Chapter 118: Cover

At the end of October on the Liaoxi front, Du Yuming stood at the command post entrance, watching the assembling troops, his gaze complex. The Adjutant hurried over, clutching a freshly translated telegram.

"Sir, the Chairman sent an urgent telegram ordering us to accelerate the retreat immediately." The Adjutant's voice was low, tinged with resentment.

Du Yuming took the telegram, his eyes lingering on the line "... order the units to withdraw back within the passes" for a long while. He inhaled a breath of icy air, slowly exhaled a white mist: "Relay to all units: prepare to retreat."

"Sir, are we really leaving like this?" a young staff officer asked, his voice choked, "Those old comrades from the Northeast… those volunteer forces still resisting…"

Du Yuming turned, patted the young staff officer's shoulder: "A soldier's duty is to obey orders. Before you go, take every piece of equipment you can; anything you cannot take… dismantle it all, never let it fall into Japanese hands."

"Yes, sir!" the Adjutant stood at attention, saluted, and turned to deliver the order.

The trench soon rang with the clatter of metal as equipment was dismantled. Soldiers silently removed the artillery sights, blew up the Heavy Machine Gun mechanisms, and concentrated the un‑carriable ammunition for destruction. Each action felt especially heavy, as if they were burying a memory they refused to forget.

At the same time, in the Japanese front‑line command post, Kwantung Army Second Division commander Duomen Erlang was receiving reconnaissance reports.

"General, the Fifth Army of Huaxia is preparing to retreat," the staff officer pointed to the movements on the map, "Their Vanguard Unit has already begun moving toward the Southwest."

Duomen Erlang squinted, his fingers lightly tapping the desk: "That unit… the one that made us pay a heavy price at Jinzhou?"

"Exactly. Intelligence indicates this unit is the Chairman's elite core, well‑equipped and well‑trained."

Duomen Erlang pondered briefly: "Harass them a bit, but don't let them leave so easily. Order the front‑line troops to conduct limited pursuit, keeping distance to avoid falling into their ambushes."

"Sir!" the staff officer bowed and took the command, "But General, why not seize the chance to annihilate this enemy force completely?"

Duomen Erlang sneered: "This army differs from the Northeast Army; its combat power is strong. Pressing them too hard would only make them desperate. Our main goal is to occupy the entire Northeast; we cannot waste too many troops on these hard‑bones."

At another position, a regiment of the Northeast Army received orders to cover the Fifth Army's retreat.

"Chief, on what authority?" a battle‑worn division commander slammed his cap to the ground, "Why must the Northeast Army become cannon fodder to shield the Fifth Army's safe withdrawal? Isn't our lives just lives?"

The Army Commander silently smoked, and after a long pause said, "Enough, stop. The Fifth Army risked their lives to rescue us in the Northeast. Now they are ordered to withdraw, that's the higher command's order…"

"Higher command's order?" another officer interjected, "Isn't that the order of those old gentlemen in Jinling? They sit in offices, knowing we freeze and starve here, using flesh and blood to block the Japanese artillery?"

"Exactly!" the soldiers chorused, "If the Fifth Army's equipment is so good they have to retreat, how are we left with these broken guns and cannons to fight?"

The Army Commander rose, his gaze sweeping over the brothers who had followed him for years: "I know you're angry; so am I. But brothers, the Fifth Army's bloodshed in the Northeast these past months is no less than ours. They held off the Japanese main force at Jinzhou, suffering over fifty thousand casualties—those are real numbers."

He stepped to the front of the trench and pointed to the distance: "Now they are ordered to withdraw; if we don't cover them and let the Japanese bite them, no one will get away. Though the Northeast Army's equipment is poorer, we cannot let anyone say we lack loyalty."

An old officer sighed: "The Army Commander is right. The Fifth Army's brothers indeed proved themselves on the outskirts of Shenyang; it was they who used tanks to hold back the Japanese advance, otherwise we would have…"

The trench fell silent, only the howling cold wind passing through.

At dawn the next day, the Fifth Army's rear guard began to withdraw. Du Yuming personally went to the Northeast Army's command post to bid farewell to its leaders.

"Brother, this time we're counting on you." Du Yuming grasped the Northeast Army's Army Commander's hand, "This sentiment will be remembered by every member of the Fifth Army."

The Northeast Army's Army Commander smiled wryly and shook his head: "No need for polite words. We are Huaxia soldiers; defending home and country is our duty. It's just… this parting, I don't know when we'll meet again."

Du Yuming drew a document from his coat: "Here is the list of weapons and ammunition we're leaving behind, plus some maps and intelligence. Hope it helps you."

"This…" the Northeast Army's Division Commander took the document, his voice choked, "You're not keeping it for yourselves?"

"We need to retreat light‑heartedly; we can't take it all." Du Yuming looked toward the distant mountains, "Remember, if the situation becomes truly critical, don't make pointless sacrifices. Keep those who are still useful; there will be a chance for revenge later."

The two generals faced each other in silence, then solemnly exchanged a military salute.

When the last unit of the Fifth Army vanished from sight, the Northeast Army soldiers slipped silently into the trench. They knew the battles ahead would be even tougher, but none retreated. Because this was their hometown, their land.

In the cold wind, someone began to hum a Northeastern folk song, and soon more joined. The singing drifted through the smoke, lingering over the trench for a long time, as if bidding farewell to the departing allies and as a final dirge for the land about to fall.