Chapter 6: The Battle Begins

She opened the door, and outside was not an alien, but merely a young man with a look of anxiety on his face

Qin Tian did not understand why Catherine would have such thoughts. Although the German army was indeed powerful during World War II and had a good reputation, it was ultimately the reputation that was tarnished by the Nazi SS in the later stages. While the massacre of the Jewish people cannot be overlooked, they did not completely dehumanize their actions towards other countries. Why would Catherine say such a thing

The Eisenhower Hotel is closed, and today no one is in the mood to visit the hotel. Residents of Warsaw have not come either. In this vast hotel, only international students from various parts of Europe, like Qin Tian, remain huddled in their dormitories.

Then what about you? Qin Tian couldn't help but ask

She suddenly realized the drawbacks of time travel; those realistic movies, especially war films, allowed her to experience the horrors of war more profoundly than the young people around her, which in turn made her feel even more anxious and unsettled

Tian... Aunt Santa suddenly turned around and grasped her hand, "You are right."

Only the two characters of war are so large, compressing the rest of the content into a much smaller space

Oh... Aunt Santa's voice was hoarse from crying, and everyone could only helplessly gather around her

Qin Tian did not know how to respond. She remained silent for a while, when suddenly she heard faint music from outside. The passionate speech had ceased, replaced by a piano piece, the tempo alternating between fast and slow, quite familiar: "Is this... Chopin?"

Having some is better than having none

You do not know, the broadcast said that they do not take prisoners of war, and they do not spare civilians either, regardless of whether you are Polish or not... Oh, what sins have I committed to come to Poland for my studies!

With her resolve to return home solidified, Catherine's expression gradually became composed, only to be interrupted by the sound of Aunt Santa's sobbing.

In Qin Tian's daily life, there are no profound words such as sacrifice and mere survival; she can only be perplexed by the strange name Karen that he ultimately calls out, and then watches him leave her line of sight

Catherine, you should get ready soon, I, I still want to stay here

At that moment, another young man named Sang Aito, who had gone out to help fetch something, walked in and gave a subtle glance towards Qin Tian. Qin Tian approached and looked at him.

However, I still have my studies, classmates

Just as Qin Tian was slowly getting up to organize comforting words, Aunt Santa suddenly stood up, wiping her tears and said, "There is no need to say anything, I, I will go prepare the smoked meat for tomorrow"

I should, I should let him come back, I should not, I should not let him enlist in the army, sob sob sob ... ...

However, now she must traverse Germany to reach France. Not to mention that the two countries are on the brink of war, just looking at the map of World War II, with France's landscape resembling a field of flowers, sends chills down her spine

Catherine looked at her with red eyes and said: "Are you going back? Isn't your home in France? Germany wouldn't dare to attack France, so you should leave too"

Is that so? Qin Tian felt that this answer was taken for granted, but when she looked at Karen's back and truly understood the meaning of those words, she suddenly felt a tightness in her chest that made it hard to breathe. She abruptly stood up and called out softly, "Karen! You..."

Qin Tian blinked her eyes, looking confused at Catherine, who stood behind Aunt Santa, and she too wore an expression of anger

Qin Tian's heart skipped a beat as she fixed her gaze firmly on Santa.

Sang Eito and two boys quickly grabbed the radio and ran out of the basement, while Qin Tian could only busy herself comforting Aunt Sangta and asking Catherine: "What happened?"

Qin Tian has not studied Chopin; she has only heard the teacher introduce him in an elective course at university. What she knows the most is not his nocturnes, but his patriotic songs

Does the hotel have a basement? This unknowingly gave Qin Tian a sense of security. She responded affirmatively, stood up, quickly packed her belongings, and followed Karen downstairs

She was unaware that the broadcasts outside were overwhelmingly filled with propaganda about the brutality and malice of the German army. The announcer spoke with righteous indignation about how our troops were subjected to horrific massacres, how the German army spared neither village nor town, bombarding and burning everything in their path. The German army was like locusts, leaving no trace of life in their wake

"Where can one find anything more important than parents and family?" Qin Tian gently persuaded, "Let us go home."

Groups of students took to the streets, distributing flyers under the control of military and police forces. The number of pedestrians on the road dwindled, until they ultimately vanished from the streets

On September 3rd, Santa, who had sneaked out again to gather information, returned with a beaming face to announce that Britain and France had declared war on Germany. The German forces would soon be besieged from both inside and outside. Cheers erupted in the air raid shelter, and Aunt Santa unprecedentedly contributed her privately stored white bread and butter, and even opened a bottle of wine

No, not at all. Qin Tian felt a bit embarrassed; if it weren't for Jay Chou's "Nocturne," she wouldn't have gone to listen to Chopin... Moreover, she didn't really feel anything particularly special about Chopin's pieces; she just suddenly thought that playing Chopin's piano music at this moment seemed to carry a special meaning.

Warsaw remains safe, yet the hearts of the people are in turmoil. It is said that the streets are desolate, with only the conscription office bustling with activity. Students, youth, and men of all ages are flocking to enlist in the military, while female university students are eagerly joining volunteer groups, being transported in trucks to the front lines to serve as nurses caring for the wounded

The government has not yet come to collect food. According to Aunt Santa, Germany is currently resisting the combined pressure from England, France, and the powerful Poland, and it certainly cannot hold out for long. The government cannot resolve this issue without leveraging the strength of the people.

Her Polish is quite poor, and no one has ever taught her how to comfort a mother who may have lost her only child in Polish. Moreover, Chinese is too profound and extensive, and she is unsure if she can make herself understood.

The first to bring news of war were the snowflake-like white leaflets

After Warsaw was occupied, life may have become more difficult, but as long as one is not Jewish and does not recklessly provoke the Germans, there is still hope for survival. The German army is not like the Japanese devils; there are very few instances in World War II history where they insulted "flower girls." For a weak woman like her, it is still relatively safe.

Catherine listened attentively for a moment, her eyes widening: "Indeed, Tian, I didn't expect you to have researched this."

Karen turned around, his eyes slightly moist, yet his expression remained consistently gentle: "Tian, are you reluctant to part with me? You wouldn't have fallen in love with me, would you?"

Karen was silent for a moment, then touched her head: "I want to go to war"

"Aunt Santa, what are you saying!" Qin Tian forced a smile, "How do you know that Brother Carl must have, um, sacrificed himself... Perhaps he is hiding somewhere just fine?"

Occasionally, one or two hurried pedestrians pass by, also dodging and weaving, fearing that a bomb might suddenly fall from the sky

He is a spiritual national hero. Qin Tian cannot specify which pieces, but knows that in the West, Mozart and Tchaikovsky are far less popular than Chopin. A small Poland, because it carries Chopin, has gained a vast sky in Europe

Catherine looked at Aunt Santa with a face full of pity: "The Soviet Union has also sent troops, disregarding the non-aggression pact with Poland. As soon as the Polish government fled, they invaded eastern Poland under the pretext of self-defense... Poland is finished, Tian, we must leave as soon as possible, otherwise..."

Her son was annihilated in the Pomorye Legion Cavalry Brigade a couple of days ago

The alarm arrived in this world on a dull afternoon, accompanied by a buzzing sound reminiscent of bomb drops from the radio. Since then, this urgent voice seemed to manifest in various forms throughout Qin Tian's life

Qin Tian remained silent; where could she go? She was unaware of her hometown in China, nor did she know about her parents' home in France. Could it be that she would truly run off to the United States all alone? As for Switzerland, she did not believe it was absolutely safe either

Qin Tian held Catherine in her arms, gazing blankly at the flames in the fireplace until her eyes ached. She murmured, "It's alright, it will be fine, everything will be fine." After a pause, she added, "I told you long ago not to hold on, the war won't end so soon, you should go back now."

Aunt Santa cursed while distributing food, leaving everyone else looking bewildered

Moreover, the only relative she has in this world knows only that she is in Warsaw

Catherine sat beside Qin Tian with her white bread and corn soup, whispering, "The government has evacuated Warsaw"

The two girls exchanged a glance, both forcing a smile. Indeed, at this moment, the one who needed comfort the most was Aunt Santa, whose son had just been suspected of sacrificing himself for the country. In the blink of an eye, she herself was about to become a slave to a fallen nation. This feeling was undoubtedly unbearable

The past, the present, or the future

This also makes the news of Warsaw being encircled even more despairing

What?

Alright. Qin Tian nodded, but only held Aunt Santa's hand without saying a word, while Catherine embraced Aunt Santa, comforting her as one would a child

On the very next day, a new message broke out on the broadcast. Qin Tian had not yet heard it clearly when Aunt Santa began to cover her face and weep: "Oh God! Save Poland!"

"Tian, you would like to say this to your brother as well," Karen smiled, "Don't worry, we will soon drive the Germans back, and then I will find out where your brother is and convey your words to him exactly as you said them."

The situation has been determined... The Polish government has abandoned this city, which has been their capital for two hundred years. They have forsaken Warsaw, allowing Poland to march towards destruction! In Catherine's emerald eyes, there was a hint of moisture. "Tian, what should we do? Should we live here like slaves of a fallen nation? I want to go back, I must go back"

Only a grand hotel like Eisenhower can provide such a fulfilling experience, but Qin Tian knows that these resources will certainly not come at a low cost to herself

Karen rushed in without waiting for the gentleman of the library, glancing around Qin Tian's small attic, and said anxiously: "The Germans are coming, quickly pack your things and go to the hall. Take as much food and supplies as you can carry. I will take you to the basement!"

What should we do? We are going to die! Catherine was nearly in tears, and at that moment, the others were nowhere to be found; it was just the two of them in the basement.

Qin Tian felt extremely tired, struggling to distinguish herself between history and reality. The constant memories and doubts drained her energy. Just as she was dozing off by the fireplace, she was suddenly shaken awake by Catherine. She opened her eyes and saw Catherine's pale face: "Tian! What should we do? Warsaw is surrounded! Sangueto and the others said that the area outside Warsaw is filled with German troops! It's over, these man-eating devils will kill us all!"

Pomory Legion, Pomory Legion

Her tears kept flowing, her nose was red from crying, and the flesh on her face trembled.

It is all the fault of the Treaty of Versailles! Qin Tian secretly cursed, no longer paying attention to his seemingly mad inquiries, but instead stared blankly at Aunt Santa, feeling somewhat at a loss.

Qin Tian listened in silence, knowing the difficulty of the human nature issues that Karen's earnest reminders hinted at. She understood, she comprehended, and thus felt even more bitter.

Everyone in Eisenhower knows that Catherine has a crush on Karen. They must have already said their goodbyes. Just by looking at Catherine's expression, one can tell that the confession did not go well, but this is perhaps the best outcome.

The sound of alarms, unknown calls, and the broadcasts of patrolling military police, along with distant noises that resemble explosions... It could also simply be the sounds made by the national defense forces

In modern times, a name she had only superficially understood has, in the past, become a spiritual symbol for the people around her. With German troops at the gates and Poland on the brink of annihilation, all language has become futile; only Chopin's music can express their emotions

The situation is becoming increasingly severe day by day, with hardly any information that brings relief.

Karen turned around and embraced Qin Tian, then spoke in a tone reminiscent of an aria: "To sacrifice or to merely survive, that is the question"

This instilled fear in all Poles, who could not comprehend when Germany had such a deep-seated enmity with them, yet understood that regardless of any grievances, encountering the German army meant certain death for them

During this period, Qin Tian remained completely silent; she did not know what to say and was unwilling to say anything, simply waiting quietly.

Qin Tian suddenly felt an impulse to cry, overwhelmed by the weight and solemnity of history. She grasped Catherine's hand earnestly and said: "Catherine, really, you must not worry. Have you ever thought about it? Poland is so small, caught between two great powers, yet despite all the rebellions and wars it has endured, it has never become German or Russian. Why is that? Think of Karen, think of Aunt Santa; she has suffered more than you, yet remains so strong... Poland is so small, caught between two great powers, yet despite all the rebellions and wars it has endured, it has never become German or Russian. Why is that? Think of Karen, think of Aunt Santa; she has suffered more than you, yet remains so strong... Do not underestimate Poland, do not underestimate the Polish people; this nation is incredibly resilient!"

Modern children, when mentioning Chopin, are likely to bring up Jay Chou, and when discussing musicians, they most often refer to Beethoven and Mozart. The trend of Chopin in mainland China was initiated by Jay Chou, quickly reaching a climax, and then gradually subsiding, leaving only faint traces.

The so-called basement is actually a transformed air raid shelter, along with diagrams and books

She is unwilling to wander alone in this terrifying era for the sake of so-called absolute safety; this is a war that spans the entire world. If one cannot escape, then for a glimmer of hope, let us face the battle!

A product of the First World War, it is very sturdy and provides a strong sense of security. Although it is cramped, the warm yellow light makes it feel inviting. Surrounding it are shelves filled with various supplies, wrapped in oil paper and contained in small boxes, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of Noah's Ark

She opened her small suitcase, inside which lay quietly arranged bread and snacks—food and daily necessities she had saved through various means. Thinking of the long years ahead, she felt that these items were merely a drop in the bucket.

What? Qin Tian opened her eyes wide, "Doesn't that mean, doesn't that..."

Are there any survivors? Are there any captives?

Occasionally, two pedestrians would sneak into the hotel lobby, or two injured individuals grazed by shrapnel would be brought in by Santo and his companions. Although Qin Tian and Catherine were not yet adept at handling such situations, they had gained some experience in dealing with minor injuries.

Sang Aito observed the situation, sighed, and gently patted Qin Tian's shoulder, saying, "Comfort Aunt Sangta well. I will call someone to prepare some dinner"

Catherine's eyes were red, and she pulled Qin Tian to sit down, sobbing: "Tian, what should we do..."

Turning around, she found herself with only five employees who had nowhere to go, among whom only one, Catherine, was familiar to her, as Catherine was part of the room service team and a key player in the nighttime gossip forum

Catherine several times could not help but want to go, but was firmly held back by Qin Tian. She could not stop her brother and Karen from serving their country, nor could she restrain the youthful fervor. However, Catherine, being a Swiss citizen from a neutral country, should not be drawn into this bloody turmoil. While love on the battlefield is certainly romantic, if it is to be paved with blood, then it is not beautiful at all

Qin Tian looked down from the attic at the flyers swirling in the air below, holding in her hand the one she had just received, which bore the stark black letters on white paper: War!

They all have registered quantities; if one day the government requisitions them, even the loss of a single piece of bread could cost them their lives

"I don't know, I really don't know, but I heard that the cavalry brigade ran into the German tank units. Do you think... is that possible?" After saying this, Saneto still seemed puzzled, "How can tanks form a unit? Why is the German offensive so fast? Without horses, how do they move? Is it all vehicles? Where do they get so many vehicles, so much money? What about the Treaty of Versailles? What about the Treaty of Versailles? Is it all vehicles? Where do they get so many vehicles, so much money? What about the Treaty of Versailles? What about the Treaty of Versailles?"

The sound of knocking echoed a few times. Qin Tian sat on the bed, looking at the door, and suddenly recalled the shortest science fiction story he had ever read: After the extinction of humanity, he sat at home when, suddenly, there came a knock at the door

Three days later, it was another difficult and cold day. Catherine was leaning against Qin Tian, half awake and half asleep, when suddenly Aunt Santa slowly walked over to the fireplace, sat down, and stared blankly at the flames.

One need not look at the text to know that the Blitzkrieg has begun

Qin Tian gently reassured, "It's alright, it's alright, you won't die. Germans don't eat people."

Aunt Santa trembled violently all over, and then she hugged Catherine tightly, sobbing, "Carl, my poor child..."

Karen

In the evening, Qin Tian, who was dozing off by the warm fireplace in the air raid shelter, was suddenly awakened by a commotion. Aunt Santa rushed in, her face flushed and her neck thick, and exclaimed in anger: "These damned! Cursed and hell-bound bastards!"

September 1, 1939

What?

The situation changes day by day, with bad news arriving each day. From the broadcasts and the creeping silence on the streets, one can sense the approach of war. In just a few days, it has put immense strain on people's nerves. Qin Tian has woken up several times with cold hands and feet. She cannot recall what she dreamed about, but it is nothing more than the scenes of gunfire and rivers of blood and mountains of corpses depicted in movies

The two girls stood there in a daze for a while, suddenly realizing what they were seeing. They quickly stepped forward, one on the left and the other on the right, embracing Aunt Santa and asking, "What happened, Aunt? Is something wrong?"

Aunt Santa's son, Carl, is at the front lines. She is so anxious that she wishes she could grow wings and fly to the front to protect her son in her embrace. The news of the war comes in fits and starts; the first two days are particularly agonizing. It is reported that the German army's offensive is extremely fierce, and they are attacking from the north and south, clearly well-prepared. Although the Polish government has always had countermeasures against German attacks, they stand no chance against the ferocious mechanized troops.

It seems that the only benefit of knowing history is to possess a bit more calmness than others amidst greater confusion and unease. Since Qin Tian got up in the morning, she had not thought of seeking out anyone else, and even after the knock on the door sounded, she remained in a daze.

It seems that several other international students have also decided to return to their hometowns. On this day, everyone remained silent, listening to the intermittent broadcast from outside

Qin Tian trembled her lips, unable to say anything. In the end, she could only step forward, grasp Karen's hand, and softly say: "Be careful"

Catherine understood Qin Tian's difficulties. Although she could not comprehend why Qin Tian did not return to France, she did not wish to interfere further and could only nod silently

Qin Tian suddenly recalled a statement made by her teacher, which she had listened to carelessly at the time, but now it emerged clearly in her mind: Chopin does not need Poland; it is Poland that needs Chopin, whether in the past, present, or future

As Karen went downstairs, she kept reminding, "Tian, I saw that you have stored food in your suitcase. Keep it hidden and don't let anyone see it. The hotel has a rich supply, but it will definitely be allocated for other purposes, so the food allocated to you may be quite scarce for a long time in the future—make sure not to take out your own food, trust me."

I could only watch blankly as Catherine comforted Aunt Santa

There are no more people on the street, and even without sufficient air raid shelters, the continuous sound of artillery will awaken the last remnants of human potential, prompting the search for a refuge

Qin Tian felt that this joke was not funny at all. Her mind was in a state of confusion, and she did not know what to think. She could only ask softly, "Do you know what it means to go to war... it means death, bullets will pierce you, shells will deafen you, and then, then..."

The entire kitchen knows that she saves and hoards supplies, but hiding them is not that easy

Aunt Santa's home has no one else; she will come over to take care of everyone's living and dietary needs. For your safety, please try not to go outside, regardless of the situation outside. You will be very safe in the air raid shelter. Karen spoke softly; with the manager absent, he was the leader of all the staff, and it was likely that he had been entrusted by the manager to arrange matters.