War Photographer's Notebook

Chapter 1983 The Seed That Should Have Sprouted

At the Nanyuan position, Wei Ran took a full 12 photos of Guo Guanggun from every angle, which was a very luxurious thing in this era.

It was also through taking photos that he observed the barracks.

In this era, Nanyuan was hardly better than a desolate wilderness. As far as the eye could see, apart from the distant mountains to the west, there were only surrounding trees, farmland, and their barracks.

After dismissing the cheerful Guo Guanggun with a complete roll of film in a sealed tube, Wei Ran hid in the trench, took out his pistol camera, changed to a suitable lens, and then hid in the shade behind a large willow tree.

This was a camera suitable for spying and taking secret photos, and because of this, he was able to easily photograph the soldiers in the distance who were practicing slashing in a square formation.

Just by looking at their youthful faces and the few large swords they possessed, one could tell that they were the student soldiers who had suffered heavy losses in the battle that followed.

These intellectuals, these precious seeds, who are invaluable to China in this era, haven't even had a chance to be fired yet.

He also secretly photographed soldiers wiping their guns or sharpening their broadswords, and even photographed soldiers like Guo Guanggun who were hiding by the wall, busy writing letters.

Looking up and squinting at the sun that was about to touch the treetops, Wei Ran continued searching for subjects to photograph, while also secretly pondering the fate of those who survived from Xifengkou back then.

Because of his serious injuries, Gao Lianggan followed Mr. Huo and his student, and also took Yi Mo to Mount Wutai.

This is almost certainly the safest "way out," since the Jin-Cha-Ji Anti-Japanese Revolutionary Base Area will be established there "this year."

Compared to Gaolianggan'er, Wei Ran was not optimistic about Feng Huotou and Zhao Shouxian, who had gone to Nankou. He knew that a major battle would be fought there just the following month.

Whether the father and son will be able to find Wang Bingchu by then is still unknown, as is whether they will participate in the Battle of Nankou next month and whether they will survive that battle.

But compared to the two groups mentioned above, the most dangerous place right now is the Nanyuan battlefield where he and Guo Guanggun are located.

He knew perfectly well that the battle would begin tonight, and he knew even more clearly that as long as he could infiltrate the student corps, he could participate in the frontline battle tonight.

He was even more aware that the 29th Army was in such a passive position, which had even resulted in the loss of a deputy army commander and a division commander, and more than half of the precious student corps in the distance had been lost.

All of this is thanks to the traitorous dog Pan Yugui.

But what good is knowing?
Wei Ran shook his head, temporarily put away his pistol camera, switched back to his Rolleiflex twin-lens reflex camera, and walked toward the student corps not far away.

These college student soldiers, who had not yet received their firearms, were extremely enthusiastic, but each of them lacked even an old-fashioned rifle.

The lack of weapons and ammunition is one issue, but the fact that these student soldiers have not yet received sufficient training is another.

This is the unsolvable situation at this moment. For Wei Ran, who currently has three Mauser pistols, he has no choice but to use a more rational mindset to calculate.

Is it more valuable to lend the Mauser C96 pistols to these student soldiers to kill more enemies, or to keep them in our own hands?
The answer is obvious: this student group, which was formed after the 12th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, has almost never actually handled a gun.

"Do you think these student soldiers can fight?" Guo Guanggun asked only after Wei Ran pressed the shutter button on the student soldiers who were training.

"I do not know"

Wei Ran shook his head; he didn't want to discuss this cruel topic.

"I don't know either"

Guo Guanggun sighed, "Their lives are more precious than ours, how can we leave them here?"

"yes."

Wei Ran sighed. All he could do was press the shutter button a few more times to take pictures of them.

"then"

Guo Guanggun pointed to the student soldiers in the distance and said with a touch of nostalgia, "I was just as passionate as they were."

"And now?" Wei Ran asked.

"The blood is still warm, of course."

Guo Guanggun seemed to be thinking about something, "I just don't know if we can actually drive the Japanese out."

"can"

After failing to memorize the article once again, Wei Ran sighed, "I'm sure I can."

"That's good."

Guo Guanggun seemed to find solace in Wei Ran's answer, and his whole body relaxed. "Who knows when these Japanese devils will attack our trenches?"

"Do you know someone named Pan Pan?"

"Pan what?" Guo Guanggun asked, puzzled.

"No, it's nothing."

As Wei Ran waved his hands repeatedly, he couldn't help but think about some things that had just suddenly appeared in his memory and then been automatically deleted.

Before nightfall, Wei Ran repeatedly pressed the shutter button on the student army, and also got a general idea of ​​the situation of the position.

Unfortunately, he never met the deputy army commander or even Division Commander Zhao.

This inevitably dashed his hopes of revealing something, and he ultimately had to follow Guo Guanggun back to the damp, muddy trenches after it had completely darkened.

In the darkness of night, the student soldiers who had just finished their training in the distance were singing all sorts of anti-Japanese songs that Wei Ran had heard or hadn't heard before, full of energy. Guo Guanggun brought him half a hot pancake, a pickled cucumber, and a salted egg.

"Eat up, it's a gift from the people who came to comfort the troops."

Guo Guanggun took the other half of the hot pancake, rolled up a pickled cucumber, took a bite, and then took a bite of the pickled egg—he couldn't even bear to peel the eggshell.

Looking up at the direction the Japanese might attack, Wei Ran also rolled up some pickled vegetables in a pancake and took a bite. Then, imitating Guo Guanggun, he took a bite of an unpeeled salted egg.

"If only I had a sip of wine."

Guo Guanggun sighed, "Ever since we drank Shouxian's congratulatory wine at Lugou Bridge last time, where did you get this?"

Guo Guanggun, who had only spoken halfway, looked at the wine flask that Wei Ran took out of his pocket with surprise and asked in a low voice.

"Drink up quickly," Wei Ran urged in a low voice.

Guo Guanggun didn't stand on ceremony. He fumbled to open the lid of the wine pot and took a big gulp before handing the pot back to Wei Ran.

After taking another big gulp of spicy liquor, Wei Ran took another bite of the steaming hot flatbread, and at the same time couldn't help but start wondering again whether Guo Guanggun would survive.

Lost in their thoughts, they finished what was undoubtedly a sumptuous dinner. Then, they found a sheltered spot in the trench, leaned against the mud wall, and, fueled by the alcohol, drifted off to sleep.

"boom!"

Just as Wei Ran was dreaming that he was preparing to take a group photo of everyone on the Great Wall after the war ended, a cannon shot pulled him back to reality—the battle had begun.

"Hidden! Hidden!"

Wei Ran, Guo Guanggun, who had also been awakened, and many other veterans around them all shouted at the top of their lungs to remind the young student soldiers.

This was their only sliver of time. Once the Japanese finished their firing practice, a barrage of artillery shells would rain down upon them.

Thanks to the veterans' reminder, the student soldiers finally realized what was happening and hurriedly jumped into the trench, crouching down and covering their heads.

"Grab your broadswords! Grab your broadswords!" Wei Ran and Guo Guanggun ran in opposite directions along the trenches, shouting reminders as they went, "The moment the artillery stops, the Japanese will be right in front of us! Remember to listen to the commands!"

"boom!"

Before Wei Ran could finish shouting, the Japanese began shelling.

"As soon as the Japanese artillery fire stops, get your grenades ready! Throw them on command!"

Wei Ran yelled at the two nearest student soldiers, "Then grab your broadswords! Be ready for hand-to-hand combat at any time! Pass the message down!"

Upon hearing this, the two student soldiers panicked, but they still leaned close to their companion's ear and began to relay Wei Ran's warning at a high pitch.

"boom!"

A shell landed not far from Wei Ran outside the trench, sending dust flying down on him. In the darkness, it terrified countless young student soldiers, causing many to instinctively cower or grip their broadswords tightly.

Finally, the 40 cannons on the other side stopped at a certain moment. Guo Guanggun, who had just returned to Wei Ran's side, couldn't help but complain, "Those damn Japanese devils really know how to pick a place! Why did they have to choose us!"

It's not that traitorous dog surnamed Pan!
Wei Ran gritted his teeth and cursed inwardly, then shouted at the top of his lungs, "Grenades ready! Throw them only on my command!"

Reminded, the student soldiers quickly reached for and grabbed the grenades.

"boom!"

Just then, an explosion was heard outside the position.

"These are landmines we planted beforehand!" Guo Guanggun said gleefully.

"Attention, everyone!"

Amidst the continuous explosions of landmines, Wei Ran shouted, "When you throw a grenade, remember to pull the pin first!"

"When I tell you to charge, form groups of at least six! As soon as you kill one of the Japanese soldiers, immediately pick up their guns!"

"No need to rush to pick up the bullets! Wait until we survive the melee before you go pick them up!"

Guo Guanggun added, and the two of them ran back along the trench in the opposite direction, repeatedly reminding the new recruits, who were just entering the battlefield, amidst the continuous explosions of landmines. "Grenades ready!"

Finally, after the fearless Japanese soldiers charged through the minefield at great cost, Wei Ran and Guo Guanggun, who was in the distance, issued the same order almost simultaneously—the two of them seemed to be frontline officers in this trench.

"beep--!"

In the distance, Guo Guanggun blew his whistle, and almost immediately after, Wei Ran also blew a sharp, rascal-like whistle.

At the sound of the whistle, grenades flew out of the trenches and smashed into the Japanese soldiers who were right next to them.

"Ready the broadswords!"

"kill!"

Wei Ran's order resulted in these precious student soldiers behaving in perfect unison, but it caused him immense pain in his heart.

These invaluable college students were supposed to be seeds for this long-weak agricultural country to transform into an industrial nation, but they didn't even have time to sprout before they were killed on this battlefield.

"boom!"

Grenades exploded one after another, both in the distance and nearby. Wei Ran, who was already gripping his Mauser pistol, had no choice but to roar out the order, despite his immense reluctance: "Charge! Kill the Japanese devils!"

"kill--!"

These passionate student soldiers finally followed Wei Ran, brandishing their broadswords and charging out of the trenches, where they collided with the Japanese soldiers less than 20 meters away.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Using the flares fired by the Japanese soldiers as a cover, Wei Ran spared no expense as he fired his Mauser pistol at the Japanese soldiers on the other side.

He wanted to kill as many Japanese soldiers as possible with bullets in exchange for even a second of life for one student soldier.

It was obvious that Guo Guanggun, who was in the distance, had the same goal.

In the night, illuminated time and again by the Japanese flares, Wei Ran repeatedly emptied his Mauser pistol, covering the growing number of student soldiers around him as they picked up the Japanese Type 38 rifles.

"boom!"

Among the student soldiers, those who picked up enemy rifles began to pull the triggers one after another towards the Japanese soldiers who were close at hand, creating opportunities for their comrades to seize the guns.

Some didn't even have time to fire a shot before being stabbed through the chest by the Japanese soldiers on the other side with bayonets.

These young students, just like Brother Lü on Lugou Bridge half a month ago, threw their rifles to their comrades, then gripped the rifles connected to the bayonets piercing their chests, and launched their first, and perhaps last, charge against the Japanese soldiers opposite them with a roar.

"Bang! Bang!"

Wei Ran fired the last bullet from each of the two Mauser pistols, then tucked one under his arm and quickly pulled out the magazine and loaded it into the magazine of the Mauser pistol in his hand.

In just a short while, three Japanese soldiers charged straight at him.

"Hold them off!"

A bespectacled student next to Wei Ran shouted, holding the Type 38 rifle he had just picked up, and together with the surrounding classmates, they went to meet him.

"Come back quickly!"

Without even bothering to load the second bullet, Wei Ran quickly raised his gun and pulled the trigger at the three Japanese soldiers.

In just that short time, the student soldier had been pierced through the chest by the Japanese bayonet.

"Quick, pick up the gun!"

A bloodthirsty student shouted a reminder, saying that he had already killed two Japanese soldiers, and he felt that he had done enough.

"come here!"

Wei Ran called the bloodthirsty student over, hoping he could live a little longer.

"Sir!" The student soldier immediately approached, holding his Type 38 rifle.

"what is it call!"

As Wei Ran spoke, he had already untied the Nine Dragons Ribbon and handed it to the other person, "Give the Type 38 rifle to someone else, put this on!"

"Dong Weixin!"

The soldier answered immediately, and at the same time, he simply handed the Type 38 rifle in his hand to a comrade who was holding a large knife.

"Take this for self-defense! Load it with bullets first."

Wei Ran handed one of the Mauser pistols to the other man, then stuffed another one into his hand, "Then follow behind me and help me load this one with bullets, and these magazines too!"

"Yes!"

Dong Weixin quickly took the second Mauser pistol and several spare magazines, and began loading bullets into the two pistols with considerable skill.

At the same time, Wei Ran took out the Mauser C96 pistol from the Long March from the metal notebook and continued to pull the trigger at the increasing number of Japanese soldiers around him, who were almost pushing him and the student soldiers around him back into the trenches.

If only Wen Laoga were still alive.
As Wei Ran increased his firing rate, he couldn't help but lament that if Wen Laoga were still alive, with his skill in dual-gun burst fire, he could definitely give more student soldiers a chance to survive.

Unfortunately, he was never the kind of person with extraordinary talent. He couldn't be like Wen Laoga, who could fire two Mauser pistols with such accuracy and speed.

At this moment, all he could do was to empty all his bullets as quickly as possible and try to make sure that every bullet hit a Japanese soldier.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

At that moment, Dong Weixin, who was next to him, also began to fire.

"You've trained?!" Wei Ran asked loudly.

"My father is a bandit!"

Dong Weixin's tone was filled with excitement, "What my father taught me seems to be more useful than what I learned in school!"

Before he finished speaking, he had already emptied the magazine of 20 bullets.

Almost at the same time as the last spent cartridge ejected, he accurately pressed a magazine into the ejection port and smoothly loaded the bullet in.

"Damn? Another monster?"

Wei Ran was delighted, but after glancing at it a few more times, he learned this little trick to improve the sustainability of firepower.

However, even with the help of this student soldier named Dong Weixin, and even though the two of them used up all the bullets in the Kowloon Belt at top speed, the Japanese still charged into the trenches at the cost of casualties.

Thus began the battle for trenches, a fight even bloodier than hand-to-hand combat.

"Here's the Mauser C96! Survive!" Wei Ran said, bending down to grab a handful of dirt and throwing it at the three-headed Japanese soldier's face.

Taking advantage of the moment when the three Japanese soldiers subconsciously raised their hands and turned their heads, Wei Ran had already grabbed a gun and tucked it under his arm, while simultaneously kicking the side of the opponent's knee.

Amidst the clear cracking of bones and the subsequent screams, Wei Ran released the rifle he was holding, slammed the other man's head against the head of another Japanese soldier, and at the same time used the force to deliver a knee strike that tore apart the crotch of a second Japanese soldier.

At the same time, Dong Weixin kicked a clod of mud in the face of the third Japanese soldier, creating a rare opportunity for Wei Ran.

"Crack!"

Wei Ran grabbed the Japanese soldier's arm and kicked him hard in the ribs at the same time.

"Sir, what kind of gang's job is this?"

Dong Weixin stepped forward, snatched one of the Japanese soldiers' guns, and handed it to his companions, asking them a question.

"A wild, undeveloped place!"

As Wei Ran picked up a Type 38 rifle, he uttered a slang term, a smattering of knowledge he had learned from Hu Bazhi.

"If you can say that, you're not an outsider!" Dong Weixin became much more friendly, as if he had found a pillar of support, and he also picked up a Type 38 rifle.

With this student soldier from a special background, Wei Ran has found a fairly compatible partner.

Taking advantage of his height and long reach, Dong Weixin smashed open the Type 38 rifle of one of the Japanese soldiers with his gun. He then immediately threw a handful of dirt at the face of the other two Japanese soldiers and then thrust his gun through one of them.

"Pooh!"

Wei Ran spat at the Japanese soldier whose gun he had been holding, and taking advantage of the opportunity, Dong Weixin immediately drew his sword and stabbed diagonally, taking down the second blinded Japanese soldier.

Almost simultaneously, Wei Ran also plunged his bayonet into the neck of the Japanese soldier opposite him.

Although this completely thuggish fighting style barely made up for the numerical disadvantage, the Japanese soldiers surging in like a tide still made their positions precarious.

Fortunately, at that moment, shouts of killing came from behind them.

Only then did Wei Ran breathe a sigh of relief.

He knew that their reinforcements had arrived—the officers' training corps and the special operations brigade led by the deputy commander of the 29th Army.

In his moment of relaxation, he looked around at the wounded and even corpses of student soldiers scattered on the ground, and felt an increasing pang of heartache. These seeds should have sprouted.

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