Chapter 43: "......Inevitable Hellfire!"

  Haxi Village

  Tai Ping was chasing butterflies outside the gate when his mother's voice came from inside the courtyard, "Tai Ping, come home for dinner!"

  Tai Ping was still chasing after butterflies, running happily.

  Changshan's daughter-in-law walked to the gate of the courtyard: "Come back quickly! It's peaceful!"

  "Mother, I'll play for a while longer."

  Tai Ping continued to chase after the butterfly, and the butterfly flew towards the village entrance. Tai Ping was about to give chase when he was suddenly stunned by the scene before his eyes. He saw a group of Japanese soldiers charging over with killing intent outside the village entrance.

  Tai Ping shouted in horror: "Mother! Mother——"

  Changshan's daughter-in-law heard the shout and hurriedly ran out of the yard, looking in the direction that Taiping was pointing, and couldn't help but be greatly shocked...

  Qin Zhiyong led the reconnaissance team to retreat to the second line of defense - a small town near Changsha.

  At the crossroads in the town, a tall Catholic church stands, Liu Canmou and Qin Zhiyong led the scouts' warriors to build fortifications on the streets in front of the church.

  The little cowherd girl carried a pole and came to deliver food to everyone. She distributed biscuits to the soldiers.

  Lao Cao had a big knife on his back, with a bandage wrapped around his head. He was quietly loading bullets into the machine gun magazine. Xiao Niang handed Lao Cao a piece of roasted flatbread, which he took and bit into, then lowered his head again to continue loading the bullets silently.

  The young cowherd girl took out a pair of cloth shoes and said to Old Cao with a hesitant tone: "Old Cao, brother... can you see Old Yang?"

  Lao Cao paused for a moment and said slowly: "You will see it, sooner or later you will see it."

  The young cowherd girl stuffed the cloth shoes into Old Cao's hands: "Then you take them to Old Yang, okay?"

  Lao Cao's eyes turned red, he hesitated to take over the cloth shoes, held them in his hands and looked at them carefully, with tears welling up in his eyes.

  The little nun seemed to have a sudden realization: "Old Yang brother, is he... alright?"

  Old Cao held the shoes in his hands and sighed: "What good shoes they are. Unfortunately, Old Yang... he can no longer wear them..."

  The young cowherd nodded sadly: "I understand."

  The little cow girl quietly turned around and walked away, Old Cao facing the back of the little cow girl: "This shoe——"

  The little cowherd girl turned her head and said to Old Cao: "You stay here."

  Lao Cao put his shoes into his waistband.

  Haxi Village

  At this time, the village was already a sea of fire. Zhangshan Niang's family, Qi Shu's family and all the villagers were driven out of the village by Japanese soldiers with bayonets.

  Seventh Uncle held the "Certificate of Return" and waved it at the Japanese soldiers, pleading: "Taikun, Taikun, I have a 'Certificate of Return'! This is what's written on it..."

  Before Old Seventh could finish reading the words, a Japanese soldier slapped him in the face and cursed: "Bastard!"

  Seventh Aunt pulled Seventh Uncle into the crowd while holding her little granddaughter.

  Liu Zanmou was sitting in the office, propping up his briefcase to write a letter. Huang Xintian came over and asked with a smile: "Liu Zanmou, you're in the mood to write letters?"

  Liu smiled and said, "Yes, it's for my wife."

  Huang Xintian was puzzled: "Neizi?"

  "It's just my wife."

  Huang Xintian suddenly: "Ah!"

  Liu Canmou put the written letter into an envelope and placed it in his briefcase, then said to Huang Xintian: "Xintian brother, I have a favor to ask of you."

  "What's up? Liu, you're still being polite with me?"

  "If anything happens to me, you must help me send out this letter."

  Huang Xintian fell silent for a moment, then smiled and said: "I don't care, you mail it yourself."

  Liu Canmo slung his briefcase over his shoulder and smiled wryly: "Let's hope so."

  Suddenly a shell exploded in front of the fortifications, and Liu shouted: "Pay attention to cover!"

  The Japanese army set up mortars outside the town and fired shells into the town.

  Shells were falling all over the town, and panicked civilians were running in all directions. Old Cao, with a big knife on his back, carrying a machine gun and a box of bullets, braved the artillery fire and ran to the front of the church. He looked up at the high bell tower on top of the church, then ran into the church.

  In the chapel, a German missionary was reading Matthew's Gospel in stiff Chinese, while many female followers knelt on the ground praying softly.

  In the center of the chapel is an oil painting of Saint Mary, on the altar, with a wisp of smoke and candlelight shining brightly, compared to the continuous gunfire outside the church, it seems like another world.

  Lao Cao walked into the chapel, and the preacher looked up at him for a moment before continuing to read: "...and you shall hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that ye be not troubled, for these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet..."

  Gunfire and explosions from shells continued to come in from outside the church.

  Shells were bursting incessantly on the streets, and Niu Niu followed a crowd of panicked refugees into the church.

  On the battlefield, Zhangzi suddenly pointed forward and exclaimed to Qin Zhiyong: "Squad leader! Look!"

  Qin Zhiyong looked up and saw a group of villagers from Hexi Village walking slowly towards the National Army's position, with Japanese soldiers holding bayonets behind them. The crowd included Zhangshan Niang, Zhangshan's wife holding Taiping, Qi Shu and Qi Shu's wife pulling their little granddaughter.

  Iwai and Kuroda followed behind the soldiers, with two machine gunners carrying "Type 96" machine guns following them.

  The warriors all turned red-eyed, and Huang Xintian anxiously said: "Squad leader, what to do? Fight or not?"

  "Fight! Platoon leader!"

  Other warriors also urged: "Fight! Can't let the devils come over!"

  "Can't shoot! Don't you see all these ordinary people?"

  Qin Zhiyong was also at a loss for what to do, and he looked at Liu Canmou in dismay.

  Everyone's eyes were also cast on Liu at the same time, and now, as he watched the ordinary people getting closer and closer, he was also in a dilemma of whether to advance or retreat.

  At this time, Old Cao had already set up machine guns on the bell tower, looking down at the devils hiding behind the ordinary people. In his heart, Old Cao secretly cursed: "This group of beasts that should be killed!"

  In the great hall of the church, the voice of the preacher echoed: "... nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains. But he who endures to the end shall be saved..."

  Outside the church, the civilians coerced by the Japanese army walked step by step towards the position. Liu's staff officer squeezed out a word from between his teeth: "Withdraw!"

  "What? Retreat!"

  Liu's advisor repeated without hesitation: "Withdraw!"

  The warriors all cast their eyes on Qin Zhiyong. Qin Zhiyong: "What are you standing there for? Withdraw! Obey orders!"

  The warriors reluctantly withdrew from the battlefield.

  The civilians were forced step by step with bayonets, and the soldiers retreated step by step with guns.

  Japanese soldiers suddenly threw hand grenades at the National Army soldiers who were retreating from behind the civilians, and many soldiers were blown down.

  As they watched this scene, a commotion appeared in the crowd, and the warriors shouted: "Fellow villagers! Get out of the way quickly!"

  Seventh Uncle, who was mixed in the crowd, suddenly shouted: "Fellow villagers! Run quickly!"

  At the shout of Seventh Uncle, the villagers scattered and ran away. Iwai ordered the machine gunner beside him: "Fire!"

  Two machine gunners opened fire from behind the civilians, and rows of fleeing people fell down. Many soldiers in the reconnaissance squad were also hit by bullets and fell to the ground. Liu's chest was hit by a bullet, and he fell to the ground. Huang Xintian saw this and ran to rescue Liu, but was also hit by a bullet in his thigh and fell to the ground.

  At this time, the machine gun on the bell tower also opened fire. A Japanese machine gunner was killed, and another Japanese soldier picked up the machine gun and fired at the bell tower.

  The common people fled in all directions.

  Qin Zhiyong and Duanzi lifted up Liu Canmou, Qin Zhiyong held the submachine gun to sweep the enemy while saying to Duanzi: "Carry Liu Canmou on your back and retreat quickly!"

  " No! Paichang, take Liu and retreat!"

  Qin Zhiyong shouted while fighting: "Obey orders!"

  Zhuozi had no choice but to carry Liu Canmou and Huang Xintian on his back, fighting as he retreated.

  On the bell tower, Old Cao set up a machine gun and fired down at the enemy, suppressing the speed of the Japanese army's attack.

  Iwai hid behind the broken wall and ordered his soldiers to fire at the bell tower.

  Japanese soldiers shot and threw grenades at the fleeing civilians. In the town, gunfire was intense, bullets were flying everywhere, and many civilians fell to the ground, turning it into a hell on earth.

  Seventh Uncle was carrying his little granddaughter and Seventh Aunt, running with the crowd. Seventh Aunt was hit by a stray bullet, let out a loud cry, and fell down. Seventh Uncle saw Seventh Aunt fall, quickly put down his little granddaughter by a broken wall, and ran towards Seventh Aunt. He picked up Seventh Aunt and shouted, but found that Seventh Aunt had already died. Seventh Uncle quickly put down Seventh Aunt, looked up to find his little granddaughter, when suddenly a hand grenade exploded at the broken wall, bricks were blown into the air, falling beside Seventh Uncle. Seventh Uncle's mouth was wide open, staring in terror at the broken wall shrouded in smoke...

  Seventh Uncle shouted loudly and fainted.

  At this time, Zhangshan's daughter was also crying and shouting in the scattered crowd: "Daughter-in-law! Taiping..."

  Suddenly she heard a cry of Tai Ping coming from nearby, she looked in the direction of the cry, and from the fleeing crowd, she saw Lang Shan's wife lying in a pool of blood, Tai Ping kneeling beside her mother's body wailing, Lang Shan's wife cried out: "Tai Ping ah!"

  She wanted to run over, but was knocked down by the crowd. She got up and ran two steps before being knocked down again by the rushing crowd.

  Changshan Niang fell to the ground and cried out helplessly: "Taiping...!"

  The heavily injured wife of Zhang Shan held Tai Ping in her arms and weakly said: "Child, run quickly..."

  Tai Ping tried several times to pull his mother up, but couldn't budge her. He lay down beside her and wept loudly.

  Qin Zhiyong had fired all the bullets in his submachine gun and was about to retreat when he saw a child crying beside its mother. He ran over, crouching low under the hail of bullets, and reached the child's side. Long Shan's wife recognized Qin Zhiyong, grasped his hand tightly, panting for breath, unable to speak, tears streaming down her face. With her other hand, she pushed Tai Ping into Qin Zhiyong's arms, then slowly loosened her grip on his hand, slumped over, and closed her eyes.

  Changshan Niang fell to the ground, saw Qin Zhiyong pick up Taiping and run, while running, he shot backwards with a shotgun, killing two Japanese soldiers who rushed up. Suddenly, a hand grenade exploded beside him, Qin Zhiyong was blown to the ground, Changshan Niang saw this, desperately crying out: "Taiping, my child..."

  The smoke dispersed, Qin Zhiyong's head and body were all bloody, lying motionless on the ground. Taiping crawled out from under him, crying and pushing Qin Zhiyong. Two Japanese soldiers with bayonets rushed towards Qin Zhiyong. In a critical moment, the machine gun on the bell tower fired, and the two Japanese soldiers fell to the ground after being hit.

  Tai Ping's cry awakened Qin Zhiyong, he stumbled up, picked up Tai Ping and continued to run back...

  Lao Cao's machine gun attracted the enemy's firepower, and several Japanese machine guns fired at the bell tower together. Soon, the machine gun on the bell tower fell silent.

  On the bell tower.

  On the ground were piles of shell casings, Old Cao fell in a pool of blood, he struggled to prop himself up and muttered: "Old buddy, we'll meet soon, wait for me, I've brought you a pair of shoes too..."

  Lao Cao stuffed the cloth shoes on his waistband inward with force.

  Iwai and Kuroda rushed to the church with Japanese soldiers.

  "...If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won't he leave the ninety-nine in the mountains and go look for the one that got lost?"

  Old Cao got up with a sway, walked hard towards the stairs, and just took two steps, he fell down again.

  At this time, many civilians had taken refuge in the temple, and the nuns were helping some injured people bandage their wounds.

  "...And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he will rejoice more over that one sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not wander off..."

  Old Cao, covered in blood, rolled down the stairs of the bell tower. Niu Niang was shocked to see the cloth shoes on Old Cao's waistband and rushed over with several female disciples to lift him up in a flurry.

  The missionaries looked at them silently.

  Outside the church, there were corpses of ordinary people everywhere. Seventh Uncle woke up and crawled to the broken wall like a madman, stretched out his hand to pick up his granddaughter's flesh and blood, held it in his hands, put it in front of his eyes, and wailed loudly.

  At this time, Qin Zhiyong, covered in blood, stumbled over to Taiping, fell to the ground and fainted. Taiping sat on the ground wailing loudly. Zhangshan Niang rushed to Qin Zhiyong's side, picked up Taiping, and tried to pull Qin Zhiyong up but couldn't muster the strength. Seventh Uncle saw this and quickly got up, ran to Qin Zhiyong's side, hoisted him onto his back and took off running. Zhangshan Niang followed closely behind, carrying Taiping, as bullets whizzed over their heads...

  Iwai and Kuroda burst into the church with Japanese soldiers, the missionary looked up to see the Japanese soldiers rushing in, he slowly put down the Gospel of Matthew in his hand.

  Kuroda led Japanese soldiers in rushing up the bell tower.

  On the bell tower, Kuroda only saw a destroyed machine gun on the ground and piles of shell casings. A Japanese soldier suddenly pointed at a blood stain on the ground and shouted: "Blood!"

  Kuroda walked down the stairs along the bloodstains on the floor and came to the chapel.

  "...Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' If you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins..."

  Iwai stood by and listened while admiring the portrait of "The Virgin Mary", Kuroda walked up to him and whispered a few words, Iwai nodded.

  Kuroda rushed in front of the missionary, pointing his gun at the missionary's head. The other Japanese soldiers also pointed their bayonets at the female believer and the civilians.

  Iwai stepped forward and said politely in Chinese to the missionaries: "Please hand over that injured Shina soldier to us."

  The missionary said calmly: "I take preaching as my duty and don't care about outside things."

  Kuroda rushed up and slapped the missionary twice, pointing at the female believer and shouting in Chinese: "If you don't hand her over, I'll strip all of them naked! I'll burn everything here to ashes!"

  The female followers knelt on the ground, praying in terror: "Holy Mother, save us! Save us!"

  The missionary was furious and loudly protested: "I am a German missionary, my country has a treaty with your country to protect each other's embassies, concessions and churches..."

  Iwai sneered and signaled to the Japanese soldiers beside him, who then rushed over and tore off the clothes of Xiaoniang and several female disciples.

  But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother, 'Raca,' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of Gehenna!

  The young nun fearlessly fought with Japanese soldiers and protected other female believers.

  The missionary held out both hands to Iwakichi: "You should not pity your companions as I pity you?"

  Japanese soldiers were still tearing at the nun's clothes, Xiao Niuniang desperately resisted, was kicked to the ground by a Japanese soldier, and just as the soldier raised his bayonet to stab Xiao Niuniang, suddenly bloody old Cao emerged from behind the oil painting of "Holy Mother Mary", wielding a large knife, and shouted: "Let them go!"

  Iwai and Kuroda were shocked, the blood-soaked Old Cao raised his large knife and walked towards the Japanese soldiers step by step. The Japanese soldiers involuntarily retreated backward. Suddenly, a Japanese soldier holding a bayonet shouted and charged at Old Cao. Old Cao did not dodge, swung his knife and chopped off the soldier's head with one strike. His own shoulder was also stabbed by a knife. Another Japanese soldier held a bayonet and stabbed from behind Old Cao. Xiaoniang rushed forward and used her body to block the bayonet. The bayonet pierced Xiaoniang's chest, Xiaoniang let out a miserable cry and fell down. Old Cao turned around, before the Japanese soldier could pull back his bayonet, Old Cao swung his knife again and chopped off that Japanese soldier's head.

  Old Cao, covered in blood, held a bloody big knife and walked step by step towards Iwai and Kuroda. Iwai, Kuroda, and other Japanese soldiers were stunned by Old Cao's momentum and involuntarily retreated step by step. One of the young Japanese soldiers, who still looked childish and wore glasses, was so scared that he almost cried out loud. Old Cao held up his knife and forced them to retreat from the church step by step.

  The missionary made the sign of the cross on his chest towards Old Cao's back.

  Outside the church, Old Cao wielded a large knife and fought with Japanese soldiers. He shouted loudly, swinging his knife left and right, cutting down two Japanese soldiers in a row, but was also stabbed several times himself.

  Old Cao raised his big knife and charged at the bespectacled young soldier, who was so frightened that he retreated repeatedly, fell to the ground, sat on the ground looking at Old Cao, and burst into tears. Old Cao held up his big knife, looked at him with contempt, and walked past this young soldier towards Iwai. Kuroda and two Japanese soldiers charged forward with bayonets, three bayonets stabbed into Old Cao's chest at the same time. Old Cao stumbled backward, fell to the ground with a loud noise, and stared at the sky with his eyes wide open in anger.

  Iwai was puzzled and couldn't understand why Old Cao didn't harm the young soldier. At this time, Kuroda was grabbing the young soldier and slapping him hard in the face.

  Iwai: "Kuroda!"

  Kuroda let go of the young soldier, and Iwai walked up to the shaken young soldier. He couldn't help but think of Toshikazu as he gently wiped away the tears on the young soldier's face with his white-gloved hand. The deeply ashamed young soldier hung his head in shame.