The War of Resistance Against Japan: Special Operations Battalion Traverses Shanghai and Slaughters

Chapter 221 The Death Flag The victory celebration banquet of the Fifth War Zone that night was quite lively.

When the people of Taierzhuang heard that they had won a great victory, they took to the streets to celebrate with gongs and drums.

At the same time, the people also brought out pigs, chickens, and ducks raised at home and gave them to the Nationalist army as a token of their gratitude.

Commander Li also ordered the logistics department to distribute large quantities of food to the various units.

Before the victory celebration banquet began, Commander Tang received news that his nephew had been arrested by Commander Li.

So they rushed over to negotiate.

Relying on his status as a direct subordinate of the Central Army and the Nationalist government, Commander Tang seemed intent on confronting and accusing Commander Li upon meeting him.

Commander Li was already quite dissatisfied with him, so he asked Bai Chongxi to tell him the whole story.

After hearing this, Commander Tang realized he was in the wrong, and his tone softened immediately.

"Commander Li, Deputy Chief of the General Staff Bai, my nephew is young and doesn't know how to think things through. I hope you can forgive him this time. I will definitely punish him severely when I get back."

Commander Li's purpose was to give Commander Tang a warning, so he didn't really want to execute Ding Mingnan.

"Alright, since Commander Tang has come to plead for him, I'll spare his life this time, considering he's your nephew."

Commander Tang had just breathed a sigh of relief when Commander Li pulled a surprise.

"However, he may be spared the death penalty, but he cannot escape punishment. He will be given ten strokes of the military rod as a warning. I hope your nephew can learn from his mistakes and correct them."

"what……"

Commander Tang never expected that even after he had begged for mercy, his nephew would still be beaten.

After receiving ten strokes of the military rod, you won't be able to get out of bed for at least a month.

But Commander Tang thought again that being beaten was better than being shot, so he had no choice but to accept it.

After turning away, Commander Tang swore in his heart that he would not be a gentleman if he did not avenge this wrong.

Seeing Ding Mingnan's buttocks bruised and battered, Commander Tang was so angry that he returned directly to his unit, not even interested in attending the victory celebration banquet.

There were more than two hundred officers of regimental rank and above from the Fifth War Zone, excluding those from the 20th Army Corps who did not attend, and they were seated at more than twenty tables.

As the commander-in-chief of the Fifth War Zone, Commander Li had to make a speech.

"Gentlemen, thanks to everyone's unity and fearlessness in the face of death, and with the strong assistance of the Dragon Flame Legion, our Fifth War Zone has achieved this great victory at Taierzhuang, which is an unprecedented victory since the start of the War of Resistance."

"Clap clap clap..." Everyone applauded enthusiastically, and everyone's face showed an extremely proud smile.

"I hope that you will continue to work together with one heart and one mind, fight bravely and tenaciously against the Japanese devils to the end, and achieve even greater victories."

"Today, everyone can drink to their heart's content and drink until they're completely drunk."

After Commander Li finished speaking, he invited Long Fei, who was sitting next to him, to say a few words on behalf of the Dragon Flame Legion.

Long Fei stood up, looked around, and then said.

"I just want to say here that now that wolves have invaded our country and Japanese pirates are rampaging, as Chinese men, we must serve our country with our lives, fight to the death, drive out the Japanese pirates, and reclaim our land."

"Good...good...well said..."

Everyone was so moved by Long Fei's words that they stood up and applauded enthusiastically.

Although Commander Li stated that everyone could drink to their heart's content and get thoroughly drunk.

But since it was wartime, everyone remained restrained as soldiers, so no one actually got drunk.

Two hours later, the celebration banquet ended, and everyone returned to their respective units in time.

However, Wang Shijun invited several division commanders from the 22nd Army Group to the headquarters of his 125th Division.

After arriving at Wang Shijun's division headquarters, the division commanders couldn't help but ask questions.

"Brother, why did you call us here so mysteriously? What important thing is it?"

"That's right, it's so late, we all wanted to sleep, but you dragged us here."

Wang Shijun chuckled, ordered several soldiers to bring up the canned goods and wine, then dismissed them and commanded that no one was to enter and disturb them without his permission.

Next, Wang Shijun opened the can and poured wine for everyone.

"Well, it's not that I didn't drink enough tonight, so I called you guys over so we brothers could have a good drink together."

"I still have a few bottles of 'Chunhe Rong' aged liquor in my bag, everyone please have a taste."

Chen Li, the commander of the 127th Division, looked at Wang Shijun with suspicion and asked in a low voice.

"Bro, I get the feeling you're holding back. What's the joke? Be honest, don't beat around the bush."

Wang Mingzhang was the oldest and most composed among them.

Although he knew that Wang Shijun must have something important to discuss when he called everyone here, he thought that since they were already here, Wang Shijun would say it sooner or later, so why rush it?

So he picked up his glass, drank it all in one gulp, and called out to everyone.

"Hmm, this wine is good. I said everyone come and chat, what's the rush? Let's drink first."

After a few drinks, Wang Shijun, emboldened by the alcohol, slowly began to get to the point.

“Hey guys, we Sichuan Army came out of Sichuan to fight the Japanese invaders. We’re not born of a stepmother, so why should we be looked down upon by others?”

"Not giving us supplies and not replenishing our weapons and ammunition is bad enough, but they also don't want us to stay and fight the Japanese."

"Although Commander Li of the Fifth War Zone eventually took us in, it was partly because he was short of troops and partly because he pitied us."

"Anyway, I feel uncomfortable and frustrated. We risked our lives to fight the Japanese, so why should we be treated as inferior? Why should we have to be subservient to others? Why should we be brought down?"

Although Wang Shijun's words were a complaint, they resonated with everyone in the same situation.

"Yeah, it's so damn pathetic. As Deputy Commander Xu of the Dragon Flame Legion put it, he said we are like the Chinese character '川' with three vertical strokes, standing tall and upright."

“Since we are the upright and indomitable Sichuan Army, why should they look down on us? Just because we wear straw sandals and thin clothes and carry old-fashioned Hanyang rifles?”

"Our Sichuan Army fights with our lives on the line, preferring death to surrender. Why should we bow down under someone else's roof? Why can't we hold our heads high?"

Wang Mingzhang was also deeply moved at this moment. He took out a piece of white cloth from his pocket and slowly unfolded it.

"This is the death flag that my father gave me when I left Sichuan."

Everyone looked up and saw a large, powerful character for "death" written in the center of the white cloth.

Several lines of smaller characters were written on either side of the character “死” (death).

On the right: "I do not wish you to serve my parents with filial piety, but only that you serve your country with loyalty."

On the left, it reads: "When the nation is in peril and the Japanese invaders are ferocious, the rise and fall of the nation is the responsibility of every citizen. I originally wanted to serve, but I am too old. Fortunately, I have a son who volunteered. I hereby bestow upon him a flag, to be carried at all times, to wipe away blood when wounded, and to wrap him in death. Go forth bravely and never forget your duty."

Several division commanders stood up solemnly, looking at the death flag with extremely solemn expressions.

"Anyway, I didn't plan to come back alive. I thought I would die in Teng County this time, but I didn't expect that not only did I not die, but I also won a great victory."

After Wang Mingzhang finished speaking, Wang Shijun added to himself.

"Brother Wang, we owe our division's survival to the Dragon Flame Legion."

Wang Mingzhang nodded in agreement, then lit a cigarette and looked at Wang Shijun.

“Brother, we all share the same surname, Wang. We were one family five hundred years ago. Since we’re family, let’s be straightforward. Tell us what you want to say.”

Since Wang Mingzhang had already brought up the matter, Wang Shijun was prepared to speak frankly as well.

"Brother Wang, gentlemen, the reason I invited you all here for drinks today is because I have something to discuss with you."

"I don't want to be humiliated anymore. I want to kill the Japanese devils in a good way."

"So, I don't want to work for the National Revolutionary Army. You see, this time Commander Tang's 20th Army Corps of the Central Army is just going through the motions, trying to preserve its strength and using us ragtag troops as cannon fodder."

"I've decided to join the Dragon Flame Legion, and I've already spoken with the Legion Commander. What do you gentlemen think?"