Bright Sword: I built Italian cannons for Li Yunlong

The soldiers began quickly clearing the battlefield and rescuing the wounded.

Kong Jie carried a large knife, his face covered in dirt and blood.

He first kicked Zhang Dabiao hard, his voice filled with suppressed anger.

"Zhang Dabiao, I ordered you to escort Advisor Zhou back to the Independent Regiment. Have you lost your mind? You actually dared to bring him to the battlefield! If something happens, can you afford the responsibility?"

Zhang Dabiao wore a bitter expression, thinking, "You're all officials higher than me. Even if I wanted to stop you, I wouldn't be able to!"

Just as he was about to explain, Zhou Zhen preemptively took over the conversation.

"Commander Kong, please don't blame Battalion Commander Zhang for this." Zhou Zhen wiped the soot off his face and explained, "I insisted on coming myself."

Kong Jie gave a wry smile: "Advisor Zhou, why are you doing this? You saw how dangerous the battlefield was just now. If something were to happen to you, how would we explain it to the brigade commander?"

"Commander Kong, my life is my life, but your life and the lives of your comrades are not."

"Don't overestimate my abilities. Our nation has never lacked outstanding people. Even without me, Zhou Zhen, you will still be able to drive out the Japanese in the future."

"If I, Zhou Zhen, hide at the first sign of danger and dare not go to the rescue when my comrades are in danger, do you think such a deserter can really bring a future to the revolutionary cause?"

"Since I've chosen to engage in revolution, I've already disregarded life and death."

Kong Jie gave Zhou Zhen a deep look, said nothing, but patted Zhou Zhen's shoulder hard.

it is more than words.

"Evacuate immediately, and take the villagers who can still walk with you!" Kong Jie ordered.

The battlefield was quickly cleared, and the bodies of the soldiers and villagers were placed together.

Kong Jie and Zhang Dabiao led the team to prepare for departure, while Zhou Zhen stayed behind at the back.

The remaining Molotov cocktails ignited the firewood near the body, and the entire yard burst into flames.

There seemed to be someone shouting and cursing in the flames, but everyone seemed to be deaf to it.

Purgatory burns evil spirits, while righteousness returns to the human world.

"Tiger, I've avenged you."

"Fellow villagers and comrades, the road to the underworld is long, and I, Zhou Zhen, haven't had time to prepare any offerings. I only have these few Japanese devils to give you on your journey to vent your anger."

On the way back, the group became even more silent.

Fewer than twenty villagers were rescued, most of them looking dazed, and the children's sobs were muffled and faint. The soldiers helped them along, moving forward silently.

Zhou Zhen walked in the ranks, looking back at Yangshugou one last time. The firelight had already dyed the sky a dark red, and the swirling wind blew the flames high, as if bidding a final farewell to the comrades who were continuing their journey.

The Independent Regiment's base.

Li Yunlong paced back and forth under the old locust tree at the village entrance, his hands behind his back. Zhao Gang stood to the side, his brows furrowed, glancing occasionally at the winding mountain road.

"They should have been back by now." Li Yunlong stopped in his tracks. "Given the troop deployment in Wanjia Town, Old Kong shouldn't have been delayed this long."

"How about I lead a company to provide backup?" Zhao Gang suggested.

"If anyone's going, it'll be me. You stay in the regiment..." Li Yunlong said.

Before he finished speaking, the sentry ran down the ridge, shouting excitedly, "Commander, Political Commissar, they're back! Deputy Commander Kong and the others are back! A long line of cavalry!"

Li Yunlong's eyes lit up, and he looked in the direction the sentry pointed, his face immediately lighting up with a smile.

However, once the team was fully in sight, it was discovered that although the team had returned, the atmosphere was somewhat off.

Along the way, there was no commotion of a victorious return, only the dull sound of horses' hooves and weary footsteps.

Many soldiers had makeshift bandages wrapped around their bodies.

Li Yunlong's heart skipped a beat, and he strode forward to greet him: "Old Kong! What happened? How did you get into this state?"

"Where's Lao Zhou? Where's Lao Zhou?"

He suddenly thought of something, and a sense of panic washed over him. He quickly searched the queue with his eyes.

"Here? Old Li, I'm fine, don't worry."

Zhou Zhen emerged from the group caring for the wounded.

After carefully examining him and confirming that he was not injured, Li Yunlong finally felt relieved.

"What happened? Those few traitors from Wanjia Town, you went and got them all in such a mess..."

Kong Jie raised his bloodshot eyes and glanced at Li Yunlong.

His voice was hoarse and dry: "We'll talk about it when we get back."

Zhao Gang also stepped forward quickly, his gaze sweeping over the wounded, his expression instantly turning extremely serious.

He took a deep breath and quickly began to make arrangements: "Medic, quickly send all the wounded to the wounded battalion for treatment. Those with minor injuries should rest first. Cooks, prepare hot water and food."

The crowd busied themselves, finally easing the previous oppressive atmosphere.

After the staff settled down to rest, Li Yunlong finally had time to take stock of the day's gains.

The scene that comes into view is truly magnificent.

Hundreds of tall horses carried large and small packages of supplies.

The harvest was several times greater than expected.

Even Li Yunlong, who had seen many storms, could not hide his excitement at this moment.

He circled the horse team once, then slapped a Japanese horse on the back.

"Damn it, did you wipe out Wanjia Town entirely? So many horses, and machine guns too."

"Haha, I'm fucking rich now! I've lived half my life and never been this wealthy."

"With these warhorses, our Independent Regiment can also build its own cavalry battalion."

Kong Jie didn't reply, but just smoked his pipe to himself.

Zhou Zhen walked up to Li Yunlong and whispered, "Old Li, there are some things I need to discuss with you and the political commissar."

In the regimental headquarters, Kong Jie and Zhou Zhen recounted in detail their encounter with the Japanese army after Wanjia Town and the bloody battle at Yangshugou.

When Li Yunlong heard about the atrocities committed by the Japanese soldiers in the village, the veins on his forehead bulged.

His fist slammed onto the simple wooden table with a dull thud.

"Damn these bastards, one day I'll make these beasts pay for their crimes in blood."

Zhao Gang's face was also ashen, and his fingers were clenched so tightly they cracked.

However, he was much calmer than Li Yunlong. After his anger subsided, he began to care about the casualties of his soldiers.

"Twenty-seven comrades were killed, eleven were seriously wounded, and more than thirty were slightly wounded."

After Kong Jie announced the numbers, the entire room fell silent instantly.

The initial joy of reaping a large amount of spoils was completely washed away by the heavy casualties.

"You did the right thing," Zhao Gang said first, his voice low but firm.

"If our Eighth Route Army retreats in the face of the people's suffering, then we are not worthy of wearing this uniform and are not worthy of being called the people's army."

"Comrades, it is an honor to sacrifice yourself to protect the people. Although they have sacrificed their lives, they will live forever in our hearts and the hearts of our fellow villagers."