Chapter Sixteen: Salvation and Healing

  Commander Ma Zhongyi returned to the command center with a pale face, and the people around him saw that his expression was not good and they all shut up like cicadas in winter.

  The enemy's chief of staff asked cautiously: "Was what they said just now true?"

  Ma Zhongyi handed over the command he had just received to the chief of staff for viewing. The chief of staff was also shocked after seeing the command.

  The order reads: After seeing this order, immediately retreat. The enemy's extremely powerful combat force has destroyed the material base set up outside the main peak area and obtained supplies of ammunition and bullets. An unknown number of people have entered the main peak area. I hope your department will see this order and immediately withdraw to avoid being ambushed by the enemy.

  I have assembled troops at all times to support your department. Ma Yuanhai's order.

  "Chief of Staff, if you insist on holding out for reinforcements, what's your view?" Ma Zhongyi asked.

  The enemy's chief of staff thought for a moment and shook his head, saying: "Comrade Commander, our supplies are almost exhausted. The Red Bandits on the mountain have taken away our supplies, and now they are well-fed and well-equipped. We have suffered heavy casualties, and the morale of our soldiers is low. If we continue to consume them like this...

  We will definitely suffer a great loss, even if we retreat immediately, they won't let us leave so easily. They will definitely drag us into the deep mountains and old forests of Lian Shan, and by then, the consequences will be unthinkable.

  There is still something that this humble official does not know whether he should say or not.

  Ma Zhongyi said: Whatever you want to say, just say it.

  The enemy's chief of staff took a step forward and said in a low voice: "Commander, we've already lost a regiment. The brothers can't afford to lose any more. This regiment is your capital! If you exhaust all the brothers, even if we survive and return, there won't be anything good."

  It's settled then. Since Commander Ma's orders are for us to retreat, there's no need to fight the Reds to the death over these captives. Besides, didn't those Reds say that if we return their captives, they'll withdraw from our territory?

  If we release these prisoners, what if the Red Bandits on the mountain don't keep their word? Ma Zhongyi asked.

  They snatched our supplies and it's not easy for us to escape here, as long as we don't 'provoke' them, they probably won't want to fight us to the death either.

  Alright! Release those prisoners. Order the remaining troops of the Third Battalion to withdraw first with the wounded, and have the First and Second Battalions take turns covering the retreat.

  No mention of Ma Fei's side being anxious to withdraw, Wu Bing and the others had already safely returned to the mountain. The main officials in the group were anxiously waiting for the result of the negotiation, which directly affected the lives of more than 50 captured soldiers.

  Wu Bing recounted the situation of the negotiations and then said to everyone: Don't worry for now, from my observation, the enemy has already shown signs of weakening. They're not stupid either, after being wiped out by us with nearly a battalion of troops, they no longer have the upper hand in numbers. Moreover

  Their supplies were destroyed by us and cannot be replenished. Even if they want to make a desperate last-ditch effort, they must carefully weigh whether they have the strength to do so.

  The enemy commander is retreating. The soldiers on the mountain top are shouting loudly.

  Wu Bing and the battalion commander quickly arrived at the front line of the position to observe the enemy's position below, only to see that the enemy below was withdrawing in an orderly manner without any chaos, which showed that Ma Zhongyi, the leader of the horse thieves, had a good command. The few people did not pay much attention to the enemy's withdrawal

  They hastily looked at the captured Red Army soldiers at the foot of the mountain. The bandits did not kill them, but left them alone in front of their positions, and it can be seen that the bandits also do not want to fight the Red Army to the death.

  Wu Bing said to Wang Tuanzhang: "Tuanzhang, I'll take a squad of soldiers to follow the enemy and see if they're really retreating."

  Commander Wang nodded in agreement and said to Wu Bing: Be careful.

  Leading a team of soldiers, Wu Bing "sneaked" down the mountain and carefully observed the bandit's camp to see if there were any ambushes left behind by the enemy. The bandit's camp was quiet and still, without a single sound, Wu Bing went ahead to scout out and left others to support him at any time.

  When they reached the bandits' camp, the enemies had indeed retreated cleanly. They waved their hands to the people behind and followed Wu Bing down the mountain to investigate, and the soldiers quickly rushed up to the enemy's camp.

  Wu Bing said to several people: Leave four people behind, untie them and invite the people on the mountain to come down and rescue them. The rest of us will follow the enemy to investigate whether they are really retreating?

  After leaving four people behind, Wu Bing led the remaining eight people to rapidly pursue in the direction of Ma Chao's retreat. The enemy retreated quickly, and it wasn't until they had chased for three miles that they saw the shadow of Ma Chao's rear guard troops.

  Seeing the enemy hastily retreating, Wu Bing thought: After knowing their own situation, the enemy quickly disengaged from contact with the Red Army and preserved their own strength.

  After trailing the enemy for nearly five miles, Wu's troops ordered an end to the pursuit. On their way back, they passed through the enemy's camp and found that the soldiers who had been captured earlier were already rescued and taken up the mountain, only then did they finally put their minds at ease.

  Wu Bing let the others return to the mountain first, saying he wanted to check the battlefield. After sending away the others, Wu Bing secretly came to a large rock behind where an enemy corpse was lying. He carefully observed the surroundings again and confirmed that it was safe before Wu Bing

  The space warehouse opened and sucked in the corpse of this enemy.

  After finishing, Wu Bing also hurried back to the mountain and saw instructor Li Ping with a happy face.

  Li Ping saw Wu Bing and excitedly said: "Brother Wu, you've made a great contribution this time! We rescued 53 soldiers in total, and the regiment commander said he's going to give our company a commendation."

  Wu Bing was also delighted and jokingly said to Li Ping: If we can eliminate the horse bandits again, it would be even better.

  Big Brother Wu said that if telling the truth can rescue these captured comrades, we are already very satisfied. Everyone is very grateful to you, even Commander Xiong heard that you went down the mountain and negotiated with the enemy, rescued these captured comrades, and praised you for being brave and resourceful.

  Wu Bing rushed to Li Ping with a hearty smile: Alright, stop flattering me, it's getting embarrassing. By the way, how are those soldiers who were rescued? I saw that some of them were injured when I passed by their side just now.

  "Oh, those who were injured were all lightly wounded. Those who were seriously injured were taken away by the horse bandits... Li Ping couldn't continue speaking at this point."

  Wu Bing took over Li Ping's words and said angrily: These damn horse bandits, they should be cut into pieces.

  It's better for you to go take a look, Wu. Although they were only lightly injured, six of them have severe frostbite and the team leader is organizing people to rescue them now. Li Ping said.

  "Alright, let's go take a look. See if there's anything we can help with?" Wu Bing said.

  Wu Bing and Li Ping hastily arrived at the tent set up for the wounded, and upon entering, Li Ping said to the four people warming themselves by the fire: They were the rescued comrades, mainly their legs had lost sensation due to frostbite, let them warm up by the fire to recover.

  One is conscious. The other two are more serious and have fainted, they are being rescued in another tent.

  Wu Bing saw four frostbitten 'legs' of soldiers placing their own 'legs' very close to the bonfire, and hastily said to Li Ping: Hurry up and stop them, don't roast anymore.

  Li Ping asked inexplicably: Why don't they just let them roast? We used to deal with frostbite like this too!

  Wu Bing pointed at the four people roasting by the fire and said urgently: "Look, aren't they roasting now? Their 'legs' are so close to the fire, if they roast for a while longer, they'll be cooked through."

  Li Ping heard Wu Bing's words and hurriedly looked over, but the four people's legs were almost put on fire. She quickly let them stop roasting their legs. The four people cried with a sad face: If we don't roast our legs, we can't regain consciousness, we don't want to drag down the troops.

  Wu Bing hastily came forward and comforted them: We know you're eager to let 'legs' regain their senses, but your method is wrong.

  Turn to Li Ping and said: Hurry up and let the cooking class burn some hot water, find a few things to hold water and adjust the water to 30-35 degrees warm water, let them soak their unconscious 'legs' in it for 5 to 10 minutes. By the way, where are those two who fainted?

  Li Ping said: In the tent next door.

  Okay, I'll go take a look now. Hurry up and get down to business. Wu Bing said as he turned to the four frostbitten soldiers: You guys first rub your hands for a bit, when the water comes you can soak them in warm water, I'm going to go check on those two who are unconscious.

  Wu Bing and Li Ping came out of the tent one after another, Wu Bing saw several people standing outside the tent, among whom was the little nurse who had assisted him in operating on Master Xiong.

  Wu Bing walked over and asked: How are you outside? The wounded people who fainted inside have been rescued?

  The little hygiene worker saw Wu Bing's question, his face turned red and he stuttered: They are using snow to rub the bodies of the two people who fainted in there, so I came out.

  When he heard this, Wu Bing hurriedly walked towards the tent and had just taken two steps when he turned his head to see that the little nurse hadn't followed up, so he said: I'm saying you're a nurse, what's there to be embarrassed about, hurry over.

  The crowd scolded by Wu Bing hurriedly walked towards the tent. Wu Bing, who had entered the tent, saw that there were several male soldiers inside rubbing the bodies of two people who had fainted with snow.

  Wu Bing said to several people who were busy: Don't use snow, you're going to take their lives.

  Several busy people stopped what they were doing and turned around, one of them immediately asking: "Who are you? Why did you say that using snow would kill them?"

  The little nurse who followed behind hurriedly introduced: This is Dr. Wu, he doesn't want you to use snow, so don't use it.

  Wu Bing turned his head and said to the little nurse: Hurry up and find more quilts, also bring some water bags.

  The crowd heard that Wu Bing was a doctor and didn't dare to make any more noise, they quickly followed Wu Bing's orders and went to prepare. The water had also been boiled, and Li Ping was leading someone to carry the hot water over. Wu Bing instructed people to fill the water bags with warm water and place them tightly against the bodies of the two unconscious injured men.

  Then covered with a thick quilt again. Then lit the fire in the tent again until it was burning brightly.

  After busy finishing the two wounded men who were frozen into a coma, Wu Bing came to the tent of the four soldiers whose legs had been frozen and lost consciousness. Seeing that the four people's legs were already soaked in the wooden bucket, he tried the water temperature and finally put his mind at ease.