Rise From Eight Hundred

Abandoned military camp in the Roman Empire Concession!

A middle-aged soldier with a thin face and high cheekbones was looking at the food storage data reported by the quartermaster and was worried.

The food in the camp was not enough again. According to the supply practice of the Western Concession, it would take 20 days before the next supply, but the food storage was only enough for 10 days.

To be honest, since entering this military camp, the remaining 280 people of the 542nd Regiment have been completely cut off from the supply from the army. Although the concession party still abided by the promise and replenished some potatoes, rice and vegetables per head in the military camp from time to time, it was only enough to ensure that people survived and did not starve to death.

The previous promise to borrow a passage to return to the battlefield was even more empty talk. Even if he tried to talk to the commander of the Western Concession several times in a row, the other party only sent a liaison officer to reply: "It is under negotiation."

That was obviously a delaying tactic. After half a year, everyone, including the middle-aged soldier, understood that they could never leave here again before China defeated Japan.

They have been abandoned.

As the highest commander of the 542nd Regiment here, the middle-aged soldier knew very well that it was the result of the Japanese's constant pressure, but he still felt aggrieved. The words Tang Dao said before he left kept lingering in his ears, and his regret grew stronger.

However, the middle-aged man knew better that if time could go back and return to the moment when he received the order to retreat, even if he knew the result in advance, he might still choose to accept the order.

Because he stood at a different angle from Tang Dao. Political compromise was needed at the national level. A weak country could not offend all Western powers while fighting Japan. He had to make sacrifices.

But the tragedy was that not only did he sacrifice himself, but more than 280 brothers under his command were also sacrificed like this. They stayed in this small place like prisoners, consuming their precious youth, and even had to rely on the supplies given by Westerners to survive. They didn't know when they would be handed over to the Japanese. This was a more painful torture than death. As a commander, he didn't dare to look at those expectant eyes. This was the main reason why his weight dropped sharply in just a few months.

It was really painful!

Fortunately, the Chinese people in the concession had not forgotten them. They would regularly raise funds to donate some fresh meat. Every morning when they were doing morning exercises and raising the flag, there would always be many people standing in the open space outside the barracks, watching silently or singing military songs with them, until the patrolmen from the Western Concession Police Station drove them away with sticks.

That might be the biggest motivation for these trapped Chinese soldiers to insist on daily drills and raising the military flag every day under the surveillance of an infantry battalion and six heavy machine guns!

Even if they were imprisoned, they were still Chinese soldiers!

As long as they could be released to the battlefield, they would still be a group of elite soldiers that could scare the Japanese army.

Although the middle-aged soldier and his subordinates also knew that the result of this would make the Japanese, who suffered heavy losses in the Battle of Sihang Warehouse, hate them even more, and would put pressure on the concession and be extremely harsh on them, but so what?

As long as there is still a breath, the military flag must be raised as usual facing the morning sun every day!

The Chinese soldiers' will to resist the Japanese will never die, just like Tang Dao and Lei Xiong who came out of the 542nd Regiment. Fighting the Japanese is just a matter of life and death.

Thinking of Tang Dao and Lei Xiong, the middle-aged soldier's frown slightly relaxed.

Although the military camp is isolated from the outside world, it is not an island of information. People in the concession always find ways to stuff newspapers into supplies and transport them in.

The constantly updated newspapers let him know that his two proud subordinates did a good job on the battlefield. Not only did they survive from that desperate place, but they also accumulated merits to upgrade the Four-Line Camp to the Four-Line Regiment. One became the colonel of the army at the same level as himself, and the other became the deputy colonel of the lieutenant colonel. They also beat the Japanese on the battlefield and made them cry for their parents. Recently, in the battle in southeastern Shanxi, they killed a mixed brigade of the Japanese army together with friendly forces.

If he had the opportunity to meet them again, the middle-aged soldier would definitely give his two proud subordinates a most standard military salute plus a hug.

They are worthy of the reputation of the 542nd Regiment! He is very grateful to them.

"Asheng, tell Lao Chen what I said, don't ask those foreigners, take my medal, gold pen and gun to Mr. Du's men, and see how much food you can get in exchange." The middle-aged soldier rubbed his aching brow and shouted without looking back.

As a result, no one responded.

The orderly who was originally outside the door ran away.

"This bastard!" The middle-aged soldier's face was angry.

Although they were imprisoned on this isolated island, the remnants of the 542nd Regiment still strictly followed the military law. They would be sent out on duty 24 hours a day. If there was nothing to do, they would also conduct various trainings on the small playground according to the company, although this also caused their food to be consumed quickly.

The middle-aged soldier understood that as long as they were still training, they were Chinese soldiers, but if they became lazy one day, they would really become prisoners.

Even antelopes would not be afraid of lazy lions!

The military rules were strict. Even if the orderly Ah Sheng was a distant relative who had been with him for three years, he would never be allowed to leave his post without permission. The punishment of 5 horse whips was inevitable.

"Report to the commander, someone from the concession has come to deliver supplies! Would you like to meet him?" The familiar voice of the orderly suddenly sounded outside.

"Oh? Then why don't you invite the distinguished guest in!" The middle-aged soldier was slightly startled and quickly stood up to greet the guest.

In the 9 months, the concession sent a lot of supplies, but the number of times they personally came with supplies was no more than three times.

The reason was simple. In order to prevent the Japanese from causing trouble, the garrison in the concession rarely agreed to enter the barracks with people and goods. Those who were allowed to enter the barracks were all influential figures in the concession. For example, the underground emperor came to the barracks and had a chat with the middle-aged soldier once. The middle-aged soldier also expressed his sincere gratitude for his help in the Battle of Four Lines!

The door was opened directly, and a man wearing a blue long gown, a top hat on a hot day, and his head against his chest walked into the house.

Then, the orderly who did not follow into the house closed the door again.

"You are..." The middle-aged soldier was slightly startled.

It was not that the orderly was a little abnormal. The middle-aged soldier knew the orderly who had been with him for three years very well. The bond of kinship made the probability of him betraying him almost zero.

Rather, this person who did not show his face made him feel an inexplicable sense of familiarity.

"Sir, long time no see!" The man suddenly raised his head, took off his hat, looked at the middle-aged soldier, and smiled.

"Tang Dao!" Xie Jinyuan was so excited that he almost roared.

The proud subordinate he had just been talking about in his heart actually appeared in front of him. This kind of excitement, even if he was a soldier who had experienced countless battles, could not remain calm.

"Hello, sir!" Tang Dao, wearing a long gown, gently put his hat on the table, and then raised his head and chest and saluted.

"Good! I'm fine!" Xie Jinyuan's lips trembled slightly, and he also stood at attention and raised his hand to return the salute.

The two of them greeted each other in a small room, using the highest military etiquette.

This kind of etiquette can only be understood by soldiers and comrades.

Tang Dao respects the commander's unyielding struggle for nearly a year, and the commander respects his former comrades' glorious achievements on the battlefield.

Tears appeared in the eyes of the two iron-blooded men!

"Sir, you and your brothers have worked hard during this period." After the two saluted, they held their hands tightly together, and Tang Dao said seriously.

"It's not hard. You, Lei Xiong, and Leng Feng are killing enemies on the battlefield. That's the real hardship." Xie Jinyuan tried his best to calm down his excitement. "Come, sit down and talk. Ah Sheng, pour tea, hurry up and pour tea for Tang Dao, no, for Captain Tang."

"Okay!" The orderly outside the house came in obediently, with a brilliant smile on his face.

Needless to say, he already knew about Tang Dao's arrival. He deliberately didn't say it before, just to give Xie Jinyuan, who hadn't smiled for a long time, a surprise.

"You kid, don't do anything fancy in the future. You did a good job of keeping secrets, but you almost made me cry." Xie Jinyuan smiled and criticized his orderly.

"Sir, don't blame Ah Sheng. It was me and Captain Yang who asked him to keep it normal so as not to attract the attention of the scoundrels." Tang Dao explained for the orderly.

"Captain Tang, please have some tea. I'll go guard outside the door." Although the orderly was criticized by his superior, he grinned happily.

"By the way, sir, you'd better call me by my name. This call of Captain Tang makes my scalp numb! I can't even drink this tea." Tang Dao picked up the teacup, took a sip of tea, and smiled.

"That can't be said. You are now a colonel in the army and the head of a famous elite infantry regiment. It is natural for me to call you Captain Tang." Xie Jinyuan looked at Tang Dao with some emotion and replied.

If Tang Dao hadn't really stood in front of him, who would believe that this colonel of the Four Lines Regiment was just a soldier 9 months ago? But if you know his record, you will feel that all this is natural, and even feel that his rank is too low.

"Without your cultivation, there would be no Tang Dao today. No matter what position Tang Dao holds in the future, you will always be the commander in my heart, and you will always be my comrade and brother to me and my brothers in the Four Lines Regiment." Tang Dao answered seriously.

"Alas! I don't know if I, Xie Jinyuan, will have the opportunity to fight side by side with my brothers on the anti-Japanese battlefield." Speaking of this, Xie Jinyuan suddenly sighed.

Perhaps because he felt that his sigh was somewhat inconsistent with the joy of their reunion, Xie Jinyuan hurriedly changed the subject: "How are the brothers who left with you and Lei Xiong that day?"

"Leng Feng is now the commander of the third battalion, Cheng Tieshou is the third commander of the artillery battalion and the commander of the air defense company, Li Jiujin is also the commander of the first company, and even Gu Xishui is now a lieutenant..." When Tang Dao heard Xie Jinyuan ask this, he hurriedly introduced the promotion resumes of some key figures.

Hearing that the former lieutenants and soldiers under his command had grown so rapidly, either colonels or lieutenants, Xie Jinyuan smiled and nodded frequently.

Although as a superior, he may not be familiar with all his subordinates, but they are all comrades who have fought with him to the death and desperate, and they have truly lived and died together. It is conceivable that he is very happy to hear that they have grown up quickly.

However, when Xie Jinyuan heard Tang Dao say that of the 106 people who refused the military order to retreat and defend the warehouse with Tang Dao and Lei Xiong, only more than 40 people can still go to the battlefield now, and the rest either died in various battlefields or had to retreat to the second line due to physical disabilities, Xie Jinyuan could not help but burst into tears.

This is war, every farewell is a real goodbye, never to see each other again.

"A clay pot will break if it is not left on the well, and a general will inevitably die in battle! Soldiers are blind to swords and guns, and it is normal to return home wrapped in horsehide. If you die, you die, and you are worthy of being a great man of China." Xie Jinyuan stood up and sighed in the distance in front of the window, then turned back and taught earnestly: "However, Tang Dao, you are now the head of a regiment. You must know that loving soldiers like sons can make the whole army work together. Those brothers who have lost their limbs in the war must not be easily abandoned."

"Please, sir, Don't worry, the current Sihang Regiment has a fixed base in Taihang Mountain, where a number of new factories are being built. All officers and soldiers who are disabled due to injuries, if they do not want to return home, will either work in the factory, or work in the recruit training camp or the second-line baggage camp.

There is also enough pension for the brothers who died in the war. Even if some cannot be sent home due to the long journey, I have ordered the military supply department to keep it well and send it back to their hometowns to support their parents, wives and children when the war eases a little. "Tang Dao quickly stood up and responded.

"Well, you did a good job, much better than me, the former superior. Those brothers handed their lives to you, and they did the right thing." Xie Jinyuan nodded repeatedly.

"By the way, did you report to the war zone when you came to Songhu this time?" Xie Jinyuan suddenly thought of a key point.

Seeing Tang Dao smiling and shaking his head, his face suddenly changed, and he stamped his feet and said: "You are stupid, Tang Dao! The war is imminent. You are the head of a regiment, and you are a regiment leader who has just won great merit. I don't know how many eyes are staring at you. You ran here without saying hello. It is easy to be criticized by people with ulterior motives. If you escape from the battle, all your previous merits may be wiped out.

Hurry up, you and I have met here. You will meet with other brothers later and return to the front line immediately. Don't waste time. You are still too young and don't understand the evil of people's hearts."

Xie Jinyuan has been in the army for more than 20 years. How can he not know these dirty things in the current army? If you want to get promoted, you have to flatter and give gifts. If you have some ability to get promoted by doing military affairs, you will be suppressed by people with ulterior motives. Over time, even those who have upright thoughts will be polluted or even go along with the flow.

Otherwise, with his ability, he might have been promoted to the rank of general long ago, and he would not have been just a lieutenant colonel before the war. He was allowed to lead a lone army to guard the Sihang Warehouse because he knew that it was a dead end. If some people knew that not only would they not die, but they would also be promoted to a higher rank and become famous at home and abroad, then such a "good thing" would never happen to him.

Although it was a reprimand, it was full of care, which made Tang Dao feel warm in his heart. He smiled and replied: "Don't worry, sir. I had already asked for leave before this trip, but they didn't know I was here."

"That makes sense, but we still can't stay here for long. The Japanese spies are everywhere. If you are not careful, you will be targeted by the Japanese. You are now famous and have long been hated by them. It's better to leave as soon as possible." Xie Jinyuan nodded, his face still stern.

"You are not afraid of hardships and come here. Xie and the brothers are very grateful!"

"No, Tang Dao's trip is not just to see the sir and the brothers." Tang Dao shook his head.

"It's a military secret, you don't have to tell me." Xie Jinyuan frowned and waved his hand to refuse.

"I want to take the commander and brothers away from here."

"Nonsense, what can a small regiment leader like you solve if the country can't solve it? Go away quickly, don't do such futile things, you and Lei Xiong, Leng Feng and the brothers continue to fight the devils, beat the devils hard, let the world know the determination of the 542nd Regiment of the 88th Division to fight the war, my brothers and I are already very satisfied.

Don't mention this matter again, otherwise you and I will have nothing to do with each other from now on, you will be the leader of your Four Lines Regiment, and I will be the leader of my 542nd Regiment." Xie Jinyuan's eyes were filled with shock and anger, and he shouted loudly.

In fact, with this intelligence, how could he think of the purpose of Tang Dao's adventure when he met Tang Dao again?

He wanted to leave this place of imprisonment and return to the anti-Japanese battlefield day and night, but he didn't want to implicate his subordinate who was most likely to become a famous anti-Japanese general. If this caused Tang Dao to get into trouble, and caused the Four-Line Regiment in North China to be leaderless and lose its combat power, he would never forgive himself in his life.

Therefore, he had been trying his best to avoid this topic, and even pretended to be angry and scolded Tang Dao to drive him away, but Tang Dao still said it without hiding it. The guess in his heart finally became a reality when Tang Dao said this.

"Sir, please listen to me. If you think my plan is not feasible, how about refusing it?" Tang Dao may have anticipated this person's reaction and advised him slowly.

"We are more than 280 living people, especially me and Captain Yang, who are the top priority of the Japanese spies. How can you send us all away secretly, unless you have the ability to steal the sky and change the day. Tang Dao, go! This favor, my brothers and I have received it." Xie Jinyuan was silent for a long time and sighed.

"It may not be possible to steal the sky and replace the day, but it is possible to transplant flowers and trees..." Tang Dao still revealed his plan.

Xie Jinyuan was stunned.

He didn't expect that after not seeing him for 9 months, his subordinate who was picked up from the battlefield had grown to such a level.

Not only can he kill people on the battlefield, but he has also expanded his network to an unbelievable level.

The Roman Empire is willing to work for him and is willing to take such a big risk.

If this is true, it seems that it can really be done.

The thought that he might have a chance to return to the battlefield made the patriotic general feel extremely excited.

His brother was willing to sacrifice his future to save them, so how could he refuse?