The first and third companies completely led the Japanese away, and Dabei Village was temporarily safe. The political commissar, along with the guards and the ninth squad, carried the wounded Japanese soldiers back to Dabei Village. The people who had just evacuated also received a notice and returned to the village. The second company also returned with the captured spoils. All this finally gave Ding Deyi some confidence.
At this moment, Gao Yidao was in the regiment headquarters, reporting to the political commissar on the origin of the spoils of the Second Company.
"… I saw that this turret was isolated and its defenses were not perfect, so I led the Second Company to attack it. I didn't expect that there were so many guns stored inside." Gao Yidao finished speaking and looked at the political commissar guiltily, still thinking about whether there were any loopholes in his previous words.
The current independent regiment was very empty and had almost no vigilance and defense capabilities. The Second Company came back at this time and got so many guns and trophies, which solved the urgent problem. Therefore, Ding Deyi's attention was not focused on the details of the battle at all.
"Gao Yidao, you are too bold! You made the decision on your own and went so far to attack the artillery tower. If something goes wrong, the consequences will be disastrous. You are playing with the lives of the second company. I think you are just too competitive and your head is full of factionalism."
Gao Yidao saw that although the political commissar said so, his face was not bad. He was eager to change the focus of the topic and nodded quickly: "Because there were few places for the second company, I was indeed emotional at the time and took a risk. Now I know I was wrong, Political Commissar, you are right, I will accept any beating or punishment!"
"Punish?" Ding Deyi looked at Gao Yidao calmly: "How should I punish you? Gao Yidao has become the pillar of the independent regiment now. You are the only fighting force left in my hands, your Second Company. Can I afford to punish you?"
Gao Yidao lowered his head and said nothing, but he finally breathed a sigh of relief in his heart. It seemed that the matter was over.
Ding Deyi looked at Gao Yidao, who looked like he was learning from a guilty conscience, and was a little puzzled. Why did this kid change his temper? Usually, if you said one thing to him, he would say ten things back, and he would be dissatisfied and angry. Why is he so promising this time? But he didn't think much about it. Since his attitude was good, he didn't say much.
"Plans can't keep pace with changes. Gao Yidao, you've got it easy this time. Now distribute the captured guns to the new recruits. Pick as many people as there are guns and assign them to your second company. Build up combat effectiveness as soon as possible and set up security around Dabei Village!"
"Yes!" Gao Yidao felt like a big pie fell from the sky and hit him on the head. As a result, the Second Company immediately returned to its size of seventy or eighty people, close to full strength, and could stand up again.
Hu Yi received a notice asking him to go to the regiment headquarters to meet the political commissar. He didn't know the reason, so he had to put on his hat and go out. When he reached the gate of the regiment headquarters, he met Gao Yidao coming out. The two men's eyes were sharp and collided in the air.
Hu Yi kept walking, intending to ignore the other party. When he was about to pass by him, he didn't expect Gao Yidao to suddenly speak.
"stop!"
Hu Yi stopped, and the two men faced each other, shoulders touching, but both looked straight ahead, not at each other.
"I heard you caught him alive!" Gao Yidao deliberately dragged out his words.
"It's just a coincidence." Hu Yi's answer was brief and light.
"Why, in order to win the award for your meritorious service, you have forgotten your last name?"
"My last name is Hu."
"From now on, do I have to address you as Mr. Hu the Good Man?"
“I don’t deserve it!”
"Then you can be my grandson!"
"Show me how to do it!"
Just as the atmosphere was getting tense, Ding Deyi appeared at the open door. Looking at the two people standing opposite each other at the door, he couldn't help but frown: "What the hell are you two talking about? Can you speak louder so I can enjoy your ears?"
Gao Yidao immediately strode out of the door, and Hu Yi immediately strode back into the door.
Hu Yi took two steps into the room and stopped: "Political Commissar, you are looking for me?"
Ding Deyi waved his hand and said, "Sit down." Then he picked up the thermos and poured a cup of hot water, placed it on the table, and sat down across from him. He smiled and said, "This time, your squad nine has made a great contribution. As the political commissar, I don't have anything to reward you with, so I'll give you a glass of water."
Hu Yi smiled bitterly: "Political Commissar, it's not me who made the contribution, it's Secretary Su. It was she who saved..."
"I'm not talking about the prisoners, but this battle." Ding Deyi interrupted Hu Yi: "If we hadn't defeated these devils halfway, I think our independent regiment would have to move again."
Seeing Hu Yi looking at the water cup on the table without saying anything, Ding Deyi continued: "Although this battle was small, it was fought beautifully, beyond my expectations. I think you also taught me how to use that bunker, right?"
Hu Yi nodded and said nothing.
"How many years have you been a soldier?" Ding Deyi suddenly changed the subject.
"More than eight years."
Haha, Ding Deyi smiled and said, "Although I am older than you, I have one year less military service than you. By the way, I'll lend this to you to have a look. It can be regarded as a reward from me, the poor political commissar, to you, the squad leader of the ninth squad." While speaking, Ding Deyi turned around and took out a booklet from the bag on the wall and handed it to Hu Yi.
Hu Yi took it with both hands and looked at the simple cover, which read "On the Basic Tactics of the Anti-Japanese Guerrilla Warfare - Attack" by author ******. His eyes lit up and he was immediately attracted.
Ding Deyi looked at Hu Yi's hand stroking the book and continued, "Right now, our independent regiment is in a precarious situation. As squad leader, you have to take on more responsibilities. If you have any difficulties or ideas, you can tell me at any time."
Hu Yi raised his head. He understood what Ding Deyi meant. He hoped that he would bring Class 9 back on the right track, form real combat effectiveness, and relieve the worries of the Independent Regiment, which had suffered so many disasters.
After a moment of silence, Hu Yi hesitated and said, "Political Commissar, I want the girl to..."
"I know what you want to say." Ding Deyi interrupted Hu Yi. He knew that Hu Yi wanted to transfer the little girl out of Class Nine for safety reasons. "I have also seriously considered this issue. The little girl is different from other children. She has an extremely fierce temper. When we wanted to leave her in Yan'an, someone almost died. Even if we put her in a safe place, she will do whatever she wants behind my back. Rather than letting her sneak onto the battlefield, it is better to tie her to your side so that I can rest assured. Besides, if the nest is overturned, the eggs will be broken. Since she is already a soldier of the Eighth Route Army, she should be treated fairly. Otherwise, it would be discrimination against her. Now, I hope you can take good care of her."
Flowers in a greenhouse are more likely to die, and there is no safe place in this world of war and smoke; Xiao Hongying is destined to be a wild horse, and the fence cannot imprison her. Hu Yi looked at Ding Deyi's serious and sincere eyes quietly, and remained silent.
But Ding Deyi understood from the determined look in his eyes that Hu Yi could protect that flower bud with his life...