Chapter Fifty-Two: Breaking Through the Front

The bandits’ machine guns were not firing accurately, but at this moment it was enough to scare the Russians. The Russians charging ahead immediately hit the ground when they heard the machine gun fire, giving the bandits a brief respite.

Biaozi seemed especially interested in Taihui. “Brother, you’re a good shot. What did you do before?”

Taihui glanced at the gun in his hands. “Same as you. I used to serve under Ma Liuzi in Liaodong. Later, I followed Ma Liuzi to fight the Russians. We had just arrived when the Russians scattered our unit with a charge. Our leader was killed and I was captured.”

Biaozi’s mouth twitched. “I’ve heard of Ma Liuzi before. He’s a real character. Now we’re brothers. From now on, treat this place like your own home.”

Taihui smiled, sensing no bullets flying overhead, and lifted his head to look outside. “The Russians are retreating.”

Biaozi also noticed this. He hurriedly said, “Have the brothers pull back a bit! They’ll start shelling soon. Damn it, I’ve suffered from this trick several times already!”

Er Ganzi stood up at just the right moment. “Alright, I’ll lead the unit’s retreat!”

But catching sight of Biaozi’s fierce glare, Er Ganzi sat back down. “Fine, we won’t leave.”

Rather than saying their charge was repelled, it would be more accurate to say the Russians’ probing attack was over.

At the rear, Yang Xiaolin had already evacuated all the villagers. He gave each old person and child a bundle containing enough food. Yang Xiaolin told them, “Go now. Don’t stay here waiting for death. If you have relatives, go find them. If not, head to Fengtian or Shengjing.”

Some elderly wanted to stay and fight, but Yang Xiaolin knew their staying would only mean death. He told them fighting was Yang the Ghost’s job. They were old, and should leave and survive. Life in the city might be like that of a dog, but at least they’d be alive. If all else failed, they could go to Gulu Mountain. Yang Xiaolin promised that if he survived, he would look after them in the future.

After the villagers had left, Yang Xiaolin began to consider his own escape.

News from all sides was coming in, and the situation was increasingly unfavorable. Another Russian force of a thousand men had arrived and was setting up attack positions, forming a pincer with the thousand who had arrived earlier.

Yang Xiaolin’s brows knitted tightly. He knew all too well how much fighting strength his over one thousand men actually had.

Sui Bing came running from outside. “Captain, the Russians’ charge has been repelled. Biaozi’s group suffered heavy losses—of two hundred brothers, only seventy remain.”

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Yang Xiaolin was startled. It had only been a brief encounter, yet a probing attack by just over a hundred Russian soldiers had cost his company more than half its strength. This far exceeded Yang Xiaolin’s expectations.

“I understand. Go tell Biaozi to hold his position. Gather your men—prepare to break out.”

Sui Bing left. Jin Dadao was clearly worried for his old Company Three. “Captain, Biaozi’s group can't hold any longer. Should we swap them out?”

As he spoke, his gaze drifted over to Gu Tianming. Yang Xiaolin’s deployment was clear: Sui Bing’s men were to take on the breakout, Qian Yao’s men hadn’t even assembled properly—their officers barely knew each other. Company Five, in Jin Dadao’s view, was reserved for Liu Xian and wouldn’t be used here. So if Biaozi was replaced, only Gu Tianming’s men would be available.

Gu Tianming understood Jin Dadao’s meaning and stepped forward. “Captain, let me lead my brothers up there.”

Yang Xiaolin shook his head. “No, you have more important tasks. Biaozi must hold out.”

Sui Bing soon gathered the troops—two hundred men stood in the bitter cold. These were Yang’s old comrades; at least their squad and platoon leaders knew how to line up, so their formation was much neater than the other companies.

Yang Xiaolin walked past each brother, patting the shoulders of his old comrades, filling Sui Bing and the others with a sense of tragic heroism.

Yang Xiaolin circled the two-hundred-man formation, then stood at the very front. “Brothers, many of you are my old comrades. We’re not outsiders, so I won’t waste words. This time, we’re surrounded by the Russians—they want to wipe us out.”

“But they don’t have what it takes! In these mountains, our legs are faster than theirs! If it weren’t for the safety of the villagers, we’d have fled long ago. Your company commander told me Company Three lost over a hundred brothers covering the villagers’ retreat.”

Yang Xiaolin raised his head, inhaling the icy air deeply. “Over a hundred brothers—gone for just a few dozen villagers in this hamlet. I know some of you may think it’s not worth it, but I say it is. We carry guns so the villagers can live. We fight the Russians so all the people here can survive!”

His expression was resolute. “Forget a hundred brothers—even if I die too, it’s nothing. I’m not afraid! I want to know, are you?”

“Not afraid!” came the shout from over two hundred men.

Yang Xiaolin’s eyes sparkled with a smile. “Good, very good! We’re breaking out now. The Russians have encircled us from both sides. We can retreat from the rear or slip out sideways—either works. But I don’t want to do that! I believe my brothers are real men, so we’ll break out straight through the front! We’ll scatter them, then swagger out just as we did when we fought the imperial troops at Gulu Mountain, so they won’t even dare pursue! Are you brave enough?”

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“We are!”

The bandits’ morale soared, a sign of their inexperience. Truly seasoned soldiers would remain calm regardless of battlefield circumstances; even the most perilous fight would be just another battle to them.

Tang Yulin leaned in and whispered, “Brother Yang, think carefully.”

Yang Xiaolin’s face remained stern, devoid of expression, as he addressed the two hundred. “From now on, I am your company commander. This time, I’ll charge with you!”

Gu Tianming and several brothers carried large baskets over and set them down in front of the company. Each basket was filled with grenades.

Yang Xiaolin looked at the two hundred. “Those who think they have strong arms, step forward.”

More than forty men stepped out at once, a number that pleased Yang Xiaolin. He had no time to test their strength; anyone who stepped out he counted as strong.

“Good. All the grenades are yours! Strap on as many as you can carry. When I give the order, you’ll charge at the Russians. Don’t worry about anything else—just hurl grenades at them. Understood?”

“Understood!”

With about one hundred fifty men left, Yang Xiaolin continued, “Those who can shoot accurately, step forward!”