Chapter 120 Silly Pillar is now a precious treasure.

Mountaintop blocking battle

"Rat-a-tat-tat!"

"Da da da!"

The dense sounds of rifles and submachine guns echoed across the mountaintop, their piercing gunfire reverberating through the valley.

A platoon of soldiers braved enemy fire and finally made it to the top of the hill, but this time the gunfire was much less intense than the previous two rounds.

The reason is simple: a platoon that was originally fully staffed had six men forcibly removed to form a temporary artillery squad.

The mortar positions currently guarding the mountainside are responsible for providing artillery support to the front lines, leaving significantly fewer troops to charge from the mountaintop.

Before the smoke from the battle had even cleared from the mountaintop, a dense throng of footsteps suddenly echoed from the enemy positions in the distance. Accompanied by the officer's harsh commands, an endless horde of enemies surged toward the mountaintop.

He Yuzhu crouched behind the mortar position's cover, staring intently ahead. His view was obscured by the dense forest and billowing smoke, making it impossible for him to see the specific battle situation on the front lines.

All he could do was keep a close eye on the flag signals agreed upon by the instructor, not daring to be distracted for even a moment.

Not long after, two conspicuous small flags waved rapidly from the direction of the mountaintop, accurately issuing the artillery firing order.

He Yuzhu's heart sank. Just by looking at the urgency of the signal, he knew that there were definitely more than a few enemies coming up this time.

"Quick, load! Target coordinates 32, elevation 45 degrees, fire!"

He Yuzhu shouted in a low voice, not daring to slow down his movements at all.

The artillerymen moved swiftly, pushing mortar shells into the chambers one after another. With a whooshing sound, the shells hurtled towards the enemy formation, and the continuous explosions shook the ground slightly, sending dust and gravel flying everywhere.

In this round of artillery support, they fired twenty shells in one go. When the smoke cleared up a little, there were only twelve shells left in the ammunition boxes at the gun positions.

"Shuanzi, we're running low on shells, we need to use them sparingly!" He Yuzhu patted Zheng Shuanzi's arm beside him, his brows furrowed.

Zheng Shuanzi squatted beside the gun mount, wiped the dust off his face, looked at the mostly empty ammunition boxes, and gritted his teeth, saying, "There's no other way. The enemy is charging too fiercely, and the front line can't hold on. We have to suppress them with firepower."

No sooner had he finished speaking than a brief flag signal came from the mountaintop, instructing the remaining four ammunition handlers of the artillery squad to immediately return to their position.

He Yuzhu's heart skipped a beat. The platoon hadn't come down since they rushed to the top of the mountain, and now they were sending the last remaining ammunition handlers back.

This indicates that the casualties on the mountaintop have reached their limit, and the remaining people probably can't even form a single squad.

The four ammunition handlers didn't dare to delay and ran towards the mountaintop with their equipment.

In the blink of an eye, the once bustling artillery position was left with only He Yuzhu and deputy squad leader Zheng Shuanzi.

The wind swept across the mountaintop, carrying a heavy smell of blood. Zheng Shuanzi stared at the mountaintop, his fists clenched tightly, his eyes filled with urgency.

"Zhu Zi, I have to go back to the platoon and stay with the brothers."

He Yuzhu was taken aback upon hearing this, and quickly grabbed him: "Deputy squad leader, there are only the two of us left in that artillery squad. If you leave, I can't hold on by myself!"

"We have to hold on, whether we can or can't!"

Zheng Shuanzi patted him on the shoulder, his tone firm.

"We're short-handed at the front right now. Every extra person means extra strength, so I have to go up. While there's no fighting now, I'll quickly teach you to recognize flag signals. You should have gotten a general idea from the previous rounds of shelling. Now I'll explain it to you in detail. Once you've learned it, you can provide precise support to the front."

Over the next few minutes, Zheng Shuanzi didn't dare waste a second. He used two small twigs to gesture and teach He Yuzhu how to identify the direction, coordinates, and artillery commands of the flag signals.

He Yuzhu was quick-witted and had already reviewed the flag signals several times, so he had a general idea of ​​what was going on.

At this moment, with Zheng Shuanzi's guidance, he understood immediately. He would ask questions immediately when he encountered something he didn't understand, and in a short time, he was able to roughly understand the direction and coordinate information conveyed by the flag signals.

Zheng Shuanzi was delighted to see how quickly and accurately he learned, and immediately gave him a thumbs up, praising him generously.

"Zhu Zi, your ability to learn skills is truly amazing! I've trained many new recruits, but I've never seen anyone as quick-witted as you!"

After saying that, he patted He Yuzhu's shoulder heavily, a carefree smile on his face, but his eyes were unusually serious:

"The artillery support from now on depends entirely on you! The grenade launchers on the hilltop don't have enough range to suppress the enemy's charge, so I'll go up and fight alongside the brothers. Remember our sparring match we agreed on? After this battle, I'll definitely settle things with you!"

"Vice Squad Leader!"

He Yuzhu's heart tightened as he watched Zheng Shuanzi turn to run towards the mountaintop, and he quickly shouted at the top of his lungs.

"You must come back alive! I'll be waiting right here at this gun emplacement, ready to see what you've got to show for yourself!"

Zheng Shuanzi paused, but didn't turn around. He simply raised his right hand high and waved it forcefully behind him as a response. Then, carrying his rifle, he plunged into the billowing smoke and charged toward the hilltop position.

He Yuzhu watched his receding figure, unable to smile. He felt as if a huge rock was pressing down on his heart, making it hard to breathe.

Every farewell on the battlefield could be the last. He dared not think about it, and could only stare intently at the mountaintop, gripping the breechblock tightly in his hand.

Not long after, a piercing whistling sound suddenly came from the sky—the sound of enemy artillery shells flying in!

"Whoosh whoosh!"

"Boom boom boom!"

The enemy's artillery barrage suddenly descended, with a dense barrage of shells raining down on the mountaintop and hillside positions. Explosions were continuous and deafening, and dust, gravel, and blasted debris filled the air. The entire mountain seemed to tremble in the midst of the artillery fire.

This round of shelling lasted for more than ten minutes before gradually stopping. The area around the position was cratered and covered with charred marks. The strong smell of gunpowder and blood mixed together, making people nauseous.

As soon as the artillery fire stopped, the entire company of soldiers waiting on the north slope immediately launched an assault on the mountaintop to support the precarious position.

In an instant, the mountaintop was once again engulfed in gunfire!

"Rat-a-tat-tat!"

The rapid-fire of submachine guns echoed in my ears.

"Da da da!"

The bursts of rifle fire rose and fell.

"Baka, baka!"

The sound of enemy rifles could be heard clearly.

"Bang, bang, bang!"

Our soldiers' counterattack was equally forceful.

The sounds of various guns mingled together, creating a brutal battlefield symphony.

The sounds of fighting, roaring, and screaming on the mountaintop could be heard clearly from a great distance.

He Yuzhu stood guard at his gun position, his eyes fixed on the mountaintop.

Soon, the two familiar flags reappeared in sight, but this time, the flag signal was exceptionally brief, with only two coordinates and the instruction to fire one shell at each. As soon as the signal was transmitted, the flags were quickly put away.

Clearly, the situation at the summit had become so critical that there was no time left to use flag signals.

He Yuzhu was extremely anxious. He quickly fired two shells and looked at the dwindling ammunition, which made him even more frustrated.

He suddenly remembered his own space, and quickly calmed himself down, frantically searching through it, specifically looking for shells from the Bald Eagle 60mm mortar.

They searched the entire space but couldn't find a single shell of the same type.

"Damn it!" He Yuzhu slammed his fist into the ground, dust splattering all over his face, and he couldn't help but curse under his breath.

"Is that arms dealer even reliable?! An entire battalion's worth of equipment, and he doesn't even have a single 60mm mortar shell. He's a liability at the crucial moment!"

He paced back and forth beside the gun emplacement, his hands clenched so tightly that the veins bulged, yet he was helpless.

He could only stare intently at the mountaintop, waiting for the flag signal; every second of waiting was agonizing for him.

After an unknown amount of time, the flag signal on the mountaintop finally reappeared, but this time, He Yuzhu's heart clenched instantly.

The soldier signaling with flags was swaying precariously, barely able to stand, and could only barely keep from falling by using a rifle to support himself on the ground.

Even so, he still used all his strength to wave the small flag in his hand and pass on the final instructions to He Yuzhu: Free fire on the south slope, cover the area, and fire all the shells!

He Yuzhu's eyes instantly reddened as he looked at the figure who, after being battered by gunfire, was covered in wounds and swaying precariously, yet still desperately trying to relay orders.

Coverage strike!

How many enemies would charge up that slope on the south side, which is over a hundred meters high?

Judging from this order, there must be at least a battalion of troops!

He dared not delay and solemnly saluted that tenacious figure.

The soldier signaling the flags was clearly taken aback for a moment. His previously weak body straightened slightly, and he used all his strength to return a standard military salute. Then, leaning on his rifle, he staggered back to the battlefield.

"Brother, don't worry! I will definitely suppress the enemy on the south slope!"

He Yuzhu let out a low growl, his eyes becoming incredibly determined.

He memorized all the coordinates and moved so fast that his movements were blurry. Loading, aiming, and firing were all done in one smooth motion. Shells rained down on the enemy forces on the south slope, and the explosions continued. The entire south slope was engulfed in artillery fire.

Before long, he had fired all twelve shells left on the gun emplacement.

Without shells, holding the gun position was pointless. The sounds of fighting on the mountaintop grew closer and more intense. He Yuzhu knew that if he didn't go to provide support soon, the entire company would be wiped out.

He grabbed his M1 Garand rifle, loaded it, and charged headlong toward the mountaintop without a care in the world.

But just as he reached the halfway point of the mountain, He Yuzhu suddenly stopped. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a dense swarm of enemies climbing toward the summit on the eastern slope. Judging by their strength, there was a whole company of them!

"Damn it, there are reinforcements!"

He Yuzhu's expression changed, and he immediately lay down on the spot, crouching behind a sloping hill, staring intently at the enemy troops on the east slope.

At this moment, the sounds of hand-to-hand combat could be faintly heard from the mountaintop.

The crisp sound of metal clashing and the roars of soldiers mingled together, indicating that the enemy had broken through the fire defense line, rushed up the mountain, and engaged in close combat with our soldiers!

If we delay any longer, all our comrades on the mountaintop will be doomed!

He Yuzhu's eyes hardened. At this moment, he no longer cared about exposing the secret of the space. Protecting his comrades and holding the position was more important than anything else!

With a thought, two MG42 general-purpose machine guns, already loaded with ammunition belts, instantly appeared at his side.

The MG42, known to the enemy as the "Death Saw," was a deadly weapon on the battlefield due to its high rate of fire and powerful firepower. Even veterans of the enemy forces who had fought in the European theater would be terrified at the mere sound of it.

Without saying a word, He Yuzhu picked up an MG42, aimed the muzzle at the bald eagle soldiers climbing the mountain on the east side, and pulled the trigger!

"Sizzle—sizzle—"

A piercing gunshot, like a chainsaw cutting through the air, suddenly rang out. The sound was sharp and violent, like the roar of death, exploding in the sky above Dongpo.

A hail of bullets swept down, and the Bald Eagle soldiers who were struggling to climb the mountain fell in large numbers in an instant, their blood staining the withered grass on the hillside red.

The familiar yet terrifying gunshots instantly turned the faces of the bald eagle soldiers in Dongpo deathly pale, especially the veterans who had experienced the European battlefields, whose bodies trembled uncontrollably.

This sound is their inescapable nightmare. During the beach landing, this machine gun claimed the lives of countless comrades and is their deepest fear!

The quick-thinking soldiers immediately scrambled to their feet and lay flat on the hillside, not daring to raise their heads again.

Those who were a little slower were all hit by a hail of bullets, falling to the ground in pools of blood, never to rise again.

In just over ten seconds, the entire ammunition belt was emptied. He Yuzhu did not linger and quickly put away the empty MG42.

He picked up another gun loaded with ammunition belts, got up, and continued firing as he ran towards the mountaintop.

His arm strength far exceeded that of ordinary people, but even when he held the heavy MG42 and fired continuously, the huge recoil still made his arms numb and his tiger's mouth ache.

But he didn't care at all. At this moment, he had only one thought: to fight his way out, suppress Dongpo's enemies, and make them dare not raise their heads!

His spray wasn't aimed at precise kills, but rather at clearing a path and suppressing the enemy. Anyone who got hit by his bullets was simply unlucky to have run into the muzzle of his gun.

Another MG42 magazine emptied its belt. He Yuzhu's movements were fluid and seamless. He lay down on the spot, rolled quickly, put away the machine gun, and switched to an M1 Garand rifle. The whole set of movements was completed in one go without any hesitation.

"Bang, bang, bang!"

The precise bursts of fire rang out as He Yuzhu, relying on the top-tier sniping skills granted by the system, quickly aimed and fired while moving, each bullet heading straight for the enemy's vitals, hitting the target every time.

Stunned by the "death saw" of the MG42, the bald eagle soldier recovered and began to fight back fiercely. Bullets rained down on He Yuzhu, hitting the earthen slope around him and kicking up clouds of dust.

However, their firing speed was far inferior to He Yuzhu's. He Yuzhu moved nimbly, constantly changing his firing position, and the enemy's bullets could not even touch the hem of his clothes.

A magazine was quickly emptied, and He Yuzhu was just about to reload when a soldier's roar suddenly came from the enemy ranks opposite him.

"His magazine is empty! Quick, charge!"

The soldier thought he had seized an opportunity and roared as he prepared to lead the charge.

But before he could finish speaking, a bullet struck him squarely in the bridge of his nose, piercing through the back of his head. The immense impact ripped off his helmet, and he collapsed onto the hillside without uttering a sound.

After He Yuzhu changed the magazine, he continued to fire precisely. After emptying the magazine once again, the enemy forces in Dongpo were completely routed.

It is unknown who broke down first, letting out a desperate cry.

"Death! He's Death! I want to go home! I don't want to die here!"

The soldier cried out and, ignoring his officer's orders, tumbled and slid down the mountain, desperate to escape the terrifying battlefield.

He Yuzhu showed no mercy to this deserter, raising his hand and firing a shot that accurately hit him in the back, sending him "back home" for good.

But fear spreads quickly. Even though the deserters were killed on the spot, the remaining enemy soldiers were still terrified and lost all will to fight. They threw down their weapons, cried out "Mom!" and "God!" and fled desperately down the mountain.

Upon seeing this, an enemy officer turned ashen with rage and drew his pistol.

He shot and killed a deserter who was running at the front, trying to intimidate the fleeing soldiers, but as soon as he fired, He Yuzhu's bullet accurately blew his head off.

The officer fell to the ground, and the remaining enemy troops were thrown into complete chaos. No one was willing to obey orders anymore; they were all only concerned with escaping. Dongpo's offensive collapsed instantly.

He Yuzhu stood on the hillside, breathing heavily. He knew that the two rounds of machine gun fire were just a surprise attack, and they had only killed about fifty enemy soldiers. Adding the twenty or so people who were hit by the M1 bursts, the total number of enemies was only about seventy.

A complete Bald Eagle infantry company has a strength of between 175 and 240 men. The rest of the enemy troops all scattered and fled, and the mountains and fields were full of fleeing figures. Even if he had three heads and six arms, he simply couldn't kill them all.

He stopped pursuing and instead pulled out his MP38 submachine gun. This gun had a limited range and could only be used for close-range spraying. He aimed at the dozen or so enemy soldiers running at the back and fired a burst of fire, taking down all the unfortunate guys and completely cutting off the enemy's offensive from Dongpo.

After doing all this, He Yuzhu heard the sounds of fierce fighting still coming from the mountaintop, and he breathed a sigh of relief—thankfully, there were still brothers in the company holding the line, and they hadn't been completely wiped out!

He dared not charge up the mountain from the east slope again. Although the enemy troops on the east slope had scattered, there were still scattered snipers. Charging up from there would undoubtedly make him a live target for the enemy.

Fortunately, Dongpo had not been subjected to large-scale artillery bombardment before, and the withered grass and shrubs on the hillside grew densely, which provided him with cover.

Using the vegetation as cover, He Yuzhu circled back to the north slope as quickly as possible. Once there, he immediately picked up an M1 rifle with a fixed bayonet and a fully loaded magazine, and charged toward the mountaintop without looking back.

The moment he reached the top of the mountain, looking at the scene before him, his eyes instantly turned bloodshot, and his blood seemed to boil!

What was originally a full-strength infantry company has been reduced to less than thirty soldiers, who are still engaged in fierce hand-to-hand combat with the enemy.

The soldiers were covered in blood, some with wounded arms and others with knife wounds on their legs, yet they still gripped their weapons tightly and fought desperately against the tall bald eagle soldiers.

The billowing smoke and dust blurred everyone's faces, and He Yuzhu couldn't tell who his comrades were or who his familiar brothers were. He could only see figures fighting bloody battles.

"Go to hell!"

He Yuzhu roared and fired, accurately killing several enemy soldiers who were about to stab our comrades. Then, holding an M1 rifle with a bayonet, he charged into the battle and joined the hand-to-hand combat.

Facing these big-nosed bald eagle soldiers, He Yuzhu didn't need to use any complicated Six Harmony Spear techniques. He gained an absolute advantage simply by relying on his superb brute strength and superb bayonet skills.

Parry, dodge, thrust – every move is aimed straight for the enemy's vitals. The bayonet slices through the air with a sharp whistling sound, each thrust hitting its mark.

Driven to a bloodthirst, he weaved through the battle, his eyes fixed solely on the enemy. Whenever he spotted a White Eagle soldier, he would charge forward without hesitation to fight, his body covered in blood—some from enemy soldiers, others from accidental brushes—making him look like a demon crawling out of a pool of blood.

"Pillar! Pillar! Stop fighting! The enemy is retreating! Retreating! Wake up!"

Just as He Yuzhu was engrossed in killing and only wanted to wipe out all his enemies, a hoarse and urgent shout suddenly came from behind him.

He Yuzhu, blinded by rage, couldn't hear who it was. Instinctively, he turned around and delivered a vicious thrust, the bayonet aimed straight for the opponent's chest.

The opponent reacted extremely quickly, raising his gun to block the attack with a crisp clang, sparks flying everywhere.

"Zhu Zi! You're crazy! It's me! It's Zheng Shuanzi! Your vice squad leader!"

Zheng Shuanzi was startled by this and broke out in a cold sweat, shouting loudly.

He Yuzhu's hand gripping the rifle suddenly froze. His cloudy eyes gradually focused, and he gasped for breath, his voice hoarse as he managed to utter two words:

"Vice squad leader?"

"Yes, yes! It's me! Zheng Shuanzi!" Zheng Shuanzi nodded hurriedly, his face full of lingering fear.

He Yuzhu slowly lowered his rifle, took a few deep breaths of the blood-stained air, and his tense body gradually relaxed. He asked again, "The enemy... really retreated?"

"They really retreated! They all ran down the mountain!" Zheng Shuanzi nodded emphatically, his tone certain.

Hearing this, He Yuzhu felt a sense of relief, but then suddenly remembered the cadres on the front lines and hurriedly asked, "Where's the political instructor? How is he?"

The smile on Zheng Shuanzi's face vanished instantly, replaced by deep sorrow, his voice so low it was almost inaudible:

"Seriously injured...seriously injured and unconscious, his condition is very bad."

He Yuzhu's heart sank, and he quickly asked, "Where's the squad leader? Where's the platoon leader? And what about the brothers in the squad, Feng Erkui, Xiao Liang, and the others?"

Zheng Shuanzi closed his eyes briefly, and when he opened them again, his eyes were bloodshot, and his voice was filled with extreme grief:

"The squad leader is taking care of the wounded over there, and the company commander is too! Our platoon leader... is gone, he's been killed! Xiao Liang is gone too, Feng Er Kui is lucky, he's still alive, but he's also injured!"

He knew that He Yuzhu was worried about his brothers, so before he could ask any more questions, he told him everything at once.

He Yuzhu's voice was extremely low, and every word trembled.

"What about those guys in the artillery platoon? The four ammunition handlers who were transferred back to the first platoon earlier?"

Zheng Shuanzi opened his mouth, but his throat seemed to be blocked, and he couldn't speak for a long time. After a while, he managed to squeeze out a few words, his voice choked with emotion.

"Gone...gone...they all perished on the mountaintop..."

Those five short words were like five heavy hammer blows, striking He Yuzhu's heart hard, making his chest feel tight, his nose sting, and his eyes instantly well up with tears.

Brothers who were loading ammunition and firing shells together just moments ago are now separated by death. The life-and-death separations on the battlefield come so suddenly and so cruelly.

He fought back tears, took a deep breath, and said to Zheng Shuanzi, "Quick, take me to see the instructor! I've studied battlefield first aid and know some wound care skills; perhaps I can save him!"

"Okay! Okay! Let's go!"

Zheng Shuanzi nodded quickly, a glimmer of hope instantly igniting on his face.

"The enemy's next artillery barrage could come at any moment; we need to hurry!"

After saying that, Zheng Shuanzi turned around and walked towards a relatively flat and secluded spot on the north slope, with He Yuzhu quickly following behind.

Along the way, whenever they saw any of their surviving soldiers, they all stopped what they were doing and paid their respects to He Yuzhu.

They had all witnessed He Yuzhu's frenzied rampage at Dongpo, single-handedly defeating a whole enemy company.

This unremarkable soldier had become the savior of the entire company, and everyone looked at him with deep respect and gratitude.

The instructor was carefully carried by his comrades to a hidden spot on the north slope. Company Commander Liang Jian was standing by his side, his face solemn and exhausted.

Seeing He Yuzhu approach, Liang Jian turned his head, his voice heavy with nasal congestion, clearly suppressing immense grief:

"Zhu Zi, you're here. The instructor was praising you the whole time when he was lucid, saying you're a great guy and a hero of our company."

He Yuzhu could clearly hear that the company commander's voice was trembling; he was desperately suppressing his emotions and trying his best not to let the tears fall.

The company commander and the political instructor were old comrades-in-arms. They fought together as guerrillas during the War of Resistance Against Japan and fought side by side for more than ten years. Their bond of life and death was even closer than that of blood brothers. Now that the political instructor was seriously injured and on the verge of death, one can only imagine the pain in his heart.

"Company Commander, how is the political instructor?" He Yuzhu walked up quickly and asked anxiously.

"Go see him yourself. He kept saying he still had something to say to you..."

As Liang Jian spoke, he abruptly turned his head away, not daring to look at He Yuzhu again, nor wanting others to see the tears streaming down his face.

He Yuzhu didn't ask any more questions. He squatted down and looked at the instructor lying on the ground. The instructor was breathing weakly, his face was as pale as paper, and his lips were cracked. He no longer had the strength to speak. When he saw He Yuzhu coming over, he tried to open his mouth as if to say something, but his voice was so low that only he could hear it and it couldn't be heard at all.

"Instructor, please don't speak or move. Conserve your energy. Let me check your injuries first!"

He Yuzhu quickly shook his head at him and gently comforted him.

He then immediately focused his attention and began to carefully examine the instructor's injuries.

There was a deep bayonet wound on his right side, the wound was exposed and bleeding.

The most serious injury was a penetrating wound in his left abdomen, caused by a bullet; there was a gunshot wound in his right arm and a knife wound in his left thigh; the four external injuries were shocking to behold.

He Yuzhu quickly assessed the injuries using the battlefield first aid skills granted by the system.

Fortunately, the wound did not damage any vital internal organs. The instructor was able to hold on until now entirely due to his willpower. His current coma is entirely due to excessive blood loss. As long as the bleeding is stopped and the wound is treated in time, he will most likely be able to save his life!

"Company Commander! Where's the first-aid kit we captured? The one with the white cross! With the first-aid kit, the political instructor can still be saved!"

He Yuzhu suddenly looked up and shouted loudly at Liang Jian, his tone filled with urgent hope.

Upon hearing this, Liang Jian's eyes lit up instantly, as if he had grasped at the last straw. He quickly wiped the dust and tears from his face and said urgently, "First aid kit? What kind? I'll have someone go find one right away!"

"It's a first-aid kit with a white cross logo, containing gauze, disinfectant, needles and thread, and injections!" He Yuzhu said quickly.

"Quick! Everyone look for first-aid kits with a white cross. Bring them over immediately if you find them! The instructor can still be saved!"

Liang Jian shouted at the top of his lungs to the soldiers around him.

"I know! I know where it is! Medical worker Xiao Li was carrying it on his back!"

One of the soldiers shouted and turned to run towards the side of the position.

"Have Xiao Li deliver it directly! Quickly!" Liang Jian shouted urgently.

But the soldier's steps froze instantly. He turned around, his face filled with grief, his voice choked with sobs:

"Little Li... Little Li sacrificed himself... just now in the close combat..."

The moment those words were spoken, the scene fell into a deathly silence. Liang Jian swayed, the light in his eyes dimming slightly, but he still gritted his teeth and said, "No matter what, find the first-aid kit! Quickly!"

The soldier didn't dare to delay and quickened his pace again. Before long, he ran back carrying a first-aid kit with a white cross on it and handed it to He Yuzhu.

He Yuzhu immediately opened the first aid kit, quickly rummaged through it, and soon took out an MF syringe. Without any hesitation, he injected it directly into the instructor.

The injection took effect very quickly. After a short while, the instructor's originally weak breathing stabilized a little, and his complexion regained some color. He slowly opened his eyes and tried to speak.

"Don't speak! If you want to live, save your strength and don't move!"

He Yuzhu immediately spoke up to stop him, his tone leaving no room for argument.

After saying that, he picked up a pair of scissors and carefully cut open the instructor's clothes over the wound, revealing the gruesome injury. Then, he took out disinfectant and carefully disinfected the wound, quickly stopped the bleeding with hemostatic agent, and then picked up a suture needle and began to stitch the wound up little by little.

MF injections can relieve pain, but they are not anesthesia. The excruciating pain of the needle piercing the flesh caused the instructor's forehead to break out in a cold sweat instantly. His teeth clenched tightly, making a "crunching" sound, and his whole body trembled uncontrollably.

Fearing he might bite off his tongue in the pain, He Yuzhu quickly grabbed a clean towel from the side and stuffed it into his mouth. Then, he said to Zheng Shuanzi beside him, "Deputy squad leader, come help me. Hold the instructor down and don't let him move!"

Zheng Shuanzi immediately stepped forward, carefully holding down the instructor's limbs, watching He Yuzhu skillfully operate the equipment with tense eyes, his heart filled with shock.

He watched He Yuzhu disinfect, stop the bleeding, suture, and bandage the entire procedure. The whole set of actions was professional and efficient, not at all like a novice. He couldn't help but admire her.

Is there anything this kid can't do?

He's a crack shot, a master artilleryman, and can take on ten men in bayonet fighting. Now he even knows battlefield first aid. He's a true all-rounder!

Just as He Yuzhu was focused on treating his wounds, the whistling of enemy shells came from the sky again, and a new round of shelling was coming!

Liang Jian's expression changed. This was an open-air shelter, offering no protection against artillery fire. He said to He Yuzhu in a deep voice, "Zhuzi, you continue handling this. I'll go and direct the soldiers to take cover in the artillery bunkers. We can't stay here any longer!"

After saying that, Liang Jian turned around and rushed out to organize the surviving soldiers to quickly evacuate.

This round of shelling by the enemy lasted exceptionally long. Shells rained down on the mountaintop, plowing through the entire summit, sending soil and rocks flying and filling the air with smoke.

Liang Jian felt extremely fortunate. Fortunately, only two observation posts were left on the position, and the rest of the soldiers had been transferred. Now, the company only had less than a platoon left, and it could not withstand any more artillery fire. If a few more people had been left, the remaining troops would probably have been wiped out by the artillery fire.

After an unknown amount of time, the enemy's shelling finally stopped.

He Yuzhu had just finished treating the instructor's last wound. He was covered in sweat, his back was soaked with sweat, and his hands were slightly sore from being tense for so long.

This was the first time he had personally treated such a serious external injury. He was under immense mental tension throughout the process, and it was even more tiring than when he had just killed a company of enemy soldiers at Dongpo.

The instructor, who was lying on the ground, was already soaked in sweat. The pain and weakness caused him to faint the moment his wounds were treated.

"Are you done?" Zheng Shuanzi asked hurriedly when he saw He Yuzhu stop what he was doing, his tone tinged with apprehension.

"The wounds have been treated, and there is no immediate danger to his life."

He Yuzhu, panting heavily, replied softly.

"But the conditions here are too poor. There is no blood transfusion equipment, and the weather is so cold. We must transfer the instructor to the rear hospital as soon as possible, otherwise we will not be able to hold on."

"That's wonderful! Zhu Zi, thank you so much!" Zheng Shuanzi excitedly grasped He Yuzhu's hand, filled with gratitude.

Just then, the unconscious instructor suddenly mustered his last bit of strength, opened his eyes, and said intermittently, "Comrade He Yuzhu... thank you... if you still have the strength... go and help the other wounded..."

As soon as he finished speaking, the instructor fainted again, this time sleeping a very deep sleep.

"Instructor! Instructor!" Zheng Shuanzi cried out anxiously, trying to shake him.

"Don't shake it!" He Yuzhu quickly stopped him.

"He's just unconscious. Shaking him like that will only worsen his injuries, and he might really not make it back to life!"

Upon hearing this, Zheng Shuanzi immediately stopped what he was doing and stood there helplessly to the side.

"Go and get a few thick coats. It's too cold outside. Don't let the instructor get cold," He Yuzhu instructed.

"Okay! I'll go right away!" Zheng Shuanzi nodded hurriedly, carefully let go of her hand, and turned to run to find her coat.

After Zheng Shuanzi left, He Yuzhu stood up and shouted at the top of his lungs to the surviving soldiers around him, "Are there any wounded comrades left? The seriously wounded should be given priority. I'll treat everyone's wounds!"

"Over here! There's a seriously injured brother over here, he's dying!"

"I have some too! Comrade, come and help me!"

Upon hearing He Yuzhu's shout, soldiers immediately responded.

Without saying a word, He Yuzhu picked up the first aid kit and treated the wounds of the injured one by one, disinfecting, stopping the bleeding, and bandaging them. His movements were skilled and efficient.

At this moment, he is no longer the god of war who slaughters on the battlefield, but has transformed into a medic who saves lives and heals the wounded, using his skills to save the lives of every comrade-in-arms as much as possible.

On the other side, Company Commander Liang Jian returned to his position, stood on the mountaintop, and looked down at the road below. When he saw the scene before him, his eyes widened instantly, his face filled with shock and anger.

The enemy troops down the mountain had all fled!

The prolonged bombardment was not intended for another attack, but rather to cover the retreat of the remaining enemy troops!

"Damn it!"

Liang Jian slammed his fist hard against the broken wall beside him, his fist turning red. He roared silently, his heart filled with resentment and anger.

This battle was too bitter and too frustrating!

With reinforcements arriving late, the company, relying on its remaining troops, held out for an entire afternoon, suffering heavy casualties and slowing down the enemy's advance.

In the end, however, a large enemy force passed right under their noses. The enemy didn't even bother to attack again and simply covered the retreat of their remaining troops.

Just as Liang Jian was feeling extremely frustrated, the regimental headquarters suddenly issued a retreat order.

The moment he received the order, Liang Jian completely erupted, cursing the messenger with the most offensive language imaginable. He could no longer suppress his anger and resentment.

The follow-up troops were slow to catch up, and the entire regiment tried its best but failed to stop the enemy. Now, after crippling itself and completing its blocking mission, it inexplicably received a retreat order. No one could accept this!

The messenger and the regimental officers were ashen-faced. They wanted to step forward and reprimand Liang Jian for disobeying orders, but when they saw the corpses of their comrades scattered all over the mountaintop, the remaining surviving soldiers numbering less than thirty, and the enemy corpses covering the entire mountainside, all their words caught in their throats, and they silently shut their mouths.

They ran ahead of all the troops and stubbornly resisted the enemy for an entire afternoon at the cost of almost total annihilation. They had every right to be angry and to complain!

Military orders are not to be disobeyed. Even though he was unwilling, Liang Jian could only carry out the order. He said in a deep voice to the surviving soldiers, "Clean up the battlefield and prepare to retreat!"

The soldiers began to clean up the battlefield, but looking at the position that had been bombed beyond recognition, everyone couldn't help but complain.

The enemy's last round of artillery bombardment practically razed the entire hilltop and the southern slope, leaving only guns on the position.

They were either blown to pieces or severely damaged; there were hardly any usable weapons left. Most of the weapons captured earlier were also destroyed in the artillery fire.

After treating the last wounded soldier, He Yuzhu rubbed his aching shoulders and slowly walked over to Liang Jian.

Hearing the soldiers' complaints, he remembered the enemy soldiers he had killed on the Dongpo battlefield, as well as the intact weapons. He pointed to the direction of Dongpo and said softly to Liang Jian, "Company Commander, we need to clean up Dongpo as well. I killed quite a few enemies there and left behind a lot of weapons."

Liang Jian was in a very bad mood at the moment. He waved his hand dismissively and said, "Forget it, it's just a few enemies. There's nothing to clean up. Our soldiers are either wounded or exhausted. They can't even lift a usable gun anymore. There's no need to waste our energy."

He Yuzhu shook his head and said seriously, "It's not just a few, it's quite a lot, and none of those guns were damaged in the explosion; they're all intact and can still be used."

"A bit too much? How much exactly?" Liang Jian finally looked up at He Yuzhu, his eyes filled with doubt.

He Yuzhu spoke calmly, "There were about a hundred enemies. Their guns were all on the hillside, and they were intact."

"What?!"

Liang Jian's eyes widened instantly, staring at He Yuzhu in shock. He pointed at him, his lips trembling, unable to utter a single word.

One person, single-handedly, killed nearly a hundred enemy soldiers.

They even routed an entire company's offensive?

This kid is practically a reincarnation of a killing god!

It took Liang Jian a long time to recover. The look in his eyes when he looked at He Yuzhu had completely changed. It went from admiration to great respect.

He patted He Yuzhu's shoulder hard, almost knocking him over, then immediately ordered the second platoon leader beside him, "Second platoon leader! Take men to Dongpo immediately, thoroughly clean up the battlefield, and take the best guns—not a single one should be left behind!"

The second platoon leader was equally shocked, remaining stunned for several seconds before reacting. He quickly stood at attention and shouted, "Yes, sir! Mission accomplished!"

After saying that, the second platoon leader immediately led several soldiers and ran towards the east slope.

At this moment, He Yuzhu suddenly remembered the two mortars he had placed between the east and north slopes.

Although there were no more shells, mortars were still invaluable heavy weapons for troops lacking guns and artillery, and they could not be left on the battlefield.

He quickly said to Liang Jian, "Company Commander, my two mortars are still placed between the east and north slopes. I'll go and retrieve them."

Upon hearing this, Liang Jian smiled and waved his hand, saying, "You don't need to go. That kid Zheng Shuanzi is even more interested in those two cannons than you are. He already took people to retrieve them. They're his treasures, he definitely won't lose them."

He Yuzhu finally felt relieved, and unable to hold back his exhaustion any longer, he grinned at Liang Jian:

"That's good, Company Commander. I'm really exhausted. Rescuing people is more tiring than fighting the enemy. I'll rest for a while."

After saying that, he ignored the dust on the ground, plopped down on the ground, leaned against the earthen slope behind him, closed his eyes, and gasped for breath.

From providing artillery support to repelling the enemy at Dongpo, and then to hand-to-hand combat on the mountaintop and treating the wounded, he was on edge for the entire afternoon, pushing his mind and body to their limits.

Now I can finally relax, and a wave of fatigue washes over me.

Looking at He Yuzhu's exhausted face, Liang Jian's eyes were full of heartache and respect. He said softly, "Take a good rest. You are our company's precious darling and a hero of the entire company. No one will have any objections if you rest! I'll go check on the political instructor and arrange the evacuation."

After saying that, Liang Jian turned and walked towards the instructor, leaving He Yuzhu leaning against the earthen slope, enjoying this brief moment of peace.