RPAGF Chapter 187 Blood and Sand of Nanjing, Li Jianghe's Generosity
Chapter 187 Blood and Sand of Nanjing, Li Jianghe's Generosity
Song Xilian led his 71st Army in a ten-day arduous defensive battle, relying on his tenacious will and excellent tactics to kill more than 10,000 elite Japanese Second Army soldiers, leaving Prince Higashikuni Naruhiko helpless and unable to advance an inch.
Li Jianghe's armored forces will inevitably focus their main operations in the Battle of Wuhan on the plains north of the Dabie Mountains, where they will have to coordinate with Song Xilian's 71st Army.
It's always better to have one more ally than one more enemy.
As the group was talking in hushed tones, a soft knock came from the hotel room door.
Everyone looked up, only to see that it wasn't Song Xilian himself who pushed open the door, but his bodyguard.
The guard, dressed in a neat military uniform and carrying an exquisite wooden box, entered the room, gave a respectful salute to the many officers present, and said in a deep voice, "Sirs, the commander said that he is ashamed to face you all again. This box and this letter are for me to deliver to you, especially to Commander Li Jianghe."
After hearing this, Li Jianghe slowly stood up, walked forward, and took the wooden box and envelope together. The envelope had several vigorous characters written on it, which were in Song Xilian's handwriting.
He raised his hand and opened the box, and everyone crowded around to look. Inside the box was a handful of brown sand mixed with some fine river sand, which looked quite ordinary.
This scene surprised everyone, and they looked at each other, wondering what Song Xilian meant by this.
Hua Pinzhang, ever outspoken, couldn't help but ask, "What does this mean? Sending us a pile of dirt, are you implying we're country bumpkins?"
Commander Xiao then picked up a bit of sand, smelled it, examined it carefully, and said in a deep voice, "This is not ordinary soil; it's soil from the riverbank, mixed with sand from the Yangtze River."
Li Jianghe seemed to have thought of something. He picked up the envelope, slowly opened it, took out the letter inside, quickly glanced through it, and then slowly spoke, his tone tinged with emotion:
"This is Nanjing, the land on the banks of the Yangtze River."
In his letter, Song Xilian wrote that he felt immense guilt and shame for abandoning the city and crossing the river, and was ashamed to face his brothers. His only wish was to achieve merit on the battlefield in Wuhan and bravely kill the Japanese invaders!
"If one day you can lead your troops back to Nanjing to avenge the people who died tragically there, then come back to see us."
As soon as he finished speaking, the room fell silent. Everyone looked at the handful of sand from the Yangtze River in Nanjing, and their hearts were filled with mixed emotions. The tragic scene of Nanjing back then seemed to reappear before their eyes.
Li Jianghe's gaze fell on the paulownia wood box on the table.
The box was lined with a layer of fine sand, mixed with a few fragments of Nanjing city bricks.
His fingertips gently brushed the edge of the wooden box. He knew in his heart that Song Xilian's passion had never cooled.
However, being caught in a complex web of intertwined factions, there are too many things that he can never decide alone.
Ultimately, it's just that when you're in the world, you're not in control of your own destiny.
"Brother, please pass on a message to Commander Song for me."
Li Jianghe raised his head and looked at Song Xilian, the bodyguard standing to the side, speaking calmly.
"Sir, you have spoken, and I will deliver it word for word!"
The guard straightened up abruptly, his boots clicking crisply, and gave a perfect military salute.
Li Jianghe spoke slowly, his voice carrying a hint of relief, yet also a touch of fervor:
"Brothers who have survived countless tribulations remain; a smile at our reunion erases all enmity."
Please convey these words to him.
The guard silently repeated the sentence three times in his mind, memorizing it firmly. He then solemnly saluted everyone in the room before turning around and quickly leaving.
He walked through the streets after curfew, the dim streetlights casting long shadows.
A black Studebaker was parked on the street corner, standing out conspicuously in the night.
The guard opened the car door, leaned over to the back seat, and whispered what he had just seen and heard.
The man in the back seat was dressed in a crisp general's uniform, the stars on his collar insignia gleaming faintly in the shadows. His military cap was pulled low, and a pair of deep-set eyes were hidden in the shadows.
Upon hearing the guard's words, Song Xilian's body trembled violently.
He murmured the phrase "A smile can dissolve all enmity" over and over again, his Adam's apple bobbing. After a long while, he sighed softly, "Brother Jianghe, it was I who was too narrow-minded."
The guard asked in a low voice, "Commander, are you... still going up?"
Song Xilian remained silent for a moment, his fingertips holding the cigarette that had never been lit, and slowly shook his head:
"No. There are still battles to fight, we'll meet again."
After saying that, he raised his hand to signal the driver to start the car.
The black sedan started slowly, its tires crunching over the gravel on the road, and soon disappeared into the deep night of Wuhan.
Logically, old comrades-in-arms who have survived countless brushes with death should be drinking and having a good time together.
But now it was wartime, and the battle at the front was intense. The group only had a couple of drinks before Commander Xiao put down his glass first.
"Alcohol is prohibited during wartime; drink only when appropriate."
"After we win this battle, we'll have a good drink."
Everyone put down their glasses in response, and the conversation flowed freely.
Some recounted their narrow escape from the fall of Nanjing, while others spoke of the hardships they endured after being dispersed and wandering from place to place. Amidst the clinking of glasses, there were sighs of regret and moments of relief.
In this gathering, Li Jianghe was undoubtedly the absolute protagonist.
The battle of Taierzhuang was so brilliant that his troops achieved such outstanding results that his old comrades in the Ninth War Zone saw his name and deeds frequently on the radio and in newspapers.
"By the way, Brother Xiao, has your 11th Army been struggling to procure all its weapons and equipment?"
Li Jianghe put down his teacup and asked a question in a seemingly casual manner.
Commander Xiao didn't try to hide anything, gave a wry smile, and frankly said:
"We are indeed short of funds. But today, let's catch up as brothers and not discuss these official matters."
He knew in his heart that Li Jianghe's troops were well-equipped, but in the upcoming major battle, this elite force would inevitably have to fight the toughest and most dangerous battles.
He simply couldn't bring himself to ask Li Jianghe for equipment; he couldn't bring himself to do it.
But Li Jianghe took the initiative to speak:
"I still have a batch of weapons and ammunition captured from the Japanese. They're just gathering dust in the warehouse. Why don't I transfer some to you?"
"This...this won't do! You'll be going to the battlefield soon, and you'll need this equipment too. How can I accept it!"
Commander Xiao hurriedly waved his hand, his face turning pale with anxiety, and immediately tried to refuse.
Hua Pinzhang, standing nearby, suddenly brightened up, leaned forward, and slapped the table:
"Jiang He, are you serious? If you really give it to me, I'll down this glass of wine right now!"
Li Jianghe knew Hua Pinzhang all too well. This man was always straightforward and outspoken, saying whatever was on his mind without ever beating around the bush.
This kind of personality is much more reassuring than those two-faced, hypocritical people.