Chapter five hundred and fifteen the price of scenery
"The 74th Army is really amazing. It actually took Ruichang County back from the Japanese."
The news that the 74th Army troops had recaptured Ruichang County spread quickly, and the entire First Corps headquarters was filled with excitement.
Ever since their First Corps blocked the Japanese on the Nanxun Line, they had been able to withstand the Japanese's fierce offensive, but they had done so at a heavy price. Hundreds of wounded were evacuated from the front line every day.
Whenever they saw the wounded soldiers, who were bloody and moaning in pain, they still felt half happy that they had blocked the enemy's attack.
And now the recapture of Ruichang County is like a huge surprise in this sultry weather, sweeping away the gloom in people's hearts and making them sincerely happy.
"I heard that Deputy Commander Yang who led the team also won the Medal of the Blue Sky and White Sun." Various gossips about Yang Ling were also spread all over the sky.
After all, he led his troops to capture Ruichang County. Now the news has spread, and the whole country is excited. With such a great contribution, his rapid rise to the top is a sure thing. Even if he wants to keep a low profile now, he can't. It's already attracting everyone's attention.
"No wonder he is so powerful. He even won the Medal of the Blue Sky and White Sun."
I heard that Yang Ling once won the Medal of the Blue Sky and White Sun, and everyone around him couldn't help but lament that fate has played a trick on people.
"Yang Ling is so lucky. Why am I not as lucky as him to get the Blue Sky and White Sun Medal?"
"Why don't you kid show off your virtues by soaking yourself in the water? You still want the Medal of the Blue Sky and White Sun." Someone looked at the person who spoke with disdain.
"Why can't I do it?" The person being spoken to looked unconvinced.
"If you have the ability, try to kill a Japanese general. You know that Kawadahara who was killed in Jiangyin last year was killed by Yang Ling."
After being reminded like this, everyone suddenly realized it. However, they couldn't help but feel a little ashamed when they thought that last year they were defeated in the final stage of the Songhu Battle and had no time to escape. How could they think of killing the Japanese general?
"If you kill a Japanese general, he should be promoted to the third rank. Why is he only given a medal?" Some people also asked.
"I heard that the Japanese blocked the news and refused to admit it. This is something that cannot be verified..."
"This little devil is so shameless." Someone cursed.
Someone immediately asked: "When have you ever seen a Japanese looking for shame?"
"That's true."
The news that Yang Ling and the others had recaptured Ruichang made the entire First Corps feel as happy as if they were celebrating a holiday.
General Xue Yue immediately sent a telegram to the 74th Army, verbally commending them for their efforts, and asking them to continue their efforts and strive to annihilate the retreating Japanese 6th Brigade.
Of course, Yang Ling and his heroic troops who had sneaked behind enemy lines could not be left behind. The regiment headquarters sent an order to Yang Ling and others through its own channels, which was to defend Ruichang, block the retreating 6th Brigade, and cooperate with the main force to annihilate him.
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Although Yang Ling and the others did not want to let go of the retreating Japanese 6th Brigade troops and prepared to ambush them on the way back, no matter what, they wanted to eat a piece of their flesh, but they did not expect to accept a more difficult task.
"Deputy Commander Yang, this is an order given directly to you by the Corps Headquarters, requiring you to stop the retreating Maruyama Masao 6th Brigade no matter what the cost."
A middle-aged man dressed as a farmer suddenly found Yang Ling and the others, claiming to be a member of the Bureau of Statistics lurking behind enemy lines, and conveyed an order from the First Corps.
Wang Huzi and the others looked over the middle-aged man's identity document repeatedly to confirm that he was not an enemy. However, the order to desperately block the 6th Brigade put them in a difficult position.
According to Yang Ling's opinion, they were not very strong, so they could take advantage of the Japanese 6th Brigade's defeat and chew off one or two pieces of meat, so there was no need to fight to the death.
But this sudden order from the Corps Headquarters directly pushed them into a corner, without giving them any way out.
"Brother Zhou, you have a radio station. Can you contact the commanders of the corps and explain the situation of our troops? Be accommodating. We only have a few hundred people. Even if we all fight, we can't stop the 6th Brigade."
Wang Huzi didn't want to die, he wanted the Corps Headquarters to take back this order that almost cost them death.
Zhou Tong, who was lurking behind enemy lines from the Bureau of Statistics and Investigation, also had a wry smile on his face: "You have recovered Ruichang's heroic troops now. Even if I report to the headquarters now that you are not strong enough to stop the Japanese, do you think they will believe it?
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After hearing Zhou Tong's answer, Wang Huzi and the others' faces completely fell. Well, this time they were showing off to the point of risking their own lives.
Yang Ling and the others originally wanted to turn on the power and spread the news of the recapture of Ruichang County to boost the confidence of the people in the war, but they never thought of trapping themselves in it.
They have now transformed into a heroic unit that regained Ruichang County. If they refuse the order from the corps headquarters now, what will the commander think? What will the people of the country think?
The halo of honor they now have on their heads no longer allows them to refuse. After all, they are the heroic troops who recaptured Ruichang. Once they refuse, not only will their credit for regaining the county town be lost, but they will also end up disobeying orders.
But if we just agree and defend Ruichang to block the 6th Brigade, will the battle be so easy to fight? Maybe the whole army will be annihilated.
Yang Ling didn't listen to what Zhou Tong and Wang Huzi said, and a word of flattery popped into his head for no reason. Who wanted to flatter them and kill them? He couldn't figure it out.
"Deputy Commander Yang, I have received the order, so I will take my leave."
Zhou Tong also felt sorry for Yang Ling and the others. It was originally a good thing to achieve meritorious service, but now it forced them into a dilemma. It seems that being in the limelight also comes with a price.
Zhou Tong is a latent intelligence officer of the Statistics and Investigation Bureau behind enemy lines. Now he is just a messenger. When the order is passed and he is about to leave, Yang Ling and the others cannot force him to stay. After all, they are not part of an agency.
"Shunzi, see you off." Yang Ling waved to company commander Shunzi who was standing aside.
Seeing Zhou Tong walking out of the door, Wang Huzi's face flashed with fierceness, and he made a killing gesture towards Yang Ling, but Yang Ling shook his head and refused.
There must be more than one intelligence officer of the Bureau of Statistics and Investigation lurking behind enemy lines, Zhou Tong. Since he dares to convey orders so arrogantly, even if they deal with him, they will not have to carry out the order as long as they did not receive it.
But if someone is overly minded and the news leaks out, trouble will inevitably happen in the future. Besides, he is one of his own, so how can he do it?
"Regimental deputy, what should we do?" The blacksmith and the others were completely unhappy now.
I originally thought that such a great achievement as regaining Ruichang would be indispensable for promotion or wealth, but now that this has not been achieved, this life-threatening order has come.
"The soldiers are coming to cover up the water and the earth. Since we can't escape, let's just fight."
Yang Ling has no choice now. Unless he doesn't want to join the army anymore, he really can't refuse this order.
However, he also thought clearly that no matter how thin the 6th Japanese Brigade was, a camel was bigger than a horse. With their strength, it was almost impossible to stop them.
He could only do his best on the premise of protecting his brothers. At worst, he would be accused of being unfavorable in combat, and he would not let these brothers who followed him fight against stones and die.