Chapter 200: Since we can't win, let's go down together

Wow, you still know how to use a mortar?

The mortar squad leader misspoke.

Actually, many individual soldiers know how to use mortars.

But they can only use them; most of their shots are inaccurate.

Because this requires calculating angle, direction, trajectory, and other parameters.

As a result, this guy not only knows how to use it, but also shoots extremely accurately, which is totally outrageous.

Lu Yang crouched on the ground, quickly dropping mortar shells into the barrel; as each shell arced down onto multiple attacking units of the Third Battalion, many infantrymen were blown up, taken completely by surprise.

After all, who would have thought that their own rear mortar squad would be seized by the enemy and turned against them?

Are these mortar squad members brainless? How are they aiming? The shells are exploding right next to our own troops!

They're probably already wiped out; the ones now firing the mortar are from the Second Battalion!

Does the Second Battalion still have mortar experts? Hand me the binoculars—I want to look!

Damn, that's the Sixth Company's sharpshooter Lu Yang!

What are you joking about? He's a sharpshooter, not a mortar expert!

It's really him firing—I'm not kidding, look!

Focus fire, focus fire—I want him dead!

The Third Battalion Commander was so angry he was about to vomit blood.

They could have charged straight to the goal in one go, but now the front is blocked by a bunch of scattered landmines.

In the rear, a bunch of fleas keep harassing; although the damage is limited, they still have to divert troops to deal with them.

The most hateful thing is this Lu Yang, who wiped out their mortar squad and then used his own cannon to blast their own troops.

The Third Battalion sent out many troops to encircle and suppress, so the rear harassment by Liu Ziqiang, Chen Panpan, Sun Chen, and others was ultimately completely dismantled.

But their sacrifice was not in vain; it successfully bought some more time.

Time ticked by, and the battle gradually intensified into a white-hot struggle.

Both sides were in a fight-to-the-death stance; the Second Battalion soldiers, out of ammo, simply charged out to engage the enemy in close combat.

The Third Battalion Commander hid in the tank, never daring to show his head, fearing that the First Battalion Commander's past mistake would repeat itself on him.

But the final stretch is very steep; tanks and armored vehicles can't climb it, so they must go on foot.

Furthermore, the Director Department requires that the flag be firmly planted on the small hill to count as victory.

Battalion Commander, I'll go plant the flag!

The Second Battalion has lost over ninety percent of its effective strength; it no longer has any counterattack capability!

Gao Feng volunteered, saying that planting the flag is a symbol.

Moreover, it is the best reward for their brave and fearless Seventh Battalion, the 'Iron Bones,' who charge forward at the risk of death.

As long as the flag is planted, the exercise will be declared over; their Seventh Battalion will be the greatest contributors and the final victors.

The Third Battalion Commander agreed; after confirming the area was safe, Gao Feng, escorted by several soldiers, quickly ran toward the hill.

The hill isn't that high—just a small earthen slope of twenty or thirty meters—and he remained on guard against any possible enemy appearance throughout.

Fortunately, the journey was eventful but uneventful; the enemy has completely lost combat capability, and even gunfire has become sporadic.

Gao Feng climbed to the summit, tightened the flag's connector, raised both hands, and prepared to drive it into the ground.

At that critical moment, the ambushing Lu Yang no longer hid, firing a barrage of bullets at Gao Feng.

Along with the guards who followed him up, they were also sent back to the barracks by a burst of bullets from Lu Yang.

Lu Yang, you, you, you!

White smoke rose above his head; seeing Lu Yang's grinning face, Gao Feng instantly felt his anger surge, nearly passing out from rage.

Old Company Commander, sorry.

Having said that, Lu Yang snatched the flag from his hand and hurled it downwards.

Gao Feng clutched his chest, barely able to breathe: 'Lu Yang, do things with conscience! You forgot who trained you, who sent you to the training team to learn marksmanship, and who......'

Lu Yang wore a serious expression: 'Old Company Commander, I remember all your kindness. So earlier, I deliberately fired a few extra shots—others get just one hole, you get a bunch of holes.'

Gao Feng's eyes rolled back, his body leaning back, but Lu Yang steadied him.

Old Company Commander, the battle isn't over yet; you need to see how the new recruits you brought routed your battalion's attack.

Kill, exterminate the heart—kill and exterminate the heart!

Gao Feng even had the heart to want to die.

He wished he could take a healthy step and jump off this small hill to fall to his death.

Because at this moment, Lu Yang alone holds the summit, continuously firing at the Third Battalion soldiers trying to charge up.

The Second Battalion's position has been completely dismantled, leaving only a few scattered stragglers and the small hill of symbolic significance that Lu Yang is defending.

Although Lu Yang knows his own strength is insignificant, and although he knows the enemy still has howitzers, mortars, rocket launchers, and tanks.

But as a soldier of the Second Battalion, his order is to hold the position for forty‑eight hours; even being short by a minute or a second is disobeying orders!

Courage, is the soldiers' hymn!

Person present, position present; person dead, position dead!

Iron Foot, long live!

Lu Yang let out a low roar and began a desperate resistance.

At the same time, the few scattered soldiers of the Second Battalion were also inspired by him, each stubbornly resisting.

Among them, some were killed by random gunfire, some by artillery shells, some blown apart by grenades.

Time ticked by, and in the end the Second Battalion had only Lu Yang left.

Perhaps moved by his spirit, the Third Battalion Commander did not order artillery fire to flatten the hilltop.

Instead, he crawled out of the tank, using binoculars to watch the young man who, even at the last moment, still held the position with his tiny body.

He didn't know why, but he felt an extremely complex emotion, even having the urge to let them win a round.

Such soldiers, such deeds, he hadn't seen in a very long time.

The last time, it seemed, was only in the pages of modern war history books.

Who exactly said that the soldiers of the new era have no bloodiness?

Whoever said that deserves a hard slap!

At this moment, Lu Yang had only five bullets left, but enemies kept climbing up from all directions.

When ammunition and supplies ran out, he finally tasted despair and helplessness.

No matter how strong an individual's power on the battlefield, without teamwork and comrades' help, it is of no avail.

Lu Yang finally expended all his bullets, killing every enemy he could within his ability, and his gun finally emitted the sound of an empty chamber.

"You've done your best; rest a while."

Seeing Lu Yang exhausted to the point of bloodshot eyes, Gao Feng felt great pity.

Although Lu Yang is no longer his soldier, any commander who sees someone fighting to the last moment for the collective, refusing to give up, will have his heart deeply moved.

Lu Yang proved with his actions what makes an excellent, qualified, faithful good soldier.

It's a pity that the Second Battalion has already lost; no matter how hard he tries, he will ultimately lose.

Gao Feng patted his shoulder and comforted him: "Come to the Seventh Company; the Seventh Company is an ever-victorious general, rarely defeated. Mechanized infantry are limited by their own conditions, their combat power truly limited; to fight this well, you are already remarkable."

Lu Yang exhaled a puff of foul air, without answering.

He looked at the enemies charging up the slope from all directions, then glanced at his watch.

Next, he took out a walkie-talkie from his pocket and spoke calmly into it.

"Headquarters, I am the last soldier of the Second Battalion."

"Request carpet fire coverage on the Second Battalion's position!"

"Repeat, request carpet fire coverage on the Second Battalion's main position!"

"After saying that, Lu Yang lowered the walkie-talkie, glanced at Gao Feng beside him with a complex expression, and gave a bitter smile."

"Since we can't win, let's perish together."

"Why bother?"

"Just doing my duty; this is my responsibility and obligation. Got a cigarette?"

"Yeah."

Gao Feng took out a pack from his pocket, pulled out a cigarette and handed it over, then lit it with his lighter.

Lu Yang plopped down on the ground, gazing at the enemies heavily surrounding him and the dark muzzles, exhaling a puff of smoke as if relieved of a heavy burden.

The next second, all smoke detectors on everyone present vibrated and sprayed white smoke signifying death.

Including the tank armored vehicles of the Third Battalion at the foot of the mountain, and the Third Battalion Commander who had clung on until the exercise ended, all were judged killed in action.

Compared to the other soldiers' shock and disbelief, the Third Battalion Commander and Company Commander were remarkably calm, apparently having anticipated such an outcome.

At this moment, the entire area was covered by dense artillery fire, having indeed become a lifeless forbidden zone where not a blade of grass grows.....