Chapter 17 The Last Soldier·Looking for

When another dawn came, he returned to the back mountain, where the company commander Zhao Dafa asked them to gather. At this time, he made a new discovery, there were more than a dozen new graves at the foot of the mountain.Apparently, the company commander and the others had arrived, and they came after he left.These dozens of new graves can prove that they must have moved here with these martyrs after they withdrew from the battle, or they may have just been injured at the beginning and sacrificed after coming here.Standing in front of these dozens of graves, he regretted a little. If he insisted on waiting, he might be able to see the company commander and others, but he went back; but after thinking about it, he was right to go back. When I went down to those brothers, I remembered the fourteen brothers who had been buried in the battlefield, and tears flowed down again.When he buried those brothers, he didn't cry, but when he said goodbye to them, he cried aloud. The brothers who were talking and laughing two days ago left him forever. the way.Wang Qinggui is an old soldier. He has fought countless battles since he became a soldier, but he has never experienced such a tragic battle. All his brothers were killed in one battle.He is not afraid of death. He has been ready to sacrifice since the day he joined the army, but his own death is different from the death of others. A person was fine a minute ago, talking and laughing with you, and a bullet flew in , this person is gone, right in front of your eyes, your heart cannot but be shocked, that is cutting your flesh with a blunt knife.What he feels now is not fear, but pain.

He stood there, looking around blankly, he couldn't tell who was buried here, he could only use his eyes to pass over the graves, and every time he passed a grave, those familiar faces would flash before his eyes.Suddenly, his eyes fixed on the last grave mound, where there was a piece of paper shaking in the breeze. He walked over and picked up the piece of paper, to be precise, it was a note.There was a line written on it: Comrades, go north.Ren Qinyou Ren Qinyou was the platoon leader, so the company commander Zhao Dafa had already died. If the company commander was still there, even if he was injured, this note should have been left by the company commander.He was holding the note, which was indeed left for him, and no one in the three rows had withdrawn before this.He put the note in his pocket. He couldn't leave the secret on the note to the enemy. He wanted to go north to catch up with the troops.

There he stood, and he was saying goodbye to his brethren.He raised his right hand, tears welled up, and murmured in a choked voice: Brothers, company commander, Wang Qinggui bids you farewell, and I will come to see you after the battle.After finishing speaking, he turned his head, shook off a stream of tears, stepped on the hills in early spring, and walked northward step by step. When passing through a village, he realized that he hadn't eaten a bite for two days. The water had been drunk, and it was spring water in the mountains.Seeing the fireworks in the world made him feel hungry.So he walked into the village. He entered the village for two purposes, one was to get some food, and then he asked about the whereabouts of the large troops.After observing outside the village for a while, he found nothing unusual, so he walked towards the village, and stopped in front of a house with a door that was ajar.He yelled inside: fellow townsman, fellow townsman.

After a while, a man with folded hands came out and glanced at him. Obviously, the man was no stranger to his attire, so naturally he didn't mean to be afraid. He just asked: "Independent group?" He nodded, and the man opened the door wider to let him in.The man entered the room again without waiting for him to say anything. When he came out this time, he had two extra cornbreads in his hand, stuffed them into his hand and said: At that morning, the troops from the third army had just passed by. Did the independent regiment eat it? defeat? He didn't nod or shake his head, he couldn't tell if he lost or won the battle two days ago.The company commander asked them to stand firm for two hours. They fought for most of the night. It was not because they didn't want to retreat, but because they didn't take the opportunity to retreat. The enemy attacked round after round. How dare they retreat?If this is considered a victory, what about those soldiers who stayed on the ground?He couldn't answer, so he asked: Have you heard any news from the Independent Group?

The man shook his head: I didn't see it, I only heard that there was a battle with the temporary army, but I didn't see anyone.Did you get separated from the team? He thanked the man and came out with two pancakes.He went to the mountain again, and on the top of the mountain, he devoured the pancakes.Only now did he feel tired and sleepy. For two days, not only had he not eaten, he hadn't even closed his eyelids.For the time being, the people from the three armies have come, but the people from the independent regiment have not. So where did the large troops withdraw?Before he could think clearly, he was confused.

In the middle of the night, he woke up from the cold.The night in early spring was still cold, and his upper body was still wearing the winter cotton coat. For the convenience of marching and fighting, they did not wear cotton trousers, but trousers.Wang Qinggui, who had come to his senses, had already cleared his mind. This time, the three armed forces have been relentless towards them. It seems that the situation of the independent regiment is already very dangerous.The task of the Independent Regiment is to hold back the Temporary Army and prevent Chiang Kai-shek from transferring troops outside the pass.For more than a year, they have been dealing with the three temporary armies.In the past, there were also difficulties. At that time, the head of the regiment, Zhang Letian, planned to transfer the troops to Shanxi, but he persisted afterwards.This time seemed to be different. A few days ago, the Independence Regiment had an encounter with the Temporary Three Armies. Nearly half of the Independence Regiment was killed and injured, and the field hospital was full of people.The field hospital was under the control of the military division, and the original plan was to transfer the field hospital away.The brigade of the military sub-division had already marched to Shanhaiguan. This was an order from the superior. The people in the independent regiment realized that there was going to be a big and vicious battle in the Northeast.At that time, it was the eve of the battle of Liaoshen, and both the enemy and us were dispatching troops.Due to too many wounded, the field hospital has not been completed for the time being. This time, we can only hide in Tibet with the independent regiment.

Wang Qinggui sat on the top of the hill with his back leaning against a tree. He couldn't tell where the independent group had retreated.Without any news from the independent regiment, he could only inquire about the enemy's news. The enemy was chasing the independent regiment with the wind, and maybe they caught up with the enemy, and they were not far from the main force.Without further ado, he said he would leave.Before leaving, he checked the gun in his arms. It was a short gun and still had six bullets.In the blocking battle, they not only killed all the people, but also all the ammunition.There were six bullets, which made him feel more at ease.He glanced at the direction of the Big Dipper, and embarked on the journey to find the team again.

He knew that if he wanted to find the troops, he couldn't just wander around in quiet places.The temporary army is now chasing after the independent regiment with lost soldiers and generals. Only where there are battles will there be large troops.Tracking the troops, also looking for the temporary army. Wang Qinggui just stopped and went, asking questions from time to time.On the fifth day, he came to Xinji Village.At first he didn't know that the village was called Xinji, and knowing Xinji would happen later.It was still one evening, and most of the sun's body had already disappeared behind the mountain in the west. He wanted to find a fellow countryman's house to rest for the night, inquire about the situation, and then leave at dawn. He has been here for the past few days.As soon as he entered the village, he saw an old man coming back from herding sheep. The dozen or so sheep were as lean as the old man.He saw the old man, and the old man saw him too. The old man was stunned for a moment. He stepped forward, but before he could speak, the old man spoke first: Why are you back again?

He asked pleasantly: Has the independent group come yet? The old man replied: Didn't you beg for water at my house this morning? Standing in front of the old man, he said anxiously and eagerly: I am looking for the team, where is the independent team now? The old man glanced at him, as if he was pondering his real identity. After a long while, the old man said: The independent group came here in the middle of the night last night, and they were stuck in the Nanshan ditch.In the morning, I went to the village to ask for water, and had breakfast in the Nanshangou, and then went west in a panic, carrying hundreds of wounded.As soon as they left, the people from the three armies chased after them.

Wang Qinggui didn't want to enter the village anymore. It seemed that the independent regiment was not far from here. With so many wounded people and all the hospital and logistics belongings, it probably wouldn't go too far.He is going to catch up with the team, maybe tomorrow he will catch up.After thinking about it this way, he gave up his plan to go to the village to rest, thanked the old man, and quickly chased westward. He seemed to be running.The old man behind said: I reckon they are going to enter Yandang Mountain.He turned around and waved at the old man again. Running down in one breath, the dark mountain shadow in front of me is Yandang Mountain.Yandang Mountain is no stranger to him,

In the past, when the independent brigade was resting, it had visited Yandang Mountain.This night, the moon and stars are sparse, it is very suitable for traveling, because the team is in front of him, and his legs have power and direction.He was walking when suddenly there was a burst of gunshots not far ahead. This happened an hour after he left Xinji Village.The sky has not yet been filled with stars, and the moon, which seems round but not round, hangs in the corner of the eastern sky.His frantic heart was pounding like the gunshot.He knew that his team was in the direction of the gunshots, and judging from the gunshots, the battlefield was less than two miles ahead.He drew the short gun from his waist, and ran forward in a detour.At this moment, he could clearly see the situation of the exchange of fire. Someone was shooting downwards on a hilltop, and the troops of the three armies on both sides of the hill were climbing up.He saw the terrain clearly, and groped over the slope of the left rear mountain, so that he could join his men and avoid the enemy. When he climbed halfway up the mountain, he could almost see the figures of his comrades in arms, and he even heard the shouts of his comrades shooting: hit, hit hard—— He wanted to do a 100-meter sprint and jump to the position all at once. At this moment, he found a group of enemies sneaking around behind his comrades and approaching the top of the mountain.The comrades in ambush only focused on shooting the frontal enemy, but they didn't expect that the enemy had already touched their backs.If the enemy succeeds, only one charge is needed, and our position will be smashed to pieces by the enemy.Without further ado, he didn't have time to think about it, and shouted: The enemy is coming up—after firing two shots, he saw an enemy fall.The enemy shot at him quickly, and he retreated down the mountain under the cover of trees.His goal was achieved, and the comrades had already discovered the enemy behind them, and turned their guns to shoot at the enemy.They must have wondered how reinforcements could appear behind them.Wang Qinggui knew that he couldn't get entangled with the enemy. He was on the hillside with the enemy, and his comrades couldn't tell the enemy from ourselves. That would be very dangerous.He could only withdraw first, and then look for an opportunity to join up with his comrades. The enemy was discovered, and the firepower quickly suppressed them, and they also retreated hastily. At this time, the enemy discovered Wang Qinggui.Several enemies were chasing after them while shooting.Bullets flew backwards in front of him.He shot back two more times. He counted the bullets he had fired. There were already four rounds, and there were two more rounds. He must keep one bullet in the gun for himself. Even if he died, he couldn't let the enemy capture the prisoner.He was running forward when suddenly his thigh felt hot and he fell headfirst to the ground.There was a deep ditch ahead, and he rolled into it.He was wounded, and there was hot blood streaming from his right thigh. The enemy didn't come after him, he was alone, the target was not big, the enemy might think he was killed.The enemy behind him touched the blocking position of the independent regiment again.Wang Qinggui had a chance to treat his own wound. He tore off a corner of his clothes and tied the wound.He lay there, listening to the fierce gunshots not far away, hating himself in his heart, his comrades in arms were right in front of him, but now he couldn't walk into the team.He was extremely remorseful, but he couldn't help himself. Because of blood loss and fatigue, those gunshots seemed to become distant.He lost consciousness. After an unknown amount of time, he was awakened again by a burst of gunshots, which seemed to be right above his head.He opened his eyes and saw someone running across the ditch.Breaking through, this is his comrades in arms, he shuddered and shouted: Comrade, I am here—— Gunshots and running footsteps rang out.His cry was so faint that no one could hear the cry.He hated his injured leg. If his leg wasn't injured, he would have chased after him no matter what, and broke through with his comrades. Now he can't drag his comrades down, and they don't have time to save him. He first saw his comrades crossing the deep ditch one by one, and after a while, he saw the enemies crossing in a swarm.Gradually, the sound of gunfire became farther and thinner. He couldn't stay here any longer, so he crawled forward along the bottom of the ditch.A few times he tried to stand up, but he fell down and had to crawl forward.His comrades were gone, and he missed the opportunity to reunite with them.He wants to live, and only if he lives can he find his comrades again.He crawled forward with difficulty, the moon passed over his head.After an unknown amount of time, his eyes went dark, and he lost consciousness again. When Wang Qinggui woke up, two people stood in front of him, an old man and a young man. To be precise, he was awakened by the voice of the old man and the young man.He saw that the old man seemed familiar, but he couldn't remember where he had seen it before.The missing one was a girl, about seventeen or eighteen years old, biting her lower lip, with delicate eyebrows. Seeing that he opened his eyes, the old man said: You are injured, and you have lost a lot of blood. He wanted to say something, but his throat was so dry that he couldn't speak. The old man bent down and said to the girl: Quick, help him up. The girl supported his upper body, and he sat up, but he couldn't use his hands.The old man and the girl worked together to help him onto the old man's back.The old man stood up shaking, and then said to the girl: "Xiaolan, drive the sheep back, let's go." The old man was carrying him, and Xiaolan was driving the dozen or so sheep back. Only then did he remember that the old man was the old sheep-herding man he had seen last night. After resting several times, I finally arrived at the old man's house.He was lying on the kang, the blood on his legs was still oozing out little by little.Xiao Lan was boiling water, and the old man was rummaging through boxes and cabinets to find something.He finally took out a paper bag and put it on the kang, it was red medicine.He was also injured when playing Takahashi, he used that kind of medicine.The independent brigade liberated Gaoqiao. It was a big battle. He was the squad leader at that time, and all the soldiers in the squad were exhausted in the end. Only one man with a machine gun was left and charged towards the water tower.The water tower is the commanding height of Takahashi, and the enemy's flag is planted on it.There were many enemies guarding it, and a squad of people died when they attacked that water tower.In the end, he rushed up one by one, tore down the enemy's flag, and hung up a red flag. Finally, he held on to the flagpole for a long time before falling down little by little.He suffered several injuries that time, but fortunately they were all fatal.He recuperated in the field hospital for more than a month.The moment he was holding the flagpole was photographed by war reporters and published in the newspaper with the title "Flag of Heroes".He won the first-class meritorious service in the Takahashi battle, and was appointed as the platoon leader of the independent regiment after he was discharged from the hospital. The old man let him eat the red medicine, and applied some medicine on his wound.Only then did the old man raise his head and let out a long breath: The gun flew away, if it stayed on his body, it would be troublesome. The gunshot wound was on the inner thigh, and the bullet pierced through the leg, hurting the flesh and tendons.Xiaolan cooked a bowl of porridge for him, it was millet porridge, he couldn't sit up, and he couldn't get down, so in the end Xiaolan fed him spoonful by spoonful.As soon as his heart became hot, his eyes turned red, and tears flowed down the corners of his eyes bit by bit. The old man was smoking deeply, taking deep and shallow puffs.Seeing his tears, the old man said: Young man, our men are also destined, it’s nothing.My eldest son also joined the army. He has been away for three years, and he said that he has entered the customs, but there is no letter yet. At this moment, Wang Qinggui understood the feelings of the old man's family, and he found out afterwards that the small village he lived in was called Xinji Village.During the battle last night, everyone in the village heard the sound of gunfire.The old man's surname is Wu, and the old man Wu drove the sheep there early in the morning, and he was discovered in the end. In the days to come, the old man and Xiaolan treated him very well. During the day the old man went to herd the sheep, and only Xiaolan waited on him, changing his medicine and cooking for him.He has the strength to sit up now, and Xiaolan talks to him when he is free. Xiaolan said: My brother is your age, he was nineteen years old when he left home. He looked at Xiaolan and felt warm in his heart. He thought of his own home. His father died when he was very young, and he and his mother depended on each other for life.His mother died the year he joined the army. She had a certain disease and she was always panting and gasping for breath.One night, Mother finally couldn't breathe anymore, so she just left him.His mother was gone, and he became a child without a home. It was the expansion of the squad that made him a soldier.He has never been back to his hometown since he was a soldier. His hometown is called Wangjiazhuang, and most people in the village are surnamed Wang.There is no concern at home, and it doesn't matter whether he goes back or not. Xiaolan treated him like this, reminding him of his mother.He was sick, and my mother fed him in the same way.But mother went anyway, mother's asthma was caused by father's death, he didn't have much memory of father, he only remembered the grave on the mountain behind the village.Every New Year's day, his mother always took him to visit his father's grave, and his father had a sudden illness when he was two years old.After his mother died, he buried his mother beside his father. Xiaolan talked to him, and he also talked to Xiaolan. He knew from Xiaolan's mouth that Xiaolan's mother also died of illness a few years ago, and only her and her father were left at home, relying on a dozen sheep and the thin land beside the mountain. for a living.After her brother joined the army, she has been missing him. She and her father often stand on the road at the entrance of the village, looking into the distance.She and her father felt that maybe at some point, her brother would come back. Wang Qinggui recalled the expression of old man Wu when he was looking at the entrance of the village that evening. He approached little by little in the sight of old man Wu.Maybe at the very first moment, the old man mistook him for his own son. After a few days, his injury gradually healed, but he still couldn't get off the ground, so he could only lean against the wall and look out the window. Xiaolan said: Don't worry, the team will come to you. He knew in his heart that no one in the team knew he was here, so he could only find the team by himself. Sometimes Xiaolan sat there looking out the window with him, and then murmured: I miss my brother, I wonder if he is okay now? When Xiaolan said that, there were tears in her eyes. He wanted to comfort Xiaolan a few words, but he didn't know what to say. It's hard to say anything about the team.He thought of the blocking battle. In his own platoon, the fourteen brothers all stayed on that hillside.Now he's injured again, lying here, what can he say? In the evening, after the old man Wu came back, he lay on the kang with him, chatting about the army, and imagining his son through Wang Qinggui's description of the army.Wang Qinggui can understand this feeling.