Chapter 80: Encounter in the Woods
The Nanajuku Mountains are a dense and deep forest that has been formed since the Nara period, and when viewed from above, it looks like a sea of trees, and the waves are long when the breeze blows.
Xiao Lin looked at the somewhat familiar scenery in front of him, and he knew that his troops were lost again.
I don't know whether my team of Japanese soldiers is lucky or unlucky, and the forest that is easy to get lost in makes it easy for people to fall into it, and at the same time rejects the huge army of displaced people. Compared to the plains that were swept away by them along the way, the forest here at least allowed Xiao Lin and others to encounter plants such as banana roots, wild fruits, and wild vegetables from time to time, and the wild beasts that could be encountered from time to time improved the appetite of Xiao Lin soldiers.
Without looking at the compass in his hand, Kobayashi picked up the bayonet stuck in his waist and made a cut on the pine wood on the side, leading the troops to continue to walk forward.
Since entering this forest, the compass in the hands of the Kobayashi team members has often encountered malfunctioning problems, and Kobayashi, who knows a lot about geology, knows that this is probably related to the lava magnetic field in this mountainous area.
The dense woods and vines swirling in it resemble an impermeable green city, obscuring the deep blue sky, and occasionally the sunlight through the gaps in the canopy makes Kobayashi happy. At least the weather is good today, and I can judge the basic direction through it.
Xiao Lin and his subordinates had no other choice, no matter whether there was life or death ahead, leaving behind the ridiculous task before, they could only continue to move forward step by step......
When it began to drizzle in the sky, the road through the mountain forest began to become more muddy, and Kobayashi and his team continued to march one foot at a time and one foot deeper, from morning to noon, and after a little rest, the troops marched again.
Kobayashi wiped a handful of the rain that gradually grew on his face, raised his head and cursed God, he was no longer afraid of Amaterasu's curse, just like this sky obscured by a dense black canopy, Japan at this time had already become a hell on earth.
He took out a gold-encrusted pocket watch from his trouser pocket and looked at it, then put it away, which Kobayashi had found from the corpse of a Russian officer. It's almost five o'clock, and the time has passed in sync with everyone's already sore legs and feet, and it's time to find a place to spend the night.
It's not a good idea to walk at night in a mountainous forest full of wild beasts, Kobayashi thought to himself.
Luckily, the team found a cave before dark, and it was a rare pleasure to have such a dry place to rest in the wet weather.
After entering the cave, Xiaolin's team began to divide labor one by one, lighting fires and vigilance.
As the human broth mixed with rainwater in the iron lunch box boiled, the hearts of the people became quiet.
The fatigue and hunger of the past few days made these Japanese soldiers, including Kobayashi, not want to move again, and at this time, the heat of the hot broth was enough for all of them to feel satisfied.
After a simple dinner, after arranging the order of the sentry posts at night, Kobayashi's team members changed into hot and dry clothes baked in front of the fire in turn, and walked to the drier and warmer cave one by one.
The people, who had long since lost their bedding, were no longer particular about it, and lay on the rocky ground with their backs to back.
Under the light of the freshly lit fire beside him, Xiao Lin took out the pocket watch from his pocket again.
Also recovered from the Russian officer was an aluminum flask, a box of Earl Cigarettes, a photograph, an 11-caliber Russian-made Maxim revolver, and a few remaining rounds.
Laying out the things one by one on the blanket spread out on the ground, Kobayashi narrowed his eyes and picked up the round photo that had been embedded in his pocket watch.
The young parents on both sides are tightly embracing a cute blonde girl in the middle, and it can be seen from the clothes that the life of this family is comfortable and happy enough.
The sweet and happy smile of the little girl, who occupies half of the area, suddenly reminded him of his young daughter, and the thoughts that drifted through instantly pierced Xiao Lin's heart.
"Don't blame me...... Bub...... My house was ruined in the same way, by your father......"
Holding the photo tightly in his hand, Kobayashi Motoji gradually fell into a peaceful sleep while muttering to himself......
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The early morning sun poured into the forest, and with the slight shaking of the ground, the small animals that had been foraging in the grass disappeared one by one.
A Russian army is struggling through the dense forest, and compared to the natural forest farms of Hokkaido, these arbor jungles in the central part of Honshu really make the Russian troops in front of them feel very uncomfortable.
The human remains that were often visible on the road, coupled with the terrible screams that kept coming from not far away, all the Russian soldiers had to step up their progress while feeling furious in their hearts.
As he walked, Vladimir glanced at Colonel Andrei beside him again, and seemed to be speechless.
"Say what you have to say?" Ender gestured with his hands, and the troops stopped in turn as he moved.
Looking at the prefect in front of him, who was raising his glasses and observing the distance, Vladimir shook his head.
"Colonel, we have lost so many soldiers on the battlefield in Japan, why are the superiors so attentive to the missing Mikhail?"
That's right, this group of Andrea's troops was looking for the Russian officer named Mikhail.
"Don't be indignant, Vladimir," Andre replied sideways, putting down his binoculars, "that's the case in Russia, the Mikhail family is a centuries-old nobleman, and has been fighting with the royal family since before the coronation of Tsar Ivan...... When you win the same glory for your family, the Governor will consider giving you the same treatment. ”
"Besides, compared to those noble young masters who always like to hide in Europe and are unwilling to accept recruitment. Lieutenant Mikhail, who has been fighting bravely on the front line, deserves it, isn't it? ”
Vladimir let out a long sigh, "I'd rather he hadn't come here......"
"Let's go, I see, there's a cave ahead," Andre said again, "order to speed up the march!" ”
"Yes, sir!" Vladimir reluctantly accepted the order, gave a military salute and ran forward......
As a team of Russian troops walked into the cave, the residual heat of the fire with soot instantly attracted the attention of Colonel Andrey!
"It's Japanese! I shouldn't have gone far, run ahead and catch up with them! ”
"Yes, sir!"
……
The rain in the sky was getting heavier and heavier, and the whole sky was as gloomy as if it had been covered with a gray quilt.
Japanese soldiers lined up in columns and marched through the jungle through the mud a foot deep. Kobayashi, who was the young samurai, took the lead and brandished a bayonet to open the way ahead.
As the rain continued to splash down, the fog in the mountains became more and more diffuse, and the plants in the forest grew wildly, which also greatly increased the difficulty of the Kobayashi troops' march. Touching his wrist, which was a little red, swollen and painful, Kobayashi sighed and accepted the kindness of Lieutenant Fukatsu beside him and gave up the position of the striker.
In the face of nature, the manpower seemed so small, and the Japanese soldiers continued to move silently in the mud one by one, without the mood or strength to speak.
"There's someone in the woods!"
The sudden warning sound from his side instantly made all the Japanese soldiers tense their nerves.
"Someone is coming, and the direction is west." Fukatsu walked up to Kobayashi and whispered.
Kobayashi himself heard the sound of wading from the upper reaches of the stream to the west, and it sounded like there were quite a few people.
Signaling all the Japanese soldiers to hide on both sides, Kobayashi took the telescope handed by Fukatsu and looked up.
The figure of a Russian soldier appeared in the faint fog, and as his hand moved back, a large number of vigilant Russian soldiers appeared in the camera, holding Mosingan rifles in their hands and moving towards their side......