Lower reaches of the Pathein River, in the jungle near Kigandang…
The weather was dry and the soldiers' heavy steps left deep footprints in the forest. Everyone's face showed a sense of exhaustion.
This reconnaissance company has continued eastwards for seven or eight kilometers from the river crossing.
Because of the heavy task, they just rested briefly after the battle by the river, and then set off on the road.
Unfortunately, the fatigue after the battle and the exhaustion from the long march continued to erode everyone's mind, and the dozens or twenty kilograms of equipment on their bodies were more like shackles to torture them.
"Why…"
Company Commander Chen Xinmin wiped the sweat from his forehead. His sore thighs could not move forward. Even he could not bear the intensity of the march.
"Everyone is here. Rest where you are. The second platoon is responsible for guarding. The signal corps will immediately contact the third platoon in front and tell the instructor to let the brothers take a rest."
"yes!"
After finally hearing the order to rest in place, the soldiers were like a collapsed mountain. They sat down on the ground panting heavily, otherwise they would not have been able to lie down if conditions did not allow them.
Qiu Lin hugged his knees and leaned against the big tree, sitting alone on the edge of the team without saying a word. He didn't even notice the people coming next to him.
"Drink some water..."
Li Shuanggui handed over the kettle and looked at the other party with a complicated expression.
Qiu Lin silently took it and took a sip. His worried look no longer had the cheerful smile of the past. Perhaps he had experienced too many things today, and he had not yet fully digested them.
Li Shuanggui also sat down next to the tree and said earnestly: "Hey, don't blame your brother for being cruel. Only you will understand the bad things on the battlefield once you have experienced them."
"It's okay, brother, I understand... I'm just a little angry with myself..." Qiu Lin lowered his head and replied silently, fiddling with a few bullets in his hand. He didn't know what he was thinking at the moment.
"Hey, it's nothing, I'm telling you..."
"Big Li! Come here quickly!"
At this time, shouts came from the distance, and the company commander was waving to Li Shuanggui to come over.
"coming!"
Originally, he wanted to persuade Qiu Lin to be more open-minded and not have such heavy ideological baggage, but now he had no choice. Li Shuanggui had no choice but to pat the other party on the shoulder and then ran over.
"What's the matter, company commander?"
Li Shuanggui came over to take a look. Well, there were quite a few people here. The platoon leaders of the other two platoons were also there. Except for the instructor who led people to explore the front, all the junior officers of the entire reconnaissance company were here.
Chen Xinmin didn't waste any time. He knelt down and took out the map, placed it on the ground, and then said:
"Let's talk about the situation. Our current location is here, and it should be within 5 kilometers of the coordinates given by the regiment leader. So I think... we may be close to the target. Everyone should stay alert later, because there is always something going on here. You may meet Japanese people.”
The second platoon leader glanced at everyone and said worriedly: "There was such a big commotion at the river just now. I'm afraid the little devils have already received the information and ran away in advance."
After hearing this, everyone fell silent and felt heavy in their hearts.
If that were the case, then their trip would have been in vain. So many people had died but nothing had been achieved. The shadow of mission failure made everyone feel uncomfortable.
"It shouldn't be the case. We marched immediately after the battle. No matter how fast the little devil was, he couldn't get far, and the number of artillery units was not small. Based on the intensity of the bombardment, the opponent was at least an artillery regiment. , there are about fifteen large-caliber mountain cannons.”
Chen Xinmin stroked his beard and analyzed it carefully, then pointed at the map and continued:
"This area is full of bushes and hills. It's easy to hide people, but it's not easy for them to move quickly...
The instructor has already led people to search for traces of the escaping Japanese army. Their retreat direction is consistent with our marching route. I think... maybe they can lead us to find the artillery unit, so we will continue to search patiently. "
It makes sense to say so. If people have reached this point and just retreat like this, no one will be willing to accept it.
"Company Commander, you also know that our company has suffered heavy casualties now, less than half of them are mobile, and there is not much ammunition. The brothers are still very tired. Even if we find them, what can we do with just this few people?"
The second platoon leader had little confidence in this. He was more worried about the consequences for the soldiers of the reconnaissance company.
The river battle cost the entire company more than forty people, and twenty-three seriously injured people were left waiting at the same place. Only about fifty people were able to move, and they were all exhausted physically and mentally. Everyone's ammunition was exhausted. Less than a base.
"We were going deep behind enemy lines now, and if we were to encounter another wave of enemy attacks, maybe... Well, more than half of our second platoon's casualties were casualties, and the soldiers' emotions were a bit difficult to control. It's better to go back to solve the problem of the wounded first, and then contact the regiment headquarters. Make other plans.”
"Grandma, Zhang Chongnian! If you want to talk about losses, our platoon should complain, right? I didn't say anything, why the hell are you talking about, are you afraid of death? If you are afraid of death, don't be a soldier!"
The upright Li Shuanggui opened his eyes angrily and shouted dissatisfied that he despised those who flinched from the battle the most. If the company commander hadn't been here, he would have punched them directly.
"Bald Li, why are you pretending to be a big-tailed wolf? If you hadn't rushed into a row, would there have been so many casualties?"
The second platoon leader stood up and argued unconvinced.
"I'll fucking kill you!"
Li Shuanggui's anger suddenly rushed to his head. He grabbed the opponent's collar and tried to punch him.
He was so angry that he didn't care about anything else. If he said something like this, he deserved to be beaten.
The second platoon leader was no pushover. He grabbed Li Shuanggui's fist with his backhand and threw him to the ground.
Li Shuanggui, who had suffered a loss, could not let it go. He quickly got up and knocked down the second platoon leader with a flying dive. The two of them were like gangsters in the market. They were fighting each other with punches and slaps.
The soldiers were all shocked. The two platoon leaders actually started fighting. This was a great fight.
Looking at the two people rolling on the ground, Chen Xinmin looked livid and speechless. He waved his hand and asked the soldiers next to him to quickly go up and pull them apart.
The soldiers around them hurriedly stepped forward and separated the red-faced two people with all their efforts, all trying to persuade them to forget it.
When Li Shuanggui was pulled away, he kicked the long butt of the second platoon leader violently. He immediately showed a mean smile as his plot succeeded.
"Fuck!" The second platoon leader was furious. He immediately wanted to rush forward to avenge the kick, but he was held tightly by the people around him and could not get rid of him.
At this moment, Qiu Lin came to the side quietly, holding a wooden stick in his hand.
He clenched the stick in his hand and stared at the second platoon leader who was surrounded by the crowd with ferocious eyes. When the other party was not paying attention, he raised his stick and rushed forward.
