1984: Starting from a bankrupt Sichuan restaurant

Chapter 248 The Lonely Gun (Part 2)

The next day, it was dawn.

The fellow disciples, carrying their packs and spears, pushed open the door and went out, ready to descend the mountain early in the morning.

On the steps, Li Lingfeng stood leaning on his red-tasseled spear, his limp gait as straight as a pine tree. His hair, which originally had only a few silver strands, had turned completely white overnight.

"Master..."

Everyone looked at him, and they were all taken aback.

“With the nation in peril, I am eager to fight the enemy, but this limp is holding me back.” Li Lingfeng looked at his disciples, his eyes filled with tears. “I am very gratified and proud that you six brothers have volunteered to go to the front lines. I hope that when you get to the front lines, you will fight bravely and never forget your duty.”

"We will follow Master's teachings!" The six knelt on one knee and bowed.

"Come on, have some steamed buns. Your master's wife made some bean sprout buns for you. Eat your fill before you go down the mountain," Huang Chuyu said as she came out of the kitchen.

"Let's go! Let's eat steamed buns!" Xie Hong pulled his fellow apprentices and headed towards the kitchen.

There were three steamers on the table, all filled with steaming hot buns.

Li Susu was wiping away her tears as she stuffed buns into another oil paper package, filling the package to the brim.

"Eat quickly, it won't taste as good when it gets cold," Huang Chuyu said, stuffing one into Wan Shuyu's hand and gently instructing him, "When you get to the battlefield, stay behind your senior brothers. They are skilled in martial arts and will protect you. Don't run around."

"Okay, Master's wife." Wan Shuyu took a bite of the steamed bun and nodded with a smile.

"Don't worry, Master's wife, I will definitely take good care of Junior Brother and bring him back safe and sound," Lu Feiyang said with a smile, eating half a big steamed bun in one bite, his mouth dripping with oil.

Huang Chuyu handed him a steamed bun and said with a smile, "You are the most careless person. When you go to the battlefield, you must be very careful. Listen to Xie Hong and Gao Yuan in everything. They are quick-witted and resourceful."

"I know, I'll listen to Senior Brother." Lu Feiyang nodded with a smile.

"Second Senior Brother, you listen to your master's wife when she calls you, so you're just pretending not to hear her, right?" Gao Yuan reached for a steamed bun and said with a smile.

"I know, I know," Luffy nodded with a smile.

“The two children haven’t woken up yet. I was afraid they’d cry, so I let them continue sleeping.” Li Susu looked at Song Changhe, who was wolfing down his food, and her already swollen eyes welled up with tears again. “Senior brother…”

"Don't worry, Susu. The six of us brothers will go to the battlefield together and take care of each other. There won't be any problems," Song Changhe grinned. "We'll be back once we drive the Japanese out."

"Mmm." Li Susu nodded, but tears kept falling.

Li Susu looked at her fellow disciples and said, "Brothers, you all need to come back safely. My mother and I will make you pickled mustard greens and pork buns and salted braised pork later."

"Get it!"

"Junior sister, you need to refine your skills."

Everyone responded with a smile.

Watching this scene unfold, Zhou Yan felt a growing heaviness in his heart.

……

The image gradually blurred.

The deafening roar of bombs echoed like thunder, and distant flames flashed. Zhou Yan's gaze was already fixed on a newly dug trench.

The freshly turned soil has a red date flashing on it: October 13, 1937.
Covered in mud, Song Changhe broke off half a steamed bun and handed it to Wan Shuyu, who was sitting opposite him, and asked with a smile, "Shuyu, we're on the battlefield now, why are you still reading?"

"The Art of War." Wan Shuyu took the steamed bun and handed the book to Song Changhe. "Fifth Senior Brother, this is for you. I already know it by heart and don't need it anymore. If you become an officer in the future, studying the Art of War will definitely be beneficial."

"Then why didn't you give it to me? Look at your third senior brother, he looks more like a military officer." Gao Yuan, his slicked-back hair now shaved into a buzz cut, reached out and took the book, flipped through a few pages, and then shoved it back into Song Changhe's hands. "Forget it, seeing so many words gives me a headache."

"I heard from the brothers who retreated that the Japanese were fighting fiercely, with planes and tanks, and their marksmanship was excellent. One of their battalions held the position for three days, and only twenty-three men were left after they retreated, half of whom were wounded." Xie Hong walked over and sat down, his expression somewhat heavy. "Our battalion just took over, and our goal is to hold this high ground for five days to protect the flanks for the brothers on the main battlefield. We expect to start a tough battle tomorrow, so everyone needs to be mentally prepared."

Lu Feiyang grinned and said, "After traveling for half a month, we've finally arrived in Shanghai! I've been wanting to fight the Japanese for so long! I'm so excited!"

Gao Yuan looked at everyone seriously and said, "Don't underestimate the enemy. The Japanese are different from bandits. They are well-equipped. The wounded soldiers we encountered on the way were all seriously injured. If a battle really breaks out, be careful and don't rush forward recklessly. No matter how fast you run, you can't outrun a bullet."

"Gao Yuan is right, everyone must pay attention," Xie Hong nodded.

"I think……"

"Shut up! Don't think that just because you're a soldier now, you have to obey orders!" Gao Yuan glared at Lu Feiyang. "I'm the squad leader now, you have to listen to me!"

Luffy Yang scratched his head, "Okay, I'll listen to you."

"Gao Yuan!" someone shouted.

"Here!" Gao Yuan responded and jogged over.

"Shuyu, you love reading so much, what do you plan to do after the war is over?" Xie Hong asked Wan Shuyu.

Everyone looked at Wan Shuyu, their faces also showing curiosity.

Wan Shuyu smiled and said, "After the war is over, I will go back to be a teacher and open a school in our town. I will not charge money and will teach the children to read and write."

“Your old man, that nouveau riche, probably won’t be happy about it; he never does business at a loss,” Zhao Hui said with a laugh.

“It’s alright. If he’s not happy, I won’t get married or have kids. He’ll agree eventually.” Wan Shuyu smiled and said, “That’s called taking a step back to move forward.”

"Look, scholars are indeed more cunning."

"Shuyu's idea is good. Maybe after those children learn to read and write, they won't have to spend their whole lives digging in the mud."

The group chatted in hushed tones, occasionally glancing up at Shanghai in the distance.

“Why are you even thinking about going back? You should write your will first. I heard from them that several companies of our 26th Division have been wiped out. The Japanese firepower is too fierce, and they have planes and artillery. Our orders are to hold the position to the death. Without orders from higher command, we cannot retreat, even if it means death.” An old soldier with a scar on his face threw his cigarette butt aside and looked at Wan Shuyu, saying, “Young man, can you write? Could you help me write a letter home? I want to leave a few words for my child and wife. I’m not afraid of death, but I want them to know where I died, so they can explain it clearly when they get out.”

"Okay." Wan Shuyu solemnly rummaged through his bag and pulled out a pen and a notebook.

“Write me one too! My cousin died before us without leaving a word. We climbed over the wall and didn’t even say a word to our family. At least we should have some closure.”

“Write one for me too. My wife just got married. If I die, just tell her to remarry. Don’t ruin her life.”

In no time, a number of people gathered around.

"I'm from Huayuan Town, Pixian County, and my name is Zhou Laosan."

“I’m from Zigong Niufo.”

"I'm from Suji, Jiaozhou..."

Although they are called family letters, they are mostly just a few short sentences.

I wrote more than twenty letters in a row.

Wan Shuyu wrote down their names and addresses, promising to send them back individually after they withdrew from the battlefield.

Xie Hong and the others looked at the notebook on Wan Shuyu's lap and fell silent.

"How about we write something too? None of us have gone home since we came out; our families still think we're up in the mountains," Xie Hong suggested.

Zhao Hui nodded: "That's fine too. I'll tell my old man that if I die for the country, he should take my cousin's son as his godson. That kid is smart and honest, and he'll be able to take care of him in his old age without any problem."

Lu Feiyang followed up, "Then I'll tell my wife..."

“Okay, one by one.” Wan Shuyu responded and wrote them down.

"Fifth Senior Brother, do you want to write it?" Wan Shuyu looked at Song Changhe.

"No need. I said everything I needed to say before leaving, there's nothing to write down." Song Changhe shook his head.

"Okay." Wan Shuyu nodded with a smile, thought for a moment, and began to write his own. He wrote two pages in a long and flowing style before closing the notebook and putting it back in his bag.

……

The scene shifts again, and it's the second day.

boom!
A shell landed a hundred meters away, kicking up a cloud of dust. Dust fell from both sides of the trench, and the roar of airplanes swept overhead.

"Fuck you! This iron bird is still a bit crooked!" Gao Yuan spat out a mouthful of mud, raised his gun, and fired at the Japanese soldiers who were crouching down and charging with the tanks.

More than a dozen tanks kept firing, shells raining down on the hillside, creating craters.

Song Changhe lay prone beside the trench, took aim for a while, and pulled the trigger.

Snapped!
A Japanese soldier huddled next to the tank fell to the ground.

"You hit it!" Song Changhe's face lit up with joy, and he instinctively straightened up.

"Lie down!" Gao Yuan pressed him down.

A bullet grazed his hat and made a hole.

"What the hell are you doing! Stand up and become a target!" Gao Yuan kicked him, raised his gun above his head, and fired a shot down the mountain.

Song Changhe bent down to pick up the hat, his hands trembling slightly, breaking out in a cold sweat, but his expression still couldn't hide his excitement.

This was the first time he had hit a Japanese soldier; the bullet went right through his forehead, and he was definitely dead.

He moved a few steps to the side close to the trench, then carefully moved up, quickly aimed, and fired, but the shot missed and hit the tank, sparking a few flecks.

The Japanese had fierce firepower; planes dropped bombs from the sky, and tanks and artillery bombarded the ground, keeping them pinned down.

Moreover, the Japanese soldiers were indeed accurate marksmen, and several machine gunners were successively taken down.

They were completely suppressed in terms of firepower.

"Our class must hold this gap! We'll only get reinforcements after three days. We can't retreat, even if it means death!" Gao Yuan roared.

No sooner had he finished speaking than three planes flew overhead and dropped three bombs.

"Lie down!" Xie Hong pulled Song Changhe down to the ground.

One of the bombs landed right in their trench.

The mud mixed with flesh and blood rose high into the air, my head was buzzing, and my ears were filled with noise.

Zhou Yan squatted on the trench, his eyes filled with dust, staring into the trench.

"Shuyu! Shuyu!" Zhao Hui's voice rang out, filled with deep fear and sorrow.

The smoke cleared.

Wan Shuyu lay in a pool of blood, his waist and abdomen severed by the explosion, his lower body gone.

"Shuyu!" Song Changhe rushed over, his eyes red and swollen.

Wan Shuyu patted the bag on his body with trembling hands, coughing up blood and mumbling, "Believe...believe..."

“I’ll send the letter back to you… Shuyu…” Song Changhe opened his bag and took out the blood-stained notebook.

Wan Shuyu's lips curled slightly, his head lolled to the side, and he breathed his last.

"You little devil, I'll fuck your mother!"

Lu Feiyang picked up a machine gun, stood up, and fired a burst of fire down the mountain. Ah
"Fuck your mother! I'll fight you to the death!" Zhao Hui also grabbed his rifle and fired desperately at the Japanese soldiers.

Song Changhe reached out and closed Wan Shuyu's eyes, then placed the notebook close to his chest. With red eyes, he raised his gun and fired at the Japanese soldiers, shooting down the machine gunner on the tank.

Zhou Yan stared at Wan Shuyu lying in a pool of blood, his mind buzzing, his hands trembling uncontrollably.

That junior brother who loved to follow his senior brothers, that book-loving boy, that gentle and refined young man who said he would go back to open a school and become a teacher after the war was over.

Wan Shuyu, who was writing letters home to his fellow Sichuan soldiers just yesterday, is gone just like that.

He lay in a pool of blood, just like the young men lying haphazardly on the battlefield, wearing tattered military uniforms, straw sandals, and with youthful faces.

The battle lasted for three days.

The Japanese soldiers attacked the position twice and began bayonet fighting.

Song Changhe and his fellow disciples, Xie Hongzhong, wielding spears and bayonets, managed to hold their breach thanks to their years of honed marksmanship.

Of the entire battalion, fewer than a hundred men remained by the time reinforcements arrived.

Xie Hong and Gao Yuan were carried away injured.

"Changhe, bury Shuyu." Xie Hong, who had been shot in the shoulder, held Song Changhe's hand on the stretcher and said with red eyes.

"Senior Brother, I will." Song Changhe nodded solemnly.

"Changhe, you're a sharpshooter. You must help Second Senior Brother and Huizi survive." Gao Yuan's stomach was ripped open by shrapnel. He took out his pistol and a bag of ammunition and handed them to Song Changhe, speaking in a heavy tone.

"Okay." Song Changhe took the things.

Unable to leave the trench, Lu Feiyang dug a pit in the trench and buried Wan Shuyu and several of his comrades in the same trench.

“My junior brother was only twenty years old. I told my master’s wife that I would take good care of him. How could he just leave like this? I should have protected him…” Lu Feiyang squatted in the trench, wiping away tears, his face full of self-blame.

“Senior brother, Shuyu sacrificed himself for the country. He died without regrets. You don’t need to blame yourself.” Song Changhe was carefully wiping two long spears beside him. He said coldly, “Now the Japanese are our national enemies. Killing one is enough, killing two is a bonus. Let’s use their lives and blood to pay tribute to Shuyu and his comrades!”

"That's right!" Zhao Hui, with a dozen or so grenades piled at his feet, gritted his teeth and said, "Kill these Japanese devils and avenge them!" Soon, the Japanese launched a new round of attacks.

Zhou Yan stood on the mountain and looked around. Smoke filled the land, and Shanghai, not far away, was devastated.

This battlefield is just a microcosm; fierce battles are taking place on every single position.

Song Changhe became the squad leader. His adaptability to the battlefield was touching, and his marksmanship was so accurate that Zhou Yan couldn't help but applaud.

Zhou Yan counted the number of Japanese soldiers he killed: eight with a gun and three with bayonets.

On his first battlefield appearance, he showed his mettle.

……

"What's your name?"

"Zhou Kang!"

"Where are you from?"

“From Suji, Jiaozhou.”

"Hey fellow countryman, we're from Emei. Have you ever handled a gun before?"

"Reporting to the squad leader, no, I used to slaughter cattle and farm back in my hometown. I've only handled a knife and a hoe before I was issued a gun. I only know how to pull the trigger."

"That won't do. You're about to go to the battlefield and you don't even know how to shoot. Come on, I'll teach you how to aim. Hold the gun like this. See that crosshair in front? Your eyes should be here..."

As the sounds around Zhou Yan gradually became clearer, he saw Song Changhe teaching a young man how to shoot.

Time: 1938.3.16
"Sixth Master!" Zhou Yan looked at the young man, who was not tall but very strong, with clear but sharp eyes, and looked seven or eight parts like Zhou Hongwei.

Looking at Song Changhe, it's been half a year since he went to the battlefield. His skin is rough and dark, and he has a scar on his eyebrow. He looks much more mature and steady, and his murderous aura has returned, even stronger than when he was seeking revenge.

They appeared to be on a march. Lu Feiyang was dozing off under a tree, snoring loudly.

Zhao Hui squatted to the side, wiping the bayonet until the tip gleamed.

"Is there still no news from Senior Brother and Gao Yuan?" Zhao Hui asked Song Changhe, looking up at him.

“I asked around yesterday, and they said he was assigned to another unit. Third Senior Brother was promoted to platoon leader for his meritorious service, and Eldest Senior Brother should be with him.” Song Changhe took a piece of dried meat from his bag and handed it to Zhao Hui. “The new recruit took it, saying it was made by his family.”

Zhao Hui picked it up, took a bite, chewed for a long time before swallowing, and said with a smile, "It's very fragrant, but a bit hard to chew."

Smelling the aroma of meat, Luffy Yang woke up, smacking his lips.

Before he could speak, Song Changhe had already handed him a piece of dried meat.

"Hmm, it's been half a month since I've tasted meat." Lu Feiyang took a bite, chewed for a long time before swallowing, and said with a nostalgic look, "Right now I just want to eat my master's wife's pickled mustard greens with braised pork belly and pickled mustard greens with meat buns. I was just dreaming about it. Once I leave Sichuan, I can't even smell the pickled mustard greens."

"Don't say anymore, just thinking about it makes me hungry." Zhao Hui shook his head repeatedly.

Zhou Kang sat down, hunched his shoulders, and said with a smile, "It's so cold here. If we were in Suji, we would cook a hot pot of beef offal, tripe, and tendons with Chinese herbs. It would warm us up from head to toe and be so comforting."

"It sounds so-so. If we're talking about food, we can't beat the rabbit from Zigong. Just add some chili peppers, and you'll break a sweat eating it even in winter." A comrade joined the conversation.

"Zigong is known for its spiciness, and we..."

……

"Taierzhuang must be held! Tonight we must retake the streets we lost during the day and rebuild our positions!"

"Our 3rd Battalion's mission is East Third Street. If we capture it, re-establish our position, and hold it, then our mission will be complete!"

"Check the equipment now, sneak into the city, and wait for orders!"

After the battalion commander gave a speech, he took the lead and led his troops into the city, advancing westward.

"Kangzi, you stay behind me. Shoot the Japanese when you see them, but don't rush in recklessly, understand?" Song Changhe instructed Zhou Kang as he ran.

"Okay!" Zhou Kang nodded, swallowing nervously.

Luffy Yang laughed and said, "What are you afraid of? Sichuan people have nine lives, they can't be killed! See my big knife? I've already killed eight Japanese devils. Watch your brother Luffy take them all down in a bit."

"I believe you, Brother Lu!" Zhou Kang smiled back.

Zhou Yan followed behind the group, passing through streets and alleys, where there were broken walls and ruins everywhere, with bullets and shells leaving holes of all sizes in the walls.

Everywhere were corpses that hadn't been collected yet, some of them Japanese soldiers, others of Chinese soldiers.

The image of Taierzhuang from the textbook came to life before his eyes at this moment.

Suddenly, flashbangs shot into the sky, illuminating the sky above Taierzhuang.

Gunshots and cannon fire instantly shattered the silence of the night sky.

"Brothers, charge! To die for our country is the best way to die!" the battalion commander shouted, leading the charge.

"kill!!!"

The sounds of battle filled the city as Chinese troops launched their assault.

Zhou Kang followed behind Song Changhe, striking wherever Song Changhe attacked. He couldn't see clearly at all; he just kept hitting.

boom!
boom! !

The sound of cannons boomed like thunder, exploding all around us.

The Japanese still have a clear advantage in heavy weapons and firepower.

One by one, the charging soldiers fell, but the charge never stopped.

With flesh and blood, we move forward step by step, advancing meter by meter.

Countless comrades fell before they were able to reach the Japanese soldiers.

Bayonets plunged into the chests of Japanese soldiers, and broadswords chopped off the heads of cabinets.

Zhou Kang roared and plunged his bayonet into the heart of a struggling Japanese soldier beside him. His hand trembled, but his expression was both crazed and resolute.

"Alright, one strike kills, no wonder you're a butcher!" Lu Fei Yang laughed and patted him on the shoulder, wiped the blood-stained broadsword on the Japanese soldier's clothes, and continued to charge with Song Changhe.

Zhou Kang drew his bayonet and quickly followed.

As soon as he took two steps forward, he saw a cannon parked on the street lighting up.

"Changhe, get out of the way!" Lu Feiyang shouted and rushed forward to shove Song Changhe aside.

boom!
The shell exploded at his feet, and half of his body was thrown out.

Zhou Kang, who was following behind, was also thrown out and crashed into the earthen wall behind him, whereupon he passed out.

"Second Senior Brother!" Song Changhe rolled twice on the ground to dissipate his strength, and looked at Lu Feiyang, who was now only half a body, with eyes wide open in fury.

"Changhe, you must go back alive to... to take care of Master and Mistress in their old age... bury me towards Sichuan, I want to watch over our home." Lu Feiyang looked at him and grinned, "I see it, I see Mistress's braised pork belly, it smells so good..."

"Second Brother!" Zhao Hui's eyes were bloodshot. He slung his spear behind his back, drew his broadsword, and charged towards the Japanese soldiers along the wall, yelling, "I'll fuck your mother!!!"

"Damn it!" Song Changhe also drew his long sword and charged towards the Japanese artillery position.

The battle lasted until dawn.

Song Changhe was covered in blood, his long sword dulled from the blows. He sat against the wall beside Lu Feiyang's corpse, his hands trembling as he lit a cigarette, took two puffs, and held it to Lu Feiyang's lips, unable to hold back his tears: "Senior brother, have a puff too..."

Zhao Hui, limping and dragging a knife, walked over and knelt beside Lu Feiyang's corpse, sobbing uncontrollably.

"Kangzi! Zhou Kang! Wake up!" A tired voice sounded from behind.

Zhou Yan turned around, his eyes widening slightly.

"grandfather!"

In the corner, a familiar, tall figure crouched down, hoisted Sixth Master onto his back, and ran to the back, shouting, "Conscript! Help! There's an unconscious wounded soldier here!"

It was his grandfather, Zhou Yi.

He instinctively wanted to follow, but was blocked by an invisible wall.

"Let's go bury our senior brother. He said he's heading towards Sichuan because he wants to watch over our home." Song Changhe picked up Lu Feiyang's broadsword, slung it over his shoulder, and got up.

"Come on." Zhao Hui stood up, leaning against the wall, and then lifted up Lu Feiyang's mangled body.

Zhou Yan watched their retreating figures, her eyes already wet with tears, her vision gradually blurring.

……

"Where did it come from?"

“From Zhou Village, Suji Town, Jiaozhou.”

"Is Kangzi from your hometown?"

“My younger brother was carried out yesterday. He’s lucky to be alive. He has a few broken bones, and he’ll probably need to recover for a while.”

"Was the person you buried yesterday from your hometown?"

“My senior brother, we grew up together. Yesterday, when the Japanese opened fire, he pushed me away and got blown up himself.”

"I see you've killed quite a few Japanese soldiers, so you've avenged him."

"Which division are you from? I've never seen you before."

"The 122nd Division was almost wiped out in Tengxian a couple of days ago. Division Commander Wang is dead. Only three of us from our company survived. I didn't want to leave. I wanted to avenge my brothers and kill more Japanese devils, so I followed them into Taierzhuang."

"You're a hero too."

"Not a single Sichuan soldier who died here was a coward; they could kill them all!"

Zhou Yan looked at the two tough guys squatting in the trench, taking turns smoking the same cigarette, and felt a lump in his throat.

As the bugle sounded, the two men picked up their guns, climbed over the trenches, and charged forward with the troops.

One went left, the other right, without the slightest hesitation.

……

Battle after battle, Song Changhe fought across the north and south, achieving great feats of valor with his accurate marksmanship and fearless charges.

From squad leader to platoon leader to company commander.

Zhao Hui fell in the First Battle of Changsha, shot in the head, without even having time to utter a last word.

Xie Hong fell at Kunlun Pass. This was the news Gao Yuan told him when they reunited three years later. He had blown up a tank with a bomb on his back, and there was no body left.

Later, he saw in the newspaper that Gao Yuan, who had been promoted to regimental commander, had led his troops to defend Shimen to the death and died a heroic death.

From then on, all six of them, including his fellow disciples, left Sichuan, leaving him as the only one remaining.

During the middle of the War of Resistance against Japan, he joined the Communist Party and continued the war effort until the victory, at which point he returned to his hometown.

……

1945.10.19
At the foot of Mount Emei.

With a stubble-covered face, Song Changhe knelt on the ground, holding up a copy of "The Art of War," a blood-stained notebook, a long sword, a pistol, an epaulette, and a medal above his head, looking at the white-haired Li Lingfeng and saying:
"Master! The Japanese devils have surrendered! Your disciple is leading my fellow disciples home!"

"Junior Brother's books, Second Senior Brother's sword, Fourth Senior Brother's epaulets, Third Senior Brother's gun, Eldest Senior Brother's medals... they're all here!"

"I can't bring the person back."

"Master, we haven't let the people of Sichuan down!"

"I know, you didn't disgrace the people of Sichuan!" Li Lingfeng limped forward, helped Song Changhe up, took the things from his hands, and tears streamed down his face. "Green hills everywhere bury loyal bones, why need a horse's hide to wrap the corpse for return? You are all good people!"

"Senior brother!" Li Susu rushed over, tears streaming down her face.

Zhou Yan watched this scene with a heavy heart.

Six spears went down the mountain, but only one returned.

Song Changhe's spear is the soul of the Li Family Martial Arts School.

But how lonely he was.

……

　This should be the last memory fragment; I won't write anything more after this.

　　I did exceed the word limit; I originally planned to finish it in one day, but I ended up writing nearly 30,000 words...

　　That's all for now. I'll start adding more chapters tomorrow.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)