Chapter Twenty-Five: The Southern Suburbs Garrison

  Su Jingwei and his sister drove to Jiang Cheng Inn the next day to pick up Chen Jifan and two others.

  On the way, Chen Jifang asked Su Jingwei about the specific situation of these wounded soldiers. Su Jingwei briefly introduced them. It turned out that there were many scattered soldiers and brave warriors in Wuhan at present, most of whom had escaped from the battlefield and couldn't find their own troops. In addition to the Battle of Shanghai and the Defense of Nanjing, there were also soldiers who had escaped from the First and Second War Zones. The Taxation Police Corps had 5,000 wounded soldiers in Wuhan, who were scattered and settled in various places. Now they were going to a place where Su Jingwei's original troops were stationed. There were over 700 people. All seriously wounded soldiers were sent to hospitals, while lightly wounded soldiers could only stay here after receiving some medicine, because the hospital didn't have so many beds. The authorities would regularly send food down, and eating was not a problem. As for military pay, it was definitely gone.

  "Ah, you'll see when you get there," Su Jingwei said with a sigh.

  When leaving, Chen Jifan specially asked Hu Yunfeng to prepare 2,000 yuan (the rest was saved) to comfort these wounded soldiers. The heavy box pierced Hu Yunfeng's heart, but Chen Jifan didn't think so. In order to recruit soldiers, spending some money is worth it.

  "Su, what about these soldiers later on? I'm asking if it's okay for some of them to leave if they want to." Chen Jifan asked casually.

  "It's better that they all leave, so we don't have to spend food on them every day. Of course, if a troop comes to recruit people, most will go. Although you may lose your life in the army at any time, you can get military pay, which is still better than being half-dead here."

  "What if I want them?" Chen Jifan finally got to the point.

  "This should be okay, I suppose. But these people are all just cannon fodder; if you want them to follow you, it'll take some effort. Honestly, many of my sworn brothers are among them, and if someone can give them a way out, I'd fully support it."

  It was exactly what Chen Jifan had been waiting for, and he secretly rejoiced at this sentence.

  "What plans does Su have for the future?" Chen Jifan asked again.

  "What's the plan? Now that Father and Mother are old, they don't have anyone to take care of them in these chaotic times, I don't even know what plans we'll make for the future?" Su Jingwei's tone was somewhat pessimistic.

  "What if one day the devils come to Wuhan, what will you do? Will you follow the common people and retreat?" Chen Jifang pressed on.

  "Alright, Brother Chen, I've been feeling really confused lately. Don't ask me anything else." Su Jingwei said with his head lowered.

  Chen Jifan didn't say another word, and for a moment the atmosphere in the car was so quiet that it made people feel uncomfortable. Luo Yuguang saw that the atmosphere wasn't right, so he hastily interjected: "Boss, when are we heading back? I still need to take the soldiers to capture the little devils' airport."

  Luoyu Gang's words were clearly heard by Su Jingwei, his hands slightly trembling, eyes gazing out the window without saying a word.

  The Nanjiao barracks had finally arrived, and this so-called military camp was really too simple in the eyes of Hu Yunfeng and Luo Yugang. Apart from a dozen or so old houses, there was nothing in this barracks that made people think it was home to soldiers. There were iron wire mesh and wooden fences surrounding the camp, which seemed to define its boundaries. There were no sentries at the gate. Looking inside from the fence, a dozen or so houses surrounded a football field-sized parade ground, on which dozens of tents were scattered about in disarray. The parade ground was littered with flying trash, blood-stained bandages were strewn all over the place, and there was black sewage flowing everywhere... Everything gave people the feeling that they had arrived at a refugee camp.

  Chen Jifan and his group followed Su Jingwei through the gate, walking straight in. A strong smell of urine wafted up from the playground, making Su Nianhong quickly cover her nose with a handkerchief, revealing a look of disgust on her face.

  After crossing the playground, Su Jingwei led everyone to a house on the left and then turned to Chen Jifan and said: "This room is where all our brothers from the Tax Police Brigade live. The environment inside is not very good, please don't mind, Brother Chen and the two of you."

  Chen Jifan nodded, turned around and made a hand gesture to Hu Yunfeng and Luo Yugang. The two of them carried the boxes and followed him into the house. As soon as Su Ni Hong walked to the door, she was hit by the smell coming from inside and felt nauseous. She looked embarrassed and said to everyone: "Brother, Lian Zhang, you all go in, I'm not feeling well, I want to stay at the door for a while."

  Su Jingwei saw that his sister's expression was also forced, and instructed: "Okay, but you just stay here, don't go wandering around."

  Although they had been mentally prepared all the way, the situation in the house was still far beyond Chen Jifang's expectation, or rather, it shocked them. What entered their eyes was a group of people with tattered clothes and dull eyes, some with bandages on their feet lying on the bed staring blankly, some hanging an arm by the stove digging up potatoes from who-knows-where, and others taking off their outer garments intently catching lice. Their greasy long hair and beards covered their faces, also covering their inner dignity.

  Where is the elite of the bloody battlefield? It's clearly a group of beggars who have lost their dignity and courage!

  Su Jingwei seemed to care about Chen Jifan's reaction, walking while glancing at the other party with the corner of his eye.

  "Brother Chen, these are all my sworn brothers, we're a team. Those few over there used to be under me, now my squad only has these few left."

  Chen Jifan did not speak, his expression was solemn.

  "Brothers! Someone has come to visit everyone! These few are my friends, and also anti-Japanese heroes. They specially made me bring them here today to visit everyone."

  There was no response below, as if no one had heard. However, some people cast their eyes over and stared at them expressionlessly.

  Su Jingwei felt a bit embarrassed, "Brother Chen, don't mind them, they weren't originally like this, it really wasn't like this." He became somewhat anxious towards the end.

  Chen Jifang suddenly raised his tone and commanded: "Attention! Pay tribute to the national hero!"

  As soon as the voice fell, Chen Jifan, Hu Yunfeng and Luo Yugang simultaneously raised their right hands to their heads, with their eyes following their heads looking left and right.

  Su Jingwei saw that there was some moisture in the eyes of the three people, and his own tears could not help but flow out. Su Jingwei shouted loudly:

  "Brothers, cheer up! You're all survivors from the pile of dead bodies. What's there to be disheartened about? The one standing in front of you is also a hero who fought against the devils. He just came back from the frontline and came to visit everyone. Stand up straight! Don't tarnish the honor of the Tax Police Corps!"

  Su Jingwei's words began to take effect, and slowly, people started to stand up, the front row moved, and the back row followed suit, gradually forming a large circle around Chen Jifan.

  "Bow!"

  "Comrades, anti-Japanese heroes! Let me introduce myself first. My name is Chen Jifan, the one behind me is Hu Yunfeng, and this one is Luo Yugang. Today, we represent China's 'Divine Eagle' Anti-Japanese Special Forces to visit you all, visiting comrades who have shed blood for national liberation! Our team is in Anhui, right under the enemy's nose. We are a self-organized team, our guns were seized from the enemy, and our food was snatched from the enemy. The silver coins I brought today to comfort everyone were also taken by my brothers at the risk of their lives from the little devils! Hearing that you all have been suffering, we are willing to take it out and distribute it to everyone. Su brother, how many people are here?"

  "There are 729 people in total, and there are 63 people in this room."

  "Arrange it so that everyone gets three dollars, and we'll make up for any shortfall tomorrow!"

  When they heard that there was money being distributed, the wounded soldiers quickly formed a line under Su Jingwei's organization and took turns going to Chen Jifan to receive their money.

  After the 63 individuals received their money, Chen Jifang spoke up: "Brothers, today we came to comfort you all. It's not sympathy, nor is it pity! Rather, it represents the 'Divine Eagle' anti-Japanese special forces who are currently on the front lines, expressing our deepest respect for your bravery. You may feel resentful here, with no one asking if you have money to spend or clothes to change. So you just give up on yourselves."

  Some discontented expressions appeared below, if not for the sake of three dollars, someone might have stood up already. Chen Jifang saw it in his eyes and continued to say: "Am I wrong? But have you ever thought about it, at least you've come back, what about those brothers who sacrificed themselves under the devils' guns on the battlefield? What about our compatriots who were massacred by the devils in Nanjing? If the devils reach Wuhan, do we still want to retreat? We retreated and left the ordinary people to be at the mercy of the Japanese devils. Who will take care of these ordinary people then?"

  Everyone lowered their heads in silence.

  "You were once the most elite troops in the country, and the Tax Police Corps fought bravely in the Battle of Shanghai, earning honor for the Chinese people. Although the unit was defeated, this is not a shame for the troops, but an eternal glory for every living person! This honor was earned with the lives of countless brothers who sacrificed themselves on the battlefield. But today, I see that you, yes, you, are trampling on the honor and dignity that you and your fallen comrades bought with their blood and lives! If those brothers knew about this in the afterlife, they would be unable to rest in peace! They died at the hands of the devils without regret, because they were fighting for more people not to be harmed by the devils. But the dignity they forged with their blood and lives is being ruthlessly trampled on, and it's being done by their comrades who shared life and death with them - how can they rest in peace?"

  "Officer, don't say anything else, please don't say anything else!" The person in front was squatting on the ground wailing loudly.

  "Brothers, who are we fighting for? Tell me!" Chen Jifan grew more agitated as he spoke. "The country is in peril, if we don't stand up, do we want those unarmed ordinary people to take our place and block the bullets?"

  "Chen Lianchang, never mind, it's not easy for brothers either..." Su Jingwei couldn't bear to listen.

  A wounded soldier in front interrupted Su Jingwei's words, "Sergeant Su, thank you for visiting us these days. This officer is right, it's our fault. We've lost the face of the Tax Police Corps." As he spoke, he turned his head and tore open his chest, revealing the wound on top. "Brothers, we didn't mess around on the battlefield, but this life was really exchanged for by our squad leader! When the devils' planes came, it was our squad leader who pressed us to the ground with his body and used himself as a shield against the bullets! Squad leader, we owe you an apology, we've lost face for you!" As he spoke, he slapped his own ear fiercely.

  Hurry up Yunfeng pulled him forward and held him back, "Brother, don't be like this, we all know that you guys are good people."

  Su Jingwei spoke up: "Brothers, these few are the leaders of the 'Divine Eagle' anti-Japanese special forces. They only have a couple hundred people, but they're still fighting against the devils. In just two months, they've taken out four or five hundred devils. The guns, ammo, food, and supplies - including the money we handed out to everyone today - were all seized from the devils' hands. Brothers, raise your hands and let's give them a salute!"

  Su Jingwei led the way, and below him, they all stood at attention, saluting in unison. Many people still had tears glistening in their eyes.

  "Thank you, three officers! Thank you, brothers of 'Divine Eagle'!" Su Jingwei shouted.

  "Thank you, three officers! Thank you, brothers of 'Divine Eagle'!" followed by a chorus of cheers.

  Chen Jifan hastily returned the gift. "Alright, brothers, take good care of your wounds. Tomorrow we'll come again and invite the best barber in town to give everyone a haircut and shave. Let others know that the Tax Police Corps, which makes the enemy tremble with fear, is still here! Brothers, go back and inform the other barracks separately, tomorrow you will receive 3 dollars each, everyone has some!"

  Three people came out of the barracks under the gaze of many onlookers.

  "Thank you, Captain Chen!" Su Jingwei stepped forward and tightly grasped Chen Jifan's hand.