The Red Era: Living in Seclusion in a Siheyuan as a Boss

Chapter 570 I realized that honor is not easy to come by!!!

Suddenly, Cao Yang, a veteran from Dongshan from the third squad, appeared in the sight of Liu Xiaotao and his team with two soldiers.

Cao Yang was ordered to cover their retreat to the safety of the counter-cutting fortifications.

However, just as he slipped into their sentry post, a shell exploded behind him...

After the deafening explosion, the air was filled with smoke. Liu Xiaotao only felt his ears buzzing and his vision was blurry.

He subconsciously wiped his face, and his hands were covered with dirt and blood.

When he came to his senses, he found that Cao Yang had fallen to the ground with a deep wound on his back caused by shrapnel, and his military uniform was stained with blood.

"Sergeant Cao!" Liu Xiaotao shouted and rushed over to help Cao Yang up.

Two soldiers quickly surrounded them, their faces filled with anxiety and tension.

Cao Yang gritted his teeth, sweat dripping down his forehead, but he still managed to say, "Leader, leave me alone, retreat quickly! The enemy will be coming soon!"

Liu Xiaotao did not hesitate. He quickly took out the first aid kit from his backpack, tore off the bandage and tried to stop the bleeding for Cao Yang.

However, the wound was too deep and blood continued to flow out.

Cao Yang's face became paler and paler, and his breathing became rapid.

He grabbed Liu Xiaotao's hand and said with difficulty: "Platoon Leader, please listen to me... Lead them to retreat... It is important to get them out safely..."

Liu Xiaotao's eyes turned red, "Stop talking, let's go together..."

Two soldiers carried Cao Yang on their backs, while Liu Xiaotao held a gun, looked around vigilantly, and led everyone to retreat to the counter-cutting fortifications.

Along the way, the enemy's artillery fire remained intensive, and bullets whizzed past, as if the god of death was chasing behind us.

Finally, they rushed into the fortifications and were temporarily out of danger.

Liu Xiaotao quickly treated Cao Yang's wounds, but his condition was still not optimistic.

In the end, Squad Leader Cao couldn't make it through this ordeal and closed his eyes forever.

This was the first time in Liu Xiaotao's military career that he faced the sacrifice of his comrades.

When his comrades who had once fought side by side fell in front of him and their blood stained the ground red, the awards and honors he had once longed for seemed to become distant and empty, and were replaced by endless sorrow and heaviness.

He clenched his fists, tears welled up in his eyes, and his heart was swallowed by an indescribable feeling of powerlessness.

"It was a sunny morning
Pigeon whistle accompanied by wake-up call
But the world is not peaceful

Even in peaceful times, there are turbulent storms
Are you ready

soldiers brothers

When that day really comes

Don't worry, motherland

Don't worry, dear

I must march forward bravely for victory..."

To be honest, when Liu Xiaotao retreated from the battlefield for the first time, he was completely confused.

Everyone knows that soldiers must be very nervous when they go to the battlefield for the first time, and this is true throughout history, both in China and abroad.

When they went to the battlefield for the first time, the cadres and soldiers were mostly nervous, which was mainly due to the fear of the unknown of the real battlefield, even though they were veterans and had received two months of adaptive training before going to the battlefield.

The so-called adaptive training is to conduct training based on the characteristics of the combat target, the geography, climate, environment, altitude sickness, etc. The training items mainly include physical training, jungle combat training, battlefield survival training, self-rescue and mutual rescue training, simple Vietnamese conversation training, etc.

Regardless of whether they were cadres or soldiers, running 10 kilometers fully armed and climbing three or five mountains every day was a compulsory course (it would be difficult to breathe at the beginning).

It can be seen that the basic skills of the Third Battalion are still very solid. They run 10 kilometers every day fully armed and climb three or five mountains. If they were Private Sam, I'm afraid only special forces can do it.

However, even after undergoing pre-war adaptation training, the soldiers were still nervous when they first went to the battlefield.

After the first battle, the officers and soldiers retreated to rest for twenty days before returning to the battlefield. They were no longer nervous, but felt scared.

Only through experience do we know the consequences. There are injuries, disabilities and sacrifices on the battlefield. People are all made of flesh and blood, so how can we not be afraid?
Saying that you are not afraid may seem noble and honorable, but it is actually a lie. Being afraid but still able to move forward without hesitation is the true character of a soldier.

During the rest period, the officers and soldiers of the third battalion were not idle.

They used this time to conduct more rigorous tactical training and psychological counseling.

Captain Li personally led everyone to review previous battles, analyze the gains and losses in each encounter, and summarize the experiences and lessons.

He particularly emphasized psychological qualities on the battlefield, telling soldiers: "It is normal to be afraid, but we must learn to coexist with fear and even find strength in it."

In order to help soldiers better cope with battlefield pressure, the Third Battalion also introduced psychological counseling courses.

An experienced battlefield psychologist was invited to the camp to have one-on-one communication with the officers and soldiers to help them release their inner stress.

The doctor taught everyone some simple breathing techniques and encouraged them to meditate between battles to stay calm and focused.

At the same time, the atmosphere in the camp was quietly changing.

The officers and soldiers began to talk more about their families, hometowns and the future. These topics brought them a little comfort in their tense combat life.

Some soldiers even planted small vegetable gardens in the corners of the camp, watering and weeding them every day, as if these small plants had become their only connection to a peaceful life.

When the Third Battalion stepped onto the battlefield again, there was less fear and more determination in the eyes of the officers and soldiers.

They know that the road ahead is still full of dangers, but they also understand that they cannot retreat from the responsibilities and missions they shoulder.

As the battalion commander said: "We are afraid, but we will not retreat. Because we are soldiers, and we have homes behind us."

After a few days of rest, the third battalion is about to return to its position.

When the entire Third Battalion went to the battlefield for the first time, the cadres and soldiers were mostly nervous. When they returned to the battlefield, fear dominated their minds, because only through experience did they know the consequences.

But in order to successfully complete the combat mission, they rushed to the battlefield of blood and fire without hesitation, with the belief that "I would rather die for my country than leave my heroic soul to protect the country."

Liu Xiaotao, who had resolved his emotional issues, performed better and better during the several months of rotation.

Soon he became the reconnaissance platoon leader (deputy company level), and the reconnaissance battalion was the elite force of the entire division.

The reconnaissance battalion is the elite force of the entire division, and each of its members is a top soldier selected from hundreds of miles away. The fact that Liu Xiaotao was able to join them is enough to prove his strength and potential.

In the reconnaissance brigade, every mission Liu Xiaotao faces is full of challenges and dangers.

From gaining intelligence behind enemy lines to conducting covert operations in complex terrain, these high-risk missions not only tested his professional abilities, but also honed his courage and wisdom.

It was in such an environment that Liu Xiaotao constantly broke through himself and gradually grew into an excellent scout.

Not long after, Liu Xiaotao and his comrades ushered in a major operation.

This operation not only affects the direction of the war, but is also a comprehensive test of their capabilities.

After the action plan determined by the division headquarters was reported, General Liao, the commander-in-chief of the front-line command, personally visited Dashanhou Village, the garrison area, and affirmed the action plan of the reconnaissance brigade and made some additional comments.

At the same time, General Liao also made a pre-war mobilization for all the personnel, encouraging everyone to remain calm, boldly go deep, boldly infiltrate, not be reckless or careless, fight wits and courage with the enemy, and have the spirit of "the brave wins when two meet in a narrow road" at critical moments.

Drawing on the combat lessons of several previous reconnaissance battalions and summarizing past combat experience, the following regulations were specially formulated: "one unification", "two prohibitions", and "six must-bring".

"One unification" means: uniform combat uniforms, no camouflage uniforms allowed.

The reason is that the enemy believes that camouflage uniforms are the iconic uniforms of our army's scouts, and that troops wearing such uniforms will definitely be their main targets of attack.

The "two no's" are: no helmets. When marching in the primeval forest, helmets are easy to reflect light and make noises, which will affect your movements when you are approaching the enemy and capturing prisoners.

Watches are not allowed because they are reflective, and items with words on them are not allowed.

“Six things to bring”: bring more ammunition and fewer canned food.

The reason was to reduce the load and facilitate marching. The rations were changed from seven days to two days, and the shortage was supplemented by the support team.

There was a debate about whether to bring the "40 Fire" or not, and finally the company commander decided it was better to bring it.

The reconnaissance platoon and the capture team should concentrate on using the Type 79 light submachine gun.

The reason is that it is easy to carry and can be used concealed.

The main supplies to be carried are: special food for scouts, canned luncheon meat and canned oranges. A two-way kettle that can be heated and solid fuel are also required.

All guns carried by individuals must have the safety on and bullets must not be loaded.

This is easy to explain. It is to prevent accidental discharge so that when encountering an enemy, you can fire at the enemy better and faster.

Try to tie your leg wraps as much as possible.

Because many people were not used to it, no mandatory regulations were made in the end.

But you must bring a first aid kit in case of emergency.

Before the operation, Liu Xiaotao and his comrades all wrote letters of request for battle, and many soldiers also wrote letters in blood. They were all full of energy and excited. This may be an old tradition on the two mountain fronts.

The day before departure, Liu Xiaotao took a few soldiers to a nearby village, temporarily bought a pond, caught more than 200 kilograms of freshwater fish, and also bought a dozen chickens.

It is not only to see off the comrades who are going to the battle, but also to wish them a good start.

The weather has been nice these days, with no rain and bright sunshine for several days in a row.

Looking west and north from the base, there is a vast sea of ​​clouds and the sound of pine trees.

In the sea of ​​clouds, mountain peaks occasionally appear, like isolated islands in the vast waves.

There are wild peaches on both sides of the road from the back of the mountain to Houziqing. The peaches are not big, covered with hair, and are about to ripen.

Liu Xiaotao and his friends peeled the skin with a knife. Although it was a bit bitter, many people came to taste it.

The artillery position was much quieter. There was no sound of rain or rumbling of artillery, and I couldn't fall asleep all of a sudden.

In order to cooperate with the reconnaissance brigade's operations, their entire regiment was on standby.

A few days before departure, a group of actors from the August 1st Film Studio came to the reconnaissance brigade to perform a consolation show. Tian Hua, Yue Hong, Gu Yue, Zhu Shichang, Zhu Xinyun and others all performed.

The shows are all great and they are famous enough, but many of us have no time to enjoy them.

Zhu Shichang now lives in Yanjing and he and Liu Xiaotao are half-fellow villagers.

He asked Liu Xiaotao if he had any extra camouflage uniforms.

Liu Xiaotao said that he really didn't have any extra ones, as his suit was a little small and Zhu Shichang couldn't wear it.

Zhu Shichang even joked with him, "When you return home victorious, I'll treat you to a big meal at Hongbinlou..."

Liu Xiaotao just smiled and said yes. What Zhu Shishang didn't know was that today's "Hongbinlou" is also one of the famous restaurants under their Lao Liu's Catering Group.

It's not just "Hongbinlou", but also "Dongxinglou", "Donglaishun", "Bianyifang", "Fengzeyuan", "Quanjude"... these time-honored Yanjing brands "Liu's Catering Group" has more or less shares in them, and some are even wholly owned.

Moreover, today's "Liu's Catering Group" is no longer satisfied with its development in the Beijing-Tianjin area, and has begun to enter the national catering market.

……

The reconnaissance team set out in the morning.

The day before Liu Xiaotao and his team set out, both the Second and Third Squads sent out elite forces to arrive at the flanks of their combat areas in advance to protect the safety of their two wings.

The machine gun platoon and artillery platoon of the battalion headquarters were assigned to Liu Xiaotao and his team for the operation, and the army artillery regiment and engineering corps both sent key personnel to assist.

At around two o'clock in the afternoon, the troops went down the mountain and came to a small river. Everyone dispersed, took a hidden rest, and took the time to eat something to replenish their strength.

The stream flows from north to south. The water is not deep and is very clear.

The soldiers in the communications squad had a particularly hard time. The soldiers in the wireless squad had to carry radios weighing forty or fifty kilograms, and the soldiers in the wired squad had to carry wire slings weighing forty or fifty kilograms. Because of the shortage of manpower, several people from the third squad temporarily cooperated with them.

Having learned from past lessons, the communications between the various groups in this operation were mainly through wired telephone calls.

Therefore, wherever the troops marched, the wired telephones had to follow. Laying and collecting wires was a very tiring task.

Follow the stream south for about four or five kilometers. At dusk, cross the stream and enter the primeval forest.

Because the river water was very cold and very deep in some places, we could only cross the river by looking for places where rocks were exposed on the water surface.

The stones have been washed by river water for many years and are covered with a layer of scale, making them very slippery. When walking on them, you have to use your hands and feet, pulling forward and backward.

The forest is a long uphill slope with no roads, and some places are very steep, requiring climbing, and even more so, cooperation between pushes and pulls.

The forest is mostly filled with shrubs, vines and fir trees. The humus soil is very deep and you can't step down to the bottom. There are leeches in the soil and dark brown sewage.

The soldiers who were not wearing leg wraps were in great pain as their legs and feet were attacked by leeches.

There were about a dozen people in the reconnaissance team, who took turns clearing the way in front. The vines were entangled with each other, and some were cut off and bounced back, hitting their faces, causing great pain.

Liu Xiaotao and his companions' hands and arms were scratched by thorns, leaving streaks of blood all over, which seriously affected their progress.

At this time, the sky above was completely dark and nothing could be seen clearly.

What was even more painful was that everyone wore puncture-proof shoes when they set out, with a layer of steel plate added to the soles of their feet.

So when walking, I couldn't bend my feet and it was hard to grip the ground. The stones were covered with thick moss and were very slippery. I would fall if I walked on them.

There are birds singing, insects buzzing, and mosquitoes biting in the woods.

The mosquito-proof hat distributed when we set out can only protect against mosquitoes but not insects, and small insects were crawling all over my body.

There was no rain and heavy fog at this time.

Everyone was moving forward silently in agony. Many people had no water in their kettles. When the comrades in the reconnaissance platoon were cutting down bushes and vines, they found water in the bamboo, which tasted quite sweet.

So everyone went to look for bamboo to fetch water.

It has been a long time since so many people visited the forest. Perhaps this is their way of welcoming Liu Xiaotao and his group.

The night grew darker, and you couldn't see your hand in front of you.

Liu Xiaotao closed his eyes, and at this moment, he suddenly envied the birds: they could fly and sing freely.

Li Shuangjiang's "Nocturne on the Grassland" suddenly flashed in Liu Xiaotao's mind. What a wonderful artistic conception:

"The beautiful night is so quiet,
Only the sound of my piano remains on the grassland.

I want to write a letter to a girl far away.

Too bad there was no postman to deliver the message.

Wait until the snow melts.
Wait till the spring breeze comes from the grassland,

Kokdala has changed its appearance.
The girl will come to accompany my singing
......"

Liu Xiaotao and his team inserted some phosphorescent tree leaves into the back of their backpacks. In order not to expose their target, every four or five people inserted one leaf.

In order to facilitate identification after the battle begins, everyone had a plaster on their left arm, but at this point, it became a decoration.

At about four o'clock in the morning, the troops reached the peak of the mountain.

Below the mountain is a long slope. The forest is not dense, and fir trees as thick as bowls grow vertically. The humus soil is not deep, and the grass is very dense.

At this time, everyone dispersed and rested on the spot. With the faint morning light, they hurried to catch the leeches hidden in their skin and eat something at the same time.

The deputy instructor led the second firepower group and hid on the mountainside.

It is worth mentioning that Yu Xiaoqing, the deputy squad leader of the kitchen squad, volunteered to fight before the battle and was also assigned to this group. This group was composed of squad seven led by squad leader Huang and other members of squad one led by deputy squad leader Lao Zhang.

In front of them was a firepower group, consisting of a platoon leader leading a squad of several people and squad 4. The "40th fireman" was Xiao Luan and his deputy was Dong Lei.

In front of the firepower group one is the capture group, which is mainly composed of several people from the fifth and sixth squads, and is led by the third platoon leader Jia Minghui.

Liu Xiaotao led the reconnaissance team to support the capture team.

The command group and support group are at the peak of the mountain.

In order to facilitate command and emergency response, their company commander personally went to the prisoner-capturing team.

The command group consists of instructor Captain Qiao, translator Xiao Dong, clerk A Bao, and wireless squad leader Li Shuangxi.

The fog gradually dissipated, and a gentle breeze blew by. From the distant woods, the grunting of wild boars could be heard from time to time, as they had all gotten up to look for food.

The water droplets on the leaves reflected the sunlight and blinked like stars.

The insects became quiet and stopped chirping, and the birds flew back and forth among the trees, as if declaring their sovereignty.

At the bottom of the hillside is a not very deep gully. Not far ahead of the gully is a large pond. To the south of the pond is an open area where all the trees and grass have been cut down.

Further south are three civil structure attics. Behind the attics is a small hill with dense woods on the hillside.

There is a pass to the west of the attic, and there should be roads to the east and west of the attic.

There was an antenna on the roof of the attic, and soldiers were coming in and out in groups of three or four.

The enemy troops were very alert and did not notice anyone going out alone. When two people came out together, they kept a safe distance, one in front and one behind.

On the wall outside the middle attic, there was a row of dry food bags hanging. Liu Xiaotao counted them and found that there were about forty of them.

There should be a reinforced platoon of troops stationed here, and it is predicted that they may be the enemy's special forces. The weapons they carry include some Soviet-style submachine guns and some Type 56 submachine guns that our army used in the past.

Liu Xiaotao and his team's combat mission was to annihilate this enemy force and wait for an opportunity to capture prisoners.

On the afternoon of the first day, a man who looked like a farmer came to the pond to fetch water, which meant there was a village nearby, and perhaps there were more troops stationed in the village.

The next morning, there were still people who looked like farmers coming to the pond to fetch water, but still no soldiers came.

(End of this chapter)