Chapter 3, The Deserter

Speaking of my pretended abilities, there was indeed a glorious history. Back in my university days, I once successfully convinced five pure and innocent girls that I was a gentleman, all while maintaining a facade of seriousness. I almost won their hearts. ... I say 'almost' because in the end, I realized that I was the one who had been deceived.

I have also heard that the communication equipment of the Volunteer Army was inadequate; it seems that only battalion-level units had telephones, and regiment-level units had radios. Hence, there is an old saying: "For troops below the battalion level of the Volunteer Army, once sent out to fight, they cannot be called back. Moreover, when the Volunteer Army first entered Korea to engage in combat, the company-level units did not even have maps. At that time, if they could not find the main forces, it would indeed be as the old squad leader said—troublesome

Similarly, if the Chinese emphasize how inferior the equipment of the Volunteer Army was, it would further highlight the bravery of the Volunteer Army and their spirit of overcoming the strong with the weak. Moreover, the equipment of the Volunteer Army was not even on the same level as that of the American military.

I still remember that after returning to his country, MacArthur wrote a book titled "The Korean War," in which he consistently emphasized how poor the equipment of the U.S. military was, how insufficient the supplies were, and how the soldiers suffered from cold and hunger

A true hero does not speak of past glories, and now I have almost worshipped every deity I can think of in my heart: "All you great gods! Allow me to successfully pretend once more!"

As I watched one volunteer soldier after another pass by me, my heart began to race... In these times, the fate of a deserter who is caught is only one: to be executed by firing squad in public view.

Although these equipments cannot be compared to the aircraft, artillery, and tanks of the U.S. military, they are not as inferior as the kind of "little rice and rifles" that people in the country might imagine

A couple of days ago, I reviewed the materials. The original plan was for the 40th Army of the Volunteer Army, specifically the 118th Division, to advance towards Wenjing. However, it was discovered that the enemy had already occupied Wenjing ahead of us, so we hastily constructed fortifications at Ershuidong to prepare for an ambush against the enemy continuing their advance northward

I do not wish to be a deserter, but the guns and bullets on the Korean battlefield are incredibly hard to come by. The ruthless American imperialists completely dominate the airspace, allowing them to bomb our supply lines at will. Therefore, every gun, every bullet, every morsel of food, every piece of cotton clothing, and every pair of rubber shoes embodies the lives and blood of the logistics comrades who transport military supplies. Thus, in order to prevent these precious firearms, ammunition, and supplies from being wasted on someone like me, who has never been on the battlefield, for the victory of the Korean War, and for the happiness of billions of people across the nation... I will begrudgingly allow myself to be a deserter.

Thus, at this moment when I should have been hiding in the warm blankets, I am instead traversing mountains and valleys in the icy cold and snow.

What date is it? I asked anxiously, what is today's date

"So you are the 118th Division of the 40th Army?" My voice had already begun to tremble.

"Can you speak Korean? That's wonderful!" The old class leader's face flashed with a hint of surprise, then he put on a smile full of wrinkles and said, "We are going to Wengjing, let's find a fellow townsman to ask..."

The winter nights in North Korea are bone-chillingly cold, with the larch trees' bare branches trembling in the frigid wind, while the evergreens gently sway their leaves in the evening breeze, as if trying to shake off the snow accumulated on them. The stars and the crescent moon reflect off the white snow on the ground, casting a pale, cold light over what should be a pitch-black winter night, illuminating the path ahead for us

Comrade ... ... just as I was about to reach the end of the line, a familiar voice made my heart tighten involuntarily. Turning my head, I saw the old squad leader's eyes, which were shining with an unusual light, smiling at me.

Everything seems to be a dream. I look at the scenery beside me, observe the soldiers marching in front and behind me, and examine the weapons and equipment they carry, yet I still cannot believe that all of this is real

Comrade, comrade..." The old squad leader looked at me, pale-faced, and asked in confusion: "What’s wrong? What is not right?"

No, no. I weakly shook my head and slowly uttered a few words: "The main force is at the Liangshuidong, not at the Wenjing."

Stop advancing, remain in place

Wenjing? I couldn't help but be taken aback. The reason I know this place name is that the first shot of the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea was fired near Wenjing, specifically at the Liangshuidong.

I looked at the old squad leader, then at myself, and quickly understood the problem. The old squad leader was burdened with a marching pack, a shovel, a submachine gun, grenades, a food bag, an ammunition bag, and a water bottle, which together weighed at least seventy or eighty pounds. You tell me, how could I, a young man with nothing on me, possibly outrun an elderly man carrying over seventy pounds

I, I can say... I sniffed my frozen nose and said: "I can speak Korean, let me ask! Where should I go?"

I wonder if my name will be inscribed on the monument commemorating the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea in the modern world

Not right ... ! ... I can no longer see my relatives, I have returned to fifty-eight years ago, when my late grandfather was only in his teens, perhaps he is still somewhere in the country now, struggling hard for the birth of my father!

This is quite embarrassing, to perish before achieving success...

Comrade ... ... '' However, I did not expect the old squad leader to pat me on the shoulder and kindly say: `` You must be tired! Comrade ... ... you have been to the gates of hell, it is not easy ... ... just hold on a little longer, when you catch up with the main force, I will have the medic take a look at you ... ... ''

Thus, I arrived at the Korean battlefield and became a soldier of the Volunteer Army

Stop advancing, remain in place

I am deeply remorseful; how could I forget the traditional virtue of respecting the elderly and cherishing the young? If from the very beginning I had approached the old class leader with an angelic smile, walking up to him with deep affection, and said in the gentlest voice: "Uncle, your things must be very heavy! Let me help you carry some," then my current plan of feigning weakness to escape would have been flawless

I chuckled self-deprecatingly: "Had I known it would turn out this way, I should have paid more attention to those lists in the past. However, I doubt I would be on the list of heroes. Just kidding, I have always wielded a pen throughout my life; now you want me to take up a gun? Perhaps I might find myself on the list of deserters."

At this time, night vision devices were still a novelty and had not yet been equipped to the U.S. military forces. Therefore, once night fell, the U.S. military's aircraft, artillery, and tanks became ineffective, leaving them to engage in direct combat with the Volunteer Army. As a result, the Volunteer Army mostly marched or launched offensives at night

"We can't find the main force," said Xiao Shandong with a chuckle. "Aren't we on the main road? The company commander mentioned that the footprints ahead have been trampled, indicating that they were left by the retreating Korean People's Army and the relocating villagers. Now, we don't know how to proceed.

"It's nothing, it's nothing..." I replied softly, lowering my head, as the caring gaze of the old class monitor seemed particularly piercing in the night.

This is the anniversary of the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea, which is also the day the war began

Although it is not snowing at this moment, the chill seems to be an omnipresent spirit, frantically seizing the little warmth I have from every possible permeable place, such as the cuffs, collar, and brim of my hat. If the girl with white hair still dares to sing "The north wind blows, the snowflakes drift," I swear I will drag her here to see what true cold really is

Certainly, a person who returns home in disgrace after a defeat, if they were to claim that their equipment was exceptionally fine, their rations were remarkably good, and their winter clothing was exceedingly warm, anyone would surely suspect that their mind had been damaged by the volunteer army

Seeing the old squad leader nodding, I couldn't help but let out a sigh in my heart: "So soon I have to go to the battlefield, it has only been a few hours since I came into this world, and they don't even give me a chance to be a deserter..."

This idea once brought me to the brink of collapse, as I was acutely aware of the brutality of this war, and I knew that among those who entered this war, one-third of the soldiers would never return to their homeland, never to see their loved ones again

... ...

I did not know how long I had been running, and just as I was secretly amazed at the remarkable endurance of this body I had possessed, a command to stop advancing was issued one after another ahead of me

Although it is a break, no one dares to find a place to sit down. Not only is there snow everywhere, but in such cold weather, one fears that if they sit down, they will freeze and be unable to get up again. Therefore, everyone is gently stamping their feet in place, ... breathing warm air into their hands. Some simply huddle together for warmth, a few big men ...

"The 25th, October 25." Although the old class leader found this question somewhat strange, he still responded.

I was momentarily stunned, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of shame. Before I even experienced the brutality of the battlefield, I had already felt the care among comrades.

This reason seems quite valid, so I gradually slowed my pace, refrained from looking around aimlessly, and made an effort not to appear guilty, pretending to be out of breath from exhaustion

This is troublesome! The old squad leader frowned and said: "Without a map and without radio communication, we are in unfamiliar territory, and moreover, we are in North Korea. Even if we find a fellow countryman to ask for directions, they won't understand what we are saying..."

Looking at their equipment, the only rifles I recognize are the Type 38 and the Type 99, which I have only seen in movies. The only machine gun I can name is the "bent handle" type, and there are probably seven or eight of them! Each soldier has three to five grenades hanging from their chest, and most squad leaders and company commanders are equipped with boxy pistols or submachine guns. To my surprise, I also saw two mortars.

Little Shandong ... ... The old class leader waved his hand and caught the small figure that had run past him: "What's the matter, why aren't you advancing?"

At this moment, I took a look at this company, which had approximately one hundred and sixty people, forming a long line from front to back. According to standard organization, a company should consist of around one hundred and twenty individuals, while a division should have more than thirty thousand. However, it is common for the Volunteer Army to be overstaffed; the first four armies to enter Korea all had no fewer than forty thousand soldiers. Therefore, it is reasonable for a company to have one hundred and sixty people.

I mechanically moved forward with my feet, while my mind was constantly searching for various fragments that had fallen from Mount Baekdu. In the end, there was only one reasonable yet helpless explanation: I had fallen into that legendary cave, and the mysterious power within that cave had brought me here, possessing the body of a frozen volunteer soldier.

During the daytime, regardless of how brave a warrior may be, it is difficult to gain an advantage against the advanced technology of the U.S. military

Most of the volunteer army operated during the night, and many believe that they excelled in night combat. However, I believe that their proficiency in night battles was a result of being compelled by circumstances, rather than a choice made by themselves