April 30, 1939, 11:00 am.

Tai'an City.

At this moment, inside and outside Tai'an City were completely transformed into a ruined land, filled with smoke from the burning fire, and scorched earth all over the ground, and the traces of blood left on the ground can be seen from time to time.

Logically speaking, there should be many traces of blood left, but at this moment the red blood has long been integrated with the scorched earth and turned into black.

But there were many corpses lying on the ground!

The joint army formed by the Longtou Guerrillas and the 2nd Army Brigade of the 2nd Army, and has been fighting fiercely for a long time with the 10th Japanese Division.

Especially at 4 o'clock last night, the Japanese army suddenly concentrated heavy firepower and launched a main attack on our army's north city gate, and other three gates in the east, south and west.

Fortunately, before the Japanese army attacked, the third battalion commander Ruinian accurately interpreted the conspiracy of the Japanese division commander Yoshio Shinozuka, otherwise the Tai'an Castle would probably not be able to be protected.

The war lasted until around 11 a.m. for more than seven hours. The Japanese army did not stop attacking for almost a moment. There were no less than 500 shells from mortars alone, and the consumption of grenades and bullets was astronomical.

The tragic level of this battle was that even Ouyang, who had fought countless battles in all sizes, could not help but feel shocked.

The tragic battle of this battle is comparable to the bloody battle of the Chinese Sect and the Battle of Baishiling, Guangdong.

At 11 a.m., the Japanese offensive finally stopped.

The surviving soldiers had no time to feel sad, and they all collapsed on the ground and were exhausted.

Ouyang immediately ordered: "Take this opportunity to immediately provide fresh water and food supply to each department, especially the people in the city, to give as much as they need."

"The medical team is working hard to rescue the wounded. No matter what expensive medicine it is, we can use it for me. We must not let our brothers die on the operating table."

~~~~~~

"The guard company, all dispatched to search for the survivors under the ruins."

"The rest of the departments shall take turns to repair the fortifications in various places in a timely manner."

A series of commands were continuously issued from the command center, and the entire joint army was running at full speed like a huge machine.

Although the soldiers were already exhausted, no one complained, because everyone understood one truth: only by defending Tai'an City can one win a glimmer of hope.

Half an hour later.

Chu Yunfei came to the command center with a dusty face, his expression was extremely dim, and he sat down with his head down.

"How is the casualties now?" Ouyang asked.

Hearing this, Chu Yunfei raised his head, and his extremely red eyes directly stinged Ouyang's nerves.

Chu Yunfei sighed, "In the past few hours, more than 1,000 brothers have fallen, and there are also entire rows of people who have been killed in the entire company. Especially the Ruinian unit of the Third Battalion of the Longtou Guerrillas stationed on the defense line of the North City Gate, there is only one company of more than a hundred people left."

"Yeah!" Ouyang nodded heavily.

During the battle last night, Ruinian defended the North City Gate defense line was the main offensive point of the Japanese army. After hours of fierce fighting, countless soldiers died.

Just now, Ouyang had already received Ruinian's report.

The third battalion has nearly 500 people in four companies, but now there are only 122 people left, and each of them is injured.

Ouyang immediately proposed to replace the Third Battalion and let other teams replace the Third Battalion to defend the North City Gate.

However, Ruinian refuted his decision.

"Commander, even if all the soldiers of my third battalion were killed, they would never retreat to the back. Otherwise, it would be a shame for our lives. Our military honor must be defended with our own lives! If we retreat today, how can the 122 people who have survived be worthy of the hundreds of brothers who have already sacrificed?"

Ruinian gritted his teeth and said, "So, please ask the commander to let our third battalion continue to defend the defense line of the North City Gate. I, Ruinian, assure you that as long as there is one person in my third battalion, I will never let the Japanese enter Tai'an City from the North City Gate!"

Ruinian said this, although Ouyang couldn't bear it, he still chose to respect the decisions of Ruinian and the soldiers of the Third Battalion.

The morale of the army is brave and irreversible!

~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~

East City Gate.

The First Battalion of the Longtou Guerrillas, Yang Liqing's troops.

At this moment, all the soldiers who survived were lying on the ground, leaning against the city tower, looking at the beacons of Tai'an City.

Battalion Commander Yang Liqing kept walking among the soldiers and communicated cordially with every soldier.

"Hello battalion commander!"

A soldier with a heavy bandage on his head saluted.

Yang Liqing immediately saluted.

Although the Eighth Route Army has explicit regulations that salutes are not allowed on the battlefield, which is to prevent the commander from being attacked by the Japanese army, everyone has no such concern at the moment.

Who knows if he can survive today?

Yang Liqing touched the little soldier's head and couldn't help but smile and said, "Hehe, Su Xiaocheng, you guy didn't pee your pants today."

"Hahaha!"

Hearing this, some soldiers around him couldn't help laughing.

Su Xiaocheng, from Suzhou, Jiangsu, is 17 years old this year.

After the Battle of Songhu in 1937, his parents, brothers and sisters were all slaughtered by the Japanese army and fled north to Shandong. He was only 15 years old that year.

Now he is already a soldier from the first battalion of the Dragon Head Guerrillas.

Pee your pants?

This was a battle a month ago. Su Xiaocheng, who had recruited the army, pissed his pants directly because of fear after seeing the Japanese army. For this reason, he was also laughed at by some veterans for several days.

"Battery Commander, don't mention that anymore. I'm not like that now!" Su Xiaocheng hurriedly defended.

Yang Liqing smiled and said, "What's that right now? You shouldn't just pull it off."

Suddenly, the soldiers around him burst into laughter again.

Su Xiaocheng said anxiously: "Battery Commander, you can't underestimate people. Today, not only did I not wet my pants, I also shot a Japanese devil with a flag. If you don't believe me, ask them. Many of them have seen it, and they can testify for me."

"Well, it's not bad, it's so capable!" Yang Liqing gave a thumbs up.

Yang Liqing gave face, but some veterans had a little fun and started making fun of Su Xiaocheng.

"Small town, you shot and killed a Japanese devil carrying a flag, but we didn't see it."

"Yes, don't be talking nonsense by you guys."

"Tell me, who can testify for you?"

"Yes, who can prove it? Please point it out and let's take a look."

The soldiers' kind jokes made the young Su Xiaocheng anxious.

"snort!"

Su Xiaocheng snorted coldly as if he pretended to be angry, and said proudly: "Our squad leader saw it with a beard, and he praised me. Uh, by the way, our platoon leader Wang also saw it, and said that the Japanese devil who fought against the flag that I killed was an official, and he was like Chief Cao."

But as he spoke, Su Xiaocheng's expression suddenly faded.

The soldiers around them all looked dim and remained silent.

Why?

The squad leader’s bearded man had already sacrificed an hour ago!

Platoon Commander Wang was also killed by the Japanese artillery shells!

The young Su Xiaocheng cried.

Even though he tried hard not to let himself cry, the tears still couldn't stop falling.

Some of the other soldiers also secretly wiped away the tears from their faces.

Yang Liqing touched Su Xiaocheng's head with his hand again and said softly: "Don't cry, you won't be brave if you cry. The bearded man and the platoon leader Wang Chuan are both watching you in heaven. You can't let them laugh at you."

"Um!"

At that moment, Su Xiaocheng quickly wiped away the tears from his face and firmly promised.

Yang Liqing turned his head and said to everyone: "Brothers, we may die today. After all, few people can live for a long time, but we have to do some things because we are soldiers and will never be slaves to the country!

If we are scared, more ordinary people will die under the fire of the Japanese devils and be buried under the bayonets of Japanese pirates!"

After saying that, Yang Liqing left, leaving behind a group of thoughtful soldiers.

The pain of family and country and the hatred of comrades are far more than the pain in their current physical pain.
Chapter completed!