Chapter 2 A Bunch of Trash

  Zhang Meng and the three platoon leaders looked at Diao Qin as if they were looking at a monster. This kid fainted once, how did he become so brave? At the beginning of the retreat in Shanghai, if it weren't for this timid company commander, they would have been gone long ago.

  The independent regiment is a temporary gathering of miscellaneous troops, and it's an orphan. Whatever the cut-off, blocking, breakthrough, are all independent regiments, casualties are also the largest troops. Until now, Zhang Meng still doesn't know how many brothers they have replaced.

  There were originally 160 people in the company, now there are only 120. The deputy company commander doesn't even recognize 60 or 70 of them. Even the three platoon leaders may not know 30 or 40 people in their own platoons.

  However, the troops from Nanjing were relatively better off, while other regiments and brigades had almost nothing left. On the way out of Nanjing, the tragic situation in the city made these soldiers feel both lucky and fearful.

  The people, the army was blocked at Xiaguan and could not cross the river, all were captured by the Japanese army. The surface of the river was filled with corpses killed by Japanese warships and machine guns, it is said that the water had been dyed red. The 66th Army did not retreat to Xiaguan but broke through to the west and retreated from Nanjing, they suffered relatively small losses and their organization remained intact.

  Zhang Meng was just a small deputy company commander, of course he didn't know anything, everything was hearsay. They had a relatively smart company commander who was timid and knew how to hide during battles, but was very good at preserving his life, so their company suffered the least losses.

  It's precisely because of this that although everyone in the company looks down on him, they are still very grateful to this timid company commander; otherwise, they would all be dead.

  I don't know if I've really been blown stupid or what, but I actually took the initiative to attack the devils - isn't that just asking for death? That's a whole squadron of devils.

  Looking at the fearful faces of the soldiers in front of him, Zhai Qin was very angry. The Chinese were not inferior to the devils either. According to what he knew, a Japanese company had at most 200 people, and strictly speaking, an infantry company was 174 people. He had 120 men here. Even if they faced each other head-on, they didn't have to be afraid of them.

  Dai Qin is the minister in charge of managing migrant workers, although it's not a big deal in a large company, but every boss knows that they are the key to the company's efficiency. Being able to command hundreds of migrant workers to complete their work with quality and quantity is a matter of ability.

  Most migrant workers are from rural areas, their quality is very different. Moreover, don't think that the current peasant workers are still the same as when reform and opening-up just started. With the rapid development of rural areas and the arrival of the internet era in towns, peasant workers are no longer unsophisticated country bumpkins. They are very astute, if you're not careful, they can't be handled.

  Looking at the soldiers standing in front of him, Zhai Qin felt that they were not as good as the group of migrant workers he led, but Zhai Qin had to do so.

  I'm not a soldier, I've never been to war, but I've seen many battlefields, in TV shows and movies. Japanese planes and artillery attacking, our army holding out with rifles on the front lines, that's just asking for death.

  It's better to strike first and gain the upper hand, rather than waiting and suffering the consequences. We can't just wait for the devils to attack. I've heard they have cannons and even those damn grenade launchers - we haven't even seen what a grenade launcher looks like, it's a thing that shoots hand grenades.

  Look at our hundred or so people, old and young are all here. Machine guns are just about to arrive with two more, that's a total of four machine guns, what about cannons? Not even one, not even a mortar.

  Dai Qin said it was time to eat, but none of the soldiers moved. Even Zhang Meng was staring at Dai Qin. Dai Qin suddenly became enraged, "Damn it, don't they really take me seriously?" His face darkening, he said: "Deputy Company Commander Zhang, is my word not effective?"

  Zhang Meng had already discovered that their company commander, after waking up, said he didn't remember anything, but his tone was completely different and his demeanor had changed. He hastily stood at attention: "No, we haven't eaten."

  "What?" Diqin suddenly jumped up: "How can there be nothing to eat?"

  Zhang Meng said: "All the way to quickly retreat, no luggage, just go where to eat. But Yangjiapu is not too big, all the people here have run away. Only a few big households did not run, but we..."

  Dai Qin narrowed his eyes and glared fiercely at Zhang Meng and the others. He suddenly understood, this was too obvious, he wasn't a soldier or a historian, but after all, he knew many things. The key to this was clear with just a little thought: ordinary people had all run away, but those with money and power hadn't, why? It was because they planned to surrender. Even if they weren't traitors now, they were potential traitors.

  These guys dare to rob ordinary people, but when they see someone with money and power, they don't dare to move. Zhai Qin is not like that, he specializes in dealing with those high-rich-handsome guys, as he puts it, "bare feet are not afraid of wearing shoes". I am a member of the proletariat, I fear nothing.

  It's just this temper, leading a group of migrant workers to cause trouble, but ordinary people don't dare to confront him. Those with money and some power at home all say that they can't afford to mess with him, that's what a thug is like.

  Unexpectedly, it's been 37 years since the Anti-Japanese War. This should be an exciting thing, but with a group of subordinates like this, it's infuriating just to look at them. Zhang Meng and others were seen by Di Qín as somewhat hair-raising.

  Dai Qin finally exploded: "You bunch of idiots, stupid pigs. Can't even beat the devils, can't even get food to eat. How can you fight on an empty stomach? No wonder you can't beat the Japanese. Bullying the weak and fearing the strong, a bunch of idiots."

  Diqin's mouth was scolding people, even Zhang Meng couldn't take it. This timid and cowardly Lian Chang also dared to say that about them? At the time, everyone glared at him with anger. Diqin's eyes widened: "Not convinced, are you? Or do you want to shoot me dead now? Do you have the guts? You're all just a bunch of trash, talking about fighting against the devils."

  Zhang Meng couldn't take it anymore: "You say who's trash, you're not even as good as us. If you dare to lead the way, I'm not afraid of anything. Go ahead and go, what's the worst that could happen? One death at most."

  "Fuck off!" Zhao Qinkuan's voice grew even louder: "Go to hell, you're always talking about dying, do you think your life is that precious? We're here to strike the enemy and protect ourselves. We're fighting against the devils, not letting them beat us. Our goal is to eliminate the devils, not to go die for nothing. You haven't even started fighting yet and you're already thinking about dying, why isn't it the devils who should be dead? Speak up! Say something, you trash, don't just stand there and deny it."

  Zhang Meng was stunned, and the three squad leaders were also stunned. Indeed, why did they think of their own deaths first when fighting a battle? Why wasn't it the enemy who died instead? For a moment, they were all left speechless by Zhai Qin's words.

  Seeing several people looking stunned, Zhai Qin felt complacent in his heart. If he could deal with those cunning guys from later generations, you are just a piece of cake.

  This arrogance is even more rampant: "I'm not going, I'm not going, can you win? Which military school did you graduate from, do you know how to fight? You, you, you, and you?"

  Dai Qin pointed at their chests one by one and asked, the three squad leaders, Zhang Meng and others, all lowered their heads. They didn't even recognize a single character, what were they doing attending military school?

  "Remember this, from now on it's us who will take the enemy's life, not them taking ours. If I hear any son of a bitch say 'go die' again, I'll shoot him immediately, rather than letting the Japanese kill him and losing face. Did you hear that?"

  Dai Qin's loud shout startled these four people, who all stood up straight and said: "We heard."

  Dai Qin recalled the plots of those Hong Kong and American movies he had seen and shouted loudly, "Speak louder, I didn't hear you."

  "Yes, understood!" the four people shouted in unison. This time they used all their strength to shout, making Zhang Jin's ears numb and wanting to cover them. Seeing Zhang Jin's expression, Zhang Meng couldn't help but laugh first, followed by the other three platoon leaders.

  Dai Qin knew it was time to strike while the iron was hot, his face turned gloomy: "From now on, Wang Biao, follow me to solve the food problem. Zhang Meng, assemble the troops, and build the position according to my instructions. Check the ammunition, distribute hand grenades and bullets, and have everyone carry them on their own bodies. No need for ammo carriers, they're all combat troops. I've arrived, tonight those devils will know that Dai Qin has arrived."

  One of the little soldiers said: "Young master, aren't you called Ying Fei? Why did you change your name?"

  Diqin's mind was a jumble of fragmented memories, he only knew that this little soldier seemed not to be just an ordinary soldier, but what his name was he couldn't recall. He glared at him and said: "What are you doing calling me Young Master, what's your name?"

  Xiao Bing's face turned pale at that time: "Young master, you don't even remember me? I am Di Gui, and I was brought to your home by you, so I call you young master."

  Dai Qin made an effort to shake his head, it seemed that he had time to sort out his memories. It seemed that Dai Yingfei had some stories, and surprisingly, he brought people home to be soldiers. But he was just a worker, called the Minister in good words, or a foreman in bad words. Someone actually called him Young Master, which was a very comfortable thing. He stared with his eyes and said: "Surname Dai, name Qin, word Yingfei, remember."

  Dai Gui did not dare to provoke Young Master. If he knew that Young Master was unhappy, Old Master would be able to kill himself. He nodded repeatedly: "I remember, Young Master."

  Diqin said to a row of long Wang Biao: "Let's go, we'll solve the problem of eating."

  It's not far from here to Yangjiapu, because we need to guard this highway, so the position is built outside. Zhai Qin has already defined the nature of these big households that did not escape in his heart, and of course, there will be no worries. Moreover, this is a time of war, who knows if he can survive until tomorrow, after the passion passes, Zhai Qin's heart is also uncertain.

  A team of about forty people entered this village, which was still not small. After entering, Diqin found that it was actually not small, but very quiet and deserted, with no one on the streets. This was just after dark, and the whole Yangjiapu was as silent as death.

  It seems just like Zhang Meng and others said, the people here have basically run away. Zhai Qin led his men to a good mansion, which is the best house in the village and also the largest household. Seeing the light shining from inside, it proves that there are people. Zhai Qin said to Wang Biao: "Break the door."

  Wang Biao was delighted, and the company commander was indeed not ordinary. It wasn't a knock on the door, but a smash. These soldiers were originally not good people, they knew that such large households were wealthy and powerful, and it wasn't something that small military officers like them could afford to provoke. But now with the company commander leading the way, what did they have to fear? One of the soldiers took a rifle from another soldier's hand and smashed it heavily against the gate.

  The loud banging on the door was particularly jarring in the stillness of the night. After a few more bangs, Wang Biao yelled out, "Open the door, damn it! Is anyone there?"

  Before long, the gate opened from inside. To his surprise, two men with guns came out and asked Wang Biao, "What are you doing here?"

  Dai Qin looked back and saw that there were also guns. This must not be an ordinary household. He said to Wang Biao, "Confiscate their guns, we're going in."

  Zhai Qin scolded them severely, and Wang Biao and the others no longer dared to underestimate Zhai Qin. With a wave of his hand, the soldiers behind him immediately used their guns to pin these two people down. He reached out and took the guns from their hands.

  These two men were the doormen guarding the front gate. The Yang family of Yangjiapu, naturally, was a local household here. Yang Lie was a well-known figure, and in the Nanjing to Hangzhou area, he was quite famous. Of course, his doormen were also very arrogant, but unexpectedly, these National Army soldiers took away their guns as soon as they met. Before they could even react, the guns had already been taken by others. The two men were pushed aside with guns pointed at them, and Wang Biao said sideways: "Company Commander, please."

  Dai Qin nodded and said: "Not bad, better than that kid Zhang Meng. Come on, let's go in."

  Receiving praise from Diqin, Wang Biao immediately became proud. With these forty or so people, they all entered this not-so-small courtyard in an instant. This was a not-so-small front yard, with the main house and wing rooms, forming a spacious siheyuan.

  Yang Lie had not yet rested when he heard the sound of doors slamming in front, after which there was no more movement. The Japanese had already occupied Nanjing, and he also returned home, planning to see how things would develop before doing anything else.

  Many people have moved to Chongqing, but Yang Lie didn't. He had his own plans and didn't listen to his family members or share his own intentions. The Yang Family Shop was his own business, and at this time, he thought about selling the property, but no one would buy it, and he couldn't bear to give it up either.

  The Japanese were brutal, but they targeted anti-Japanese activists. As a rural gentry, he was well-informed about the situation and remained calm and unmoved. The retreating National Army troops in recent days did not touch his house, after all, the Yang family was no ordinary household. With just a few people, ordinary officers still didn't dare to provoke them, so Yang Lie had always been safe and sound, what could the Japanese do to him?

  When he heard the commotion outside, he frowned, why didn't anyone report it? Just as he was about to shout for someone, the large door of the main hall was pushed open and two National Army officers walked in.