Chapter 63: The Final Showdown
The snow stopped.
Su Yaoyang’s watch stopped at 3:37 a.m. After more than an hour of fighting, the third battalion finally defeated the Japanese troops at Zhongshan Wharf.
When the third battalion met with the prisoners of war who rushed onto the wharf, the Xiafei tanks commanded by John were chasing the Japanese garrison.
On the wharf, the cold wind was biting, the river water lapped against the shore, emitting a low roar. The dark sky enveloped the entire wharf.
On the wharf, a group of ragged prisoners of war shivered in the cold wind, their faces haggard and expressions dazed, some even crying uncontrollably, with grief and fear intertwined.
Many huddled together in a group, hoping to get a bit of warmth from each other. In this bleak and cold environment, every breath felt heavy and difficult. The prisoners’ eyes showed despair and helplessness, forming a stark contrast with the surrounding gloomy atmosphere.
A burly officer wearing the rank of major stepped forward from the crowd to Su Yaoyang. Although he was dressed in thin clothes and soaked through, he still looked at Su Yaoyang with a puzzled gaze.
After sizing him up for a moment, he asked in an uncertain tone: “Third Battalion Commander Li Tao of the 128th Regiment, 172nd Brigade, 51st Division. May I ask which unit you gentlemen are from?”
Su Yaoyang looked at this lieutenant colonel, then swept his gaze over the crowd, and said loudly: “We are from the Nanjing Garrison Regiment. I am the regiment commander Su Yaoyang, currently stationed at St. Paul’s Cathedral.
This time, because we received intelligence that the newly appointed Shanghai Expeditionary Army Prince Asaka Yasuhiko ordered the execution of all prisoners of war, we couldn’t bear to see Chinese compatriots slaughtered by the Japanese, so we risked bringing our brothers here to see if we could save some people. Unexpectedly, we succeeded.”
“Nanjing Garrison Regiment?”
Li Tao frowned slightly upon hearing this. “Please forgive my ignorance; I’ve never heard of this unit.”
“Of course you haven’t heard of it, because it’s a temporary formation established just a couple of days ago and hasn’t been approved by the garrison command yet.”
“This…”
Li Tao looked at Su Yaoyang in bewilderment. Are you serious?
Su Yaoyang had no time to pay him any mind and said indifferently: “Alright, we don’t have time for chit-chat. Now you have two choices: first, take advantage of the Japanese troops not arriving yet and go immediately to Xiaguan Wharf to withdraw across the river with the main force; second, come with us. Choose for yourselves.”
After speaking, Su Yaoyang turned around and shouted: “Lu Shaobin, immediately clear the battlefield and treat the wounded. We leave here in ten minutes!”
“Yes!”
At this time, some prisoners had already picked up some weapons from the corpses of Japanese soldiers and began spontaneously gathering beside some officers.
Su Yaoyang, who saw all this in his eyes, did not stop them and just watched coldly.
After a while, a captain stepped forward and said loudly: “Commander Su, you saved my life. As long as you don’t mind, Ren Quanyou and his hundred-odd pounds are sold to you!”
“Right, Commander Su… we are willing to go with you!”
As soon as this captain spoke up, many soldiers immediately started clamoring.
“Good…”
Su Yaoyang nodded, pointed his right hand behind him, and said loudly: “Brothers who are willing to come with me, please stand behind me. Those who aren’t willing, I won’t force you. Brother, I wish you a safe journey.
Until we meet again down the road!”
The prisoners began discussing animatedly, with many starting to talk in low voices.
“Brother, are you planning to go to Xiaguan Wharf or follow this Commander Su?”
“I don’t want to fight anymore; I want to go home.”
“What about you?”
“Anyway, we’re soldiers eating imperial grain; following whoever is the same. I plan to follow Commander Su.”
“That’s what I think too.”
The prisoners discussed animatedly, but soon took action. More and more people stood behind Su Yaoyang. In less than ten minutes, thousands of prisoners had all made their choice, and the one standing in front of Su Yaoyang was the battalion commander named Li Tao from earlier.
He saluted Su Yaoyang and said somewhat apologetically: “Commander Su, I’m really sorry, but my brothers and I still want to return to our original unit. We can only repay your life-saving grace another day.”
“No need to feel bad.” Su Yaoyang waved his hand. “Although I saved you, I have no obligation to make you follow me.
Besides, fighting the devils is fighting the devils wherever you go. As long as you’re fighting the Japanese devils, you’re all my brothers Su!”
“Right… all brothers with the same aspirations!”
“Alright, it’s getting late. Let’s part ways here.”
After speaking, the two began cupping their hands in farewell.
But while coming was simple, leaving was not easy.
This time, Su Yaoyang had rescued about five thousand prisoners of war, but only a little over two thousand were willing to follow him. Moreover, these people were freezing and starving, many with wounds, making walking difficult, which gave Su Yaoyang quite a headache.
To ensure he could bring these prisoners back, he even sent out reconnaissance sentries several li ahead.
Perhaps even heaven pitied this group of long-suffering prisoners, and they finally returned to St. Paul’s Cathedral without incident.
St. Paul’s Cathedral
The little girl hurriedly ran over and found Song Mei: “Sister Mei… the young master just sent someone with a message that he has successfully rescued the prisoners from the prisoner camp and is now bringing over two thousand prisoners on the way back, arriving in about an hour.
He asked me to inquire if the ginger soup, cotton clothes, quilts, and other cold-weather supplies, as well as rice porridge and such, have been prepared?”
Song Mei pointed to the dozen or so large pots steaming outside the courtyard and said: “I know. The ginger soup, rice porridge, and such are already prepared. As for cotton clothes, quilts, and other cold-weather clothing, they are in the several courtyards behind the cathedral.”
“Got it!” The little girl agreed and prepared to leave, but was stopped by Song Mei.
“Xiao Lu… wait a moment.”
“What’s up, Sister Mei?” The little girl turned her head to look at Song Mei.
“Xiao Lu, what exactly did your young master do before?”
“What did he do… Sister Mei, why do you ask?” Xiao Lu didn’t react for a moment and looked puzzled.
“See for yourself.” Song Mei pointed to the large pots steaming in the courtyard. “Your young master told me yesterday evening to organize people to boil ginger soup.
He even got over five hundred jin of fresh ginger, brown sugar, and all this rice and beef. I just want to know, where exactly did all this come from?”
Song Mei stared closely at the little girl, hoping to read something on her face.
“I don’t know either?” The little girl scratched her head, not knowing how to answer.
“You… forget it…” Seeing the bewildered little girl, Song Mei helplessly pinched her straight and pretty nose bridge. She knew she shouldn’t have asked.
This girl’s heart held nothing but her young master; even if Su Yaoyang sold her now, she would happily count the money and hand it over to him.
