The Flames of Resistance Against Japan in Jiangnan

Seeing Company Commander Du come out, Xu Wenqing said happily:

"Ah, Brother Du, you're here. That just scared me to death! I was trying to follow the main force to support the command post, but halfway there I saw the brothers ahead being ambushed by the Red Army. The fighting was so brutal, I still get chills thinking about it!"

"Why am I so unlucky? Why did I have to stay in the city tonight? If I had known the Red Army would attack tonight, I would have left this afternoon. Now look what's happened, they've got me stuck in the city, what am I going to do?"

Seeing Xu Wenqing's seemingly regretful expression, Company Commander Du couldn't help but interrupt and say:

"Brother Sun, you just said that the Red Army's main force is attacking the city? Are you sure you didn't see it wrong, Mom?"

Upon hearing this, Xu Wenqing immediately cursed and swore:

"If I'm wrong, may I die a horrible death. Didn't you hear that? These Red Army soldiers even have cannons! Is this something an ordinary small Red Army guerrilla unit would do? I'm a complete novice here, and I've only been to your territory before, brother. Seeing that there was no way to escape, I had no choice but to bring these surviving brothers with me to Brother Du's place for temporary refuge."

In the end, these Red Army soldiers still cornered me here. What should I do? My brothers and I have killed several Red Army soldiers. If they retaliate later, I'll definitely lose my head. No, no, I have to find a way to save my life. Let me think, there must be a way.

Seeing this seemingly obsessed platoon leader, who came from a good family and had some connections in the military, so cowardly and afraid of death, Company Commander Du didn't say much. He simply instructed his soldiers to prepare for defense. They absolutely couldn't let the Red Army charge in.

Just as Xu Wenqing finished muttering to himself amidst the somewhat disdainful stares of the guards, he suddenly exclaimed with wild joy:

"I've got it! I've thought of a great way. It will definitely save my life, Brother Du, you must help me. With this method, not only will I be saved, but you won't have to worry about the Red Army settling scores later."

Of course, no one would refuse a chance to survive. While Company Commander Du was still in surprise, He Zhengdao, feigning a sinister expression, whispered a seemingly reliable method in his ear. Company Commander Du, a seasoned soldier, seemed unimpressed, frowning with some doubt as he said:

"Brother Sun, isn't this a bit inappropriate?"

Xu Wenqing, however, spoke with righteous indignation:

"We have a deep-seated hatred for the Red Army. Imagine if we were captured by them and someone revealed that we had killed Red Army soldiers, we would all be doomed. You must understand, the Red Army's rule is to only kill officers who have committed heinous crimes, not these common soldiers."

The plan I came up with doesn't necessarily require killing them. It's just using them as a shield to force the Red Army outside to let us out of the city. Once we're out of the city, won't it be our territory?

Seemingly unwilling to be taken prisoner, much less die, Company Commander Du hesitated for a moment. Looking at the ever-increasing number of Red Army soldiers heading in his direction, he gritted his teeth and said:

"Alright, as the saying goes, 'No poison, no hero.' If the Red Army really refuses to let me leave the city, then we'll all perish together."

Upon hearing this, Xu Wenqing had already sentenced the company commander to death in his heart. However, he seemed quite pleased at the moment, praising Company Commander Du for his magnanimity and understanding that he shouldn't show sentimentality at this time.

He led the company commander, several officers of the garrison, and a platoon of special agents who were with him, into the prison, which was heavily guarded.

When the last cell door was opened, and seeing the Red Army soldiers staring at them, Company Commander Du was about to ask Xu Wenqing how many people he planned to bring out as shields. Little did they know, as Xu Wenqing led the officers in, one or two soldiers from the 55th Regiment's Special Service Company platoon deliberately stayed behind after each cell door was opened.

Before Company Commander Du could speak, Xu Wenqing said, sounding very pleased:

"Company Commander Du, thank you very much."

Just as Company Commander Du thought the other party was thanking him for agreeing to use the Red Army prisoners as shields, he discovered that the smiling Platoon Leader Sun had swiftly pulled out two pistols and pointed them directly at Du and a deputy company commander's heads.

This sudden turn of events left not only the Red Army soldiers in the prison dumbfounded, but also the Jiangxi Army officers who witnessed it. What on earth was going on?

Staring at the pistol pointed at his head, Company Commander Du of the Jiangxi Army Security Regiment, who was in charge of guarding the prison, was undoubtedly bewildered. Why would they point a gun at his head out of the blue? Besides, the trigger was already cocked; with just a slight flick of the finger, his head would surely be pierced.

Realizing something was amiss, Company Commander Du said in a somewhat ingratiating tone:

"Brother Sun, I'm old and can't be easily frightened. Could you put down the gun before we talk? Otherwise, if it goes off accidentally, I'll be done for."

Faced with Company Commander Du's obsequious manner, Xu Wenqing chuckled:

"So you still haven't come to your senses? Then let me tell you the truth: from now on, if you do as I say, this trigger will never be pulled. If you don't do as I say, then I guarantee that this day next year will be your death anniversary."

Oh! I forgot to remind you, my surname isn't Sun, but Xu Wenqing, the regimental commander of the 55th Regiment of the 19th Division of the Red Army. Come to think of it, my rank is a few levels higher than yours! It's not unjust that you fell into my hands, is it? Now, Company Commander Du, do you still think I'm joking with you?"

What you fear most is what happens!

As soon as Xu Wenqing pulled out a pistol and pressed it against Du's head, the other officers who entered were also subdued by Xu Wenqing's men and their weapons confiscated. Company Commander Du had already suspected that these men weren't from the Jiangxi Army. If they weren't from the Jiangxi Army, then logically, the Anhui Army, the Zhejiang Army, and the Central Army wouldn't have played such a big joke on him. After all, raiding a Red Army prisoner's cell was no small matter!

Moreover, the prison in Fuliang County holds over six hundred Red Army prisoners. If such a large number of prisoners were lost or stolen, it's no wonder that Commander-in-Chief Lu of the Jiangxi Army would be furious!

As Xu Wenqing spoke these words, the nearby Red Army prisoners exclaimed with a mixture of joy and surprise:

"Commander Xu, you've finally arrived! Is the force attacking Fuliang County outside our 10th Red Army Corps the main force? Does this mean our main force has returned, and we can rejoin the main force?"

Facing this Red Army cadre who appeared to hold a certain position in the Red Army, Xu Wenqing couldn't tell them the truth, so he said directly: