Bright Sword: The Flowers of War

Chapter 64 The Final Showdown (XIV)
The cross on the church spire tilted slightly in the cold night, a scar left by a shell fired by the Japanese army two days ago.

Li Gaoyuan stood at the top of the church, quietly looking southwest. He had been standing there for more than two hours. Just when his legs were numb, a long, winding, snow-white dragon finally appeared in his eyes.

The moment Su Yaoyang stepped into the church, a petite figure rushed out and threw herself into his arms.

Su Yaoyang gently patted her shoulder, "Alright... You're such a grown-up, yet you still act like a child. Aren't you afraid of being laughed at by so many people watching?"

"No, I want to hold the young master." Xiao Lu's voice was thick with nasal tone.

Having witnessed too many partings and deaths these days, sometimes just a farewell can be a permanent separation, which makes her cherish every moment with her young master even more.

"Alright... get up first, let me settle everyone in first." Su Yaoyang comforted him gently, "We rescued several thousand people this time."

"Ok!"

Xiao Lu nodded somewhat shyly, then turned and ran inside.

"Quick! Bring those stretchers over and carry these wounded soldiers inside!"

Song Mei's voice came from inside. The innkeeper had already changed into a Type 36 field uniform.

Her oversized field uniform couldn't hide her graceful figure. At this moment, she was vigorously stirring the ginger soup with a wooden stick as thick as a child's arm, occasionally sprinkling some brown sugar into the pot.

The rising steam made her face flushed, and a layer of fine sweat glistened on her fair forehead and pink face. As she stirred, the ginger soup in the large iron pot kept churning, with slices of yellow ginger floating in the orange-yellow liquid.

Not only him, but also Meng Shujuan, Yu Mo, Xiao Wenzi, Hong Ling, Xiang Lan and all the other women, whether they were students in the church or women making a living on the Qinhuai River, were all busy. This was the scene that Liang Wenxue and the other prisoners of war saw when they came in.

By the way, Liang Wenxue was the first captain at the dock who said he wanted to follow Su Yaoyang.

"Come over here...everyone come over and have a bowl of ginger soup, then go to the back and change your clothes!" Su Yaoyang called to Liang Wenxue and the other prisoners of war.

The hungry and exhausted prisoners of war could no longer resist when they saw this scene, and they swarmed towards the iron pot.

"boom!"

A muffled gunshot rang in everyone's ears.

Following the sound of gunfire, one could see Su Yaoyang's gloomy face and the muzzle of a gun that was emitting blue smoke.

Su Yaoyang pointed his M1911 pistol at the crowd, seemingly casually, and said coldly, "You call yourselves revolutionary soldiers, huh?"

You have to queue up for meals and drills. After being a prisoner of the Japanese for a few days, have you forgotten even the most basic rules?

I'm not afraid to say this upfront: anyone who dares to loot supplies or belongings, don't blame me for my indiscriminate use of force!

"Wow..."

With a series of synchronized gunshots, a row of fully armed soldiers had somehow appeared around the church, their dark gun barrels pointed directly at the soldiers who were staring at each other.

"You damned bastard!"

Ren Quanyou, who was standing to the side, also stepped forward and kicked the dozen or so soldiers who were charging at the front without any mercy. While kicking, he cursed loudly: "Yan Bugui, Liu Guangtian, you bastards are really disgracing our 51st Division!"
If I ever see you like this again, I'll castrate you! Cowards like you don't deserve to have testicles!

Strangely enough, these soldiers were kicked and grimaced, but they didn't dare to move. They just stood there and took the kicks.

After giving the soldiers a good beating, Ren Quanyou jogged up to Su Yaoyang, bowing and scraping, and said, "Commander, it's all because the department is not strict enough in its management."

These soldiers have been starved by the Japanese for several days. They are cold and hungry, which is why they have lost their composure like this. I hope the commander will not take offense.

"All right!"

Su Yaoyang laughed and scolded, "Stop acting in front of me. Don't worry... I can forgive them this time. But if there's a next time, don't blame me for being ruthless."

I'm entrusting this place to you. You must select a few people to maintain order. If any problems arise, you will be held responsible, understand?

"Yes, sir!" Ren Quanyou's pale face flushed slightly as he solemnly saluted him: "Don't worry, Commander. If any of these kids dare to cause trouble again, the department will twist their heads off and use them as footballs before you even have to lift a finger."

Su Yaoyang gave him a deep look: "I hope you can keep your word."

After saying that, he turned and left the courtyard.

"Attention... Salute!" Ren Quanyou's slightly loud voice rang out from behind.

"Wow..."

Su Yaoyang strode out of the courtyard and saw Li Gaoyuan standing not far away, looking at him with a half-smile.

"Commander... your strategy of using barbarians to control barbarians is quite effective."

"Nonsense, what do you mean by using barbarians to control barbarians? You're supposed to be a highly educated person who's studied abroad, and you can't even use idioms properly," Su Yaoyang said with a laugh.

The two walked slowly along the wall. Li Gaoyuan first handed him a cigarette, lit it for him, and then sighed, "I really didn't expect that you would actually manage to pull this off."

"It's all up to human effort." Su Yaoyang took a deep drag of his cigarette, feeling the spicy yet mellow nicotine flavor circulate in his lungs before finally exhaling. He felt much more refreshed and sighed softly.

"It's just a desperate measure to survive, since we're short-handed."

“Yes,” Li Gaoyuan sighed, “After your battle last night, St. Paul’s Church will inevitably attract the attention of the Japanese high command, and it will be impossible for us to keep a low profile anymore.”

From today onwards, we will face a full-scale siege by tens of thousands of Japanese troops within Nanjing.

"So what if we launch a full-scale attack?" Su Yaoyang laughed. "Life is like this, just like floating clouds and flowing water."

Even if we were to perish here today, what does it matter? To die for our country and our nation, we would die without regret!

"Hahaha..." Li Gaoyuan laughed as well, "How fortunate I am to be able to die alongside you, Young Master Su, in this city of Nanjing, fighting against the Japanese invaders!"

The two looked at each other and laughed.

After laughing, Su Yaoyang suddenly asked curiously, "By the way, with all the commotion I made last night, didn't Huang Guantao notice anything at all?"

"What do you mean, no?" Li Gaoyuan suddenly chuckled. "He called me several times in a row and gave me a good scolding, blaming me for not stopping you and letting you run wild."

"If I hadn't stopped him, he would have personally led a group to meet you."

"Old Huang is a kind-hearted person," Su Yaoyang nodded with a sigh.

Historically, Huang Guantao also led his troops to resist to the last moment. When he was swimming away with the soldiers of the military police regiment at Xiaguan Wharf, he was shot by machine guns from Japanese gunboats and died a heroic death. He truly deserves to be called a hero.

After finishing his cigarette, Su Yaoyang said to Li Gaoyuan, "Although we rescued more than two thousand prisoners, these people have been hungry for several days, and many of them are injured or even have fevers, so they cannot go to the battlefield for the time being."

I think we should temporarily reorganize them into three battalions, let them rest for a day or two, and then send them to the battlefield. What do you think?

Li Gaoyuan nodded. "I think it's possible, but I'm afraid the Japanese won't give us that time."

"boom……"

Just as Li Gaoyuan uttered these words, a violent explosion rang out several miles ahead...

(End of this chapter)