Chapter 121 Forced March

The smoke from the battle at Dongpo had not yet completely dissipated, and the mountain wind carried a faint smell of blood, causing the soldiers' uniforms to flutter in the wind.

The second platoon leader tugged at his sweat-soaked collar, turned back to look at the soldiers behind him, carrying loads on their shoulders and in their hands, returning laden with supplies. His dark face was beaming with barely suppressed joy. With a wave of his hand, he shouted loudly, "Brothers, quicken your pace, let's get back to the company and report!"

The soldiers walked briskly, their faces beaming with excitement and joy at surviving the ordeal.

Each person carried a captured rifle, their waists were full of ammunition pouches, and several people were working together to lift a heavy machine gun, its body gleaming, clearly a well-equipped piece of enemy equipment.

The crisp sound of gunfire clashing could be heard from time to time in the ranks, along with the soldiers talking in hushed tones. Everyone looked energetic and had completely lost the fatigue from the battle just now.

"Platoon leader, we've hit the jackpot this time! These guns and ammunition are enough to equip a whole company!"

A young soldier weighed the brand-new rifle in his hand, couldn't help but lean close to the second platoon leader, and said excitedly.

The second platoon leader patted him on the shoulder and nodded with a smile:

"That's right! Now our unit has finally recovered. We can replenish all the empty ammunition and damaged weapons we had before!"

As they spoke, the team had already returned to the temporary encampment of the first company.

The position was in a mess, with traces of fierce fighting still visible on the ground, broken guns and empty grenade boxes scattered everywhere.

Many soldiers leaned against the trenches, their faces exhausted. The guns in their hands were either empty or deformed, a clear indication of how fierce the battle had just taken.

When the enemy launched their final fierce attack, the soldiers of the company fought with all their might, and quickly ran out of bullets.

They ran out of grenades and in the end, they could only fight hand-to-hand with bayonets. Many rifles were bent or broken in the fierce fighting and became scrap metal.

The entire company was almost out of ammunition and food, and they were practically unarmed. If they hadn't held their ground in the end, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

Seeing the large number of sophisticated weapons brought back by the second platoon leader and his men, the soldiers who stayed behind instantly brightened up. Their previously low morale soared, and they all crowded around, their eyes full of joy.

With these weapons, the company finally regained its confidence and no longer had to face the upcoming battles with broken firearms.

Looking at the dwindling number of soldiers left in the company, everyone's hearts sank again. They had plenty of weapons, but their numbers were pitifully small.

When the soldiers who had returned from Dongpo looked at He Yuzhu, who was standing on one side of the position organizing his equipment, their eyes were filled with complex emotions, shock, and deep awe.

They had just witnessed the battle at the Dongpo position. They had expected to encounter fierce resistance from the enemy, but to their surprise, the enemy was almost completely annihilated without any chance of fighting back.

Most of the enemies fell to the ground, riddled with bullet holes from machine gun fire. This was not uncommon on the battlefield. What truly chilled them to the bone and terrified them were the dozen or so enemy soldiers who were accurately shot in the head.

A full twenty or so men, each killed with a single shot, the bullets hitting their heads with pinpoint accuracy—such marksmanship was simply unheard of.

Previously, everyone only knew that He Yuzhu was brave in battle, but no one expected that he would have such a terrifying shooting skill. In just one battle, the words "sharpshooter" were deeply imprinted in the hearts of every soldier in the company. The way everyone looked at He Yuzhu was no longer the way they looked at ordinary recruits, but was full of respect and admiration.

The second platoon leader strode up to He Yuzhu, and without a word, pulled a brand-new first-aid kit from his pocket, tossed it to him, and praised in a loud voice, "Well done! Yuzhu, you've done a great service this time!"

He Yuzhu reached out and steadily caught the first aid kit. He looked up at the second platoon leader, nodded slightly, and didn't say anything more. His face remained calm and composed.

The second platoon leader didn't mind, patted his arm, and then turned and walked towards the location of Company Commander Liang Jian, preparing to report on the situation of the battlefield cleanup.

As Liang Jian watched the soldiers carrying over the guns and ammunition, his brows furrowed tightly, his face showing no joy but rather a deep sorrow.

The weapons were indeed excellent and plentiful, but there were only a handful of soldiers left. Even if each soldier carried three guns, it would be impossible for them to take all the weapons with them.

"Company commander, if we bring all these guns, the soldiers won't be able to run at all. We still have long marches and continuous battles ahead, so carrying too much weight is definitely not an option."

The second platoon leader, seeing the weapons scattered on the ground and sensing the company commander's concerns, spoke up.

Liang Jian squatted down, stroking a brand-new rifle, and sighed:

"I know, but these are all good guns, and it's a real shame to just throw them away. Carrying three guns on one person, let alone marching and fighting, would exhaust a person just by walking. We have to find a compromise."

After a moment's thought, Liang Jian suddenly stood up and gave the order with a firm look in his eyes:

"Pass on my order: everyone must carry two rifles, and as much ammunition as possible without affecting the marching speed! As for any remaining weapons and ammunition that cannot be carried, immediately find a concealed place to bury them properly, mark the location, and come back to retrieve them if there is an opportunity later!"

"Company commander, why do we have to carry two each? We're so few in number now, one is enough for the battles to come," a soldier couldn't help but ask.

Liang Jian looked at everyone, his tone heavy yet filled with expectation:

"When our troops crossed the river, we didn't carry any extra weapons or equipment. Nobody knew when the supplies would arrive. I figured the higher-ups would send us new recruits eventually. When they come, we can't let them fight empty-handed. Keeping a couple more guns is keeping our confidence alive!"

After listening, the soldiers all understood the company commander's intention and were filled with reluctance.

These are all genuine, high-quality pieces of equipment; each gun was hard-won. However, given the current situation, it's impossible to take them all with us.

Especially that heavy machine gun; just moving it would require three strong soldiers, but right now there are only a handful of men in the entire company, so they simply can't carry it.

Gritting their teeth, under the command of the company commander, they found a secluded cave and carefully buried the weapons they couldn't take with them. Everyone moved with exceptional gentleness, their eyes filled with heartache and reluctance, but they could only obey orders and silently mark the spot.

After dealing with all the weapons, Liang Jian ordered the soldiers to eat something to replenish their strength.

After a fierce battle, everyone was starving. After a quick meal of dry rations and a few sips of water, the team officially prepared to withdraw.

Before the evacuation, all the soldiers stood in neat rows atop the nameless mountain, looking at the remains of their comrades that could not be taken away and could only be buried on the spot. Everyone was solemn and raised their right hands in unison to give a solemn military salute.

The mountain wind howled, as if mourning the fallen comrades. Every soldier's eyes were red, and their hearts were filled with grief and reluctance.

He Yuzhu stood in the ranks, his body straight, his gaze fixed on the land where his comrades were buried, the nameless mountain etched firmly into his heart.

He secretly vowed that once the war subsided and the time was right, he would find a way to inform the relevant departments to bring the remains of his comrades home and let their souls return to their hometowns.

At this moment, the instructor was seriously injured and unable to walk. Several soldiers used what they had on hand, along with two thick, long wooden sticks and strips of cloth for leg wrappings, to quickly make a makeshift stretcher and carefully lift the instructor up.

In addition, several seriously wounded soldiers who were rescued in time by He Yuzhu and barely survived were also being helped and cared for by the soldiers in turns.

And so they embarked on their journey to the rendezvous point. Carrying excessive amounts of weapons and ammunition, and also having to care for the wounded, the group moved very slowly, each step extremely difficult.

The mountain road was rugged and uneven. The soldiers dragged their tired bodies and moved forward step by step with difficulty. No one complained along the way. Everyone gritted their teeth and persevered.

This journey lasted for three whole days and three nights.

Along the way, they encountered teams from other companies in the regiment.

The soldiers of the company stopped in their tracks, silently standing and paying their respects to the small but elite unit covered in the smoke of battle, with unwavering eyes, bloodstains still clinging to their clothes, tattered yet still neat uniforms, and the chilling aura of someone who had survived life and death. Their eyes were filled with admiration.

The soldiers of the second and third companies, who belonged to the same battalion, all hung their heads, their faces full of shame and self-blame.

When the company was in dire straits and surrounded by enemy troops, they were not far away. If they had been able to fight with all their might and increase their offensive efforts, or had taken the initiative to send some troops to support them, the company would not have fought so fiercely and lost so many comrades.

On the battlefield, the battalion commander never issued an order to provide support, so they could only wait in place. Now, looking at the devastated company, everyone felt guilty.

When the battalion commander saw Liang Jian, the company commander, his face was full of embarrassment. He lowered his head and couldn't bring himself to look Liang Jian in the eye.

He knew in his heart that he had made a mistake in command and made a serious error in his judgment of the battlefield. He mistakenly thought that the enemy situation encountered by the First Company was similar to that of the Second and Third Companies, and hesitated for a long time before issuing the order to split up the troops to provide support. In the end, the First Company was almost wrecked and suffered heavy losses.

"Old Liang, it's my fault. I gave poor command and made wrong judgments, which is why the company has paid such a high price."

The battalion commander spoke in a hoarse voice, his face full of guilt.

"Once I return to the regimental headquarters, I will personally apologize to my superiors and admit my command errors!"

Liang Jian looked at him, remained silent for a long time, then waved his hand and said calmly, "Forget it, it's all in the past. This was our first time fighting against the Bald Eagles' forces. No one could figure out their firepower or fighting style. The battlefield is ever-changing, and opportunities are fleeting. There's no point in dwelling on these things now."

Indeed, this was the case. In this operation, the battles fought by other units were far less brutal than those fought by the first company. Most of them suffered only 10% or 20% casualties. The further they advanced, the more complete the unit organization and the more abundant the troops they encountered.

These complete units looked at the company with admiration and a hint of envy in their eyes.

They envied the soldiers of the company who each had two excellent captured rifles; their weaponry was top-notch among all the units, something they could not match.

After a difficult journey, the team finally arrived at the regimental headquarters assembly point.

As soon as they arrived, Liang Jian made arrangements to send the company's wounded, both lightly and seriously, to the division's field hospital, where only professional medical equipment and personnel could provide better treatment for the wounded.

However, after the order was given, all the lightly wounded soldiers shook their heads and resolutely refused to leave.

"Company commander, we're fine. It's just a minor injury; it won't affect our fighting ability. We can still help if we stay with the troops. No need to go to the hospital!"

"Yes, we'll stay with our brothers and never fall behind!"

The soldiers spoke one after another, their attitudes extremely resolute.

Liang Jian's persuasion failed, and he had no choice but to compromise, arranging for soldiers from the supply company to send several seriously wounded soldiers who were unable to take care of themselves to the division headquarters.

Lying on the stretcher, the instructor, before leaving, tremblingly pulled a worn-out notebook from his pocket and solemnly handed it to Liang Jian. Holding Liang Jian's hand tightly, he said weakly but firmly, "Old Liang, keep this safe. It records the situation of all the soldiers in our company, as well as the brothers who sacrificed their lives this time. You must continue to record it for me; don't forget anyone!"

Liang Jian took the notebook with both hands, carefully tucked it into his coat pocket, solemnly saluted the instructor, and said with tears welling in his eyes, "Don't worry, I'll keep it safe! Take good care of yourself at the hospital, and I'll be waiting for you to recover and return to the unit!"

After saying that, he turned to the soldiers of the supply company and said sternly, "I'm entrusting my brothers to you. You must take good care of them on the road and do everything in your power to ensure their safety! If they survive the battlefield but meet with an accident on the way, I, Liang Jian, will absolutely not forgive you!"

"Don't worry, Company Commander, we guarantee we'll complete the mission and get the wounded safely to the field hospital!"

The soldiers of the supply company responded in unison, their voices firm.

Watching the convoy carrying the seriously wounded gradually disappear into the distance, Liang Jian turned his gaze away and then went with the Third Battalion Commander to the regimental headquarters to report the situation.

Not long after, the two returned to their base.

Liang Jian followed a squad of reinforcements, but his face was terribly gloomy, and he exuded a low-pressure aura. It was clear at a glance that he had suffered a great injustice at the regimental headquarters.

It turned out that he went to the regimental headquarters to report on the company's operation and to ask his superiors about the specific reasons for the army's retreat. However, he was scolded by the regimental commander as soon as he opened his mouth, and he felt very aggrieved.

What he didn't know was that the regimental commander was equally frustrated. The troops had finally managed to capture a detailed map of the enemy and reported it immediately, thinking they would never get lost again and could successfully pursue the enemy.

The entire 141st Regiment marched at full speed and only managed to catch up with the enemy after exerting all their strength. The 1st Company of the 3rd Battalion took the lead and blocked the enemy's breakthrough. However, the main force was slow to catch up and was dozens of miles behind the 1st Company. It was too late to help the immediate enemy. The regimental commander had no choice but to suffer in silence.

To comfort the depressed Liang Jian, the regimental commander eventually transferred a squad of elite soldiers from the regimental guard company to supplement the first company.

The soldiers in this guard company were all top-notch soldiers carefully selected from the regiment. They had excellent military skills and had been responsible for the security of the regimental headquarters. They had never had the opportunity to go to the battlefield, so there were no casualties throughout the entire process.

These elite veterans were initially unhappy when they heard they were to be assigned to the decimated 1st Company of the 3rd Battalion. Their faces showed no emotion, but their hearts were full of resistance.

In their view, the First Company had suffered heavy casualties and was incomplete in its organization. Following such a company was far less respectable than staying in the Guard Company.

But when they actually entered the company's garrison and saw the soldiers of the company, most of their disdain and resistance instantly dissipated.

The soldiers of the company mostly looked like they were resting loosely under trees and on rocks. Everyone looked exhausted, and their uniforms were covered with dust and blood. However, the intense killing intent emanating from them could not be hidden.

That was the aura that only veterans who had fought their way through mountains of corpses and seas of blood, witnessed life and death firsthand, and personally killed enemies possessed. Just sitting there quietly, he made these elite guards who had never been on the battlefield feel an immense sense of oppression.

"All company assembled!"

Liang Jian stood at the front of the group, his voice loud and clear, carrying an unquestionable authority that resounded throughout the entire camp.

The soldiers who were resting suddenly sprang to their feet like springs, quickly straightened their uniforms, and lined up to assemble.

Despite the pitifully small number of people in the entire company, everyone moved swiftly and in unison, with resolute eyes, displaying an iron-blooded demeanor.

Soon, the line was formed, consisting of only three rows, each sparsely populated.

The first row had only four people, including the squad leader. The second and third rows were not much better. Together, they could barely make up a squad.

Hu Sanxi, the squad leader of the first platoon, stood tall and proud at the very front of the line, and reported loudly and clearly in a strong voice:

"Reporting, Company Commander! The company should have 135 men; 25 are present. Please provide further instructions!"

"At ease!" Liang Jian ordered in a deep voice.

"boast!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the twenty-four soldiers simultaneously assumed the position of at ease. Their movements were perfectly synchronized, and their morale remained undiminished. Even though only a few remained, they still maintained the discipline and style of a regular company.

Liang Jian's gaze swept over the depleted team before him, his eyes filled with heartache, yet his expression remained solemn as he began to announce the appointments:

"Hu Sanxi!"

"arrive!"

Hu Sanxi immediately stepped forward and responded loudly.

"Recommended by the operations department and approved by the regimental headquarters, you are hereby promoted to acting platoon leader, effective immediately!"

"Yes! I will obey orders without question!"

Hu Sanxi's face was solemn, without any joy, only a heavy sense of responsibility. He knew that this acting platoon leader carried the expectations of too many fallen comrades.

"Zheng Shuanzi!"

"arrive!"

"I hereby appoint you as the squad leader of the first company, replacing Hu Sanxi!"

"Yes! I guarantee I will complete the mission!" Zheng Shuanzi replied in a deep voice, his eyes resolute.

Liang Jian's gaze finally landed on He Yuzhu, who stood tall and straight in the crowd, and he shouted loudly, "He Yuzhu!"

"arrive!"

He Yuzhu stepped forward, his voice steady.

"Your bravery and outstanding performance on the battlefield, coupled with your excellent marksmanship, have earned you great merit. You are hereby appointed as the deputy squad leader of the first squad!"

"Yes!" He Yuzhu replied calmly, his face showing no emotion.

Only he himself knew that leading troops on the battlefield was far more stressful than being an ordinary soldier. The fierce battle he had just fought had already made him deeply aware of the weight of this responsibility.

Immediately afterwards, Liang Jian continued to issue reorganization orders:

"Second and third platoons, temporarily abolish the second and third squads, retaining one squad from each. The second and third platoon leaders should draft the squad leader and deputy squad leader candidates as soon as possible and submit them to me!"

"yes!"

The second and third platoon leaders responded in unison.

After assigning the existing personnel, Liang Jian turned to the soldiers from the guard company who had come to reinforce him, pointed at them, and continued, "You seven will be assigned to the first platoon, first squad; the remaining three, one to the second platoon, first squad, and the other two to the third platoon, first squad!"

"yes!"

The soldiers of the guard company did not dare to delay and immediately followed orders, quickly dispersing into their respective teams and taking their positions.

After this reorganization, the company finally managed to muster enough troops to form a complete platoon, and its organizational structure was initially restored.

"Everyone has it!"

"Yes!" Everyone immediately stood at attention, their posture upright.

"Dismissed! Each platoon, return to your units as soon as possible and get some rest!"

"yes!"

The order to disband was given, and the troops dispersed in an orderly fashion. However, Liang Jian did not mention anything about rewarding those who had performed meritorious service in this battle throughout the entire process, which made the soldiers uneasy.

It turned out that the entire army had suffered a defeat in this operation, and the whole army had been criticized by their superiors and suffered the consequences.

When Liang Jian was at the regimental headquarters, he specifically inquired about the merit evaluation, but the regimental commander could only helplessly say that all the merits should be remembered for now and submitted at a more appropriate time in the future.

The implication is clear: if the entire army cannot turn the tide and reverse the situation, this series of small-scale local victories will not be taken seriously by superiors. Even if they are forcibly reported, no one will care, and all the credit will have to be put aside for the time being.

This is another important reason why Liang Jian looked so pale after returning from the regimental headquarters.

Upon learning that the company commander had returned from the regimental headquarters, Hu Sanxi, the second platoon leader, the third platoon leader, and others all went to find Liang Jian.

They weren't asking for credit for themselves, but rather they were all thinking about He Yuzhu's contributions.

Based on He Yuzhu's valiant performance on the battlefield, especially his achievements in accurately killing dozens of enemy soldiers and holding the position, even if he doesn't get a first-class merit, he can at least get a second-class merit.

Looking at his several expectant subordinates, Liang Jian sighed and patiently explained the whole story of the army's defeat and the fact that their merits could not be assessed at the moment.

After hearing this, the group fell silent, their faces filled with disappointment and resentment, yet they had no choice but to accept this reality.

On the other side, Zheng Shuanzi led his squad of soldiers back to the rest area of ​​the garrison.

He first had all the soldiers in the class take turns introducing themselves so that they could get to know each other.

When the veterans who came to reinforce the guard company learned that He Yuzhu, who had just been promoted to deputy squad leader, was actually a new recruit who had been in the army for less than a month, their eyes changed instantly.

These guards are all veterans who have been through countless battles. Even the least skilled among them participated in the previous three-year war of national defense. They have excellent military skills, yet they are still just ordinary soldiers.

He Yuzhu, a fresh recruit, was promoted to deputy squad leader after only one battle. This surprised them and made them somewhat resentful. They all wanted to see what made this young deputy squad leader so special.

Just as the self-introductions were finished, Hu Sanxi, who had been promoted to acting platoon leader, came over, gave a few brief instructions, and then called Zheng Shuanzi and He Yuzhu to a quiet spot.

"Zhu Zi, what did the company commander say about your meritorious service in this battle?"

As soon as he stopped, Zheng Shuanzi couldn't contain himself and asked the question first, his tone full of urgency.

He Yuzhu spoke calmly, "This time, the credit is temporarily out of the question."

"What?!"

Zheng Shuanzi panicked instantly, rolled up his sleeves, and tried to walk towards Liang Jian.

"I'm going to confront the company commander! Why isn't he rewarding you for such a great service?"

"Come back!" Hu Sanxi grabbed him and shook his head.

"This has nothing to do with the company commander. It's because our entire army didn't fight well. The higher-ups won't approve it, so we can't report our achievements."

Upon hearing this, Zheng Shuanzi immediately deflated, lowered his hands, and gave a reluctant "oh."

Hu Sanxi turned to He Yuzhu, patted him on the shoulder, and said earnestly, "Zhuzi, don't overthink it, and don't feel wronged. Your contributions are seen and remembered by the company commander and all of us brothers, and we will never forget them! When our unit wins the battle, we will definitely make up for this achievement!"

"I know, I didn't think much of it."

He Yuzhu nodded, his expression remaining calm. He didn't care about fame or fortune; he only wanted to fight well and protect his comrades.

"It's good that you think that way." Hu Sanxi breathed a sigh of relief, then turned to Zheng Shuanzi and asked.

"Squad Leader, with so many new recruits recently added to the squad, what are your plans for personnel arrangements and task assignments?"

Zheng Shuanzi didn't answer directly. Instead, he looked at He Yuzhu and said seriously, "Zhuzi, you're the vice class monitor now. You have a say in class matters. What are your thoughts?"

He Yuzhu shook his head, his tone indifferent: "I don't have any ideas, I'll just follow the arrangements of the squad leader and platoon leader."

"How can you not have any ideas!" Zheng Shuanzi exclaimed anxiously.

"You're now the vice class monitor, and you need to help me manage the class. You must have your own opinions!"

Seeing this, He Yuzhu thought for a moment and tentatively said, "How about I take charge of the class's grenade launchers?"

"You did this on purpose, didn't you!" Zheng Shuanzi immediately became unhappy, glared at him, and complained.

"You're in charge of the grenade launcher, so what am I supposed to do? You know I'm no good at shooting, all I can do is fiddle with the grenade launcher. Aren't you just stealing my job?!"

Watching the two bicker, Hu Sanxi couldn't help but laugh out loud, teasing, "Alright, alright, I've never seen you two get along this well before. You've only just taken office and you're already bickering. By the way, Squad Leader, aren't you planning to hold a squad meeting and have Zhu Zi give a self-criticism?"

Upon hearing this, He Yuzhu looked puzzled and asked curiously, "A self-criticism? A self-criticism for what? I don't understand what you're saying."

Zheng Shuanzi waved his hand and said with a smile, "There's no meeting. The class has just been reorganized, and morale is low. Besides, so many brothers have sacrificed themselves, so we're not in the mood for that. I just wanted to let you know about this. You're the vice class monitor now, so you should be aware of this."

"No, platoon leader, squad leader, stop beating around the bush. What is it that you need to write a self-criticism for?" He Yuzhu asked, increasingly puzzled.

Hu Sanxi explained with a smile, "What else could it be? It's just that during the time we were capturing prisoners, you acted without orders from your superiors and launched a rash attack, which violated battlefield discipline. According to the rules, you have to write a self-criticism."

He Yuzhu suddenly realized what had happened, scratched the back of his head, and said seriously, "Ah, I was indeed too impulsive at the time. I didn't think things through and violated the rules. I should reflect on my actions."

"Alright, as long as you know you were wrong in your heart, that's enough." Zheng Shuanzi quickly waved his hand.

"The new recruits in the squad are all troublemakers from the guard company, they're hard to manage. If you make a public apology right after becoming the deputy squad leader, you'll lose all authority in the squad, how will you lead anyone then?"

Hu Sanxi nodded in agreement:

"That's right, you don't need to apologize in public. Just apologize to me and Shuanzi in private."

He Yuzhu nodded and asked with a smile, "Then do I need to write a written self-criticism?"

"If you want to write it, I have no objection."

Hu Sanxi responded with a smile.

"Let's forget it. I'm afraid you won't understand it if I write it down," He Yuzhu joked, his tone relaxed.

"You little brat, who do you think you are!" Zheng Shuanzi said with a smile, lightly punching him.

"Don't think we're uneducated; we've all been to literacy classes and can read!"

He Yuzhu's smile faded, and he said earnestly, "I have realized my mistake. I promise you that I will never act without authorization on the battlefield again, and I will obey all orders!"

"Is that all?" Zheng Shuanzi asked, raising an eyebrow.

"It's over." He Yuzhu nodded.

Hu Sanxi solemnly instructed, "Zhuzi, you must remember what you said. This is a battlefield, not home. Every order is a matter of life and death. You must not act recklessly."

"Yes! I will remember this!" He Yuzhu replied loudly.

"Alright, let's not talk about self-criticism anymore, let's get back to our previous topic," Hu Sanxi said, looking at the two of them.

"You two should discuss the next operational arrangements for the First Platoon. Count me in too. I'm a platoon leader without any real personnel now. I'll be with the First Platoon in the subsequent battles."

Zheng Shuanzi joked with a smile, "Platoon leader, you're not reluctant to give up your squad leader position, are you? I finally got to be the squad leader, you can't take it from me."

"Get lost!" Hu Sanxi said with a laugh.

"If I had three squads under my command, I wouldn't go to work for the first squad even if you offered me a grand feast!"

After saying that, the two of them looked at He Yuzhu in unison and said, "Zhuzi, Deputy Squad Leader He, you really don't have any other thoughts?"

Seeing the expectant looks in their eyes, He Yuzhu knew he couldn't refuse, so he said seriously, "Then let me tell you my thoughts. In the subsequent battles, you, platoon leader, will lead the assault troops in the charge, and you, squad leader, will continue to be in charge of operating the grenade launcher. Feng Erkui has solid marksmanship, so assign him a dedicated ammunition handler to be in charge of logistics and supplies."

"That's it?"

Zheng Shuanzi frowned. "Did you forget someone? What about you? What are you responsible for as the vice squad leader?"

"Yeah, what about your own task?" Hu Sanxi asked as well.

He Yuzhu said calmly, "I'm the deputy squad leader, so I'll be an all-rounder. Wherever the battle is intense or where support is needed, that's where I'll go."

"No way! I don't agree to this arrangement!" Hu Sanxi rejected it outright, his tone firm.

"The assault team must be led by you. I will only assist you in combat, not lead the team directly."

He Yuzhu quickly said, "Platoon leader, I've never led an assault team before and have no combat experience. I'm afraid it won't work."

"You can learn if you don't have experience!"

Hu Sanxi's tone left no room for argument.

"I'll lead you through a few practical exercises first, teaching you gradually. After that, the assault team will be entirely in your hands; you must take on this responsibility!"

"yes!"

He Yuzhu knew he couldn't refuse and understood the platoon leader's good intentions, so he immediately agreed and stopped declining.

In the days that followed, the entire army began a strategic retreat.

To avoid daytime reconnaissance by enemy aircraft, the troops mostly marched at night and rested in secluded places during the day.

The company never received a second round of reinforcements. Liang Jian went to the regimental headquarters to inquire many times, but the answer he received was always that reinforcements would be transferred only when the next batch of troops crossing the river arrived.

Taking advantage of the daytime rest period, He Yuzhu's squad began to make the most of the time for military training.

The new guards in the squad were all arrogant troublemakers. They had been strictly disciplined in the guard company, which temporarily suppressed their bad habits. Now that they were in the squad, no one was there to restrain them, and their resentment was fully revealed. They showed their hostility towards He Yuzhu, the new deputy squad leader.

Hu Sanxi and Zheng Shuanzi saw through these people's intentions and deliberately did not step in to discipline them, intending to let He Yuzhu handle the situation himself and establish their authority.

He Yuzhu first had Feng Erkui, who was tall in the class, step forward to teach these troublemakers a lesson and make them obey the rules.

Unexpectedly, among this group of guards, there were actually two veterans who had practiced close combat and were quite skilled.

Although Feng Erkui was tall, strong, and incredibly powerful, he was just an ordinary soldier. He could handle most people, but against these two veterans, he quickly lost ground and suffered a minor setback.

Seeing Feng Erkui defeated, the two veteran guards showed smug expressions and became even more arrogant.

He Yuzhu walked up to Zheng Shuanzi and asked in a low voice, "Squad leader, should you take on these two troublemakers or should I?"

Zheng Shuanzi said without hesitation, "You go! You have to teach them a lesson, let them know that there are always people more capable than you, and make them truly respect you, so they understand that you didn't get this vice squad leader position through connections!"

In fact, Zheng Shuanzi was also secretly enjoying the spectacle. He had sparred with He Yuzhu in private before and was completely defeated in just a few rounds, so he knew how terrifying He Yuzhu's strength was.

These veterans in the guard company are too arrogant. Only by letting them personally experience He Yuzhu's prowess can they be completely subdued.

He Yuzhu nodded, stepped to the center of the open space, and said calmly to the two veterans, "You two, come at me together. Bayonet fighting, hand-to-hand combat, grenade throwing—take your pick. If you can beat me, I'll give you my position as deputy squad leader."

"What arrogance! A green recruit like him dares to be so cocky!"

One of the veterans, his face full of disdain, immediately assumed a fighting stance and charged towards He Yuzhu.

He Yuzhu remained calm and steady, dodging the opponent's attacks with ease and composure.

After several rounds, he seized the opportunity and struck quickly and ruthlessly, subduing the veteran who had charged forward first. The veteran had no chance to fight back.

Seeing this, the other veteran was both shocked and furious, and immediately stepped forward to join forces to attack. However, even with two against one, they were no match for He Yuzhu. Before long, they were also easily subdued. Both of them were completely subdued and lost their previous arrogance.

After this incident, all the soldiers in the platoon became completely obedient. The look in their eyes when they looked at He Yuzhu was no longer one of resentment or resistance, but only full of respect and admiration. They finally understood that this new recruit, who had been in the army for less than a month, was able to become the deputy platoon leader because of his solid skills.

At the time, because the superiors had issued an order prohibiting shooting training, the group did not have a shooting competition. If they had actually competed in marksmanship, the two veterans would have lost miserably.

In subsequent training sessions, all the soldiers were exceptionally serious and followed He Yuzhu's commands; no one dared to cause trouble or shirk their duties again.

In addition to their outstanding skills, the generous benefits provided by the company also helped these new soldiers quickly integrate into the group.

The company's weapons and equipment are the best in the entire regiment, and its logistical support is also quite good.

When the second platoon leader cleaned up the Dongpo battlefield, he was extremely meticulous, searching for all the supplies left behind by the enemy. In addition to weapons and ammunition, there were also a large amount of scarce supplies such as compressed biscuits, canned beef, chocolate, and fruit candy, all of which he brought back to the company.

Even items left behind by the enemy, such as watches and pens, were collected and handed over to the regimental headquarters.

Because of the large quantity of captured supplies, the regimental headquarters, after calculation, decided to send a portion of the necessary supplies to the division headquarters and distribute the rest proportionally to each company.

As the main recipient of the spoils, the company received many preferential treatments. The regiment specially allocated several watches to each of the company commanders and platoon leaders, so that they could accurately keep track of time and command operations during wartime.

You should know that in other companies only the company commander is equipped with a watch. The platoon leaders of the first company are able to enjoy the same treatment as the company commanders, and they are all very happy. Their sense of belonging to He Yuzhu and the first company is also stronger.

Almost every soldier in the company had a half-coat, and the new soldiers in the platoon also received warm clothing. Although there were no extra cotton trousers and shoes to distribute, the food in the company was much better than that of other companies. They could eat canned food and biscuits at every meal, which was an extremely generous treatment on the battlefield where supplies were scarce.

Days passed quickly, and November 20th arrived. Suddenly, the military headquarters issued an emergency order, requiring the entire army to rush to the vicinity of Anju, downstream of the Chongchon River, and assemble and await further orders before November 23rd.

At this time, the troops were still stationed near Ningchuan. According to the map, the straight-line distance from Ningchuan to Taechon, downstream of the Qingchuan River, is only about 20 kilometers.

However, the actual marching route was entirely along rugged mountain paths, winding around the mountains, covering a distance of seventy or eighty kilometers. The troops only had three days, which meant they had to march at least twenty kilometers of mountain roads each day, making the time extremely tight.

As if things weren't bad enough, a sudden blizzard began during the march. The swirling snowflakes quickly covered the entire mountain path, making the road slippery and difficult to traverse. The temperature also plummeted, greatly slowing down the march. What had been a relatively ample amount of time suddenly became extremely tight.

In order to arrive at the designated location on time, the entire army marched through the night and did not rest during the day, but began to accelerate the march day and night.

Last time, the entire army was severely criticized by its superiors for slow marching and defeat in battle. This time, no unit dared to slack off in the slightest, and their attitude toward marching was extremely decisive.

This high-intensity march took a heavy toll on the troops who had previously lagged behind and had never experienced a forced march. The soldiers were exhausted and complained incessantly.

However, the 141st Regiment, where He Yuzhu was stationed, felt no pressure and maintained a steady marching pace.

After all, they had previously undergone a much more arduous forced march in pursuit of the enemy.

The intensity of the march is much lighter than before, and all the soldiers have long since adapted. Even when braving heavy snow and traversing mountains, they can still move steadily forward and advance rapidly towards the lower reaches of the Chongchon River.