The War of Resistance: From Overseas Chinese Mechanics to King of Nanyang

These words were so hurtful that they made both of them breathe heavily. How could someone say something like that?

However, they also knew that Huang Zurong was not targeting them.

"Commander Huang is right. We soldiers should kill the enemy to serve our country and protect our people." After regaining his senses, Zheng Tingji's eyes became much more determined.

"So you're after our wounded soldiers?" Seeing that Zheng Tingji was about to be fooled into a fool, Gao Jiren quickly steered the conversation back to the original topic.

If this continues, things might not be as simple as just dealing with the wounded.

"It's not that I'm planning anything, I just really want to help you share the burden. You and I are both soldiers, so we naturally know that without a good environment for recuperation, it will be difficult for these wounded soldiers to return home. Why should we drag them down and let them die?" Huang Zurong shook his head, his sincerity evident.

Huang Zurong's words hit the nail on the head. They knew the extent of these wounded soldiers' injuries better than anyone else. Let alone crossing the jungle and evading pursuit, even if they traveled safely, they might not be able to make it back to China.

After a long while, Gao Jiren slowly raised his head, his eyes filled with a mixture of heaviness and relief, and said, "Commander Huang, we are the Central Army. These soldiers are not our private troops. We cannot simply send them away as we please. Even if they are wounded, we have no right to dispose of them without authorization."

After a pause, Gao Jiren took a deep breath, as if he had made a major decision: "But you are right. With their current injuries, it is probably difficult for them to make it back to China. Rather than letting them lose their lives on the way, and even their bodies not being able to return to their homeland, it is better to let them stay and fight the Japanese with Commander Huang. Even if they unfortunately die in battle, it will be a worthy death, worthy of their uniforms, and worthy of their country and people."

Upon hearing this, Huang Zurong looked up abruptly, his face filled with disbelief, as if he had misheard.

He stood there stunned for a few seconds before he reacted, a surge of joy welling up inside him, his voice trembling slightly: "Commander Gao, Commander Zheng, you...you're telling the truth? Thank you so much!"

He had glanced at the perimeter earlier and saw the wounded lying densely packed under the makeshift shelters. He estimated there were probably over a thousand people, or even more.

After all, the Japanese army had set up an ambush with two battalions, their firepower was fierce, the battle was brutal, and the casualties were naturally not small.

Gao Jiren waved his hand, a hint of fatigue but also a sense of relief on his face. He took a deep breath and said, "Actually, we should be the ones thanking you. You helped us solve this thorny problem. Otherwise, with so many wounded, we really wouldn't know what to do. Along the way, there was a lack of medical care and food. I'm afraid most of them would not have survived and would have ended up dead in the wilderness."

Hearing this, Huang Zurong remained silent, because he knew that what the other party said was true. After all, the fate of these wounded people in the original timeline was indeed not good. Because they were in a hurry to break through, they were all left behind to cover the rear. Although it was voluntary, who would want to die if they were not forced to?

"We're all compatriots, it's just a small favor." Huang Zurong shook his head, indicating that it wasn't necessary.

He paused slightly, then looked up at Gao Jiren and Zheng Tingji, a hint of curiosity in his eyes, and slowly asked, "But I'm still very curious, are you two really in such a hurry to return to China?"

Although the remaining soldiers under the two commanders were not seriously injured, they were exhausted from the fierce fighting and had to cross the treacherous Savage Mountain to avoid the pursuit of the Japanese army and the harassment of the Burmese.

In the original timeline, he remembered that only about two thousand people from this team eventually made it safely back to China—meaning that the mortality rate on the Hukawng Valley section exceeded fifty percent, a mortality rate that was tantamount to suicide.

Upon hearing this, Gao Jiren shook his head helplessly, his tone full of resignation: "Military orders are hard to disobey. The higher-ups have ordered us to withdraw back to the country as soon as possible. No matter how dangerous the road ahead may be, we can only obey orders and cannot hesitate for a moment."

He knew all too well that the road back home was fraught with peril, but as a soldier, obeying orders was his duty, and even knowing it was a dead end, he had no choice but to grit his teeth and go for it.

"That's true, but it's clearly a bit unreasonable, isn't it? Knowing that the road ahead is dangerous and the mortality rate is extremely high, why force our brothers to jump into the fire? What's the difference between that and sending them to their deaths?" Huang Zurong felt that this was a death sentence order, and he didn't know what those people in the mountain city were thinking.

Upon hearing this, Gao Jiren and Zheng Tingji both fell silent, their faces showing a hint of bitterness.

They understand this principle all too well, but as soldiers, they often have no choice in what they do.

Zheng Tingji sighed softly, his voice low: "Commander Huang, some things are beyond our control. We can only obey orders from above, even if we know in our hearts that they are orders that cannot be broken, we have no other choice."

Gao Jiren added, "Moreover, the division commander is seriously injured, and we must send him back to China for treatment as soon as possible. This is another reason why we are eager to return home. No matter how dangerous the road ahead may be, we must go back."

"No, no, no, I'm not advising you not to go back, but have you ever thought about taking another route? Crossing the Savage Mountain is too dangerous; casualties will only increase for no reason." Huang Zurong shook his head gently.

"Take another route?" Gao Jiren and Zheng Tingji were both taken aback, their faces full of confusion. After exchanging a glance, they both saw surprise in each other's eyes.

To be honest, for days they had only been focused on obeying orders to cross the jungle and return home, and had not considered any other routes available. This suggestion made the two of them fall into deep thought.

Seeing this, Huang Zurong continued, "Yes, as I just told you two, the Japanese army has limited manpower. They only have so many people, and they have to be stationed in so many towns. Their defenses are full of holes. We can easily launch a counterattack and attack Lashio. If we can capture this place, wouldn't we cut off the Japanese army's retreat route to the north?"

"Huh?" A soft exclamation came from both of them at the same time. Sure enough, Gao Jiren and Zheng Tingji were completely stunned by this bold suggestion, standing there dumbfounded with disbelief in their eyes.

To attack Lashio? This idea was far too risky, exceeding their expectations.

The two remained silent, but their minds raced as they calculated: attacking Lashio would have been absolutely impossible before they met Huang Zurong—because the 200th Division no longer had the strength to launch an attack.

But now, with Huang Zurong's support in terms of supplies, this might actually be feasible.

Moreover, once they capture Lashio, they can not only cut off the Japanese army's retreat and relieve pressure on the domestic battlefield, but also rest and recuperate in Lashio for a period of time, allowing the exhausted soldiers to catch their breath.

Seeing the change in their expressions, Huang Zurong knew they were beginning to waver, so he added fuel to the fire, his tone slightly provocative.

"Don't you two want revenge? The Japanese ambush caused you heavy losses, your brothers shed blood like rivers, and you're just going to slink back to the country like this? Are you willing to accept that?"