Gray sky, gray clouds, the gray space between heaven and earth is filled with long-lasting gunpowder smoke.
Against the gray background, a promoted figure wearing a gray military uniform stood on the damp ridge, with an expressionless face under the gray brim of his hat.
The remnants of the 61st Division moved into Songjiang under the orders of Eighth Army Commander Huang Jie. They were going to build positions in the Zhaojiajiao area to defend against the Japs from the Huangpu River direction.
Yang Ling was from the 61st Division, and he was also an unlucky man whose teeth were blocked even when drinking cold water. The 61st Division withdrew, but he had to stay here to perform new tasks.
Yang Ling was promoted again, from deputy company commander to company commander of the escort company, but his mood became even worse.
The cold wind blew by, and he stretched out his hands to tighten his buttonless collar, took a deep breath, and tried to calm his turbulent heart.
Destiny likes to joke, like a drowning person, struggling desperately to survive, but the harder he struggles, the more he sinks to the bottom.
Yang Ling wanted to leave the battlefield alive, but after an order from above, he had to step back onto the battlefield where bullets were flying everywhere. He was in a bad mood.
Of course, he was not the only one who was in a bad mood. More than thirty soldiers with depressed faces lying or lying under the ridge were also in an extremely depressed mood.
Everyone wants to live, but the wish is beautiful, but the reality is extremely cruel. They were temporarily transferred to stay and responsible for protecting a health team going to the front line.
The fighting on the front line of Yunzaobang has entered a fever pitch. Facing the enemy's aircraft and artillery, the defenders suffered heavy casualties. The number of wounded increased sharply and could not be sent down. The rear had to temporarily form a health team to brave the danger and go to the battlefield for rescue.
In this era when doctors are in short supply, health team members who can simply bandage and treat wounds are also treasures. They are extremely valuable, at least much more important than ordinary soldiers like Yang Ling and others.
Identity determines status. The health team can save lives and heal the wounded, but Yang Ling and others can only kill people with guns, so Yang Ling and others are destined to be the unlucky few.
The task of protecting the health team is actually very simple. If this is a good job in normal times, you only need to stand guard and watch. But here is a battlefield, and you have to go to the front line where the war is raging. The simplicity has become complicated.
The battlefield is not a simple word. It means rain of bullets, smoke and blood. The most important thing is that the lives on the battlefield are not your own.
Yang Ling hated the feeling of not being able to control his own destiny, but now he had to go to the battlefield and carry out the damn mission.
But as a soldier, it is your bounden duty to obey orders. Even if the front is a mountain of swords and a sea of fire, you have to jump. You have no choice. This is what a soldier is, sad and helpless.
Now Yang Ling finally understood the state of mind of Lao Yanqiang and the others at that time. They knew they could not defeat the Japanese, but when the charge horn sounded, they had to bravely rush forward and fight the Japanese. If they died, they would be unlucky, but if they lived, they would be lucky.
Since fate cannot be changed, face it bravely.
Yang Ling took off the 38 cap on his shoulder and sat down. He took out the bright yellow bullets from his pocket and pressed them into the gun chamber one by one. This mission was destined not to be so easy. If he wanted to survive, he had to have everything in place.
Prepare.
…
"Company commander, they are coming." Sentinel Jiao Chaoming bent over and ran over from a distance with a Hanyang rifle in his hand.
Yang Ling stopped what he was doing and raised his head to look at the end of the dirt road. A team carrying medicine boxes was walking quickly towards this side. Judging from their attire, they were the people he wanted to protect.
He stood up and slung the bullet-filled Sanba Gai on his shoulder again. His eyes glanced at the loose and dejected soldiers under the ridge and ordered: "Don't be in a daze, gather together and get ready to go."
The soldiers with frustrated faces stood up cursing and reluctantly. They were in a bad mood.
In fact, going to a battlefield where they could die at any time, no one could feel better. They finally evacuated, but now they are going around and around and still can't escape that fate.
The atmosphere seemed a bit dull, lifeless and depressing. The soldiers looked at the health team walking in the distance with unfriendly eyes and full of resentment. They thought that if you stay in the safe rear and insist on going to the front line, you will risk your death and drag us with you.
What's the point of being a backer?
Looking at the flabby and low-morale soldiers, Yang Ling coughed heavily and finally focused everyone's attention on him.
"I don't know what you are thinking right now, and I don't want to know. I only have one request now. Before completing this mission, I will obey the orders and prohibitions. If anyone breaks the chain, don't blame me, Yang Ling, for being ruthless."
Yang Ling's voice was not loud, but it was loud. Every soldier could hear it clearly. Looking at the thin and tall figure standing on the ridge, the distracted soldiers felt calm for no reason.
Yang Ling did not talk a lot of nonsense, nor did he give an impassioned speech to boost morale. He only imposed the simplest disciplinary requirements on the soldiers under his command.
It was the brief and powerful disciplinary requirements that allowed the soldiers to see the strength and ruthlessness revealed in Yang Ling's bones.
They are all veterans of the battlefield, so they naturally know what kind of commander can lead them to survive, not a nagging commander like a woman, but a decisive and strong commander like Yang Ling.
Yang Ling did not wait for the soldiers standing under the ridge to react and agree. Since he was the temporary commander of the escort company, his words were orders and they were not allowed to make conditions or refuse. The only thing they needed to do was to execute them.
"Disband now, check weapons and ammunition, and set off in five minutes." Yang Ling waved his hand, ignoring the various expressions of the stunned soldiers, and turned to face the health team who was striding over.
Seeing Yang Ling turn around and leave after saying these few words, the soldiers looked at each other in disbelief, thinking that their commander really cherished his words like gold.
But now that Yang Ling has given them orders and found things for them to do, they have no time to lament their unlucky lives. What is coming will come. If they can't escape, they might as well prepare well, and maybe they can survive.
.
The soldiers dispersed and started busy checking their weapons and ammunition, and the decadent and depressed mood just now disappeared without a trace.
"Excuse me, are you Company Commander Yang?"
Health captain Zhang Hongying waved to the health team who were busy on their way to stop, looked at the young and thin officer who came forward, and asked uncertainly.
Zhang Hongying's voice is crisp and clear, like a warm spring breeze, making people feel very comfortable.
Yang Ling's dark and profound eyes scanned the pretty young girl standing in front of him from head to toe, carrying a medicine box, and nodded.
Zhang Hongying's face flushed with joy from the rush, and she happily stretched out her white hands: "Hello, Captain Yang, I am Zhang Hongying, the captain of the health team."
Yang Ling hesitated for a moment, then embarrassedly stretched out his dirty hand, shook it gently, and introduced himself: "I am Yang Ling, the temporary leader of the guard company."
After some greetings, Yang Ling looked at the tired guards who were covered in dust and asked Zhang Hongying: "Do you want to take a rest?"
Zhang Hongying reached out and smoothed the hair on her forehead: "I heard that there are many wounded people ahead. If we arrive a minute earlier, we can save one more person. We won't rest. Let's continue on our way."
Now that Zhang Hongying had made the decision, Yang Ling shrugged and did not object. Anyway, they were only responsible for protecting the safety of the health team. As long as it did not involve safety issues, everything would be obeyed by the health team.