Chapter 8: "Speed of Life and Death" (Resistance War Edition) (Part 2)

  The desperate efforts of the Japanese devils have appeared for the first time on the Chinese battlefield, and it's a wonder that Chiang Kai-shek should feel honored. Since the July 7th Incident, the little devils have always relied on their planes in the air and heavy artillery on the ground to massacre the Chinese army, and this is the first time they have launched a suicidal attack of their own accord.

  But Cheng Jiaji didn't have the mood to be proud of this at that time. Under the Japanese crazy attack, which hurt people first and then themselves, the Chinese army was already heavily wounded and some soldiers with not so strong will were slowly retreating to avoid the Japanese terrifying attack.

  Cheng Jiaji anxiously looked at Yu Juncai standing beside him, and in this situation, he had never experienced it before. He had only seen many movies about the Japanese army's human bullet attacks in the 21st century. He never thought that because of his own reasons, he would change history and make the Japanese people's tactics appear prematurely on the Linyi battlefield, which should have appeared during the battle with the Soviet army. To say that he was not panicked at this time is a lie. Now, he can only rely on Yu Juncai, who had been in the bloody meat grinder of the Luoshan battlefield for more than a month.

  Yu Juncai didn't panic, he comforted Cheng Jiaji with a calm expression and then called over several veteran soldiers who had followed him from Nanjing to set up in front of Cheng.

  A dozen or so veterans who had been platoon leaders and had gone through the Battle of Nanjing arrived at the appointment.

  "Brothers, it seems the little devils are getting desperate and want to play a game of life for life. If we're going to play this game, we're the ancestors." Yu Juncai said with a smile to the old soldiers who followed him out of that dead city in Nanjing. Although he looked carefree on the surface, his heart was bleeding. These dozen or so people in front of him were his trusted subordinates, and if it weren't for today's battle being too treacherous, he would never have dared to throw these old comrades into such a deadly fight.

  A group of old soldiers silently looked at their old superior, everyone's heart was clear about the current situation. If they couldn't suppress the enemy's momentum, the front line of Zhuangzhuangkou would be occupied by the Japanese in less than half an hour. They all knew that the Japanese had no other tricks up their sleeve, and could only try to crush the defenders' willpower, thereby defeating the Chinese army and making a big breakthrough into Zhuang.

  However, they are also very clear that once they launch an attack, basically no one can turn back alive. Although they have been through hundreds of battles, they are still human beings, and as long as they are human, there is no one who does not want to live. Now the little devils are in a state of desperation, and for a while, although no one dodges Juncai's gaze, nor does anyone actively ask Sakura to hug the arms of the god of death.

  Cheng Jiaji looked at this scene, and he understood that these people were not afraid of death. In the past, when they fought against the Japanese in a dare-to-die manner, the Chinese army was often in a desperate situation where they would either die or be killed if they didn't fight back. Therefore, the Chinese soldiers who were at an absolute disadvantage dared to exchange lives with the Japanese. However, this time it's different. Not only were they not surrounded by the Japanese, but on the surface, the Chinese army seemed to have gained the upper hand. Otherwise, the Japanese wouldn't have put up such a desperate stance. Humans are complex creatures, especially when it comes to their psychology, which is difficult to describe in words. Often, when people are at a disadvantage, they will risk everything, but when things seem better, they become more afraid of death.

  Cheng Jiaji looked at these old soldiers who were hesitant in the face of death, and also at Yu Juncai, his subordinate brother, who was staring at him with a piercing gaze. He couldn't help but let out a deep sigh in his heart. Before today, Cheng Jiaji had not regarded the battlefield as a romantic heroic playground like some YY novels that described it as a place for playing house. However, he was after all a young man who had grown up in peaceful times and had never been on a battlefield, so he couldn't truly appreciate the bloody and ever-changing nature of war.

  Cheng Jiaji felt a thousand emotions in his heart, and at the same time, he deeply realized the truth of the sentence "benevolence is not suitable for war". War is indeed the most ruthless thing under heaven!

  Under the silent gaze of the two officials, someone finally stood up. Chen Dayong was a Northeasterner, and his family had been almost wiped out by the Japanese after September 18th. He had a deep blood feud with the little devils, and if it weren't for his consideration for his 14-year-old sister, he would have stood up long ago.

  "Two officers, I'll go, but then my sister will have to trouble the team to take care of her."

  Chen Dayong felt a bit embarrassed when he made this request.

  Yu Juncai hadn't spoken yet, but Cheng Jiaji, who knew that Chen Dajun's family had no one else, also spoke up. After hearing Chen Dajun's words, he immediately took over the conversation with tears already welling up in his eyes.

  "Don't worry about your sister, as long as I, Cheng Jiaji, have a mouthful of food to eat, she will never be left behind. If she is still in school, I guarantee that I will support her through university." What a good soldier! He's about to go off to die, and his only request is for the living to take care of his sole family member. As for his own life, after he has no more worries, he can die for the country and nation at any time.

  With someone taking the lead, the others no longer hesitated. After exchanging a glance with each other, they took a step forward in unison and stood shoulder to shoulder with Chen Dayong in front of the two officials. They all knew that this step was not an ordinary one. This step was actually the dividing line between life and death, but for the sake of fighting against the devils and protecting their hometown, they had no regrets.

  Cheng Jiaji looked at these young and innocent faces, feeling very uncomfortable. These living lives were about to go towards destruction. They may not understand what the words "country" and "nation" mean, nor do they know what this or that ideology is, but it is precisely these rough men who can hardly recognize characters with their lives supporting the backbone of our nation that has suffered for thousands of years. Without them, even if you are a born genius, you would be nothing but a fleeting dream, unable to accomplish anything.

  "Every brother who joins the dare-to-die corps will be given 150 silver dollars as a settlement fee by the brigade. Now, brothers, please let Secretary Wei Wen write down the names and addresses of your relatives. After this battle, the brigade headquarters will definitely send someone to deliver the money to your homes. Please set your minds at ease! I, Cheng Jiaji, will definitely take care of your families. Whoever dares to bully them, even if he is the King of Heaven, I will skin him alive!"

  Cheng Jiaji didn't say anything like "brothers must come back alive" or other nonsense. He knew that these eighteen brothers were clear-headed, and this kind of dare-to-die squad, tied up with explosives, charging at the enemy, everyone knew that their chances of survival were zero.

  So what he said was all about the families of these brothers, he knew that one hundred and fifty yuan was not a small amount, but for these eighteen brothers it had no significance at all, it could only make their families' lives a little better, not so difficult.

  "Bow down. The eighteen dare-to-die corps members, after saluting Cheng Jiaqi and Yu Juncai for the last time, suddenly someone started singing Yue Fei's 'Man Jiang Hong', a poem that has been passed down for thousands of years and moved countless heroes to tears."

  "My hair stands on end, I lean against the railing, and the rain stops. I raise my eyes to the sky and let out a long sigh, my emotions are intense. The fame and fortune of thirty years are like dust and dirt, the 8,000 miles of road are like clouds and moon. Don't waste time, my youth is gone, and I'm left with nothing but sorrow."

  The shame of Jingkang has not yet been washed away; the hatred of ministers and sons, when will it be extinguished? The long chariot treads on the broken Helan Mountain pass. With a heroic spirit, I eat the flesh of the barbarian Hu, and with a smile, I drink the blood of the Xiongnu. Waiting to start anew, restore the old mountains and rivers, and face the heavenly gate.

  In the majestic and tragic rhythm of this ancient masterpiece that inspired countless Chinese sons and daughters to shed their blood for the peace and integrity of their country, eighteen warriors fully armed with explosives charged at the enemy's chest like eighteen sharp arrows.

  After seeing off the eighteen brave warriors who were destined to never return, Cheng Jiaji saw for the first time in Yu Juncai's eyes that kind of crystal clear thing that humans call tears.

  China, even at its weakest, is not a country that can be bullied by the likes of Japan; on this day, the dragon roars in anger at Dawang Village!