The first time Zhu Jingxing ate chocolate was after a day of fierce battles on the Tonggu front. The black baby bump was five days before the war, when he exchanged a packet of instant noodles for a British soldier.

At first, he didn't really want to change, after all, he had a big bag of instant noodles, and the taste was not bad, and he could deal with a meal after soaking it in boiling water. But the Englishman's chocolate was only a small piece, and it looked like he could eat it all in one bite, and it wasn't enough to stuff his teeth.

But looking at the piece of chocolate wrapped in tin foil, he remembered what Huang Zhengzhong once told him when he was in school, "Chocolate is not only delicious, but also recovers quickly." When will our country be able to popularize this thing for soldiers, even if it is really powerful! ”

That was Huang Zhengzhong's speech at a dormitory meeting.

Huang Ke describes chocolate as a delicacy that can quickly restore energy. Zhu Jingxing, who was born in a farming family, has naturally never tasted it, and has never even seen it, so his heart is full of great yearning for chocolate.

When the fortifications were being built that day, a British soldier ran over smelling the fragrance of instant noodles, these British soldiers were a rare group of people left in Tonggu, and they were going to evacuate in a few days, so he was not stingy with the chocolate in his hand, he proposed to Zhu Jingxing to exchange a piece of chocolate with him for a pack of instant noodles.

Zhu Jingxing did not agree before, because it was not cost-effective. He offered to exchange a box of chocolates, and later negotiated with the British soldiers many times before exchanging a pack of instant noodles for a piece and a half of chocolate. He gave the whole piece to a wounded brother, and the remaining half was wrapped in tin foil and kept in his jacket pocket.

Today's battle was too fierce, and the officers and men of the 18th Division of the Japanese Army pounced like wolves. The offense was like a tidal wave, wave after wave. The fierce Japanese infantry continued to attack with armored vehicles and tanks, and the shells fell like raindrops, and the soil on the position was cut off a layer, and the black exuded a * smell.

The attack continued from day to night, one flare after another illuminating the night as if it were day, and tracer bullets from both sides were like crossed rays. The brothers in his platoon fell down in front of him, some of them were torn to pieces by the Japanese machine guns, and the air on the entire Tonggu front line was filled with the smell of gunpowder smoke and blood.

This battle was fought so ferociously! It was the first time that Zhu Jingxing had felt the test of life and death so closely.

At about nine o'clock in the evening, the large-scale attack of the Japanese army stopped, and they were afraid that they were also tired.

The officers and men of the expeditionary force began to eat, and they soaked instant noodles mixed with canned beef provided by the Americans, and for a time the fragrance wafted for miles, making the mouth water.

The cooks began to serve the officers and soldiers with a large cauldron, some with bowls, and some with steel helmets. Zhu Jingxing also filled a large bowl of instant noodles, mixed with canned beef, and the fragrance was overflowing, and he pulled it all out in a few clicks.

After eating, Zhu Jingxing leaned on the edge of the bunker to rest, and the stars in the sky blinked. He happened to remember that he still had a piece of chocolate in his pocket.

I don't know when I'll live, so I'll just eat this thing.

He unbuttoned his jacket pocket, then took out the piece of chocolate that had melted a little, and gently peeled off the tin foil outside, revealing the chocolate.

It seems that Zhu Jingxing is still a little panicked, this thing is black, like wet mud that has been blown up by a cannonball. He closed his eyes and put the black thing in his mouth, and when the chocolate touched the taste buds on his tongue, he felt that he had never tasted so delicious again.

Sweet, fragrant! After taking a bite, Zhu Jingxing felt that he had come back to life from this lifeless battlefield, and his body felt these sensations again.

Zhu Jingxing thought in his heart that when the war was over, he would definitely buy a basket of such chocolates to take home, so that his parents at home could also taste them.

Just as he was thinking about it, Deputy Platoon Commander Hu Liqun walked over. After the deputy platoon commander of the platoon died in battle, Hu Liqun took over his post in the line of fire, in Hu Liqun's words, he was greedy for a life-saving officer on his head.

Hu Liqun sat next to Zhu Jingxing. He took off the steel helmet from his head, casually threw it in front of him, picked up the kettle and drank it with a clatter, then poured some water on his head and drenched the bare scalp.

Before entering Burma, according to the requirements of Commander Sun Liren, all officers and soldiers, regardless of military rank, should be shaved bald, and female soldiers must also have short hair with full ears. This is due to the consideration of the complex situation on the battlefield, the bald head is easy to care for and can prevent the enemy from grabbing the hair in hand-to-hand combat, and it is precisely because of this requirement that the officers and soldiers of the expedition are all bald, and at a glance they think that the Chinese soldiers are all monks.

The relationship between Hu Liqun and Zhu Jingxing has undergone some subtle changes, first of all, the two still don't like each other, but they can still maintain a high degree of consistency in military operations, and they will chat a few words of gossip in their spare time, of course, it is limited to some things on the battlefield.

Human relationships are sometimes delicate, and change is not a transformational event, sometimes it is like a drop of water through a stone. This is especially evident in the robes that are embodied on the battlefield.

Hu Liqun took out a cigarette case from his pocket, touched it and touched it to be empty, and then he said to Zhu Jingxing angrily: "Is there any smoke?" Give one and I'll pay you back another day. ”

Zhu Jingxing glanced at him, took out half a pack of camel cigarettes and threw it to him.

Hu Liqun ordered one, took a sip and then put the remaining half bag into his pocket: "Platoon leader, I can lend you a bag of miles and return it to you another day." ”

Zhu Jingxing snorted coldly: "That's the camel smoke aided by the United States, I took it from my classmates, you went up and got it and returned it?" ”

"......" Hu Liqun looked at the cigarette case: "It's okay, give it to you." ”

"Long-winded! You take it and smoke it, isn't it just half a pack of cigarettes? Zhu Jingxing also said angrily.

After speaking, Zhu Jingxing sat there, took out the tin foil just now and sniffed it on his nose again, the faint sweetness made him feel that there were still beautiful things.

"Platoon Commander Zhu! Platoon Commander Zhu! After a while, the herald of the battalion headquarters ran over, and the crowd in the trench automatically dispersed a passageway, allowing the dusty herald to come over.

Zhu Jingxing heard someone shouting to himself, and he also patted his ass and stood up.

Luo Xiaowen, the herald of the battalion headquarters, came over and said, "Platoon Commander Zhu, the battalion headquarters orders you to withdraw from your position at twelve o'clock at night and retreat to a monastery in the rear block for repairs. Tomorrow there is a new task for you. ”

"Oh, what's that mission?" After a day of fierce fighting, there is no better news than withdrawing to the rear, no one is iron-clad, no one is not afraid of death, it is good news for everyone to be able to withdraw to the rear for repair, but they don't know what task awaits them the next day?

……

There is a Christian church in the central neighborhood of Tonggu, which has been under construction for decades. After the outbreak of the war, shells fell here every day, and the people of Tonggu fled everywhere, unable to return home, let alone go to church.

But Reverend Sean stayed here, and he did not withdraw with the British. After the Chinese Expeditionary Force took over the defense of Tonggu, he took the initiative to open the church to treat the wounded people in the city and the wounded officers and soldiers on the front line, and as the war continued, the wounded here became more and more, and gradually became an important medical point in the city.

Pastor Sean simply hung the "Red Cross" flag, a symbol of peace, on the top of the church to avoid the Japanese bombing. However, Senior Mu Dan, who was in charge of docking with him, reminded him, "This will not work, on the contrary, it will make it easy for the Japanese to cause bombing targets." ”

Pastor Sean asked incomprehensibly, "Could it be that the Japanese will also bomb the Red Cross flag?" ”

Mu Dan nodded and said: "Not only will they bomb inadvertently, but if they find that the Red Cross flag is flying, I am afraid they will also use this as a key bombing area." ”

"Oh my God! God, that's so intimidating. For the safety of these children, I'm going to take those flags down now. After Pastor Shaun finished speaking, he ordered the flag to be taken down.

But Mudan continued, "Thank you, Pastor Sean. However, there are too many wounded here, and it is likely to be a target for Japanese spies, so we will send some soldiers to protect this place. ”

Mu Dan's suggestion was opposed by Pastor Sean, who shook his head and said, "No, sir, people with weapons should not be allowed in the church, it is not God's will. ”

Mudan explained; "Priest, this is only for the protection of the wounded, not for those who carry weapons in the traditional sense."

However, Pastor Sean was not going to give in, and he insisted that people with weapons should not be allowed to enter the church. In desperation, Mu Dan had no choice but to go back and report.

After hearing this, Master Dai asked, "This Pastor Sean is too stubborn, and we can't forcibly garrison the army." After all, he is helping us. In my opinion, some troops were sent to patrol the perimeter of this church, so as to avoid conflicts with the church, and also to play a protective role. You go and arrange it, you can probably send out a platoon, and there have been many cases of Burmese traitors colluding with Japanese spies to sabotage recently, and we must be vigilant. ”

Mu Dan said rightly: "Yes, I'll do it." ”

"By the way, one more thing. Tomorrow two international reporters will fly in from Lashio, and they want to cover some of the situation on our front, and they are expected to stay for a while, so you will receive me on my behalf first, and then I will personally accompany you at the luncheon at noon. Master Dai said.

"Okay, what time will you be there?" Mudan asked.

"This time is uncertain, you go back and ask the confidential department to ask the expeditionary force headquarters." Master Dai said.