Devil's Army

The fourteen artillerymen who were ordered by Deputy Battalion Commander He to retreat to Dehua County and meet with Battalion Commander Wang did not retreat at all, but hid nearby and watched the development of the battlefield.

They saw an undermanned artillery regiment, and they were running towards the artillery positions like moths to a flame.

A 105mm cannon was hit by a bullet during the bombing by a Japanese aircraft and disintegrated.

The other two 105mm cannons adjusted their muzzles and immediately bombarded the Japanese 11th Division on the right side of the th Reserve Division.

Taking advantage of the fact that the Japanese 11th Division was bombarded by 105mm cannons and its offensive momentum was hindered, the commander of the 11th Reserve Division, Zhao Baochang, withdrew from the position and retreated to Jiujiang City with the th Reserve Division, which had suffered heavy casualties.

Three more artillerymen from the 1st Regiment fell to the ground in the strafing and bombing by Japanese planes. The three artillerymen from the 1st Regiment who were ordered to retreat rushed over to provide reinforcements without any hesitation.

When the Japanese Hata Detachment saw that the 11th Division was about to retreat, they quickly organized their troops to chase after them, but were bombed by two 105mm cannon shells.

The 11th Reserve Division successfully retreated to Jiujiang City.

The 105mm cannon bombardment of the Japanese army continued, but a salvo of three shells was reduced to two, and then to one.

……

After Commander Zhao led the remaining troops of the 11th Reserve Division to retreat to Jiujiang, he went to the headquarters of the 64th Army and met his old superior, Commander Li Hanhun.

"Commander, which artillery unit saved our 11th Division? I want to thank them very much."

"They will be here soon." Commander Li pointed to an area not far away that was bombed into scorched earth by the Japanese army and said to Division Commander Zhao.

Commander Zhao looked at the scorched earth that was still being bombed from time to time by Japanese planes, and a sense of foreboding welled up in his heart.

After a while, a military jeep stopped at the entrance of the command center.

Six soldiers wearing different uniforms supported each other as they got off the jeep and walked into the 64th Army Headquarters under the guidance of the guards.

"Baochang, they are the lifesavers of your 11th Division."

Division Commander Zhao raised his right hand to salute the six artillerymen of the regiment, and was reluctant to put it down for a long time, expressing his highest gratitude and respect to them in a military way.

The one who felt the most guilty was Li Hanhun, the commander of the 64th Army. He had forced this artillery unit to stay and help defend Jiujiang, and now only six people were left out of more than 40.

"What instructions did your Deputy Battalion Commander He give? Do you need our help?" Commander Li wanted to give them the best help he could to ease the guilt in his heart.

"Our deputy battalion commander He said something when he told us to retreat, but I didn't understand it." An honest soldier said truthfully.

"What words?"

"As long as the Chinese soldiers are here, the Japanese pirates will not be allowed to cross Jiujiang!"

"As long as the Chinese soldiers are here, the Japanese pirates will not be allowed to enter Jiujiang!" Commander Li burst into tears. At the last moment of his life, Deputy Battalion Commander He was still thinking about how to guard Jiujiang.

"What are your plans next?" Commander Li asked the six artillerymen with tears in his eyes.

"We are going back to Dehua County. Our main force is there." A soldier responded, and the other soldiers nodded firmly.

"Let's eat first. I'll treat you to a meal." said Commander Zhao.

"Master Zhao, you're welcome. We can just go back to Dehua County and eat."

"No matter how urgent it is, it won't cost you a meal. Besides, it's time for dinner now."

The artillerymen did not refuse and went to a small restaurant with Commander Zhao.

Commander Li did not go over. Firstly, the war was tense, and secondly, he did not know how to face the friendly artillery that he had forced to stay.

Commander Zhao felt very depressed during the meal, but the artillerymen ate very calmly.

After fighting the Japanese for many years, they have long since become indifferent to life and death. Dying on the battlefield may be the best fate for these contemporary soldiers.

At around six o'clock in the evening, the jeep took the artillerymen back to the camp of the 1st Regiment in Dehua County.

Upon hearing the news, Artillery Battalion Commander Wang came out to greet them.

"The battalion commander, artilleryman Wang Zhiqing, Xu Erdan... six of you have returned to the team!"

"Okay, okay..." Captain Wang responded while looking back.

"Captain, stop looking. There are only six of us left."

After Wang Zhiqing finished speaking, he could no longer hold back his tears and they flowed silently.

The other five artillerymen also had tears streaming down their cheeks like water from a floodgate.

We are brothers who we spend every day together. How can I not feel sad if they are gone just like that?

Just now, I pretended to be calm in front of my friends. Now that I see my old leader, of course I have to release all the suppressed grief.

A regiment leader also came out and said to them:

"It's good to be back. Let's eat first, rest for a while, and get well before we fight these devils."

"Captain, we've already eaten. Commander Zhao treated us to fish and pork elbow."

"There are also big pig's trotters and elbows. Commander Zhao is really good to you. Who of you brought me a big elbow to try?"

The six artillerymen looked at each other in bewilderment, for none of them had brought back any elbows.

"Captain, when we come to Jiujiang next time, I'll treat you to pork elbow," said Wang Zhiqing.

"No, your military pay is not even as high as mine. Don't eat your elbow for one meal, and you will blackmail me for three meals."

Everybody started laughing, and the gloomy look on everyone's face was dispelled by a few jokes from the regiment leader.