The Flames of Resistance Against Japan in Jiangnan

The platoon leader, who had been poked by a pistol barrel, clutched his still-bleeding arm and roared:

"Are you still standing there looking for death? Didn't you hear the Red Army grandfather say, 'Put down your weapons and surrender'? Can't you understand human language?"

Being obsequious to the strong, yet extremely arrogant towards the weak and subordinates—this is a common superior-subordinate relationship in the White Army.

The two security soldiers, who had been scolded, obediently put down their guns, squatted down with their heads in their hands, and let Hu Zi pick up their rifles, while Xu Wenqing and his guards forced them into the courtyard where the Red Army soldiers were being held.

Looking at the sergeant left behind, his hands trembling as he held his gun, the platoon leader, without Xu Wenqing needing to urge him, launched into another torrent of abuse. Looking at the weapon in Xu Wenqing's hand, and at the platoon leader and two sentries standing obediently before him, the soldier, unusually firm, said:

“No, I won’t hand over my gun unless he promises not to kill me.”

Faced with this soldier who was clearly terrified yet still trying to act tough and make demands, Xu Wenqing simply raised his hand and fired a shot. The platoon leader felt a ringing in his ears. Because when he fired, Xu Wenqing offered no warning whatsoever. The soldier had just said he wouldn't surrender his weapon, and Xu Wenqing didn't even utter a word of persuasion before firing.

Such ruthless methods terrified the other two surrendered soldiers, who immediately knelt on the ground and begged for mercy. Having no interest in dealing with such spineless cowards, Xu Wenqing immediately ordered the three survivors to lie prostrate on the ground. Anyone who dared to raise their head or get up would be shot without hesitation.

The soldier who had just been shot between the eyebrows clearly told the three survivors that Xu Wenqing's marksmanship was no joke.

Having lost contact with the main force, these Red Army soldiers, who had been hiding and fleeing, were searched out of their homes by these "white dogs" (traitors). They knew their fate would be grim. Yet, they remained steadfast in their belief that the Party they were loyal to would send someone to rescue them.

Perhaps they could have chosen death rather than surrender when captured. But death is easier said than done. That's why they've gritted their teeth and persevered until now.

It wasn't until they saw Xu Wenqing, holding a pistol to force the security officer who had just been whipping them for amusement, into the courtyard, that they finally knew that God had taken pity on them and that their rescuers had finally arrived.

Looking at Xu Wenqing, the soldier guarding them refused to surrender and immediately shot him down without saying a word. The Red Army soldiers, who had previously suffered humiliation at the hands of these men, also felt a great sense of satisfaction.

When Xu Wenqing put on a slightly sad but sincere expression, he instructed the guards to untie their ropes:

"Comrades, we are late, and we have caused you to suffer."

The oldest of the five prisoners, a veteran of the Red Army, seemed somewhat agitated as he spoke:

"Comrade, which unit are you from? Has our main force returned?"

In response to the veteran Red Army soldier's urgent inquiry, Xu Wenqing replied with a hint of bitterness:

"We are the 55th Regiment. When the troops were transferring, our regiment was the rearguard. We just arrived today and ran into the white dogs arresting people. That's when we found out you were captured. If nothing unexpected happens, our regiment should be searching everywhere for soldiers like you right now."

However, we are at least a hundred kilometers away from the main force of the army. It will probably take some time to catch up with them. Enough said. I'll untie you first, and we can consider our next move after dealing with these white dogs.”

Upon hearing that Xu Wenqing had also fallen behind, the Red Army soldiers' spirits immediately dampened again. However, they were still happy to hear news of the main force. As long as they survived, they knew they would eventually catch up with the main force.

After the guards cut the ropes binding the Red Army soldiers with their bayonets, Xu Wenqing looked with some heartache at a young soldier who collapsed to the ground, his spirit broken, as soon as he was untied. From the young soldier's childish face, Xu Wenqing knew that he was definitely still a minor.

In the 21st century, children their age would likely still be living in an ivory tower, enjoying the innocence of school life and the care of their families. But in this era, for them to experience such hardship at such a young age is truly heartbreaking.

Looking at the young Red Army soldier, his body covered in wounds from the torture, Xu Wenqing felt a pang of unease. His anger also flared up at the three security regiment soldiers who lay motionless on the ground.

Only after questioning older veterans of the Red Army did they learn that the young soldier belonged to the 21st Division of the 10th Army Corps of the Red Army. He had been separated from his unit during a battle with the White Army while the unit was passing through this area. His hometown was Jiangxi Province, which is known to later generations as an old revolutionary base area, and his age was exactly as Xu Wenqing had predicted—just over fifteen years old.

Perhaps because the young soldier was considered easier to interrogate, the officers deliberately subjected him to severe torture. What moved even the veteran Red Army soldiers was that the young soldier didn't utter a single word throughout the entire ordeal.

Even the veteran Red Army soldiers only learned his identity when no one else was around. These fellow prisoners of war questioned him, and only then did the stubborn young man reveal his unit, birthplace, and age. As for details about his other companies and officers, even the veteran prisoners couldn't find out.

After a thorough examination, Xu Wenqing felt somewhat relieved. The young soldier's injuries, while frightening to look at, were actually mostly superficial. The real reason he fainted was most likely from hunger.

After making the guards and the three Guangxi soldiers lying on the ground also experience being bound, Xu Wenqing decided to rest in the courtyard for a while, eat his fill, and make some dry rations before continuing his journey.

To avoid disturbing the villagers, He Zhengdao ordered the guards to keep four Red Army soldiers in the courtyard while he, along with Hu Zi and most of the guards, carried all the captured weapons to the resting area. Li Youcai led the guerrillas to find food. As for the bodies of the security regiment members, Xu Wenqing couldn't take them with him and left them there, believing someone would collect them when they left the next day.

Perhaps due to the arrival of this security team, none of the younger villagers could be seen; only older villagers were present. When Li Youcai, dressed in civilian clothes, offered to buy grain with silver dollars, these villagers were moved by his kindness. Soon, some villagers even managed to save a portion of their carefully stored grain and give it to him.