Chapter 48: "Little devils, your day has come!"

  Seeing Huang Xintian's body, Qin Zhiyong was deeply grieved. Witnessing the sacrifice of his comrades time and again had made him increasingly hardened, but tears still flowed down uncontrollably. He slowly removed Huang Xintian's hunting knife and inserted it into his own waistband, then picked up Huang Xintian's rifle and slung it over his shoulder.

  At this time, the Japanese army on the mountain top began to fire again. Qin Zhiyong replaced a magazine for his submachine gun and rushed towards the mountain top.

  Soldiers on both sides threw hand grenades at each other, and a porter carrying a bamboo basket full of hand grenades weaved in and out among the soldiers, who from time to time took out hand grenades from his basket and threw them towards the top of the mountain.

  At this time, Kuroda's military uniform was burned to tatters, his face was also smoked black by the flames, a hand grenade was thrown in front of his feet, he quickly picked it up and threw it down the mountain.

  Nationalist soldiers trampled over their comrades' corpses as they charged towards the mountaintop.

  Kuroda waved his sword in despair, shouting hoarsely: "The final moment has arrived! Now we will go to Yasukuni Shrine! Don't fall behind! Advance!"

  Japanese soldiers followed him down the mountain. Qin Zhiyong led his men to charge up the mountain, and saw Japanese soldiers holding guns rushing towards them.

  Qin Zhiyong and the soldiers stood there, holding submachine guns and contemptuously looking at the enemy who had reached the end of their strength. When the enemy was about to rush forward, Qin Zhiyong shouted: "Fire!"

  The warriors opened fire together, and the angry bullets poured out. The Japanese soldiers fell down row by row, and the devils who charged in front almost fell at the feet of the warriors.

  The warriors continued to rush towards the top of the mountain. Qin Zhiyong had fired a whole magazine, and was about to change to another one when suddenly Kuroda jumped out from behind him with his military sword raised high, striking down at Qin's back. With a loud "clang", the sword struck the rifle on Qin's back, leaving a deep gash on the barrel. Qin quickly turned around, and Kuroda, still holding his sword, let out a loud yell and charged again. Qin recognized Kuroda, threw away his submachine gun, took down Huang Xintian's rifle from his back, and aimed the bayonet at Kuroda.

  Kuroda also recognized Qin Zhiyong at this moment, he sneered and threw away the military sword in his hand, picked up a Type 38 rifle with a bayonet on the ground.

  Two men faced off, looking for an opportunity to stab each other. At this moment, a Japanese soldier who was lying on the ground pretending to be dead suddenly stood up and stabbed towards Qin Zhiyong's side with his bayonet. Qin Zhiyong dodged the bayonet by turning his body, and the Japanese soldier lost his balance due to using too much force and stumbled past Qin Zhiyong. Qin Zhiyong took advantage of the opportunity and stabbed the Japanese soldier in the back, causing him to cry out in pain and fall to the ground. Hei Tian was shocked and didn't wait for Qin Zhiyong to pull out his bayonet before charging towards him with his rifle. Qin Zhiyong didn't have time to pull out his bayonet and quickly dodged to the side, but Hei Tian's bayonet stabbed deeply into Qin Zhiyong's thigh. Qin Zhiyong cried out in pain and released his grip on his rifle, using one hand to grab onto Hei Tian's bayonet. Hei Tian tried to pull out his bayonet, but it was firmly grasped by Qin Zhiyong, and the blade cut through his palm, causing blood to flow down the bayonet. Hei Tian sneered and stabbed the bayonet deeper into Qin Zhiyong's thigh again. Qin Zhiyong endured the intense pain, using one hand to hold onto the bayonet and the other hand to pull out Huang Xintian's hunting knife from his waist. Hei Tian was shocked and turned around to run, but it was too late. Qin Zhiyong let out a loud roar and stabbed the knife into Hei Tian's chest.

  Qin Zhiyong glared at Heita with bloodshot eyes, staring straight at him, vigorously stirring the hunting knife in his hand. Heita's face twitched in agony, Qin Zhiyong suddenly pulled out the hunting knife and slashed it across Heita's throat again. Blood spurted from Heita's throat, and he fell to the ground with both hands covering his throat.

  At this time, the blue sky and white sun flag had already been raised on the mountain top. Qin Zhiyong pulled out his dagger from his thigh and limped towards the mountain top. Looking at the fluttering flag on the mountain top, Qin Zhiyong's face was filled with tears.

  Baozi saw Qin Zhiyong injured and hurriedly shouted for stretcher bearers to rush over to Qin Zhiyong.

  The defeated army collapsed like a mountain, today's imperial army has long lost its former prestige, and is no longer the proud and powerful troops that captured Lugou Bridge and conquered Nanjing.

  At this moment, two months ago, the highway where the Japanese army marched towards Zhijiang with neat steps has become another scene. Along the way, there are Japanese soldiers fleeing in a hurry, including many wounded soldiers on crutches. Some soldiers' bodies were carried on horseback, and several defeated soldiers threw the bodies off the horseback and rode away.

  Everywhere along the road were discarded Japanese steel helmets, Rising Sun flags, Type 38 rifles, and destroyed, burning Japanese tanks and trucks...

  At this time, several P-51 Mustang fighter planes suddenly appeared in the air and dived to strafe the fleeing Japanese soldiers on the highway.

  In a fighter jet, Lieutenant Kate flew while shooting and excitedly screaming.

  Some wounded Japanese soldiers knelt on the ground, crying out and waving white cloth at the planes.

  Japanese soldiers continued to run wildly along the highway.

  At this time, the New Fourth Army's Xiang-E Guerrilla Detachment had already ambushed on the mountain slope beside the highway. Captain Guo had sacrificed in a battle and Liu Xiaoxi had grown up to be the captain of this detachment.

  At this time, the fleeing Japanese army ran over along the highway, Liu Xiaoxi raised his shotgun and shouted: "Fire!"

  In an instant, the guerrilla's machine guns and rifles opened fire simultaneously, and hand grenades exploded in the fleeing Japanese army. The Japanese soldiers were killed in large numbers, Liu Xiaohui jumped out of the trench and shouted to the team members: "Charge!"

  The guerrillas also jumped out of the trenches, shouting "Kill!" and rushed towards the highway. The Japanese soldiers were unwilling to resist and fled in all directions...

  Haxi Village

  A group of villagers armed with hoes, clubs, spears, axes and kitchen knives are chasing after three fleeing Japanese soldiers.

  Three Japanese soldiers ran while throwing paper bills and silver coins behind them, the angry villagers didn't pick any up, continuing to swing their tools and shout as they chased after them.

  A Japanese soldier panicked and jumped into the river, while two other Japanese soldiers shot at the pursuing crowd, hitting two villagers who fell to the ground. However, the other villagers were not intimidated and continued to chase after them with whatever they had in hand. The sound of gunfire attracted even more villagers, who came from all directions and pounced on the two Japanese soldiers, who were shocked and terrified, crying out as they desperately ran away.

  The Japanese soldier who jumped into the river was struggling to swim in the water, and several villagers also followed him into the river, swimming towards the Japanese soldier...

  A Japanese soldier was chased by a group of villagers and killed instantly under hoes and clubs...

  A Japanese soldier was chased by three village women holding cleavers and hacked to death...

  The Japanese soldier who jumped into the river was dragged ashore by the villagers and had his hands and feet tied up.

  At this moment, the Eagle Mountain is covered with corpses of soldiers from both sides. The bodies of Japanese soldiers wearing boots and Chinese soldiers wearing straw sandals or even barefoot are piled together. Several devils' corpses, wearing only loincloths, are soaked in muddy water.

  On the battlefield, Japanese army's long tube boots, leather shoes, steel helmets, bayonets, military maps, amulets, and a flag with "Wu Yun Chang Ji" written on it and signed by relatives and friends were scattered all over the ground, covered in mud.

  With one kick, Zhang Fei sent a Japanese helmet flying far away, and it rolled down the mountain slope.

  On the mountain road, a group of National Army soldiers who had just returned triumphantly from the battlefield walked by with their heads held high. Two villagers used wooden sticks to tie up the Japanese captive whose hands and feet were bound, following behind the troops with excitement.

  A U.S. Army major stood by the roadside, smiling as he took in the scene before him.

  At this time, Little Cow was riding on a tall Japanese military horse, with two "crooked handle" machine guns slung over his neck and two Japanese military swords inserted into his waistband. He was escorting Japanese prisoners of war, walking along the highway with a majestic air. Su Wa also held a bayonet-equipped Type 38 rifle, following behind the prisoners with an air of pride.

  At this scene, Major immediately retracted his smile, stood up straight and respectfully gave a standard American military salute to Little Bull riding on the horse.

  On the Japanese position on the mountain top, a medic was squatting beside Qin Zhiyong, bandaging his wounds on his leg and hand.

  Qin Zhiyong leaned against the earthen wall of the trench with his eyes closed, exhausted.

  The medic bandaged him while anxiously saying, "Company Commander, the wound on your hand is nothing, but the knife wound on your leg is very deep and may have injured the bone. I can only simply bandage it for now, we need to send you to the field hospital immediately..."

  Qin Zhiyong felt a wave of drowsiness wash over him, the medic's murmurs growing fainter and fainter, when suddenly he heard a familiar footstep sound beside his ear...

  Qin Zhiyong slowly opened his eyes, and a soldier with a gourd on his waist hurried past in front of him. "Isn't that Old Yang's wine gourd?" Qin Zhiyong looked up and was shocked to see that it was indeed Old Yang. At this time, another chaotic sound of footsteps and familiar laughter came from behind. Qin Zhiyong turned his head and saw Old Cao and Zhou Guangren walking past him with their arms around each other's shoulders, chatting and laughing. Qin Zhiyong wanted to shout, but his throat seemed to be blocked by something. He tried to stand up, but his whole body was weak. He sat there in shock, watching them. At this time, Huang Xintian also rushed over from behind. Old Yang, Old Cao, and Zhou Guangren warmly greeted Huang Xintian, all four of whom were carrying guns and wearing clean and tidy military uniforms. They climbed up the trenches and headed towards the battlefield...

  Qin Zhiyong pushed away the medic who was still muttering something and struggled to climb up the trench, limping as he chased after him.

  Zhuangzi noticed Qin Zhiyong's abnormality and rushed over.

  Qin Zhiyong hobbled forward, stumbling and staggering. Zhangzi quickly ran two steps to catch up with him, grabbed his arm and asked: "Squad leader, where are you going?"

  Qin Zhiyong pointed forward with his finger, his voice choked: "They... I saw them... it was them..."

  The general looked ahead, the battlefield was still shrouded in smoke, the ground was littered with corpses, as the smoke gradually dispersed, a radiant glow appeared before his eyes.

  Zhuāngzi didn't see anyone, but in Qin Zhīyǒng's eyes, he clearly saw Old Yáng, Old Cáo, Zhōu Guǎngrén and Huáng Xìntián carrying guns, shoulder to shoulder, walking towards the distance, gradually dissolving into the boundless sunset glow...

  Zhuāngzi's face was full of confusion: "There is no one, not even a...".

  Qin Zhiyong pushed open the door and turned around, limping and staggering towards the top of the mountain. He ran for a few steps before falling to the ground. The door rushed over to help him up, but Qin Zhiyong pushed it away again. With great effort, he crawled back up and continued to limp and stagger towards the top of the mountain, with the door following closely behind him.

  Qin Zhiyong finally climbed to the top of the mountain, looking at the bodies of his fallen comrades all over the slope, he was extremely sad. He raised his head, facing the distant mountains, wanting to shout loudly, but choked and couldn't shout out loud. Shanzi also climbed up, Qin Zhiyong snatched the submachine gun from Shanzi's hand, pulled open the bolt, and fired a burst of bullets into the sky. Upon hearing the gunfire, the exhausted soldiers who had collapsed on the ground sat up one after another, raised their guns, and fired into the air. A school officer lying on a stretcher with his head wrapped in gauze also pulled out a pistol from its holster and continuously pulled the trigger towards the sky.

  For a time, the sound of handguns, rifles, carbines, submachine guns and machine guns echoed through the valley.

  Qin Zhiyong finally shouted out: "We won! We won! Did you hear that?"

  "Victory! Victory! Can you hear? Can you hear? Can you hear?"

  "Choked with sobs: 'They heard it, they lined up, they all heard it...'"

  August 1945. Zhijiang.

  A huge kite soared into the sky above this small county town, with a giant banner hanging below it that read: Celebrating the Victory of the War of Resistance!

  Crowds of people filled the streets, beating gongs and drums, cheering and shouting, creating a joyful and lively atmosphere.

  An American jeep with a white flag fluttering from its hood moved slowly through the crowd, Japanese surrender delegates sat in it, wearing helmet-like hats and hanging their heads in shame.

  A burst of cheers erupted from the crowd, and a wounded soldier with crutches shouted at the convoy: "Little devils, your day has come!"

  The entrance of Hexi Village.

  Changshan Niang pulled Taiping to stand in the chilly autumn wind, looking up and gazing out.

  Qin Zhiyong, who had retired from injury, wore a set of plain clothes, leaning on a wooden stick, with a bundle on his back, limping towards the village entrance.

  Qin Zhiyong caught sight of Changshan Niang and hastily threw away the wooden stick, quickly taking a few steps forward. With a "thud", he knelt down in front of Changshan Niang, sobbing uncontrollably: "Mother, I'm back..."

  Changshan Niang stretched out her hand, trembling as she helped Qin Zhiyong up, and wiped away his tears. Qin Zhiyong picked up Taiping, who softly called out: "Uncle..."

  Changshan Niang: "Daddy!"

  Tai Ping: "Dad."

  Qin Zhiyong: "Uh-huh."

  Qin Zhiyong put down Taiping, holding Longshan Niang with one hand and pulling Taiping with the other, walking towards the village...

  In autumn 2005, at the top of Bow Hill, Longtan Cemetery.

  Gu Changsheng supported Qin Zhiyong, and the two old men looked far away at the Eagle-shaped Mountain opposite them, with a hundred emotions intertwined.

  Qin Zhiyong's hoarse voice shouted: "We won! We won! Did you hear that?"

  A sorrowful voice echoes through the valley.

  "Victory! Victory! Can you hear it? Can you hear it? Can you hear it?"

  "The ancients heard it, they all heard it, in a long queue."

  Two old soldiers stood facing the shell-shaped monument, standing at attention and saluting solemnly. The valley echoed with a stern and majestic command: "Attention! - At ease!"

  Old soldiers never die, they just fade away...

  At this time, in the courtyard of the Taiping family, Qiang Jun was still holding that newspaper, immersed in deep memories. He remembered when he was a child, his grandfather had made him a wooden handgun. He stuck the gun in his waist and saluted his grandfather with a flourish. His grandfather stood up straight, smiled and returned the salute. But because his grandfather was a counter-revolutionary, Qiang Jun often suffered bullying from his playmates. One time he cried all the way home, his grandfather smiled and saluted him, but he threw away the wooden gun and ran back into the house. His grandfather slowly lowered his right hand, his smile frozen on his face...

  The village head's voice broke into Qiang Jun's thoughts: "Is Tai Ping there?"

  Before the words had fallen, the town mayor walked into the yard, and Tai Ping hurried out of the house to greet him. The mayor held an envelope in his hand and said to Tai Ping: "Tai Ping, this is a little subsidy from the town for your old father, not much money, it's just a gesture, take it."

  Qiang Jun put down the newspaper and said to the town mayor, "Mayor, it says in the paper that commemorative medals will be awarded to living veterans of the War of Resistance Against Japan. Will my grandfather get one?"

  The town head was stunned and hesitated: "Maybe... in the future... there will be."

  Qiang Jun was very dissatisfied: "Later? It will be too late then!"

  The town head was somewhat embarrassed. Tai Ping hastily took over the envelope and made a round of courtesy: "Thank you, town head, thank you government. But he - what he needs most is not money!"

  The town head nodded repeatedly and said emotionally: "I know I know. Your old man this life, is worthy of this country..."

  The town mayor's voice was choked with emotion, and he hastily turned around and left. Taiping escorted the mayor to the door.

  Tai Ping watched as Town Mayor walked far away, then turned around and said to Qiang Jun: "Qiang Jun, I'm going up the mountain to find your grandparents, it's time for dinner."

  "Let's go!"

  Qiang Jun said and ran out of the yard in a hurry.

  In front of the memorial monument in the cemetery, tourists sat on the ground eating snacks and playing cards, frolicking and having fun with each other.

  Qin Zhiyong and Gu Changzhu sat on the ground, Qin Zhiyong picked up the wine gourd and took a sip of wine, then handed it to Gu Changzhu. Gu Changzhu took over the wine gourd and also took a big mouthful.

  The old man gazed at the tourists in front of the monument and said sorrowfully, "Now no one remembers them."

  Qin Zhiyong: "I remember!"

  At this time, a young couple led a 7 or 8-year-old little girl to walk towards the monument. The little girl held a bouquet of fresh flowers in her hand and gently placed the flowers in front of the monument. The three stood in a row and bowed three times to the monument.

  Qin Zhiyong gazed at them for a long time, a hint of a relieved smile on his face. Suddenly, he cleared his throat and began to sing loudly, as if no one was around:

  Charge! Charge! Charge!

  Charge forward!

  Charge! Charge! Charge!

  Sacrifice requires bravery.

  Not afraid of his plane circling and dropping bombs in the air

  Not afraid of his fierce gunfire;

  Not afraid of his machine gun bullets raining down like rain

  Not afraid of his poisonous gas fog!

  ……”

  Qiang Jun climbed to the top of the mountain, looking at the two old men who were drinking and singing. He slowly raised his right hand, towards the bent backs of the two old soldiers, and respectfully gave a military salute.

  Two old soldiers were still singing loudly:

  “……

  We just charge forward!

  Charge forward!

  We just attack,

  Charge forward!

  Fill in the Yellow Sea and fight to the Japanese Imperial Palace

  Killing across the four islands of this continent, the ground is covered in red.

  Triumphant return for our nation's honor.

  Who says there are no great heroes in our great Chinese nation!

  ……”

  The song echoed through the valley for a long time, as if many people were singing in unison.

  After finishing their song, the two old men looked up at the sky and burst out laughing.

  It is said that in the local area, every time there is a stormy night with strong winds and heavy rain, people will see a group of men wearing straw hats and straw shoes, carrying large knives on their backs, singing "Charge! Charge! Charge!" as they disappear into the dense forest.

  They say it's a ghost soldier.

  Actually I know, they are the soul of the Republic's army...

  (The end)