"Understood! I've noted that. I will re-adjust our fire deployment before we set off shortly."
Hearing that the old man was actually the company's machine gunner, Lin Feng smiled kindly and nodded.
"Yes, sir!"
Upon hearing Lin Feng's words, Hu Youming immediately stamped his feet and shouted loudly. Zhang Xingguo and Old Wang, standing nearby, were so stirred that they followed suit.
"By the way, Old Hu, besides the firearms, we also captured some field rations. Go ahead and distribute them among everyone."
Lin Feng felt that food was the most important of the captured supplies. The Gan Country national troops had been pursued relentlessly by the Japanese devils for days; they must have been physically and mentally exhausted. Soldiers need food to keep going, and logistics were the absolute priority. Now that they had won a victory, if they didn't have food, Lin Feng was truly worried the unit wouldn't be able to hold out.
"Battalion Commander, this is the ration I captured. Here, for you!"
Zhang Xingguo reached into his pocket, pulled out a can, and handed it to Lin Feng.
"If you give it to me, what will you eat?"
Looking at the pocket that had been bulging just a moment ago, now visibly flat, it was clear that the lad hadn't kept a single bit for himself.
"It’s nothing, Battalion Commander! You have to lead the unit. I’m young, I’m not very hungry!"
As he spoke, Zhang Xingguo even bounced on his toes to show he still had energy.
"You silly kid, we’ll eat together! Old Hu, I don't allow special treatment in our unit. Do you understand?"
Lin Feng said this while staring fixedly at Hu Youming. These words left the three men stunned, and they found their eyes welling up with tears.
"What are you standing there for? Go get it done! Time waits for no one. If the Japanese Air Corps spots us later, we’ll be in deep trouble!"
Lin Feng understood their silence. In the current Gan Country army, the disparity in treatment between officers and soldiers was extreme. Logistics were incredibly difficult to manage; some mid-to-high-ranking officers would embezzle supplies, leaving the common soldiers with next to nothing.
"Battalion Commander, from now on, this life of mine—this Old Hu’s life—belongs to you! If you tell me to march west, I’ll never head east!"
After saying this, Hu Youming left immediately to arrange the food distribution and inventory the captured weapons. Lin Feng kept Zhang Xingguo and Old Wang behind. The three of them shared one ration; although it wasn't much, it was enough for everyone to have a bite.
Night had fallen, and the sun had completely dipped below the mountains. In this era, the stars were clearly visible in the night sky. The group, including the wounded, took some time to rest. Around midnight, Lin Feng and Hu Youming gathered the platoon leaders for a meeting.
"Battalion Commander, we are still five kilometers from the field hospital. Today we had many new wounded—over a dozen. I estimate we won't arrive until noon tomorrow."
Hu Youming was the first to report the current status of the unit. The bayonet fight at dusk had been far too perilous. The Japanese were all experts with the bayonet, and it had taken several national soldiers to take down just one enemy; even so, they had suffered casualties.
"Old Hu, I am adjusting our fire deployment. Since we are short on personnel, our company will be organized into two platoons, with 24 men each."
Lin Feng had calculated the number of Type 38 rifles. From a reinforced squad, they had grown to the size of a Japanese platoon, capturing nearly seventy Type 38 rifles—enough to fully equip two platoons, though they couldn't reach full strength due to the current shortage of men.
"Additionally, take the three captured Type 11 Light Machine Guns and organize ten men into a fire support squad. Old Wang will be the squad leader, and Zhang Xingguo the deputy leader."
Lin Feng considered the machine guns to be the most vital source of light infantry firepower.
"As for the remaining four grenade dischargers, given the limited supply of shells, I will have six men follow me. I will teach them how to operate the launchers!"
Lin Feng kept the mortar team under his direct command. The unit lacked trained gunners, and he didn't have enough shells to teach them by trial and error.
"Battalion Commander, once we reach the hospital, can we still stay with you?"
Zhang Xingguo, sitting in the corner, suddenly stood up, his tone filled with entreaty. At the same time, the surrounding platoon leaders and Hu Youming all turned their gazes toward him.
Lin Feng was momentarily caught off guard by the question, but then he looked down at the 88th Division insignia shining on his chest and understood.
"You silly kid, I already promised to incorporate you—do you think I was lying? But following me means more fighting against the Japanese. Have you thought that through?"
Lin Feng smiled calmly, and his words put everyone's anxious hearts at ease. Having experienced the cruel casualty ratios on the front lines, how could they not realize how capable this man was? He had led only fifty men and, despite being significantly outgunned by the Japanese, had achieved a victory against the odds. Such a ferocious commander left these soldiers from the ragtag units feeling a bit dazed. They had been terrified that Lin Feng would drop them off at the field hospital and leave them behind, leaving their fates uncertain.
"That's great! Following Officer Lin means we get to eat meat!"
Zhang Xingguo was the youngest, and his smile in the dark was the brightest.
The meeting lasted about an hour. After the meeting adjourned, everyone immediately went to carry out the fire deployment. Around 2:00 a.m., the hundred or so men finished their rest and prepared to set off once more.
"Reporting to the Battalion Commander, the first platoon is ready!"
"Reporting to the Battalion Commander, the second platoon is ready!"
Having eaten their fill in the evening, wearing Japanese military boots and carrying Type 38 rifles, the two units looked reasonably organized. The leader of the first platoon was Niu Dali, a sturdy man. The second platoon leader was covered in dust and grime—everyone called him Wang Mazi—but there was a sharpness in his eyes.
"There must be many Japanese infiltration units nearby. Keep your guard up at all times! Now, move out!"
Lin Feng didn't waste any more words and ordered the march to continue through the night to avoid being spotted by Japanese aircraft during the day. The two platoons flanked the group of wounded. A few scouts led the way, while Lin Feng walked at the rear with the grenade discharger team. As they marched, Lin Feng turned his attention back to the Simulator in his mind.
[Current Killing Value: 56]
[Available Simulator Redeems]
Fifty-six points of Killing Value were enough to redeem five white-tier simulations, or he could save them up to hit one hundred for a grey-tier simulation.
"No, the situation is too dangerous right now. I could die at any moment—I have to simulate!"
[Ding! Congratulations to the host for redeeming 1 white-tier simulation!]
Lin Feng didn't trade all fifty-plus Killing Value points for white-tier simulations. Through his previous attempts, he had learned that the end of a simulation was marked by his own death. Since that was the case, why not use white-tier simulations to scout the path ahead, and once he had more Killing Value, go for the grey-tier? He knew that even a white-tier simulation provided highly practical rewards, and he was curious to see what a grey-tier simulation might offer.