Chapter 33: Shirley's Decision (Vote and Collect)
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Due to the shortage of fuel, the plane had to land at the nearest military airport to refuel. The aerial battle was fierce, and the ground troops sent out to search for pilots only found two, one of whom was an Italian pilot who was captured.
25 Ilyushin Il-15s were sent, but only 11 returned. The airbase that received the news was filled with sorrow. The Soviet side continued to transport planes and tanks, these strategic materials.
On the other hand, Italy and Germany were also unwilling to show weakness. Both sides regarded this war as a comparison of their strength.
This large-scale air battle forced both sides to catch their breath temporarily, on the contrary, the ground forces fought more fiercely. From 18th to 27th, the Republican Army launched a counterattack and crushed the rebel army's attempt to encircle the capital from the southeast direction. Both sides wanted to regain the initiative from each other.
The fierce Russian beards frequently asked for battle, but the Madrid local authorities seemed to ignore them. Occasionally, planes that encountered each other in the sky would also exchange real fire.
One aerial battle left both sides wounded like wolves licking their wounds, while also preparing to return the favor to their opponents!
The war is still slowly tilting in favor of the anti-government forces, with the defensive lines being pushed closer and closer to Madrid. The blue arrows on the battle map are gradually pressing down from the north and west towards the red defense circle. Even the southeast direction has begun to show signs of rebel activity.
Xun Xiang's heart began to feel anxious because Sherry was still staying in a hospital in Madrid for medical treatment.
Since the rebel offensive on February 6, the rebels have launched an attack in the Jarama valley southeast of Madrid with the support of Italian troops, attempting to cut off the Madrid-Valencia highway and complete the encirclement of Madrid. If this road is surrounded, it will be extremely difficult to return to France!!
Hearing this news, Sun Xiang could no longer sit still...
In the hospital, found Sherry who was dressing wounds for the wounded, and after she finished, pulled her into an empty office.
She closed the door behind her and found Shirley blushing while staring at Sun Xiang, apparently misunderstanding his intention.
Xun Xiang scratched his head, carefully choosing his words: "Shelley, listen to me, we are in a dangerous moment right now, I want you to leave Spain immediately."
Xue Li's face turned stiff with embarrassment, she couldn't believe her eyes as she stared at Sun Xiang: "Can you tell me why?" She also put the scissors and gauze in her hand on the office desk.
Sun Xiang stared straight at Sherry: "Now the Spanish rebel offensive is increasing, their attack focus from the west and north, gradually shifted to the east, once the road is cut off, the medical system can't be transferred, that means you will face great danger, I can't just watch you get into danger!!" His speech was a bit fast, his eyes looked worried and urgent.
Sherry seemed unable to bear Sun Xiang's scorching gaze, turned her head and looked out the window, but her eyes had no focus.
"Steve, I think this time I won't listen to you. I won't leave ahead of schedule. Although I've been working in a military hospital since graduation, I never thought that one day I would encounter war and so many wounded people. Since arriving in Spain, except for the two weeks accompanying you, I have been working non-stop, but I'm not tired. Seeing those injured people through my hands, alleviating their pain, and soothing their wounds makes me very happy and fulfilled. I feel like I've found my life's goal over the past 19 years, and this is the path I want to take. Steve, do you know? The day before yesterday, I bandaged a 7- or 8-year-old boy's wound, he didn't cry or make a fuss, I was very curious, he told me that only by doing so could he reduce his time, and his mother also needed bandaging... So I will definitely persist until the end!" Her tone was firm, but when she finished speaking, Shirley couldn't bear it anymore and flung herself into Sun Xiang's arms.
The military uniform was wetted by Shirley's warm tears, and what was wetted was not only Sun Xiang's military uniform but also melted his heart.
Facing Shirley's tears, he couldn't bring himself to make such a request. Sun Xiang had his first doubt about his own choice. His arrival affected the people around him the most. If he hadn't existed, Shirley wouldn't have appeared in Spain.
Xun Xiang made a silent decision that no matter what the outcome of this trip to Spain was, the one unchanging result was that he must bring Sherry back safely!
As he walked out of the hospital, Sun Xiang felt that the sunlight shining on his body was a bit chilly. This time, he had to trouble Hughes again. He shook his head and quickly ran towards the telegraph office...
The rebel's offensive has blocked several roads leading to Madrid, and the dwindling variety of vegetables and fresh meat is evident in the food supply. It's like a constant hangman's noose around Sun Xiang's neck.
Fortunately, the BF-109 fighter that the "Firebird" squadron encountered that time disappeared and never appeared again on the Spanish battlefield.
Sun Xiang was almost certain that this was the Messerschmitt company, or the German Air Force's test aircraft, with good performance, and had severely damaged the most brilliant "Firebird" squadron in Spanish skies, which was enough to satisfy the German Air Force with this aircraft!
In fact, as Sun Xiang had expected, the German side was very satisfied with this test machine type BF-109 V4 aircraft, and there were also test machines of the same type, V3 and V5.
Before that, the German Condor Legion was basically all He51B fighter planes. Sun Xiang looked down on this old biplane fighter plane, and at least ten of his 39 shot-down records were this type of fighter plane. So he never took German pilots seriously.
But as the battle escalates, BF-109 will inevitably appear more and more on the battlefield. The original German air force pilots in history will slowly emerge, and Sun Xiang must be extra careful with such a group of pilots who have a talent for war. After all, these historical aces are not vegetarians!
Sun Xiang, who was preparing for takeoff, received a call from the tower.
Base Commander Gomes found Sun Xiang.
"Steve, on behalf of the provisional government of Spain, I award you this medal of honor in recognition of your outstanding contributions to the Spanish people!!" As soon as Gómez finished speaking, he pinned the medal on Sun Xiang's chest. At that moment, the face of this resolute and serious old general was filled with smiles.
During wartime, there was no award ceremony and no press conference, only two reporters from the Madrid newspaper were present to witness this historic moment.
The next day, Gomez's action of decorating Sun Xiang with the medal appeared on the front page of the Madrid newspaper! This is also the first time that a foreign legion fighting in Madrid has received this honor! At this time, Sun Xiang's achievements were 39 aircraft.
The news of Sun Xiang being awarded the honor is being talked about on the streets of Madrid; Sun Xiang has become the brightest star shining in the sky above Madrid.
The six-month war process has caused the Spanish people to suffer greatly, and they all hope that this war can be ended as soon as possible. However, this idea is in vain. The more the war goes on, the more intense it becomes, making it impossible for people to see any hope.
