Vanguards of the War of Resistance! Let's travel back in time together, classmates!

Chapter Seven: Full of Vigor and High Spirits

The morning dew is crystal clear and full of life, and the weather in early October already brings a slight chill to the air.

Shangguan Yun and the others were dressed in spring clothes, which were alright, but since they couldn't make a fire, they all slept on the grass, which felt very uncomfortable.

A drop of dew hit his face, chilling him to the bone. Shangguan Yun stretched and began calling out, "Hey, students, wake up, time for morning exercises..."

Ban Ge jumped up. "Coming, coming right away... Whew... Wait a minute... I'm a day student, I don't get to do morning exercises, you scared me! I rubbed my eyes. Shangguan, why are you up so early... Let me sleep a little longer..."

"Haha... Get up quickly, look over there, the Japanese are already doing their morning exercises..."

Shangguan Yun lay half-reclined in a patch of grass high up, his hands forming two circles in front of his eyes, almost as if he were looking through binoculars.

Their spot on the small hillside was quite nice. Several large trees grew on the slope, and next to it was a flat area surrounded by waist-high thatch. The flat area had been cleared by everyone, and thatch was laid on the ground. Brother Ban and Sister Zhu had just woken up and were rubbing their eyes.

"Little brother, come quick and see, this person is awake!" Sister Zhu called out as she straightened her clothes and smoothed her hair.

Shangguan Yun quickly walked over and said, "Don't move yet. You're injured in many places. Take it slow..."

The guy sat up abruptly, looking defensive. "Who are you people? Where am I? Oh... ss... ah..."

"Don't panic, we are all Xia people. You fainted on the beach yesterday, and I carried you back," Shangguan Yun said.

Just as Brother Ban was about to speak, he was stopped by Shangguan Yun's gaze. Sister Zhu glanced at Shangguan Yun, her eyes darting around, understanding the situation perfectly. When traveling, people's hearts are unpredictable, so she dared not speak carelessly. It was best to let Shangguan Yun handle everything.

“I see. I apologize for my rudeness. I am Min Wenqian, captain of the 2nd Company, 3rd Battalion, Independent Regiment, 105th Division under Marshal Zhang of the Northeast Army. I am grateful to you all for saving my life. May I ask your names, heroes? I will repay you handsomely in the future…” He then stood up and bowed deeply.

Shangguan Yun waved his hand, "Not at all, Company Commander Min, we...we've also fallen on hard times. It's nothing, just a small favor. Don't worry about it, hehe..."

"How could that be? One should repay even the smallest kindness with the greatest gratitude, let alone a life-saving grace. Although I, Min Wenqian, am a martial artist, I know the principles of benevolence, righteousness, propriety, and trustworthiness. How could I be impolite?" Min Wenqian looked at his cleaned wounds and was deeply moved.

"Ah...hahaha...Since that's the case, Company Commander Min, there's no need for formalities. We've all ended up here in the same boat, and our rescue of you was just a coincidence. We're fellow sufferers, how can we stand by and watch someone die? Please don't talk about repaying us...it makes us ashamed...hehe..." Shangguan Yun said.

“Well, since that’s the case, I will remember your great kindness and repay you in the future. May I ask your names?” Min Wenqian said, cupping his hands in greeting.

Shangguan Yun observed the man's demeanor and saw that he was tall and imposing, with a dignified appearance, straightforward and polite, and exuding an aura of righteousness. He couldn't help but feel a sense of respect for him.

"Um... I am Shangguan Yun, a student of the eighth class of the Central Military Academy. This is my fellow townsman Li Dechao, and this is my cousin Zhu Yanping. The three of us went out of the pass to visit relatives and friends in Changbai Mountain, but we encountered misfortune and failed to escape by boat. We ended up stranded on this deserted island and still do not know where we are..." Shangguan Yun said with a cupped hands and a smile.

"Ah! So you are a top student from the Central Military Academy. It's a pleasure to meet you..." Min Wenqian said with a look of shock, then clasped his hands in a salute.

The three returned the greeting. "May I ask what your plans are, Company Commander Min?" Shangguan Yun asked.

"Oh dear, I almost messed up something important. My mission is to get to Jinzhou by sea and inform the young marshal about the situation outside the Great Wall. Moreover, the Japanese planes are about to bomb Jinzhou. What should we do..." Min Wenqian looked anxious and paced back and forth.

"Is that so? Company Commander Min, don't be anxious. Not to mention that we are trapped here and unable to leave, even if we did leave, we probably couldn't outrun the Japanese planes. However, the young marshal is a lucky man and must have already received intelligence and evacuated in advance. Company Commander Min, please calm down..." Shangguan Yun said.

“Yes, that’s true. The enemy situation is complicated now. When the regimental commander ordered me to break out, my independent regiment had already suffered more than half casualties. We are blocking the enemy along the coast of Dandong. I imagine our situation is dire…sigh…” Min Wenqian looked gloomy and shook his head with a sigh.

"Company Commander Min, there's no need for that. With the nation in peril and powerful enemies at our doorstep, we Chinese sons and daughters should strive to be strong and fight back. We must be ready to die for our country, even if it means facing millions of enemies... What is there to fear?" Shangguan Yun spoke with righteous indignation, which made Min Wenqian's spirits lift and he nodded repeatedly.

Sister Zhu's eyes also gleamed. Brother Ban, not understanding the situation, nodded in agreement, but neither of them pointed out that Shangguan Yun was lying.

The group sat down for a long talk. Shangguan Yun dissected the current situation and hit the nail on the head. He analyzed the war with great enthusiasm. With just a few words, Min Wenqian praised him repeatedly, saying that he was indeed a top talent from the Central Military Academy, proficient in both literature and martial arts, and truly admirable!

Shangguan Yun chuckled and asked, "How is Company Commander Min's injury? He should be able to move around freely."

"It's nothing serious, just some minor injuries. A little rest will do the trick," Min Wenqian said.

Shangguan Yun gritted his teeth. "Alright, since that's the case, we need to act quickly. The Japanese haven't discovered us yet. We need to prepare. A direct confrontation is not an option. We can't just throw our lives away. If we can preserve our strength, there will be other opportunities. Tonight, we'll seize a boat and escape, and so on..."

The group listened and nodded in agreement.

Min Wenqian's eyes sparkled with admiration. He never expected this handsome young man to be so extraordinary. At such a young age, he had such insight, handled matters properly, and was meticulous in his thinking. Given time, he would surely achieve great things. A sense of admiration flashed through his mind, and his heart surged with emotion.

Shangguan Yun glanced over, a knowing look on his face. "Hehe, you little punk, I can't fool you. Come with me, there are plenty of benefits, haha..." Of course, he couldn't say these thoughts out loud.

"Brother Min, do you know where we are and how far we are from the mainland?"

Min Wenqian said, "I came from the Dandong area by boat. On the way, I encountered Japanese warships and ran all the way here. However, I estimate that this place is not far from the mainland. It should be located in the Changhai Islands, only a few dozen kilometers away from Zhuanghe County."

“Well, in that case, we need to make a good plan. Company Commander Min, what do you think of this arrangement…” Shangguan Yun said.

"Hmm, not bad, young man, you're quite clever. This arrangement is truly flawless, haha..."

“Not at all, since that’s the case, let’s split up. Sister Zhu, you stay here. Company Commander Min and I will go to the bamboo grove to the west to prepare materials. Brother Ban, fetch some water. Let’s get started.”