Chapter 673: Guess How Much Power the Fallen Comrades' Children Will Have (Part 2)

The vice platoon leader of the artillery platoon is acting as the deputy company commander, and Xiaobeiping is acting as the artillery platoon leader.

“There’s no time for orders from higher-ups, Commander, what do you think?”

I certainly have no objections.

Promotions at a time like this, frankly, is “assigned in times of crisis,” and to be blunt, the job is about risking your life!

“Xiaobeiping” said to Liang Erxi: “Commander, let me be straightforward, I am capable of commanding the artillery platoon for a while, but I have my own tricks for dealing with enemy bunkers. I actually believe that I would be more effective if I operated as a solo artilleryman.”

Liang Erxi looked at him, his gaze serious, solemn, yet suddenly understanding.

Ultimately, he agreed to Xiaobeiping’s request.

He immediately finalized the battle plan.

He and the newly appointed deputy company commander would lead separate teams, flanking both sides of the main peak to capture it.

Meanwhile, I would lead the third platoon to hold the location, providing support when needed.

“Commander! You’re injured!”

I nearly shouted, “If you still think I, Zhao Yimeng, am a man with some guts, let me lead the charge!”

“Enough of this nonsense!”

Liang Erxi’s tone was unyielding: “In terms of command ability, damn it, you’re not qualified!”

Then, he turned to Xiaobeijing and said: “Take enough ammunition, you and the ammo carriers go down first, as fast as you can!”

The high ground we occupied and the enemy’s main peak formed a U-shape.

The gradient was nearly sixty degrees, with absolutely nothing to cover; entirely exposed to the enemy’s sight.

As Xiaobeiping and the ammunition handlers rushed down the slope, the enemy atop the main peak began relentlessly shooting in our direction.

We attempted to draw enemy fire with our firepower, but they were not fooled, continuing to fire madly at the slope.

Trying to traverse the web of crossfire to reach the opposing main peak was easier said than done!

Liang Erxi frowned, decisively commanded: “Brothers, watch me, follow my lead!”

As the welcome noise fell, he raised a light machine gun, seized the moment between the volleys, leapt high out of the trench, rolling and sliding down the mountain.

Honestly, I was stunned!

Was this a commander?

In history, generals were saved by aides, but how often had an emperor saved his generals!

Thankfully, he succeeded.

With his success, soldiers seized every gap between enemy bullets, one after another, crazily charging forward from the trench.

Watching this scene, I grew increasingly uneasy, and reflected inwardly:

“Aren’t you determined to prove yourself not a coward? Aren’t you determined to prove you’re brave? What worth is hiding here!”

I picked up the submachine gun and told the third platoon’s leader: “You hold your ground here, I’m going to support the commander!”

I only had one thought:

All are born of their parents, all have two arms, two legs, anything a commander can do, I, as a political instructor, should do the same to truly fulfill my duty!

The third platoon that remained kept drawing enemy fire, while the others coped with this brazen tactic by retaliating with force.

We moved continuously closer to the enemy bunker and soon reached an ideal firing position.

But the unexpected quickly occurred.

“Xiaobeiping” loaded the shell into the chamber, pulled the trigger, but the shell didn’t fire; he instantly dropped to the ground.

And enemy flares discovered us; bullets whipped over our heads.

“What happened? Was it a dud?” Liang Erxi frowned deeply.

“No problem, replace it with another one.”

“Xiaobeiping” removed the dud, and the ammo carrier hurriedly handed him another shell.

Reloading, “Xiaobeiping” adjusted his position slightly, abruptly stood, and fired again, but still failed to fire.

Bang!

Did tragedy strike?

Though he changed position, once we were exposed, in the intense enemy fire, he still got shot.

“Comrade, Xiaobeiping, comrade…”

Everything happened in a flash, without any mental preparation.

“Xiaobeiping” lay in a pool of blood, with six bloody bullet holes in his body.

Getting shot isn’t like a TV show, where the back explodes into a deep hole.

All six areas!

Bright red blood poured from his body, as if heedless of his life.

He had not managed a single word of farewell to this world, gone to the underworld in the blink of an eye.

He was merely in his early twenties!

A time of great prospects in life, yet he departed so suddenly!

Even this morning, he passionately analyzed the map, proposing several remarkable ideas!

But now, he fell so abruptly.

He came from Beiping, traveled a thousand miles, joined our company, only staying with us for two days, we didn’t even know his name!

Given his skill, not just fifty meters, but even one hundred, two hundred meters, he would have confidently hit the target!

Cursed dud, damnable dud!

Liang Erxi furiously grabbed the ammo carrier’s collar: “It’s your responsibility, all yours!”

The ammo carrier didn’t argue, hanging his head silently.

Everyone knew that Liang Erxi’s emotions had turned from intense sorrow to anger, wholly releasing what lay within.

Ultimately, it transformed into impotent blame and anger.

On this ruthless battlefield of life and death, no one wished for a dud to occur!

“How could there be two duds, why ironclad!”

“In fact… the dud appeared this morning during the assault on the bunkers.”

Another ammo carrier, equally grief-stricken, spoke: “As for why it’s a dud, commander, look at the writing on the shell…”

Liang Erxi picked up the dud shell from Xiaobeiping’s blood.

I also moved closer, curious as to the cause of the repeated dud.

On the shell was written:

xx country xx year xx month manufactured.

The ammo carrier spoke in a grave voice: “During our rapid march, we only took what the plan called for, enough ammunition for one and a half days’ use. Since this morning, we’ve used up our ammo.”

“Comrade Xiaobeiping discussed with us, the enemy’s leftover ammunition seemed all from similar batches, presumably not too poor, only to discover…”

“Damn it!”

Liang Erxi, an honest farmer, was forced to curse: “We risked life and limb here, yet those in the rear dared send such inferior goods, treating soldiers’ lives worthlessly, is this human life? It’s the worth of swine and dogs!”

No matter the viewpoint, I felt Liang Erxi’s curses were especially justified now.

At that moment, a deafening “boom” resounded from the main peak.

No need to guess, the team led by the acting vice platoon leader had successfully taken out the enemy bunker!

Another “boom” followed, and our side’s bunker was also successfully destroyed.

Despite our grief, all we thought of was furiously capturing the high peak ahead.

Soon, we ascended!

Comrades from both sides converged, carrying submachine guns, crazily advancing, storming the main peak’s summit.

After two days and nights, sacrificing nearly half of our comrades, we finally reached the top of Height 323’s main peak!

Li Hai was particularly thrilled, rushing over to us: “Commander, instructor, we’ve won, we’ve won!”

“Once I return, I’ll use my family’s influence to make our battle into a movie!”

I watched Li Hai with that look, feeling a flicker of relief inside.

Indeed, we finally conquered the main summit of Height 323.

“Take cover!”

Liang Erxi roared, I momentarily lost sight, as I was kicked into the trench by Liang Erxi.

Next, came a burst of dense gunfire.

When I bewilderedly raised my head from the trench, Liang Erxi had fallen.

I frantically rushed forward.

“Commander, commander…”

He barely opened his eyes, his right hand on the pocket over his chest, exhaling more than inhaling:

“Instructor, here… is my… debt…”

“I… sorry everyone, sorry everyone, instructor, sorry… sor…”