Chapter Fifty-two: Preserve Strength

  The commander of the Duomen Shituan could only stamp his foot on the other side of the river, and a large number of troops were also unable to reinforce due to the floating bridges and ferries being smashed by the Wu Songlin department's artillery.

  Sari Bulu rode on horseback, charging with the soldiers, holding a big knife and shouting as he rushed back and forth in the enemy formation. With his hand rising and falling, the cavalry saw the captain sacrificing his life and rushing forward, one by one, also putting their lives outside, using knives to chop off the Japanese radish-like heads.

  The three companies of infantry also charged into the enemy's position under the command of Regimental Commander Xu Jingde. The flash of knives and swords, the cries of killing rose and fell in succession.

  The commander of the Japanese army had never seen such bravery, such tragic and unyielding fighting against the Japanese military by Chinese soldiers since he came to China. What "Shina" people is this? At this time, he really couldn't associate weakness and incompetence with the Chinese soldiers on the other side of the river.

  Through the telescope, General Tada saw his troops routed and scattered all over the fields, while the Chinese defenders were pursuing them relentlessly like dogs chasing rabbits. A Chinese soldier with a blood-soaked bandage on his head suddenly jumped out of the bushes and fired a vengeful bullet at the fleeing Japanese soldiers, two of whom fell to the ground with a thud, and he also fell forward and never got up again.

  The battle continued until 2 pm, when several hundred Japanese troops wanted to surrender. Zhao Xiao Feng immediately ordered: "Not a single prisoner is allowed! Kill them all! Right here by the river!"

  Xie Ke immediately blocked the way: "No! The Geneva Convention clearly states that prisoners of war cannot be killed!"

  "Piss off!" Zhao Xiao Feng shouted at Salipu who was still in a daze: "Kill! Not one will be left alive!"

  At this moment, the Japanese army who had already surrendered did not survive, and more than 200 Japanese soldiers were beheaded!

  This time, both sides paid a heavy price. Zhao Xiao Feng was furious because he had just learned that his mortar position had lost more than 20 men.

  This is also the heaviest casualties suffered by the Japanese army since the "September 18th" Incident, more serious than the loss in Shenyang. Since the 4th, more than 10,000 Japanese soldiers have set up their own graves on the Nenjiang Plain on both sides of Jiangqiao. The Binbontai Regiment was completely annihilated, and the Kōnami Cavalry Regiment, which came to reinforce it, also suffered heavy casualties, with more than half of its men killed or wounded. The Chinese garrison lost more than 3,000 men, including 57 officers who died in battle.

  After several days of fierce fighting, the defensive position of the garrison was completely flattened, except for a few solid fortifications built in advance by Zhao Xiao Feng.

  The Japanese army, relying on the high cliffs on the south bank, continued to bombard with superior weapons and was constantly replenished. If no drastic measures were taken, there would be a danger of the entire army being annihilated. In view of this situation, Zhao Xiaofeng and Ma Zhanshan decided to change positions and withdraw to the Sanjianfang area to establish a new defense line. The reason is that the stone inside, mountain cat, and grass on the fly had already set up positions and trained a large number of new soldiers.

  Ma Zhan Shan gathered the various generals in the trenches to discuss countermeasures. He said in a hoarse voice: "Brothers, from November 4th to now, we have been fighting bloody battles, defeating the Japanese army's hundred-plus charges, without losing an inch of our land, and showing the spirit of the Chinese army. Deputy Commander Zhang sent a telegram to commend us, and the public across the country is cheering for us, proving that this battle was not fought in vain. In the intense battles of recent days, the various armies have been exhausted without relief or replacement, while the Japanese army has been continuously replenished with supplies and troops. If we don't take drastic measures, there's a risk of the entire army being annihilated. What should we do? Let's hear everyone's opinions."

  "This battle was the most tragic and heroic, said Xu Baozhen, the commander of the Guards: "General, this time we have won honor for our parents, brothers and comrades, achieved our goal, and let the little Japanese know that Chinese soldiers are not all cowards. What to do now? I will listen to Commander Zhao's command."

  General Wu Delin and General Sa Libu said in unison: "Whatever the general and commander order, we will do it." When he heard that his former loyal followers were now all looking at Zhao Xiaofeng with admiration, Ma Zhan felt extremely proud because he had not misjudged the man! Zhao Xiaofeng was his brother, and his subordinates listening to his younger brother's words made Ma Zhan even happier than if they had listened to his own.

  "Let's return to reality from the battlefield!" Zhao Xiao Feng, seeing that everyone was letting him make the decision, spoke out his own thoughts: "If we drag on like this, it will definitely not work, and we won't be able to hold on for three or two days before being completely defeated. The whole army will withdraw from the front line tonight, retreat to San Jia Fang Hong Qiyingzi to rest and fight again." This was the result of consultation with Ma Zhan Shan, at least near San Jia Fang there was still support from the Northeast Anti-Japanese Army and the Heilongjiang garrison.

  However, Ma Zhan Shan and Zhao Xiao Feng's order was met with resistance from the soldiers who had been deceived.

  A machine gunner wrapped in white gauze heard the retreat and turned his muzzle, shouting loudly: "Damn it, who dares to forge General Ma's order for me to withdraw? I'll shoot him first! Is it that Zhao guy?"

  Ma Zhan Shan happened to walk over, heard the noise and stopped in his tracks. He patted the shoulder of the machine gunner: "You're great, your patriotic spirit is worthy of praise! But think about it, driving out the devils isn't something that can be done overnight. We're all fighting to the death here, what's the point of retreating temporarily? It's for reorganization, and once we've regrouped, we'll fight them again! Besides, you're now under Commander Zhao's command, he's my brother! Listening to him is like following my orders! Got it?"

  The machine gunner saw that General Ma had come to do the persuasion work himself, there was nothing to say, these soldiers were most convinced by General Ma, such an iron-boned officer, they would go to battle, shed blood and die for him without frowning.

  General Ma said to withdraw from Jiangqiao Daxing Station, that must be right. However, the machine gunner still had some doubts: "General, what you said is correct, but isn't retreating like this letting the little devils off easy?"

  Ma Zhan Shan said seriously: "In the case of a significant disparity in enemy and our forces, equipment, if we insist on defending Daxing Railway Station, it will fall into the enemy's trap. The continuous influx of Japanese troops will overwhelm us. Brother, let's retreat, leave some food behind, and kill more little devils later!"

  The last sentence made everyone present laugh, and the machine gunner also smiled awkwardly: "General, I must keep my head safe and fight more devils."

  After each unit issued the order for Zhao Xiaofeng to retreat, Zhao Xiaofeng remembered the Battle of Mukden and decided to make a final blow against the Japanese army.

  Zhao Xiaofeng looked at the Japanese on the opposite bank who were busy building a pontoon bridge, then looked back at his exhausted troops, and felt a pang of desolation in his heart. How could they counterattack now?!

  "Report! Colonel Zhang Dengjiu, commander of the First Regiment, reports for duty to Commander Zhao!"

  At this time, Zhang Dianjiu of the first team happened to arrive, and Zhao Xiaofeng said with excitement: "You came just in time, let's work together to attack!"

  The Chinese garrison and reinforcements launched another large-scale counterattack, over 1,000 Japanese troops were killed or wounded, and the remaining ones could not withstand the fierce attack and retreated back to the north bank from the newly built pontoon bridge.

  After thoroughly blowing up the pontoon bridge, Zhao Xiao Feng once again issued the order to retreat. The various troops quietly left the burning battlefield, abandoning the Jiang Bridge position and withdrawing north of Daxing Station. However, the crazed Zhao Xiao Feng still did not forget to lay landmines all along the front line and on the roads.

  Many soldiers turned back and saw that the houses of Daxing Station were still burning, with a hint of unwillingness on their faces.

  The weather gradually darkened, the air was filled with the smell of blood and the smoke of burning sulfur. Night fog shrouded the Nenjiang Plain. The enemy's field artillery also fell silent. The quietness of night again gave a mysterious color to the new bloody battle.

  The sky was pitch black, and there wasn't a single glimmer of light in the villages both near and far.

  Japanese troops on the south bank of the river occasionally fired a few shells at Daxing Station without any purpose. A few wild dogs wandered around not far from the trenches, they smelled the bloody smell, in this desolate and cold winter day, the blood had the greatest temptation, although they were also afraid of the roar of the shells, and afraid of the crispness of the machine guns, but the tempting bloody smell was really too wonderful, just like the Japanese were eyeing China.

  Fang Qiuyu followed the troops in retreat, carrying his brother who was covered in blood. Fang Qiuyu's brother was a heavy machine gunner and on the 6th day at dawn when they were fighting for the main position of Daxing Railway Station, he was hit by an enemy bullet that broke his leg. The company commander ordered him to go down several times, but he refused. He was so angry that he would rather die than leave the battlefield.

  At noon, when the Japanese army launched its most violent attack on the defenders with the support of aircraft and artillery, he let others enter the bunker while staying in the surface fortifications to monitor enemy movements. Suddenly, more than a dozen Japanese soldiers appeared before his eyes, sneaking up on their bellies. He immediately turned over the machine gun and swept it violently, and the ambushing Japanese had no time to counterattack before falling down in the tobacco field.

  Fang Qiu Yu and his brother's old home was in a large mountain valley in western Liaoning, their ancestors were all farmers. Later, after their parents died, they had no one to rely on, so they went up the mountain and became bandits. The bandit leader saw that the brothers were intelligent and brave, so he entrusted them with important tasks. Later, when Ma Zhan Shan recruited good men from the green forest, they joined Ma Zhan Shan's troops and fought with guns.

  The Battle of Jiang Bridge Chinese soldiers were enraged, the Japanese invaded and trampled on their national dignity. The brothers vowed to fight the enemy and make a name for themselves. Unfortunately, his younger brother was injured before him. Fang Souyu was his younger brother's squad leader, during the day he found out that he was injured, and hastily crawled over to ask with concern: "What happened?"

  His brother glared at him and said, "What's wrong?" He casually tore off a sleeve, bandaged his thigh that was bleeding profusely, and continued to fight back.

  The blood on his younger brother's body had almost stopped flowing, and he could no longer lift his head, leaning against his older brother's shoulder. Fang Qiuyu turned around, and his younger brother gave him a faint smile: "When I was young, the happiest time was when you carried me."

  Fang Qiu Yu's eyes moistened, "Brother, I'll carry you until the battle ends!"

  "Brother shook his head: 'My blood is almost dry, find a clean place and put me down.'"

  "Brother, don't say such things, how could I abandon you in a desolate wilderness?"

  The sky was pitch black, and the troops were silent, only hearing the sound of hobnails on the frozen ground, which made Fang Qiu Yu and his brother fall far behind. A stray dog approached Fang Qiu Yu with its eyes wide open, he got angry, lifted his foot and kicked the dog's abdomen, the dog yelped and ran away...

  No one knows what tomorrow will be like. One thing is certain, the enemy will not give Zhao Xiaofeng's anti-war troops a chance to breathe because they have obtained Jiangqiao.