The Japs were eliminated, Zhang Heizi and the others were out of danger. Seeing more than a dozen Chinese officers and soldiers appear in sight, they breathed a sigh of relief.
"Why are there only three of you?" Deputy Battalion Commander Shunzi frowned when he saw Zhang Heizi and the others. Are they deserters?
Zhang Heizi pointed to the brother who had just died and replied truthfully: "There is another one who just died."
Zhang Heizi saw that Shunzi's expression did not waver at all, and that the brothers around him were pointing their guns at them faintly, so he hurriedly added.
"Last night it was pitch dark and we were all confused. After dawn, I found that I was alone. I was about to go find the troops, but I didn't know that I was ambushed by a kid."
Zhang Heizi spoke sincerely, and Deputy Battalion Commander Shunzi listened carefully. He judged from his expression and tone that Zhang Heizi was not lying, so he nodded and relaxed his brows.
"Follow us back first." Shunzi believed them.
Zhang Heizi's face showed joy, and he immediately stood up and said: "Yes!"
"Goudan, take the sacrificed brother on your back and let's go."
Zhang Heizi and the others happened to meet the deputy battalion commander Shunzi and the others, and successfully returned to the army.
On the Changling position, which was bare and scorched, Zhang Heizi and the others saw their familiar brothers again.
Hundreds of brothers are cleaning the battlefield and renovating the trenches with waving arms.
Mortars and light and heavy machine guns were also set up. Although the brothers were all black and covered in blood, seeing them still alive and kicking made Zhang Heizi and the others feel relieved for no reason.
Yang Ling and the others had fought all night and had cleared out the remaining Japanese troops on the Changling front line, and were now consolidating their positions.
"Company Commander, I thought you were honored." Seeing Zhang Heizi and the others coming back, the brothers in their company immediately beamed with joy and gathered around them one after another.
When Zhang Heizi saw that most of his brothers were still there, he was sincerely happy and cursed: "You are the one who is so glorious. I am a cat and have nine lives -"
Seeing dirty but familiar faces, Zhang Heizi beat their chests, and each of them joked a few words, giving them a feeling of surviving after a disaster.
"How many casualties did our company have?" Zhang Heizi asked the deputy company commander.
The deputy company commander replied: "Thirty-five died, ten were seriously injured, and those with minor injuries can still fight."
Hearing that his company had lost a quarter of its value overnight, Zhang Heizi felt a twinge of guilt in his heart. He was an incompetent company commander, and he rushed out of his own company and left his troops behind.
"Where are the seriously injured brothers?" Zhang Heizi wanted to see what the seriously injured brothers wanted to do.
"We were sent down early in the morning. Don't take it personally, company commander. There is no way to fight without casualties. Compared with before, we are doing much better this time." The deputy company commander knew Zhang Heizi's thoughts and spoke to comfort him.
road.
"It's me who didn't do a good job as a company commander, and it was me who harmed the brothers..." Zhang Heizi blamed himself.
The deputy company commander patted Zhang Heizi on the shoulder and said: "Company commander, don't blame yourself. The brothers don't blame you. Wearing these clothes, everyone has the consciousness to die."
Although the deputy company commander said this, Zhang Heizi's heart still felt uncomfortably tight.
The Japanese were pressing forward step by step, and their fighting continued, causing a large number of casualties to both veterans and recruits.
Most of the current group of grassroots officers were promoted from veterans. When they were top soldiers, they were brave and good at fighting and leading by example. However, as officers, they have more responsibilities, and many of them have not changed their roles for a while.
Although he blamed himself in his heart, Zhang Heizi also understood his responsibilities better after this incident. He was no longer alone and had to be responsible for his brothers in the future.
Not long after Zhang Heizi returned to his company to rest, a messenger came over.
"Company Commander Zhang, the regiment commander wants all officers above the company commander to go to the regiment headquarters for a meeting."
"Got it." Zhang Heizi responded, told the deputy company commander, and went straight to the regiment headquarters.
Yang Ling's temporary regiment headquarters was set up at the foot of a raised cliff. Guards with loaded guns and ammunition stood outside several camouflaged tents, and transmitters were ticking.
When Zhang Heizi walked into the largest tent, there were already more than a dozen officers above the company level standing inside. Their uniforms were stained with blood and their faces were covered with gunpowder smoke. They had just come off the front line.
Several battalion commanders and deputy battalion commanders were gathering together and whispering something. Zhang Heizi stood in the corner and waited quietly.
Soon Yang Ling, who was dressed in a soldier's summer uniform, left the tent, and Zhang Heizi and the others stood up and saluted.
Yang Ling did not wear an officer's uniform, because on such a battlefield, he would be a target for the Japanese because he was dressed just like an ordinary soldier.
"Everyone find a place to sit."
Yang Ling saw this group of subordinates who were covered in gunpowder smoke and nodded and told them to sit down. He knew that these brave and capable officers had charged into battle quite a lot last night.
The officers knew Yang Ling's temper and were not restrained. They each found empty ammunition boxes and Mudun sat down.
"Each battalion will report their casualties." Yang Ling also sat down, his face a little tired.
First Battalion Commander Lu Xing was the first to speak: "One hundred and ten of our battalion lost their lives, fifty-five were seriously injured, and fifty-three were missing."
Lu Xingzai said that Yang Ling was writing down notes in a small book to facilitate the understanding of the actual combat effectiveness of each battalion and as a reference for issuing orders.
"Where's the second battalion?"
"Ninety-eight people were killed, 30 were seriously injured, and 103 were missing." Second Battalion Commander Chen Ming also quickly replied.
Liu Yidaojin then opened his mouth and reported: "The third battalion sacrificed one hundred people, seriously injured twenty-five people, and ninety people are missing."
"One hundred and fifty people from the heavy machine gun company were killed, 31 were seriously injured, and no one is missing."
"Mortar Battery..."
The leaders of each battalion and company made reports one after another, and Yang Ling was writing down the records with a brush, getting a clear picture of the general situation of the entire regiment.
"Go back and report the detailed list of those killed in action and give it to Chief of Staff Zhang."
"yes!"
"Chief of Staff Zhang, you are responsible for this matter. All brothers who have died or been seriously injured must be reported to the brigade headquarters without missing a beat." Yang Ling warned Chief of Staff Zhang Qingyun.
"yes."
Casualties in war are unavoidable. As the leader of the regiment, Yang Ling has no ability to prevent casualties. He can only try his best to fight for pensions for the brothers who died and were injured. This is the only thing he can do.
"The missing brothers must have been separated last night. Each company sent a combat search team to go out and look for them."
"Yes!" The officers all responded one after another.
After figuring out the casualties, Yang Ling put away his notebook and raised his head.
"Brothers fought well last night. The four squadrons deployed by the Japanese on the front line of Changling were all wiped out by our division. Now the Japanese 106th Division is like a grasshopper after autumn and can't jump around for a few days. In the next
Combat power, I hope you will continue your efforts, cooperate with friendly forces, and wipe out the 106th Division in one fell swoop."
Hearing that their 51st Division had killed nearly a thousand people from four Japanese squadrons last night, the officers were as excited as if they had been given a shot of blood.
"Team members, let's fight like this! Let our battalion take the lead!" Liu Yidao, although he had not slept a wink all night, was in high spirits and began to invite the battle.
The second battalion commander Chen Ming said not to be outdone: "Regiment leader, our battalion has suffered small losses, let our battalion take the lead!"
"I said, Lao Chen, how about we take them out for a practice session to decide who will take the lead?" Liu Yidao raised his neck and challenged Chen Ming.
"Just practice, I'm still afraid of you." Chen Ming also rolled up his sleeves and glared at Liu Yidao not to be outdone.
"Okay, okay, you're already a battalion commander, and you're not afraid of the people below making fun of you." Yang Ling stopped them in time.
"The master has given orders that our mission during the day is to consolidate our position and prevent the Japanese from counterattacking. We must tighten this hole, fight steadily, and seize the time to rest."
"Ah? No more attacking?" Liu Yidao said dejectedly upon hearing this.
Yang Ling rolled his eyes at Liu Yidao and said, "The meat is all covered in the pot, why are you so anxious?"
The officers in the tent burst into laughter. Although the battle was cruel, victory was expected this time, and they were in a good mood after all.
"Hey, aren't my hands itchy?" Liu Yidao laughed.
"As the commanders of each battalion and company, you must make it clear to your brothers when you go back. The Matsuura Division still has strength. We have to use strategies and tactics to defeat them. Our current task is to surround them and wait for a few days.
Since they have nothing to eat or drink, we will fight them."