Chapter 6, The Debate at Panmunjom (Part 2)

Although she does not possess the delicate charm of a gentle beauty, nor the classical grace of a pitiful figure, she embodies a strength and vigor that is characteristic of a soldier. Even her military uniform cannot conceal her well-trained, robust chest, nor can it hide her slender waist, which is filled with explosive power. These features perfectly support her pride and confidence as a soldier, along with her impressive height of 178 centimeters.

She appears like a slender, beautiful, and somewhat cold and peculiar sharp dagger, evoking a sense of aesthetic pleasure while simultaneously prompting one to maintain a certain distance, lest they be cut by her excessively sharp blade

Lei Zhen walked alongside Colonel Smith with his hands behind his back, speaking calmly: "A hero, in a great battle, has limited personal power. However, a hero can influence everyone around him through his actions, enabling those who believe in him and are willing to follow him to unleash their strongest fighting power on the battlefield. The brilliance that a hero radiates, especially one in a high position like you, can completely turn the tide of a local war and subsequently alter the course of the entire campaign. Therefore, once I discover an opponent with heroic qualities in the enemy's camp on the battlefield, I will do everything in my power to eliminate them at the first opportunity! Unfortunately, I pursued you for several days, even leading my troops to forcefully invade your territory, yet I still allowed you to escape."

After enduring eight years of resistance against invasion, no nation understands the consequences of weakness in the face of foreign aggression as profoundly as the Chinese nation. Furthermore, no nation is as acutely aware of the true meaning of the phrase, "Better to be a soul lost on the battlefield than to be a slave of a fallen country"

Her height was a full 178 centimeters, and she casually held a Thompson submachine gun in her hand. However, Colonel Smith was absolutely convinced that, regardless of any unforeseen circumstances, she could immediately raise her weapon to execute high-precision strikes. On her belt, she also had two specially modified large-caliber self-defense pistols inserted upside down, and she carried at least 600 rounds of ammunition, six grenades, and a combat knife. Despite bearing such heavy weaponry, her movements were as agile as a cheetah. It was only at this moment that Colonel Smith was astonished to discover that this female soldier walked along the snow-covered path, making almost no sound at all.

If we did not possess this beast-like fighting spirit, how could we have fought for eight years and driven away the Japanese? If there were no such beast-like fighting spirit, no momentum that could shake the very earth once unleashed, how could our Chinese People's Liberation Army have defeated Chiang Kai-shek's eight hundred thousand troops and liberated all of China? Without this beast-like momentum, how could our volunteer army, armed with outdated weapons seized from Japanese soldiers and barely able to fill their stomachs, protect our allies and defend our homeland on this foreign battlefield? If we did not possess this beast-like fighting spirit, how could we have fought for eight years and driven away the Japanese? If there were no such beast-like fighting spirit, no momentum that could shake the very earth once unleashed, how could our Chinese People's Liberation Army have defeated Chiang Kai-shek's eight hundred thousand troops and liberated all of China? Without this beast-like momentum, how could our volunteer army, armed with outdated weapons seized from Japanese soldiers and barely able to fill their stomachs, protect our allies and defend our homeland on this foreign battlefield?

Lei Zhen stood there quietly, yet his body was trembling incessantly. Standing beside him, Ma Lan took a step forward, gently grasping his right hand, pouring her warmth and support unreservedly into Lei Zhen's body. She knew that this man, her husband, was once again recalling the darkest era in Chinese history, as well as his childhood.

Carrying the last words of the Chinese soldier named Lei Zhen, General Smith departed. At this moment, he finally understood where the frenzied spirit and the fearless significance of the Chinese soldier truly originated.

At the moment of parting, Colonel Smith expressed his heartfelt thoughts to Lei Zhen: "If I had a choice, I would hope that in our lifetime, we would never encounter an opponent like the Chinese army again. In my impression, once your Chinese army sounds the bugle on the battlefield, you transform into a group of fierce and fearless wild beasts. Engaging with an army like yours on this cursed land of Korea has truly been our greatest mistake"

Lei Zhendao: "You forcibly constructed a military airport at Jiyu, allowing thousands of wounded soldiers to be evacuated, thereby enhancing the marching speed and combat effectiveness of the troops. However, with the transportation capacity of your U.S. Air Force, it would not be difficult at all to airlift your Marine Division completely out of the encirclement. Why do you insist on breaking through the siege yourself, rather than opting for this method that is easier to succeed and incurs the least losses?"

Colonel Smith also smiled, "We are in the same boat. You pursued me for five days, and after we received supplies and tended to the wounded, did we not turn around and chase you for another four days and nights? If it were not for the extreme fatigue of the Marine Division's soldiers and the fact that our temporary supplies could not sustain prolonged combat, I would have truly led the Marine Division to chase you down again. At that time, I had a thought: an enemy as arrogant and radical as you, who also has the qualifications to be arrogant, is indeed too dangerous. I would never dare to be certain about what astonishing actions an enemy like you, who plays by their own rules and creates their own, might take. Eliminating an enemy like you would be the best way to ensure lasting peace."

Observing the vigilant actions of the female soldier, Colonel Smith understood that this female soldier had a subordinate relationship with Lei Zhen. She was not only present due to Colonel Smith's invitation but also bore the mission of protecting Lei Zhen. However, what puzzled Colonel Smith slightly was the more subtle connection he sensed between these two Chinese soldiers. This connection made them appear both as superior and subordinate, as well as resembling a couple or even a married pair.

"What a pity, what a pity"

At this point, Lei Zhen and Smith's gazes met once again, as they carefully examined each other's expressions, sensing the unique demeanor characteristic of the finest professional soldiers.

Two commanders who had once fought fiercely against each other on the battlefield gazed at one another, and suddenly, a faint smile appeared on both of their faces. Although today marked their first meeting, during those ten days of bloody conflict, they had repeatedly confronted the same map, continuously analyzing the battlefield dynamics from both their own and the enemy's perspectives, engaging in strategic simulations. Their thoughts, their consciousness, and even their emotions had long been intertwined through astonishingly similar speculations and analyses, leading them to a profound understanding of one another. Although today was merely their first encounter, the shared experiences of those ten days of intense warfare had already forged a connection between them.

I said so

Lei Zhen smiled, he truly smiled. "Now I can answer your question. When you held out for an additional three hours in Jiyu for a mere company of troops, I had already guessed this. At that moment, I made up my mind that regardless of the cost, even if there was only a one in ten thousand chance, I would definitely catch up to you and kill you, the commander of the Marine Corps' 1st Division"

Colonel Smith repeatedly looked at the two Chinese soldiers, sensing the qualities of the finest soldiers in them. "You have indeed not disappointed me."

Colonel Smith did not engage in much conversation with the Chinese soldier named Lei Zhen before directly steering the topic to the main issue. "Our Marine Division has suffered over 70% casualties while passing through Zhenxingli. Normally, this would result in the disbandment of the unit. Under such circumstances, why do you insist on taking the risk of leading your troops deep into the area we occupy? You clearly understand that even if you achieve a successful strike, with the strength of a division, it is impossible to annihilate us under those conditions. At most, you would only add a few more numbers to our casualty figures."

"Indeed, if we choose air transport, we can indeed reduce losses," said General Smith. "However, at that time, Jiyu was already surrounded on three sides by you, and you were continuously launching attacks. I had to deploy my troops in layers to fend off your relentless and fierce assaults. Once I ordered the troops to retreat in batches via transport planes, there would inevitably be irreparable gaps in the defensive perimeter when we reached a certain limit. A significant portion of the troops would not even have the opportunity to board the transport planes and would be completely overwhelmed by your human wave tactics! If I truly chose air transport, no matter how good my reasons might be, the ultimate result would be that I abandoned my subordinates!"

Lei Zhen was also sizing up Colonel Smith. He replied, "You, who are willing to stake all your possessions and risk being surrounded while desperately pursuing me, have not disappointed me either"

So you would rather lead everyone through layers of encirclement, betting on a desperate situation, hoping for a turn of fortune, than to personally impose a death sentence on a portion of your subordinates

You are a hero

This fully armed female soldier, exuding an agility and ferocity akin to that of a black panther, is, to be frank, an outstanding beauty in terms of both appearance and demeanor, regardless of her menacing aura and her overly proficient military skills that can instill fear at first glance

Lei Zhen gently rubbed his nose and smiled, saying: "Even if my troops have crossed the line, after all, it is only one division, and it is impossible to stir up too much trouble. You wouldn't deploy so many troops to relentlessly pursue us from behind, would you? Even the Marine Corps' 1st Division, which just escaped back to the headquarters, would not change out of their tattered uniforms and come back with a carbine in one hand and a hot chocolate drink in the other, charging at us with murderous intent, would they?"

As long as our country needs it, our people need it, our loved ones need it, we are beasts! Even if we die, we will fight with our last breath, fiercely biting off a piece of flesh from the enemy like a beast!

I have a question that I have been unable to understand for many years. I have always insisted on meeting you, the commander. On one hand, I am indeed curious about you as an opponent; on the other hand, I would like to seek your guidance on a perplexing issue that has been troubling my mind.

Suddenly, the two individuals burst into laughter once more, and even Ma Lan, who stood beside Lei Zhen, felt a faint smile emerge in her eyes

Brigadier Smith nodded; he had imagined the appearance of this enemy countless times in his mind. It was not until today that he finally connected his imagination with the real person. Brigadier Smith's gaze, after passing over Lei Zhen's shoulder, naturally fell upon another Chinese soldier.

I am a soldier, and I will not choose my opponents. Lei Zhen replied, "We Chinese will not take the initiative to invade others. We have just liberated all of China, and everyone has just begun to enjoy a good life, with food to eat and clothes to wear. Now we are content. However, if anyone wishes to take away our good life, to come to our doorstep and flaunt their power, or to use threats to make us bow down and become their slaves, we will fight them to the bitter end! At worst, our national borders may fall, and we will once again let the enemy experience what a people's war is like in the vast ocean of resistance. But if anyone wishes to take away our good life, to come to our doorstep and flaunt their power, or to use threats to make us bow down and become their slaves, we will fight them to the bitter end! At worst, our national borders may fall, and we will once again let the enemy experience what a people's war is like in the vast ocean of resistance. If we cannot drive the enemy away in our lifetime, we still have sons and grandsons. As long as there are still Chinese people alive, we will continue to fight. I do not believe that anyone can flaunt their power on our Chinese soil for a lifetime!"

Before I answer your question, I would like to ask you a question first

Feeling the gaze of Colonel Smith upon her, the female soldier finally nodded politely to Colonel Smith and introduced herself: "Malan"

Colonel Smith repeatedly responded, "Likewise, likewise."

Those who have not experienced what they have will never understand the familiar feeling that gradually rises in their hearts, which is even a genuine admiration.

Colonel Smith was once again astonished, for the second Chinese commander, the one who led a small elite force and successfully blew up the Watergate Bridge four times under seemingly impossible circumstances, was actually a woman, a female soldier