Chapter 2: Picking up the gun in his hand

  Liu Yimin was soon awakened by the sound of gunfire and commotion. He crawled on the ground to take a look down, those dozen or so Red Army soldiers were about to run right in front of him.

  The small leader of the pursuing National Army troops became anxious and shouted: "Brothers, hurry up and fight! *No bullets left, kill one and get two big oceans, capture one alive and get five big oceans!"

  The Nationalist soldiers came up like they had taken stimulants, shouting loudly.

  After a brief fight, the two sides clashed together. The Red Army soldiers seemed to have really run out of bullets and used their guns to smash and beat, but they were too few in number and were quickly defeated by the National Army. A group of National Army soldiers pinned down the Red Army on the ground, ready to bind them, when a cacophony of Jiangxi dialect, Fujian dialect, and Guangxi dialect curses erupted from the hillside.

  "Damn it!" Liu Yimin cursed and jumped up, rushing down immediately.

  The National Army soldiers were busy catching people, with their guns placed on the ground, and only two sentry soldiers held their guns and laughed at the excitement, no one expected a sudden appearance of Cheng Yaojin.

  Liu Yimin rushed down, kicking a soldier who was holding a gun and standing guard into the air. Another soldier, seeing something was amiss, pulled the bolt of his rifle to fire, but Liu Yimin grabbed the gun and yanked it out of his hands. The soldier was stunned for a moment before Liu Yimin punched him, causing his face to cave in with a loud crack as he fell backwards. Liu Yimin then grabbed a Nationalist Army officer who was beating Red Army soldiers, pinned him underfoot, pulled out his pistol, loaded the bullet into the chamber, and fired two shots into the air with a "bang bang".

  The gunshot awakened the other National Army soldiers, who turned their heads to see a tall beggar holding a rifle in one hand and a shotgun in the other, with his squad leader pinned underfoot. The shotgun's barrel was still smoking, and everyone froze, standing or crawling, without making a sound.

  A red soldier got up and picked up a rifle from the National Army, with a loud noise he shot the National Army soldier who had just tied him up, splashing his brains everywhere.

  Things are getting out of hand, a small leader of the national army shouted loudly: "Brothers, go ahead, he's just one person, catch him and there will be a reward."

  Other soldiers immediately went to pick up the guns on the ground. Liu Yimin took a look and didn't think it was right, so he slightly exerted his foot, and with a cracking sound, the chest bone of the National Army's little leader was completely shattered. The shotgun in his hand fired continuously, shooting the several National Army soldiers who had picked up the guns first to death, their heads blown open.

  The surroundings immediately fell silent, with white brain matter mixed with fresh blood, frightening the remaining National Army soldiers standing there, trembling with fear.

  Liu Yimin swept his eyes around and said: "I don't want to kill more people, don't force me to kill you, stand together with your hands on your heads!"

  At this time, the Red Army soldier who first picked up his gun shouted: "Comrades, quickly pick up the guns of the white dog sons and guard the prisoners!"

  The Red Army soldiers picked up the guns on the ground and surrounded the National Army soldiers in a circle. It wasn't until then that Liu Yimin let out a loud "wa" and vomited.

  The leading Red Army soldier walked over and asked: "Who are you? Is this your first time killing someone?"

  Liu Yimin took a look at him, octagonal hat, red five-star, red collar badge, gray military uniform, and he was only about 20 years old. He must be a Red Army soldier without a doubt. So he asked in return: "Are you the Red Army?"

  "Ah, we are the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army. Thank you for saving us. Who are you?"

  Liu Yimin thought to himself, this is the Red Army that's been portrayed in movies and TV shows, the most heroic and legendary army in the world. Heaven isn't treating me badly after all, letting me travel back to the era of the Red Army. It's better than traveling back to the end of the Han, Tang, Song, Ming or Qing dynasties. Following this troop, as long as I'm lucky and don't die, I'll be one of the founders of a prosperous and powerful new China. The opportunity for a man to make a name for himself is right in front of me, with my knowledge and skills, who knows, maybe after the country is founded, I'll even become a general. By then, I might even get to see my grandparents, or even my parents.

  But how to answer? The Red Army troops attach great importance to purity, and they like to investigate the ancestors of three generations. If you don't clarify your origin, it will be troublesome to investigate in the future.

  He remembered his father saying that he was named Liu Yimin because his grandfather wanted to commemorate a relative from his hometown.

  They were originally from the western mountainous area of Henan Province. One year, they fled due to bandits. His grandfather was young and got separated from the adults while fleeing, and was caught by the bandits. Fortunately, he was rescued by Liu Yimin, the son of a village teacher. After returning to the village, they found out that only the two of them were left alive, and everyone else had been killed by the bandits.

  This Liu Yimin is not simple, from a young age he followed his father to read books and also practiced shooting with an old soldier who was injured and returned home in the village. People from all over the village said that a talented scholar who excelled in both literature and martial arts had emerged. Later, he went to Kaifeng, the provincial capital of Henan Province, to study, and it is said that he attended Machine Gun Middle School. After being admitted to Henan University, he returned home for vacation, only to encounter a knife-wielding guest.

  Liu Yimin sent his grandfather to a relative's house, then went to find the knife guest to avenge, heard that he died together with the leader of the knife guest, and there was no news afterwards. To commemorate the lifesaver, Grandfather named his only grandson Liu Yimin.

  "I'm Liu Yimin, from Henan."

  The Red Army soldier asked again: "Your shooting is very good, where did you learn it?"

  Liu Yimin said he learned it from a hunter in the village, who was a veteran and had participated in the Northern Expedition. After being injured, he returned home to become a hunter and taught Liu Yimin marksmanship. Then he told his own story of avenging himself with a knife again.

  The Red Army soldier said: "Why don't you just join us and become a Red Army soldier too? The Red Army is the army of the poor."

  Liu Yimin said: "You first tell me what place is this? What day is today?"

  The Red Army soldier said: "Today is December 1st, 1934."

  Liu Yimin listened and said, "Isn't this the time when the Military Commission's vanguard crossed the Xiangjiang River during the Battle of Xiangjiang?" He hastily asked, "Where are we now?"

  The Red Army soldier said this is Xinhuang in Guanyang County, Guangxi.

  Liu Yimin thought to himself, this is the new Hengyang defense battle of the Xiangjiang Campaign. He didn't know if it was the 18th Regiment of the Red 6th Division or the Red 34th Division that was fighting. Thinking about how thousands of soldiers from the 18th Regiment and 34th Division had been wiped out on this land, and thinking about the tragic scene of the Guangxi militia shooting at the heads of wounded Red Army soldiers, Liu Yimin felt his blood boiling. Since he had traveled through time to this place, he absolutely could not just watch as the tragedy of the Red Army martyrs was replayed. He should pick up his gun and go fight bravely.

  Thinking of this, Liu Yimin said solemnly: "I am willing to join the Red Army."

  The Red Army soldier immediately grasped Liu Yimin's hand and said: "Welcome, Comrade Liu Yimin."

  Soon, Liu Yimin figured out the identities of these 10 or so Red Army soldiers. They were from the rear guard troops of the 34th Division of the Red Army.

  The 34th Division has been the rearguard since the Long March, fighting with the Central Army all the way and suffering heavy casualties. After several days of fierce battle to cover the transfer of the 8th Corps, the division had less than 4,000 men left. Upon receiving orders from headquarters to withdraw to Xinhuang to take over defense duties, they continued to fight as rearguard, with only a dozen or so men remaining out of over a hundred, and no more bullets left. Now they were on their way to join the main force of the division, but almost got captured by the White Dog's son.

  The one talking with Liu Yimin was Wang Dahu, the squad leader, an old Red Army soldier who joined at 14 years old. The other dozen or so Red Army soldiers were also older veterans with longer military service.

  Liu Yimin thought that those who could kill their way out of the hail of bullets were all elites in the Red Army. If they could survive until the end of the Long March, they would be the backbone of the future Eighth Route Army and the Liberation Army. If they could survive until after liberation, at the very least, they would receive treatment as a deputy division commander.

  At this time, a Red Army soldier came to report that the captives had been interrogated and they were from the 44th Division of the 7th Corps of the Guangxi Army. The Guangxi Army's goal was to capture Xinhuang, advance directly to Jieshoukou, and join forces with the Central Army and Hunan Army to annihilate the Red Army.

  Wang Da Hu waved his hand and said to release those white dogs, leaving their weapons and ammunition behind.

  Liu Yimin hastily said he couldn't let him go.

  Wang Dahai said: "Why can't they be released? What's the use of keeping them?"

  Liu Yimin said: "Wang Pai-chang, look, now the enemy situation is very clear. The Guangxi army's crazy attack on us is to seize the Jieshoutou ferry and coordinate with the Hunan army and Central Army to annihilate our main force. From the current situation, the Xinhuai position has been breached, and the main force of the 34th Red Division on Guanyin Mountain has fallen into the heavy encirclement of the Guangxi army. In order to cover the retreat of the main force across the river, the division's main force will certainly hold out and wait for new orders. However, now the Guangxi army is well-equipped with weapons and sufficient ammunition, and it would be disadvantageous to fight head-on, possibly leading to the destruction of our entire army. We must come up with an extraordinary plan."

  Wang Dahai stared straight at Liu Yimin's face. Liu Yimin said, "What are you looking at? I'm not a woman, and there aren't any flowers on my face."

  Wang Dahai chuckled and said, "If you were a girl, I wouldn't bother. What's strange is that you, a new recruit, know so much! You're catching up with the regimental and division commanders! At least you seem like a graduate of the Red Army Academy."

  Liu Yimin said, "What's the big deal? I've read many books with my father since I was a child, and later the old hunters in the village told me about many military battles, so when the captive explained the enemy situation just now, I understood it immediately. You know, the principles of the world are all interconnected."

  Wang Dahai said: "Alright, listen to you, anyway our lives were saved by you, what do you think we should do?"

  Liu Yimin said: "I just observed that under this mountain is the artillery position of the Guangxi Army, how about we go and wipe it out?"

  Wang Dahai suddenly came to power, pulling Liu Yimin's hand and running towards the other side of the mountain. The two people climbed up there and looked down, and the enemy's artillery position was indeed on the half-mountain waist. At this time, a logistics team arrived with ammunition, and it seemed that they had also brought several mountain guns. The artillerymen were installing the mountain guns and unloading shells. In front of the artillery position, there was a covering position, where about one company of infantry was stationed.

  King Dahulu muttered to himself, saying: "What a pity, we have too few people. If we had a company, we could get rid of it."

  Liu Yimin smiled and asked: "Then what's to be done? Are we not going to do it?"

  "Alright! We've already died once, what's another time? You see that mountain over there where the intense battle is happening? I think you're skilled, sneak up and report to our leader. Tell them that Wang Dahu, squad leader of the 101st regiment, 34th division, Red Army, reporting in. We've completed our blocking mission, the entire squad has been wiped out. I'll lead my comrades to use grenades to detonate the White Dog's cannonballs."

  Liu Yimin looked at Wang Dahus determined face and said: "I can make our artillery position get rid of the enemy without any casualties."

  Wang Da Hu said, "That's impossible. The White Dog Regiment is an artillery regiment and has a company of infantry for protection. We are too few in number; even if we all die, it's not certain that we can get close to them. You've just joined the Red Army and are a new recruit, you don't know how formidable they are, so stop bragging blindly."

  Liu Yimin said: "I originally wanted to capture the enemy's artillery battalion as a gift for my participation in the Red Army. It seems I was too arrogant. Our men are indeed too few. In this case, we killed the captives, put on their military uniforms, asked them about their password, disguised ourselves as Guijun and entered the artillery position, blew up their cannons. Then quickly withdrew and merged with the main force."

  Wang Dahe said: "Do it this way, but we can't kill prisoners of war. We cannot violate the Red Army's discipline."

  Liu Yimin said: "We are now a small unit surrounded by the enemy, concealment is paramount. If we don't kill these captives, we will soon be exposed and death awaits us. Treating prisoners of war with kindness is our policy when we win, but now the enemy has the upper hand and we are being pursued. Being kind to prisoners would be irresponsible towards our own soldiers."

  Wang Da Hu said: "I understand what you're saying, I can't argue with you, but no matter how you put it, we can't kill prisoners of war!"

  Liu Yimin let out a sigh and said, "Forget it, we won't kill them. You go arrange for the prisoners' clothes to be completely removed, ask for their passwords, tie them up, and knock them unconscious. See if you can find some dry rations on the prisoners that our soldiers can eat, take a 10-minute rest, and recover a bit of strength. After 10 minutes, change into Guilin military uniforms, replenish weapons and ammunition, smash any extra guns, then set off."

  10 minutes later, the Red Army soldiers were lined up. Liu Yimin himself also changed into a taller and more robust uniform and shoes of a captured Guangxi soldier, loaded 8 hand grenades into his grenade bag, loaded 50 rifle bullets, and stuffed the pistol magazine from the Guangxi captain's body into his pocket, standing at the end of the line. As for his original clothes, leather shoes, and mobile phone, he secretly buried them.

  Liu Yimin took a glance, the soldiers had all changed into Guilin army uniforms, holding brand new Type 79 rifles, with hand grenades hanging from their waists. He looked at Wang Dahu again, shouldering a Czech-style light machine gun, with several ammunition clips inserted in his uniform pockets, standing at the front of the troops. Liu Yimin thought to himself, after all they were old Red Army soldiers, and within 10 minutes they could recover some combat effectiveness, impressive.

  "Comrades, down the mountain is the enemy's artillery position. The White Dog is bombarding our main force. We're going to take care of that son of a bitch. Comrades, are you with me?"

  "Present!" The small number of Red Army men replied in unison.

  "Liú Yīmín, fall in!"

  Liu Yimin hastily ran out of the formation in standard military posture, came to Wang Dahu's front, stood at attention and saluted: "Report, Red Army soldier Liu Yimin is reporting for duty, please instruct!"

  Wang Dahai was startled and immediately returned a military salute, shouting: "At ease!"

  Liu Yimin rested for a moment and then turned around to stand at attention and salute the Red Army soldiers. He then stood beside Wang Dahe.

  The Red Army soldiers all looked at Liu Yimin with a surprised expression, Wang Dahou thought to himself, this guy is absolutely not an ordinary person, just this military posture, it's too standard, it seems we've picked up a treasure.

  "Comrades, this is our new warrior Liu Yimin, who is also the savior of more than a dozen of us. The idea of attacking the enemy's artillery position was proposed by Comrade Liu Yimin himself. Now I announce that this attack operation will be commanded by Liu Yimin."

  Liu Yimin thought, time was pressing, couldn't be humble, and loudly said: "I observed that from here to the mountain waist, the distance is very close, and it's also in the enemy's rear. The trees and bushes are very dense, making it easy to hide, we can easily get close. After destroying the enemy artillery position, I'll take my comrades to find the main force. Does everyone have confidence?"

  Yes!

  Liu Yimin shouted a departure call and led the way down the mountain.