Chapter One, the mountain rain is about to come and the wind fills the building

In the dense wild grass on the opposite bank of the river, numerous gray figures, bent over, occasionally flicker into view; these are the enemies of the mercenaries

Zhang Cheng picked up the steel helmet and placed it on his head, then immediately crouched by the edge of the trench. He kept his head low, revealing only a pair of bright eyes surveying the battlefield outside the trench. His expression was serious as he scrutinized the scene before him

Without a word, Zhang Cheng lunged forward and knocked Guan Kuo, who was still in a daze, into the trench. With a thunderous roar that shook the ground, countless clods of earth fell from above, and the massive shockwave left the mercenaries in the trench with ringing ears. The impact point had reached a dangerously high level.

Hehe. The young man with a baby face scratched his head innocently and smiled, completely unaware of who Zha Cheng was

"I have said it several times already, do not call me Cheng Ge. I am Cheng from 'honest', not from 'scum'!" The young man, referred to as Cheng Ge, paused slightly, wearing an expression of helplessness.

It is one thing to die in battle, but the wounded, while losing their combat effectiveness, cry out for help in a harsh voice, which severely undermines the morale of the troops

As the mercenaries gradually fell into a frenzy, they began to madly pull the triggers and exchange fire with the enemy across from them. Zhang Cheng saw that the baby-faced Guan Kuo's face turned red, his eyes wide open as he fired his gun at the fastest speed. After a full magazine of bullets was expended, he was still desperately pulling the bolt, completely forgetting to reload.

Under the coercion of the officers, this group of mercenaries, who were selling their lives for silver dollars, reluctantly raised their weapons, peering cautiously over the trench to survey the situation on the battlefield across the river

Puff puff puff ... ... Both sides began to fire wildly across the small river, the flying bullets striking the ground with a terrifying sound. From time to time, someone would be shot and fall to the ground, either dying on the spot or crying out in agony. Life seemed exceptionally fair at this moment

The gusts of wind sweep through, causing the dense patches of wild grass by the riverbank to sway, while unknown insects chirp noisily. Lush trees stand sporadically along both banks of the river, their slightly yellowing leaves swaying in the breeze. Amidst the dancing fireflies and grass, a leisurely summer scene unfolds

At the edge of the trench, there sat a young man with short hair that was somewhat disheveled yet appeared remarkably spirited. He had thick eyebrows, a prominent nose, and a square jawline, with stubble on his chin and cheeks, quietly smoking in the trench.

As the two individuals began to argue, everyone in the trench joined in, eagerly hoping that the two would start fighting right then and there. In the monotonous life of the military, anything provocative can inexplicably excite everyone!

Is this a mob? Looking at those mobs on the opposite bank who are rapidly approaching the riverbank using standard tactical movements, bending their bodies and running back and forth, occasionally firing a shot towards the trench on this side, Zhang Cheng couldn't help but complain in his heart, "If this is the quality of a mob, then what would a regular army be, a cartoon character?"

This deadly thing, not only can it kill upon impact, but even being within the blast radius can be fatal! If it weren't for the protection of the trenches, this group of mercenaries might have already suffered casualties.

Zhang Cheng casually brushed off the dust from his body, glanced at his noisy comrades, and shook his head slightly. His gaze turned to the tense Guan Kuo beside him; he smiled and raised his hand, preparing to pat his shoulder in comfort. However, he did not expect that a tremendous roar would erupt once again! Moreover, this time it was even closer!

How are the officers and soldiers of the imperial navy trained? Is this marksmanship just for laughs and cuteness? Or does the navy have a grudge against the governor of Milan, and are they really just here to make things worse?" Faced with the heavy artillery shells that could fall into the trenches at any moment, Zhang Cheng couldn't help but start to complain.

Looking at the shyly smiling youth before me, I raised my hand and patted his shoulder. "Marksmanship is something that can only be honed through a vast amount of ammunition. Even if one has talent, it merely means using fewer bullets. If you truly want to..."

Bastard! Zhang Cheng crawled up from the mud, dragging the dizzy Guan Kuo to the edge of the trench. After shaking his head vigorously, Zhang Cheng became angry as well

The violent explosion was astonishing, raising a towering cloud of dirt within a radius of several dozen meters. The terrifying smoke mixed with the earth reached heights of several dozen meters, creating an incredible momentum. Both the force and the sound were enough to instill fear in anyone who witnessed it

This type of double-barreled heavy artillery possesses immense power, which is simply beyond the capability of the army soldiers to counter. However, the premise is that it must not fall near one's own forces

On the side of a clear river, there is a long trench in the overgrown grass. The moist soil on both sides of the trench indicates that it has been recently excavated, still retaining the scent of the earth.

During his two years of service in the PLA, Zhang Cheng may have been average in other aspects, but his marksmanship was exceptionally precise. Although the mercenaries used the Type 28 rifle, which is an old bolt-action rifle, Zhang Cheng quickly adapted after just a few days and rapidly became a renowned sharpshooter within the mercenary group, earning the admiration of many. At this moment, the young man with a baby face beside him is the one who admires Zhang Cheng the most.

As soon as the middle-aged man finished speaking, someone nearby disdainfully interjected, "Liu Kuai Zui, you shouldn't always flaunt your experience of having received a regular army salary in front of the brothers. You were just a cook in the army for a few days, and you speak as if you are a graduate of a prestigious military academy. Do you look down on the brothers?"

Mr. He San

Boom

The mercenaries recruited by the governor's office are said to be nothing more than a group of armed farmers or mobs. Zhang Cheng does not know who the enemy truly is; he only knows that if he dies here, he will indeed be dead. As for whether he would return to the modern era as if waking from a dream after death, Zhang Cheng does not dare to take that risk. Once a person dies, they cannot be brought back to life; this is a truth known by all. It is the ultimate truth. As for whether he would return to the modern era as if waking from a dream after death, Zhang Cheng does not dare to take that risk. Once a person dies, they cannot be brought back to life; this is a truth known by all. It is the ultimate truth.

This bald man is named Wu Shan, hailing from Shenyang, Liaoning. He serves as a machine gunner in the unit and has a fiery temper. After being scalded by the hot soil, he immediately began to curse.

The young man known as Cheng Ge is named Zhang Cheng, hailing from Earth in the twenty-first century. Indeed, he is a time traveler

Alas! Zhang Cheng's words had not yet been completed when a dull sound, akin to the roar of a heavy train passing through a deep cave, shattered this illusory tranquility! Hidden behind the serene summer landscape is an elegy composed of blood and life!

The mercenaries here also have two Maxim machine guns, and at this moment, they begin to unleash long tongues of fire towards the rioters on the opposite bank who are setting up heavy machine guns. They are trying their best to prevent the rioters from establishing their heavy machine guns. In the absence of artillery, the heavy machine gun is the king of the battlefield

Which side's fire support is responsible for this level of artillery accuracy? Just over ten kilometers behind the trenches lies the Gulf of Genoa, and the heavy shells fired from the main guns of the heavy cruiser Yancheng, with a caliber exceeding 200 millimeters, are essentially blind shots.

A heavy artillery shell howled as it tore through the air towards the battlefield. Perhaps sensing the mercenaries' complaints, this time the naval gunners' aim was much improved. The shell flew straight towards the opposite bank of the river

However, aside from those within the blast radius, the other rioters only paused for a few seconds before getting back on their feet. Amidst the swaying of the wild grass, two heavy Maxim machine guns were quickly set up. Over a hundred rioters crawled along the shore and began exchanging fire with the mercenaries, their marksmanship was exceptionally skillful

These individuals are merely the most ordinary mercenaries; they joined this mercenary group solely to earn a substantial salary. To enter the mercenary group, all that is required is courage and the ability to handle a firearm. They are in no way comparable to the regular troops who have undergone rigorous training. Zhang Cheng is confident that the enemy forces across from them are certainly not the so-called rabble advertised during recruitment; they are undoubtedly a well-trained regular army

These sons of bitches!

Unable to bear it any longer, Zhang Cheng rushed over and pulled Guan Kuo down into the trench, raising his hand to deliver a sharp slap to his face "Calm down!"

"Come on, stop shouting." A man with a sallow complexion, emaciated frame, and exceptionally sharp eyes sat leisurely in a makeshift trench filled with dirty stagnant water, cradling a Type 28 rifle in his arms while smoking a cigarette. "Haven't you heard the old saying circulating in the army? Relying on the navy's cannons is no better than hoping you can take out a cannon with a single shot!"

The young man has a tall and slender figure that does not appear weak, with his bare arms displaying a healthy complexion. His somewhat ordinary features carry a hint of weariness, yet his bright eyes reveal a reassuring aura, imparting a warm feeling to those around him

The blazing sun hangs high in the cloudless sky, freely pouring its warmth onto the vast earth. An unknown river meanders gently, and within the clear emerald waters, fish can be seen swimming joyfully.

All units prepare for battle! A burly middle-aged man, adorned with the rank of captain on his shoulder and dressed in an impeccably clean military uniform, charged into the trench, brandishing his pistol and sternly reprimanding a group of mercenaries who were huddled in the trench, complaining.

Zhang Cheng, who had served two years of compulsory military service in the PLA, was moved by the daily salary of two silver dollars and, urged by the constant rumbling of his stomach, joined the mercenary group of the Milan Governor's Office

Ha... ha... ha..." Guan Kuo, gasping heavily, stared blankly at Zhang Cheng, his eyes filled with panic and confusion. Not just his hands, but his entire body was trembling slightly at that moment

"Medic!" The captain of the company shouted loudly in the trench for the medic who had gone missing.

Zhang Cheng was originally just an ordinary member of the millions of laborers in Beidu. Every day, he followed a routine to work and live. However, one night over a month ago, he fell asleep on the subway while returning to his rented apartment due to exhaustion from overtime. When he woke up, he found himself in a world that was completely different from the history he knew.

Under the incredulous gaze of Zhang Cheng, the rioters, exhibiting tactical movements that were standardized and disciplined, displayed a sharpness akin to seasoned veterans of the battlefield. Even before the shells had landed, the people on the opposite bank had already uniformly thrown themselves to the ground

"Don't be like this," Zhang Cheng said as he took the apple and bit into it forcefully. The sourness mixed with a hint of sweetness helped to clear his somewhat dizzy mind, which had been clouded by the smoke of the battlefield.

The heavy shells stirred up a towering rain of soil on the ground. The hot earth, billowing with white smoke, splattered in all directions under the impact of the explosions, covering the makeshift trench on one side of the river like a torrential downpour. Instantly, a chorus of curses erupted from within the trench.

How did these blind fools graduate from the Naval Academy? Damn it, the shells are all landing on our heads! A burly man, as fierce as a tiger or leopard, with a broad forehead and a face covered in a thick beard, his skin glistening with a bronze hue. His military uniform was unbuttoned, exposing tufts of black, hairy chest. He vigorously brushed off the dirt from his body while loudly cursing the naval officers operating the cannons in the distant sea

"Cheng Ge, I still have two fruits here, let me give you one to eat." A young man, dressed in a grass-green military uniform, somewhat thin, with a pleasing baby face, looking no older than eighteen, bent over and waded through the waterlogged trench to the side of the young man, shyly pulling out a slightly reddened apple from his pocket and handing it over.

The middle-aged man known as Liu Kuaizui immediately became furious. He casually tossed aside the half-smoked cigarette in his mouth, his eyes wide open as he glared at the robust man across from him who was speaking. He shouted sternly, "Are you looking for trouble? When have I ever looked down on my brothers?! Huh?! If you don't clarify things today, I won't let this go!"

After waking up, Zhang Cheng found himself in the city of Milan, completely broke. He dared not take out anything from his men's backpack. As for the Mao Zedong currency, the locals did not recognize it. Just as Zhang Cheng's stomach was growling from hunger and he was wandering around Milan in a daze, he came across a notice at the Milan Governor's Office recruiting mercenaries