Chapter 4, Moving Towards the Unknown

"Sir, are you alright?"

What kind of gaze is this, where the originally white sclera is now completely filled with blood vessels, and the fair face is now flushed red

This idea is also not feasible. As a pseudo-military enthusiast, Su Rui recalls that in a book he read before, it was clearly stated that the guards at Yijiang Gate were the 36th Division led by Song Xilian. They were under the orders of the fool Tang Shengzhi, and they showed no mercy to the deserters who dared to cross the river without permission.

Moreover, if Su Rui remembers correctly, his military officer's certificate in the left pocket of his jacket clearly states his identity as "Deputy Director of the Logistics Department of the 163rd Regiment of the 36th Division"... If this fake Li Gui encounters those real Li Kui from the 36th Division...

Upon witnessing this scene, Lin Shiqian's expression darkened. He raised his hand slightly behind him, signaling several soldiers to lift their guns. He then looked at Su Rui with a stern face and said gloomily: "Commander, our entire regiment is left with only these few brothers. I cannot allow the last remnants of the 28th Regiment to be lost as well. Please, have mercy and let us pass! Otherwise..."

At this moment, Su Rui steeled his heart and decided to take these people along. Although the weapons they held seemed quite rudimentary in his eyes, it was still better than being empty-handed. The chances of survival were greater this way. Since death was inevitable, he would rather die alongside these warriors defending the South Beijing.

What will happen otherwise? Are you going to kill me?

Follow my lead

However, they could never have imagined that the "delicate and tender" major before them was an imposter, which led them to ask such a question that left them both amused and bewildered

Coming to her senses, Su Rui shook her head and then asked, "By the way, where did you all run back from?"

Surui stood motionless on the ground, his expression rapidly shifting between various shades of gloom and brightness.

At this point, the expression of helplessness and sorrow on Su Rui's face grew even more pronounced. Everything that happened in this city would remain an everlasting pain in the hearts of the Chinese people for decades to come. Su Rui, a pseudo-military enthusiast, had read some books on the War of Resistance, and he understood very well that it would not be long before this city transformed into a hell on earth. Countless demons and monsters would dance wildly here, and hundreds of thousands of lives would be lost within a week.

Surui cursed loudly in his heart: "Heaven, you brought me here to make me go through all this only to die again?"

Lin Shiqian saw Su Rui agree and raised the gun in his hand, shouting loudly: "Alright, brothers, the officer has agreed to take us along, everyone follow this officer!"

The mocking expression on Su Rui's face became even more pronounced

Suddenly, Su Rui stumbled and was about to fall, but Lin Shiqian quickly supported him along with a nearby soldier

What on earth is going on with these soldiers? They see someone and just follow along, not afraid of being led into a pit of fire? Surui was momentarily confused; for someone who had come from an era where even seeing an elderly woman fall on the street would not prompt a helping hand, it was indeed surreal that a group of soldiers would entrust their lives to him upon first meeting. This was truly fantastical, comparable to the most clichéd online novels.

They ran towards Yijiangmen, slipping away like oil under their feet

After a while, the gunfire ahead became more intense. Lin Shiqian and the others exchanged glances in silence. After a long time, Su Rui turned his head and saw that Lin Shiqian and the others were still standing silently behind him. Annoyed, he asked, "What are you still doing here? Are you waiting for me to treat you to a meal?"

"Guanghua Gate? Take it down?" Su Rui revealed a hint of a sneer at the corner of his mouth, his eyes fixed on Lin Shiqian, a man of Shandong accent who was a head taller than him, and said, "I fear it must have run down by itself, right?"

What should I do

You all ... ...

The beaten soldier, feeling wronged, held his head in his hands and lowered it, no longer daring to speak up

Upon hearing Su Rui's words, the soldiers hesitated for a moment and turned their gazes towards Lin Shiqian

Surui gave a bitter smile, waved his hand, and casually said: "In any case, death is inevitable, so you may choose your own way to die."

Lin Shiqian swallowed hard before asking, "Commander, what should we do now?"

Surui was taken aback upon hearing this, and pointed to his own nose, saying: "Are you all mistaken? You want to follow me without even knowing my surname? Besides, I am not one of your 154th Division; aren't you afraid of losing your lives by following me?"

I... I am fine!

Commander ... ... you ... ...

Confess to them that you are actually just a bystander who happened to be fortunate enough to pick up this military uniform

Surui raised his head, gritted his teeth, and shouted: "Fine, since you all are not afraid of death, why should I be scared? Bring your weapons and follow me!"

Surrey was taken aback and murmured to himself, "Uh... there is this matter too!"

Lin Shiqian swallowed hard and then said to Su Rui: "Commander, our regiment commander, battalion commander, and company commander are all dead, and we don't know where they went. How about you... you lead everyone? After all, it's all the same in the end, we might as well follow you!"

Therefore, these soldiers immediately obeyed their highest-ranking "Major" Surui upon seeing him, following him without question, as they deemed it a matter of course

Stop!

Where do you want to run to? Where can you run to? I will tell you the truth: the only retreat, Yijiangmen, has already been blocked by the 36th Division. If you go there now, you will only be treated as deserters and shot!

What surprised Surui was that the soldier holding the Hanyang-made rifle was also taken aback, exclaiming: "Sir, we soldiers are just poor souls with our heads tied to our belts, destined to die sooner or later. Since Yijiangmen has been blocked by the 36th Division, we are like widows with no hope for our sons. Moreover, you hold the highest rank here, and all our commanders are gone. If we don't follow you, who else can we follow?"

Thus, Su Rui led dozens of defeated soldiers towards an unknown destination

And he could only watch helplessly as all of this unfolded before him

Just when Lin Shiqian and the others felt uncertain, Su Rui slowly raised his head. However, when Su Rui's gaze fixed upon them, the soldiers who had just come down from the battlefield were all taken aback.

Upon thinking of this, Su Rui couldn't help but shiver all over. In any case, this outcome was something Su Rui absolutely did not want to see. Even if one had to die, it should be in a more glorious manner; being killed by the enemy would be better than being executed by one's own people.

Having finished speaking, Su Rui walked over to a broken wall, sat down heavily, and stared blankly ahead in silence.

As soon as this thought emerged, it was dispelled by Su Rui. What a joke! If this group of fierce and ruthless soldiers were to find out that there was merely a counterfeit major before them, it would be strange if they didn't tear him to shreds!

Looking at the more than thirty ragged men in front of him who were staring at him eagerly, Su Rui began to feel anxious

Having spoken, Su Rui took the lead and walked forward

Seeing that the officer in front of him remained silent, Lin Shiqian, who was beside him, grew anxious. He mistakenly thought that Su Rui was afraid that bringing them along would become a burden to him, so he shouted, "Officer, could you please give us a clear answer? If you think we will be a burden to you, just say so. We will not force you. At worst, we can go back and fight the little devils to the death!"

Lin Shiqian and the others immediately changed their expressions, and several soldiers instantly aimed their guns at Su Rui

"We... we are..." Lin Shiqian hesitated for a moment before stammering, "We, we have withdrawn from Guanghua Gate."

In fact, how could Su Rui, as a military enthusiast, understand that regardless of which country's army it is, there is always a provision in the soldier's code stating that in the event of the direct superior's death on the battlefield, one must obey the orders of the highest-ranking officer that can be accessed nearby

It seems that these soldiers have become dependent on themselves, yet they do not even know where to go, so how can they be taken along