behind the Japanese army, and the Japanese army was attacked from behind.

  Old Yang was surprised: "What's going on?"

  Zhuāng zǐ yǎn jiān, yī yǎn kàn le zhōu guǎng rén hé huáng xìn tián, tā gāo xìng de hǎn zhe: "shì lǎo huáng hé èr guǐ zǐ tāmen!"

  It was Huang Xintian and Zhou Guangren who brought a group of soldiers, the soldiers' Thompson submachine guns fired dense bullets, and the devils carrying bayonets were instantly shot down by bullets from behind.

  Kuroda was somewhat panicked: "Captain, we're surrounded! Let's retreat!"

  Iwai roared in anger: "We can't retreat! Continue the charge!"

  Kuroda: "The captain's injury..."

  Iwai looked at the wound that was still bleeding and then glanced at the soldiers who were constantly being hit and falling, and regretfully punched the ground with his fist.

  Kuroda shouted for several soldiers to come and carry Iwai away in retreat.

  Zhou Guangren and Huang Xintian met up with Qin Zhiyong's group in the sorghum field, and they all retreated into the mountains as the sun set.

  Dongmei stood on the slope, gazing at the back of Qin Zhiyong and Shuanzi in the distance, silently praying in her heart...

  On the mountain path, Huang Xintian handed over the documents and maps to Qin Zhiyong. Qin Zhiyong stuffed them into his bosom and walked alone at the front of the team with a heavy heart.

  Huang Xintian also followed behind with a worried and depressed face.

  Zhuāng zǐ mǎn fù xīn shì de kàn zhe qín zhì yǒng de bèi yǐng.

  Translation:

  Zhuangzi was watching Qin Zhiyong's back with a lot on his mind.

  Others walked and chatted with excitement.

  Old Yang took a sip of wine from his gourd: "Second Ghost, how did you come back again?"

  Zhou Guangren: "Sun the advisor sacrificed himself, and our squad leader went missing while covering us. How can we explain this to our superiors when we return? After discussing it among ourselves, we decided to come find you. Hearing the dense gunfire on this side, we assumed that you were engaging with the enemy."

  Old Cao burst out laughing: "Haha! You still have a conscience, kid. Commendable!"

  "Get out of here."

  Old Yang walked to the side of Huang Xintian, who had been silent all along, and teased: "Old Huang, is that gourd head of yours still thinking about that Japanese girl?"

  Huang Xintian glared at Old Yang fiercely and continued walking forward.

  Old Yang rushed towards Huang Xintian's back and shouted: "Hey, dare you stare at me?"

  Zhou Guangren: "Old Yang, you said you can smell the ghost's scent? That's just bragging!"

  Old Yang: "Who's bragging? In the mountains, wasn't it me who discovered the enemy first? Yet you young fellow got to take credit for it."

  "Then smell me and see if I have any scent on me?"

  Old Yang leaned in front of Zhou Guangren and sniffed: "A smell of horse dung."

  Everyone burst out laughing.

  "Then why didn't you smell out Ermei as a Japanese spy?"

  Old Yang laughed slyly: "I really went over and smelled it, but all I could smell was the smell of his mother's old Huang, haha!"

  Everyone burst out laughing.

  Zhou Guangren also chimed in: "Old Huang, didn't you say you were going to check the sentry post last night? How did it go?"

  Lao Yang took another sip of wine, imitating Ya Mei's tone, raising his voice and jokingly said: "Xin Tian Ge, you'll help me change the medicine again in a while, right?"

  Everyone burst out laughing again.

  At this time, Huang Xintian's face had already turned red with anger.

  Old Yang continued to tease: "Hey, Old Huang, how did you change the medicine? You changed the medicine for her, why did you faint?"

  Huang Xintian finally became enraged, he fiercely pulled out his hunting knife and placed it on Old Yang's neck, furiously shouting: "You dare to speak nonsense again, I'll chop you up, you old scoundrel!"

  Everyone was shocked and stunned.

  Old Yang stood up straight and shouted, "You dare to kill me? If I hadn't shot that woman with one bullet, your pumpkin head, Huang Xintian, would have been blown open by her with one bullet!"

  Lao Cao rushed forward and blocked Lao Yang, saying to Huang Xintian in a stern tone: "Old Huang, put down your knife! I'm here, you dare to move Lao Yang!"

  Qin Zhiyong, who was already in a bad mood, became even more enraged when he saw his subordinates fighting. He bellowed: "You're so energetic but have nowhere to use it! Why don't you go fight the devils instead? If you don't want to do this, then get out of my sight! Put away your knives!"

  Huang Xintian put down his knife and walked away in a huff.

  Zhou Guangren smiled wryly beside him: "What's wrong with this guy, fighting all day and still not enough."

  Old Cao pulled Old Yang to one side and persuaded him, "Forget it, forget it. Old Huang has finally shown his true feelings with great difficulty, but he just happens to run into a female ghost. You can imagine how angry he is! And you're still scolding him."

  Old Yang was still shouting with his neck stretched out: "I'm still angry, for a woman, and a Japanese woman at that, to actually dare to cross blades with me..."

  Lao Cao: "Shut your mouth!"

  Everyone silently continued on their journey.

  Suddenly, Zongzi ran in front of Qin Zhīyǒng: "Squad leader, I——"

  Qin Zhiyong didn't even look at the seal and continued walking forward.

  "Me... I want to go back..."

  Qin Zhiyong stopped in his tracks, staring at the sentry with a stern expression: "Do you want to be a deserter?"

  "Anyway... I don't want to do it anymore..."

  Qin Zhiyong raised the rifle in his hand, aiming at Tuozi's forehead, coldly saying: "You left the troops without permission, and I haven't even investigated you yet. If you dare to be a deserter again, I'll shoot you dead right now!"

  Everyone stopped in their tracks and stared at them in shock.

  "Fine! Kill me then, and go find Dongmei?"

  Qin Zhiyong angrily pulled the trigger hard.

  Lao Cao rushed over, confused: "Squad leader, what's going on here again?"

  "They're all crazy!"

  Qin Zhiyong held up his gun and stared at the bolt: "He wants to be a deserter, I will enforce revolutionary discipline."

  Old Yang leaned into Qin Zhiyong's ear and whispered, "Zhiyong, what's wrong with you? Shuizi sacrificed his life to save you, and you're still talking about discipline?"

  Qin Zhiyong slowly lowered his gun.

  Lao Yang pulled the wooden wedge to one side again, and Lao Cao and Zhou Guangren followed over.

  Lao Yang: "Dingzi, what's going on?"

  The bamboo tube briefly told them the whole story.

  Lao Yang: "Is this really just a coincidence?"

  "Hey Huang Xintian! You're now the acting class leader of Class 3!"

  Huang Xintian nodded: "Yes."

  Qin Zhiyong finished speaking and walked forward with big strides, behind him came Zhou Guangren's voice: "It's all because of women, what is the meaning of love in this world..."

  Japanese military base.

  In the squad room, a medic was bandaging Iwai's shoulder wound, while Kuroda stood beside him.

  A voice outside the door says "report", Kuroda: "Come in!"

  Kojima pushed open the door and came in, taking an envelope out of his backpack. He bowed to Iwai: "Report! Orders from HQ!"

  Kuroda handed over the envelope and took out the letter inside and gave it to Iwai. Iwai opened the letter and started reading.

  Kuroda sidled up to Kojima and whispered: "Kojima, come over to my place tonight and let's have a good drink. Don't be mad at me."

  The little island reluctantly replied: "Yes."

  The little island went out.

  Iwai let out a shout and jumped up excitedly, pacing back and forth in the room. The medic followed behind him, busily bandaging his wounds.

  Iwai stopped in his tracks and said to Kuroda, "The military department has formulated the third Changsha battle plan. Three days later, the squadron will gather near Changsha with the main force. This time we must occupy Changsha and spend New Year's in Changsha!"

  Kuroda was also delighted: "Ah! Is that so?!"

  Iwai: "Order the soldiers to get ready."

  Kuroda: "Yes."

  At night, inside the Japanese army barracks, Kuroda and Oshima sat at a table with wine and dishes.

  "Alright then, let's get started!"

  "Let's go!"

  Kuroda raised his wine glass: "Kojima, let's have a drink!"

  Kuroda drank it all in one gulp, and Shima also emptied his cup.

  Kuroda: "Has Aunt sent any letters recently?"

  "Of course, mom joined the National Defense Women's Association and is very busy every day!"

  Kuroda was deeply moved: "It's really amazing!"

  Kuroda noticed that Kojima was sulking and said emotionally, "Kojima, don't be mad at me. I don't know what's wrong with my temper either. Whenever things don't go smoothly, I feel like blowing up."

  Xiao Dao: "Dong Zheng Ge has changed long ago."

  Kuroda poured sake for Kojima: "Yes, it's all because of this war!"

  The little island drank the wine in one gulp.

  Kuroda: "That pregnant Chinese woman, was it you who sent her back?"

  Xiao Dao: "It was my horse that bumped into her, so I sent her back."

  Kuroda: "War changes everyone, but only Kojima-san remains so kind! It's enough to bring tears to one's eyes! But that bastard killed Nakamura and Maeda!"

  Kojima muttered: "I heard that a staff officer from the allied forces has also gone missing. The Chinese resistance is getting more and more intense."

  Kuroda poured himself a drink, downed it in one gulp, and said with overwhelming sadness: "Of the ones who went out together, only we two are left. When we return to the village and meet their parents, what can we say? Hand over the remains and say, 'Your son is in this box, I brought him back for you'? Is that how it's supposed to be?"

  Kuroda suddenly burst into tears like a child.

  The little island was silent and speechless.

  Kuroda suddenly lifted his head, stopped crying, and glared at Kojima: "So Kojima, the only way to deal with those people is to kill! Kill! Kill! Even pregnant women should be killed! The children they give birth to will grow up to become enemies of the Empire!"

  The two of them had already drunk to the point where they were both slightly intoxicated.

  Xiao Dao: "Dong Zheng, you used to be afraid of killing even a chicken, but now how many people have you killed? Speak!"

  Kuroda: "You've never killed before? We're soldiers of the Empire, we didn't come here on a sightseeing trip—"

  "Are you an Imperial soldier? Are you going to kill even the elderly and women? You won't even spare children!"

  Kuroda: "I didn't want to kill the child either, but thinking that it was a child of an enemy country, I thought that when it grew up it would definitely be anti-Japanese, so with one cruel heart I killed it."

  Xiao Dao: "If this continues, there will be more and more anti-Japanese people, it's endless, Dong Zheng Ge, we can't keep doing this!"

  Kuroda smiled wryly: "Thinking that I might die in battle one day, I want to do everything and then die. What a waste! Kojima is such an idiot! Heh heh!"

  Xiao Dao put down his chopsticks and said in a low voice: "I'm full."

  Snowflakes began to fall outside the window.

  Kuroda gazed out of the window: "It's snowing, just like cherry blossoms falling from the sky."

  The two of them looked out the window together.

  "New Year's coming soon, don't know if I can still make it through this year... Captain Iwai said we're going to spend New Year's in Changsha..."

  At this time, in the headquarters of the National Army, Commander Dong was carefully examining the "Deployment Map of Japanese Troops" sent by Qin Zhiyong.

  Comrade Dong raised his head: "The enemy is going to attack Changsha for the third time, Comrade Qin, you have done a great job, I will ask for recognition of your merits."

  Qin Zhiyong sadly said: "Ke Sun strategist..."

  "War is always going to have sacrifices... From now on, the scouting team will be relying on you."

  Comrade Dong handed over the "troop deployment map" to Comrade Liu: "This intelligence is very important, send it to the division headquarters."

  Liu took over the map and bowed out respectfully.

  Comrade Dong slammed his fist on the table: "The enemy dares to dream of spending New Year's in Changsha, this is a pipe dream! We will turn the outskirts of Changsha into a graveyard for the Japanese devils!"

  Changsha outer suburbs national army position.

  Heavy snow is falling.

  A shell exploded on the position, sending mud flying everywhere, and several Japanese tanks fired their cannons as they charged towards the position, with Japanese soldiers following close behind.

  Lao Cao and Lao Yang lay on the bunker, firing short bursts from their light machine gun at the enemy.

  A deputy shooter skillfully replaced Lao Cao's rifle barrel which had turned red from firing.

  Huang Xintian, Zhou Guangren and Pao Ta-cheng, wearing the rank of superior soldier, lay on the bunker to shoot.

  A shell exploded nearby and Zhou Guangren crouched in the trench with his head in his hands, trembling all over.

  Zhuāngzi kicked Zhou Guangren: "Second devil, get up quickly!"

  Comrade Dong was observing the front line positions with binoculars in the command post.

  A messenger rushed in and reported: "Commander, the enemy's tank is about to rush up!"

  Comrade Dong put down his binoculars, picked up the phone and gave orders: "We must blow up the enemy's tank!"

  A Type 97 tank roared towards the position, shells exploding on and in the trenches.

  Old Yang crawled out of the mud, spat out a mouthful of dirt and cursed: "Damn it! Gun to gun, cannon to cannon, bayonet to bayonet, I'm not afraid of those little devils! But that turtle shell of theirs is neither soft nor hard, can't do anything about it!"

  Qin Zhiyong crouched on the bunker, staring at the charging tank, and ordered a soldier holding a cluster grenade beside him: "Up!"

  The soldiers rushed out of the trenches and charged at the tanks, but soon fell down after being shot.

  Qin Zhiyong ordered another soldier beside him who was holding a bundle of grenades: "Go up again!"

  The soldiers who went up again soon sacrificed too.

  Qin Zhiyong pounded the bunker with his fists and roared: "Get back up!"

  However, no soldiers rushed up. Qin Zhiyong turned his head to look and saw that Zhou Guangren was holding a bundle of hand grenades next to him.

  Zhou Guangren's whole body was trembling, his face pale, and he crawled several times but couldn't climb up the trench.

  At this time, a shell exploded in the trench, and a flying thigh hit Zhou Guangren, knocking him to the ground. He sat up, found half of his thigh in his arms, and screamed loudly.

  Qin Zhiyong stretched out his hand to pull him up, but Zhou Guangren couldn't get up no matter what.

  Qin Zhiyong furiously waved the shotgun in his hand and roared: "Get up!"

  Zhou Guangren sat on the ground, nervously shouting: "Fire the cannon! Fire the cannon! Fire the cannon......"

  Zhuangzi rushed over and snatched the cluster hand grenade from Zhou Guangren's arms. "Squad leader, I'll go," he said to Qin Zhiyong.

  Qin Zhiyong nodded: "Be careful!"

  Grenadier clutches a bundle of hand grenades and leaps out of the trench, charging at the tank.

  In front of the position, Japanese soldiers shouted and charged under the cover of tanks. A Type 97 tank emitted a loud roar and rushed towards the position...

  Grenadier embracing a bundle of hand grenades charges towards the tank...

  The tank adjusted the height of its barrel, a flash of fire, and a shell exploded beside the bolt.

  The dumpling fell to the ground.

  Qin Zhiyong stared blankly at the stake that had fallen in front of him, while Zhou Guangren was also crouching beside him, staring intently at the stake.

  At this time, the log lying on the ground suddenly moved and began to crawl forward.

  Zhou Guangren excitedly shouted: "It's moving! It's moving!"

  He crawled towards the tank, suddenly stood up and ran wildly, rushed to the front of the tank, stuffed a bundle of grenades into the tank's tracks and pulled down the fuse, his body rolled to one side, the tank was blown off its tracks in a huge explosion, paralyzed.

  Duanzi had just run two steps when a bullet hit his right leg, and Duanzi knelt down on the ground with his right knee bent. At this time, another tank roared over and rushed towards Duanzi...

  Baozi dragged his injured right leg forward with difficulty, shouting loudly: "Pai Zhang---Zhi Yong Ge---Save me---"

  Lao Yang and Lao Cao's machine guns were firing fiercely, covering Zhang.

  In the trench, Zhou Guangren shouted in terror: "Squad leader! What to do?! Quickly save Baozi!"

  Qin Zhiyong remained silent.

  Zhou Guangren grasped Qin Zhiyong's sleeve, almost pleading: "Squad leader, save Tuanzi..."

  Qin Zhiyong, however, was crouching in the trench with his head in his hands, and by his ear came the desperate crying voice of Zhuangzi: "Brother Zhiyong—"

  Qin Zhiyong's eyes suddenly conjured up Dongmei's face.

  The tank's track is getting closer and closer...

  A shell exploded near the lieutenant, knocking him to the ground and hitting his abdomen with shrapnel. He watched in despair as a tank charged towards him...

  Zhou Guangren knelt beside Qin Zhiyong and cried: "Squad leader, speak!"

  Qin Zhiyong slapped himself on the ear, he suddenly stood up, rushed out of the trench, picked up a bundle of hand grenades from beside a soldier's body, and charged towards the tank...

  Lao Cao saw Qin Zhiyong rush out of the trench and exclaimed: "The platoon leader has charged up!"

  Old Yang: "Ah! Take cover and form a line!"

  The two machine guns swept the Japanese soldiers behind the tank.

  The tank emitting a loud roar changed direction and charged towards Qin Zhiyong, its cannon adjusting its height...

  Zhuangzi watched as Qin Zhiyong rushed towards the tank, slowly closing his eyes.

  The tank rushed towards Qin Zhiyong head-on, getting closer and closer...

  The tank's muzzle flashed, and a deafening "boom" shook the air...