Chapter 485: Blinding Military Cap

Wu Zhekun saw it, rushed to take over; he didn't want to, on the chance to claim merit for Lu Cheng after the victory, watch Lu Cheng blunder.

"Old Lu!"

Lu Cheng smiled, pointed the barrel at the ground: "Don't be nervous, it's my first time handling this gun, just curious."

Seeing Wu Zhekun didn't believe, Lu Cheng added: "You rushed the position with the submachine gun too bravely; you don't know how cramped I felt holding a hunting rifle then, so let me fire a few shots to try it out."

Wu Zhekun felt embarrassed to reply, thinking Lu Cheng was the bravest.

First he suggested a charge with two trucks, then climbed onto the truck's front, sprayed a burst that killed three, and even when the hunting rifle became useless, he fought the enemy hand‑to‑hand with his fists.

He turned the unfavorable situation in one move, then went alone to chase the enemy and successfully captured the two soldiers.

He's a good soldier material, but Lu Cheng's ambition lies elsewhere; even the principle of not killing prisoners he refuses to accept.

Seeing Lu Cheng interested in the gun, Wu Zhekun helped check the magazine, pulled the bolt, then said to Lu Cheng.

"There are four bullets left inside; if you want to try, just fire one."

Lu Cheng took the gun again, aimed the barrel at a distant tree, and pulled the trigger.

"Bang"—the bullet left the barrel.

It's a pity; although Lu Cheng tried to aim at the trunk, the shot went off target.

"This old Russian's gun is useless, I clearly aimed."

Wu Zhekun replied: "This rifle has strong recoil and is heavy; the muzzle climb is noticeable, and this old gun's trajectory is off. When you fire, lower the barrel a bit and tilt slightly to the right."

Following Wu Zhekun's guidance, Lu Cheng tried again, but Wu Zhekun held him down.

"Leave three bullets... give them to Squad Leader Ma for the journey."

The forest wind rose, rustling the leaves.

Around Ma Dagang's corpse, a circle of people stood, even the wounded trying to straighten their bodies.

Ma Dagang's head had been pierced sideways by a bullet; when his body was lifted, his eyes were still open, and a young Comrade closed his eyelids.

Everyone removed their hats and stood there in silence.

Lu Cheng took off his coat, stepped forward, and placed it over Ma Dagang's chest.

Wu Zhekun took the military cap and placed it on Ma Dagang's face.

Then stepping back, he shouted loudly: "Everyone, raise your guns, fire three shots!"

All the people lifted their rifles toward the sky.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

After three gunshots, the forest fell silent again, as if this wordless act honored and bid farewell to Squad Leader Ma.

At that moment, Wu Zhekun, highly sensitive to the gunfire, involuntarily frowned.

He realized someone didn't follow his order: they were supposed to fire three shots but only fired one.

Wu Zhekun looked at Lu Cheng, who gestured at his rifle: "Seems like the cartridge is jammed."

Lu Cheng's unfamiliarity with firearms is understandable.

Moreover, the fierce battle wasted time, so Wu Zhekun immediately ordered everyone to board and keep moving.

As for Squad Leader Ma's corpse, two Railway Troops were left to transport it back to the Farm.

When boarding, Lu Cheng voluntarily asked to sit in the rear Carriage together with the two enemy soldiers.

"Old Lu, don't sit in the back; sit beside me in the co‑driver seat, I'll arrange someone to watch those two."

Lu Cheng shook his head: "That won't do; I'll guard them myself. I captured those two, I must hand them over to your company personally, otherwise you'd steal my merit."

Wu Zhekun was speechless: "With that talk, how could we possibly steal your merit? What do you think we are?"

Lu Cheng still refused, hugged his gun and plopped into the Carriage.

"That's hard to say; you charge into battle as if you have no life, but besides defending the homeland, don't you think about earning merit, becoming a Platoon Leader, a Company Commander, maybe even a Commander…"

Wu Zhekun suddenly didn't know how to argue; yes, while killing the enemy, everyone certainly wants Merit.

This way of earning merit is quite normal.

Yet Lu Cheng's bluntness made people feel uneasy.

"Fine, I can't beat you; if you want to guard, just watch, I'll be with you."

Lu Cheng didn't let him up: "You're injured; just sit properly in the co‑driver seat."

"Hah, this little wound is nothing, doesn't matter."

Lu Cheng still refused: "Then go write a letter in the co‑driver seat; my sister wrote you so many letters, replying with just one now isn't right."

"Since this parting, who knows when we'll meet again; there's still a stretch ahead, so write a few more letters, I'll take them back for you."

Hearing Lu Cheng's words, Wu Zhekun scratched his head.

Lu Cheng was right; we don't know when we'll meet next, maybe never.

Thinking that, Wu Zhekun finally agreed to go to the co‑driver seat: "Alright, if anything happens, call me anytime."

"Don't worry, I've got eyes on them; they won't escape."

Wu Zhekun believed that; they had caught up earlier, let alone now the two prisoners are bound and Lu Cheng is guarding with his gun.

Those two captives have no chance of escaping.

Wu Zhekun went to the co‑driver seat, and the four trucks lined up and kept moving.

Lu Cheng sat in the Carriage, cradling the AK-47, his gaze passing the two enemy soldiers lying in the Carriage, looking backward.

The two Railway Troops left behind waved at the departing vehicles.

"Lu Jingzhang, we wait for you to return… to come back safely…"

After this fierce battle, everyone clearly understood life's value, yet even if it happened again, Lu Cheng believes they would still choose to charge without fear.

Not just for Squad Leader Ma, but also for this scorching land.

The trucks drove farther, Ma Dagang's corpse grew smaller, but in everyone's hearts, Squad Leader Ma remained towering.

Another gust of wind blew by, and the military cap on Ma Dagang's face was blown off onto the ground.

A young comrade hurriedly picked it up, first helped lift Squad Leader Ma's corpse, and another comrade carried it on his shoulder.

The cap was carefully put back on, and then, heading toward the Farm, they walked back slowly.

The green military cap was a bit glaring…

Fortunately at that moment, the truck turned a corner, and the cap vanished from sight.

Lu Cheng gently inhaled, his eyes already a bit reddened.

He looked at the two captives lying in the Carriage, then stood up and untied the ropes on their feet.

The two were clearly a bit surprised and puzzled, and Lu Cheng, regardless of whether they could understand, after untying the ropes, kept leaning against the Carriage to sleep while murmuring to himself.

"There's still some distance left on the journey; I see you're uncomfortable with your feet bound, so I'll let you move a bit—don't say I don't treat prisoners well…"

The two enemy soldiers indeed didn't understand Lu Cheng's words, but from their expressions, Lu Cheng clearly shifted from ferocity to kindness.

Could it be that the soldier just now had lectured them, making them realize the rule against killing prisoners?

Thinking this, the two enemy soldiers stirred with hope; the ropes on their feet had already been untied, which would indeed give them a chance to escape.