Chapter 3: The Xiangjiang Campaign (I)

  The next morning, Liu Hua was awakened by the sound of explosions. Without thinking, Liu Hua knew that the enemy's artillery attack had begun. All the soldiers hiding in the bunker looked at their squad leader with a face full of admiration, because it was their squad leader's requirement that allowed them to avoid this enemy artillery attack.

  This bombardment lasted for nearly half an hour, and the small hill where the Red Army was located seemed to have been plowed once. The 24th Division of the Guangxi Army came prepared this time, with Chiang Kai-shek's generous support, carrying enough ammunition, without worrying about being frugal. The division commander, Qin Lianfang, put down his binoculars and said to the commander of the 7th Independent Regiment, Xie Dingxin: "Xie, it's up to you now, remember, if we encounter a strong counterattack from the Communist Army, immediately retreat, it's not time for a fierce battle yet, our artillery has plenty of ammunition." The 7th Independent Regiment was reorganized mainly with officers and men who had defected from the 19th Route Army. Qin Lianfang feared that Xie Dingxin would be eager to make achievements and suffer heavy losses, so he repeatedly reminded him. Commander Xie responded with a "Yes, sir!" Because the task of leading the charge was one he had finally managed to get, he naturally couldn't mess it up, so he decided to take the field himself and hastily left.

  After the bombardment stopped, Liu Hua and his comrades rushed out of the artillery cave, along the communication trench, and ran towards the position. At this time, the Guangxi Army Independent Regiment was regrouping in front of the position, ready to launch an attack at any time. Liu Hua quickly had a few soldiers under his command take advantage of this period of time to reinforce the fortifications that had been bombed by the big guns.

  The Kuomintang army slowly formed a dense formation and began to charge towards the Red Army's position. The estimated number of troops was about one battalion. Liu Hua tightly grasped the brand new semi-automatic rifle in his hand, glanced down at it, but unfortunately, the distance was too far.

  Like this, 300 meters, 200 meters, 100 meters, they quickly rushed to the front of the Red Eighth Company's position. When the enemy approached within 50 meters, they finally heard Captain Wu Xin's order: "Fire!" Liu Hua gently pulled the trigger and shot a company commander he had been aiming at for a long time, then quickly moved his target and hit a machine gunner. By this time, there was no chance to fire a third burst. Hearing a voice shout: "Throw hand grenades!", he grabbed a nearby hand grenade, pulled the fuse, silently counted to three, and threw it towards where the enemy was most concentrated. At this point, the enemy seemed very frightened and hastily retreated. Captain Wu Xin quickly shouted: "Comrades, charge!" Before he had even finished speaking, the first one charged forward. The soldiers also followed and charged forward.

  At this time, a sense of danger suddenly surged into Liu Hua's mind. He hastily shouted: "Lian Zhang, don't! We've fallen into a trap, retreat quickly!" But by then it was already too late. Dense mortar shells rained down among the charging soldiers, from time to time throwing out bodies. The Red Eighth Company hastily retreated, but by then more than ten comrades had been sacrificed, and company commander Wu Xin had also suffered serious injuries.

  Liu Hua held the wounded company commander, with tears in his eyes, saying: "Company Commander, hold on, we can get treatment soon, just hold on." The company commander smiled slightly, after a while, opened his mouth and said with great effort: "I... I think I'm not going to make it... I... order... now appointing... Comrade Liu Hua as the acting company commander of Red Eighth Company..." After finishing speaking, he fell into unconsciousness.

  "Company Commander, Company Commander... wake up quickly..." Several cadres beside him hastily shouted.

  Liu Hua gently handed over the company commander to the medic, calmly thought for a moment, and ordered: "I now command as the acting company commander, one platoon take all the wounded and fallen comrades to the rear, complete the task and serve as the company's reserve team. Second and third platoons, follow me into the position, prepare to counterattack the enemy." After finishing speaking, he was the first to walk towards the position.

  Then, under Liu Hua's organization, a fierce blocking battle began.

  Watching the 8th company led by Liu Hua defeat the enemy's attack again and again, with very few casualties. Nearly 500 enemies have fallen in front of the position. This is a great achievement! Well done, 8th company! In the command post, Regiment Commander Shen Shuqing saw it clearly through his binoculars and couldn't help but applaud loudly. If not for the thundering artillery fire, he would have liked to run to the 8th company's position. A burst of hand grenades and a row of bullets had wiped out more than an enemy company, thanks to Liu Hua's great work, something that even he himself wouldn't dare think about.

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