Yang Ling walked out of Liu Xing's headquarters in frustration. His persuasion failed because Liu Xing still had a glimmer of luck in victory and was unwilling to immediately let go of the ban on crossing the river.
He knew clearly that if the ban on crossing the river was not lifted now, it would be too late to lift the ban by the time the Japanese really broke through the defenders' defense line.
He felt a deep sense of frustration and powerlessness. Thinking of the massacre that hundreds of thousands of people were about to suffer, there was nothing he could do.
"What? The talks broke down?" Staff officer Liu Ming came over at some point.
Yang Ling nodded and did not deny it. He was now worried about the brothers who fought bloody battles and the unarmed people. However, his power was too weak and he was too weak to change anything.
He suddenly felt that knowing history in advance was a painful thing, which made him feel powerless.
"The order given by the Military Commission to the Nanjing Garrison Headquarters is to defend Nanjing for at least three months in order to delay time for the peripheral troops to prepare for a counterattack. If you say that you are threatening to hold on now and shake the morale of the military, Chief Liu will definitely not give it to you.
Looks good."
Yang Ling knew the strategic intentions of the Military Commission. The Battle of Songhu lasted for three months, shattering the Japanese dream of destroying China in three months. Now he wanted to delay Nanjing for another three months, hoping to take the opportunity to consume the Japanese limited resources and prepare for the peace talks.
bedding.
Tang Shengzhi, commander of the Nanjing garrison, also vowed to defend Nanjing for three months and live and die with the city. However, in Yang Ling's view, all this is like a joke. Can Nanjing compare with Shanghai? It will only lead to tragedy.
Seeing that Yang Ling didn't speak, staff officer Liu Ming patted Yang Ling on the shoulder and said, "You don't have to be too pessimistic. Although the enemy's offensive is fierce, our soldiers are not vegetarians and are determined to die. If it doesn't work, we will retreat."
Let's go to the city to fight in the streets. With the ammunition and food we have stored, we may not be able to inflict heavy damage on the Japanese."
Yang Ling raised his head and looked at the smoke-filled sky, muttering to himself: "I hope so."
Now he could only hope that Lao Smoking and the others could get enough ferries. He had done his best.
As Liu Xing said, as soldiers, they can't do so much even if they think about it. The only thing they can do now is to fulfill their duties and have a clear conscience.
"The Medal of the Blue Sky and White Sun is an incredible honor. I really envy you, kid. After the battle is over, you have to treat me to a drink later." Liu Ming smiled and changed the topic.
Yang Ling lowered his head and looked at the Medal of Blue Sky and White Sun that Liu Xing personally wore on him. This was earned with the lives of countless brothers. He took it off, held it heavily in his hand, looked at it, and finally carefully put it into his pocket.
"Okay, I'll treat you to a drink after the battle is over."
Liu Ming laughed and said, "Hey, this is so true." He was still optimistic and did not know that this battle would last for a long, long time.
Yang Ling took a deep breath. He had done everything he could do now. The war was still going on. His brothers were still waiting for him. He had to continue to lead them in the battle and have a clear conscience.
Yang Ling bid farewell to his staff officer Liu Ming and returned to the temporary position of the guerrilla camp.
"Battal Commander, what's our next mission?" When several company commanders saw Yang Ling returning, they immediately gathered around and asked.
"Sir Liu is considerate of us and allows us to temporarily withdraw to the Daguang Road area to rest and standby."
Before Yang Ling finished speaking, the brothers around him burst into excited cheers. They had been fighting for their lives on this battlefield all day, and being able to withdraw was great news for them.
Seeing these cheering brothers, Yang Ling sighed in his heart. These brothers rushed all the way to the anti-Japanese front line and stayed in the trenches fighting with the Japanese all day long. They had no food, clothing or warmth. They didn't complain at all. They were able to withdraw and rest for a while.
It can make them happy, and the Chinese people owe them a lot.
Yang Ling took advantage of the gap before changing defenses and took out the Baoding Medal that Liu Xing had entrusted to him to award to meritorious brothers, and prepared to award it to them to boost their morale.
Qin Shou, Liu Yidao, Lao Yanqiang, Yang Dashu and others all followed Yang Ling all the way back from the battlefield in Shanghai. During this period, they killed countless enemies and were awarded medals this time.
Under Yang Ling's order, Lao Yanqiang and Yang Dashu went to collect ferries with the Jiangbei guerrillas, so this time Yang Ling planned to award medals to Qin Shou and Liu Yidao first.
During the war, everything was kept simple, and the awarding ceremony was held in a dilapidated courtyard. Logically speaking, the superior commander should come to award the award, but the guerrilla battalion was now directly under the garrison headquarters, so Liu Xing entrusted Yang Ling with the task, and Yang Ling had to do the awarding on his behalf.
The awarding ceremony was simple, with about fifty people including the squad, platoon, company commander and some veterans of the guerrilla camp participating.
Yang Ling stood on the steps, holding a box in his hand. The brothers standing in the yard all speculated on what was inside.
"It's not a reward, is it? I just killed three Japs, so I should be able to get a lot." Qin Shou was a money-lover and had already begun to fantasize about receiving the reward.
Wang Huzi curled his lips and said: "How much money can be put in such a small box? I estimate that 80% of it is medals."
…
"quiet!"
Yang Ling stood on the steps and spoke. He spoke the truth in the camp, and the brothers respected him, so the sound of needles dropping could be heard in the yard.
"Qin Shou!"
"Here!" Qin Shou replied subconsciously, but after looking at the people around him and not shouting, he called him alone, and suddenly felt a little guilty.
"Get out of the queue!"
Qin Shou bravely stood in front of Yang Ling, feeling a little uneasy.
Yang Ling looked serious, took out the fourth-class Baoding Medal from the box, walked to Qin Shou and put it on his chest. Looking at the iron plate on his chest, Qin Shou was already guessing how much it was worth.
Money.
"Captain and company commander Qin Shou is brave and fearless, not afraid of sacrifice, and has outstanding achievements. With the approval of the Military Committee of the National Revolutionary Army, he was specially awarded a fourth-class Tripod Medal as a mark of recognition. I hope that company commander Qin Shou will continue his efforts..."
Yang Ling's words made Qin Shou feel dizzy. Before he could react, the brothers below were already cheering for him happily. It was not easy to win a medal. They were full of envy for Qin Shou.
Qin Shou saluted Yang Ling amidst the cheers of the crowd, and happily returned to the queue. He looked at the medal pinned on his chest and puffed up his chest. Damn it, I am a hero too.
"Liu Yidao! Get out of the queue!"
Yang Ling immediately awarded Liu Yidao a medal. When the medal was pinned to Liu Yidao's chest, this tough-minded man from the northwest had red eyes and burst into tears.
Back then, he killed the Japanese at Xifengkou of the Great Wall, and then moved to Shanghai and Nanjing. After these vicious battles, countless of his good brothers never came back.
He was a brave new soldier in the army, but he got the Baoding Medal that those sacrificed brothers dreamed of. He cried.
Yang Ling punched Liu Yidao in the chest: "Masters, stand up and hold back your tears! Don't let the brothers laugh!"
Liu Yidao hurriedly stretched out his sleeve to wipe his tears, and looked at the medal pinned on his chest with red eyes.
"Brothers, Captain Qin Shou and Captain Liu Yidao fought bravely to kill the enemy and received medals. Today, the Japs have arrived at our doorstep. I hope everyone will abandon their distracting thoughts, fight the enemies bravely, and drive the Japs out of China as soon as possible! Come!
We are all heroes now, and we all have medals! Do you agree?"
"Kill the enemy bravely!"
"Kill the enemy bravely!"
Wang Huzi and Blacksmith, the new recruits who entered the guerrilla camp, saw Qin Shou and others receiving medals. They were all jealous. At this moment, they also cheered up and shouted to fight bravely to kill the enemy.