Chapter 124 Iron-Blooded Rescue

"Lay down your weapons and you'll be spared!"

A deafening shout came from afar, sweeping in with the wind and snow. The main force had caught up, and the roars of comrades filled the mountains and fields.

The South Korean soldiers fleeing in panic on the highway had completely lost the will to resist. They jumped off the trucks, landing sprawling and staggering, but they didn't care about the pain. They threw all their heavy weapons and rifles into the snow and ran into the wilderness by the roadside, running faster than rabbits. They wished they had two more legs.

He Yuzhu, holding his gun, quickly cleared out the few stragglers who were putting up a stubborn resistance around the truck. After confirming that the surroundings were temporarily safe, he jumped onto the nearest truck bed.

The carriage was filled with equipment, with several German-made heavy machine guns neatly stacked, as well as several bazookas and rocket launchers. Next to them were piles of ammunition boxes, all of which were hard currency on the battlefield.

His eyes lit up, and without the slightest delay, he instantly stored the weapons and ammunition in the carriage into his spatial storage, leaving not a trace behind.

There are plenty of people capturing prisoners right now, one more won't make a difference. The most important thing is to seize more practical weapons and supplies. In the future, when we're acting alone, this equipment will be our lifeline.

He Yuzhu moved swiftly, and after finishing one truckload, he immediately jumped off and ran towards the next truck fully loaded with supplies.

Before he could finish looting the three vehicles, a sudden, rapid jeep engine roared from the far end of the road. Three military jeeps sped away, their wheels crunching through the snow, kicking up clouds of snow foam as they reached extreme speeds.

Even more outrageous, each jeep had a light machine gun mounted on its roof, and the machine gunners didn't distinguish between friend and foe.

As soon as they saw anyone on the road, whether it was fleeing South Korean soldiers or pursuing Chinese People's Volunteer Army soldiers, they would pull the trigger and fire. Dense bullets poured down like a torrential rain, all for the sake of escaping, regardless of the cost.

Just as He Yuzhu reached the front of a truck, a burst of bullets whizzed past his head, hitting the snow on the road and kicking up a cloud of snow.

His expression changed drastically, and he reacted extremely quickly, ducking down and using both hands and feet to scramble under the truck bed, barely escaping the barrage of fire.

"Jingle bells!"

Bullets struck the metal of the truck bed with a dense barrage, producing a piercing thud and sending sparks flying.

Several bullets with extremely high penetrating power even pierced through the thin panels of the carriage.

With a few clangs, the bullets landed on the snow beside He Yuzhu. The cold snowflakes kicked up by the bullets hit his face, causing a sharp pain.

He Yuzhu lay tightly under the carriage, barely daring to breathe, until the sounds of the jeep's engine and machine gun gradually faded into the distance. Only then did he let out a long sigh of relief, his heart still pounding wildly.

"Damn it, these bastards are absolutely ruthless in their pursuit of survival, they even turn on their own people! We almost got caught here!"

He Yuzhu cursed under his breath, a ruthless glint flashing in his eyes. He would remember this debt.

He slowly crawled out from under the truck bed, brushed the snow off his body, quickly climbed to the top of the truck cab, found a good hiding spot, and swiftly set up his sniper rifle, locking his sights firmly onto the last frantically fleeing jeep.

"Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Without the slightest hesitation, He Yuzhu pulled the trigger repeatedly, firing four bullets precisely, all of which hit the jeep's tires and engine.

"Squeak—!"

A sharp, piercing screech of brakes rang out, and the Jeep instantly went out of control, slid several meters erratically, and finally came to a stop in the middle of the road, completely stalled and unable to move.

He Yuzhu jumped off the truck, grabbed his rifle, and ran quickly toward the wrecked jeep.

He knew in his heart that there must be enemy officers hiding in these jeeps that were fleeing at all costs, and he had to chase after them to find out. The officers in the cars that were fleeing ahead must be of even higher rank.

Running to the jeep, He Yuzhu reached out and pulled open the deformed door, dragging the enemy corpses out one by one. After a quick glance, he realized that the highest-ranking officer was just an army captain, not worth his time.

He Yuzhu immediately lost interest, turned around and walked around to the driver's side, opened the car door and got in.

Fortunately, the car's engine was only damaged and could still be started. He skillfully shifted gears and stepped on the gas, and the jeep instantly sped off, chasing after the two fleeing jeeps ahead.

They sped along, the snow kicked up by the wheels and swirling behind them. When they were about 60 or 70 meters away from the last jeep in front, He Yuzhu slammed on the brakes, and the jeep came to a smooth stop.

He quickly rolled over to the back seat, picked up the M1 heavy machine gun mounted on the vehicle, set it up steadily, and aimed the sights at the rear and cargo compartment of the vehicle in front.

The machine gunner in the lead vehicle was so focused on the road ahead and the possibility of being ambushed that he had no idea that someone would be chasing him from behind, let alone that he would be attacked from behind.

He Yuzhu pulled the trigger, and the heavy machine gun roared deafeningly. Dense bullets gushed out like tongues of fire. After firing half a belt, the jeep in front came to a complete stop, and there was no more movement inside the vehicle.

He Yuzhu put down the machine gun, returned to the driver's seat, and continued driving forward. As he slowly passed the wrecked jeep, he glanced at it and saw that all the enemy soldiers in the vehicle had been killed, including a major and two lieutenants. It was a big fish.

But he didn't stop. The key was to chase down the fleeing remnants and find the way back, so he immediately drove on to continue the pursuit.

However, after driving for a short while, a Y-shaped intersection suddenly appeared ahead, with two forks extending into the distance. The road surface was covered with clear, brand-new tire tracks, making it impossible to tell which direction the enemy convoy was fleeing.

One road leads to Anzhou, and the other to Ningyuan. The two roads wind through the mountains and seem to stretch as far as the eye can see.

He Yuzhu stopped the car, frowned and observed for a moment, then stepped on the gas and chased after the road with denser and clearer tire tracks.

But to his utter surprise, this pursuit led him to completely lose his way. The roads ahead became increasingly complex and intersecting, and he could only follow the faint tire tracks, unable to discern where he was.

The car had traveled most of the distance when the fuel tank was completely empty, and the engine emitted a weak roar.

He Yuzhu was prepared for this. Fortunately, he had enough gasoline stored in his space. He immediately stopped the car, took out a gasoline can from his space, filled up the jeep, and was able to continue his journey.

As night deepened, the surrounding mountains, covered in snow and barely visible, stretched out under the pitch-black sky.

He Yuzhu tried to find his way back to the position, but after going around in circles, the mountain terrain and road signs he had memorized were completely confused. He was completely lost in the deep mountains and snow forests of this foreign land, and could not tell which way was which.

"Ningyuan direction...it should be the Changjin Lake area, right?" He Yuzhu sat in the driver's seat, looking out at the vast expanse of white snow, pondering to himself.

Having already gotten lost, and given the tense situation around Changjin Lake, he gritted his teeth, abandoned the idea of ​​turning back, and continued driving towards Ningyuan.

The journey was bumpy, the temperature kept dropping, and the cold wind blew in through the cracks in the car windows, cutting into our skin like knives.

As the night wore on, He Yuzhu was so cold that he could hardly stand it. Even after pulling out a half-coat and a military cotton overcoat from his storage space and layering them on, he was still frozen stiff, his hands and feet were numb, and he almost lost the strength to grip the steering wheel.

If I keep driving, I'm afraid I'll freeze to death in the car before I even reach my destination.

He Yuzhu immediately found a relatively flat place to park, and with a thought, he put the entire jeep into his spatial storage to avoid leaving it outside and being discovered by the enemy.

Using the moonlight and the reflection of the snow, the surroundings were a stark white. He Yuzhu quickly scanned the terrain and finally slipped into a sheltered mountain hollow.

Sure enough, the ravine blocked the howling wind, and he felt much warmer instantly. He searched carefully in the ravine and finally found a small cave that could only accommodate one person. The space was small, but it was enough to shelter him from the wind.

He immediately took off a military overcoat and used it to block the entrance of the cave, keeping out the cold wind.

He then took out a lantern from his spatial storage, lit it, and the dim, warm light instantly illuminated the narrow cave, dispelling much of the chill.

After a whole night and day of tossing and turning, he was starving. For the past month, he had been eating nothing but dry fried noodles every meal on the front lines. He was about to throw up; his mouth was bland and his stomach was extremely uncomfortable.

He Yuzhu immediately took out the cooked food he had stored in his space. These were all prepared in advance and put into his space. They were still steaming hot when he took them out, and had not cooled down at all.

Two lunchboxes of hot dishes with meat and vegetables, three soft and white steamed buns, plus a pot of boiling water—I wolfed them down, and the chill instantly vanished, replaced by a wave of warmth.

He Yuzhu let out a satisfied burp. The fatigue from days of running around instantly overwhelmed him. His eyelids felt so heavy that he couldn't lift them, and waves of drowsiness washed over him.

But he dared not sleep too soundly, for in this perilous mountain, he could encounter enemy troops or wild beasts at any moment.

He fought off his sleepiness and used an empty tin can and thin rope to make a simple warning device at the entrance of the cave. If anyone approached and touched the rope, the tin can would make a sound, waking him up immediately.

After doing all this, He Yuzhu wrapped himself tightly in two military overcoats and curled up in a corner of the cave.

He quickly fell into a deep sleep, the tension and fatigue of the past few days making him sleep exceptionally soundly.

I don't know how long I slept, but in my hazy state, a huge roar of an airplane engine came from the sky, growing louder as it approached, making my eardrums ache.

He Yuzhu jolted awake, sitting up abruptly with a wary look in his eyes.

He quickly patted his cheeks to dispel the lingering drowsiness, put away his military overcoat, and tiptoed to the cave entrance.

He slowly removed the military overcoat blocking the hole, and the blinding sunlight poured in instantly, almost making him unable to open his eyes.

He Yuzhu quickly raised his hand to cover his eyes, and after a while, he slowly peeked out.

The surroundings were completely silent and empty, with no sign of anything unusual. The warning devices at the cave entrance were intact, and there wasn't a single footprint on the snow; it was spotless.

I suppose I ate too warmly and comfortably last night, and slept too soundly to notice any noise from the outside world.

He Yuzhu put away his coat and the makeshift warning device, turned around and walked outside the cave. He scooped up a handful of cold snow and rubbed his face vigorously.

A bone-chilling cold instantly swept over his body, completely waking him up and making his mind exceptionally clear.

He found a secluded spot outside the cave to relieve himself, quickly washed up, took out three donkey meat sandwiches from his spatial storage, and quickly filled his stomach to replenish his energy. Then he picked up the M1 rifle beside him, turned around, and walked out of the ravine.

Standing in the vast snowfield, surrounded by white snow and endless mountain ranges, He Yuzhu was completely at a loss. He had no idea which direction to take to get back to the main group or encounter his own people.

Just then, the roar of airplanes overhead came again. He looked up at the sky, observing the direction the enemy planes were flying, and then compared it with the rising sun to confirm that the enemy planes were flying eastward. Without further hesitation, He Yuzhu followed the direction the enemy planes were flying due east, trudging forward step by step through the thick snow.

The jeep is no longer usable. Enemy planes are circling overhead, and once they spot a vehicle on the ground, they will swoop down and straf it or drop bombs. At that point, he will have nowhere to hide and will have to proceed on foot.

The snow was up to my calves, making every step incredibly difficult. The cold wind howled and stung my face.

He Yuzhu walked alone in the snow for a whole morning. He didn't encounter any friendly troops or even enemy troops along the way. All he could hear was the sound of wind and snow, and there was only deathly silence.

Around noon, he found a sheltered rocky spot, stopped to have lunch, ate some dry food, drank some hot water, and regained some strength.

He knew in his heart that wandering aimlessly in the deep mountains was not a solution. Not only was it slow, but he was also at risk of encountering enemy troops at any time. He had to get back to the road as soon as possible to have a chance to meet troops, find supplies, or find his way.

After a short rest, He Yuzhu adjusted his direction and cautiously made his way towards the road, keeping a watchful eye on enemy patrols.

In the afternoon, a series of intense engine noises and the sound of tracks rolling over came from the road. He Yuzhu's face tightened, and he immediately lay down in the snow to hide. Peeking out, he saw a large convoy slowly approaching on the highway in the distance.

This convoy was entirely equipped with Bald Eagle military equipment, including tanks, armored vehicles, and dozens of military trucks. Roughly estimated, it had the strength of a full battalion, with formidable firepower.

He Yuzhu secretly rejoiced that he was alone at the moment and did not act rashly. If he had confronted the enemy head-on, he would have been no match for them.

He lay motionless in the snowdrift by the roadside, holding his breath and not daring to move, not daring to provoke this well-equipped enemy force.

The convoy drove by slowly, occasionally carrying the sounds of conversation and commands from the Bald Eagle soldiers. He Yuzhu listened carefully, and with the English he had previously encountered, he managed to make out a few words and learned that this unit was the vanguard of the Bald Eagle 7th Division.

Only after the convoy had completely disappeared from sight did He Yuzhu dare to get up from the snow and brush the snow off his body.

He dared not walk along the roadside any longer, and immediately turned around and climbed up the nearby deep mountains. He continued to move carefully along the edge of the forest to avoid encountering the enemy's main force again.

They continued their journey in this way, and before they knew it, it was getting dark. The sun sank into the western mountains, and night once again enveloped the earth.

He Yuzhu was looking for a sheltered place to build a makeshift shelter for the night when he suddenly heard a "crunching, crunching" sound coming from not far away. It was the sound of footsteps on the snow, which was clearly audible.

He listened intently and realized that the voices were not coming from a single person; they were chaotic yet orderly, indicating a group of at least several dozen people.

He Yuzhu's expression hardened, and he immediately lay down on the spot, quickly picked up his rifle, aimed the sights firmly at the direction from which the sound came, and put his finger on the trigger, ready to fire at any moment.

The footsteps grew closer, and by the faint light reflected off the snow, He Yuzhu roughly estimated that it was a team of nearly a hundred people, roughly the size of a company.

He held his breath and waited quietly. When the group got closer, he finally saw their uniforms clearly—thin khaki military uniforms, with tattered towels wrapped around their ears and necks to protect them from the biting cold wind. It was none other than his comrades-in-arms!

He Yuzhu's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, instantly relaxed. He slowly released the taut trigger, but did not get up immediately. He remained lying in the snow, listening to his comrades' conversation.

Leading the group was a soldier who looked like an officer, followed by a platoon leader. The platoon leader trudged through the snow and couldn't help but ask, "Company commander, how much longer until we get to that mountain range? It's so cold, the brothers can't hold on much longer."

The company commander continued walking, his voice hoarse but firm, and turned to reply.

It's Dead Eagle Ridge. According to the map, once you cross this mountain, you'll be there soon. Hang in there, everyone.

"We've crossed so many mountains along the way. Why is the Korean Peninsula all mountain ranges? And the weather is so strangely cold. If this continues, the brothers' bodies won't be able to take it." The platoon leader's voice was full of exhaustion and worry.

"Stop talking so much nonsense! You're the platoon leader, you need to keep the morale of the troops steady, don't say such discouraging things and affect the soldiers' spirits!"

The company commander rebuked him in a deep voice, his tone carrying an unquestionable severity.

"Yes, sir!" The platoon leader immediately composed himself and replied solemnly.

As the two were talking, they had already walked to within five meters of He Yuzhu's hiding place. Their conversation was not loud, but it clearly reached He Yuzhu's ears.

"Dead Eagle Ridge?"

He Yuzhu lay on the snow, his brows furrowing instantly. The place name felt strangely familiar. He desperately tried to recall his memories from his past life, and vivid images flashed through his mind.

"Comrades of the Sixth Company, give it your all, quicken your pace, we're almost at our destination!"

At this moment, a gentle yet powerful voice came from the middle of the ranks. It was the company political instructor, encouraging the soldiers.

Dead Eagle Ridge! Sixth Company!

He Yuzhu shuddered, his pupils suddenly contracted, and his body, lying on the snow, trembled slightly uncontrollably. A title he would never forget flashed into his mind—the Ice Sculpture Company!

The tragic history of my past life, the memory that brought tears to the eyes of countless Chinese people, surged into my mind in an instant.

On the frigid Dead Eagle Ridge, the entire company of soldiers held their ground to complete the ambush mission. They were all frozen into ice sculptures, yet they maintained their fighting posture and never retreated a single step until their deaths.

"To help or not to help!"

This thought, like a thunderclap, swirled wildly in He Yuzhu's mind, instantly plunging him into extreme entanglement and struggle.

He knew in his heart that he was fully capable of helping them. There were enough military overcoats, cotton-padded clothes, dry rations, and heating supplies in the space. Sending these things over would give the soldiers of the Sixth Company a better chance of survival in this extremely cold weather and would minimize non-combat casualties.

The problem is, how can we help?

For a soldier who had become separated from the main force to suddenly produce a large quantity of cotton-padded clothes, dry rations, and heating supplies would be too abrupt and inevitably arouse suspicion on the battlefield in a foreign land where supplies were extremely scarce.

If the explanation is unclear, it will not only fail to help the soldiers, but will also bring huge trouble to oneself, and may even be treated as a spy.

He wanted to shout directly at them, "Don't go to Dead Eagle Ridge! You won't find the enemy there; you'll only perish in the extreme cold!"

But can he do that?

The answer is obviously no.

Without any evidence, a mere statement cannot possibly change the established military mission; it will only be seen as a statement that disrupts morale and will ultimately harm these valiant soldiers.

Looking at the thinly dressed but determined group before him, at their purple faces from the cold, at their tired yet resolute eyes, He Yuzhu felt as if his heart was being gripped tightly by a giant hand, the pain making it hard to breathe.

These are the most lovable people, heroes who went to fight in distant lands for their country and people. He absolutely cannot stand by and watch the tragedy repeat itself.

He Yuzhu gritted his teeth, no longer hesitating, and abruptly stood up from the snow, shouting, "Halt! Which unit are you from?"

"Whoosh!"

The team came to an abrupt halt in perfect unison. All the soldiers immediately turned their guns and aimed them in the direction of He Yuzhu, their eyes alert, and the atmosphere instantly became tense.

"Don't get agitated! We're all on the same side!"

He Yuzhu quickly raised his hands to indicate that he meant no harm and shouted loudly.

"Put down your guns!"

In the ranks, the instructor who had just spoken immediately spoke up, signaling the soldiers to lift the alert.

He then walked alone towards He Yuzhu, his eyes scrutinizing her, and asked in a calm tone, "Which unit are you from? Why are you here alone?"

"Report! I am He Yuzhu, deputy squad leader of the first squad, first platoon, first company, third battalion, 141st regiment, 98th division of the 6th Army!"

He Yuzhu stood at attention and loudly announced his unit number and identity.

"The 6th Army?" Upon hearing the unit number, the company commander, who was originally walking at the front of the column, exclaimed.

He immediately rushed over, his face full of surprise. "Weren't your troops fighting in the Qingjiangchuan area? How did you end up here?"

As he spoke, the platoon leader beside him remained vigilant, his gun subtly pointed at He Yuzhu, not completely letting his guard down.

"Reporting to the company commander, I got separated from the main force while pursuing the enemy, and then got lost, which led me to this place," He Yuzhu replied sincerely and truthfully.

"You got separated? Did your battle end in defeat?" The sixth company commander asked anxiously, his brow furrowed.

"No! We didn't lose. It's just that we were chasing the enemy too fiercely and infiltrated too deeply. In addition, it was too dark and the terrain was complicated, so we completely lost contact with the company and eventually got lost."

"You came all the way from Qingjiangchuan to here by yourself? The two places are a hundred or two hundred kilometers apart! We are a unit of the 9th Army Corps, how did you end up in our defense zone?" The Sixth Company Commander looked incredulous.

"Report: I captured an enemy jeep and drove it to chase the enemy, but I went further and further off course and completely lost my way. The vehicle ran out of gas halfway there and I had to abandon it and walk."

"Were you alone the whole time?" The instructor stepped forward to confirm again, his eyes full of surprise.

"Yes, it's always been just me."

Upon hearing this, the soldiers around He Yuzhu looked at him with even more respect.

A sixteen or seventeen-year-old soldier, alone, traversing hundreds of kilometers in an area densely populated by enemy troops, and still managing to remain unharmed—this courage and skill is beyond the reach of ordinary people.

In fact, upon hearing He Yuzhu's authentic Beijing accent, seeing his standard Volunteer Army uniform, and hearing his accurate recitation of his unit's detailed number, the soldiers of the Sixth Company had already dispelled all their doubts.

After all, the war had just begun, and the enemy had no idea about our troop numbers or deployments, so it was impossible for them to imitate us so accurately.

Looking at He Yuzhu's thin military uniform and his cheeks red from the cold, the instructor's tone softened considerably as he asked, "Comrade He, you're all alone, you must be lost, right? Do you want to ask for directions, or do you want to seek help?"

"Comrade Instructor, I'm completely lost. There are American and South Korean troops all around me. I can't get back to the main force by myself. I'd like to go with you. Is that alright?" He Yuzhu said earnestly, expressing his thoughts.

Upon hearing this, the sixth company commander immediately shook his head and firmly refused.

"No, we have a special secret mission to carry out next. The troops are not in a convenient position to move around, so we can't take you with us, and you can't participate in our mission either."

He then pointed in the direction and continued, "Go back the way we came. It will take about a day on foot to reach the follow-up troops of our 9th Army Corps. Follow them first, and after this battle is over, try to contact your original unit and have them send you back."

He Yuzhu knew that the Sixth Company Commander was acting out of concern for mission secrecy and his safety, and had no malicious intent.

Seeing this, he quickly compromised and said, "Company Commander, I understand. I'll stay with you tonight and head back the way you said tomorrow morning. Just for one night, is that alright? It's dark in these deep mountains, and there are enemy troops everywhere. It's too dangerous for me to spend the night alone."

The political instructor turned to the sixth company commander and said, "Company commander, this is a small matter. I, as the political instructor, can make the decision, right? It's really too dangerous for the boy to spend the night alone in the mountains. Let him stay with us for one night, as long as it doesn't affect the mission deployment. We'll let him set off first thing tomorrow morning."

The sixth company commander hesitated for a moment, then nodded: "Okay, you can take full responsibility for our living arrangements, as long as it doesn't delay the mission's progress."

"Then thank you very much, Company Commander and Political Instructor!" He Yuzhu was overjoyed and quickly expressed his gratitude.

The instructor smiled and waved his hand, then looked at He Yuzhu and asked gently, "Young comrade, you've worked hard. Come with us for a while longer, then we'll find a place to rest. By the way, I haven't asked you yet, how old are you? What's your name?"

"Reporting to the instructor, my name is He Yuzhu, deputy squad leader of the first squad, first platoon, first company, third battalion, 141st regiment!"

"I didn't expect you to be a deputy squad leader at such a young age. That's impressive. Are you already 20 years old?" The instructor looked him up and down, his face full of surprise.

He Yuzhu straightened his back and replied loudly, "Reporting, I am 16 years old this year!"

As soon as he finished speaking, all the officers and soldiers of the Sixth Company fell silent. All the soldiers turned to look at He Yuzhu, their eyes filled with shock, heartache, and deep respect.

At 16, an age when one should be cared for by one's parents at home, he resolutely went to a foreign land to fight a bloody battle in the freezing cold and amidst gunfire, carrying a gun to defend his country.

In an instant, everyone's hatred for the invaders and their determination to win the war became even stronger.

The instructor snapped out of his daze, suppressed the turmoil in his heart, waved to He Yuzhu, and spoke with a tender and gentle tone.

"Good child, stop talking. Let's hurry on our way. The weather is getting colder and colder. This is not the place to talk. Don't catch a cold outside."

He Yuzhu nodded, quickly joined the group, and walked alongside the soldiers.

The soldiers gathered around, asking questions curiously, one after another.

"Little squad leader, have you ever fought against the bald eagles or South Korean soldiers? Were those invaders easy to defeat?"

"Do South Korean soldiers look exactly like us? Is it impossible to tell them apart?"

"You're only 16 years old, and you've already become the deputy squad leader. Are you exceptionally good at combat? Did you get promoted because you performed meritorious service?"

"Was that gun you're holding captured from the enemy? It looks much better than our standard-issue weapons!"

Faced with a series of questions from the soldiers, He Yuzhu answered them all patiently, speaking objectively and fairly, without exaggeration or belittling, and truthfully describing the enemy's equipment and combat capabilities without including his own special circumstances or extraordinary combat capabilities.

He knew he couldn't mislead his comrades; he had to make them objectively recognize the gap between themselves and the enemy and make full preparations for battle.

As they walked and chatted, before they knew it, the Sixth Company Commander and the Political Instructor walked up to him at the same time.

Seeing this, the soldiers all shut their mouths, stopped asking questions, and continued on their way.

The sixth company commander pulled He Yuzhu and slowly walked to the side of the column, with the political instructor following closely behind. The two looked serious, clearly having important questions to ask.

The sixth company commander spoke first, his tone calm: "Comrade Xiao He, I also want to ask you a few questions, and you must answer them truthfully."

"Company Commander, please ask me anything, I will answer everything I know!"

"What you just told the soldiers about the enemy's equipment and combat capabilities—was it all true? Was there any exaggeration or concealment?"

"Every word is true. It is all based on my personal experience and what I have seen with my own eyes. There is not a single falsehood!" He Yuzhu said firmly, without the slightest hesitation.

The instructor stared into his eyes and slowly said, "Is there something you're hiding from us? Are you not telling the truth?"

He Yuzhu feigned doubt and frowned as he replied, "No, Instructor, I've told you everything I need to say, and I haven't hidden anything."

The company commander said in a deep voice, "You didn't mention yourself. On the battlefield, a deputy squad leader isn't a position any random recruit can hold. You're only 16 years old this year; you're a new recruit, right?"

"Yes, I enlisted this year."

"That makes sense. A new recruit who can become a squad leader, chase enemy troops alone in a car for hundreds of kilometers without being captured, and still emerge unscathed—that's no small feat. Most of the equipment you're carrying is captured enemy equipment, right?"

"Yes, they were all captured from the enemy during the battle."

Seeing this, the instructor quickly tugged at the arm of the sixth company commander and said softly, "Alright, Lao Zhou, this is our own comrade. Why are you interrogating him like a prisoner? You're being too serious."

The sixth company commander was stunned for a moment, then realized what he meant and scratched his head with a smile.

"Sorry, Xiao He, I'm used to leading troops in battle, so I can't help but ask a few more questions when something happens. Don't take it to heart."

"It's alright, Company Commander, I understand. It's just a matter of strictness." He Yuzhu quickly waved his hand, not caring at all.

"Don't mind him, that's just his straightforward personality."

The instructor smiled and smoothed things over, then looked at He Yuzhu and said in a gentle tone.

"Comrade Xiao He, tell us about your combat experience. We'd like to hear it and learn from your frontline combat experience."

He Yuzhu pondered for a moment, organized his thoughts, and began to recount what happened after crossing the river. He did not reveal any information about the unit's secrets or deployments, but only talked about the combat experience of his company, his personal combat situation, and the whole process of chasing the enemy and getting lost. His words were simple and unadorned.

After listening to his story, the sixth company commander and political instructor remained silent for a long time, their eyes filled with emotion and admiration.

After a long while, the sixth company commander patted He Yuzhu heavily on the shoulder, his tone filled with emotion.

"Your whole company is doing a great job! Comrade He, you're especially outstanding. At such a young age, you're brave and resourceful—a true soldier!"

The instructor sighed, his tone heavy: "We only knew this battle would be exceptionally difficult, but we never imagined the fighting on the front lines would be this arduous. The price our soldiers have paid is too high."

He Yuzhu looked at the two men, hesitated for a moment, and was about to ask to join them on the mission when the instructor seemed to read his mind and spoke first.

"Xiao He, I know what you want to say. We really have no reason to keep you here, and this mission is special in nature and highly confidential. You must set off as planned first thing tomorrow morning to find the main force."

He Yuzhu's heart sank, and he could only suppress his thoughts and softly respond.

"Oh, I understand."

The company commander looked at him with admiration in his eyes and couldn't help but say, "Good boy, if you were my soldier, I would promote you to platoon leader right away and train you well!"

Upon hearing this, the instructor couldn't help but laugh and scold, "Stop talking nonsense. The army has its own rules and regulations for promoting officers. Where do you get such great power to make promises to platoon leaders without authorization?"

"I'm just trying to recruit this talented soldier. After this battle, I'll go to the regimental commander to try and get him. If the regimental commander can't do it, I'll go to the division commander. Such a good soldier must be recruited into our company!" The sixth company commander said firmly, his face full of determination.

"Look at you, so capable. Don't get your hopes up. Xiao He is a soldier in the 6th Army, belonging to a different unit. How can you just transfer him like that?"

The instructor shook his head helplessly, then looked at He Yuzhu and said with a smile.

"Zhu Zi, don't take it to heart. That's just how he is. He's eager to recruit talent and speaks without thinking."

"It's alright, Instructor. I understand the company commander's intentions."

He Yuzhu replied with a smile, but he had already made up his mind that no matter what, he would find a way to send supplies to the Sixth Company and save these heroes.

As the group walked and talked, they unknowingly arrived at a sheltered mountain hollow. The sixth company commander immediately ordered them to camp there for the night.

The soldiers immediately dispersed, seeking sheltered and windproof places to rest.

He Yuzhu barely slept that night, and didn't get any rest at all.

It wasn't because of the harsh environment, but because none of the soldiers in the entire Sixth Company had slept well.

Temperatures dropped to tens of degrees below zero. The soldiers' uniforms were too thin to withstand the biting cold. They could only get up from time to time to move their hands and feet, stomping their feet and rubbing their hands to barely keep their bodies from freezing. If they were to slack off even slightly, they could get frostbite or even lose consciousness.

Listening to the suppressed coughs and the faint sounds of shivering soldiers around him, He Yuzhu felt as if his heart was being torn apart, which strengthened his resolve to find supplies and rush to the aid of the Sixth Company.

The next morning, around six o'clock, just as dawn was breaking, He Yuzhu got up on time, took the initiative to find the sixth company commander and political instructor, asked for directions back to the friendly forces area, and prepared to say goodbye and leave.

He could not delay any longer and had to set off immediately to find the enemy's supply points, capture cotton-padded clothes, dry rations, and heating supplies, and deliver them to the soldiers of the Sixth Company in the most reasonable and least suspicious way.

The instructor and the sixth company commander repeatedly tried to persuade him to stay and have breakfast before setting off, but He Yuzhu resolutely refused.

He knew that the Sixth Company was also extremely short of supplies. Breakfast was nothing more than dry fried noodles, which they swallowed with cold snow water. Every bite of food was a life-saving source of warmth for the soldiers to maintain their strength and resist the cold. If he ate one more bite, the soldiers of the Sixth Company would eat one less bite and be in greater danger.

Amidst the instructor's repeated admonitions and the Sixth Company Commander's whispered promise that "you'll definitely be transferred here after the war," the company was filled with unspoken words.

He Yuzhu straightened his back, gave a standard military salute, and then resolutely turned around and embarked on his journey to find supplies on his own.

The snow outside had accumulated to a depth of nearly a foot overnight, making each step extremely difficult.

He Yuzhu trudged through the snow, his steps uneven, and after two hours, he finally made it back to the roadside.

He refused to believe that with the fighting on the front lines so intense, the enemy's large forces and armored convoys wouldn't need logistical support; there must be supply convoys and supply points operating along the highway.

He hid in a concealed snowdrift beside the road, quietly lying in wait.

Throughout the morning, three fully armed bald eagle troops passed by on the road one after another, their formations neat and their equipment excellent.

He Yuzhu lay motionless on the cold snow, fully experiencing what it felt like to lie in wait in extreme cold.

He couldn't stand the cold any longer, so he secretly took out his military overcoat from his spatial storage and put it on. He also ate some dry rations to replenish his energy. Even so, despite his extraordinary physique, his hands and feet were stiff and his whole body was numb from the cold.

One can only imagine the agony that the soldiers of the Sixth Company, dressed in thin uniforms and lying in ambush on Dead Eagle Ridge, had to endure—an extreme torment that ordinary people could not even fathom.

Hard work pays off.

It wasn't until after 5 p.m., when the sun was setting and night was approaching, that a series of loud vehicle engine sounds finally came from the end of the road.

He Yuzhu immediately perked up, took out his binoculars, and looked towards the distance along the highway.

The approaching convoy was quite large, consisting of more than thirty military trucks. He observed carefully through his binoculars and found that half of the trucks were filled with oil drums, clearly indicating that it was a logistics supply convoy.

The force guarding the convoy was about a company, all of them South Korean soldiers. Their equipment was relatively ordinary, and their security was not particularly tight.

To his even greater surprise, the South Korean supply convoy stopped abruptly at this mountain pass and refused to proceed any further.

The soldiers got off the vehicle and began setting up tents, making fires, and cooking in the ravine. They even lit bonfires with empty oil drums and huddled together for warmth, clearly intending to camp there overnight.

All the vehicles drove into the open space in the valley one by one and parked neatly.

During this time, several South Korean soldiers ran to the roadside and erected a wooden sign. It was too dark for He Yuzhu to see the words on it.

But it wasn't long before he understood the purpose of the sign.

Two enemy convoys passed by and stopped here. They neither ate nor rested, but only stopped briefly to refuel their vehicles before hurriedly leaving.

It turns out that this was a temporary fuel supply point set up by the enemy, which explains why they were stationed here.

He Yuzhu was secretly delighted and lay in wait until after 11 p.m., when there were no more vehicles on the road, obviously because they had received an order to allow no vehicles to pass at night.

The South Korean supply troops stationed there all went into their tents to rest, leaving only a few sentries to guard the perimeter of the camp.

The sentries, chilled to the bone by the cold, were completely oblivious to the danger. They huddled around the campfire, huddled together for warmth, and chatted idly from time to time, paying no attention to their surroundings. Their vigilance was utterly nonexistent.

He Yuzhu seized this excellent opportunity and slowly backed away from the ambush point, avoiding leaving footprints.

He half-squatted up, stretched his stiff limbs, quietly took out dry rations and hot water from his spatial storage to quickly replenish his energy, and then, keeping a low profile, stealthily made his way towards the enemy's supply camp like a ghost.

The snow was so thick that it was impossible to make no sound at all, especially when stepping on it; a slight sound was inevitable.

He Yuzhu immediately changed his strategy, crawling forward and inching forward, determined not to use firearms unless absolutely necessary.

Once the guns are fired, it will attract enemy troops from the surrounding area, which will not only ruin all previous efforts but also put oneself in danger.

The campfire in the center of the camp crackled and sparks flew, and the sounds of the sentries talking and the howling north wind mingled together, perfectly masking the faint sounds of He Yuzhu crawling forward.

He moved slowly and silently until he was only about ten meters away from the sentry, and still he was not detected.

He Yuzhu's eyes turned cold as he took out several sharp military daggers from his spatial storage, the same number as the sentries.

He suddenly stood up, his right hand moving rapidly, and one military dagger after another flew accurately toward the sentry.

The movements were as fast as lightning, completed in one smooth motion.

Before the sentries could even react, they clutched their necks and fell to the ground silently. Only one sentry let out a weak groan before he died.

From inside a tent at the campsite came a lazy, impatient voice: "What's going on outside? What's all the noise?"

He Yuzhu immediately pinched his throat and imitated the tone of a South Korean soldier, replying vaguely.

"It's nothing, I just accidentally touched the campfire and got a little burned!"

"Damn it, can't you be a little more careful? Don't disturb our rest!" the person in the tent cursed, then fell silent and fell into a deep sleep.

He Yuzhu didn't dare to delay. He quickly got up and moved around the camp, checking the cargo compartments of each truck one by one.

Inside the carriage, besides large quantities of gasoline and diesel, there were also ammunition boxes, various canned goods, dry rations, and drinking water, but not the cotton-padded clothes and heating supplies he wanted most.

Without hesitation, he put all the supplies into his space as long as they were useful, regardless of their type. The carriage was instantly emptied without leaving a trace.

When He Yuzhu checked the last two trucks, his eyes lit up instantly—the truck beds were neatly stacked with thick military overcoats and individual sleeping bags, exactly the warming supplies that the soldiers of the Sixth Company urgently needed!

He was overjoyed and immediately put the car and its contents into the space. Fortunately, his space was large enough to barely accommodate them all. He could clean it up later when the space became insufficient.

After collecting all the useful supplies, He Yuzhu took out more than a dozen oil drums from his spatial storage, poured out all the gasoline, and evenly poured a ring of gasoline around the remaining empty vehicles and tents to completely eliminate any traces.

After doing all this, he lit the torch in his hand, casually threw it onto the gasoline, then turned and ran, sprinting away into the deep mountains.

"boom!"

Flames shot into the sky instantly and spread rapidly, turning the entire supply camp into a sea of ​​fire in an instant.

The South Korean soldiers, who were fast asleep in their tents, were awakened by the raging fire. They let out piercing screams and scattered in all directions, creating chaos.

Immediately afterwards, the ammunition inside the carriage was detonated by the high temperature, and violent explosions echoed through the night sky, with flames illuminating half the sky.

He Yuzhu turned and lay down, quickly picked up his rifle, aimed at the South Korean soldiers who were trying to break out of the fire, and fired accurately, leaving none alive.

Only when all that remained in the camp—burning figures, blazing vehicles, and collapsed tents—and there were no more survivors, did He Yuzhu get up and quickly disappear into the darkness, completely away from the area.

After safely evacuating, He Yuzhu found a secluded spot deep in the mountains. Under the moonlight, he cut down two sturdy saplings, took out strong ropes from his spatial storage, and tied the trunks and branches together to quickly make a wide and sturdy sled for transporting supplies.

He stored the empty sled in his spatial storage, then determined the direction and sped off in the direction the Sixth Company was heading.

He didn't know how far he was from the Sixth Company; he could only rely on his memory to keep chasing after them.

The snow continued to fall heavily, and the wind was biting cold, but He Yuzhu felt no cold at all; he had only one thought in his mind.

We must catch up with the Sixth Company as soon as possible and deliver the life-saving supplies to the soldiers.

This chase lasted all night.

Fortunately, the footprints left by the Sixth Company could still be barely discerned on the snow. If the footprints had been covered by the heavy snow, he would probably have gotten lost again.

This also shows that the soldiers of the Sixth Company, in order to meet the mission, did not stop for a whole day and night and kept rushing on their way.

As dawn broke, He Yuzhu followed the footprints all the way to a high mountain.

He observed the surrounding terrain, feeling utterly puzzled.

This is clearly a road intersection, with flat terrain that is convenient for marching. What commander would leave the perfectly good road and insist on leading his troops to climb this mountain with an altitude of over 300 meters?

Unless there is no other way out, or it is a top-secret ambush mission that requires covert marching, such a dangerous route would not be chosen.

Without further thought, He Yuzhu immediately took out the sled he had prepared from his spatial storage and loaded all the military overcoat, individual sleeping bag, compressed biscuits, and dried chili peppers he had prepared in advance onto the sled, securing them with ropes.

Then, he dragged the sled down the mountain into the valley, where he simply covered the sled and supplies with thick snow and marked them.

After doing all this, he climbed the opposite mountain alone to find the Sixth Company.

Just as they reached two-thirds of the way up, a stern voice suddenly came from ahead: "Stop! Don't go any further!"

Immediately following was the crisp sound of a rifle being cocked.

Hearing the voice, He Yuzhu felt it sounded familiar. After thinking carefully, he realized it was the platoon leader from the Sixth Company last night. He immediately shouted, "Platoon leader! It's me! He Yuzhu!"

"What? He Yuzhu?" The platoon leader's voice was full of disbelief. He peeked out from his hiding place and was even more surprised when he saw that it was He Yuzhu.

"You little brat, didn't you head back? Why are you back here again? You're incredibly brave, deep in these snowy mountains!"

"Platoon leader, hurry up and send someone to call the company commander or political instructor. I have an urgent matter to attend to!" He Yuzhu said urgently without any further explanation.

The platoon leader, looking puzzled, asked, "What urgent matter could there be? Have we discovered enemy traces? Or has our main force won a battle? But I haven't heard any gunfire!"

"No, stop asking and go get someone!" He Yuzhu looked at the platoon leader who was muttering to himself, feeling helpless.

"Then tell me, what exactly is going on? I can't just go to the company commander without explaining clearly; they're deploying missions!"

"It's a fantastic thing! It's a great thing that can save all the brothers in the company! Go quickly!" He Yuzhu said firmly, word by word.

The platoon leader was about to ask another question when the voice of the sixth company commander came from afar.

"No need to look anymore, we're here!"

He Yuzhu looked up and saw the sixth company commander and political instructor walking quickly side by side, their faces full of surprise and confusion.

The instructor looked at He Yuzhu, his tone somewhat reproachful.

"Zhu Zi, why are you so disobedient? Didn't we tell you to go back and find the main force? We have a mission to carry out immediately, and your coming here will only delay things!"

In fact, the two were extremely shocked.

When they parted yesterday, they clearly saw He Yuzhu leave in the opposite direction.

After a night of heavy snow and treacherous road conditions, it was incredible that a sixteen-year-old could accurately locate them and catch up with them.

He Yuzhu didn't argue, his tone serious and firm: "I'm not here to follow you on a mission. I'm just delivering something to you, and I'll leave immediately after I've delivered it!"

"Give us something?" The sixth company commander couldn't help but laugh, his face full of disdain. "You yourself have become separated from the unit and have nothing of value. What could you possibly have to give us? Stop fooling around and get out of here!"

The instructor frowned and asked suspiciously, "Did you encounter other friendly units on the way and receive supplies?"

"No, I haven't met anyone. Come down the mountain with me, and you'll see!"

He Yuzhu shook his head and turned to walk down the mountain.

Seeing his mysterious demeanor, the sixth company commander immediately gave the order.

"Platoon leader, take your squad and go down the mountain with Comrade Xiao He. Go quickly and come back quickly, don't delay the mission!"

"Yes, sir!" The platoon leader immediately responded and assembled the squad of soldiers.

The instructor also spoke up, "I'll go and see what surprise Xiao He has brought us."

The sixth company commander nodded.

"Alright, there are still three days and nights before the mission begins. There's enough time. Be careful and return as soon as possible."

He Yuzhu led the group and walked quickly down the mountain.

On the way, the instructor could no longer suppress his doubts and asked He Yuzhu again how they had found them when the mountains were blocked by heavy snow and there was no trace of them.

Unable to reveal the secret of the space, He Yuzhu could only make up a reason, saying that when he was a child, he met an old hunter in his hometown and learned from him how to identify the terrain and track footprints. It was with this experience that he was able to catch up with the hunter.

Although the instructor still had doubts, the war was urgent, so he didn't ask any more questions and just assumed that the child was naturally good at wilderness survival.

The group quickly arrived at the mountain pass. When they saw the sled half-buried in snow, and the sled full of thick military coats, sleeping bags, and dry rations, the soldiers of the first platoon were stunned and stood there, their faces full of shock.

The usually talkative platoon leader was so moved that his eyes reddened. He quickly stepped forward and gave He Yuzhu a big hug, then pounded his chest, choking back tears.

"Class one, spread out and be on alert!"

Unexpectedly, the instructor's first reaction upon seeing the supplies was not joy, but rather an immediate order to go on alert, his expression serious and his tone grave.

"Instructor?" The platoon leader looked puzzled, not understanding why the instructor was reacting this way.

"Platoon leader, don't speak yet." The instructor raised his hand to stop him, then turned to look at He Yuzhu, his eyes serious and his tone solemn as he asked.

"Comrade He Yuzhu, I must find out exactly where these supplies came from. You must answer truthfully!"

As the company political instructor, he had to maintain absolute caution.

In this foreign battlefield, supplies are extremely scarce. A lost soldier suddenly produced so many scarce cotton clothes and dry rations. The source of these supplies is unknown. If the reason cannot be explained, not only will the supplies not be accepted, but He Yuzhu himself will also be immediately detained and investigated.

He Yuzhu understood his concerns, but remained calm and replied in a steady tone, "Instructor, I secretly seized these things from a temporary supply point of the enemy last night."

"An enemy supply depot? It's heavily guarded there. How could you, all by yourself, easily obtain so many supplies and deliver them here unharmed?" The instructor clearly didn't believe him and continued to press for answers.

He Yuzhu had already prepared his explanation and immediately recounted in detail the process of raiding the supply point the previous night.

He deliberately concealed the truth that he had annihilated the enemy and cleared the entire supply point, only saying that he had been lying in wait for a long time, and took advantage of the sentry's inattention to quietly eliminate him. He then used a large tent cloth to secretly drag away the supplies without alerting the enemy in the camp, and thus managed to escape successfully.

As for the strength to climb sleds and drag supplies, no one present could question it.

After all, the fact remains that He Yuzhu, all alone, dragged a sled loaded with supplies, over the snow-capped mountains to get here.

Moreover, the Sixth Company also sent out scouts along the way, and found no trace of enemy pursuit or combat, which is enough to prove that he was telling the truth.

After listening to He Yuzhu's account, the instructor's tense expression instantly relaxed, and his doubts completely dissipated.

He slowly raised his hand and gave He Yuzhu a very solemn military salute.

Upon seeing this, He Yuzhu immediately straightened his back and returned a standard military salute.

The instructor quickly stepped forward, reached out his hands, and tightly grasped He Yuzhu's hands. His voice trembled slightly, filled with gratitude and emotion.

"Comrade He Yuzhu, on behalf of all the officers and soldiers of the Sixth Company, thank you! You brought us life-saving supplies, helped us immensely, and saved the lives of all the brothers in the company!"

"Instructor, I just happened to stumble upon an enemy supply point. It's nothing," He Yuzhu said somewhat embarrassedly.

"Silly child, finding a supply point was just a coincidence, but you risked your life to secretly deliver these supplies to us on this snowy mountain. That was definitely not a coincidence!" The instructor's eyes were firm, and his tone was heavy.

"We, the entire Sixth Company, will forever remember this kindness!"

He knew better than anyone the company's current predicament. There were still three full days and nights before they reached Dead Eagle Ridge to carry out the ambush mission. In such extreme cold, the soldiers were wearing thin uniforms, and even if they kept moving, they were at risk of frostbite at any time. They would have to lie in ambush in the snow for several days.

This batch of cotton-padded clothes, sleeping bags, and dry rations are truly life-saving supplies, giving the soldiers a greater chance of survival and maximizing the chances of saving these heroes' lives!

"Platoon leader, assemble your squad, salute!" the instructor ordered in a deep voice.

The platoon leader immediately came to his senses, quickly assembled the soldiers of his squad, and had them all stand at attention, giving He Yuzhu a solemn and dignified military salute.

He Yuzhu straightened his back and solemnly returned the greeting, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

The instructor turned around and warmly invited He Yuzhu:

"Come on, Pillar, come back to camp with us. Let all the brothers in the company get to know you, their savior!"

He Yuzhu shook his head and firmly refused: "No, instructor, I won't go up, so as not to affect your deployment and execution of the mission."

He knew that the Sixth Company's mission was highly confidential, and it was not advisable for him to get too involved. Delivering the supplies would be the best outcome.

After saying that, He Yuzhu no longer hesitated, waved to everyone, turned around and walked towards the distant mountains, his steps firm and his back resolute.