Chapter Eleven: The Motherless Child

  The devils who attacked the main position had just broken through the front defense line, and it was already dark. The devils, who were not used to night battles, stopped attacking.

  The 3rd battalion of the devils attacked Yangjiapu and was blocked, with casualties exceeding 200 people. Including the losses of that small team, it is almost close to 300 people. The village's Jiaorong did not attack again.

  The attacking company commander, Asakura Takatama, was killed in action, so the battalion commander, Motomura Kakuro, did not understand what had happened to those hand grenades.

  It's actually very simple, Zhai Qin had someone bury hand grenades in front of the position and connect them with shoelaces from the Japanese commander's boots. As long as the Japanese entered the grenade area, the soldiers on the position would pull the grenades, which was equivalent to a tripwire mine or a high-density mine.

  The grenade exploded underground with great force, half of the fragments were buried in the ground, but it couldn't withstand many. Zhai Qin said that there were no more grenades and they had all been buried underground at once.

  This is the volleyball tactic invented by Diqin, dividing the front of his own position into four areas, numbered one to four, each responsible for a number. In this way, an orderly attack was carried out, and the enemy had no idea where it came from.

  Four machine gun positions moved back and forth, and four soldier blocking groups, no matter how they moved, were not chaotic, that is, no matter where they arrived, the muzzle was always aimed at its own position, and the devils in other numbers had nothing to do with this machine gun.

  This was an organized, planned ambush. Shallow Kura didn't know about the attack, and behind him, Motoyama Sakae didn't understand either. However, this dispersed ambush also had a drawback, that is, there were too few people under Zhang Qin's command to stop the enemy's attack. He prepared this hand grenade minefield in front of the position.

  This is a hand grenade, not a landmine, it's not going to explode when stepped on, the devils didn't have any defense, when the hand grenade exploded, it was destined that the devils would be defeated. If Zhaiqin's hand grenades were enough, I estimate that none of the attacking devils would be able to return.

  Such heavy casualties, yet unable to break through a single company's defensive position - this was something the Imperial Army had never encountered before. Murata Goro did not dare to launch another attack easily, as he didn't know what other strange tactics were still in store on the enemy's position.

  It was already dark, and it was impossible to call in air support for tactical guidance at this time. Murakami Yoshio halted the attack. He soon received orders from the regimental commander that the 2nd Battalion had captured the Qing Shan position, the 1st Battalion occupied Huang Tu Gang, and was advancing on Lang Xi.

  The Chinese army retreated to Guangde and ordered him to break through the front line tomorrow morning and attack in the direction of Guangde, annihilating the Zhina army.

  Benmujiao Rong didn't dare report such heavy casualties, only saying that they were blocked at Yangjiapu and requested air support for tomorrow.

  One of the attacking squadrons was ambushed at Zhangjiagou and almost annihilated, also done by this unit. Now more than 200 casualties, Ben Cun Rong is worried about being ambushed tonight, tightly defending his temporary position.

  But he did not expect that the 625th Regiment was unaware of the failure of the third company and had no orders for them. Upon learning of the news, Di Qin immediately ordered a silent withdrawal from the position, not retreating in the direction of Guangde, but instead making a direct dash towards Ningguo via Langxi.

  This was a life-saving escape. By midnight, Diqin and his men were already on the flank of Langxi, retreating in the direction of Ningguo. Because it wasn't the main direction, the devils only attacked Langxi and didn't attack Ningguo. Their main attacking direction was Hangzhou. Attacking east from Langxi to Guangde wouldn't go towards Ningguo's direction, here is Tianmu Mountain, there are no roads passing through the mountainous area.

  On this road, Diqin and his men encountered nothing unusual. After a night of rapid march, when the sky was bright, they entered the territory of Ningguo. There were no devils here, but the vanguard of the devils had already occupied Langxi, making Ningguo tense, with people from surrounding areas fleeing to the city.

  Watching the crowds fleeing on the highway, Zhai Qin felt uncomfortable. These people were running to the city, which was exactly wrong, as the devils were attacking the cities, and the countryside was much safer. But there were too many people, he knew that even if he told them, no one would believe him, so he could only remain silent.

  Zhang Meng and Zhao Kai didn't say a word, all the way because it was dark, there were no people, but now it's daylight, the highway is full of refugees. Seeing group after group of civilians looking at them with sideways glances, Zhai Qin lowered his head. He felt embarrassed, the devils are attacking, as soldiers they ran faster than the civilians, no wonder these civilians looked at them like that.

  Gradually all the soldiers also felt this way, one by one lowering their heads and hurrying along in silence. At this moment, the soldiers of the Third Company and the Guard Company all felt ashamed.

  Diqin hastily walked a few steps to catch up with Zhao Kai and said: "Lost face?"

  Zhao Kai said with a scowl: "Damn it, how humiliating! I'd rather return now and die on the battlefield than let people look at me like this."

  Diqin's face was actually burning with anger, and he could only say: "After arriving in Ningguo, first get settled down, contact the team leader, train these people well, and then fight back head-on. It's too damn humiliating, I'm thinking of taking off my military uniform."

  Zhang Meng said: "That's right, on the battlefield, I must make the devils look good, they're so ashamed to go home."

  Dai Qin said: "Everyone, do you know that we have no face? Then train hard, in what aspect are the Chinese inferior to the devils? Why can't we beat the devils? It's not because our equipment is outdated, nor is it because our tactics are poor."

  "What is that?"

  Dai said: "It's that we are not as ruthless as the Japanese, nor as ferocious. We haven't even started fighting yet, but we're already afraid of ourselves, how can we defeat others? If we were to land in Japan and fight, would you kill civilians, rape their women, and plunder their property?"

  Zhao Kai said at the time: "What's the difference between doing it that way and the devils? Of course we won't do it that way."

  "Shut your mother's fart! I've had enough of your nonsense. Remember, from now on, when you see the enemy, be more ruthless than them, more ferocious than them. Make them fear us, make them tremble with fear, and run away at the mere mention of the Chinese army. How dare you say such rubbish? You want to be like the enemy? If you were like the enemy, it would be better for you to retreat now, otherwise, we'll launch a counterattack!"

  Zhao Kai finally lost his temper: "Dai Qin, you damn well better have some boundaries. I'm not your subordinate, I'm also a company commander. How dare you treat me like a three-year-old in front of everyone."

  Dai Qin laughed: "Right, it should be like this. Otherwise, you'll just be like a woman and still fight, what's the point? I scolded you to make you remember."

  Seeing Zhai Qin's appearance, Zhao Kai also got angry and laughed: "Are you that timid and fearful company commander? It seems that what I heard was not correct, but following you to fight is indeed refreshing."

  Wang Biao said, "That's right, following the company commander to fight is just great. We've eliminated two of the enemy's companies, and this time we've really made a contribution. The company commander will be promoted soon."

  Diao Qin curled his lip and said, "Our team leader has already left first and doesn't care about us at all. Who will report our military achievements? No one knows where the military achievements come from. Will anyone believe if we say it ourselves?"

  Zhao Kai is from the headquarters, and he knows more about the situation than Di Qian. He nodded and said: "That's right, even if we report it ourselves, no one will believe us. A company that annihilated two enemy battalions is now making me doubt it too. To annihilate an enemy battalion, you'd need at least a regiment or a division."

  Wang Biao said disappointedly: "Then didn't we fight in vain?"

  Dai Qin rushed up and kicked him: "You damn well fight for merit? Protecting the family and the country, resisting foreign insults do you know or not? Just thinking about getting promoted and making a fortune."

  Wang Biao dodged and Di Qinxin didn't kick him. He smiled and said, "Isn't it better to be able to fight the devils and also get promoted and rich?"

  Dai Qin nodded and said: "Makes sense, from now on follow me, get promoted, make a fortune, and fight the devils."

  "Alright, follow the company commander, rise through the ranks and get rich by fighting the devils." This group of soldiers and officers didn't have any formation, they just swarmed forward like a beehive, all shouting loudly. Fighting the devils and getting rich made everyone excited. Seeing Zhao Kei also shouting along, Zhai Qin said: "What are you shouting for? You're the company commander, not under my command."

  "Fart, when fighting think of dad, when getting promoted and rich there's no dad's business?" Zhao Kai was furious: "Dad will find the captain after that, then come to you."

  Dai Qin said: "When you came here, you were also a deputy company commander. Oh, no, the deputy company commander and platoon leader are already taken, so just be a soldier."

  "Don't worry, I've got a way."

  Diqin looked at him with a sly smile and said cautiously: "What are you going to do?"

  Zhao Kai pointed to the other side of the highway and said: "Look over there, I'll soon have a company, not sure if it's still a battalion commander or not."

  Diqin followed Zhao Ke's hand and took a look, discovering that on this highway, it wasn't just their troops, but also many soldiers retreating towards the Ning country. Although there weren't as many as them, most were in groups of three to five or ten plus. Diqin, who had watched many movies and TV shows, immediately understood Zhao Ke's meaning and chuckled, saying: "You little scoundrel has brains, thinking of starting a rebellion?"

  Zhao Kai had already let Zhai Qin assimilate, and immediately said: "One family, half."

  Dai Qin said: "No way, they're all mine. But what if someone comes looking for them after I've taken them in?"

  "Don't worry, I have a way. You're good at fighting, this matter is mine."

  Dai Qin said: "Alright, I'll listen to you on this matter. If we succeed in getting it, I'll make you the deputy battalion commander."

  Zhao Kai said: "Nonsense, you're just a company commander yourself, and you want me to be the deputy regimental commander? Do you think you're some kind of commander-in-chief? But with so many people, we need to eat, where's the money going to come from? We're like orphans now. I'm starving to death."

  Zhao Kai said, and Dai Qin also felt very hungry. Indeed, they hadn't eaten dinner the night before, and after retreating all night, they had been starving for a long time. Unhappily, he said: "Don't mention hunger, I'm so hungry I'm about to die."

  Everyone felt that they couldn't hold on much longer when someone mentioned hunger, but Ningguo County was already in sight. Zhai Qin said: "Pass the order, speed up, and I'll treat you to a meal when we enter Ningguo."

  "Thanks, Lianzhang! Hurry up, Lianzhang is treating us!" Three platoon leaders and several squad leaders shouted together.

  Dí Qín said: "How did I find myself being a scapegoat?"

  Zhao Kai said: "Your family is rich, I heard your family has a lot of money. If you don't eat it, who will? Is that right?"

  Zhang Meng and Wang Biao Zhu Hou nodded repeatedly. Angry Diqin shouted: "Fart, my family has money, but it doesn't support you either. If you don't listen to me in the future, you won't eat."

  Zhao Kai hastily asked: "Is it true that listening to your words will get me a drink?"

  At this moment, Jiao Qin had the feeling of leading those peasant workers to work and said happily: "That's right, obedient children have sugar to eat."

  Diqin and the eighty or so men hastened their pace, heading towards Ningguo. As Diqin walked, he calculated in his mind, planning what to do when they arrived at Ningguo. Zhao Kai was right, these men were indeed like orphaned children, how would they resolve the issue of military pay and food?