Chapter 79: Need to Replenish Ammunition

  Dong Li Mao roared, like a wild wolf, holding a submachine gun and charging towards the Japanese army on the hillside. The rest of the soldiers, except for the two machine guns, followed him in a charge down towards the Japanese army.

  Elizabeth Terry stood behind a tree root, watching Dong Li Mao and others push the Japanese army back step by step, looking stunned.

  Zhang Dalì happened to be at this time, with his machine gun a class rushed up the hilltop, he shouted loudly: "Company Commander! Come back quickly!"

  Dong Li Mao heard Zhang Da Li's loud shout from behind, as if he had woken up from a trance-like state. He immediately stopped and shouted to the soldiers on both sides: "All of you retreat! Don't charge forward anymore!"

  Under the cover of Zhang Dal's machine gun squad, Dong Li Mao and his brothers retreated almost to the middle of the mountain, the Japanese devils feared the firepower of the machine guns on the top of the hill was too strong, and did not dare to follow up.

  "Company Commander, you and the brothers retreat first, I'll take care of this place," said Zhang Dalì.

  "No, let's go together and retreat in an orderly manner!" Dong Li Mao said, walking to Zhu Yongsheng's body, embracing the still warm corpse with both hands, glancing at Elizabeth Terry: "Follow me quickly!" He strode rapidly towards the outside of the forest.

  Elizabeth Terry closely followed behind Dong Li Mao, a squad of soldiers also withdrew, then another squad, and finally Zhang Da Li's machine gun squad. The three squads, with each squad as the combat unit, retreated in a staggered covering manner, firing while withdrawing, one echelon covering another, withdrawing to the outside of the forest in an orderly and coordinated way, this was a kind of withdrawal formation trained in peacetime.

  After leaving the forest, a squad led by Kou Hao was responsible for blocking, and all personnel in the forest retreated towards the British defense line.

  Wang Jiagui finally saw Dong Limao carrying Zhu Yongsheng's body out of the forest, he saw that Zhu Yongsheng had already lost his breath in Dong Limao's arms, and two tears fell from his eyes. Then he aimed his gun at a Japanese commander who was chasing after them and shot him through the head with one bullet. The rest of the snipers seemed to understand what they should do at this time, and one by one, they shot down the Japanese devils who were chasing in front.

  Gu Hao and his men did not engage in a fierce battle after Dong Li Mao and the others retreated from the forest. They began to withdraw one by one, and he waved at Wang Jia Gui and the others, indicating that they should also start withdrawing.

  Wang Jiagui knocked down two more Japanese soldiers and then picked up his gun and ran downstairs.

  The two machine gun squads that were fighting the Japanese army on the front line also slowly retreated to the British defensive position, Zhao Yong and his two squads also withdrew into the defense line, and the British took over the task of blocking the Japanese attack.

  The rescue mission that Dong Li Mao said would be over in half an hour ended up taking more than 40 minutes to safely withdraw due to unexpected circumstances in the mountain forest. Fortunately, except for Zhu Yongsheng's sacrifice, only a dozen or so soldiers were injured, and the special operations company did not suffer significant combat casualties.

  Dong Li Mao held Zhu Yong Sheng's corpse, which was covered in wounds, and walked slowly back to the temporary quarters of the special task force.

  Hu San saw Zhu Yongsheng in Dong Limao's arms, his legs softened, and he pulled off the military cap on his head, knelt on the ground and wailed: "Zhu Squad Leader..." The brothers of the original Ninth Company, after Zhu Yongsheng took over as deputy commander of the Special Operations Company, still didn't change their mouths, and always called Zhu Yongsheng "Zhu Squad Leader".

  "Older brother, the younger brothers have all returned, can you rest assured now? Walk safely, I will avenge you!" Dong Li Mao muttered to himself, placing Zhu Yong Sheng on the table where they were originally going to eat, and with his hand, he gently closed Zhu's still open eyes.

  All the warriors who owned the Special Forces Brigade surrounded Zhu Yongsheng's body, lowered their heads, took off their steel helmets and mourned him in silence.

  The news reporters who were rescued from the church by the special agents were busy taking pictures of everything with their cameras, and Elizabeth Terry was also quietly pressing the shutter on her camera. A Chinese soldier had died for international news reporters and missionaries, which in itself was a big news story, and she wanted to tell this to her compatriots and anti-fascist people all over the world. Her eyes were blurred by tears, but the lens of her camera took clear shot after shot of precious footage.

  Several missionaries made the sign of the cross on their chests, and a priest held up the Bible as they walked to Zhu Yongsheng's body, performing the last rites for him. Then all the Christians, including some Christian journalists, sang hymns to bid farewell to this Chinese soldier who had died for them.

  Zhu Yongsheng's sacrifice made everyone lose their appetite, although Pan Guangzu and Hu San had prepared a sumptuous lunch, not a single soldier could eat it. Dong Limao personally buried Zhu Yongsheng on the spot.

  In the afternoon, a deputy officer and interpreter from the British Division Headquarters found Dong Limao.

  "The superior is very grateful to you for rescuing everyone in the church. He has already sent a telegram to General Du Yuming, expressing his appreciation for your heroic actions. At the same time, with General Du Yuming's consent, after tonight's breakout battle begins, you will be responsible for ensuring the safe transfer of journalists and missionaries. After the breakout, please escort these people to the Fifth Army's garrison."

  Dong Li Mao listened to the translation and asked in confusion: "Why do we need to go to the Fifth Army's garrison? Shouldn't they be sent directly to the Sino-Burmese border for safety? Otherwise, in a few days, the Japanese army will cut off the expeditionary force's retreat route. At that time, the Fifth Army itself will be hard-pressed, how can we guarantee their safety?"

  Tell the words inside the translation to that British deputy officer.

  "How is this possible, the Japanese army wants to cut off the expeditionary force's retreat route, unless they fall from the sky, how can they possibly cross over a thousand kilometers of primitive forest along the Thai-Burmese border to reach the rear of the expeditionary force?! This is absolutely impossible!" The British deputy officer would never believe Dong Li Mao's words.

  "Hum! A bunch of incompetent fools who only talk on paper! If the little devils weren't so capable, how could your well-equipped British First Division be surrounded by the Japanese army here?" Dong Li Mao glared at the British deputy officer.

  The translator was in a dilemma, unsure whether or not to translate Dong Li Mao's words for the deputy officer.

  "What did he just say?" the British deputy officer asked the translator.

  "Oh, he said he's willing to accept the instructor's orders."

  After the deputy officer and translator left, Pan Guangzu walked up and whispered: "Company Commander, I've made a preliminary count just now. Our ammunition is almost used up. What to do?"

  Dong Li Mao looked at Pan Guang Zu, smiling: "You're the quartermaster, you must have a way, right? We not only need to replenish our ammunition, but also need several military vehicles. It would be best if we could get some tanks from the British armored regiment. That way, even without the new 38th Division, we can break out of the encirclement on our own."

  "This...this is the British army, not the National Army, you want me to go and seize it?" Pan Guangzu said with difficulty.

  "I'm telling you, Fatty, as a quartermaster, you're not just for show. The food, clothing and supplies of over a hundred people are all under your management. Make good use of that fat brain of yours! I don't care if you're embezzling or stealing, what I need is ammunition and military vehicles!" Dong Li Mao patted Pan Guang Zu's back of the head and said.

  "Sneak?" Pan Guangzu rubbed the back of his head, as if inspired by Dong Li Mao's words: "Hehe... I know what to do now, Lian Chang, just wait and see, I'll make sure to get you the equipment you need, but you have to give me a few men."

  "And also, don't forget to bring some British canned goods and whatnot." Dong Limao reminded him one last time.

  "This doesn't need to be said, I'm the best at finding food, no one can compare with me." Pan Guangzu laughed and shouted as he led a dozen or so people who could drive away.