Bright Sword: The Flowers of War

Chapter 18 Just because you gave them silver dollars

"Tear..."

Su Yaoyang ripped open the cloth strip on the basket. Although it was only dawn, the bright light still dazzled everyone's eyes.

"Brothers, I, Su, keep my word. Fifty silver dollars each. Consider it a reward for everyone's hard work. Everyone gets a share."

"Xu Dapeng, come over here and distribute the money."

"Yes!"

Under Su Yaoyang's arrangement, everyone lined up to receive their money, and Xu Dapeng and more than ten other soldiers from the training team were responsible for distributing the silver dollars.

Seeing the smiles on the faces of the soldiers who had received their silver dollars, Li Gaoyuan, who was watching silently from the side, had a complicated expression on his face.

A cigarette was handed to him. After he took it, Su Yaoyang lit it for him with a lighter and then lit one for himself.

After taking a deep breath, he sighed and said, "Does it really have to be this way?"

"Or else?"

Su Yaoyang countered, pointing to the soldiers who looked delighted after receiving their silver dollars.

"Most of these brothers come from poor families. Some of them can't even afford to give each person a piece of clothing. If we want them to risk their lives, what else can we give them if not money?"
Is it enough to just instill patriotism and empty promises?

Li Gaoyuan hesitated for a moment, then said helplessly, "My dear Su, it's easy for you to say that when you're not in our shoes. The country is so big, and we're so poor."

The country is not yet unified, and the central government can only receive funds from a limited number of places, so oversights are inevitable. You should also be understanding of the central government's situation.

Su Yaoyang scoffed: "Consideration...consideration for what? Consideration for those officials who are suffering on the front lines while feasting on food at home?"

“You…” Li Gaoyuan was speechless for a moment. “Brother Su, I think you have a deep misunderstanding of what’s going on above.”

"Deep my ass..."

Su Yaoyang snorted coldly, "I think the Nanjing city suffered such a catastrophe, and it was mostly due to man-made disaster."

Since they knew the Japanese army was going to attack Nanjing, why didn't they evacuate the civilians beforehand? Why didn't they prepare defenses in advance?

"Only when the Japanese army was about to breach Nanjing did they order the closure of the ferry crossings, preventing the civilians from evacuating. This was blatant murder! And to appoint someone like Tang Shengzhi as the Nanjing Garrison Commander—such a foolish decision! How could he even think of it!"

Su Yaoyang became increasingly angry as he spoke. In his view, at least half of the Nanjing catastrophe should be attributed to Chiang Kai-shek and Tang Shengzhi.

If it weren't for these two making a series of blunders, would he have had to risk his life to escape Nanjing?

After venting his anger, Su Yaoyang felt much better. He let out a long sigh and said to Li Gaoyuan somewhat embarrassedly, "Old Li... I'm really sorry, I shouldn't have lost my temper with you."

"It's nothing." Li Gaoyuan waved his hand. "Everyone has their unpleasant moments. It's good to be able to vent your anger."

"you're right."

Su Yaoyang nodded, then looked up at the sky. "Old Li... I reckon the Japanese will find us by dawn. There are less than two hours until then. Let's hurry and set up our firing positions and defensive positions, or it will be too late."

"I know, the arrangements have already been made."

Li Gaoyuan took a deep drag on his cigarette, gazing at the distant darkness with a profound look in his eyes; it was impossible to tell what he was thinking.

After a while, he suddenly said, "Brother Su, do you think we can drive the Japanese devils out of China?"

"Kick them out?" Su Yaoyang paused for a moment, then chuckled softly, "Of course, there's no doubt about it."

"Oh...you're so sure?" Li Gaoyuan looked at him with some doubt, his eyes revealing a sense of confusion and resentment.

He murmured, "I've fought quite a few battles these past few years, from the Battle of Shanghai to the current Battle of Nanjing. I've watched our army suffer defeat after defeat, and our territory fall into enemy hands. It pains me to see this."

I don't know when this will end, or when we can drive the Japanese devils out of our country.

Do you think we'll live to see the day of victory?

"Of course!"

Su Yaoyang's firm voice rang in his ears.

Su Yaoyang patted him on the shoulder: "Old Li, I can tell you right now that you're still too pessimistic."

In terms of national strength and military power, our country is indeed far inferior to Japan. However, in terms of war potential, land area, and resilience, Japan is not even worthy of carrying our shoes.

Don't be fooled by the fact that the Japanese are fighting fiercely and we are retreating step by step; this is just a facade.

Japan is an island nation and a small country with scarce resources and a small population, which means they are incapable of waging a protracted and comprehensive war.

As for us, we are a large country with a population of 450 million. We can even adopt a strategy of trading space for time to deplete Japan's strength.

This war is destined to be a protracted one, and it would not be surprising if it lasted seven or eight years. We are currently in the early stages of the war and in the defensive phase. After a few years, when the Japanese army's strength has been depleted to a certain extent, the two sides will enter a stalemate.

In a few years, when their national strength is exhausted, it will be time for our counterattack. We'll settle all our old and new scores then; good things come to those who wait!

Seeing the firm expression and affirmative tone in Su Yaoyang's voice, Li Gaoyuan's expression changed from surprise and doubt to admiration.

Although Su Yaoyang only said a few words, he was analyzing the war from a strategic perspective. Anyone with such vision is a rare genius.

Having served in the military for many years, he believed he had seen many talented people, but this was the first time he had ever met someone with such insight and perspective.

Surprised, he couldn't help but ask, "Brother Su, did you come up with this yourself?"

"I...of course not, this is Mao...wait..."

At this point, Su Yaoyang suddenly remembered that his teacher's magnum opus, "On Protracted War," would not be published until next year.

He chuckled dryly, "I was just parroting what others had said, it's nothing."

"Um……"

Li Gaoyuan didn't press further. He pondered for a moment, then said, "Brother Su, I'm considering recommending you as the supreme commander of our unit. What do you think?"

Su Yaoyang pointed to himself, looking surprised: "Me... the supreme commander of this unit? Are you kidding me?"
Don't forget, I'm just an ordinary citizen, not even in the military. Are you kidding me?

"I'm not kidding."

Li Gaoyuan's expression became extremely serious. "As you can see, our team is a collection of defeated soldiers pieced together from scratch. The only reason they still listen to me is because we have no choice but to obey me when a formidable enemy is at hand. If anything happens, we could easily fall apart."

"Do you think I can make them listen to me?" Su Yaoyang was both annoyed and amused. "I'm just an ordinary citizen, why should they listen to me?"

"Just because you gave them silver dollars!" Li Gaoyuan suddenly raised his voice and stared straight at him.

(End of this chapter)