"Which unit are you from? Hmm? The 88th Division?!"
The commander was about to lose his temper when his gaze fell upon the small insignia on Lin Feng’s chest. The words he was about to shout choked in his throat.
"Major Lin Feng, 264th Brigade, 88th Division!"
Lin Feng declared his unit designation and then saluted the commander. Despite the man’s intense scrutiny, Lin Feng did not show a hint of fear. There was an old saying that a rank higher could crush a subordinate, but his original identity was that of the 88th Division—the absolute elite of the Generalissimo’s own forces!
"The 264th Brigade?! Commander Huang’s unit? How did you end up here?"
After hearing the unit name, the commander’s attitude shifted visibly.
"What a case of the flood washing away the Dragon King’s temple! I am Zhang Sanhu; your brigade commander and I are old acquaintances!"
Zhang Sanhu grabbed Lin Feng’s hands, his expression trembling with what was clearly excitement.
"Commander Zhang, might I ask you to allow my wounded men to be admitted to the hospital first?"
Lin Feng pulled his hands away, feeling a bit panicked. After all, he was not the original owner of this body; it would be disastrous if his cover were blown.
"Let them pass!"
With a wave of his hand, two guards stepped aside to clear the path. Hu Youming and the others watched in astonishment; they had expected a struggle, never imagining Lin Feng possessed such connections.
The hospital was not far. Lin Feng arranged for the wounded to go first, followed closely by the two platoons of guards.
"Wait, something’s not right! Nephew, how is it that your unit is entirely composed of Sichuanese soldiers, and all the weapons you’re carrying are Arisaka rifles?!"
Commander Zhang, having just relaxed his guard, noticed the weapons and footwear of the men. His gaze immediately sharpened, and he stared intently at Lin Feng, fearing that the man’s next move would be to draw his weapon and open fire.
"Commander Zhang, these brothers were men I gathered along the way. I have been out of contact with Divisional Headquarters for a long time! These weapons were all captured from the Japanese, fair and square!"
Lin Feng explained slowly to avoid further misunderstanding. With the front lines at Songhu raging, the Japanese were constantly infiltrating their territory. If they were accidentally wiped out as enemy spies, he would have no place to appeal for justice.
"These few men were able to wipe out so many Japanese soldiers?!"
The adjutant beside Zhang Sanhu clearly did not believe it, given that there were sixty or seventy rifles in total.
"Just because you can’t do it doesn’t mean we can’t. Even if they are Sichuanese soldiers, it makes a difference when I am the one leading them, doesn't it?"
Lin Feng paused for a moment and then chose to speak the truth without hesitation.
"You!"
The adjutant’s face changed instantly, and he was about to grumble. But when he saw the clear insignia on Lin Feng’s chest—a Major from the 88th Division—and noticed Lin Feng’s young age, he held his tongue. Given his credentials, the man was undoubtedly a graduate of a top-tier military academy, either from Whampoa or a returnee from abroad.
Hearing Lin Feng’s response, Commander Zhang nodded. He clearly accepted the explanation; as a Major in the 88th Division, the absolute elite, one had to have real substance.
"Nephew, since you only have a hundred men left, why not stay and serve as my staff officer? Besides, your brigade commander and I are old friends."
Zhang spoke with genuine sincerity.
"Major, our regiment might not compare to your 88th Division, but our commander is an honest man. If you come, you’ll definitely have the room to make a name for yourself!" The adjutant, quick-witted, immediately began lobbying Lin Feng on his commander’s behalf.
"Commander Zhang, I am grateful for your kindness! But I was born a man of the 88th Division, and if I die, I will still be a ghost of the 88th Division! Commander Huang died heroically for his country, and we shall not fear death either!"
With these words, Lin Feng sounded as if he were on the verge of tears, demonstrating his unwavering resolve.
"Sigh, nephew, there is no need for this! Very well, we shall talk more when we return."
With a long sigh, Commander Zhang led his men away, looking somewhat disappointed. Before leaving, the adjutant gave Lin Feng a meaningful look, as if hinting at something, but seeing that Lin Feng remained unmoved, he shook his head and followed the others.
Only when they were far away did Lin Feng finally breathe a sigh of relief. Having borrowed the original owner’s identity, he realized such situations would likely arise again in the future.
"Battalion Commander, when will we set off again?"
Zhang Xingguo, who had been guarding behind him, walked over with a machine gun in his arms, his head poking forward as he asked. He was clearly interested in Lin Feng’s earlier claim about taking the unit back to the front lines.
"Let’s rest for two days! Two days from now, we will likely be moving out again."
After this incident, Lin Feng felt a bit troubled. He knew he couldn't get this lucky every time. If he encountered real 88th Division personnel later, his cover might be blown. Perhaps being constantly on the front lines would make things easier. As for Zhang Xingguo’s question, Lin Feng had only given it a passing thought. He would have to find someone to learn about the original owner’s history when he had the chance, otherwise, it was too dangerous.
"Yes, sir! I’ll go notify the company commander to prepare early."
As he spoke, Zhang Xingguo trotted off with the machine gun. By the time everyone reached the hospital, it was already past noon, and the sun was high in the sky. Fortunately, as it was late autumn, it wasn’t excessively hot.
The field hospital was not large—it was essentially just a cluster of small buildings. Surrounded by hills, woods, and overgrown grass, it was quite well-hidden.
The hospital was filled with wounded men; missing limbs were a common sight. Some had even been disemboweled by explosions, their intestines exposed if not for the tightly wound bandages. The bandages themselves were soaked in blood; if they did not receive proper medical care, they wouldn't last long.
Moans and cries echoed everywhere. Lin Feng leaned his back against a wall.
"Battalion Commander, you should get some rest too. The wounded have all been settled," Hu Youming said, seeing Lin Feng’s furrowed brow. Lin Feng was the pillar of the entire unit now.
"Old Hu, our land is being torn apart, and the Japanese invaders are trampling us! I cannot swallow this insult!"
Listening to those groans—these men lying on the ground, having lost their flesh and blood—each one of them was the apple of their parents’ eyes, or perhaps a father or an elder to someone else. Yet, at this moment of national crisis, they had surged to the front without a second thought. Having been raised under the ideals of the Red Flag, Lin Feng could not suppress the burning rage in his heart.
"Battalion Commander, we will defeat the invaders sooner or later!" Hu Youming remained silent for a moment before clenching his fists and speaking through gritted teeth.
"Old Hu, are you willing to follow me to fight the invaders? Until we drive them out of this land!"
Lin Feng had thought about a lot. That his soul had arrived in this familiar land and not died immediately was a gift from the heavens. Since he was here, it was just one lowly life anyway! Why not give his all for this land? Even if he were to die, he would have no regrets!