Chapter 17: Enraged Slaughter of Deserters

  In the plains area, the train ran relatively fast, and it took about 40 minutes for the 4th Battalion to arrive at Luowang Station, which is 10 kilometers away from Lanfeng Station. A major officer of the 28th Army's independent regiment was waiting for them here. As soon as they met, the major said hastily: "Our regiment commander orders you to immediately pull up and join the attack!"

  Chen Hao suppressed his anger and asked: "What's the situation ahead?"

  "The enemy is using the station building and overpass as cover, with very strong firepower. There are enemy covering forces on both the north and south sides of the station. Our army has circled around several times but hasn't succeeded, so we can only launch a strong attack from west to east. It's all open terrain, not a single bit of cover, alas, casualties are heavy."

  "How many troops does the enemy have guarding the station?"

  "There's probably a whole battalion. The enemy is making the station a key defensive point, but our side isn't taking it seriously at all, not even any heavy weapons, sigh." The major couldn't help but complain.

  "Where is your squad leader?" Xu Liang wanted to hear more about the situation from the friendly forces who had participated in the attack earlier.

  "Our unit is stationed at this station, and the commander has ordered you to proceed immediately to the front line to join the attack."

  "What?" Chen Hao was furious as soon as he heard it: "A team command post that directly attacks Lanfeng Station is actually set up 10 kilometers away from the front line in the rear, this is absurd!"

  "Major, what's your name?"

  "Deputy Commander of the 28th Army Independent Regiment Major Zhang Li."

  "Vice Officer Zhang, didn't you receive the order? The First War Zone's order to us is to take over your attack mission. Quickly take us to your regimental headquarters, I need to arrange the handover and defense matters with your regimental commander!"

  Look at Zhang Li, who seems a bit hesitant. Chen Hao said: "This is the order given by Commander Cheng of the First War Zone himself to my regiment half an hour ago!" He pointed to the troops behind him, "See, Commander Cheng has given all the weapons of the guard to my regiment for use. Take us there quickly, if we delay military action, I'll kill you! Zhang Lin, go and invite General Geng over, let's go together."

  "Yes!"

  Deputy Zhang's attitude immediately became respectful, leading Chen, Xu, Geng and four teams of guards to find their battalion commander.

  Entering the station house, it was dark inside. Turning a corner, I saw a bright light ahead and a voice asked: "Who?"

  "I am Zhang Li."

  "Hey, Deputy Zhang, what took you so long to get back? I thought you'd run off ahead of time! Quick, come change your clothes. The battalion commander is waiting for me and if you don't arrive soon, I'll have to leave without you." Just then, the man suddenly saw Chen Hao and his group emerging from the shadows behind Deputy Zhang, and he stood there with his mouth agape.

  Chen Hao's face was stern, he waved his hand, Zhang Lin stepped forward and took the gun from the plainclothes man, pushing him into the team office.

  The whole department is empty and deserted, in a state of complete disarray.

  "What's going on?"

  That man was speechless. Xu Liang asked Zhang Li: "What does he do?"

  "He is our team's logistics officer Tong Shaoqiang."

  "Where is your squad leader?"

  "This..."

  "Nothing to say?" Chen Hao gave Zhang Lin a meaningful glance.

  Zhang Lin pulled out a dagger and pressed it against Tong Shaoqiang's throat.

  "I'm saying, I'm saying, our Commander Zhang said that the First War Zone has sent a security regiment to reinforce us, which means they've already run out of troops. Our main forces are no good, and if we send in the security regiment, not only will they be unable to capture the position, but they won't even be able to hold it. They'll collapse quickly, and by then it will be too late to retreat. Let's have the battalion headquarters personnel change into plain clothes..."

  "Escaped?" Chen Hao was furious, "This bastard!"

  The phone on the table rang. Chen Hao ordered Zhang Li: "Answer the phone!"

  "Hello, Deputy Commander Wang, this is Zhang Li."

  "Who's there?"

  "Frontline outpost, Deputy Commander Wang."

  "What did you say?"

  "He prepared to organize another attack and requested the regimental headquarters to increase its forces."

  "Do you still have military strength?"

  "There is also a regiment near the division headquarters that has not been used, and the division's direct subordinate team is also near Luowang Railway Station."

  "Why didn't you reinforce earlier?"

  "This? Commander Zhang won't allow it. Without his orders, no one can mobilize these reserve troops."

  "Hum! What's going on?! Tell Deputy Commander Wang that the troops sent by the First War Zone have arrived and can take over his position in 10 minutes."

  "Yes. Hey, Deputy Commander Wang, our reserve team is no longer needed, the reinforcement troops sent by the First War Zone have arrived and can take over your position in 10 minutes. Which unit is it? The Kaifeng Fourth Security Regiment."

  "Zhang Deputy Officer, tell Zhang Battalion Commander to bring up our reserve troops. We've been attacking for half the night and our casualties are heavy, but the enemy's losses aren't small either. They're almost at their last gasp. If we withdraw now and let the Security Regiment take over, where will our main force put its face?"

  "No way, Deputy Commander Wang, are you thinking of disobeying orders?" The deputy officer's tone was quite arrogant.

  "We'll attack even without reinforcements! You bunch of cowardly bastards!"

  "What? You dare..."

  The deputy officer finished speaking, and the other party slammed down the phone with a "bang".

  Director Zhang saw the angry eyes of several people in the house and immediately woke up from his usual arrogant habit, involuntarily shuddering.

  Chen Hao said: "Let's drive to Lanfeng Railway Station immediately and we'll all go to that passenger car carriage to study the situation."

  Geng Zhongyue said: "I brought the drawings of Lanfeng Station, maybe it will be useful for you."

  Xu Liang said: "This is great."

  Chen Hao said to Zhang Li: "You, come with us and be responsible for contacting the front-line troops. How about it?"

  "Yes, yes, I'm going, I'm going."

  "What about this person with the surname Tong?" Zhang Lin asked.

  "Deserters will be executed on the spot!"

  Tong Shaolin wanted to beg for mercy, but before he could even cry out, Zhang Lin's dagger had already swept across his throat. With a kick, the corpse fell backwards like a sack of cloth. Zhang Li was so frightened that her whole body shook again.

  Geng Zhongyue unfolded the map in the carriage. The Lanfeng Railway Station is surrounded by plains, with the county town not far to the north and large tracts of farmland to the south. Near the station, there is a sand dune about 10 meters high. Inside the station, there are two platforms and six railway tracks. To the northeast of the station building is the cargo yard. On both sides of the east and west boundaries of the station, there is a switch house...

  The gunfire ahead suddenly became intense. The train stopped about two kilometers from Lanfeng Station.

  Chen and Xu led a squad of guards "escorting" Deputy Zhang out of the car, they were preparing to go to the front line to observe the situation, Geng Zhongyue also insisted on following them.

  In a bunker 500 meters away from Lanfeng Station, they met Deputy Commander Wang. At this time, the brothers of the 28th Army Independent Regiment launched another attack on the station under the command of Deputy Commander Wang. Light and heavy machine guns and mortars fired at the enemy inside the station and on both sides, with about a squad of soldiers crawling forward in a dispersed formation on the front line. The enemy's heavy machine gun on the overpass was spitting fire wildly. On the west side of the two platforms, the enemy had built fortifications, and sandbags were piled up between the two platforms as cover. The top of the overpass had apparently been reinforced with steel rails and sleepers. From time to time, shells could be seen exploding on it. However, the enemy's firepower on the overpass was not knocked out. On the platform, some spare sleepers were burning fiercely.