War Photographer's Notebook

Chapter 1979 We'll kill the Japanese together then.
At Xifeng Photo Studio, Wei Ran taught Wen Laoga and Zhao Shouxian the most basic usage of the two cameras in detail.

This is truly the most basic usage—focus at infinity, and once you've got the shot, press the shutter to advance the film.

As for the rest, let it be. You'll gradually figure it out as you take more photos.

As a "graduation exam" for the two, Wei Ran asked Zhao Shouxian to take a picture of him, Gao Lianggan, Wen Laoga, and Feng Huotou, whom Yi Mo had called. Then he asked Wen Laoga to take a picture of Zhao Shouxian and Yi Mo, the young man and woman who had grown up in the war.

That's not all. He even organized the two of them to take individual photos of everyone, and personally used his Rolleiflex twin-lens reflex camera to take a group photo of them.

"Everyone's coming to my place today."

Cook Feng said, "I'll personally cook you a table full of Northwest cuisine."

"boom!"

Before Feng Huotou could finish speaking, a cannon shot suddenly rang out from outside the city, followed by a series of gunshots.

"What's going on?" Feng, the cook, instinctively reached into his pocket.

"Go and have a look."

As Wen Laoga spoke, he had already stuffed the camera into his pocket, and then pulled out two Mauser pistols. He crossed the two guns and rubbed them against each other, and the bullets hit the nose of the camera.

As they walked out of the photo studio, they saw a large number of people running towards the city gate.

"What's going on?" Cook Feng stopped someone and asked, "Have the Japanese invaded?"

"I heard it's the Japanese soldiers putting on a show by the river!"

As the man in the top hat, long gown, and fan spoke, he also nervously sized up the "brave warriors" in front of him, each armed with two guns. He had already decided that from now on, he would avoid this photo studio no matter what.

"Mr. Huo, it's not acting, it's a drill. The Japanese are conducting a drill on the banks of the Yongding River, a drill to prepare for seizing the Yongding River."

A girl dressed as a schoolgirl said indignantly, "They're just trying to scare us!"

"Forget whether it's acting or a rehearsal, just let go of me."

Mr. Huo broke free from Chef Feng's grasp. "Hurry and go check it out. If there's any sign of a fight breaking out, we'd better run!"

"I'm not running away!"

Before the female student could finish speaking, Mr. Huo's fan struck her on the back of the head.

Watching the teacher and student run off into the distance, Feng Huotou frowned and asked, "These Japanese devils are probably going to attack Wanping City."

"It shouldn't be that fast," Wen Laoga said, his brows furrowing as well.

"What about us?"

Zhao Shouxian asked, "Should we leave the city early to accumulate good karma, or should we stay?"

"Isn't it the same to do this kind of good deed anywhere?"

Feng, the cook, turned around and beckoned everyone to walk into the photo studio. "If you ask me, we're not leaving."

"We can't go any further."

"We escaped once at Xifengkou," Gaolianggan said. "We can't do it again."

"Yes, there can't be a second time."

As Wen Laoga spoke, he couldn't help but look at Zhao Shouxian and Wang Yimo, "Shouxian, you have to leave immediately. Take Yimo and go to Fengtai to inform our recruitment."

"Uncle, I'm not stupid, and neither is Yimo."

Zhao Shouxian said calmly, "I can handle a gun now, and I'm accurate enough. I have to stay and fight the Japanese. I'm not going anywhere else."

“My dad went to fight the Japanese, and my uncle went to fight the Japanese too.”

Wang Yimo said crisply, "These past two years, following my uncle, I've practiced my shooting to the point where I can hit a poplar leaf 50 paces away. I won't run away; I'll stay and fight the Japanese too."

I'll pretend my dad and uncle are dead. I have to avenge them. I have to kill at least two Japanese soldiers."

"What do you mean, 'what'! This is utter nonsense!"

Wen Laoga said sternly, "Just go deliver the message when I tell you to. If no one notifies Zhaozi, they might do something like this tomorrow."

"okay"

Feng, the cook, waved his hand and said, "Old man, let these little kids stay here. If the Japanese are up to no good, they might have already surrounded Wanping by now. Going out of the city now would be certain death."

"Ugh!"

Wen Laoga slapped his thigh and, after thinking for a moment, said, "Shouxian, Yimo, if a fight really breaks out, you two won't dare to run around. You'll do whatever we tell you to do."

"Yes!"

Zhao Shouxian immediately raised his arm in a triumphant salute.

"Alright, everyone go home and get ready."

"Let's start comparing who kills more Japanese devils right now," said Chef Feng.

"Only survival matters."

Wei Ran reminded him that he had already overheard their agreement when he was called over to take the photo.

“Shouxian, Yimo, go release the pigeons.”

Wen Laoga said, "Tell the guards to grab their weapons and keep their ears open. Once the Japanese start fighting, let them take advantage of the chaos to tie up those Japanese merchants we've been watching, and kill those they can't tie up. Find a way to burn all their goods."

"I'll go right away"

As Zhao Shouxian spoke, he called to Yimo and they ran together into a secluded alley.

"If we survive this time, let's have another good drink."

As Wen Laoga spoke, he strode towards the herbal medicine shop across the street.

"Our photo studio hasn't even opened yet and they're already fighting!"

As Gao Lianggan spoke, he turned and went into the inner room, and soon took out both cameras from the safe.

"Which one are you using?" Gaoliang stalk asked.

"You can use them all," Wei Ran said. "I have some to use too."

"That works too."

Gao Lianggan didn't insist; he simply put down his camera and asked, "Do you think we still have a chance to kill the Japanese and avenge everyone?"

"Yes, how could there be no opportunity?"

As Wei Ran answered, he couldn't help but sigh, silently adding in his heart, "The opportunity will come soon."

"I still have that old military uniform."

As Gao Lianggan spoke, he had already gone into the bedroom, took out a small bundle from the kang cabinet, and retrieved the thin winter uniform that belonged to the 29th Army from back then.

"You're not thinking of wearing this to kill Japanese devils, are you?" Wei Ran asked after a moment of silence.

"Who says deserters can't come back?"

Gao Lianggan said noncommittally, "Alright, I'll keep an eye on things. You go take a nap."

"also"

Knowing that nothing would happen for the time being, Wei Ran went back to the inner room and went into the darkroom to develop several copies of all the photos that Wen Laoga and Zhao Shouxian had taken not long ago.

By this time, it had completely darkened outside the window.

However, judging from the noisy and panicked commotion outside, it was clear that the Japanese exercises were not over yet. But some timid or perceptive people had already realized something and were hurriedly preparing to leave Wanping City for refuge with their families.

"Have something to eat."

Gao Lianggan called out, "The flatbread and scrambled eggs that Yimo just brought over are still warm."

"Are they still conducting drills outside?" Wei Ran asked, picking up a piece of steaming hot pancake.

"Playing intermittently"

Gao Lianggan lit a cigarette and said, "Just now, some unarmed Japanese soldiers came in to buy food."

What time is it now?

"bang bang bang"

Just then, the door, which had already been boarded up, was slammed shut with a loud bang.

"Who is it? We're closed!"

As Gao Lianggan spoke, he and Wei Ran picked up the Mauser pistols that were on the table, one after the other.

"Shopkeeper, please open the door. I'm from the 29th Army. I'd like to take a picture. Please do me a favor."

Hearing the hoarse voice outside, Gaolianggan'er and Weiran exchanged a glance.

Handing the gun to Gaolianggan, Wei Ran pointed to the curtain leading to the inner room.

Gao Lianggan immediately realized Wei Ran's plan and hid in the shadows of the inner room with his gun.

"Please wait a moment."

As Wei Ran spoke, he removed the first door panel and saw two soldiers carrying large swords standing outside. "Brother Wei?!"

Just as Wei Ran removed the second door panel, a gasp that made Wei Ran's eyes widen came from outside.

"Guo Guo is a bachelor?"

Wei Ran threw the board aside. "Is that you, Guo the Bachelor?!"

"It's me! It's me! Oh my! Brother Wei! What are you doing here?!"

Outside the door, Guo Guanggun, with a nine-dragon belt around his waist, two Mauser pistols tucked in his belt, and a large knife on his back, excitedly pulled Wei Ran's arm out.

"Is it Guo Guanggun? Is it Guo Guanggun? You're still alive?" Gao Lianggan rushed over as he spoke.

"Brother Gao? You're still alive?!" Guo Guanggun asked in surprise.

"Quick! Remove the board!"

Wei Ran realized what was happening and quickly told Gao Lianggan to remove the door panel, letting Guo Guanggun and the hoarse-voiced soldier next to him in.

"Where have you been all these years?"

Gaolianggan and Guo Guanggun asked the same question almost simultaneously.

I thought it was just the two of you.

Guo Guanggun had barely begun speaking when tears started streaming down his face.

It was through his fragmented memories that Wei Ran and Gao Lianggan learned about what happened back then.

When Lengkou fell, Wei Ran and Gao Lianggan went to stop the Japanese soldiers to buy time for the field hospital and the wounded to retreat.

Wei Ran and Gao Lianggan never expected that shortly after they started fighting the Japanese, Guo Guanggun'er and Wang Bingchu, along with the laborers Wei Ran had temporarily chosen to drive the cart, would also form a futile and ineffective barrier.

"Young Brother Wei, do you still remember me?"

The man who came in with Guo Guanggun asked in a hoarse voice, "I told you from the beginning that I wouldn't run away."

"Are you the porter who drives the carriage?!" Wei Ran asked in surprise.

"it's me"

The man with the hoarse voice was no longer young; he looked to be forty years old, yet he carried an unyielding sorrow. "The three of us led the Japanese soldiers onto a side road in a mule cart."

Later, when we were almost out of bullets, and the mountain path was getting narrower and narrower, I was shot again, this time in the chin, which injured my throat.

"Wang Bingchu pushed the two of us into a ravine and told us to hide."

Guo Guanggun sighed, "He rode his mule into the ravine while firing his gun. We were almost carried off by wolves, but were later rescued by a herb gatherer."

"Then you went back to the 29th Army?" Gao Lianggan asked.

"The herb gatherer took us to the 29th."

Guo Guanggun sighed, "When we woke up, we were already in the hospital. Later, I was reassigned to Wanping City under the alias Guo Xi. Now I'm working in the pistol squad of the 219th Regiment of the 37th Division, responsible for guarding the Lugou Bridge outside."

As he spoke, he pointed to the man next to him, "Brother Lü is also in the 219th Regiment, he's in the Big Sword Team."

I came to bang on the door at this time hoping to take a picture while I still had some breath left and send it to someone, but I never expected to run into Brother Wei and Brother Gao here.

"Snapped!"

At that moment, Gaolianggan slapped his thigh and exclaimed, "Now that you mention it, I remember! We've been looking for your female classmate; she's in Jin now!"

"I wanted to take a picture so I could send it to her," Gao Lianggan said with a simple, honest smile.

"You're in contact with her? Do you know where she is?" Wei Ran immediately pressed.

Upon hearing this, Guo Guanggun instinctively looked towards the threshold leading to the inner room.

“There’s no one else here,” Gao Lianggan’er and Wei Ran said in unison.

"Know"

Guo Guanggun nodded, almost mouthing the words, "She's in Yan'an now. Do you know Yan'an?"

"How did she get there?!"

Wei Ran's eyes widened at first, then he breathed a sigh of relief, but then he sighed helplessly.

Guo Guanggun's crush left Nanjing, but there are still more than 300,000 people there who haven't left.

"It seems she passed away at the beginning of the year, and I haven't heard from her for several months."

After offering a brief explanation, Guo Guanggun immediately changed the subject, "Where have you been all these years? Do you have any news about the Bingchu brothers?"

"Whoa!"

Sorghum Stalk slapped his thigh again and explained what they already knew.

“I’ve been looking for him all these years,” Guo Guanggun sighed.

"Let me take a picture of you while we still have time," Wei Ran said.

"Yes, yes! I'll go find the gas lamp and light it right away!"

As Gaolianggan spoke, he ran to the backyard and soon came out with a retro-style gas lamp.

While the atmosphere was warming up, Gaolianggan put the doors of the photo studio back on, and Wei Ran also prepared his Rolleiflex binoculars.

Before long, as the preheating was completed, bright lights illuminated the not-so-large photo studio. Wei Ran and Gao Lianggan, who had raised his camera, also took photos of Guo Guanggun, whom they had met by chance, and Brother Lü.

"I'll go wash it for you right away," she said, and started to walk into the inner room.

"Not urgent"

Guo Guanggun stopped Wei Ran, "Brother Wei, let's send it out after I die."

"What nonsense are you talking about!" Gao Lianggan scolded.

"The Japanese are putting on such a large-scale exercise to lure us into firing at them."

Guo Guanggun sighed, "Once this shot is fired, this war will have to start whether we want to or not."

"What if it doesn't make a sound?" Gaolianggan asked instinctively.

"What if it doesn't make a sound?"

Guo Guanggun shook his head with a sigh, "The Japanese have plenty of ways. They've already set up their battle formation, are they afraid we won't fight back?"

Before Wei Ran and Gao Lianggan could say anything more, Guo Guanggun stood up and said, "Brother Wei, Brother Gao, we don't have much time, we'll head back to our position now."

If you can run, then run!

What were you saying?

As he spoke, Gaolianggan picked up a plate containing pancakes and scrambled eggs and handed it over, saying, "You two take this and fill your stomachs. If the Japanese really start fighting, we'll definitely go and help."

"Brother Lü, please accept this gun."

Wei Ran handed the two Mauser pistols to the other person, saying, "Having something to rely on will help you survive."

"This is impossible!"

Brother Lü, who used to be a laborer, waved his hands repeatedly, saying, "If I could hit accurately with that thing, I wouldn't need to join the Big Sword Team."

"Keep it, we have more."

Sorghum Stalk urged, "As long as we get close, we can fool a few Japanese soldiers even if we're just guessing. It's faster than a broadsword!"

"Brother Lü, please accept it," Guo Guanggun advised from the side.

He knew very well, or rather, he knew just as well as Wei Ran and Gao Lianggan, that having a Mauser pistol in his pocket meant he might survive in close combat.

"Then I'll take one."

Brother Lü said, "I don't have your skill with two guns, one is enough for me."

Upon hearing this, Wei Ran and Guo Guanggun exchanged a glance, and only after the other nodded did they agree to Brother Lü's consideration.

"Take this too."

As Wei Ran spoke, he removed the 20-round magazine from the gun that he hadn't been able to give away and forced it on Brother Lü.

“I’ll give you one too, we still have some,” Gao Lianggan said, handing a 20-round magazine to Brother Lü.

"Brother Lü, please accept this."

Guo Guanggun patted his patched-up uniform and said, "Brother Wei, Brother Gao, I know I can't persuade you. Let's meet on the battlefield and kill the Japanese together."

“Okay! We’ll kill the Japanese together then!” Wei Ran and Gao Lianggan agreed.

He knew better than anyone else that in just a few hours, they would be able to kill the Japanese together.

Without much formality, Guo Guanggun and Brother Lü passed through the reopened door and left the photo studio, heading towards the city gate.

This is July 7, 1937, the eve of the battle in Wanping City.

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