The expeditionary force began to dominate Southeast Asia by recruiting defeated soldiers

Stories of betrayal, abandonment, and selling out are happening every moment in this chaotic era.

Every survivor was filled with vigilance. Several veterans feared Zhang Chi was a "smiling tiger," fearing he might superficially feed them to ease their guard, while secretly contacting the Japanese and using their lives as a token of his loyalty.

However, their worries were unnecessary. Zhang Chi did treat the remnants of the 66th Regiment with sincerity. He just didn't want these men who fought for their country to shed blood and tears.

After hearing Zhang Chi's call, the originally tense atmosphere around them was obviously relieved a lot.

The veterans looked at each other. Although they were still a little skeptical, they were mostly relieved.

"I was wondering, would Zhang Chi do that?" an old soldier muttered, seemingly to comfort himself. "After all, that's real canned meat. He'd have to surrender to the enemy to be reluctant to give it to us."

Xiao Dongbei's hand, which was tightly gripping the rifle, also completely relaxed. He glanced at Zhang Chi's figure, frowned, and finally stood up.

He also realized that he had overreacted, mainly because he did not expect Zhang Chi to be so powerful that he could call for support from the river.

He waved sheepishly to his brothers around him and said, "Put your guns down, everyone. Major Zhang Chi first saved our lives from the Japanese pursuers, then distributed food to us and found us a campsite. I was being mean-spirited, and I apologize."

After saying that, he walked to the tank and bowed solemnly to Zhang Chi.

"I was judging others by my own standards. Major Zhang, please punish me. I have no complaints."

Zhang Chi breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the atmosphere gradually ease.

He jumped down from the turret and walked on the slippery ground to Xiao Dongbei, his expression still cold and determined.

Just when Xiao Dongbei thought that Zhang Chi would beat him up or even whip him like those common White Party leaders.

Zhang Chi's expression relaxed, and he patted his shoulder, saying, "Being vigilant is a good thing. Alert people can live longer. Since you are so perceptive, you will be responsible for being the vanguard from now on, specializing in scouting the enemy."

He knew that this group of veterans had experienced too much betrayal, and it would not be easy to get them to trust him completely.

But he also knew that as long as he could lead them to victory again and again, trust would eventually return.

Zhang Chi’s words completely stunned Xiao Dongbei.

He didn't expect that even though he questioned Zhang Chi, Zhang Chi not only did not blame him, but instead assigned such an important task to him.

Although being the vanguard is dangerous, it is a position that only elite soldiers can hold.

Thinking of the legendary army of ancient times like "Yebushou", Xiao Dongbei's heart was filled with awe and gratitude for the young man in front of him.

He suddenly stood at attention and saluted with determination: "Major Zhang, don't worry! I, Xiao Dongbei, will not let you down even if I risk my life!"

Zhang Chi smiled and patted his shoulder: "Don't talk about life and death. We still have a long way to go in fighting the Japanese. Follow me and win a few battles first."

Xiao Dongbei had an embarrassed smile on his face: "If you can really lead us to win a few games against the Japanese, then my life will be yours."

When the soldiers saw this scene, their doubts finally disappeared completely.

The misunderstanding was resolved.

An LVTA-1 amphibious tank with a light blue Marine Corps livery and tactical number '0' gradually slowed down and slowly approached the river bank near the village.

The overall shape of the LVTA-1 amphibious tank is like a big-bellied, flat-tailed iron-hulled ship, with track systems installed on both sides, making it look very large and bloated.

The remaining soldiers of the 66th Regiment now truly believed that Staff Officer Zhang's family was prosperous and powerful in Pegu. First, the impressive heavy tanks, then the even more advanced amphibious vehicles. Could it be that Staff Officer Zhang's family was a deeply entrenched local tyrant?

"This is an amphibious transport tank that can navigate inland rivers. 'Xiao Dongbei', take a few people and take out the waterproof tents and beddings from the middle cargo hold. Tonight you and the lightly wounded will camp and sleep in the open space outside the village." Zhang Chi commanded the shocked crowd to act quickly.

He thought to himself, this is an amphibious light vehicle, and you guys act like you've never seen the world before. If I bring out the PBY-2 'Catalina' large seaplane, won't you be so scared that you will swallow your eyes into your stomachs?

A synthetic driver crawled out of the cockpit of the amphibious tank, jumped onto the shore, ran to Zhang Chi, stood at attention and saluted.

"Reporting to the commander, the No. 15 LVT amphibious vehicle crew is coming to rendezvous. 6 people were expected to arrive, and 6 people are actually here. Please give instructions!"

Zhang Chi casually returned the greeting.

"At ease. Your crews will take turns on duty on the LVT tonight. Pay attention to any movement on the river. If the Japanese approach, fire warning shots immediately."

Rather than letting the remnants of the 66th Regiment keep watch, Zhang Chi trusts the synthetic humans provided by these systems more.

"Okay, take them to move the things."

The tall and strong 'Xiao Dongbei', along with several soldiers and the synthetic driver, walked towards the amphibious tank.

The LVTA-1 amphibious tank is a modified model based on the open-top LVT amphibious transport vehicle with top armor and a turret added.

Therefore, both supplies and personnel could only enter and exit the transport compartment in the middle of the vehicle through several hatches on the top of the vehicle. It took a lot of effort for several people to take supplies such as tents and sleeping bags out of the vehicle.

Zhang Chi took more cigarettes and canned meat and went to find the village chief, asking him to coordinate with the villagers to vacate two thatched huts for the seriously injured to stay in.

At present, there is no professional doctor in Zhang Chi’s team, and there are no conditions for surgery here. Therefore, Zhang Chi can only take out bandages and penicillin from the first aid kit carried on the tank.

After finding someone to change the bandages for these seriously injured soldiers and feed them anti-inflammatory drugs, all Zhang Chi could do was pray to God.

The night is getting darker.

"This place is like heaven." A wounded soldier with mud on his face whispered with fatigue in his voice.

He lay in his sleeping bag, eyes wide open, quietly watching everything around him: the warm campfire, the quiet river, the aroma of straw in the air, and the salty taste of delicious canned sausages in his mouth. He almost forgot that he was still in a foreign country, surrounded by smoke and flames of war.

Feeling this rare moment of warmth and tranquility, he fell into a deep sleep.

At midnight, Zhang Chi, who was sleeping soundly under a Sherman tank, was awakened.

"Boss, wake up. The situation of those seriously injured soldiers is not good."

'Xiao Dongbei' squatted down and patted the stretched sleeping bag.

Zhang Chi rubbed his eyes and crawled out from under the tank. He followed Xiao Dongbei to the thatched huts where the seriously injured were housed.

Inside the thatched hut, several seriously injured soldiers with torso injuries were lying on the ground covered with thick straw, groaning in pain.

Zhang Chi quickly walked forward and touched their foreheads one by one.

Some are as cold as stone, and some are as hot as a charcoal stove. This is not a good sign.

Thinking that these were warriors who had fought in foreign countries for their motherland, but now they could only lie here groaning and waiting to die, Zhang Chi couldn't help but shed tears.

A seriously injured soldier suddenly reached out and grabbed Zhang Chi's wrist tightly as if he had a last breath.

"Brother, I have a worthless life. Before I died, I tasted meat, ate noodles made of white flour, and drank sugar water. This life is not in vain. Don't blame yourself. Just promise me that you will live well with the rest of the brothers."

After forcing himself to finish these words, he breathed his last.

"This is our second company deputy. He was hit in the chest by shrapnel from the Japanese grenade launcher while trying to save others. Woo woo woo."

'Xiao Dongbei', a big man who was over 1.8 meters tall, also burst into tears.

Several seriously injured people in the same room might not survive the night.

An atmosphere of sadness and despair permeated the thatched hut.

Zhang Chi, a college student, couldn't stand this atmosphere, so he escaped from the straw hut. He just happened to see a sneaky black shadow sneaking into the thatched hut of the village chief not far away.

Seeing this, Zhang Chi pulled out the dagger from his waist and handed it to Xiao Dongbei behind him, signaling him to follow him. He himself pulled out the M1911 pistol from his waist holster, and the two of them crept to the village chief's thatched hut.

Zhang Chi pricked up his ears and listened carefully, only to hear the voice of a middle-aged man coming from inside.

"Grandpa, don't be deceived by the sweet words and small favors of the Qian people. They are evil people who are here to help the John people oppress us. The Fusang people are here to liberate us. The Fusang patrol boat is downstream. I will row my boat in the middle of the night to notify them. The Qian people will not notice." (Bago language)

Then, the village chief's voice was heard.

"Kusuma, whoever kills whoever is displeased by the gods. Those people from the Qian Kingdom will only stay for a day or two and then leave. Why do you have to cause trouble?" (Pegu language)

"For food, for status. Grandpa, your father was the village chief, and so was your grandfather. You wouldn't understand. The Fuso propaganda team said that if you report a hidden wounded Qianguo soldier, you'll get five yen. There are dozens of Qianguo soldiers here. Then we'll be rich, and I can live in the town." (Pegu language)