When the Japanese army's intensive covering bombardment ended, there was no sound on the front line. There was no one left standing. The entire position was covered with stumps and broken arms, just like after losing their owners. The broken weapons and equipment, including a Type 96 light machine gun that had just been refitted by the 11th Division, were even thrown dozens of meters away by the artillery fire.
He watched helplessly as the distance of less than 300 meters became a place of life and death. His close comrade-in-arms disappeared without a trace in front of his eyes. If it weren't for the quick eyesight and quick hands of the correspondent beside him, he would have rushed to him. Qi Zhibiao's eyes were red as he walked out and he shouted: "I'll fuck your ancestors, you little devils, Lao Guo, and my brothers."
The company commander who followed him withdrew and his eyes were also reddened by the scene before him turned to Qi Zhibiao with a ferocious face and shouted: "Batalion Commander, what are you waiting for? We can't let the instructors and the others die in vain like this." Okay, let’s fight these inhumane little devils now, and we must avenge the instructor and brothers.”
After the words of the company commander fell, the soldiers next to him also said in a hurry: "Battal Commander, the company commander is right, we have to avenge the instructor and brothers, let's fight, battalion commander, fight to avenge the instructor, Even if we fight for two, we can still earn one. Even if we fight all, it will be worthwhile as long as we can avenge the instructors and the others."
Listening to the excited words of the soldiers, Qi Zhibiao calmed down at this time. The first-line position was lost. The loss of the second-line position that he was currently holding would mean the collapse of the entire Jinshagang right-wing position. Now there is only one reinforced battalion left. With such a small number of people, what if all the positions were lost on impulse?
Putting down the gun in his hand, Qi Zhibiao issued an order: "Count the ammunition and give all the ammunition to those who are good at marksmanship. Smash all the remaining weapons without ammunition. The two heavy machine guns without bullets were also dismantled and thrown away. The walkie-talkie crew burned all the code books and blew up all the others except for one walkie-talkie that was used to communicate with the regiment headquarters.
"Remember me, use grenades to blow them up. None of these walkie-talkies will fall into the hands of the little Japs. The others are prepared to defend the second line to welcome the Japs' next attack."
At this point, he waved his hand to stop the first company commander from speaking and said: "Comrades, the front line is lost. This is the last line of defense on the right wing of the entire Jinshagang front line. It doesn't matter if we use up all of them, but the position cannot be lost. We must avenge the instructors and them." At this time, comrades, please carry out your orders."
When the company commander heard his order, he was silent for a while without saying anything. He took out his own speed machine that had been empty of bullets, and was about to throw a stone at it. The walkie-talkie next to Qi Zhibiao The soldier suddenly handed the microphone and earphone in his hand to Qi Zhibiao and said: "Battal Commander, the regiment commander has an order, saying that there is a new task for us."
When Qi Zhibiao heard the order from the regiment headquarters, he was a little confused. He only strengthened the battalion and fought for most of the company. The ammunition was also completely consumed. He didn't know how long he could hold the second-line position. , it’s not that the regiment headquarters cannot see the battle situation here. The regiment headquarters has given itself a new task at this time. What do the regiment commander and political commissar think?
After taking over the microphone and earphones, Qi Zhibiao, who was still not angry at first, his eyes widened the more he listened, with an incredulous expression on his face. He stuttered for a long time and said: "Captain, we have been bombed by Japanese planes in the past, but now. I am very familiar with air defense drills, but I am really bad at indicating targets to aircraft."
"There is also this stall. Where can I go to find Baibu? We are going to the battlefield and we have not thought about being prisoners. Who can bring that thing with us? No, Captain, are you thinking about this decision? When will we There are planes, don't be fooled by the Japanese planes."
The regiment leader over there was very dissatisfied with his attitude, and his tone was very tough. Qi Zhibiao put down the microphone helplessly, scratched his head and said to the few remaining cadres around him: "I'll tell you something. Good news, we now have planes, and our planes will arrive soon to bomb the Japanese troops in front of us to cover our operations. But the problem now is that the regiment leader asked us to spread white cloth to form an arrow to indicate the target for the aviation force. Everyone I want to go there and get some white cloth."
Looking at his subordinates who all shook their heads, Qi Zhibiao shook his head and said: "You guys, let one of you charge and fight against the other two. It's so hard for you to use your brains. Use your brains and think about it carefully. If this is the instructor If you are still there, why bother with my head? We are at a fucking war, and we are not ready to surrender at all times. Whoever is fine would bring a white cloth and some cardboard to guide the plane. I have never learned this fucking thing. .”
Seeing that the battalion commander really had no choice, a platoon leader behind him hesitated and said: "Battal Commander, I have an idea. Look, our shirts are all white. Even though they are made of homespun cloth, they are not all white. Well, let’s take off all our shirts, shape them like an arrow, and point the arrow in the direction of the Japanese army, and that’s it.”
The words of the platoon leader reminded Qi Zhibiao. He quickly took off his military uniform jacket, without even bothering to unbutton it. He pulled off his shirt and said, "Yang Jicai is still your kid. After all, you are a scholar. This My head spins very fast."
"Everyone, don't be stunned. Quickly take off all your shirts. Hurry up. The plane is much faster than our two legs. We will be here soon. In the past, there was nothing you could do if you were bombed by the Japanese. Now if you are bombed, A bomb from one of our own is really more unfair than Dou E's."
After the soldiers hurriedly took off their shirts with blood on them, they arrogantly arranged them into a big arrow. After doing all this, Qi Zhibiao breathed a sigh of relief and then faced the platoon member who had just spoken. The commander said: "Yang Jicai, you are a graduate of the teaching regiment of the headquarters and know artillery. In a moment, you will report the target on the opposite side to the regiment headquarters according to the parameters of the artillery. The instructors sent by the aviation force are now at the regiment command post. They will work with them. Airplane contact in the sky.”
Having said this, Qi Zhibiao took out the last cigarette from his military uniform jacket and lit it, then took a deep breath and said: "Comrades, in addition to this matter, the regiment leader just said that he would wait for the aviation force to clear the Japanese artillery positions. After it is destroyed, the regiment will bring up a reserve force to take over our place, and we will be asked to withdraw to the north bank of the Qixing River to receive additional troops."
"But I don't want to leave. Two-thirds of the people in our battalion have stayed here forever. We haven't killed all the little Japanese on the opposite side with our own hands and avenged them, so I don't want to leave. Now I want everyone to say Tell us, should we withdraw and replenish according to the regimental commander's order, or should we stay here to avenge the instructor. I won't force everyone. After all, there are orders from superiors, and those who want to leave are obeying orders and are not deserters."
"Those who are willing to stay with me will immediately launch a counterattack against the Japanese after receiving the ammunition sent by the regiment headquarters to take back all the positions we lost. Those who are not willing to stay will wait until the Japanese artillery is captured. After our aviation force suppressed it, we immediately withdrew, which also left some seeds for our battalion."
The first company commander put the pistol that was about to be smashed back into the holster, and put on his military uniform and said: "What did the battalion commander say? The instructor's body is not cold over there, and we just retreated in despair. Could it be that the instructor's body is still alive?" We will not avenge you, battalion commander, you don’t need to say anything, we will all stay and follow you to avenge the instructor."
Qi Zhibiao patted him on the shoulder and said: "You kid, please give me some advice. This matter is not about executing orders from superiors. No discounts are allowed. I am asking for opinions. Do you understand? Your personal opinions cannot represent everyone." People, let comrades express their own opinions."
"You kid thinks I don't know you. Don't look at it. I'm not in the same army as you. But your kid gets diarrhea without fighting and gets nervous when fighting. I've known it for a long time. You kid is not afraid of fighting, but I'm afraid that the battle will be too small and not enough. When the gun goes off, you will be more energetic than anyone else."
"You kid, haven't you caused enough trouble? We are soldiers of the same age. Your kid joined the army a month earlier than me. I am now the battalion commander. If it hadn't been for the expansion of the army, you would still be your Platoon leader, why don’t you use your brain? Let me tell you, no one can force you on this matter. I will implement military democracy today.”
The first company commander who was beaten by him did not dare to speak anymore, but none of the soldiers who were red-eyed at the instructor's sacrifice objected to their company commander's words. They all said: "Batalion Commander, we are not leaving. The instructor's revenge has not yet been avenged. If we leave in such a dejected manner, are we deserters?"
When the soldiers finished speaking, the first company commander who had not dared to refute Qi Zhibiao before was a little complacent, but Yang Jicai, who had just proposed a solution to the problem, had some different opinions and said: "Batalion Commander, I think we should implement the regiment's The first of our three major disciplines and the first of the eight points of attention is to obey the command for all orders. We are soldiers, not guerrillas fighting independently. We must obey the orders of our superiors."
"Second, comrades crossed the Qixing River yesterday evening, rushed to the front line of Jinshaggang at a rapid march, and built fortifications all night long. After contacting the enemy in the early morning, due to the enemy's artillery fire blockade, they can't even eat even now. I haven’t eaten, my eyes haven’t been closed for a while, and my comrades are all extremely tired. Battalion Commander, you must at least let your comrades take a breath and fill their bellies.”
"The most important thing is the battalion commander. Think about it, besides us, who else is more familiar with the situation here than us, whether it is the enemy situation or the terrain, especially since the little Japanese is less than three hundred meters away from us. Every move we make is under the nose of the Japanese, but why did our superiors ask us to take over the defense at this time and immediately return to the north bank of the Qixing River to take over the new troops?"
"Theoretically, it's not impossible to replenish the troops. But according to our current situation, we can just transfer them to two companies and that's it. But why do we have to be transferred to the back to take over the new troops? Do you think it's the superiors?
There are really new important tasks entrusted to us.”