Chapter 14 of 100

Chapter 14

13 min read3,272 words

Two months later, it was already November, and the weather in the west had become very cold. Most of the wounded soldiers had returned to their units, and Hu Hao had lost his enthusiasm for the mission. He spent his days loafing around, and Colonel Zhang didn't have the time to manage him, as there might be a combat mission soon. He spent most of his time at his headquarters, eating and sleeping.

Hu Hao had just moved a chair to the door of his room to bask in the sun. It was warm and comfortable, and he soon fell asleep.

In his sleep, someone kicked him. At first, Hu Hao ignored it, preferring the comfort of the sun. But the person kept at it.

"Who is it? Do you want to die? Disturbing Grandpa's sleep!" Hu Hao couldn't take it anymore, opened his eyes, and sat up to curse.

"Ah, Brother, how did you come back? Weren't you always at headquarters?" Hu Hao saw it was Colonel Zhang, who was staring at him with both eyes. Hu Hao immediately stood up and said,

"You brat, sleeping in broad daylight, and calling yourself 'Grandpa'? Who's your grandpa?" Colonel Zhang started to hit him.

"Ah, Brother," Hu Hao could only dodge.

Colonel Zhang probably didn't want to argue with Hu Hao anymore and stopped after a dozen hits.

"Alright, quickly go inside and pack your weapons and ammunition. The unit is about to move out," Colonel Zhang said.

"Are we going to fight?" Hu Hao asked, moving closer to Colonel Zhang.

"Uh-huh," Colonel Zhang nodded. "Be careful, don't run around. I don't have much time to take care of you. Bullets on the battlefield don't have eyes. If you don't like fighting, go to the back and carry ammunition, got it?" Colonel Zhang said, worried.

"Brother, don't worry. What do you think of my marksmanship?" Hu Hao said proudly.

"I believe in your marksmanship, but you? Sigh!" Colonel Zhang shook his head.

"What's wrong with me? I've been pretty well-behaved lately, not causing any trouble. I haven't even gone to the county to get cigarettes; I've been smoking yours," Hu Hao said, a bit discontent.

"Uh-huh, not bad. I'll praise you for that. Here, this is for you," Colonel Zhang took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and gave it to Hu Hao.

"Brother, hehe, where did you get them?" Hu Hao happily took the cigarettes, opened the pack, and took one out to offer to Colonel Zhang, but Colonel Zhang refused. "I didn't smoke the ones you gave me last time."

"Oh," Hu Hao didn't know what to say for a moment.

"Alright, don't dawdle. Quickly pack your things. We don't know if we'll come back this time," Colonel Zhang said solemnly. He walked inside, and Hu Hao followed. In the room, Hu Hao took out his gun, packed his bedding and clothes, and tied them up with a rope. Colonel Zhang was also tying up his bedding and clothes.

"What's wrong, Brother? Is it that serious?" Hu Hao asked.

"Uh-huh, this time the Japanese are sending four divisions to encircle and annihilate our Eighth Route Army. Our regiment is responsible for holding back one division of 16,000 men until the other main forces can eliminate one division," Colonel Zhang said.

"What? Just our regiment of 2,000 men to hold back 16,000 men? How is that possible? We don't even have enough ammunition!" Hu Hao shouted loudly.

"Shut up, this is the order from above. Even if the whole regiment is wiped out, we must complete the mission!" Colonel Zhang said. "You, you," the colonel paused, not knowing what to say.

"Me, what, Brother?" Hu Hao asked.

"Forget it, Er Lang. If I fall this time, you run, run to the northwest. Don't stay in the army; just be a civilian. If I'm not around, no one will take care of you. Your temper will get you into trouble in the army," Colonel Zhang said resolutely.

"Brother, what are you saying? Don't worry, I won't cause trouble this time, and nothing will happen to you," Hu Hao said.

"Forget it, I won't argue with you. If that day comes, just do as I say. Let's go, the unit has already moved out," Colonel Zhang said, walking outside. Hu Hao followed with his gun.

The unit moved to a hill about 30 li away from the village. The soldiers had already started building defensive positions and digging trenches.

"Brother, are the Japanese coming from the county?" Hu Hao asked.

"Uh-huh, the Japanese have several thousand troops around the county, and more are coming. The county is stockpiled with a large amount of weapons and ammunition. This is the only route to our headquarters, and it's also the path the Japanese must take. We have to hold this position," Colonel Zhang said. After arriving at the regimental command post, Colonel Zhang put down his bedding and spread out a map. The political commissar and the chief of staff were also there.

"This battle won't be easy. With our limited forces, we have to hold back the Japanese for so long. If we just defend here, the Japanese will break through in less than three days," the chief of staff, Li, said, an experienced soldier.

"That's true. We have no natural defenses here. How can we hold back the enemy with just these hills?" Colonel Zhang said. "But there's no other way. The Japanese have only this one route to enter, and we have to guard it."

"Brother, why don't we plant landmines on the road and destroy the roads to slow the Japanese down? We can also destroy the roads behind us. Since we walk on foot, and the Japanese rely on vehicles to transport ammunition, destroying the roads will slow them down," Er Lang said.

"Uh-huh, Er Lang, that's a good idea!" Chief of Staff Li's eyes lit up.

"Right, we'll destroy the roads and plant landmines," Colonel Zhang agreed.

"But we don't have many landmines," the political commissar said, who was in charge of the unit's logistics and knew the situation well.

"Brother, didn't I get a lot of hand grenades last time? Do we still have them?" Hu Hao asked.

"Yes, we still have quite a few. Can they be used as landmines?" the political commissar asked.

"Sure, Brother, Political Commissar, Chief of Staff, give them to me. I'll take care of it. I guarantee the Japanese will take three to five days to reach our position," Hu Hao said.

"Can you guarantee it?" Colonel Zhang asked.

"Of course, I'll sign a military order," Hu Hao said firmly.

"Alright, give him those boxes of hand grenades," Colonel Zhang said, looking at Hu Hao and asking, "Do you need anything else?"

"Brother, I need about ten soldiers. Do we have enough explosive charges?" Hu Hao asked.

"No problem with the soldiers. I'll assign a squad from my guard platoon to you. As for the explosive charges, ask the political commissar," Colonel Zhang said.

"We still have quite a few explosive charges. Can they be used as landmines?" the political commissar asked uncertainly.

"Sure, having explosive charges is even better. When the Japanese come, if they hit my explosive charges, I'll give them a good taste of it," Hu Hao said happily.

"Alright, let's go, Er Lang. I'll get those things with you," the political commissar said, walking out.

"Xiao Li, take a squad and go with Er Lang to plant the landmines. Be careful and don't let him cause trouble," Colonel Zhang said to his guard, Xiao Li.

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