Chapter 126 Changjin Lake: He Yuzhu Rushes to the Rescue of the 7th Company

The biting wind scraped across my face like a knife, carrying fine snowflakes that stung my skin. The surrounding air was frozen stiff, and even my breath tasted of ice.

The soldiers of the Seventh Company, wrapped in thin cotton-padded clothes, huddled in the snow-covered mountain valley. Their faces were full of exhaustion and dishevelment. Their uniforms were soaked with snow water and frozen stiff, making them particularly uncomfortable against their skin.

He Yuzhu stood in the middle of the crowd, patted the snow off his clothes, pointed to the vehicle-mounted heavy machine gun with some traces still remaining not far away, and said in a calm tone: "Heavy machine gun, you should have seen it before, but it's bigger than the one used by infantry, it's a four-barreled, vehicle-mounted version."

Upon hearing this, several soldiers from the Seventh Company around him widened their eyes instantly, their faces filled with shock. They couldn't help but gasp, their breath dissipating in the cold wind.

"Wow, four tubes?" A young soldier couldn't help but exclaim, his eyes filled with disbelief, and he subconsciously smacked his lips.

"If you used that to hit someone, wow, the power would be unimaginable!" He then turned to He Yuzhu, looked him up and down, and asked with a puzzled look, "You can drive? You're not an artilleryman, are you?"

He Yuzhu tugged at the corners of his mouth, revealing a faint smile, his tone firm and composed:

"Yes, driving is nothing special. As for fighting, I've never tried it. I'm just an ordinary infantryman like you guys."

"infantry?"

Another veteran frowned, leaned closer with a suspicious look on his face, and asked in bewilderment.

"Your army's battlefield is a full 200 kilometers away from here. How did you, an infantryman, end up on our side? This is outrageous!"

"I'm lost." He Yuzhu touched the tip of his nose, his tone still calm, without the slightest panic.

"Getting lost and still being able to run 200 kilometers?"

The veteran raised his voice, his face showing even more suspicion, clearly not believing the explanation at all.

"Who are you kidding! Two hundred kilometers is difficult even if you're deliberately trying to travel that distance, let alone getting lost on a battlefield full of enemy troops and with such complicated road conditions. Who would believe that!"

Seeing this, He Yuzhu knew that these people would not give up unless he explained things clearly, so he patiently recounted how he got lost.

He said he was originally on a mission with his company when they were ambushed by enemy forces. In the chaos, he got separated from the main force and headed towards the military headquarters based on his memory.

However, the mountains and snow-capped peaks of Changjin Lake were intricate and complex, and with the enemy blocking the area from all sides and no road signs, people wandered around and completely lost their way. They stumbled along the way and unknowingly traveled more than 200 miles.

Then, he changed the subject, mentioning his encounter with the Sixth Company along the way, and briefly recounted his solo raid on the enemy supply depot, speaking casually as if it were just a trivial matter:

"Otherwise, where do you think I got all these captured items from?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the scene fell silent. The soldiers of the Seventh Company were all dumbfounded and completely mesmerized.

Their Seventh Company has always been known for its ability to fight tough battles and its willingness to fight fiercely. They are famous for their fighting prowess throughout the entire team. However, compared to the young deputy squad leader in front of them, they suddenly felt that their previous achievements, which they were so proud of, were not worth mentioning at all, and they even felt a sense of embarrassment at their inferiority.

Even Wu Qianli, the usually calm and battle-hardened company commander, was overwhelmed with emotion. His eyes were filled with undisguised admiration and appreciation for He Yuzhu's talent.

At this moment, he had the exact same thought as the Sixth Company Commander when he met He Yuzhu before—he couldn't wait to keep this kid in the Seventh Company. Old Man Lei had just sacrificed his life, and the company was in dire need of an experienced and skilled gunner. He Yuzhu's appearance was like sending charcoal in snowy weather.

After a moment's hesitation, Wu Qianli finally couldn't suppress his thoughts any longer. He took a step forward, looked earnestly at He Yuzhu, and cautiously asked, "Um, Deputy Squad Leader He, are you in a hurry to get back to your original unit?"

He Yuzhu raised his eyes, a hint of doubt flashing in them. Looking at Wu Qianli's slightly hesitant expression, he asked in bewilderment:

"What's wrong, Company Commander Wu? Just say it."

"this……"

Wu Qianli, who was usually decisive and efficient, was unusually reserved at this moment. He subconsciously rubbed his hands together, unsure of how to begin.

"Old Wu, this isn't like you at all."

The instructor, Mei Sheng, who was standing nearby, couldn't help but tease him softly, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"You're usually so decisive, why are you acting all coy now?"

After being teased by Mei Sheng, Wu Qianli stopped hesitating and simply stated his thoughts directly:

"Then I'll be frank. You can't go back now, even if you wanted to. The entire area is under war, and there are blockades everywhere. Even if you manage to get to the military headquarters, you can only stay there temporarily and can't return to your unit immediately. Our Seventh Company is currently carrying out a top-secret mission, and the company happens to be short of an artillery squad leader. I'm telling you in advance, this mission is extremely dangerous, with a very low chance of survival. So... would you be willing to stay and help us out?"

He Yuzhu looked around at the sparse, wounded soldiers remaining in the Seventh Company, his brow furrowing slightly. He asked in a deep voice, "Is this all of you? Are you going to carry out this mission with just these few men?"

"Yes." Wu Qianli nodded heavily, a hint of bitterness and helplessness flashing across his face, his voice lowering slightly.

"We had already carried out a bridge-bombing mission once, but we didn't have enough explosives. The damage wasn't enough to break the bridge, and the enemy was able to rebuild it in a very short time. The mission was a failure."

Upon hearing this, He Yuzhu immediately asked, "Does your company still have artillery? How much ammunition do you have left?"

"We only have three shells left from this 60mm mortar."

Wu Qianli's voice was full of embarrassment, and his face was full of helplessness. With this little equipment, it was simply no match for the enemy's powerful firepower.

"What about the explosives? Is there any left?"

"We've used them all up! Not a single one left!"

Wu Qianli shook his head, his tone filled with despair. Without explosives, blowing up the bridge again was simply a pipe dream.

Looking at the despair on everyone's faces, He Yuzhu remained silent for a few seconds before suddenly speaking. His tone was steady and powerful, carrying a convincing strength:

"Are you still able to move around? I hid a batch of weapons and ammunition, as well as cotton-padded clothes, dry food, and a lot of explosives around here."

"real?!"

Wu Qianli's eyes widened instantly, and the despair on his face vanished, replaced by extreme surprise and excitement.

He stepped forward, grabbed He Yuzhu's hand tightly, so hard he almost crushed it, and his voice trembled as he asked, "How much? How much explosives are there?"

"It's more than enough to equip our small group," He Yuzhu said calmly with a smile, feeling the pressure on his hands.

"As for the explosives, I didn't have time to count them carefully at the time, but I estimate that there were definitely at least ten kilograms."

As he spoke, He Yuzhu's gaze swept over the remaining soldiers of the Seventh Company. He roughly counted them and found that there were not even enough soldiers to form a complete platoon. He couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness and subconsciously thought of his own company.

I wonder how many men are left in my company after that fierce battle. They should be taken to the rear to rest and recuperate after that battle.

During this time, he was getting closer and closer to the battlefield, and he had already made plans in his mind.

When he encountered the Sixth Company before, he took a long detour to deliver the captured supplies, which took him two days and two nights to get back on the correct route. He wasted a lot of time and suffered a lot.

So this time, he was smarter and hid a batch of equipment and supplies in several secluded mountain gullies nearby beforehand, with just the right amount in each location, enough for a platoon of soldiers.

This is to be on the safe side, so that if a team urgently needs supplies, they can use them at any time without having to go through the hassle of going back and forth like before.

"Where? Take us there quickly!"

Wu Qianli was so excited that he could no longer maintain his composure as company commander. He grabbed He Yuzhu and tried to move forward, eager to see the life-saving supplies.

He Yuzhu stopped him, raising an eyebrow, and asked, "Aren't you going to wait for your firepower platoon leader? Aren't you going to wait for everyone to arrive before you move out?"

"The instructor led the wounded to hide on the spot, and Yu Congrong had already gone out to provide backup. As soon as he returned, he immediately joined us and set off."

Wu Qianli said quickly, his tone full of urgency.

Looking at the numerous wounds, large and small, on the soldiers' bodies, some of which were already festering and inflamed, and their pale faces, He Yuzhu said, "How about we find a safe campsite first? I'll treat everyone's wounds. By the way, does your company still have first-aid kits?"

"No! Not a single piece of gauze, not a single medicine!" Upon hearing this, Wu Qianli's face instantly turned anxious again, and he quickly looked at He Yuzhu, his tone urgent.

"You know battlefield first aid? Could you check the instructor's eyes first? His eye injury is severe; if we delay any longer, things could get really bad!"

Upon hearing this, the other soldiers of the Seventh Company all looked at He Yuzhu, their eyes filled with shock and anticipation.

Everyone in their company is injured. Some have only minor abrasions, while others are in so much pain that they can't move. But the company has been cut off from medical supplies for a long time, so they can only endure it and suffer every minute and every second.

"I can't handle the severe eye injury and can't cure it completely, but I can give the instructor an injection of anti-inflammatory medicine to control the inflammation and alleviate the injury."

He Yuzhu looked at Mei Sheng's swollen and bloodshot eyes and said in a deep voice.

"You have anti-inflammatory medication?!"

Wu Qianli seemed to have grasped at the last straw, grabbing He Yuzhu's arm tightly with almost uncontrollable force, his eyes filled with disbelief.

"There are places where supplies are hidden." He Yuzhu nodded calmly, giving him an affirmative answer.

"Let's go! You lead the way! Forget everything else, let's get the medicine first! Treat the wounded!"

Without the slightest hesitation, Wu Qianli immediately gave the order, his tone filled with an unquestionable urgency.

He Yuzhu's gaze swept over the weapons in the soldiers' hands, and he immediately recognized them as the US military's standard M1 rifles. He then gave instructions:

"Ten people will be enough this time. I see you all have M1s, so we can take some matching ammunition and a few mortar shells. If you have the strength, you can carry some other things as well."

"Send fifteen men! Bring back as much supplies as you can. I'll stay here with the rest of you, so don't worry about things here!"

Despite the excruciating pain in his eyes, Mei Sheng immediately made the decision, his eyes resolute. He knew all too well that these supplies meant a new beginning for the Seventh Company.

"Okay, but we must leave this area as soon as possible."

He Yuzhu's expression turned slightly solemn. He recalled the incendiary bombs dropped by enemy planes earlier, the overwhelming flames and the power to scorch everything, which still made him feel lingering fear.

"I'm afraid the enemy planes will turn back and drop incendiary bombs again. This area is too conspicuous and not safe."

Wu Qianli and Mei Sheng exchanged a glance and quickly devised a secluded rendezvous point. The team then split into two groups, with Wu Qianli leading fifteen soldiers to follow He Yuzhu to retrieve supplies.

The other team, led by Mei Sheng, hid on the spot and waited to regroup. Both teams kept their bodies low and, using the snow and forest as cover, quickly split up and moved without making a sound.

They made their way carefully and stealthily, and soon arrived at the nearest mountain hollow where He Yuzhu had mentioned hiding supplies.

Upon arrival, they discovered that the terrain was rugged and the snow was deep, making it impossible for vehicles to pass. Wu Qianli frowned, looked at He Yuzhu, and asked with great doubt, "Vehicles can't even get into this place, how did you manage to bring so many supplies here?"

He Yuzhu didn't say anything, but bent down and squatted down, reaching out to dig away the thick snow on the ground.

Soon, a simple yet sturdy sled appeared, with packed supply boxes securely strapped to it, completely covered by snow and almost invisible unless you looked closely.

"This...this sled, you dragged it all here by yourself?" Wu Qianli looked at the sled in front of him, then at the rugged mountain road around him, his face full of shock, unable to believe his eyes at all.

There are more than thirty rifles on it, plus piles of bullets, shells, explosives, cotton clothes and dry food. You can imagine the weight. How could one person possibly move it?

"They were brought over in several trips, taking advantage of the darkness at night when the enemy's defenses were lax."

He Yuzhu spoke in a calm tone, as if he were talking about something trivial, not a physically demanding task.

"You are the one!" Wu Qianli gave He Yuzhu a thumbs up, his eyes full of sincere admiration, without a trace of doubt. He immediately turned to the soldiers behind him and shouted.

"Hurry, hurry up and load them onto the sleds! If there's not enough room, make another sled right here! What a great idea! Why didn't I think of that!"

"yes!"

The soldiers were all incredibly excited, their faces beaming with long-lost joy. They nimbly loaded supplies onto the sleds, no longer worrying about running out of bullets, shells, or supplies. Their confidence instantly soared a hundredfold.

In fact, He Yuzhu made far more than just this one sled. It's just that this place is too close to the main battlefield, and the situation changes rapidly. That's why he deliberately hid a sled here, so that it could be easily retrieved and transported quickly to deal with emergencies.

Wu Qianli rummaged through the pile of supplies and found two large first-aid kits. He hugged them tightly to his chest as if they were precious treasures, and immediately slung them over his shoulder, afraid of losing even a little bit of them.

These first-aid kits are the hope for saving the lives of the wounded soldiers of the Seventh Company; they are more precious than anything else.

The soldiers were full of energy and didn't need a second sled. They carried some of their guns and bullets on their backs. They had had enough of the feeling of running out of ammunition and food and having to fight the enemy with empty guns. The more ammunition they could carry, the more secure they felt.

With a sled full of supplies, the group quickly returned to the rendezvous point.

As soon as they arrived, Yu Congrong rushed over, striding up to He Yuzhu. He gripped He Yuzhu's hand tightly with his rough, thick hands, his eyes filled with gratitude and emotion.

"Comrade He Yuzhu, is that you?!" Yu Congrong's voice choked with emotion, his tone filled with barely concealed excitement.

"Thank you, thank you so much! You not only saved me, you saved our entire Seventh Company!"

As soon as Yu Congrong said this, the other soldiers of the Seventh Company immediately lowered their heads, their faces showing embarrassment and guilt.

Just now, because they were in such a hurry to get supplies and treat their injuries, they were all immersed in surprise and eagerness that they forgot to say thank you to He Yuzhu, which was really wrong of them.

Seeing this, Wu Qianli's expression turned serious. He immediately straightened his back and said in a deep voice, "Stand up!"

Upon hearing the order, all the soldiers, regardless of whether they were injured or not, endured the pain and quickly stood up, each with an upright posture and a solemn expression.

"salute!"

At Wu Qianli's command, all the soldiers, including Yu Congrong, put down what they were holding, raised their right hands, and solemnly saluted He Yuzhu.

This military salute, filled with the gratitude, admiration, and respect of everyone in the Seventh Company, carries immense weight.

Seeing this, He Yuzhu dared not be negligent. He immediately straightened his posture, solemnly returned a military salute, and then spoke, his tone sincere:

"You're too kind, everyone. I just did what I was supposed to do. On this battlefield, we are all comrades-in-arms, and helping each other is only natural."

"There are many things we should do, but you are the only one who is truly willing to risk everything to save our entire Seventh Company."

Wu Qianli lowered his hand, a sincere smile appearing on his face, his tone firm.

"We, the entire Seventh Company, will never forget this great kindness. It would be inexcusable if we didn't express our gratitude properly."

"Everyone should take cover as soon as possible," He Yuzhu quickly waved his hand, reminding them.

"Enemy planes are very likely to come to this area to conduct reconnaissance again. We just encountered an enemy reconnaissance plane on our way back. We barely managed to hide and return safely. We can't let our guard down."

Everyone then came to their senses, recalling the dangerous situation they had just faced, and nodded in agreement. It seemed that the enemy had suffered heavy losses in the valley after He Yuzhu shot down seven aircraft in one go, and could not send out more fighter jets at the moment. Therefore, they only sent reconnaissance planes to investigate the situation in the valley where He Yuzhu had shot down the planes, and had not paid attention to this area for the time being.

"Yes, yes, scatter quickly! Everyone stay hidden, don't expose your position!"

Wu Qianli immediately gave the order, then turned to look at He Yuzhu, his tone urgent.

"Xiao He, is it convenient for you to treat the wounded now? The wounded are in a lot of pain, and we really can't wait any longer."

"It's convenient. We can start now. Let's begin with the seriously wounded." He Yuzhu nodded without hesitation, without the slightest refusal.

"Let's start with the instructor! His eyes are the most seriously injured, we can't afford to waste a moment!" Wu Qianli said quickly.

"I'll be the last one. My injury isn't that serious. Let the other seriously wounded be treated first."

Mei Sheng quickly tried to stop him, wanting to leave the medicine for the more seriously injured soldiers, and that he could hold on for as long as he could.

"You're almost blind, aren't you? Still trying to hold on?" He Yuzhu suddenly looked up and stared straight at Mei Sheng, his tone filled with certainty.

Upon hearing this, Mei Sheng's expression changed slightly, and he subconsciously retorted:

"How can you say that? I can see it, and I can also..."

He suddenly realized he couldn't hide it from anyone; the blurry vision and excruciating pain in his eyes were undeniable. He quickly changed his story and stopped trying to be brave.

"I'll give you an anti-inflammatory injection first. I can't treat your other injuries. After the injection, you should rest well, which might help."

Looking at his stubborn expression, He Yuzhu said in a deep voice, then looked at Wu Qianli and asked.

"By the way, Company Commander Wu, our operation isn't scheduled for daytime, is it? Daytime operations would make us too conspicuous and easy for the enemy to spot."

"No, we'll do it after dark, under the cover of night," Wu Qianli quickly replied.

"That's good. Instructor Mei, it'll be the fastest way to give you the injection. You can be the first one here. Don't make excuses anymore." He Yuzhu's tone was firm, leaving no room for Mei Sheng to refuse.

"I won't use it, let's not waste the medicine." Mei Sheng still had concerns. He was afraid that there wouldn't be enough medicine for the other wounded, so he gritted his teeth and refused.

"Company Commander Wu, show the first aid kit to the political instructor," He Yuzhu said to Wu Qianli when he saw the situation.

In fact, Wu Qianli had been reluctant to open the first aid kit after receiving it, and he didn't know what was inside. Upon hearing He Yuzhu's words, he quickly took off the two first aid kits he was carrying and carefully opened them.

When the contents of the first-aid kit were fully revealed, Mei Sheng fell completely silent.

These are no ordinary first aid kits; they are clearly two large, fully equipped first aid boxes, filled to the brim with syringes, gauze, medical alcohol, disinfection equipment, various anti-inflammatory drugs, and more. They are complete in variety and quantity. Even if everyone in the Seventh Company were injured, these medicines would be more than enough, let alone the wounded soldiers in the Seventh Company.

Looking at the ample supply of medicine before him, Mei Sheng remained silent for a moment, knowing he could no longer refuse, as his eye injury was already affecting his command of the battle.

He couldn't let his stubbornness jeopardize the entire company's mission, so he gritted his teeth and said in a deep voice, "Then let's fight!"

Previously, the company had no medicine, and his wounds didn't even have a clean gauze. He could only let the wounds become inflamed and fester, let alone use anti-inflammatory drugs. Now that there was an opportunity for treatment, he had to seize it.

He Yuzhu said no more, quickly took out a syringe, took out medical alcohol to disinfect it, and his movements were skilled and efficient. He completed the disinfection, drawing of medicine and injection in just a few seconds, all in one go.

After the injection, he turned to look at Wu Wanli, who had been following him closely, and casually instructed, "Help your instructor to the side to rest."

Wu Wanli obediently followed along the whole way, watching He Yuzhu operate skillfully with admiration. Upon hearing the instructions, he did not complain at all, but walked forward obediently and carefully helped Mei Sheng to the secluded rest area next to him.

After settling Mei Sheng in, He Yuzhu immediately devoted himself to treating the wounded, without stopping for a moment.

Back when he was in his own company, he had treated all sorts of wounds for the soldiers of the first company. He had long since become extremely skilled at it, and he did everything in an orderly manner, from bandaging and disinfecting to applying medicine.

Wu Qianli and Yu Congrong led some soldiers out to scout the surrounding enemy situation, leaving Wu Wanli behind like a little guard, always following He Yuzhu, helping to pass things and doing odd jobs, quiet and exceptionally obedient.

After an unknown amount of time, He Yuzhu finally finished treating the last wounded soldier. He straightened his aching back, turned to look at Wu Wanli who had been watching over him, and asked gently, "Are you injured? Does anything hurt?"

"It's nothing, just minor scratches, nothing serious."

Wu Wanli quickly shook his head, patted his arms and legs, and said in a relaxed manner that he did not want to worry everyone or waste medicine.

"Then apply some medicine to disinfect it and prevent the wound from getting infected," He Yuzhu insisted, looking at the abrasions on his body where blood was faintly seeping out.

"No need, don't waste it, save it for the wounded who need it more."

Wu Wanli shook his head vigorously, his attitude was very firm, and he refused to apply the medicine no matter what.

Seeing his determination, He Yuzhu stopped insisting and simply placed the ointment beside him before turning around to pack up the medical equipment.

It was nearly noon, and although the sun was high in the sky, there was no warmth to be found, and the wind was still biting cold.

He Yuzhu had been busy all morning and was so tired that his whole body ached. He found a sheltered corner and rested for a while before waiting for the company to start serving lunch.

Not long after, Wu Qianli and Yu Congrong returned with the reconnaissance soldiers, and the Seventh Company began preparing lunch.

This lunch was arguably the best meal the Seventh Company had eaten in recent times.

He Yuzhu took out the captured compressed biscuits and canned beef and distributed them to each soldier.

The soldiers held the hot cans of food and ate the sweet compressed biscuits, their faces beaming with happiness. They said with a smile that this was just like celebrating the New Year.

Looking at the soldiers' satisfied smiles, He Yuzhu felt a pang of pain in his heart, his eyes darkened, and he was filled with mixed emotions.

He knew better than anyone that this sumptuous lunch was also a death sentence. The battle at Shuimen Bridge that night would be extremely dangerous, and he didn't know how many of these brave soldiers would come back alive.

After lunch, everyone rested briefly before the Seventh Company immediately convened a combat meeting.

Wu Qianli gathered all the key personnel together and drew a battle map on the snow. They assigned attack teams and clarified the specific combat tasks for each person and each team that night. Every deployment was meticulous.

At the beginning of the meeting, Wu Qianli first explained the situation of Yu Congrong's communication with his superiors. He said with a solemn expression, "The superiors have received our request for assistance and said they would send reinforcements, but the specific number of reinforcements and their arrival time are all uncertain. The situation on the front line is currently tense, with both sides locked in a stalemate. The superiors are also under great pressure and have only said that they will come to support us as quickly as possible."

Upon hearing this, everyone nodded silently without uttering a single complaint.

Such situations were commonplace for the Seventh Company. As an infiltration company, they often ventured deep behind enemy lines, covering extremely long distances, making it difficult for follow-up troops to catch up in time. Fighting alone had become their daily routine, and they had to rely on themselves in every tough battle.

Immediately afterwards, Wu Qianli picked up a twig and drew a detailed sketch of the Water Gate Bridge on the snow, accurately marking key information such as the enemy's firing points, engine room, bunker locations, and troop deployments. After marking them, he began to explain the night's battle plan in detail.

Mei Sheng had previously proposed that he would carry explosives, climb to the top of the mountain, drive the abandoned vehicle, and launch a suicide attack on the Watergate Bridge, perishing together with the bridge.

The proposal was immediately rejected by He Yuzhu as soon as it was put forward.

He Yuzhu's tone was firm and unequivocal: "This plan is completely useless; it's just a waste of time and energy!"

Upon hearing this, Mei Sheng frowned, looked at He Yuzhu, and asked with a puzzled expression, "Why didn't it work? We don't have enough heavy firepower right now; this is the most direct solution!"

"It's very simple. We now have ample supplies of weapons, ammunition, and explosives. We have no shortage of guns and cannons. There is absolutely no need to resort to such an extreme method."

He Yuzhu looked at him, his tone calm.

"Your eye is seriously injured. Even if you can't fight on the front lines, you can still help us load bullets and deliver shells from the rear, providing logistical support. Why make such a pointless sacrifice and lose your life in vain?"

Logically speaking, He Yuzhu was just an outsider and a deputy squad leader, not even in a high rank, so he had no right to speak at the Seventh Company's operational meeting.

Strangely, not a single person present, including Wu Qianli and Yu Congrong, objected. They all turned their gazes toward Wu Qianli, waiting for him to make the final decision.

Clearly, after all that had happened, He Yuzhu's skills had completely won over everyone in the Seventh Company, and his words now carried weight.

After a moment's thought, Wu Qianli immediately made a decision, saying with a firm look in his eyes, "Comrade Xiao He is right! Now that we have equipment and supplies, and the confidence to fight the enemy head-on, we really can't fight like we did before, risking our lives. That's settled then. The political instructor will stay in the rear, following Xiao He, and will be responsible for the logistical support of the artillery platoon."

"Old Wu, I'm the political instructor, the political instructor of the Seventh Company. On the battlefield, I can't hide in the back! I must charge forward with the soldiers!"

Mei Sheng's face darkened, and he retorted firmly, his eyes filled with stubbornness. He would never allow himself to live a life of humiliation in the rear while his soldiers fought desperately on the front lines.

"Your current task is artillery, not political instructor! Stay in the rear!"

Wu Qianli also lost his temper, his voice suddenly rose, his attitude became tough, and he refused to back down in the slightest.

"He can't command me. I'm the political instructor of the Seventh Company! I have the right to stay on the front lines!" Mei Sheng refused to back down, her stubbornness completely erupting.

"I will be in command during wartime. We agreed on this beforehand. On the battlefield, I'm the one who calls the shots!" Wu Qianli looked at him, his tone leaving no room for argument.

"The situation is different now. One more person means one more fighting force and one more chance of completing the mission!" Mei Sheng still refused to compromise.

The two argued back and forth, and Wu Qianli was speechless for a moment. He simply stopped arguing with Mei Sheng and turned his attention to He Yuzhu, handing over the decision to him.

He Yuzhu understood Wu Qianli's look and immediately offered a compromise:

"No problem. After the mortar shells are used up, I'll charge forward, and he'll follow me. He won't fall behind."

Upon hearing this, Wu Qianli nodded in satisfaction, looked at Mei Sheng, and said in a deep voice, "Then it's settled. The instructor will be in your care, and Wanli will also be in your care. Keep an eye on him for me."

He Yuzhu nodded slightly, agreeing to the matter. After that, everyone stopped arguing and devoted themselves to the battle plan, carefully studying how to sneak onto the bridge, how to accurately destroy the enemy's firing points, how to coordinate well, and how to successfully place the explosives. Every detail was repeatedly considered.

Because of He Yuzhu's sudden appearance, which brought ample supplies and weapons, the Seventh Company avoided being annihilated by enemy bombing and strafing, and retained relatively sufficient combat power, in addition to the comprehensive replenishment of explosives and ammunition.

Wu Qianli's operational plan for this mission completely abandoned the previous suicide attack scheme and instead devised a more reliable and viable operational plan.

He Yuzhu didn't say anything more, but just sat to the side, listening attentively to each deployment and silently memorizing it.

He knew very well that the role of mortars in the battle of Shuimen Bridge that night was actually very limited. At most, they could be responsible for initial fire suppression during the attack and for fire cover during the retreat.

During an attack, he could be in charge of the initial artillery barrage, but in a real battle, the battlefield was chaotic and there was no proper communication. It was impossible to wait for artillery support from the front lines at any time. In addition, the terrain around the Watergate Bridge was complex, so artillery support might not be as effective as desired.

Perhaps, before he even runs out of shells, he'll have to throw down the mortar, pick up his rifle, and rush to the front lines to fight the enemy hand-to-hand.

Mei Sheng sat to the side, his face always looking terrible. Coupled with the injuries to his eyes and face, his complexion was frighteningly pale, almost bloodless, and he looked extremely haggard.

After the operational meeting, Wu Qianli ordered everyone to go their separate ways to prepare for battle, check weapons, count ammunition, break in equipment, and conserve their energy for the night.

He Yuzhu then went to the mortar and began to carefully handle the 60mm mortar, wiping the barrel, checking the gun body, and adjusting the sights with skillful and professional movements.

He was accompanied by two ammunition handlers, one was Wu Wanli, and the other was Mei Sheng.

Wu Wanli had previously mentioned that he used to be Old Man Lei's personal ammunition handler and was very familiar with the ammunition handling and loading process.

He Yuzhu didn't ask any more questions about Old Man Lei. He could guess that Old Man Lei had most likely sacrificed himself. This was a sad thing for everyone in the Seventh Company, and there was no need to bring it up again, as it would only add to the sadness.

In truth, Wu Wanli wanted to go to the front lines with his brother Wu Qianli. He felt that he was strong and could throw grenades quickly and accurately, which would be of great help.

But as soon as he voiced his idea, He Yuzhu picked up a stone and threw it forward with great force. The stone flew dozens of meters away and hit a tree trunk in the distance with great accuracy.

Seeing this, Wu Wanli immediately deflated and never mentioned going to the front lines again.

He could throw things less than half the distance He Yuzhu could throw, and he wasn't as accurate. Compared to He Yuzhu, the gap was too big, so he could only obediently stay in the artillery platoon and do the job of an ammunition handler.

Mei Sheng stood aside, silently watching He Yuzhu skillfully handle the mortar, and gradually came to a conclusion in his mind.

Following this kid, it's definitely not just about firing cannons in the rear at night; he'll definitely rush to the front lines.

Mei Sheng clearly saw that He Yuzhu never took off his M1 rifle; it was always on his back, ready to be used in battle at any time.

Moreover, he had noticed that He Yuzhu's bullet belts and grenade pouches were completely full, with no gaps at all.

What does this tell us?

This shows that He Yuzhu was never just an artilleryman who could fire cannons. In the end, he was also a formidable infantryman. It's just that his artillery skills were so outstanding that people subconsciously overlooked his infantry abilities and mistakenly thought he was just a professional artilleryman.

When people saw him shoot down an enemy plane with a four-barreled heavy machine gun, they assumed he must be a professional artilleryman, forgetting that he had said from the beginning that he was an infantryman.

What happened next completely confirmed Mei Sheng's idea.

This time, He Yuzhu had hidden a complete range of supplies, including a large amount of firepower. Yu Congrong found a bazooka rocket launcher, an M1 heavy machine gun, and a BAR light machine gun in the pile of supplies. Looking at these brand-new American equipment, Yu Congrong was overjoyed and his eyes lit up.

The bazooka rocket launcher was something some soldiers in the company knew how to use, like Pinghe before. But He Yuzhu never saw Pinghe from beginning to end, and he already knew that Pinghe had most likely been killed when the Seventh Company blew up the bridge for the first time.

However, the soldiers of the Seventh Company were extremely unfamiliar with using this M1 heavy machine gun.

They had used Japanese heavy machine guns before, and some soldiers had operated Maxim heavy machine guns, but this was the first time they had ever encountered the American M1 heavy machine gun, and they were completely unfamiliar with its performance and operation.

In addition, this heavy machine gun was extremely heavy. As an infiltration company, the Seventh Company usually prioritized lightness and speed during marches and never carried such heavy equipment. They would usually switch to lighter weapons, so no one would use it.

Yu Congrong looked at the heavy machine gun in front of him, feeling itchy but not knowing where to start. Suddenly, he remembered He Yuzhu's feat of shooting down airplanes with a four-barreled heavy machine gun and felt that He Yuzhu must be able to operate this M1 heavy machine gun. So he excitedly ran to find He Yuzhu to ask for advice.

Without any hesitation, He Yuzhu walked over to the heavy machine gun and began to demonstrate it on the spot.

Loading, changing, disassembling the gun mount, adjusting the support – every movement was fluid and skillful. He kept explaining operating techniques, precautions, and troubleshooting methods in detail and with professionalism.

After explaining the M1 heavy machine gun, he also went on to explain the BAR light machine gun, which the soldiers were not very familiar with, covering everything from shooting accuracy to fire suppression techniques.

Yu Congrong listened with shining eyes, his gaze filled with admiration. The more he looked at He Yuzhu, the more he felt that he was a rare all-round talent. He made up his mind that he must keep him in the Seventh Company.

"Zhu Zi, don't go back to your original unit. Come to our 7th Company, come to our firepower platoon!"

Yu Congrong grabbed He Yuzhu's arm, his tone urgent and full of sincere promise.

"I'll go talk to the company commander and ask him to give you the position of platoon leader for the firepower platoon. If you're not satisfied, I'll even give you my position as platoon leader for the firepower platoon!"

"Yu Congrong, when did you learn to make promises of official positions? Who gave you the guts!"

Wu Qianli, who had just walked over, happened to hear this. He raised his foot and lightly kicked Yu Congrong in the buttocks, scolding him verbally, but there was no anger on his face.

"Hehe, Company Commander, are you really willing to let such a capable soldier go?" Yu Congrong scratched his head, chuckled, and said with certainty.

"Such a versatile talent, letting him go would be a loss for our Seventh Company!"

"What can we do if we're reluctant? They're from the 6th Army, they have their own company, they're not soldiers from our 7th Company."

Wu Qianli sighed, his tone full of regret. He wanted to keep He Yuzhu more than anyone else, but military regulations stipulated that he could not force the issue.

"After this battle is over, go and ask your superiors to transfer him to our Seventh Company!" Yu Congrong, unwilling to give up, hurriedly persuaded him.

"Fine, once I've survived this battle, I'll go back and talk to my superiors!"

Wu Qianli nodded heavily, his eyes resolute. He would do everything he could to keep He Yuzhu.

"Who are you? You're Wu Qianli! You'll definitely make it back alive. Don't forget me then, Company Commander!" Yu Congrong said excitedly.

"Alright, enough with the nonsense. Let's get the soldiers familiar with these new weapons. Otherwise, we'll be a laughingstock on the battlefield if they're not skilled at operating them!"

Wu Qianli waved his hand impatiently and urged.

Yu Congrong responded and immediately led the soldiers to familiarize themselves with the equipment, making the scene lively for a moment.

He Yuzhu turned around and went back to the temporary artillery squad to continue adjusting the mortar. Unexpectedly, Wu Qianli followed him.

Wu Qianli stood beside him, watching him skillfully operate the various equipment, his eyes filled with curiosity and admiration. He couldn't help but ask, "Comrade Xiao He, is there anything on the battlefield that you can't do?"

Upon hearing this, He Yuzhu looked up at him and couldn't help but joke, "Have a baby."

"Hahahaha!" Upon hearing this, Wu Wanli could no longer hold back. He covered his mouth, squatted on the ground, and burst into laughter, his whole body shaking with mirth.

"I'm not kidding, I'm serious."

Wu Qianli glared at Wu Wanli, then looked at He Yuzhu with an extremely serious expression, showing no sign of joking.

"I'm serious. I can handle anything except childbirth," He Yuzhu replied solemnly, her smile fading.

"You can drive airplanes and tanks too?"

Wu Qianli felt that he was exaggerating and was somewhat skeptical. His stubbornness kicked in, and he insisted on getting to the bottom of it.

"I haven't actually operated an airplane before, so we'll have to try it out to see if it works. Tanks and cars operate on similar principles, so there shouldn't be any problems," He Yuzhu answered truthfully.

"So how's your marksmanship? Is it accurate?"

Wu Qianli then remembered that He Yuzhu always carried a rifle, but he had never seen him fire it, and subconsciously asked him about it.

"It's hard to say," He Yuzhu replied casually.

"What do you mean by 'not good'? Is it because shooting is not allowed?" Wu Qianli pressed.

"Fighting a war is different from target practice. There are various interfering factors on the battlefield, such as wind speed, terrain, and enemy situation, which cannot be compared with static target practice," He Yuzhu patiently explained.

"Let's talk about target practice then. Ignoring battlefield factors, how's the accuracy?"

"Two hundred meters away, I can hit exactly where I point." He Yuzhu's tone was calm, yet carried an undeniable confidence.

"Nonsense! I don't believe it!"

Upon hearing this, Wu Wanli immediately raised his head indignantly and retorted loudly. However, after he finished speaking, he suddenly fell silent, and his eyes dimmed.

Mei Sheng stood to the side, adding in a low voice, his tone full of sadness:

"Pinghe was our former sharpshooter. Even he wouldn't dare say he could hit a target exactly 200 meters away."

Upon hearing this, He Yuzhu silently mourned for Pinghe. He knew that on this cruel battlefield, heroes would always sacrifice themselves. Even in this parallel universe, he couldn't save everyone. He could only do his best to win this battle.

He didn't offer much explanation, simply replying, "You'll know once you've fought it."

Seeing He Yuzhu's confident expression, Wu Qianli was already somewhat convinced. He secretly winked at Mei Sheng, who was standing to the side, and quietly handed over the task of recruiting He Yuzhu to Mei Sheng.

Mei Sheng shook his head helplessly, but finally nodded slightly and agreed to the matter.