Chapter 4, Battle of Shanghai (4)

"Zishu, Zishu... wait, wait!" Due to his excitement, Yang Kai's eyes were bloodshot.

Yang Kai felt that he could no longer move, his steps heavy as if filled with lead. With every few steps he took, he would see a large pool of crimson blood.

Excluding Captain Liu Zishu and combatant Yang Kai, there are a total of two hundred soldiers from the training team executing this mission. In the recent round of combat, fifteen soldiers were sacrificed, and seven were injured.

Those who are crippled can lean on a gun barrel. Those who are disabled can be supported by their brothers. However, one must not lose their spirit.

After struggling for a while, Liu Zishu finally revealed himself. At this moment, his helmet was nowhere to be seen, and his entire military green jacket was splattered with numerous spots of blood, the origin of which was uncertain, whether it belonged to others or himself

smiling with great relief

Having thought of this, Yang Kai couldn't help but admire that Japanese commander. The gunboats and aircraft took turns attacking, leaving the enemy no chance to catch their breath, and then striking when they were on the verge of suffocation. Truly a decisive and ruthless individual

Which unit? Yang Kai asked

The purpose of the Japanese forces mobilizing such a large number of troops is naturally self-evident

"Combatants..."

I believe there is no need for explanation at this moment, the enemy's full-scale attack has already begun

How could a flesh-and-blood body nourished by the grains of the earth possibly withstand this

However, it is unfortunate that the outbreak of the July 7 Incident caused countless individuals like this to lose their opportunities

At this moment, silence speaks louder than words

On your mark, salute

"Kill!" The commanding shout of the training squad reverberated throughout the universe

Bullets whizzed through the air, and people continuously sprayed large amounts of black blood from their bodies and mouths. In just one round, a significant number had already fallen in disarray on the hillside

I am counting on you, my brother! In this moment, Liu Zishu smiled

He needs to take a good moment of silence

Of course, I do not wish for everyone to eagerly sign up, as this is a battle of unequal strength. As the weaker side, it is almost impossible for us to have reinforcements

Puff...

The muffled sound that penetrated the bones continued incessantly, with several high-velocity bullets directly piercing through the first soldier, leaving a blood-red dark mark, and shattering the steel helmet of the next person. In the end, the last few rows of soldiers had no choice but to brace themselves against the bodies in front, resting their submachine guns on the shoulders of the deceased, fighting back with all their might

"Matsui Iwane's direct lineage: the 9th Division." Liu Zishu exclaimed: "These individuals have inherited the so-called samurai spirit, which is why before every major battle, they tie white cloths around themselves and request monks to perform rituals for their souls in advance, demonstrating their fearless determination to die. Moreover, each of these individuals is a devil; almost every time a city is massacred, it is due to their actions. The special operations brigade of Changzhou also fell into their hands."

After magnifying the magnification, Yang discovered that at the front of each square formation stood a Japanese officer adorned with a samurai sword. To his astonishment, in addition to the familiar earth-colored military uniforms, each officer had a white cloth strip tied around their forehead. Moreover, in the camp, there were several bald figures dressed as monks in robes, holding wooden fish, performing strange movements as if conducting some sort of memorial ceremony for the fallen Japanese soldiers.

The medic looked at Yang Kai for help.

Yang Kai, you actually do not need to ask; everyone has already had the answer in their hearts long before this.

Hey, brother, my injury is nothing serious; the bullet passed through the muscle without leaving any trace. Just give me a bandage to wrap it up myself. You go check if there's anyone still breathing

The blood seemed to flow into the heart, tearing apart the internal organs

"Medic, quickly bandage him!" Yang Kai sat down, took a cigarette and lit it, then handed it to Liu Zishu. The medic swiftly opened the box, found a pair of tweezers and hemostatic forceps, and crouched down to clean Liu Zishu's wound

The 'U'-shaped firepower dispersion arranged by Yang Kai is formidable; from a distance, it resembles a gigantic, spiked pocket enveloping all the Japanese aircraft. Amidst the billowing smoke, countless shining specks burst forth, creating fireworks that bear a smile of death across the entire mountaintop. In a moment, two fighter planes that failed to evade were dismembered mid-air, and the last Japanese occupant of one aircraft screamed as he parachuted out, but within mere seconds of descent, he was riddled with bullets from oncoming fire

"Charge!" A cry resembling a bird's call erupted from the Japanese army camp. Upon receiving the command, more than ten formations simultaneously began to march and turn. Each soldier pulled out a strip of white cloth from their clothing to tie around their foreheads, and their uniform Type 38 rifles were all loaded, with gleaming bayonets affixed.

In the moment when the Zero fighter dove, a dense barrage of bullets rained down like hail, shattering the grass and causing debris to scatter everywhere. The two rows of soldiers at the front of the formation had no choice but to brace themselves, using their bodies as a strong shield for their comrades.

No, no! Yang Kai looked up to the sky and let out a long howl, pressing his hands tightly over his ears

"What?" Liu Zishu asked

On the contrary, I have fallen into deep self-blame

"Those who choose to fight, please step forward. However, I must declare in advance that if you win, there will be no reward. If you lose, you will not receive any compensation. But regardless of the outcome, we will reclaim something from the little devils, something that rightfully belongs to the Chinese people." With that, Yang Kai opened his eyes.

If their plans could be further refined and their commands could be executed more swiftly, Liu Zishu and the others would have no need to lure the enemy by putting themselves in harm's way

The crowd, understanding each other without words, also chose silence. Among them, even the usually playful Jiu Tong wore a serious expression without exception

Seeing the leather boots that Qi Qi had stepped out in, Yang Kai's fingers suddenly tightened around the gun barrel, his expression one of disbelief: "You, you..."

Sometimes, cooperation is a form of mutual assistance, and at other times, it is also a form of sacrifice. Liu Zishu understood that if she had not forced Yang Kai to retreat just now, this young man would undoubtedly have taken on the burden of providing cover without hesitation

Why

"Zishu, do you know them?"

"Go to hell!" At the moment Yang Kai pulled the trigger, the throttle of a plane in the middle was ignited in an instant. The explosive flames not only engulfed the Japanese pilot who did not have time to parachute, but also sent another plane that was closest to it straight to hell.

Yet at this moment, Yang Kai could not feel proud at all

Quick, for heaven's sake, give me a hand, or I will truly suffocate

You can see for yourself! The cyclops did not explain and handed over a telescope.

In this battle, the final number of casualties was exactly 20, most of whom died with their eyes wide open. This compelled Yang Kai and Liu Zishu to assist them in closing their eyes

The opposing side is a seasoned army, and they have mobilized their entire force, with the most conservative estimate being at least 5,000 men. On our side, counting everyone, including the uncertain Zhao Yongde's troops, we likely do not exceed 500 men ... ... " At this point, Yang Kai's enunciation came to a complete halt.

Because we are all: Chinese!

The complete annihilation of an air squadron by a small number of infantry is a remarkable achievement, worthy of pride both domestically and internationally

The hills are covered with numerous pits of various sizes, resembling the surface of the moon. Just witnessing this scene evokes thoughts of the ferocity of the firepower from the Japanese military aircraft at that time

Thud... With his knees going weak, Yang Kai was overwhelmed by a strong sense of defeat and knelt down. In front of him, more than ten corpses were piled together, and in his line of sight, almost every soldier's chest was covered with dense bullet holes, some even severed in two, with half of their heads shattered.

These three words struck Yang Kai's dizzy head like a heavy hammer, completely liberating the buried gray memories from a year ago at this moment

"Understanding, it is more than just understanding," Liu Zishu sneered, "As far as I know, among the entire invading Japanese army, there is only one unit that has such a custom."

Set

Emergency assembly! he shouted hoarsely

What exactly are they doing ?

"What was meant to come has finally arrived." Yang shook his head inwardly, cleared his throat, and began to speak

By the way, Zi Shu, Liu Zi Shu! Before the machine gunner beside him could finish packing up, Yang Kai suddenly pushed everyone aside and frantically climbed up the hill, while the medic in the team suddenly remembered something and grabbed the medical kit to follow closely behind.

Damn it, they are about to launch an attack. Yang Kai grabbed the standard-issue rifle that was on the ground and stood up

As Liu Zishu stated, his injury is not severe. After being treated by the experienced Yang Kai, he can basically use his right arm freely. What is worth celebrating is that, through the meticulous treatment of the medic, three individuals have been pulled back from the brink of death.

With his eyes closed, Yang Kai silently listened to the distant sounds of gunfire and the cries of battle

On the open ground across the river, it is unknown when, a series of Japanese military formations have gathered, their ranks orderly, the sound of their marching footsteps resembling the thunderous beat of war drums echoing from the horizon. A rough estimate suggests that each formation consists of approximately five hundred to six hundred personnel, and there are likely more than a dozen such formations, truly dark and overwhelming, blocking out the sun.

Buzz! ... ... Only five aircraft from the flying squadron are trailing long white smoke as they raise their noses. Several of them are riddled with numerous bullet holes on their wings. Given their current flight direction, it is evident that they cannot bear the cost of casualties and are preparing to retreat. However, the time gained at the cost of the lives of many soldiers from the training unit cannot be in vain. On both sides of the hill, the second shooting point has been successfully established. At this moment, more than a dozen light and heavy machine guns have emerged from the wild grass.

A hand emerged from the seam of the corpse and then tightly grasped Yang Kai

Those who offend the strong Han shall be punished, no matter how far away they are

His gaze lingered on the faces of his companions, and Yang Kai suddenly felt a sense of melancholy. Indeed, these individuals were all young, just like him. If it were not for this war, they would likely have found a modest apartment after graduation, married a virtuous wife, and lived a warm life typical of ordinary people

At that moment, a faint coughing sound emerged from the pile of corpses. Upon hearing this sound, Yang Kai was shaken to his core and, disregarding everything, began to lift the lifeless bodies one by one in search of the source of the sound

Hmm? He eagerly got up and put the lens into his field of vision. This time, Yang Kai was truly taken aback

Yang Kai waved his hand and said, "Alright, let's do as he said. Bring me the bandages, I will dress his wound, and give me some black powder, I will help disinfect the injury."

Upon hearing his words, Liu Zishu's expression became serious: "The visitor is not here with good intentions"

He chose silence

Our mission is to assist our allies in defense for twelve hours, but given the current situation, this strategic objective has already failed. However, due to our responsibilities, we must delay the enemy's advance as much as possible. Therefore, there must still be someone here... to hold the line!

The voice was somewhat hoarse, but Yang Kai could discern that it was Liu Zishu's voice

Smoking can relieve pain and invigorate the spirit; this is an open secret in the military.

Because they are Chinese soldiers, the most elite Chinese soldiers

Raising his head, the originally deep blue sky was shrouded in a thick layer of smoke. This made Yang Kai involuntarily recall a line from the high school Chinese literature textbook: "The beacon fires have lasted for three months, and a letter from home is worth a fortune."

What happened? Yang Kai's brows knitted together, and his intuition told him that it was certainly not a good thing

"Hehe, I'm fine, it's just that my shoulder got grazed by a bullet." Liu Zishu smiled broadly, but before long, she gasped in surprise with an "ouch".

Although the fate of a soldier is to be wrapped in horsehide after death, everyone present felt a sense of discomfort in their hearts. This was especially true for Yang Kai

Although some of the injured have not yet had the chance to be bandaged, and even those who are limping or have severed arms are not uncommon, they all hold their heads high without exception, and their chests are held straight.

What is the situation? Liu Zishu asked

But it seems that heaven did not grant him the opportunity for peace, so it sent someone to interrupt his contemplation

Dignity

Before long, a group of composed and capable soldiers lined up in formation according to their numbers

Kill! One hundred and eighty soldiers of the training team, with tears in their eyes, stepped forward simultaneously and shouted with all their might.

The waters of the Huangpu River crashed against the rocks, and on the opposite bank, a contingent of Japanese soldiers, under the cover of armored vehicles, slowly stepped onto the shallows. Countless mountain cannons, firing incessantly, rained down a meteor shower of projectiles upon the forward positions.

Blood, comrades, sacrifice

As long as there is still a breath of life within, such things will never be allowed to happen... Because Liu Zishu firmly believes that only Yang Kai is the true soul of the teaching team, and only he has the opportunity to lead these more than two hundred comrades out of the battlefield alive

The Japanese army is currently gathering on the opposite shore, but each team is led by a non-commissioned officer who has a white cloth tied on his head, along with monks

Each of you has the right to choose to fight or to leave. For those who choose to leave, please retreat to the north. I, Yang Kai, guarantee that you will not be shot, nor will you be sent to a military court, and you will not face any punishment or blame

The one speaking is the one-eyed dragon. He was the only one absent from the recent memorial, as he is a sniper and observer, and even if the sky were to fall, he must remain at his post.

In the haze, he seemed to see countless vibrant faces following behind him, pointing at his spine