Autumn's Ambush (9)

  I had planned to write a few chapters tonight, but why didn't I? It's really because of my eyes. As soon as I look at the computer screen, my eyes get blurry and my right eye is completely useless - I can barely see anything. But I still have to write, not for the sake of readers (that's just an excuse), but for the sake of these little brothers of mine. If I don't write, I'll be letting them down. Right now, I can still see their faces in my mind - those dark faces with white teeth smiling out from beneath. They'd definitely say: "Little Zhuang, you're so capable of enduring hardships, but writing is so comfortable for you? What a joke!" My tears would flow uncontrollably, not because of physical pain, but because it's hard to bear in my heart. If I don't write about these little soldiers' stories, who will know about them in the years to come? So I'll keep writing, even if it kills me. You can read it if you want, or leave it for future generations - but I have to write. If I don't, I won't be able to die in peace.

  You think I'm writing a biography for myself? Wrong.

  I just want to leave something for my fellow brothers, these ordinary Chinese soldiers, not necessarily a monument, we are not that great after all.

  It's just a small monument.

  "The soul of Chinese Army Special Forces"

  "They came in ordinary, they went out ordinary;

  Ordinariness is their fate

  Ordinary is their destination.”

  That's enough. No need to boast or spread the word, just give my brothers, those ordinary Chinese soldiers a small space, let their souls gather here. Don't let loneliness, desolation, loss and even sorrow accompany them so much, let them start to be happy again here, we are still a camouflage phalanx, crying, laughing, fighting and scolding together, our brothers are still together. That's enough.

  Nothing else is needed.

  I am just commemorating them. My brothers, the real Chinese army soldiers. Of course, also the most ordinary ones. My heart has never left you, my brothers.

  As long as we can be together, I am willing to trade my life for it.

  Our tractor left the Dog Head High School team and soon arrived at the No. 7 Highway Bridge, where the guard was indeed very strict. Even high-speed machine guns were brought out, and the formation didn't look like a drill, but rather a deep air defense position on the eve of the Normandy landing. I took one look and my heart cooled down. Originally, I had planned that if all else failed, I would come up with a lone hero plan to sabotage this bridge myself. On the tractor, I really thought about it all the way - how to sneak in quietly under the cover of night, how to avoid the sentries and searchlights and get under the bridge, how to place smoke bombs at critical points on the bridge, and then how to "go down with the ship" (any fool knows that once you're done, there's no way for one person to escape) - this way, we Dog Head team could save some face. Although you've caught our special operations team, I would still sabotage your bridge.

  As soon as our tractor drove over the bridge, I knew we were in trouble. Let alone infiltrating, at 800 meters out you'd be locked down by sniper crossfire.

  Looks like this damn bridge has been sabotaged more than once, I don't know exactly how many times, but I estimate it's over 20 times - our brother unit really values this bridge! I dare say that even a fly can't easily fly in, there are snipers with 85 sniper rifles and machine gunners with 81 light machine guns everywhere, for a moment I couldn't figure out how the crossfire was divided, it's indeed extremely complex and precise. Now building such a bridge is really not as easy as in the movies, I really can't think of any good way to do it. —— In the following times we still sabotaged this bridge, but I won't tell you the method, it's our Dog Head Brigade's secret. But this time I really had no method, just watching the bridge get farther and farther away from me.

  We left the bridge and soon the tractor turned off the highway, then we arrived at a secluded mountain nest. I said goodbye to the old lady and her son, and at that time, tears were really flowing down my face. The old lady held my hand and wiped away tears: "Child, child, you People's Liberation Army have finished playing, remember to come see grandma, don't let grandma miss you..." I held her hand and nodded, shedding tears - but in the end, I didn't go, can I go or not is up to me? What is called military life is not free? The discipline of the army is just discipline, it's tearing your heart and lungs, but you just can't go.

  I bid farewell to the old granny and set off up the mountain with my belongings. I walked for a very long time before turning back to look. The tractor had not moved yet. The old granny was still standing on it, her son supporting her so that she could see further away. She waved at me, her white hair fluttering in the wind.

  Grandma……my throat choked with a sentence, and tears just flowed. An 18-year-old boy is still an age that easily gets emotional. Even now when I think about it, I still cry. I just waved my hand, not daring to shout, one shout could summon the search party. We just waved our hands like that.

  Then I resolutely turned around and went up the mountain. After all, I'm a soldier, I have my own mission to complete! I gritted my teeth and walked step by step up the mountain, actually at that moment my footsteps were really heavy, every step was as heavy as iron. Because I knew that with every step, the old lady was watching me.

  Emotions, you say, can't sink? Emotions are actually not a big deal, just these ordinary moments, happening to these ordinary people. I'm leaving, and with every step, I feel my grandmother's gaze on me, her heart skips a beat because I'm getting farther away - my heart also skips a beat, because I know I'm getting farther away from her too.

  I finally walked to a place where I was certain she would never see me. Only then did I put down my things and cry for a while. Then I started loading my gun, putting on my magazines, changing into my camouflage uniform and boots. Little Zhuang once again became a soldier, a Chinese army special forces operative.

  What is called going deep into enemy territory? I am now in deep enemy territory!

  What is a lone hero? I am a lone hero now!

  I glared at myself in the small mirror as I applied makeup, thinking viciously to myself. I must give those brother teams a good show and not let them get too arrogant! Let them know that our Dog Head Squad isn't one to be trifled with! Catching the Dog Head High School team is no great feat, they're just asking for it! If you think you have what it takes, come catch me, Little Zhuang?! I'm not afraid of anything, even crossing the swamp! I'll show you what a Special Forces elite and the Dog Head spirit are all about!

  I made a vicious vow in my heart, and I viciously put on makeup.

  The makeup is done, the vows are also sent out, and now I'm confused. Where am I going? Where can I go by myself?! Absolutely confused.

  If a special forces soldier is really alone in the enemy's rear, I'd say that unless it's for a movie, they're not far from death. One person's power is absolutely limited, and if they're a lone hero, there are only two conditions: first, good luck; second, still good luck. There's no other reason.

  What to do now? Hammering on Highway 7 Bridge is just sending us to death! I took out the hand-painted map stored in a plastic bag and studied the military deployment and environment of this area. In fact, I knew that any attack would be suicidal, and in actual combat, I would definitely die. But I couldn't just hide like this, where would our Dog Head Brigade put its face?!

  The warriors of the troops are most concerned with honor, especially our special forces like Dog Head Squadron. Originally, we were already notorious in various troops, and now one guy has taken out a fully-staffed special duty team. If we don't regain face, it'll be a huge scandal! It's absolutely going to make waves throughout the military! I, Xiao Zhuang, may have conflicts with Dog Head High School Team, but after all, I'm a soldier of Dog Head Squadron! If Dog Head Squadron loses face, what's the point of me being here?!

  So I'll launch a desperate attack! And it's gotta be a fatal blow! One strike to completely paralyze the enemy troops, and we win. No need to fight anymore, what's the point of fighting when they're all paralyzed?

  In war, it's all about our Dog Head Brigade getting wiped out, and if we can cripple your vital parts, then we've won. In the military, everyone understands that special forces are actually " elite cannon fodder", they go to the enemy's rear, kill the enemy and that's it, whether they return or not is uncertain! In fact, my fellow brothers all know the truth, special forces - are just a suicide squad, there's no need to say more, lives will definitely be lost, who told you to join this profession?

  I'm looking at the map. I already know where to hit. To completely paralyze an army, you have to strike its command center! I found the location of our brother unit's command post on the map. A valley and a small makeshift helipad. There's a hospital nearby - actually it's a detention camp for our captured soldiers. But that target is not one I'll hit, because I know the guards are extremely vigilant, afraid those fearless soldiers will escape. If I go there, not only will I get nothing done, but I'll also be like an idiot, and the sentry will definitely come! Come on, you can go in yourself!

  I'll attack the command center. I know they're heavily guarded, but no matter how strict, there are always loopholes. And they probably won't think that I'd come alone to attack. As long as I throw a smoke bomb into the command center, I win. Our Dog Head Battalion wins. My plan is set. I stand up, carrying an 81 and holding a 95, and release the safety with a click.

  Rabbit! Your grandfather Xiao Zhuang has arrived!

  Actually, I knew that if it was real combat, it would be suicidal. Is there another outcome? But you said, can I not send myself to death?! I gritted my teeth and advanced towards the target zone. The branches whipped my young face and body, but I couldn't feel the pain. The dew soaked through my camouflage uniform and chilled my body, but I couldn't feel the cold. There was a flame burning in my heart.

  One strike to kill! One hammer to die! I am the Chinese Army Special Forces! Came to deliver death! What do you want?! My heart is this flame, burning my entire soul.

  I can see my own eyes. There is fire burning inside. Nothing else.

  An 18-year-old Chinese army soldier, walking alone through the forest. For a once-in-a-lifetime fatal charge in war. That's just how it is, I won't say, and you'll never know.