Hao Ping was surprised. He couldn't believe that he would see him in such a place.
Hu Yi was not surprised. This was indeed the third company, and Hao Ping was looking at him in surprise.
"Why...are you here?"
"On a mission. Officer Su is in the yard across the street."
"Su... Secretary? Is he here too?"
"We are leaving. We suggest you leave as well."
"That will have to wait until I take over Xinglong Town."
"Enemy reinforcements will arrive in half an hour. Now... it may not take half an hour."
"Are you talking in your sleep?"
"I didn't say these words in my dream. The security forces said them."
"impossible"
"I don't think it's possible either. You decide for yourself."
Amid the silent focus of the soldiers of the Third Company, Hu Yi turned around and said what he needed to say. As a company commander, he had no right to point fingers at the actions of the Third Company; of course, he was not interested in pointing fingers at the actions of the Third Company, just like Shi Cheng's death, he did not feel sad; because Shi Cheng died brightly, his body was still exposed to the sun, not as wet and cold as when he died of runny nose; no matter what the final situation was, there was no need to worry about no one to bury him, because he was still wearing the detective team's uniform and carrying the detective team's book, which was good, this was already very good, and this was what we should care about.
Amid the silent focus of the soldiers of the Third Company, Hao Ping watched Hu Yi turn around. As a company commander, he couldn't stand Hu Yi, even more than he disliked Gao Yidao, because he was even jealous. He was jealous of his freedom and his indifference as he turned around. Precisely because the soldiers were watching, he could not lower his head as a company commander to seek advice from the man he envied. He could only continue to disguise his expression with confidence to cover up his hesitation, but he could not stop the sweat that was dripping down his forehead.
Suddenly a soldier shouted: "Look!"
Hu Yi, who had not taken three steps yet, also raised his gloomy eyes, and looked along with everyone else towards the center of Xinglong Town. On the roof of the two-story building of the town government, several soldiers were dimly seen, carrying and pushing a flagpole to erect it. A bright red flag was slowly unfurling in the sun in the distance.
The chaotic sound of gunfire was still ringing irregularly. All the soldiers who saw the red flag became solemn, staring blankly or in surprise. The distant sky was also reflected by the red flag, making it look especially blue. Everyone came from the mountains, and no one had ever seen a red flag flying on the large roof tiles, flying in the center of the lifeless gray town, it was incredibly dazzling!
Hu Yi had seen the Blue Sky, White Sun flag flying high in the city center countless times, and he had also seen the flag fall sadly in the flames of the ruins with ashes all over the sky countless times; seeing the flag flying high again, whether it was red or blue, the feeling it brought to him was not excitement, but a helpless sadness, a sadness that he hoped would fly forever and not fall!
…
"Let's go now and head straight north out of the town. Maybe we can still make it in time!" Hu Yishun, who hurried into the yard, kicked Luo Fugui, who was resting under the wall.
"Won't the third company retreat?" Su Qing was more concerned about this issue.
"The enemy is fighting in the west. They have taken over the town hall. The third company has been dispersed. It's not easy to gather them. We can't wait for them. We have to leave first!"
Luo Fugui jumped up first and hurried out the door. Xiao Hongying jumped up second and chased after the bear, yelling in a low voice: "Hey, why are you running? Can't you just carry me for a few steps?"
"Shameless thing, how old are you? I'm going to be the vanguard this time!"
"Bah, you're a top soldier!"
Ma Liang stood up and looked back, but he hadn't moved. Hu Yi then turned around and found Su Qing still sitting there.
"We should go with Company 3!"
"My mission is to bring you back safely."
"I am the officer of the Independent Regiment, and the Third Company is the Third Company of the Independent Regiment! Returning to the Third Company means returning to the Independent Regiment. Your mission is over!"
Hu Yi looked at Su Qing in silence, Su Qing looked at Hu Yi calmly, Ma Liang looked at the two of them thoughtfully, it seemed that one was being unreasonable and the other was selfish and cold-blooded; thinking about it again, the one who was being unreasonable was for the Third Company, and the one who was being selfish and cold-blooded was for her; thinking again, he should know why she was being unreasonable, and she should know why he was selfish and cold-blooded.
"Believe it or not, I will carry you up and walk away now!" He finally revealed his vicious side.
"Then I'll kill you!" She finally said coldly.
Ma Liang didn’t quite understand. The anger between him and her was clearly escalating, but he didn’t feel the coldness they were radiating towards each other as usual.
Their eyes met in hatred, and the few seconds seemed like centuries.
"I'm not the captain of the third company!"
"But I am the political worker of the independent regiment!"
At some point, Xiao Hongying and Luo Fugui retreated back to the courtyard gate, one high and one low, looking into the courtyard without breathing. At this point, Luo Fugui finally sighed, "It's over!"
…
Yang Deshi stood downstairs of the Xinglong Town Office, looking up at the red flag flying high, pushing his glasses again and again, unable to control his excitement.
Pan Zhuzi stood beside Yang Deshi with a similarly proud look on his face, because when the Third Company launched the attack, they, who had been hiding nearby in advance, took advantage of the chaos to capture the town office directly, so the red flag was able to fly so smoothly. He, Pan Zhuzi, had done another great deed.
The sound of gunfire continued in the streets and alleys. Soldiers from the Third Company were busy running around, carrying buckets and brushes, smearing the words "Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere" on the wall, and repainting "Down with Japanese Imperialism" next to it, or even higher up.
Anti-Japanese War slogans prepared in advance were posted on the streets, all in Yang Deshi's elegant handwriting.
A signalman ran hurriedly along the street, guided by a red flag. He pushed aside a soldier who was painting slogans, staggered and turned sharply, and rushed into the courtyard of the town hall: "Instructor! Instructor! The company commander ordered... huhu... retreat to the north! Retreat now!"
"What?" Yang Deshi was surprised. It had only been a short while since he had led the three platoons of soldiers out to create momentum. "Why are we retreating?"
"Hu, Captain Hu said that the enemy reinforcements have arrived!"
"Enemy reinforcements... Wait, who are you talking about? Captain Hu? Where is Captain Hu?"
"Ninth Company Commander, Hu Yi. And Su, Officer Su is here too."
The glasses almost fell off Yang Deshi's face. The name Hu Yi was almost synonymous with disaster. Although it was unbelievable, Yang Deshi couldn't help but believe it. Although the gunshots were still chaotic in the west, he couldn't help but look at the sky in every direction. Suddenly, he pushed Pan Zhuzi beside him and said, "Gather the troops! Retreat! Go and notify the retreat!"
…
Looking out from the broken corner of the wall, you can see the endless northern wilderness, quietly glowing green in the sunlight, extending to the gray sky.
Ma Liang on the opposite side also retreated behind the wall: "Brother, I'll go out and take a look. Maybe... we made a wrong judgment."
After a moment's silence, Hu Yi shook his head, grabbed the rifle of the soldier behind the wall, pulled the bolt to load the bullet, crawled a few times, leaned out of the wall again, and put the rifle in place.
Bang, bang, bang... He quickly pulled the bolt and fired five times, which made the soldier behind him dumbfounded with heartache.
Before the echo of the fifth gunshot had faded, the sound of light machine gun fire suddenly roared in the northern wilderness. Bullets whistled through the wild grass, tearing and digging at everything near Hu Yi...