Chapter 289: Seems Like an Old Friend Has Come

He Yuzhu also shook his head helplessly. He would not open fire on people who had surrendered.

Just then, a black soldier suddenly shouted in accented Chinese: "Zhuzi! It's me, Martin, the one in New York who used to chop vegetables for you in the kitchen!"

He Yuzhu looked closely and saw that it was indeed Martin, who had once fainted and been saved by him, and whom he had given a job.

He asked in surprise: "How did you end up becoming a soldier?"

Martin gave a bitter smile: "Ever since you sold the restaurant, the new Boss didn't want me anymore. I could only do odd jobs everywhere; for a while, I almost starved to death. Those people discriminated against us, so there was no other way, I had to become a soldier."

He Yuzhu nodded and said: "I can trust you, but I must tie up your brothers and hand them over to our troops!"

Martin hurriedly explained: "They are all my brothers, they are all good people. We don't like fighting; we joined the United Nations Forces just to make a living. I can work with you, really!"

"Are you speaking from the heart?" He Yuzhu stared into his eyes.

Martin smiled honestly: "We all went from Africa to the United States. Our relatives all said it was a paradise where gold was everywhere, but I felt it was hell..." It had to be said that this Martin had a strong talent for language; he spoke as if he were rapping, cursing New York as worthless while also expressing his attitude of not wanting to fight for the United Nations Forces at all.

He Yuzhu pondered for a moment and finally nodded: "I have to say, you really moved me. From now on, the five of you will stay by my side."

Martin turned to his companions excitedly and said: "Brothers, Zhuzi is a very good person. The food he makes is super delicious. The three months I worked with him were the happiest days of my life."

Although the other four black soldiers were a little doubtful, they nodded one after another: "We believe what Martin says. We'll work with you!"

No one expected the outcome to be like this. He Yuzhu nodded and said: "Then I will give you special treatment; from now on, you are my brothers."

The five of them were very happy to hear this.

Ershuan, who was on the side, felt a bit uneasy. He looked at these dark-skinned people and felt a bit uncomfortable in his heart.

He stayed by He Yuzhu's side the whole time, his hand resting on his holster.

He Yuzhu introduced: "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

He Yuzhu began to count the number of people, and his mood could not help but become heavy.

Although the attack just now was a surprise raid, 15 soldiers still sacrificed their lives, and more than twenty others were wounded.

The New First Company has sacrificed 28 brothers to date.

The soldiers were very happy, lighting fires in front of the tanks one after another. They lifted the hatches, climbed into the driver's cabins, and touched the control sticks as if they couldn't put them down, not even bothering to tidy up the mountain of captured canned food.

Wang Tieshan leaned over and asked: "Zhuzi, we only have fifteen people here who can drive cars, but they don't know how to drive tanks. How are we going to get so many Iron Turtles back?"

He Yuzhu grabbed a handful of snow and rubbed his face, saying: "Call everyone who can drive over. I will teach them and try to have them ready in two hours."

"Really?"

"Don't worry!" He Yuzhu said.

At this time, Martin walked over and volunteered: "We all know how to drive tanks; we can teach your men!"

He Yuzhu nodded: "That won't be necessary; they can't understand what you're saying. Later, just have each of you drive a tank back to the base."

"No problem!" Martin patted his chest in assurance.

Seeing that Martin was very proactive, He Yuzhu struck while the iron was hot, deciding to win them over completely.

He called the five black men to an empty corner, took out twenty thousand dollars and waved it in front of them, and said solemnly: "You work for me, and I won't treat you unfairly. From now on, I will pay you a salary of 300 dollars a month. In the eyes of others, you are just prisoners, but in my eyes... we are brothers... we are friends..."

He Yuzhu's words brought tears to the eyes of the few men.

"However, only we few know about this; don't tell anyone else."

"Understood!"

He Yuzhu knew that knowing how to drive American tanks was definitely a solid technical skill; spending a little money was very worth it.

"Understood!" the few men said in unison.

He Yuzhu continued to promise: "After the war is over, if you don't want to go back to the United States, I can send you to my sister's company in Hong Kong, and I will also give you a good salary."

Seeing that everyone nodded in agreement, He Yuzhu felt slightly relieved.

He knew that for these few people, joining the army was just to make a living, and it was the same no matter who they worked for. Since he had the money to hire them, it saved him the time of trying to reform them.

He immediately gave each of them two hundred dollars as an advance on their salary.

The few black men happily kissed the banknotes—in the United Nations Forces, they only earned 100 dollars a month.

Soon, the soldiers who could drive gathered together.

He Yuzhu stood in a tank and taught on the spot, explaining how to drive the tank and operate the artillery.

Martin and the others also assisted and demonstrated on the side.

At dawn, the team returned to the valley loaded with spoils of war.

Not only were a large amount of supplies captured, but all twenty-three tanks were also driven back in two batches.

After successfully contacting Regimental Commander Yang and learning that reinforcements would not arrive for two days, He Yuzhu immediately became busy.

He clearly knew that with only four Anti-aircraft Guns and ten Anti-aircraft Machine Guns, it would be difficult to withstand the bombing of more than ten enemy aircraft.

The only way was to excavate a Cave in the valley so that the soldiers could take cover in time during air raids.

He Yuzhu found Martin and said: "You continue to help me train them in tank driving and weapon operation."

Martin readily agreed: "No problem!"

For the entire day, He Yuzhu led the soldiers to blast the mountainside and excavate the Cave.

Until night fell, the enemy still had not appeared. He Yuzhu could not help but feel a glimmer of luck—perhaps the enemy would not come?

However, at midnight, the scout Xiao Zhang ran back panting to report: "Company Commander, this time the enemy has come with thousands of people, and there are one hundred and fifty tanks!"

"How far are they from us?" He Yuzhu asked.

"They are still more than ten miles away from here; they have already set up camp and have no intention of continuing to advance, but they have sent out many scouts."

He Yuzhu said: "Withdraw all the scouts; don't worry about those enemy scouts."

"Yes." Xiao Zhang went out.

He Yuzhu took a deep breath; what was meant to come would come eventually, which meant that tomorrow would surely be a bloody battle.

He immediately summoned all the Platoon Leaders for a meeting, asking them to report on the construction of the defensive fortifications.

Wang Tieshan reported first: "Company Commander, we have deployed the twenty-three tanks according to your requirements, aimed the cannons at the valley entrance, and built bunkers all around; we will never let the enemy in."

"How is the ammunition situation?"

"Very sufficient; we have collected all the ammunition from those crippled Tanks."

"How are Martin and those few people doing?"

"Not bad, they are quite cooperative."

He Yuzhu turned to the Platoon Leader of the Second Platoon: "Xu Jian, your Second Platoon will act as a mobile unit, responsible for annihilating any infantry that breaks through the defensive line."

"Yes!"

During the day, He Yuzhu had directed the soldiers to block the essential path with the destroyed Tanks. After his subordinates left, he also planted Landmines under every abandoned Tank, including both anti-tank mines and ordinary Landmines. It could be said that that stretch of road would become the final destination for many people's lives.

He Yuzhu planted the mines very quickly; with a mere thought, the Landmines would be buried, leaving no traces behind.

Early the next morning, it was not the infantry that arrived, but a reconnaissance plane.

The reconnaissance plane flew very high; it was clear that the loss of three B29 Bombers last time had caused them great distress, and this time they wanted to investigate clearly.

Half an hour later, nine small bright spots appeared on He Yuzhu's Radar.