Not enough Japanese devils to kill? 1.4 billion people volunteer for the Battle of Shanghai.

On the edge of a cliff...

Zhou Zhenhai and Lao Han were locked in a fierce and evenly matched fight.

The two had already fought countless rounds.

Fists and kicks flew.

You attack, I defend.

Nobody benefited.

No one revealed any flaws.

Zhou Zhenhai's fist slammed down.

Old Han blocked it and then swung his elbow back.

Old Han's knee came crashing down.

Zhou Zhenhai dodged to the side and then swept his leg towards Lao Han's shin.

The two men were breathing heavily, like broken bellows.

Sweat streamed down his face, dripping onto the rocks and evaporating instantly.

A bloody mark appeared on Zhou Zhenhai's cheek; it was unclear when it had appeared.

Old Han's lip was also cut, and blood seeped out. He licked it with his tongue and rolled it into his mouth.

But no one stopped.

No one backed down.

Just at this time.

Old Han turned his head to the side.

He saw it.

They saw Sun Dazhuang jump down.

Upon seeing that familiar figure, he leaped off the edge of the cliff.

I saw him trace an arc in the air.

I saw him smiling as he fell.

I saw Lei Xiong kneeling on the edge of the cliff, his hands supporting him on the ground, roaring loudly.

The roar could be heard from dozens of meters away.

Torn.

hoarse.

Old Han was stunned for a moment.

then.

He smiled.

He laughed very loudly.

"Ha ha ha ha--!!!"

The laughter echoed on the mountaintop.

Zhou Zhenhai was stunned by the shock and stopped his attack.

Old Han withdrew his fist.

Take a step back.

Stand still.

He stood very straight.

He's even straighter than when we were fighting.

He looked at Zhou Zhenhai.

Looking at this young navy man he had been fighting with for half a day.

Looking at this young face.

Looking at those bloodshot yet still sharp eyes.

He spoke.

Hoarseness.

But every word is very clear:

"Navy kid."

"You're good."

"That's fucking good."

Zhou Zhenhai was panting.

His chest heaved violently, like a bellows.

Sweat dripped from my forehead and stung my eyes.

But he did not let his guard down.

He stared at Old Han.

He stared at the veteran who had been fighting for a long time without a clear winner.

"You're not bad either," he said.

Old Han nodded.

Then, he said something that Zhou Zhenhai never expected:

"Alright."

"Sun Dazhuang jumped down himself."

"I don't want to fight anymore, I admit defeat."

"Go ahead and throw it."

This time, it was Zhou Zhenhai's turn to be stunned.

He stood there, as if someone had acupunctured him.

He looked at Old Han.

Looking at this person who had just been fighting to the death with him.

Looking at that little smile on his face.

That laugh was strange.

It's not the frustration of admitting defeat.

Not the frustration of failure.

It was a very calm, very composed, and very proud laugh.

"You..." He opened his mouth.

Old Han waved his hand:

"Stop talking nonsense."

"When I said I'd admit defeat, I meant it."

"Weren't you going to throw me down?"

"Come."

Zhou Zhenhai slowly stood up.

The movements are very slow.

But it's very stable.

He stretched his aching shoulders and walked over to Lao Han.

Reach out.

Old Han grabbed his hand and used it to stand up.

The two people were standing face to face.

They were less than a meter apart.

Zhou Zhenhai looked into Lao Han's eyes.

Those eyes were very calm.

It was as calm as a bottomless pool of water.

"Old Han, you really want me to throw it away?"

Old Han nodded.

Ordered with complete composure and without hesitation:

"I keep my word."

"You win, throw it."

Zhou Zhenhai remained silent for three seconds.

In those three seconds, he thought of many things.

I miss Zheng Dahe.

I think of that Shandong man who slid down from above and paved the way for him with his body.

I remember his last words: "Old Zhou, stop dawdling."

Thinking of stones.

I think of that young soldier who rushed forward to block the bullets.

I remember the slight smile that lingered on his lips as he fell into Lei Xiong's arms.

Thinking of those brothers who fell on the way.

His eyes felt hot.

But he held back.

Then he smiled.

In his smile.

I understand.

There is respect.

There was something inexplicable, like a mutual appreciation.

"I won't throw it away," he said.

Old Han was also stunned.

This time it was his turn to be stunned.

He didn't expect Zhou Zhenhai to say that.

After all, Zhou Zhenhai really wanted to throw him during the fight.

but now……

"Why?" he asked.

Zhou Zhenhai turned around.

We walked to the edge of the cliff.

Stand there.

Looking down into that abyss.

Looking at the spot where Sun Dazhuang fell.

The wind blew up from below, whistling and lifting the hem of his clothes.

"My brothers are down here."

"I can't throw people down in front of them."

"So they won't say I'm a sore loser."

He turned his head.

Looking at Lao Han.

"and--"

He spoke each word clearly:

"You're a good soldier."

"A good soldier shouldn't be thrown down."

Old Han looked at him.

Looked for a long time.

long time.

Those eyes, which were initially calm, gradually became somewhat moist.

"You navy kid."

他 说:

"That really means it."

Old Han turned around.

They returned to the defending troops' camp.

Every step was slow.

But he walked very steadily.

It's as stable as a moving mountain.

Go halfway.

He stopped.

Stand there.

He had his back to everyone.

And those on the mountaintop, whether they were the garrison troops or the army and navy climbing the rocks, were all watching him.

I have no idea what he's up to.

Three seconds later.

Old Han suddenly raised his right hand.

Slowly clench your fist.

That hand was very big.

It was covered with calluses.

The finger joints are large and the bones are clearly defined.

Those were hands that had held a gun for twenty years.

At this moment, it slowly lifted up.

Raise it to chest level.

Then--

He slammed his fist into his left chest.

"Thump—!!!"

The sound was deep and powerful.

Like beating a drum.

Like taking an oath.

picture--

A soldier's tribute to another soldier.

Old Han did not turn around.

He just stood there.

With the hand that struck his chest.

Slowly lift it up.

Pointing to the sky.

Pointing in that direction—

The direction in 1937.

That place they all wanted to go.

that--

A direction that remains burning hot despite the passage of eighty-eight years.

Then he spoke.

The sound wasn't loud.

But every word is like a nail.

Nailed to the mountaintop.

It is etched into everyone's heart.

"Zhou Zhenhai".

"This punch I threw was for your brothers."

"In place of Zheng Dahe."

"For all—"

He paused.

Word by word:

"The brother who fell on the way."

Zhou Zhenhai's eyes suddenly turned red.

It was as red as hot iron.

But he didn't cry.

He just stood there.

Looking at Lao Han's back.

Look at that hand pointing to the sky.

Look at that—

A person who lets his fists do the talking.

Then, he also raised his right hand.

Make a fist.

That hand was also covered in calluses.

Both were hands that had fought for ten years.

Similarly—

The hands that fought alongside those brothers.

At this moment, it is raised.

He slammed his fist into his left chest.

"Thump—!!!"

The same sound.

The same force.

Old Han heard the muffled sound.

But he didn't turn around.

Just keep moving forward.

They marched towards the defending troops' camp.

He walked toward his brothers who were sitting on the ground.

Heading towards those—

His soldiers were still watching him.

At this time,

A young garrison soldier nearby quickly came over.

He was a new recruit in his early twenties.

His face still looked childish.

His eyes were full of curiosity.

He also had a wound on his face—from a stray bullet.

But he couldn't care less about the pain.

He simply leaned closer and asked in a low voice:

"Squad leader, what did you mean by that punch you just threw?"

Old Han glanced at him.

Looked for a long time.

Looking at this young face.

Look at these shoes—

Eyes that know nothing.

Then he spoke.

The sound was very soft:

You'll understand later.

The young garrison soldier was stunned.

He opened his mouth, as if to ask another question.

But Lao Han didn't give him a chance...