Chapter 8: Gunpowder Ash

  The first wave of heavy troops launched by the Japanese army was repelled, but the company commander knew that the Japanese army on the opposite side was not just one battalion, but a large battalion, which means there were at least two more battalions like this, and the situation was still not optimistic!

  Sanlian Chang now couldn't care less about finding Lin Feng anymore, ordering his soldiers to inspect the battlefield. If they encountered someone still breathing, if it was one of their own, they would carry them back; if it was an enemy, they would simply deliver another stab with their bayonet. As for himself, he first returned to redeploy the defensive formation of the position in preparation for the Japanese army's next attack.

  So where did Lin Feng go?

  Actually, this kid didn't go far.

  When the white blade battle unfolded on the battlefield, the Japanese army's grenade launcher squad stopped firing, and Lin Feng thus escaped the bombardment.

  But this kid was very clever and did not rush out immediately to participate in the melee. Because if he had done so, he would have become a collective target of the idle Japanese grenade launcher squad and machine gun class, and would have been torn into pieces by the "pumpkins" and "peanuts". He hadn't lived enough yet, and his "great life ideals" hadn't been achieved.

  So, while others were fighting for their lives on the battlefield, this kid was hiding under the embankment, leisurely firing cold guns, and actually managed to take down several Japanese machine gunners and grenade launchers with his east-west shots.

  This battle was fought, except for the wound on his shoulder being quite painful and making him uncomfortable, it was also spirited and refreshing.

  After the enemy retreated, he carried that Han Yang sword, which had been with him through life and death, back to the battlefield.

  At this time, the battlefield has also been searched almost thoroughly, and those who are still alive have all returned.

  Lin Feng returned to his own class's camp and found that only Class Monitor Wang Yuzhu was there.

  "Are they all down?" Lin Feng asked.

  "It's just us two now."

  "One day, a group of lazy bums with no sense of justice, after just one battle, all went to slack off. Only the two of us are idiots, still stubbornly holding on and not wanting to lie down."

  Lin Feng muttered to himself and sat down with a thud.

  Wang Yuzhu looked at his shoulder and asked: "Are you injured?"

  Lin Feng also glanced at the tattered cloth strip wrapped around his shoulder, "Heh heh" chuckled twice: "I didn't suffer a loss either, I took out two grenade soldiers and one machine gunner."

  "Day, you little fool, sleeping on a cold kang, relying solely on your youth and vigor. Your performance has been seen by Commander Lian, who just came looking for you, saying he wants to reward you."

  Wang Yuzhu looked at Lin Feng with a hint of envy in his heart.

  "What's the use of having merit if you don't get any real rewards? If you really think we've made contributions this time, then give us some substantial rewards!" Lin Feng said with a pout, clearly unwilling.

  They've all made their contributions, what else do they want? Wang Yuzhu just wanted to slap him a few times, really got benefits and still sold cleverly, typical of a slut's style.

  What is military merit? It is the highest honor of a soldier, it is the most powerful capital for promotion and wealth, it is the benefit that many soldiers dream of, and even if they die on the battlefield, they may not be able to get it.

  Damn Lin Feng, he just enlisted yesterday and today he only fought one battle, but was already favored by the company commander. From now on, he will definitely have a great future, such a reward is not enough to satisfy him, I don't know what else he wants!

  "What reward do you want?" Wang Yuzhu asked.

  "Let me go home." Lin Feng said without thinking.

  What's better than being alive?

  "Daydreaming." Wang Yuzhu ruthlessly shattered Lin Feng's beautiful dream.

  "Alright, alright..." Lin Feng could only settle for second best. "Then reward me with two girls tonight and let's relax. Damn it, this battle has been too mentally exhausting. Let's make one thing clear, I'm only playing around, don't bring out any worn-out goods."

  "Damn it!" Wang Yuzhu kicked Lin Feng's body with one foot, "Look at your dog's behavior!"

  Lin Feng rolled away with a lazy donkey and dodged...

  Three consecutive sections.

  Sanlian Chang returned to the company and summoned the squad leader of the death-defying team and the fourth row leader to assign tasks.

  "Four rows of troops were withdrawn from a company to reinforce the heavy machine gun position at Qiaotou Bridge, the death squad..."

  "Report!"

  The company commander was assigning tasks when a "report" interrupted him.

  Everyone looked up and saw that it was the messenger who had arrived.

  "What's going on?" Captain San asked.

  "Report to Company Commander, Battalion order!" As he said that, both hands stretched out and a thin paper carrying the life and death of many lives was handed over to the Third Company Commander.

  "Take a look at this! Everyone come see!"

  The captain of the suicide squad took over the order and passed it around with others, each person's face turned very unsightly.

  The Division Headquarters ordered: The three regiments' request to withdraw and defend the county town is not allowed, and they must hold on to the Luohe River position. Reinforcements will be sent immediately.

  There's only one battalion in the county, except for two squads of the third company still guarding the county, all other forces are here. Where else can we deploy troops? Isn't this obviously deceiving people?!

  No wonder everyone who saw this order had a very ugly expression on their face.

  "What to do, Comrade Battalion Commander?" asked Yao Wenyong, the deputy battalion commander of the 4th company, somewhat anxiously. "I really don't know what these officials are thinking. It's not right, we can't let our brothers make unnecessary sacrifices. Battalion Commander, we must bring our brothers back."

  "No way!" Captain San refused Yao Wenyong's suggestion without hesitation.

  "Company Commander, there's a whole battalion of Japanese troops in front of us!" Yao Wenyong saw that his suggestion was rejected by the Company Commander and appeared somewhat anxious. "Our forces are not many, we should concentrate on using them, otherwise we will be defeated one by one."

  The current situation is indeed as Yao Wenyong said, the opponent is a large team of Japanese troops. Although one squadron was severely damaged just now, the overall loss is not too serious and far from being crippled.

  The defenders, having suffered from the Japanese artillery bombardment, still suffered significant losses. Two reinforced companies had only a dozen or so men left alive. Even with the addition of the reserve and suicide squads that had not yet been committed to battle, the defenders' manpower was extremely strained, and it was an unknown quantity whether they could withstand another Japanese attack.

  If all troops were exhausted here, it would be a pipe dream to defend the county with only two platoons of soldiers in the county seat.

  If we can withdraw our troops back to the county town and add the two platoons of soldiers, relying on the solidity of the city wall, defend and wait for reinforcements, this is the best strategy.

  These three consecutive days, it's not that I don't know, but it's hard to disobey orders from above.

  Sanlian thought for a moment and finally said: "Hold on, hold on until nightfall."

  Lin Feng was chatting with Wang Yuzhu on the battlefield.

  It was strange that half an hour had passed and the Japanese army still hadn't launched an attack.

  Lam Fung did not know that the Japanese army was also adjusting its deployment, and it was not a simple matter to withdraw one squadron to replace another crippled squadron.

  The Japanese army is adjusting its deployment and preparing for the next round of attacks, while the defending side is also deploying tightly.

  A company drawn from the reserve battalion has already entered the Luhe Bridge machine gun position.

  The suicide squad also approached the front line. Once the position was breached by the enemy, they could rush up and retake the position at any time.

  The reserve team still has two classes left, this is the only trump card in the hands of the third company commander, and it must not be played unless absolutely necessary.

  At present, the Luhe River position has added a new reinforced machine gun position with one class, and the total number of troops is still less than 40. If the Japanese army launches another charge like last time at this moment, it may be possible to break through in one go.

  Fortunately, there was still a reinforced platoon watching their backs, which gave the people guarding the position some reassurance.

  "Has the enemy run away? Why hasn't it attacked for such a long time?"

  Lin Feng's cat stood up and looked back at the quiet battlefield with a puzzled expression.

  "No, the Japanese army was just defeated by us and should be gathering forces now." Wang Yuzhu explained to Lin Feng.

  "Oh, I see." Lin Feng responded casually to Wang Yuzhu while sneaking a glance at the platoon leader sitting on the edge of the machine gun position smoking.

  Leaning against the sandbag fortification of machine guns, one leg curled up, knee high, the other leg stretched out, a strip of torn cloth tied on thigh, blood seeping from the cloth, fingers pinching a half-burned cigarette, taking an occasional puff, eyes gazing at the sky with a hint of distraction.

  Wang Yuzhu discovered Lin Feng's small movements, turned his head and looked at him with a worried expression: "Lin Feng, this is an extraordinary moment, you'd better behave yourself, don't make any reckless moves."

  Wang Yuzhu is worried that Lin Feng once said that when the fight starts, he will take out a black gun and shoot the squad leader.

  Lin Feng understood what Wang Yuzhu meant and said disdainfully: "With his current wretched appearance, I don't even bother to pay attention to him."

  Wang Yuzhu felt a little more at ease, then said: "Actually, the squad leader is not bad, when it comes to killing devils, he doesn't hesitate at all, it's just that his temper is a bit violent."

  It's essential to have a strong partner on the battlefield, as it greatly increases one's chances of survival, just like Lin Feng and Wang Yuzhu, this duo.

  If it weren't for Wang Yuzhu saving Lin Feng several times, Lin Feng would have died long ago. Later on, if Lin Feng hadn't inadvertently attracted the Japanese army's grenade launchers, the defenders wouldn't have had such a good opportunity to counterattack, and as a result, one counterattack was enough to decimate an entire Japanese company. Although the defenders suffered heavy losses, they managed to gain some breathing room.

  Lin Feng had no experience with this at all and still harbored resentment towards Piao Long.

  "Just you wait, as long as he can live, I'll eventually get him that son of a bitch." Lin Feng said fiercely, "I've grown up so big, and no one has ever whipped me with a whip. Not even my parents dared to slap me or poke me with their fingers."

  Wang Yuzhu was very helpless, and changed the subject to ask: "What were you laughing at on the city wall that time? If it wasn't for you laughing while others were talking, they would have beaten you up after eating their fill?"

  "Even the county magistrate has run away, but that fool is still shouting about defending the border and ensuring the people's safety. Isn't it laughable?" Lin Feng said with disdain, curling his lip.

  "Has the county head run away?" Wang Yuzhu was very surprised, his face twitching.

  Damn it, this time he's definitely been used as a cannon fodder by someone.