Chapter 118 Battle on the High Ground

The wind whistled past his ears, carrying with it the roar of enemy artillery fire. He Yuzhu's pupils suddenly contracted, and the hairs on his body stood on end. An extreme sense of danger suddenly gripped him.

Without the slightest hesitation, he suddenly exerted force with his feet, his soles grinding hard against the pebbles on the ground. Using the momentum, he shot forward like an arrow, heading straight for the nearest boulder that was about half a person's height.

His body traced a sharp arc in the air, and the moment he landed, he executed a nimble roll on the spot.

With his well-defined knuckles gripping the crack in the rock, he rolled precisely to the side of the boulder opposite his previous hiding place, pressing himself tightly against the cold, rough stone surface, barely daring to breathe.

Just as I regained my balance, a deafening "Bang!" suddenly exploded in my ears!

The loud thud of the shells hitting the ground made the ground tremble slightly.

Immediately afterwards, a dense shower of gravel flew in all directions like a torrential rain.

The rocks pounded and clattered against the boulder where He Yuzhu was hiding, then bounced off his shoulders and back, causing sharp pain.

He tilted his head slightly and saw that the rock he had just hidden had been mostly shaved off by the shell.

The hard rock shattered instantly, turning into countless flying fragments of stone, and a cloud of dust instantly filled the air, choking people and making their throats tight.

He Yuzhu slowly stood up, supporting himself on the stone. He was panting heavily, his chest heaving violently, and his forehead was covered with a fine layer of cold sweat.

He raised his hand to wipe the dust off his face, a trace of lingering fear still in his eyes, and secretly rejoiced.

Fortunately, I reacted quickly enough and ran away in time. If I had been half a second slower, I would probably have been blown to pieces by the shells and rubble, leaving not even a trace of my body.

"Damn it!" He Yuzhu cursed under his breath, a fierce glint in his eyes.

The enemy's firepower is too fierce. If we continue to passively dodge, we will eventually become sitting ducks.

He steadied himself and quickly scanned the smoke-filled battlefield.

They immediately began searching for Zheng Shuanzi, the deputy squad leader—the grenade launcher shell had been fired from the direction where Zheng Shuanzi was, and the grenade launcher was still in his possession.

He Yuzhu was very familiar with grenade launchers. He possessed advanced artillery skills, and controlling this light firepower weapon was a piece of cake for him, as easy as playing around.

As the smoke and dust from the battlefield gradually dissipated, He Yuzhu finally spotted Zheng Shuanzi and several ammunition handlers in a low-lying area not far away. However, the scene before him made him frown instantly.

The men looked utterly wretched. One of the munitions soldiers was covered in blood, lying on the ground barely alive, blood still seeping from his abdominal wound. He was seriously injured and unconscious.

Zheng Shuanzi and another ammunition handler, Wang Xigui, were also injured. Their arms and faces were covered in scratches and dust, and their faces were pale. They were obviously slightly injured and were busy taking care of the seriously wounded. The scene was chaotic.

He Yuzhu quickly estimated the distance between the two sides, then shouted at the top of his lungs in Zheng Shuanzi's direction. His voice pierced through the gunfire and roars on the battlefield and carried clearly.

"Deputy squad leader! Could you move closer to me? I need to use the grenade launcher!"

At this moment, Zheng Shuanzi was kneeling on one knee, pressing his hands firmly against the wound of the seriously injured Zhang Changhai, trying to stop the continuous bleeding. Sweat mixed with dust slid down his forehead and dripped onto Zhang Changhai's wound, causing the unconscious man to let out a painful groan.

Upon hearing the shout, Zheng Shuanzi abruptly stopped, frozen in place, his face filled with astonishment.

That sound...

Who is He Yuzhu?

That sixteen-year-old recruit who had just arrived at the company and still looked somewhat immature?

Zheng Shuanzi almost thought he had misheard; was he hallucinating on this battlefield amidst the raging gunfire?

He subconsciously looked up in the direction of the shout and saw He Yuzhu hiding behind a boulder, waving vigorously at him, while pointing with his other hand to a larger rock next to him, clearly indicating that he should move closer to that spot.

Zheng Shuanzi's eyes widened in disbelief. He mouthed the words with all his might in He Yuzhu's direction, but his voice was drowned out by the gunfire, and he could only convey his question through his lip movements: "You know how to use it?"

He Yuzhu understood his lip movements at a glance. Without the slightest hesitation, he nodded vigorously, his eyes firm and without a hint of joking.

Zheng Shuanzi's heart skipped a beat. Although he was full of doubts, the current battle situation was urgent and he could not afford to hesitate any longer. He immediately turned to Wang Xigui beside him and gave him a deep order.

"Xigui, you stay here and take care of Changhai. Press firmly on his wound, and don't let go!"

"Understood, Deputy Squad Leader!" Wang Xigui replied through gritted teeth, immediately taking over and pressing his hands tightly against Zhang Changhai's wound.

Zheng Shuanzi said no more, bent down and took the ammunition pouch off Zhang Changhai's back, then slung it heavily over his own shoulder, the pouch pressing down on him.

He was completely unaware of what was happening. He simply hunched over and, using the cover on the battlefield, slowly and cautiously moved toward the location indicated by He Yuzhu, taking each step with extreme care, for fear of attracting enemy fire.

Meanwhile, seeing Zheng Shuanzi begin to move, He Yuzhu immediately raised his Type 38 rifle, his eyes sharpening like an eagle's, locking onto the enemy machine gunner on the mountaintop.

Instead of firing continuously, he waited for the right moment and fired precisely. Each time he pulled the trigger, he aimed directly at the enemy machine gunner's vitals, using precise bursts to draw all of the enemy's firepower and create a safe space for Zheng Shuanzi to move.

He was extremely familiar with the enemy's tactics, firing a shot and immediately changing his hiding place, never lingering in battle.

Because the enemy's firepower reacted extremely quickly, he would never have a chance to fire a third shot. Often, as soon as the second shot was fired, heavy machine gun bullets from the mountaintop would rain down on him, or enemy mortar shells would explode at the spot where he had just been, putting him in a very dangerous situation.

In an instant, He Yuzhu became the enemy's primary target in that direction of attack, and all the firepower was instinctively directed towards his position. This gave his comrades charging forward precious time to attack and provided excellent cover.

Taking advantage of the firepower, Zheng Sanxi, the squad leader at the forefront, and his men had already advanced to within fifty meters of the enemy's position on the mountaintop. They could almost see the ferocious expressions on the enemy's faces.

At the same level as Zheng Sanxi and his group were the soldiers from the third squad who had just arrived as reinforcements.

They were a pure infantry unit, without even a heavy machine gun, and their firepower was extremely weak, so they were assigned to launch the final assault.

Along with him rushed up, a platoon leader caught a glimpse of He Yuzhu's agile movements and accurate shooting in the melee. His eyes flashed with amazement and approval. He grinned in He Yuzhu's direction and gave him a thumbs up from afar, his eyes full of recognition for the new recruit.

Not long after, He Yuzhu finally reunited with Zheng Shuanzi, who had struggled to move over.

Zheng Shuanzi had barely caught his breath when he immediately took the grenade launcher from his back and handed it to He Yuzhu. His hands were still trembling slightly, and his voice was full of uncertainty and shock as he asked again, "Zhuzi, you...you really know how to use this? This is no joke. If you make a mistake, you might not only miss the enemy but also get yourself killed!"

Without uttering any unnecessary words, He Yuzhu snatched the grenade launcher from Zheng Shuanzi's hand with a practiced ease that left everyone speechless.

He crouched down, quickly adjusted the support, and adjusted the angle. In just a few seconds, he had the grenade launcher firmly on the ground. The whole set of movements was smooth and fluid, without the slightest hint of unfamiliarity.

Immediately, he looked up at the enemy's position on the mountaintop and quickly reported a set of precise artillery coordinates in a calm tone, unlike a new recruit at all.

Zheng Shuanzi subconsciously looked up at the coordinates he had given, carefully comparing the location of the mountaintop. Upon seeing this, he was completely stunned. His gaze towards He Yuzhu changed from initial suspicion to shock, and now to disbelief, as a storm raged in his heart.

What kind of monster just showed up in their class?!

Precise shooting, agile battlefield movement, and now the ability to skillfully operate a grenade launcher and report such accurate artillery coordinates—even veterans who have been fighting in the company for many years may not be able to do this!

Were all the instructors in the recruit training company blind?

How could such a skilled soldier be assigned to a second-line company whose combat strength is not top-notch?

This is a complete waste of talent!

Ignoring Zheng Shuanzi's shocked gaze, He Yuzhu reached out and took an ammunition pouch from Zheng Shuanzi, slung it steadily over his own shoulder to lighten Zheng Shuanzi's burden, then handed his Type 38 rifle to Zheng Shuanzi before turning to continue his advance.

Seeing this, Zheng Shuanzi immediately stepped forward and said, "Zhuzi, you stay here and fire. I'll be your ammunition handler and pass you grenades. Let's work together!"

He Yuzhu shook his head, looking at Zheng Shuanzi with a firm gaze, his tone leaving no room for doubt.

"Deputy squad leader, I'm going to advance and engage enemy strongpoints at close range. I'm moving too fast for you to keep up with. Staying here would be dangerous."

Upon hearing this, Zheng Shuanzi instantly snapped back to reality. From the moment the charge began until now...

He Yuzhu ran at the very front of the team, his steps were swift and his tactical movements were incredibly agile. If he hadn't deliberately suppressed his speed, the main force of soldiers behind him would have been left far behind and completely out of the running.

Thinking of this, Zheng Shuanzi stopped insisting. He looked at He Yuzhu with a serious expression, patted him on the shoulder, and said in a deep voice, "Then this grenade launcher is completely yours! It's our platoon's only heavy weapon right now, and the entire platoon's hope rests on it. You must use it well and crush the enemy!"

"Yes, sir! I guarantee I'll complete the mission!"

He Yuzhu straightened his back, gave a solemn military salute, and spoke in a firm and powerful tone.

As soon as he finished speaking, He Yuzhu didn't delay any longer. He picked up the grenade launcher he had set up, rolled over suddenly, and rushed out of his hiding place.

He moved nimbly through the hail of bullets, sometimes crawling forward, keeping his body low to avoid enemy fire, and sometimes leaping forward to use the terrain to make a quick advance.

Sometimes he would roll on the spot to dodge the bullets and shell fragments flying in his face. His movements were as agile as a cheetah. In just a short while, he rushed up another thirty meters toward the enemy's position on the mountaintop, completely closing the distance with the enemy.

Holding the Type 38 rifle left behind by He Yuzhu, Zheng Shuanzi knew that his marksmanship was far inferior to He Yuzhu's and that he could not achieve accurate bursts.

He could only fire a shot haphazardly towards the enemy on the mountaintop from time to time, barely managing to provide cover for He Yuzhu and disrupt the enemy's line of sight.

Meanwhile, the machine gunner Feng Erkui, who was not far away, took in He Yuzhu’s series of swift and decisive actions and was filled with admiration.

Without a word, he set up his "crutch-handle" machine gun and barely released the trigger. Dense bullets poured down on the mountaintop like tongues of fire, suppressing the enemy's firepower. Only when He Yuzhu found new cover and stopped did he slow down his firing pace and change magazines.

The position where He Yuzhu stopped didn't offer an excellent field of fire, and there were some loose rocks blocking the view, but it was still enough to strike the enemy's firing positions on the mountaintop.

He didn't dare to delay for a moment, quickly set up the grenade launcher again, and deftly took out three grenades from the ammunition pouch. Without hesitation, he fired a rapid three-round burst.

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"

Three grenades, accompanied by sharp whistling sounds, flew precisely toward the enemy's firing position on the mountaintop.

The next second, a heavy machine gun and two light machine guns on the mountaintop fell silent. The enemy's roars and the machine gun fire stopped abruptly, replaced by the deafening roar of exploding shells.

He Yuzhu squinted and roughly determined the location of the enemy's mortar position, but unfortunately, it was obscured by the elevation angle of the mountain.

Unable to see the exact location of the mortar directly, he knew that firing rashly would only waste grenades, so he temporarily abandoned the idea of ​​engaging the mortar.

After cleanly and efficiently eliminating three key enemy firing positions, He Yuzhu's eyes sharpened, and without lingering in the fight, he decisively got up and quickly changed positions again.

He knew that the enemy would soon react and launch a retaliatory artillery barrage on his previous position, so he had to move immediately.

Just as he was moving, Zheng Sanxi and the soldiers of the second squad, taking advantage of the gap left by He Yuzhu taking down the firing point, had already advanced to the front line of the enemy's position. The grenades in their hands were already able to be accurately thrown onto the enemy's position, and the battle situation instantly tilted in our favor.

The battle on the mountaintop instantly intensified. Taking advantage of the lull in enemy fire, the remaining soldiers of the first squad and the comrades of the third squad began to climb the mountain at full speed, launching a fierce attack on the summit.

He Yuzhu seized this excellent opportunity, set up the grenade launcher again, adjusted the angle, and fired three rapid shots in a row. This time, his target was the enemy mortar position that he had locked onto earlier.

The shells landed precisely, and a violent explosion erupted from the enemy's mortar position, sending flames soaring into the sky.

After firing this round, He Yuzhu immediately picked up the grenade launcher and continued charging forward, advancing another thirty meters or so to reach a new firing position.

He fired the two remaining grenades from his ammunition pouch and then precisely destroyed two enemy light machine guns before stopping.

At this moment, he had used up all the grenades he carried, and apart from a few Japanese-style hand grenades hanging on his waist, he had no other heavy weapons.

These grenades were completely unusable as grenade launchers, leaving him unarmed and forced to hide and wait for supplies.

Just as He Yuzhu was frowning, pondering his next move, an anxious shout came from behind, piercing through the noise of the battlefield.

"The pillar! The pillar!"

He Yuzhu turned his head and saw Wang Xigui running towards him, his body bent over, shouting as he ran, "Zhuzi, the deputy squad leader sent me to ask you, can the grenade launcher still be used? We still have grenades!"

It turned out that Zheng Shuanzi saw He Yuzhu stop firing and immediately guessed that he had run out of grenades, so he immediately sent Wang Xigui to bring more grenades.

Wang Xigui's face was full of sorrow. As he ran closer, He Yuzhu learned from his choked voice that Zhang Changhai, who was seriously injured, had ultimately failed to survive and had tragically died in the chaos.

He Yuzhu's eyes darkened, and a pang of sorrow swept through his heart, but there was no room for too much sadness on the battlefield. He immediately shouted at Wang Xigui.

"Attack! You stay where you are, hide well, I'm coming to you right away!"

"Okay! I'll wait for you!" Wang Xigui quickly replied, immediately found a cover and hid, no longer making any sudden movements.

Not long after, He Yuzhu safely reunited with Wang Xigui.

As Wang Xigui took the grenade pouch off his back and handed it to He Yuzhu, he lowered his voice, saying with a hint of concern and concern, "Yuzhu, we only brought twenty-four grenades when we set off. You just fired eight at once. The firepower was impressive, but the consumption was too great. I'll bring you another pouch. You have to use them sparingly, don't use them all at once. If there are any tough battles later, we won't have any heavy firepower."

He Yuzhu nodded, took the grenade pack and slung it over his shoulder, and said in a deep voice, "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

After saying that, he turned around and charged back into the battlefield.

At this moment, the enemy firepower in front of the first rank had been completely suppressed, and the powerful strikes from grenade launchers were no longer necessary. He Yuzhu made a decisive move, changing direction and circling around to the hillside where the second rank was feigning an attack.

Because their attack was too fierce, the precise grenade launcher fire made the enemy dizzy and disoriented. The enemy poured almost all of their heavy firepower into the frontal battlefield where the first platoon was located, completely ignoring the second platoon's feint attack.

As a result, the second platoon, which was originally only responsible for feinting attacks and holding back the enemy, was under much less pressure, and the attack actually made great progress.

They are currently holding their ground halfway up the mountain, engaging in fierce firefights with the enemy, and gradually advancing.

He Yuzhu concealed himself, set up the grenade launcher, and, without being greedy, precisely fired three grenades.

These three shots once again proved incredibly effective, directly destroying two enemy machine guns suppressing the second platoon and also eliminating an enemy sharpshooter hiding in the shadows.

He Yuzhu had already noticed that this sharpshooter, hiding behind cover, had taken down two of our soldiers in quick succession. His methods were ruthless, so he immediately and decisively fired a grenade, sending the sniper to his death.

Without the enemy's suppressive fire, the second platoon's attack instantly became fierce, and the soldiers' morale soared as they charged forward bravely. The second platoon leader, standing on the position, noticed that the enemy's firepower had suddenly ceased. He subconsciously glanced in the direction from which the grenades had come, only seeing a blurry figure and not being able to make out who it was. But he already knew in his heart that it was his comrades from the first platoon who had come to his aid.

He secretly resolved that after this battle was completely over, he would personally go to the platoon to properly thank the comrade who had lent a helping hand.

The third platoon launched its attack the latest, thus avoiding the enemy's most intense firepower. Because of this delayed attack, they received the least amount of enemy fire. Most of the enemy's heavy firepower was drawn away by the first and second platoons, leaving the third platoon with only two enemy light machine guns.

As the battle raged on, the third platoon was locked in a stalemate with the enemy. The two sides engaged in a fierce exchange of grenades and close-quarters rifle fire, with gunfire, explosions, and shouts mingling together in a deafening roar. They were just one step away from engaging in hand-to-hand combat.

Seeing that the battle situation in the second platoon had stabilized and no longer required his support, He Yuzhu immediately picked up the grenade launcher and returned to the main battlefield where the first platoon was located.

He knew that the enemy on the mountaintop was compressed into a small position and would inevitably launch a final charge and engage in hand-to-hand combat. The whistle could be blown at any moment.

In preparation for the ensuing close-quarters combat, He Yuzhu secretly used his trump card, taking out a Browning 1911 pistol from his spatial storage and concealing it in his sleeve.

He was not afraid to fight the enemy hand-to-hand with bayonets, and with his skills, he was in no way inferior. However, he was afraid that the enemy might not follow the rules on the battlefield and suddenly open fire to ambush him during bayonet fighting, so he had to be on guard.

Sure enough, not long after, a sharp and piercing whistle suddenly rang out on the battlefield, piercing the sky and echoing throughout the entire mountain.

He Yuzhu looked up and saw that the company commander had also rushed up, carrying a Mauser pistol, his expression resolute, loudly directing the soldiers to charge.

"Charge! Kill!"

Upon hearing the whistle, all the soldiers in the platoon on the west slope instantly erupted in a deafening shout, stood up, fixed their bayonets, and launched a final charge towards the enemy's position on the mountaintop like tigers descending a mountain.

He Yuzhu carefully hung the empty grenade launcher on his body, freeing his hands. His right hand gripped the bayonet on his rifle tightly, while his left hand pressed against the pistol in his sleeve. His eyes were cold as he followed the main force and charged forward.

When he rushed to the enemy's position, the soldiers of both sides had already clashed, bayonets clashing, and a fierce hand-to-hand battle had begun.

These Bald Eagle soldiers were generally tall and strong, but they were not good at precise bayonet fighting skills. They relied entirely on their brute strength, using their rifles as fire pokers, swinging and smashing them haphazardly. Some soldiers even threw down their rifles, picked up their entrenching tools, and frantically slashed at our soldiers with barbaric and brutal moves.

He Yuzhu charged into the fray, his agile feet moving swiftly across the brutal battlefield. He dodged the enemy's wildly swung weapons, his attacks swift, accurate, and ruthless, usually defeating his enemies with a single, clean strike, severing their necks cleanly and decisively.

If an enemy dares to secretly raise a rifle, intending to launch a sneak attack.

He would instantly draw a pistol from his sleeve, raise his hand, and fire a shot that accurately hits the enemy's vitals, swiftly and decisively eliminating the threat.

The soldiers in the surrounding row were still in the heat of battle and hadn't fully realized what was happening when they saw the enemies who had just been fighting them to the death either clutching their necks and collapsing to the ground with a thud, or being shot and falling headfirst to the ground.

Immediately afterward, a lithe figure swept past, relentlessly eliminating the next enemy with swift movements and astonishing combat prowess.

The soldiers were taken aback at first, but then they reacted and their morale soared. With no more worries, they gripped their bayonets tightly and charged fiercely at the enemies around them, fighting with all their might.

In the midst of the fierce battle, He Yuzhu had already put his Browning 1911 pistol back into his spatial storage and instead picked up the M1911A1 pistol he had just captured from the enemy. It felt smoother in his hand, and he also carried a captured M1 rifle on his back, making his firepower even stronger.

At first, there were a few tall Bald Eagle soldiers who were not convinced by He Yuzhu's skills. Seeing that he looked young and that his weapon was too short, they wanted to take advantage of their size to bully him and pounced on him.

But without exception, all of these people ended up as victims of He Yuzhu's blade, unable to even get close to him before being completely eliminated.

This scene was witnessed by the company commander, who was standing not far away.

The company commander looked at He Yuzhu, who was moving through the battlefield as if it were empty and whose combat power was off the charts. His eyes were full of amazement and appreciation. He nodded repeatedly and made up his mind: after this battle is over, I must have a good talk with He Yuzhu.

This is an exceptional soldier, one in a million. He is brave, resourceful, and highly skilled. No matter what, we must train him well and strive to help him improve as soon as possible so that he can take on greater responsibilities!

Thanks to the valiant fighting of our soldiers, the hilltop position was finally captured.

On the battlefield, there were basically no prisoners left. Most of the enemy was annihilated on the spot. A small number of the enemy, when our side launched an attack and reached the top of the mountain, saw that the situation was hopeless and took advantage of the chaos to flee to the road below the mountain in a sorry state.

The fighting on the mountain was too intense. The soldiers were all engrossed in the hand-to-hand combat and had no one to spare to pursue the fleeing enemies. They could only let them go.

The battle temporarily ceased, and the soldiers began to clean up the battlefield. Looking at the weapons and equipment left behind by the enemy, they couldn't help but sigh with amazement.

"Wow, these big-nosed guys are really rich! We can't even dream of having this kind of equipment!" A soldier picked up a perfectly good rifle from the ground and couldn't help but exclaim.

"That's right! Look at their machine guns, a whole dozen of them! Our entire company only has three machine guns at most, we can't compare at all!"

Another soldier looked at the machine guns scattered all over the ground, his face full of sorrow.

"I saw this gun back when we were fighting in Tianjin. It was called the M1 Garand. You don't even need to manually pull the bolt; it's semi-automatic and can empty the magazine in one go. It's incredibly powerful!"

A veteran who had been on the battlefield picked up an M1 rifle and examined it closely, his tone full of curiosity.

The company commander looked at the soldiers cleaning up the battlefield and immediately gave orders in a loud voice.

"Everyone, rest where you are. Quickly eat your rations and drink your water to replenish your strength and be ready for the next battle!"

The soldiers responded, took out their rations, and rested on the spot.

Meanwhile, the platoon leaders were nervously counting the number of casualties in their respective platoons. Every time a name was called out and every casualty was confirmed, their hearts felt as heavy as if a boulder was pressing down on them.

After the headcount was completed, several platoon leaders approached the political instructor to report on the casualties.

The instructor took out a small notebook he always carried with him, his expression solemn. Every time a platoon leader called out a name, he would take a pen and carefully record it in the notebook.

When he encountered fallen soldiers, he would draw a heavy mark after their names.

His fingers, gripping the pen with excessive force, had turned bloodless and bluish-white at the knuckles. His eyes were slightly red, and his heart was filled with grief. These were his comrades-in-arms, with whom he had spent every day, and in the blink of an eye, they were gone forever from this battlefield.

On the other side, He Yuzhu was also walking around the battlefield, searching for anything useful.

He wasn't just randomly looting corpses; he was specifically looking for food and water to replenish his energy. The fierce battle he'd just fought had taken a heavy toll on his stamina, and he needed to replenish it as quickly as possible.

He quickly found two boxes of supplies: one box of compressed biscuits and the other of canned meat, both of which were good for quickly replenishing his energy.

He bent down to pick up the box, preparing to return to his class's rest area, when a frantic, trembling shout suddenly came from down the mountain, breaking the temporary peace.

"Company commander! Company commander! Something terrible has happened! A large enemy force is approaching!"

The one who shouted was a soldier in charge of reconnaissance and guard duty. He had run all the way here, covered in sweat, panting, and his face was full of urgency.

The company commander's expression instantly hardened. He immediately stepped forward and asked in a deep voice, "How far away is the enemy?"

"Reporting to the company commander, they're less than five kilometers away! But our reinforcements are on their way, and they've already started setting up defensive fortifications along the way! The regimental commander personally ordered our company to hold this mountain pass at all costs, to block the enemy completely, and to absolutely prevent them from getting through!"

The reconnaissance soldiers, panting heavily, quickly reported the situation.

"Where is the regimental commander? Where are the people from the regimental headquarters now?" the company commander asked immediately.

"The regimental commander is behind us. He was running all the way to deliver the message and is now exhausted. I've had the communications officer accompany him, and we'll catch up slowly from behind!"

"Understood. Go back immediately to meet up with the regimental commander and the rest of the comrades and ensure their safety!" the company commander ordered in a deep voice.

"yes!"

The scout responded and immediately turned and ran off again.

Only then did He Yuzhu fully understand the whole story.

It turns out that this soldier was a reconnaissance soldier sent by the company to monitor the movements of a large enemy force from a distance.

He had been at the forefront of the battle, fully focused on fighting, and hadn't paid any attention to the soldiers who were keeping watch, which is why he hadn't recognized them just now.

Moreover, the surveillance post set up by the company ten kilometers away must have more than one soldier. The one in front of us is just the one who ran back the fastest and was closest to the post.

The enemy situation is urgent, and there is no time to lose.

The company commander immediately stood on a high point, raised his voice, and gave a loud order to all the soldiers in the company. His voice was powerful and resounding throughout the entire hilltop.

"Attention, all! The enemy's main force is about to arrive. Immediately cease rest and prepare for battle! Second Platoon, immediately occupy the southern slope and construct defensive positions. Hold them at all costs! Third Platoon, defend the western slope and hold the position to the death! First Platoon, remain in place as the company's reserve force!"

Upon receiving the order, the platoon leader panicked instantly. He stepped forward, his eyes red, and shouted at the company commander, "Company commander! Why is our platoon the reserve? We can still fight!"

In the previous battle, the First Platoon, as the main attacking force, suffered the heaviest casualties, losing nearly half of its soldiers, which greatly reduced its combat effectiveness.

The losses suffered by the first squad, in particular, were shocking. The once fully staffed squad was reduced to just five men: squad leader Hu Sanxi, deputy squad leader Zheng Shuanzi, machine gunner Feng Erkui, assistant gunner Tian Xiaoguang, and He Yuzhu. Even Wang Xigui, who had just delivered ammunition, was killed in the final hand-to-hand combat.

The company commander looked at the platoon leader, whose face was full of resentment and whose eyes were red, and spoke in a heavy tone, yet with no room for doubt.

"Platoon leader, look at your platoon now. How many men are left? Can they still lead the attack? Obey orders!"

The platoon leader opened his mouth, looking at the few wounded soldiers behind him, his heart filled with resentment and grief, but he could no longer utter a word of rebuttal. He could only grit his teeth and reply heavily, "Yes, sir!"

The company commander immediately glanced around and shouted, "He Yuzhu! Zheng Shuanzi!"

"arrive!"

The two responded at the same time. He Yuzhu, carrying two boxes of supplies, immediately ran to the company commander and stood at attention.

"You two, go check the enemy mortars left on the battlefield immediately and see if any of them are still usable! By the way, He Yuzhu, I saw it clearly from behind just now. You are extremely skilled with the grenade launcher, and your marksmanship and tactics are impeccable. I'm asking you, do you know how to use a mortar?" The company commander looked at He Yuzhu with a hint of expectation in his eyes.

He Yuzhu straightened his back and reported loudly, "Reporting, Company Commander! I know how to use it!"

"Good! Excellent!" The company commander's eyes lit up, and he immediately turned to give the order to the platoon leader.

"Platoon leader, immediately assign two men to each of them, along with two ammunition handlers, to assist them in inspecting the mortars and moving shells, ensuring they are ready for combat at any time!"

"Yes, sir!" the platoon leader replied immediately.

The company commander then noticed the box He Yuzhu was carrying and casually asked, "Zhuzi, what are you carrying?"

"Reporting to the company commander, these are compressed biscuits and canned food captured from the battlefield to replenish our strength!" He Yuzhu replied truthfully.

The company commander was preoccupied with the battle and had no time to ask questions; he immediately gave orders.

"Give this directly to your platoon leader. Have him distribute it to the soldiers in his platoon. Get everyone replenished so they can prepare for the tough battle ahead!"

"yes!"

He Yuzhu said no more, and handed the two boxes of supplies to the platoon leader with both hands.

The platoon leader took the boxes but didn't distribute them immediately. The enemy situation was urgent, and the soldiers had other tasks to complete—either continuing to clean up the battlefield or quickly digging trenches and building fortifications. There was no time to stop and eat; arrangements could only be made after they finished their tasks.

On the other side, He Yuzhu and Zheng Shuanzi, along with four ammunition handlers, carefully searched the battlefield and quickly found two intact mortars. Not only were the mortar bodies undamaged, but they also found a considerable number of shells piled on the ground.

Seeing so many shells, Zheng Shuanzi's face instantly lit up with excitement. He was so excited he almost jumped up and said, "Zhuzi, now we have heavy firepower! Let's quickly find an open spot on the mountaintop, set up the mortars, and take them down from above to catch the enemy completely off guard!"

As he spoke, Zheng Shuanzi bent down, preparing to move the mortar towards the flat area on the mountaintop.

Unexpectedly, He Yuzhu stepped forward, reached out and stopped him, saying firmly, "We're not going to the summit, we're going to the north slope!"

Zheng Shuanzi's movements abruptly stopped, his excitement instantly freezing. He looked at He Yuzhu with a puzzled expression and asked, "Why go to the north slope? That's the other side of the mountain, low-lying, and the view is completely blocked. How can we attack the enemy?"

"What's wrong with the other side of the mountain? Mortars can fire indirect fire, even from the reverse slope, and still hit the enemy down below. You can't be unaware of these basic artillery techniques, can you?" He Yuzhu looked at him and asked in return.

Zheng Shuanzi scratched his head, a hint of embarrassment on his face, and said somewhat uncertainly, "Well... I know the theory, but in training, we always shoot in open areas, and I've never practiced shooting at a reverse angle before. It seems... I should be able to..."

"Don't hesitate, you go to the reverse slope position to set up the mortar, and I'll go to the front line on the mountaintop to set the firing data and ensure accurate strikes!" He Yuzhu's tone was decisive, and the arrangements were made clearly.

Zheng Shuanzi remained skeptical and couldn't help but ask again, "Zhuzi, is this... really going to work? What if we miss and it delays the battle? That would be a real problem!"

He Yuzhu looked at him gravely and analyzed in a deep voice, "Comrade Deputy Squad Leader, think about it carefully. The enemy's main force is coming with heavy artillery. You saw the artillery fire last night; it was incredibly powerful. If we set up the mortar on the hilltop, completely exposed to the enemy's artillery fire, wouldn't we become sitting ducks, waiting to be bombed? In that case, not only will the mortar be lost, but all of us will be killed!"

He paused, then continued, "Moreover, the soldiers of the second and third platoons are defending the frontal positions on the mountaintop. If the enemy fires, won't they become targets too? You've seen it yourself; the enemy's cannons are much larger in caliber and more powerful than the Japanese cannons. If we get hit by a few shells, the losses to our company will be enormous!"

Upon hearing this, Zheng Shuanzi suddenly realized what was happening, broke out in a cold sweat, and nodded repeatedly.

"You're right! I didn't think it through! I'll go find the company commander now, report the situation, and request that the artillery position be moved to the reverse slope of the north side!"

"Okay, you go quickly. I'll keep an eye on things here and arrange for the ammunition handlers to prepare to move the shells!" He Yuzhu nodded.

Zheng Shuanzi didn't dare to delay. He immediately turned around and ran quickly towards the direction of the company commander to report He Yuzhu's plan.

He Yuzhu stood still, having already planned out several pre-arranged artillery positions in his mind. The north slope reverse slope was just one of them, and also the safest and most concealed one.

He immediately instructed the ammunition handlers around him to be ready to move mortars and shells at any time.

Not long after, Zheng Shuanzi returned, but he hung his head, looking dejected and forlorn.

Seeing this, He Yuzhu stepped forward and asked with a smile, "What's wrong? Did the company commander scold you?"

Zheng Shuanzi sighed and said helplessly, "The company commander said that he certainly knows that placing the position on the mountaintop will make us vulnerable to bombing, but if everyone withdraws from the reverse slope, the frontal defensive positions on the mountaintop will be empty. Once the enemy launches an attack, they can easily rush up the mountaintop. Wouldn't all our efforts to capture this hilltop be wasted?"

Upon hearing this, He Yuzhu's lips curled into a slight smile. He already had a plan in mind. He lowered his voice and said to Zheng Shuanzi, "That's simple. Go back and tell the company commander that we don't need to leave too many men on the main position at the summit. One squad, or even half a squad, will be enough. As long as they can use the terrain to briefly hinder the enemy and slow their ascent, it will buy some time for our troops on the opposite slope. Once we've stabilized our position, we can charge back up the summit at any time and retake the position!"

Zheng Shuanzi's eyes suddenly lit up. He slapped his forehead, realizing with a start, "That's it! How come I didn't think of this! Leaving a small force to hold the enemy back while the main force hides on the reverse slope avoids enemy fire and can launch a counterattack at any time—a perfect solution!"

Just then, the platoon leader and squad leader Hu Sanxi walked over side by side. Seeing the two huddled together, looking excited, the platoon leader immediately asked, "What are you two talking about? Why are you so startled? What happened?"

Zheng Shuanzi did not hide anything and immediately repeated He Yuzhu's proposal verbatim, without missing a single word.

Upon hearing this, the platoon leader and Hu Sanxi's eyes widened instantly, and they both stared at He Yuzhu with shock and disbelief, as if they were looking at a monster.

Both of them were veterans who had fought on the battlefield for many years and had extensive combat experience. However, He Yuzhu's tactic of concealing the enemy on a reverse slope and using a small number of troops to hold them off was both ingenious and practical, completely exceeding their understanding of conventional defensive warfare.

The same thought arose in both of their minds: were they seasoned veterans, or was He Yuzhu the one? His meticulous tactical thinking, flexible battlefield response, and precise fire control made him seem like a seasoned veteran who had fought for more than ten years. How could he be a new recruit who was only sixteen years old and had just joined the army?

This is completely unscientific!

Faced with the shocked gazes of the two, He Yuzhu remained calm and composed.

Once you're on the battlefield, if you want to survive and protect your comrades, you must use all your abilities. Hiding your skills will only put yourself and your comrades in danger.

As for revealing his abilities too early, he had no other choice.

He originally thought that he would fight a few more battles, gradually show his skills, and let everyone accept him. However, most of the soldiers in his company were new recruits who had just put down their sickles and hoes and picked up guns to go to the battlefield. They lacked practical experience and had weak combat effectiveness.

In the previous battle, most of his comrades in the platoon had already sacrificed their lives. If he continues to hold back and does not lend a helping hand, what will he do when all the soldiers in the company are killed and he is the only one left?

Although he only spent a short ten days with these comrades-in-arms, and didn't even know the names of many of them, and hadn't had time to build a deep bond, he truly felt the integrity, passion, and unwavering camaraderie of soldiers in this era during those ten days.

Watching his comrades fall one by one, he wasn't unmoved, nor was he cold-blooded. It's just that the battlefield is cruel, leaving no time for excessive grief. Only by fighting with all his might and winning the next battle could he console his fallen comrades.

The platoon leader snapped out of his daze, gave He Yuzhu a complicated look, and then, without further hesitation, said in a deep voice, "You don't need to go. I'll personally report this plan to the company commander. Such a good tactic will definitely be approved!"

After saying that, the platoon leader turned around and quickly went to find the company commander.

Zheng Shuanzi immediately took action, following He Yuzhu to the front of the mountaintop to begin precisely setting the firing parameters in preparation for mortar firing.

Not long after, the platoon leader returned with a big smile on his face. He stepped forward and punched He Yuzhu hard, his tone full of praise and joy.

"Good lad! You're really something! The company commander agreed on the spot after hearing my report, and kept praising the tactic as brilliant! Tell me, how did you come up with such a good idea?"

He Yuzhu smiled and casually explained, "I know how to fire artillery, you know. When we were flanking and supporting the second platoon earlier, I was firing grenades and this idea just popped into my head. I figured it out by combining it with the indirect fire principle of artillery."

"As expected of someone who's been to school, his mind is so sharp, and he always thinks one step ahead when faced with a problem!" The platoon leader praised repeatedly, his face full of admiration.

Seeing this, Hu Sanxi quickly asked, "Platoon leader, what's our next task?"

The platoon leader's smile vanished, and he gave a serious order: "Our platoon, together with the third platoon, will continue cleaning up the battlefield. Move all usable weapons, ammunition, and supplies to the north slope's reverse side. Don't leave them on the mountaintop; they'll all be destroyed by enemy artillery fire and wasted!"

Hu Sanxi was taken aback for a moment, then asked in confusion, "Third Platoon? Aren't they responsible for defending the western slope? Why are they moving supplies with us?"

"The company commander has adjusted the deployment. The defense of the western slope has been handed over to the second platoon. The third platoon has withdrawn and will come with us to the north slope to stand by, ready to counterattack at any time!" the first platoon leader explained.

"Understood!" Hu Sanxi nodded in response.

"Alright, stop standing there! Time is of the essence, the enemy will be here soon. Everyone, hurry up and move the supplies!"

The platoon leader urged them loudly, and the soldiers immediately sprang into action, quickly moving across the battlefield to transport various supplies to the north slope, racing against time to prepare for the fierce battle to come.