Accompanied by the low and solemn lights-out signal, the six soldiers standing next to the coffin simultaneously raised the flag covering the coffin with their white-gloved hands, and then gently closed the flags along the center line. The soldiers followed the standard
To fold the flag, stand on both sides of the coffin with six hands intersecting, and gently fold the flag into a triangle shape.
The flags folded into a triangle were folded by the leading corporal's arms, clasped in front of his chest, and he slowly walked towards a skinny old man and a young woman holding a child standing nearby.
This white-haired old man with dark complexion and wrinkled face looked at the corporal walking towards him and his lips moved slightly, as if he wanted to say something, but could not.
The corporal stood in front of him and said slowly in a low tone: "This flag is dedicated to you in the name of a grateful country and the Liantai County Militia! It is used to thank your son for his glorious and loyal service to the country.
For his respectable service, I would like to use this flag to express the gratitude of the entire country and the Liantai Militia to him."
The corporal in a straight uniform held the flag and bent down towards the old father.
His voice was also trembling a little as he spoke, as if he was remembering Pao Ze who fought with him in a bloody battle of life and death at Qixia Pass a few days ago, so that the hands holding the flag were trembling a little.
The old man stretched out his hands tremblingly and touched the flag made of silk and satin, as if seeing his son's honest smile, he could no longer hold back his tears.
Behind him, the infant child suddenly burst into tears, causing the mother who was holding back her tears to burst into tears.
Gao Hongming's farewell method was based on the methods of later generations of the Americans. Even though the Americans were not good in every way, they still did a pretty good job in this regard. This method was very effective in gathering the will and sense of honor of the army.
This time, there were more than 260 soldiers and officers killed in the Liantai Militia. Gao Hongming sent someone to ask their families for their opinions in advance. The vast majority agreed that their relatives should be buried in this cemetery. Only a few insisted on burying their relatives in this cemetery.
Relatives are buried in ancestral graves.
Gao Hongming did not insist on the latter, and specially invited family members to send these martyrs on their last journey.
Sun Chu, who was seeing this kind of funeral for the first time, and the officers of the Jin-Sui Army were both shocked and a little envious when they saw this scene.
A colonel who followed Sun Chulai had been watching silently, and suddenly said: "If I die in the Anti-Japanese War in the future, and my brothers can hold such a funeral for me, then I will die without regrets."
Everyone was silent... To be honest, isn't this kind of funeral what an ideal and aspiring soldier dreams of?
But looking at today's China, it is not easy for ordinary soldiers to have such a funeral.
The funeral lasted for half a day, and it was already noon by the time it ended.
Gao Hongming invited Sun Chu and the others to his old house of the Gao family, and set up a banquet in the front yard to entertain him.
After the food and wine were served, Sun Chu first picked up the wine glass and said to Gao Hongming: "Hongming, I want to say a few words before the banquet begins. I am here to apologize to you on behalf of Chief Yan, as entrusted by Chief Yan.
.
This time your regiment was attacked by the Japanese army. The reason was that Tan Xiwen, the commander of the 648 regiment who was originally stationed at Qixia Pass, accepted a bribe of 3,000 yuan from the Japanese and used the military exercise as an excuse to lead the 648 regiment to withdraw from Qixia Pass without authorization.
The Japanese army took advantage of the situation and entered.
When Chief Yan learned about this, he became furious and ordered me to capture Tan Xiwen and shoot him the day before yesterday.
Of course, we also know that just shooting Tan Xiwen cannot make up for your losses, so Chief Yan said that if you have any requests, you can ask for them. As long as they do not violate the principles and are not beyond his capabilities, he will agree to you."
The surrounding officers who had followed Sun Chu had a look of envy in their eyes when they heard this. As we all know, bosses generally never make promises easily, but as long as they agree, they will definitely do it.
For someone like Gao Hongming, as long as he says "I want to be promoted," the division commander will not dare to say so. A major general and brigade commander will definitely not be able to escape.
However, Gao Hongming's reaction was beyond everyone's expectations. He shook his head slightly: "Thank you, Chief Yan and Chief Sun, for their kindness. Now that the regiment leader named Tan has been brought to justice, this matter is in the past.
If I have to make a request, I haven’t thought about it yet. Do you think it’s okay to wait until I want it before asking Commander Yan?”
Sun Chu was stunned for a moment, then laughed, "Okay, remember this first, and tell Chief Yan when you have thought about it. Chief Yan also said that as long as he is still in charge of Shanxi,
This commitment remains valid."
"Okay... Then I'd like to ask Mr. Sun to thank Mr. Yan for me... Come, let me toast you."
"Okay, do it!"
Sun Chu drank all the wine in the wine glass in a dignified manner.
After eating, Gao Hongming invited Sun Chu to his study.
After the two sat down, Qin Xiulian personally made a pot of tea for them.
Sun Chu looked at Qin Xiulian for a while and then sighed: "I have long heard that Gao Gao married a virtuous and virtuous wife who lived in an IKEA house and managed the Gao family in good order. When I saw it today, it turned out to be a well-deserved reputation."
Qin Xiulian pursed her lips and smiled: "Thank you, Chief Sun. You are Chief Yan's confidant, and your colleague is also the deputy commander of the Sixth Army. You are a very powerful person. Our family, Hong Ming, relies on you for many things."
"What you said is wrong." Sun Chu laughed and shook his head: "Brother Gao once again severely damaged the third wing of the Japanese Army's Fourth Independent Mixed Brigade at Qixia Pass two days ago, and killed its new wing leader.
.
In just two months, two consecutive captains of the Third Regiment lost their lives in his hands. This achievement is unique in the country. It is no exaggeration to say that he is a hero of the Anti-Japanese War.
"
When she heard Sun Chu praising her, Qin Xiulian felt happy, even happier than when she was praised.
However, the good education she received since childhood enabled her to still maintain good manners. She smiled slightly and said, "Mr. Sun, please talk to Hong Ming slowly. I will go out first."
"Walk slowly!"
After Qin Xiulian left and closed the door, Sun Chu praised: "Brother Gao, you have married a good wife."
"Thank you, sir." Although Gao Hongming was happy in his heart, he was still modest.
After chatting for a while, Sun Chu asked: "Brother Gao, apart from the incident at Qixia Pass this time, I have one more thing to ask you."
Gao Hongming said: "Sir, please speak."
Sun Chu slowly put back the smile on his face: "Brother Gao, I heard that you have been very close to the Eighth Route Army during this period and have given them a lot of things. Is that true?"
Hearing this, Gao Hongming was shocked. His first reaction was that someone on Li Yunlong's side leaked information about Xiaoxi.
But then he immediately figured out that someone inside him should have leaked Xiao Xi.