Chapter 6, Heroes
The mountain remains the same tranquil mountain, yet everywhere are dark red bloodstains and lifeless corpses; the river is still that slowly flowing river, but it is filled with glaring streaks of bright red; the valley is still this narrow valley, yet the air is suffused with choking gunpowder smoke; the trench is still that winding trench, but I, who am in the trench, have undergone a profound transformation in my mindset.
I recall the pale faces of the enemies who perished at my hands, I remember their terror, I remember the blood gushing from their chests, I remember the light that faded from their eyes
Convey the order!" Li Zhongzhen commanded the messenger without turning his head: "Provide full support to Liangshuidong and eliminate all resisting forces...
Thank you
"Aren't we brothers?" Huzi seemed to see through my thoughts and laughed heartily, saying, "My life is given by you, how could I expect you to help me wash my feet?"
Indeed! Huzi, with a large bandage wrapped around his chest, limped over to my side, sat down with great effort, and said: "Comrade, I must admit I misjudged the situation. I, Huzi, have been in the battlefield for ten years, killing a few reactionaries and capturing a few alive is nothing remarkable. However, to knock down three with a pickaxe and capture four is something I have never seen before. Young comrade, you have guts..."
"Cui Wei, my name is Cui Wei." I lit a cigarette and took a puff, involuntarily frowning as I glanced at the cigarette in my hand. A small cough escaped my lips; it was irritating, pungent, and bitter... The "Great Production" brand of cigarettes might be considered good in this era, but compared to modern filtered cigarettes, it still falls short.
The word "hero" feels somewhat unfamiliar to me, and also very distant
As I brought the kettle to my lips, I thought I could moisten my parched throat with water, but I was unexpectedly choked by a sharp sensation that made me cough violently. I quickly understood the secret behind the peculiar smile of the little Shandong; the kettle was filled with liquor instead of water. Laughter erupted in the trench, with the one who laughed the loudest being the little Shandong who had played this trick on me.
Huzi took out a crumpled pack of "Great Production" from the pocket of his undershirt, tossed one to me, and took one for himself to chew on. He introduced himself, saying: "My name is Li Hu, comrades, you can all call me Lao Hu or Huzi."
I truly killed someone, I repeatedly tell myself in my heart, I truly killed someone, and I did it so naturally, so ruthlessly. In the past, I would be terrified by the dying struggles of a chicken, yet I cleanly and decisively killed six people in an instant. If those four enemies had not surrendered, I believe I would have unhesitatingly increased that number to ten.
What I did not know was that, just over twenty kilometers from the position, a farce was unfolding in Wenjing.
The warriors around me also let out bursts of light laughter, and the comrades passing by occasionally patted me on the shoulder. At that moment, I suddenly felt how warm and lovely these people were; it seemed as if I had already integrated into them and become one of them
Comrade, have a sip of water. Little Shandong smiled as he handed me a water bottle, but I always felt there was something unusual about that smile
"Ha... it's just a bluff," Li Zhongzhen said with a smile, shaking his head as he paced with confidence. "Moreover, with our current troop strength and marching speed, even if the Chinese were to send troops, it would be very difficult for them to establish a foothold."
Chen Hanxing stood on a high platform at Wenjing, peering through a telescope at the billowing black smoke rising in the distance. His thick eyebrows furrowed slightly, and a sense of unease gradually rose within him.
The People's Army is indeed not a cause for concern. Chen Hanxing, seeing the colonel so optimistic, felt an additional layer of worry in his heart: "However, the Chinese have repeatedly issued warnings..."
"Well, Brother Huzi..." I recalled the previous bet and couldn't help but awkwardly glance at Huzi's large feet. Although I had killed six and captured four, Huzi's outstanding performance on the battlefield had resulted in at least a dozen enemies falling at his hands.
"Colonel (equivalent to a regiment commander)!" Chen Hanxing turned to a tall, spirited individual beside him and said, "Colonel, shouldn't we reconsider the reinforcements? The enemy's strength must be considerable if they can swiftly eliminate one of our reinforced battalions. If we rashly proceed to provide support like this, could it be..."
Han Xingjun ... ... Li Zhongzhen pointed the black riding whip in his hand towards the distance and said with great pride: "If you go another two hundred miles, you will be able to drink from the Yalu River. Can you imagine? The great cause of unifying Korea will be accomplished by us. Just think, how glorious it would be to tell our descendants about this matter."
Our hero does not drink alcohol! Little Shandong was so excited that he was dancing with his hands and feet, almost rolling in the trench.
"Major Chen (equivalent to a deputy regiment commander or battalion commander) is overthinking it," Li Zhongzhen chuckled, a hint of disdain evident on his handsome and fair face. "Since the Incheon landing, how many troops and weapons can the People's Army possibly have left? All their heavy weaponry has been abandoned on our land. Moreover, behind us stands the powerful mechanized forces of the United States as our support"