Chapter two hundred and twenty nine after the catastrophe
The river water in early winter was so cold that people turned blue and shivered. The brothers who jumped into the river did not dare to stop and swam desperately to the other side.
"Brother Yang, save me——"
Fatty Tian San was also forced into the river by the earth-shattering artillery fire from the shore, but he forgot that he couldn't swim, so he kept sinking and drank several mouthfuls of fishy-smelling cold water with his hands.
Yang Ling's consciousness became much clearer, but there was still a buzzing sound in his eardrums. He vaguely heard the fat man's cry, and turned around just in time to see his head submerged in the water.
"Dashu, save people quickly!"
In the rumbling artillery fire, Yang Dashu did not hear Yang Ling's words and still dragged him to swim desperately to the other side.
Yang Ling yelled a few more times, and Yang Dashu let go of Yang Ling's hand. Yang Ling swam back hard and pulled the fat man out of the water. Yang Dashu also swam back, and the two of them worked together to drag the fat man to the shore.
There were many brothers who didn't know how to swim. They shouted and flopped a few times before they sank without a trace. Yang Ling and Yang Dashu jumped back into the water to save them one by one. Most of the people they pulled back were pale-faced and half-dead, just gasping for air.
A regiment of the 103rd Division was stationed on the river bank. They called for artillery support, and the airtight shells kept hitting the other side. The sound was filled with smoke and the sky was dark.
The Japanese artillery did not show any weakness. The 75 mm caliber mountain artillery and the 105 mm caliber field artillery immediately responded. Many shells from both sides collided violently in mid-air, emitting a dazzling light.
Those Japanese tanks with flesh and blood on their track chains also knew the power of artillery, and wanted to turn around and evacuate the river bank, but the shells hit them all over the place, turning into fireballs one after another, and exploded to pieces, and no one escaped.
Lao Yanqiang was also dragged onto the scorched and wet river bank. He lay on the ground spitting water, and a small piece of minced meat came out of his mouth. He turned his head to look into the river, and his stomach churned when he saw the scene in the river.
Unable to hold back, I turned around and started vomiting.
Yang Ling also discovered the situation in the river. The original clear water had turned dark red, and there were many mutilated corpses and debris floating there. It must have been that there had been a lot of fierce battles here these days, so Fang Cai was too preoccupied with escaping to pay attention.
Now it seems like a hell on earth.
The artillery battle between the Chinese defense forces and the Japanese soldiers on the river bank has not yet ended. Both sides are pouring ammunition at each other without any money. Thick smoke obscures the sky, and the sky is dark as if it is going to be dark.
From time to time, artillery shells fell into the river and exploded into huge water columns. The explosions shattered the corpses in the river, causing the river to surge and fill with the smell of decay.
"Don't stay here, go into the trenches!" The shells fell one after another, causing the soil to fly. Yang Ling did not dare to stay and called everyone to hide in the trenches not far from the river bank.
One by one they jumped into the ditch, already as tired as mud, and the river bank was plowed by fierce artillery fire and became a mess.
The people hiding in the trench couldn't help laughing happily when they looked at each other's embarrassment, laughing that they had saved their lives at the hands of the Lord of Hell, but their laughter turned into tears.
Brother No. 20 fought all the way, and only nine of them were able to make it back alive. They were all injured and their weapons were thrown away. It was so embarrassing and miserable.
Most of the brothers who did not run out were blown to pieces, with no corpses left behind. The cruel war made the living people hold their heads and cry, with unspeakable feelings in their hearts.
Several soldiers wearing gray cotton uniforms carried guns and followed the traffic trench to find the old smoker and others who were crying.
"Brothers, which section are you from?" A captain pressed his finger on the trigger and spoke with a wary gaze.
The man who was holding his head and crying heard someone asking questions, so he stretched out his sleeves to wipe away his tears. He looked up and saw these friendly soldiers in gray cotton uniforms, and felt an inexplicable feeling of intimacy.
"I'm from the 87th Division Engineer Company. We came from Shanghai."
"I used to be a member of the 61st Division, and now I'm a member of the 174th Division's supplementary regiment."
…
The living people opened their mouths to introduce themselves to each other, but the heads of the captains and company commanders who came to ask questions were bigger than the two. There were not many of them, but there were quite a few numbers.
The captain frowned and waved his hand to interrupt the chatter: "Which of you is the leader? The leader will come out and answer -"
Lao Yanqiang and the others hurriedly pushed out Yang Ling, who was leaning in the trench and breathing heavily: "He is our battalion commander."
When the captain and company commander saw Yang Ling covered in rags, he couldn't believe that he was actually a battalion commander.
"I am Yang Ling, commander of the first battalion of the 174th Division's supplementary regiment." Yang Ling stood up and tugged on his tattered clothes to make himself look less embarrassed.
"Are you Battalion Commander Yang?" The company commander, the captain, was a little excited and asked hurriedly: "Do you have any proof?"
Yang Ling spread his hands and said helplessly: "It's been a tough fight along the way, and all the things that can prove my identity have been lost. But a few days ago, most of our supplementary group broke through from the direction of Huashan, and they were able to prove my identity.
"
The captain and company commander asked cautiously: "Then what is the name of the leader of your supplementary regiment?"
Yang Ling replied: "Deputy Captain Liu Ming."
Upon hearing Yang Ling's answer, the captain and company commander no longer had any doubts, and immediately stood at attention and saluted Yang Ling with a military salute.
"Captain Yang, your name has been heard for a long time. Today I saw that you are indeed extraordinary. You can fight all the way from the Japanese blockade. What a man!" said the company commander excitedly.
But soon the captain and company commander added: "How happy they would be if they knew you were still alive."
Yang Ling was even more confused: "Do you know me?"
The captain laughed and gave Yang Ling a thumbs up: "Not only do I know you, but the deeds of your supplementary regiment have been reported for a long time. Now everyone in the country knows that you are really awesome."
Lao Yanqiang hurriedly grabbed the captain and the company commander and asked: "What has been reported?"
"It's dangerous here, let's talk as we walk, our regiment commander is still waiting for you." The captain and company commander were much more polite.
Liu Xing, commander of the Jiangfang Group Army, widely publicized the deeds of the supplementary regiment, hoping to boost the army's sluggish morale.
Liu Ming, deputy commander of the Supplementary Regiment, became a hero of the Anti-Japanese War and was well known to everyone. However, he knew that he did not get the credit and felt guilty. He specifically requested that the names of the main officers of the Supplementary Regiment be included in the publicity, so Yang Ling also
Be known to everyone.
However, most of them thought that Yang Ling had been killed because there was no news about him going back to rescue Qin Shou and others who were surrounded.
"What! Yang Ling is not dead? You killed a Japanese lieutenant general when you blew up the Japanese weapons?" Liu Xing, the commander of the Jiangfang Group Army, was shocked when he received the call from the forward position. He knew what this meant.
The other person on the phone replied: "They have just returned from a breakout. I heard what Battalion Commander Yang said personally, and they also brought back the Japanese General's military uniforms and sabers."
Although Liu Xing was a high-ranking general, he couldn't help but get excited at this moment and hurriedly ordered: "Send someone to escort Yang Ling and the others to the headquarters immediately, quickly!"
Xiao Huanzhang, the director of the Jiangyin Intelligence Station, with panda eyes, strode into the headquarters at this moment, and walked to Liu Xing who had just put down the phone: "Sir Liu, I have clarified the situation last night. It was an advance of the Japanese."
The arms base was bombed, and I don’t know exactly who it was, but what I’m confused about is that the Japs’ reaction was a little abnormal..."