Chapter 40: What’s There To Fear From Him?
Hearing this, Su Yaoyang glanced around: “Xu Dapeng…”
“Here!” Accompanied by Su Yaoyang’s voice, a burly figure stood up.
“Where is that American John?”
“Report to Su… Report to Regiment Commander, that American is still repairing that broken truck.” Xu Dapeng answered loudly.
Su Yaoyang frowned: “He’s been repairing it for a whole day, why isn’t that broken truck fixed yet?”
“This…” Xu Dapeng scratched his head, not knowing how to respond.
Su Yaoyang helplessly shook his head. If he could currently convert out vehicles and other heavy equipment, he wouldn’t have to pin his hopes on a scavenger.
“Go tell that American, if he can’t get that broken truck moving today, he’ll just wait to die here with us. He won’t get that money of his either.”
“Yes!”
After Xu Dapeng left, Huang Guantao hesitated for a moment before asking: “Regiment Commander… The truck you’re talking about, is it that wrecked truck parked behind the courtyard?”
“That’s the one!” Su Yaoyang scratched his head. “I was originally thinking, although that truck is broken, as long as it can run, loading dozens of people shouldn’t be a problem.
That way, we can let those wounded and women get on the truck, while we escort them to withdraw to Xiaguan, then figure out a way to cross the river.”
Huang Guantao thought for a moment. “That’s not a bad idea, but I saw that truck just now too. It’s really too rundown. Can it still move?”
“Who knows.” Su Yaoyang smiled wryly: “We can only do our best and leave it to fate.”
Everyone discussed for a while longer. Although everyone had doubts about launching a counterattack, under Su Yaoyang’s insistence, they finally made the decision.
In Su Yaoyang’s words, whether there’s a date or not, poke it with three poles first. Worst case, if the situation turns bad, withdraw again—it’s not too late.
However, Su Yaoyang didn’t commit all his forces. He had First Battalion stay behind to guard, while he personally led Second Battalion and Third Battalion to launch a surprise attack on the 11th Regiment, set for two hours later, that is, at 5:30 p.m.
After the meeting adjourned, Su Yaoyang was just about to go back and check on his little girl when he was stopped by Li Gaoyuan and Huang Guantao.
Huang Guantao pulled a pack of Camels from his pocket, dangled it in front of him, and laughed: “Regiment Commander, let’s go out for a smoke.”
Su Yaoyang glanced at the two, smiled: “Sure.”
Li Gaoyuan laughed: “Brother Guantao, using the cigarettes the Regiment Commander gave you to treat the Regiment Commander—isn’t that a bit unreasonable?”
Huang Guantao spread his hands. “Can’t blame me. I’m just a poor soldier. That bit of monthly pay all goes home. My pockets have always been cleaner than my face. Finally running into a rich tycoon, how can I not squeeze him for some?”
“Hahaha…”
The three looked at each other and burst into laughter.
A few minutes later, the three arrived at the church’s backyard and casually sat down on a slightly flat patch of grass.
Huang Guantao looked at Su Yaoyang. “Regiment Commander… I don’t understand. Why do you have to fight this battle? You know we’ve just reorganized. The brothers don’t even fully recognize everyone in their own squads and platoons yet. Is launching a surprise attack like this really okay?”
“I know what you’re worried about.”
Su Yaoyang took a deep drag of his cigarette, casually tossed the butt onto the grass, and ground it out with his shoe sole before looking at Huang Guantao.
“Old Huang, let me ask you something… Do you think the Japs will let us go?”
“Need you to say it? Of course not!” Huang Guantao replied without thinking.
“Exactly… Since the little Japs won’t let us go, why should we hold back?”
Su Yaoyang asked puzzledly: “Instead of sitting here waiting for the little Japs to gather reinforcements and come hit us, why not take advantage of their reinforcements not arriving yet to give them a good beating?
Even if we fail, so what? Worst case is just death, right? What are you afraid of?
As for dying… From the Battle of Shanghai to the current Defense of Nanjing, have we had few deaths? Especially in the Battle of Shanghai, we were pouring in several divisions every day.
Now with how many men we have, why are you suddenly scared?”
“I…”
Huang Guantao was momentarily at a loss for words.
After a long while, he smiled wryly and shook his head at Su Yaoyang: “Ridiculous. I pride myself on over ten years of military service, yet in the end, I can’t see through things as clearly as a little brother who’s only been in the game for a few days… Ashamed… Truly ashamed.”
Li Gaoyuan at the side also said with a strange expression: “Regiment Commander, do you know what the biggest difference is between you and others?”
“What?” Su Yaoyang asked curiously.
“Confidence!” Li Gaoyuan stared at him for a good while before saying puzzledly: “What I admire most about you, Regiment Commander, is your confidence.
At this time when the Japanese invaders are rampant and the nation is perishing, when our countrymen mention the Japanese, they either hate them with gritted teeth, fear them like tigers, or tremble in fear.
Even we so-called patriotic soldiers face the Japanese invaders as if facing a formidable enemy.
But only you, when facing the Japanese, exude a contempt and disdain from your bones, like looking at some inferior beings. That’s what puzzles me most.
Regiment Commander, can you tell me how you developed this mindset of despising the Japanese?”
“Well…”
Su Yaoyang touched his nose, not knowing how to respond for a moment.
This Li Gaoyuan is really perceptive—he even noticed this.
Actually, this question isn’t hard to answer. After all, as a post-2000s youth, in Su Yaoyang’s generation’s eyes, China’s biggest and only enemy is just Old America.
As for Japan, besides its remaining automotive manufacturing and developed adult films, what else does it have?
Without Daddy America’s protection, China could flatten it in minutes.
Stepping back ten thousand steps, even if China doesn’t touch it, it might sink itself someday.
Faced with a country that could vanish at any time, where would Su Yaoyang get any reverence from?
But though the reason is simple, he can’t say it. He could only smile, pat Li Gaoyuan’s shoulder, and feign boldness: “The Japanese pirates are mere slaves from three provinces. With China’s five thousand years of glory and 450 million compatriots, how could we perish at the hands of the pirates? What do I have to worry about!”
Seeing Su Yaoyang’s heartfelt boldness, Li Gaoyuan and Huang Guantao were also infected. The two exchanged a glance and laughed together:
“Yes, with China’s five thousand years of splendid civilization and 450 million compatriots, how can mere Japanese slaves end our nation’s millennia-long destiny?
We can’t beat them now doesn’t mean we won’t later. As Mr. Bai Li said, ‘Win or lose, just don’t make peace with them.’
Even if our generation fights to the last man, the next generation of sons and grandsons will keep fighting them. Fear him? Hell no… Hahaha…”
