The condensed water droplets under the raincloth hit the copper ladle that had long since lost its charcoal fire, making a series of soft noises.
"Click"
Another drop of water accidentally hit Wei Ran's eyelids, successfully waking him up.
Wei Ran squinted at the bright morning sun outside the tent. Sitting on the bamboo hat with his back against the bamboo basket, Wei Ran yawned. He turned to look at Nurse Ji, who was still lying on the bamboo basket, and Nurse Ji, who was also leaning against the bamboo basket.
The little lama and Li Zhuang.
Fortunately, the three of them were breathing very evenly, which made him somewhat relieved.
He took out the kettle filled with boiling water last night from his arms. He stood up carefully and looked at the wooden sticks poking at the other side of the bamboo basket to fix it.
.
He didn't know when the rain stopped last night. He only remembered that before the last firewood burned out, the four of them dried the water stains on their feet and first applied spores from horse manure packets to the wounds.
Then it was covered with horse oil.
After that, everyone held a kettle filled with boiling water, and soon fell asleep one after another.
Perhaps it was the herbs cooked by the little lama, or perhaps it was the kettle in his arms. Wei Ran was sweating all over last night, but he slept extremely comfortably.
He squinted his eyes and looked at the rising sun, which was already more than a punch above the horizon, and then subconsciously looked in the direction he was going.
Nearby, there is a vast expanse of meadows and swamps, but at the end of the field of vision, the ground surface seems to be slightly undulating.
only...
Wei Ran glanced at the comrades in the tent. He was not sure how Nurse Ji was recovering, and he was even less sure how far they could walk today.
Looking around, wherever he looked, he saw nothing of value except for the sporadic wooden sticks that served as road signs.
After a while, there was movement in the tent.
"Are you awake?"
Wei Ran squatted at the door of the tent and said with a smile, "It's a sunny day today, Nurse Ji, how do you feel?"
Hearing this, Nurse Ji, who had already sat up with the help of the little lama and Li Zhuang, touched her forehead and said, "The fever seems to have gone away, but I don't have much strength."
After saying this, Nurse Ji coughed.
“I’ll have some strength later if I eat some dried meat!”
As Li Zhuang spoke, he had already found the lunch box, took out eight pieces of dried meat from it and said, "We can't survive today. Each of us has two pieces to eat open!"
Li Zhuang's heroic appearance immediately made everyone smile. Nurse Ji took the piece of dried meat that belonged to her and put one into her coat pocket. Then she looked at the little lama and asked, "Little lama, last night
What did you feed me? Why is it so bitter?"
After she finished speaking, Li Zhuang immediately picked up the half of the herb left last night and shook it towards the little lama.
"Juna"
The little lama immediately replied in Zang language, "It's Zhuna, Zhuna!".
Pearl what is that?
Wei Ran and others looked at each other in confusion. Nurse Ji took half of the herb in Li Zhuang's hand and looked at it. Then she shook her head and said regretfully, "I don't know him either. I have never studied Chinese medicine."
"No matter what it is, the taste of this thing is really special." Li Zhuang smacked his lips, "It's bitter, spicy and makes your nose tick."
“Really special”
Wei Ran took the dried meat that belonged to him and took a big bite. Then he turned on the kettle and drank a large amount of water.
“As long as it works”
Li Zhuang said, returned the remaining half of the herbs to the little lama, took a bite of the dried meat, "Eat quickly, and set off as soon as you finish eating, and try to take advantage of the good weather to walk some distance."
"Is your body okay?" Wei Ran asked Li Zhuang.
"What can I do?" Li Zhuang, whose nose was still running clear, patted his chest and looked at the little lama again.
Fortunately, the little lama's face was quite rosy and he didn't look like anything was wrong.
But Nurse Ji...
Wei Ran and Li Zhuang looked at each other and got out of the tent on the excuse that it was too small.
"Nurse Ji probably doesn't have the strength to walk."
Li Zhuang said while observing the surrounding situation, "But this is not suitable for resting, and we don't have time to rest."
"What are you going to do?" Wei Ran asked in a low voice while chewing the dried meat.
"Wait a minute, I want the little lama to carry the pole."
Li Zhuang thought for a while and said, "You carry Nurse Ji and walk behind. Just say when you are tired and we will take turns."
"I have no opinion"
Wei Ran said cheerfully, there is no such thing as who suffers and who takes advantage. Although the person walking in front does not have to carry anything, he still runs the risk of being swallowed by the mire at any time.
"Then it's settled"
"As long as Nurse Ji has no objection," Wei Ran reminded.
"I will convince her," Li Zhuang said confidently.
After the conversation reached this point, the two of them also finished eating the dried meat in their hands. Li Zhuang also turned around and got into the tent, and informed Nurse Ji of the results of his discussion with Wei Ran.
"I disagree!"
Nurse Ji immediately said, "You're carrying me on your back. Just keep walking. Don't worry about me. I'll stay and rest. I can walk out on my own."
"My job is to get you all out."
Li Zhuang said seriously, "Nurse Ji, there are many soldiers outside waiting for you to treat injuries and save lives. It doesn't matter if you are willing to sacrifice yourself, but do you want to look at the soldiers outside in the grass waiting to die for lack of medical treatment?"
"I..."
"Comrade instructor taught you medical skills, and he definitely hopes that you can use them to treat illnesses and save lives."
Wei Ran looked at Nurse Ji and said, "There is no value in dying here. Going out alive to save more people will not live up to the sacrifices of Comrade Wang Zhen and Comrade Zhao Wanya."
"Then I'll walk by myself. I can walk by myself." Nurse Ji insisted.
"If you don't tell us, you'll slow us down."
Wei Ran said before Li Zhuang could speak, "If you have an accident on the road and don't get out alive, it won't make much sense even if we get out alive."
"Then it's settled!"
Li Zhuang made the decision before Nurse Ji spoke, "Come on, pack your things, we're leaving now!"
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! Without giving Nurse Ji a chance to speak, Wei Ran and Li Zhuang started working.
This time, because he wanted the little lama to help carry the load, Li Zhuang deliberately put all the heavier weapons into the bamboo basket originally carried by Nurse Ji and carried it himself.
Similarly, Wei Ran, who was responsible for carrying Nurse Ji, also deliberately took out his camera and hung it around his neck.
In this way, the little lama only needs to carry pots and pans, raincloth blankets, and things belonging to Monitor Liu and Nurse Ji.
After some preparation, Li Zhuang stepped forward and shouted loudly, "Cooking class, roll call! Li Zhuang! Yes! Ji Chunlan!"
"Yes!" Nurse Ji, who was already lying on Wei Ran's back and tied with leggings, mustered up the strength to respond as loudly as possible.
“Jianpa Kelsang!”
"have!"
While the little lama responded, he first put a small piece of herbal medicine that was about the size of the knuckle of his little finger to Nurse Ji's mouth for her to eat, and then picked up the shoulder pole assigned to him.
"Wei Ran!"
"Yes!" Wei Ran, who was carrying Nurse Ji on his back, responded and put the bamboo hat on Nurse Ji's head.
"Let's go!" Li Zhuang gave the order, then bit off a piece of dried meat and chewed it.
"Yes" the three of them gave a unanimous response and took steps forward. However, this time, Wei Ran, who was carrying Nurse Ji on his back, walked at the end of the team.
However, after walking less than 50 meters, the swamp had already submerged everyone's knees.
We continued walking forward for less than 50 meters, and the water level was almost close to my hips.
"Wei Ran, quickly... let the little lama stop."
Nurse Ji, who was lying on Wei Ran's back, said anxiously, "The things in my bag must not... not get wet. The little lama's burden is... almost soaked in the water."
"Monitor Li, little lama!" Wei Ran immediately called out to the two people in front of him.
"What's wrong?" Li Zhuang, who was walking at the front, immediately turned around and asked.
"Nurse Ji is worried that her medicine jars and Monitor Liu's things will get soaked in water," Wei Ran explained.
“This is easy to say”
Li Zhuang signaled the little lama to stand up straight, found Nurse Ji's satchel from the basket, and then dug out several pieces of horsehide rope left over from making leather sandals.
While Li Zhuang was busy working, the medicine bottle containing the horse manure bag and the glass medicine bottle belonging to Squad Leader Liu were tied together with a leather rope and firmly tied to the iron hook at one end of the pole.
Then, he dug out a pair of squad leader Liu's remaining iron-legged horses, buckled them on Nurse Liu's copper lunch box, and tied them tightly with leather ropes as well. Together with the German lunch box filled with dried meat,
It was tied to the iron hook on the other side of the pole.
This was not over yet, he then took out the oil lamp and the kerosene pot and put them in the bamboo basket he was carrying.
"Now you can rest assured." Li Zhuang turned around and showed a big smile to Nurse Ji, "It will definitely not get wet, and you can see it at any time."
Hearing this, Nurse Ji nodded feebly and silently chewed the unpleasant-tasting herb in her mouth.
"I can pick it up," the little lama muttered to himself in Zang language.
"The little lama is about to cry," Wei Ran joked with a smile, "Why don't you give him some more things."
"That's fine!"
Li Zhuang smiled, took out two anti-Japanese swords from the bamboo basket behind him and put them into the basket carried by the little lama. Suddenly, the little lama had a smile on his face again.
Taking steps again, everyone moved forward, but the quagmire became deeper and deeper, making every step extremely difficult.
Fortunately, just when the water surface was about to hit the things hanging on the pole hooks, the water level finally began to gradually drop.
When the stinky mud could no longer submerge his knees, Wei Ran could clearly feel Nurse Ji lying on his back breathing a sigh of relief and falling into a deep sleep.
This is the scene painted in the metal book...
Wei Ran glanced at the back of the little lama in front of him, and couldn't help but secretly think about who was carrying Nurse Ji on his back in the time and space without him, and who was carrying the burden in front of him.
Looking down at the camera hanging around his neck, Wei Ran did not waste the last film - he promised Zhang Erwa that he would take another picture when he walked out of the grass.
But...can I go out?
Wei Ran looked ahead at the end of the field of vision. There was nothing there except meadows and shimmering mud. The environment here was really not much different from hell.
The mud under their feet was freezing cold, but the sun above their heads was particularly dazzling, and the strong ultraviolet rays made their exposed skin turn red.
He touched Nurse Ji's forehead with his hand, and the hot temperature made him more desperate.
Wei Ran bent down and dug up a lump of mud, and smeared it on his arms, cheeks, and neck. Then he dug out another lump of mud and carefully smeared it on Nurse Ji's forehead, face, neck, and calves.
The mud can not only help her cool down, but most importantly, it can block swarms of mosquitoes.
After walking like this for more than two hours, watching the sun rise to its highest point, Li Zhuang at the front finally chose to stop and rest for a while on a meadow.
Carefully, Nurse Ji sat on the bamboo hat against the bamboo basket, and the three of them immediately used wooden sticks to prop up the oilcloth to block the scorching sun.
"How is Nurse Ji's condition?" Li Zhuang asked in a low voice.
"The fever started again"
Wei Ran said worriedly that the only thing he could do was to wet a leggings and tie it on Nurse Ji's forehead to help her cool down.
The little lama once again took out the piece of herb he dug up last night, broke off a few roots and put them into Nurse Ji's mouth - this was also the only thing he could do.
"eat something"
Li Zhuang took off the lunch box from the pole hook, opened it, took out a few dried meat sticks, and gave one to each person.
“Leave immediately after eating”
Li Zhuang bit into the dried meat in his hand and said, "I'll carry Nurse Ji on my back later, and you can explore the way ahead."
"good"
Wei Ran responded and ate the dried meat he was assigned as quickly as possible. He also gave Nurse Ji a few mouthfuls of water that was hot from the sun, and immediately carried heavy weapons and oil lamps on his back.
Bamboo baskets with other items.
Setting out again, the little lama carrying the pole was still walking in the middle. Wei Ran finally took on the task of exploring the road for the first time, and at the same time put away the heavy camera around his neck.
Although you can always see road signs that serve as wooden sticks along the way, from time to time, the wooden stick in his hand can still detect the bottomless mire.
As time passed by, the sun above our heads gradually set to the west, and the temperature finally dropped. Even the mosquitoes had no idea where to hide due to the lower and lower temperature.
As a gust of cold wind blew, Wei Ran couldn't help but shiver. He stopped temporarily and fastened the cloth rope buckle of his thatched vest.
"Don't stop"
Li Zhuang, who was walking at the end, carrying Nurse Ji on his back, said, "Keep going forward, and light the lamp when you can't see anymore."
"good"
Wei Ran responded but did not set off in a hurry. Instead, he took off the blanket that had been in the sun all day from the pole carried by the young lama and put it on Nurse Ji.
"Each person should eat another piece of dried meat," Li Zhuang said while grabbing the edge of the blanket.
Upon hearing this, Wei Ran immediately opened the lunch box, took out three sticks of dried meat, stuffed one stick into the little lama's mouth, and stuffed another stick into Li Zhuang's mouth.
As for Nurse Ji, she is no longer conscious. How can she find the strength to eat...
Without wasting any more time, Wei Ran pulled out the wooden stick stuck in the mud, chewed the dried meat, and took steps forward.
On the seemingly endless grassland, a group of people left a winding track composed of stirred black mud in the last ray of sunset.
When the sun set on the horizon and the tracks became blurry, the gas burning stopped again, and with the help of the little lama, the oil lamp was lit.
After driving all night for the past few days, there was only enough kerosene in the oil can to be refilled for the last time. That might also be their last chance to get out of the grassland.
Fortunately, he noticed before the sun set. Not far ahead, there was a place where the terrain seemed to be slightly higher. However, it would probably take at least an hour or two to get there.
.
"Rumble--"
This thief obviously didn't want them to find a resting place so easily. Almost at the same time that the oil lamp was lit, a thunder light connected the sky and the earth lit up in the distance.
"Walk faster!" Li Zhuang, who was walking at the end, urged anxiously, and Wei Ran also immediately quickened his pace.
"Wow——"
In less than five minutes, the heavy rain finally came down in full force.
Adjusting the brightness of the oil lamp to the maximum, Wei Ran untied the leggings wrapped around his waist and threw them to the little lama behind him.
After taking the rope, the little lama also untied the rope around his waist and threw it to Li Zhuang behind him.
When did this come to a head...
Wei Ran grasped the rope of the bamboo hat tightly and squinted his eyes to look at the rain curtain that was lit by lightning from time to time. He could not help but feel a wave of despair in his heart, with no end in sight.
He could no longer remember how many days he had walked, nor how far he had gone, nor how many days he would have to walk, or how far he would have to go. The only thing he knew clearly was that the general direction was correct.
Let's go...
Wei Ran took a trembling step, took out the kettle, pulled off the cup, and stretched it out of the bamboo hat. While receiving the cold and abundant rain, he took the second and third steps.
"Gudu, Gudu, Gudu..."
Wei Ran drank more than half of the glass of ice-cold water, stretched the cup forward again, and took the fourth, fifth, and sixth steps at the same time.
Step after step, meadow after meadow, mud next to mud. Gradually, Wei Ran felt his body getting colder and colder, and his steps getting heavier and heavier.
Fortunately, the rope tied to his belt was still being pulled by the person behind him.
Fortunately, they were getting closer and closer to the high ground, and the muddy water under their feet became shallower and shallower.
Fortunately, the oil lamp is still burning.
Fortunately, everyone finally walked to the high ground on this cold and rainy night.
"Nurse Ji..."
Wei Ran threw away the bamboo basket, walked to Li Zhuang, who was also fiddling, and reached out to touch Nurse Ji's forehead.
The hot temperature wherever his palm touched made him sigh in relief. Fortunately, Nurse Ji was still alive anyway.
"Take...take...plop!"
Before Li Zhuang finished speaking, he knelt down weakly on the ground, then lay in Wei Ran's arms, and then threw him to the ground.
"It'll be ready soon..."
Wei Ran climbed up with difficulty with the help of the little lama. The two of them unfolded the tarpaulin with difficulty and set up a low tent to protect them from wind and rain.
After removing Nurse Ji from Li Zhuang, Wei Ran and the little lama worked together to drag her and Li Zhuang into the tent one by one.
"Make a fire, we need to make a fire!" the little lama shouted anxiously in Zang language.
"Make a fire! Yes! Make a fire!"
Wei Ran responded in Chinese that the other party could not understand, and at the same time he took out the contents of the three bamboo baskets one by one.
Drawing out his anti-Japanese sword, Wei Ran chopped open the three bamboo baskets one by one without even thinking about it.
Seeing this, the little lama quickly took out a kettle and other items and placed them outside the tent to collect water. Then he took out the half piece of "zhuna" from his arms, chopped it up with a knife along with the two dried meats, and threw them away.
Put it in a cup filled with water and get it ready.
Amidst the sound of the rainstorm, Wei Ran chopped the three bamboo baskets and his own bamboo hat into pieces and strips. Then he dug out the simple candles he made with horse oil and rags, and used a kerosene lamp to burn them.
It ignites.
After blowing out the kerosene lamp, Wei Ran took out the oil can, poured the last bit of kerosene into the oil storage tank of the kerosene lamp, and then smashed the coarse porcelain oil can with a big knife.
The moment he put the horse oil candle close to it, the last trace of kerosene attached to the oil pot fragments was easily ignited, and Wei Ran immediately covered all the soaked bamboo slices on top.
Before the smoke rose, he poured the melted horse oil in the enamel jar on top.
Suddenly, the smoke became more intense and had a pungent smell.
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! "Whew!"
At a certain moment, the steaming thick smoke was ignited, and the small tent was finally illuminated by the dancing firelight.
Without pausing or cheering, the little lama immediately placed the prepared cups, enamel jars, kettles, etc. on the edge of the bonfire.
Wei Ran also picked up the anti-Japanese sword again, cut off the hooks on both sides of the pole, and then split all the poles, even the two shoe straps they used to make straw sandals, he used them as firewood.
He clearly knew that at this moment, they had no choice but to save themselves by drinking poison to quench their thirst - because everyone was cold and had a high fever.
"We might all die here"
The young lama said in Zang language, but there was no anxiety or despair in his young voice. Instead, he sounded extraordinarily calm.
"Yes, we may all die here."
Wei Ran repeated a sentence in Chinese, and at the same time without any delay, he found the tattered blanket that was originally used to pitch the tent, propped it up with wooden sticks, and blocked the leaky tent opening.
"I do not regret"
The little lama continued to talk to himself in Zang language, "I don't regret chasing you, even if I have to die here."
"I don't regret it either," Wei Ran murmured to himself, "even if I have to die here."
"I haven't shot a gun yet."
As he spoke, the little lama took out the unloaded cannon from his waist, aimed it at the small bonfire, and said to himself in Zang language, "Before I die, I want to try firing a shot, but I still can't."
I don't know how to use a gun.
Singing monks often say that King Gesar does not like people who kill.
But if killing more lives is necessary to save more Ram, then I am willing to shoot and kill.
Even if...
Even if I shoot at King Gesar, I am willing to do so!"
Wei Ran was startled when he heard this, and sat down holding the bamboo basket. After rummaging for a while, he found a magazine of bullets in Nurse Ji's satchel.
These bullets were found by Wei Ran from the body of the Red Army soldier after the little lama found the box gun.
"I'll teach you"
Wei Ran sat unsteadily by the campfire, took the box gun from the little lama's hand, taught him how to press the bullet, how to open and adjust the speed and safety, and how to load the bullet.
"If you want to aim, you need to have three points and one line."
Wei Ran said, pointing to his eyes, then pointing to the rear sight and front sight, drawing a straight line, then pointing outside, and making a "pop" sound from his mouth.
This little lama who dared to kill gods for his Ram nodded ignorantly, took the pistol from Wei Ran, and allowed him to teach himself how to hold the pistol grip, but also prevented him from putting his finger on the trigger.
Actions.
Taking off the almost worn-out fur shoes from his feet, Wei Ran hung them on the tattered blanket blocking the entrance of the tent, and then loaded a bullet into the little lama's pistol.
"Aim for it"
Wei Ran said, pointing to the little lama's eyes, and then to the rear sight and front sight of the box gun, and then patiently taught him how to raise the gun and correct his posture. Finally, he opened the safety and gently moved the little lama's index finger.
On to the trigger.
"Shoot"
Wei Ran said, tapping the little lama's finger lightly.
"boom!"
Amidst the crisp sound of gunfire, a slightly rusty bullet shell fell at his feet. The little lama also let out a cry of surprise in the steaming smoke. Even the fur shoes that belonged to Weifan were also destroyed.
The bullet easily drilled a hole and came out.
"I can shoot!"
The little lama excitedly chanted in Zang language, "I am also a Red Army soldier, and I am also... I am also..."
Before the little lama could finish his words, he also slumped to one side and was supported by Wei Ran, so that he did not fall into the bonfire.
Wei Ran tried the little lama's breath with fear, and Wei Ran breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately... he was still alive.
Gently putting the little lama down and letting him lie down, Wei Ran bit the tip of his tongue hard to stay awake and patiently maintained the bonfire.
Fortunately, before he burned the last bamboo hat, the wooden handles of the two anti-Japanese broadswords, and even the thatched vest on his body, the water in the surrounding kettles was finally boiled.
First, he put a kettle wrapped in rags into each person's arms for them to hold and keep warm. Then Wei Ran took out four small enamel bowls and poured out the herbal jerky soup that had been boiling in the cups.
, fed into the mouths of the three of them one by one.
After taking one last sip of his share, the bonfire was completely burned out, not even a single spark was left.
At this point, only the candles made of horse oil and the oil lamp were still emitting light and warmth in the tent.
Holding back the dizziness and weakness, Wei Ran first dragged Nurse Ji to the place where the bonfire was lit before and let her sit on the still warm charcoal ashes. Then he dragged Li Zhuang and the little lama over to share
The last bit of warmth.
"I won't let you die, you must get out alive."
Wei Ran muttered as if he was nervous, while stuffing the three people's mouths with boiled meat cubes, as well as the herb "Zhu Na" mixed in, and then poured a few mouthfuls of hot water into their mouths.
The food and herbs inside are swallowed into the stomach.
Immediately afterwards, he tried his best to wring out the other two blankets and wrapped them around the three people, and then his vision went dark and he lost consciousness.
"You...must survive..." Wei Ran prayed devoutly before falling into coma.
