Chapter 9: Suicide Attacks (1)

  The third guerrilla team entered the predetermined combat area, which was occupied by the US and South Korean armies. The local people were indifferent to the Volunteer Army. Chen Zizhong had encountered a similar situation when he first entered Korea. When the Volunteer Army advanced southward with the defeated North Korean People's Army and refugees blocking the roads, many North Korean civilians came forward to ask: "Are there any planes? Are there any big guns?" The Volunteer Army replied that they did not have planes and not many big guns either. The civilians left in disappointment, as they had been intimidated by the US military's superior ships and artillery and believed that without similar advanced weapons, it was impossible to defeat the US military. Since entering Korea, Chen Zizhong had seen too many bodies of North Korean labor party members, youth league members, and even innocent civilians who had been killed by the US and South Korean armies scattered all over the fields. This was also an important reason why local people did not dare to contact the Volunteer Army.

  Chen Zizhong is a good fellow who was forced to join the Liangshan heroes. For the sake of his parents and brothers, he had endured humiliation and swallowed his voice. He shouldered the burden of farming tools and could best understand the common people. He often said to the soldiers: "We are soldiers, how can we be on an equal footing with the common people?"

  Before going to the team department, Chen Zizhong still looked down on Ding Rugang a bit. This kid was not afraid of death in battle and didn't bat an eyelid when injured, but he had a bit of a bookworm's dogma, like a donkey with its blinders removed, still running around in circles. Ding Rugang's remarks about the guerrilla troops made him look at him in a new light. When the guerrilla team was first established, the political commissar asked him to think about why he had achieved so much but was still just a platoon leader. In the past, he wouldn't have even thought about it - on the one hand, he wasn't greedy for wealth and glory, and on the other hand, he found charging into battle more enjoyable than strategizing. Ding Rugang's words had a great impact on him. A Liberation Army soldier who hadn't joined the party could remain calm in critical situations and knew a lot about the American army - Chen Zizhong couldn't compare to him, and deep down, he didn't want to admit it. He gritted his teeth and decided to learn from him. Chen Zizhong's thinking was simple: he was the company commander, Ding Rugang was just a platoon leader, so he had to listen to him - he couldn't be worse than him.

  Ding Rujin had just filed a complaint with the team, Chen Zizhong was not angry, saying he was greedy for wine and had a beard style, he was not angry either. What made him angry was that Ding Rujin said he was greedy for money. From Northeast China to Hainan, from Hainan to Korea, he went from being a soldier to a squad leader, but Chen Dabao is still very poor today. He was heartbroken and thought Ding Rujin was an ungrateful white-eyed wolf in his heart. Although he was angry, he wouldn't do anything excessive, as he was a veteran and knew what was important. Fighting side by side was no problem for him, but he would never quarrel with Ding Rujin, even if it was just joking around. Chen Zizhong wanted to learn English, and among the guerrilla fighters, Ding Rujin was the most familiar with the US military and spoke the best English. Since they were not speaking anymore, naturally, he couldn't ask for his help. Chen Zizhong had to find Wu Xiaomao instead, who had attended university and understood both English and some Korean.

  On the way, Chen Zizhong pulled Wu Xiaomao aside to borrow a light and chatted idly after lighting his cigarette. Wu Xiaomao took the pack of cigarettes from his hand and put it in his own pocket: "Captain, just say what's on your mind."

  Chen Zizhong chuckled twice: "After all, you're someone who's seen the world, you're really clever. What was it again? Teach me how to speak American."

  Wu Xiaomao pulled out a small booklet issued by the superior department, "Chinese-English Conversation Table", and slapped it into his arms: "Even things sent by Zhi Si Fa dare to throw away, I'll give it to you."

  Wu Xiaomao knew he was illiterate, so he repeated several times: "Freeze! Hands up! Put your hands down, otherwise I'll kill you!"

  There were some common English phrases on the booklet, with Chinese pronunciation marked below each sentence. Chen Zizhong said he had memorized them long ago, but Wu Xiaomao didn't believe him. He recited two sentences in a northeastern accent, and surprisingly, they weren't too far off.