The War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression Begins in Songhu

Chapter 459 Team Formation: 43 People (Two-in-One Chapter)

...It's a pity! As a grown man, I've never truly lived up to the idea that 'war keeps women away'.

In my previous time travels, I have seen too many women in the prime of their lives die in war, either gloriously or silently.

Of course, the statement that "war should keep women away" is not because I look down on my female compatriots; nor do I believe that they are useless on the battlefield or are a burden.

It's just a traditional male perspective that makes him feel they deserve more care and protection.

How lucky! Or perhaps I've always been proud of this: at least in previous treks, my companions and I were able to make things a little easier for the children we encountered.

They didn't have to pick up weapons at such a young age to fight against the beast-like Japanese devils; they could continue to live.

For example, during that crossing of the battlefield in southern Guangxi.

Zhou Yaozu, that half-grown boy, never participated in frontline combat according to our plan, yet he survived.

His grandmother, mother, and younger brother must have been overjoyed to see him return home alive.

But this time I realized we were wrong, very wrong.

First, we made a mistake by overestimating our abilities. In some special circumstances, even if my partners and I tried our best, we still felt so helpless and powerless.

In the end, all you can see are tragedies happening right before your eyes.

Secondly, the mistake was that in such a war concerning the survival of the nation, no Chinese son or daughter could stand aside, even if they were just children...

...Excerpt from Hu Biao's diary collection "Hu Shuo"...

Sure enough! After lowering his arm in salute, the boy's voice began to echo across the ancient Great Wall.

Presumably because he was still going through puberty, his voice sounded rather hoarse, but it reached the ears of everyone present.

Especially for Hu Biao and other time travelers, it was incredibly shocking.

He spoke solemnly, like a little adult: "Thank you, Captain Hu, and everyone from the Northern Jiangsu Independent Regiment."

We appreciate your kindness, but we, as members of the Party, do not believe in divine will. We believe that no matter how difficult the task assigned by our superiors is, we will complete it even if only one person remains.

Since the superiors used words like "must" and "at all costs" in the order, we must carry it out as long as we are still alive.

"Captain Hu, you should try to break out on your own. The seriously wounded can stay behind; we'll take care of them."

Upon hearing the boy's words, Hu Biao knew that he might have misunderstood something, thinking that they were treating the wounded as a burden.

That's not actually the case at all. Their plan to entrust the seriously wounded to the villagers was based on the premise that the villagers' current safety could be guaranteed.

They are now hiding in caves or tunnels to avoid being discovered by the Japanese.

It's not like throwing away trash, where you can just get rid of it as long as you can.

Before Hu Biao could even speak, a sharp, furious voice rang out in everyone's ears: "What are you going to do to complete the mission? With all of you, the wounded and the weak?"
Putting everything else aside, the burden of these seriously wounded soldiers alone would prevent you from even reaching the mission location.

The voice sounded somewhat unfamiliar. Hu Biao and the others turned around and saw that it was actually Xiao Ding, a newcomer who had just transmigrated this time.

After a moment or two of stunned silence, everyone finally understood Xiao Ding's emotions and why he was so agitated; it must be a mixture of disappointment, worry, fear, and anger.

Disappointment and worry! Just when we saw hope of breaking through and being able to put down the burden of the seriously wounded, another unexpected event occurred.

There was a concern that veterans like Hu Biao might, in a moment of impulsiveness, abandon the breakout attempt and continue with that mission.

Fear and anger! When facing an unknown person, one feels an instinctive fear, or even becomes angry because of it.

In short, it's understandable that a newcomer who has just transmigrated would have the above reactions.

When they first traveled through time, they also had all sorts of worries and fears.

However, despite their understanding, Hu Biao and the others still felt a bit uncomfortable about Xiao Ding's strong reaction, thinking it was a bit excessive.

There were just more important things to do at the moment, so it wasn't appropriate to make a scene.

What's more important? Naturally, it's persuading these kids to give up their plans to follow the 7th Company on a mission.

After receiving a subtle hint from Hu Biao, Annie forced a friendly smile and asked the boy and the other children:
"Brave young Eighth Route Army soldiers, how old are you this year, and how should we address you?"

“I’m 16 this year, from the 3rd Battalion of the 9th Regiment. Everyone calls me a veteran because I joined the army in 33, so I’ve been a veteran for seven years.”

The boy carrying the Hanyang rifle spoke casually.

This single answer was enough to shock Hu Biao and his men; the boy before them was actually a young Red Army soldier who had climbed snow-capped mountains and traversed grasslands.

However, the real shocks are only just beginning.

After the veteran began, the weary-looking figures who had been squatting there like helpless little animals stepped forward and began to introduce themselves.

"Everyone calls me Fifteen because I am 15 years old this year. I am also from the 3rd Battalion of the 9th Regiment. This time, I was separated from the Japanese soldiers along with the veterans."

This is the second oldest child in the group, and his cotton shoes are badly worn out.

The big toe of his left foot was sticking out; he wasn't wearing a sock, and it was so dark that you couldn't tell the flesh color anymore.

“I’m 12 years old this year. I used to be in the Anti-Japanese War Drama Troupe, but I was transferred to the hospital during the war. Everyone called me the Cultural Troupe.”

This was a pretty young girl who spoke with great poise; a leather belt was tied around her slender waist, and a hand grenade with a wooden handle was stuck in the belt.

“My name is Xie Liang, his name is Ma Fei, and this is Zhu Xiu. The three of us are from the district's directly subordinate team, and we are all 13 years old.”

The three boys stepped forward, and one of them, who was a little more mischievous, began to introduce himself.

After listening to their introduction, Mr. Nanze couldn't help but take out a cigarette and light it; the action of smoking half of it in one puff showed the intensity of his emotions.

Because when his son was 11 years old, he looked taller than his three 13-year-old sons.

The root cause of all this is not that the Nan family has particularly strong genes, but simply that these children are severely malnourished, which is why they appear so thin and small.

Comparing yourself to others can really be infuriating.

"Everyone calls me Xiaohao, and I'm 12 years old this year." This is a boy with a small bugle hanging from his waist, introducing himself with a shy smile.

The trumpet was polished until it shone brightly, showing that the child cherished it very much.

Besides the small bag, he also had a small backpack slung across his waist, the contents of which were unknown.

“My name is Cao’er, and I am seven years old. I am in a prison; a prison means that my mother leaves me at a villager’s house and will come to pick me up tomorrow.”

This is the youngest girl; her voice is timid, like that of a frightened fawn.

Hearing this evokes a sudden pang of heartache in those who hear it.

As soon as she finished speaking, another boy quickly stood up and introduced himself: "I was also imprisoned. My dad said he would come to pick me up after this battle."

I'm ten years old this year... ten and a half, you can just call me ten and a half.

Ten and a half years old looks quite pitiful, but at this moment, Hu Biao and the others' attention was entirely focused on Cao'er.

It was only at this point that they realized the little girl seemed to be blind; as she walked, her little hands stretched out forward, groping around habitually.

That careful, cautious movement made one's heart ache even more.

The person who felt most sorry for her was not Annie and Xiao Cui, or the three female students, but AT, a white-collar worker.

No other reason than that! What he and his wife wanted most was a daughter, a sweet little girl, but they ended up having a son.

AT has thought more than once that if she had a daughter, she would treat her very well and spoil her like a princess.

The little grass in front of him was so well-behaved and beautiful, it could be said that it completely fulfilled AT's beautiful fantasy of a little cotton-padded jacket, but the result was so pitiful, which made his old father's heart very sad.

He quickly asked, "Cao'er! Tell Uncle, what's wrong with your eyes? Do they hurt?"

When he asked that question, he didn't even realize that his voice was trembling.

In contrast to the uncontrollable tremor in AT's voice, Cao'er's voice was so calm, it could even be described as very optimistic:
"Uncle, don't worry, I was injured by a poison gas bomb."

"It's alright, it only hurts when you first can't see; the veteran said that as long as you get to the hospital, your eyes can be cured." Faced with Cao'er's childlike words, everyone couldn't help but look at Xiao Cui, and AT's eyes were even full of pleading.

There was no other way! Although they didn't have much medical knowledge, they knew that medical technology was relatively backward in this era, and the damage to the eyes caused by chemicals was likely to be even more difficult to treat.

Especially during such a chaotic time of war, it would be very difficult for Cao'er's eyes to be cured.

Even so, they still looked to Xiao Cui, a professional, hoping to hear some more optimistic news from her.

However, even during her recent two-month break, Xiao Cui has been learning as much medical knowledge as possible.

But before, she was just a nurse. How much could she learn in just two months? Besides, they only had some commonly used medicines on hand, which was like a skilled cook trying to cook without rice.

There was absolutely nothing that could be done about the grass's eyes.

For a moment, she hated herself so much, hating herself for choosing to study nursing instead of clinical medicine or ophthalmology.

Seeing Xiao Cui's expression, everyone knew that their last glimmer of hope had been shattered.

However, after speaking, AT still gave Cao'er a definite answer: "Yes! As long as you go to the hospital, Cao'er's eyes can be completely cured."

Upon hearing this answer, Cao'er smiled, her smile pure and innocent, like the clear sky of this era, almost untouched by industrial pollution.

But AT, a veteran who had never cried in countless battles, couldn't help but tear up...

******
Amidst Cao'er's pure smile, Xiaobing spoke softly, in a voice only a few, including Hu Biao, nearby could hear:

"Fifteen and I were separated by the Japanese soldiers. When we passed through a village, we found that all the villagers had been killed by the Japanese poison gas bombs."

Only the grass survived being hidden in the firewood pile, but its eyes were irritated by the smoke.

Upon hearing this explanation, Hu Biao and the others finally understood why the veteran had stood up and opposed their proposed arrangements.

It turns out that during this large-scale mopping-up operation by the Japanese, it wasn't just the comrades in the base areas who faced considerable hardship.

As the saying goes, "When the nest is overturned, no egg remains intact," and the villagers are also facing immense hardship; entrusting the seriously wounded to them is simply too dangerous.

His suggestion was indeed completely unreliable.

Just as Hu Biao and his group were feeling somewhat guilty, an even more shocking scene unfolded.

The veteran saluted Hu Biao and the others again, and then the nine children, except for Cao'er, the remaining eight, including the ten-and-a-half-year-old, all joined in.

Two people in a group, with great difficulty and effort, lifted a stretcher and began to walk unsteadily; it seemed as if they were going to follow the second platoon leader, Fang Youcai, to complete the mission for the 7th Company.

But for some reason, Fang Youcai didn't object to this outrageous approach.

He called to the other two wounded soldiers, using his rifle to support his body, and prepared to set off.

At that moment, Van Gogh became extremely angry. If the other man hadn't been seriously injured, he would have loved to give him a good beating.

Even without physically hitting him, he still yelled at the top of his lungs:

"Fang Youcai, are you fucking crazy? They're just kids, and you're going to take them to their deaths? Don't you have any conscience?"

“But they are the children of the Eighth Route Army, and the Japanese won’t treat them like children either,” Fang Youcai roared back.

His voice was filled with sorrow, proving that he had endured immense pressure and pain when he made this decision.

When the phrase "They are the children of the Eighth Route Army" reached the ears of veterans, ten-and-a-half-year-olds, and others, they tried their best to straighten their timid appearance.

Fang Youcai's answer left the group of time travelers feeling utterly powerless, and they all turned to look at Hu Biao, the damned bastard.

Among them are veterans like AT, Van Gogh, and Huang Adi, who have traversed the world many times.

Naturally, everyone knows one thing clearly: in such a terrible era, facing the cruel threat of national subjugation and genocide, no Chinese descendant can remain uninvolved, not even a child.

Knowing is one thing, but actually seeing a group of children preparing to go to the battlefield is quite another.
They couldn't accept it either and wanted to do something about it.

They knew that with their limited manpower and numerous burdens, they probably wouldn't be able to accomplish anything even if they wanted to.

I was caught in a dilemma, unsure of what to do, and felt extremely frustrated.

They could only look to Hu Biao, hoping that the actual person in charge of this time-traveling team could make a decision as soon as possible.

Whatever the decision, let them have a quick end to avoid this torment.

If even seasoned veterans reacted this way, the shock felt by the six newcomers must have been even greater; it gave them a direct understanding of the hardships faced by their compatriots and predecessors in this era.

This is precisely why their thoughts about Hu Biao became particularly complicated.

For example, Lao Che, the former commander of the PLA's old Type 59 tank, now had all sorts of thoughts surging in his mind, which were basically two different voices, each clamoring wildly.

A voice was shouting: Let them go, don't get involved in their affairs.

The reason for this thinking is that, although Old Che now runs a self-service mahjong parlor in the modern world, well, you can't make big money from it, but he makes a lot of small money.

At least his business is doing well, and his monthly income is much better than that of a regular office worker, so he lives a comfortable life.

He didn't want to die here at all; he wanted to go back alive to the modern world where he had a wife and children.

He still harbors strong doubts about Hu Biao and others' claims that even those who are seriously injured or even killed in battle can perfectly recover and be resurrected in the modern world, and has no intention of taking any risks.

Modern people are known for their high level of vigilance.

Another voice was shouting: Stop them! Stop them now! We can't just watch them go to their deaths!

Not for any other reason than so that I won't feel guilty when I think about this in the future, so that I won't be woken up by nightmares at night, and so that I can sleep peacefully.

To ensure that he, a former PLA soldier, could live up to the expectations of his predecessors.

Even the four progressive young people, including Song Jie (one man and three women), now had conflicted expressions on their faces; they wanted to go with the 7th Company, but they were worried that they would become a burden.

Finally, under everyone's watchful eyes, Hu Biao shouted out:
"Stop right there, all of you. Get a good night's rest and leave tomorrow morning. We'll go together then; we're all fighting the Japanese anyway, so it doesn't matter where we fight."

Upon hearing this, Fang Youcai stopped in his tracks.

He could naturally understand Hu Biao and the others' good intentions, and he couldn't refuse such kindness. Filled with gratitude, he wanted to say something to express his thanks.

All the words that were on the tip of his tongue were ultimately condensed into a standard military salute.

Upon seeing this, the veteran, the fifteen-year-old, the ten-and-a-half-year-old, the bugler, the cultural troupe, and other children, after putting down the stretcher, along with several wounded soldiers from the Seventh Company, also saluted.

After deciding to export, Hu Biao and his group all breathed a long sigh of relief.

After the other party saluted, they all solemnly returned a military salute in unison.

With the exchange of military salutes between the two sides, an agreement that seemed to be reached by fate was reached, and a mission team was officially formed.

However, the composition of this team is rather complicated.

The team has 43 people in total, which seems like quite a lot.

However, all seven men in the 7th Company were wounded, including four seriously wounded who needed to be carried, so their overall combat effectiveness was very limited.

There were four progressive young men, but three of the girls were clearly from wealthy families.

Their spirit of giving up a comfortable life to join our party and fight the Japanese is admirable, but in terms of combat effectiveness at present, we should not have any expectations.

There were nine children, the youngest of whom, Cao'er, was only seven years old and had been blinded by Japanese poison gas.

There were 23 transmigrators, the largest number of transmigrators in history, but there were six newcomers, including a suspected fugitive, a effeminate man, and a foot massage technician.

The only truly reliable fighting force consisted of Hu Biao and his 17 veterans.

So when Hu Biao made the decision to set off together for the mission the next day, these veterans were mentally prepared for what would be very difficult.

Even so, the difficulties that followed far exceeded their expectations...

(End of this chapter)