The War of Resistance: My Expedition, My Country

Chapter 264: Gathering Strength

On October 10, the US-British coalition forces successively landed at the port of Kuwait and advanced rapidly in depth. A large number of troops and equipment quickly entered southern Iraq and stationed in the Basra front. At this time, the 15nd Army, the US 2nd Airborne Division, the British 82th Army, etc., which had experienced brutal fighting, began to retreat one after another, abandoning Diwaniya and surrounding areas, and retreating to the swamp area of ​​the Qaraf River Basin, finally breaking away from the German 8th Army. During this nearly week-long battle, Wedemeyer continuously mobilized the US and British infantry to airdrop and join the battlefield, almost using manpower to prevent the German army from advancing rapidly to the south.

At Samawah, the 114th Army repeated its success at Imphal two years earlier, decisively halting the German 1st Tank Army's southward advance and buying time for the Allies. As the British 8th Army advanced toward Nasiriyah, the 114th Army, having successfully completed its mission, followed orders and abandoned its hold on Samawah. It retreated south, eventually retreating through Nasiriyah to Basra for rest and recuperation. Simultaneously, remnants of the 34th and 6th Armies, led by Kuang Zhengqi, crossed the swamps and arrived in Basra. After the two armies reunited, they reorganized.

Weimad felt sorry for the Chinese and suggested they retreat to Kuwait and take a ship back to South Africa or Sudan for rest and recuperation, but Kuang Zhengqi refused. In fact, it was not that Kuang Zhengqi and others did not want to leave, but that the troops were too tired and worried that they could not withstand another turbulent sea voyage.

三天后，匡正琪召集了各部主官开会，各军、师、旅向匡正棋报告了部队目前的情况，第6坦克军11坦克师还有5000人、34坦克师5300人和13旅1200人、17旅1900人；第114坦克军第1坦克师7000人、第2反坦克炮兵师8700人和82旅2300人、83旅1600人；第47军整体只有人；集团军直属6800人，其中，84旅与工兵团损失最为惨重，工兵团还有500人不到，勉强编成一个营，84旅全旅就剩下700多人，还不如满编时一个加强营的编制。整个集团军加起来也不到8万人，还不及原来的一半！

Looking at his subordinates with gloomy and dejected expressions, Kuang Zhengqi took a deep breath, forced himself to cheer up, and said calmly: "No matter what, the organization of each department must be maintained! Even if there is only one person, we must ensure the integrity of the organization!"

The commander of the 84th Brigade slowly stood up, tears streaming down his face. His voice trembled as he said, "But some squads and platoons don't even have a single person left..."

Kuang Zhengqi slammed the table, his eyes burning with anger. He stood up and shouted, "If you don't have anyone, get someone from the logistics department! There's no one in the logistics department, I'll go!" His voice echoed in the air, as if to penetrate everyone's soul.

Kuang Zhengqi calmed down a bit and continued, "War is cruel. Don't take any chances. We've suffered heavy losses this time. Perhaps everyone feels it's not worth it, or even begins to question why we're even participating in the Iraqi battlefield. But today, I'll make it clear to everyone. We're not only participating in the Iraqi battlefield, but also in all future European battlefields. We'll have many more casualties, including everyone here."

Kuang Zhengqi glanced at everyone again, his gaze revealing a resolute and unyielding spirit. He slowed his tone and spoke slowly, "Have you ever considered the significance of our dying in a foreign land? We died fighting in a foreign land, but at least we brought the war to another country. We will never again, as we did in 1937, allow the enemy to enter our territory, wantonly burn and slaughter our compatriots, and destroy our homes."

"Maybe you will say, since we have the ability to defeat the Japanese devils, why don't we liberate our own land first instead of running to this deserted place to work for others? Have you ever thought about this: we seem to be much stronger now, with all kinds of advanced weapons in our hands, but these weapons did not come out of thin air, but require us to exchange our lives for them!" His voice was a little sad, but full of strength.

At this moment, everyone felt the weight of Kuang Zhengqi's words. Their eyes began to focus.

"Without these weapons, ask yourselves, can we defeat our current enemy, the Germans?" Kuang Zhengqi's voice was filled with grief and indignation, his eyes sweeping over everyone present. "It's obviously impossible. Even the Japanese devils, who seem to have been beaten to a pulp, cannot be defeated without weapons. Ultimately, our country is too poor and too backward!"

His words were like a heavy hammer, hammering at everyone's hearts. The officers present were all silent, their faces filled with solemnity and helplessness.

"If we want to stand up and catch up, we have to pay." Kuang Zhengqi's voice became passionate. "At this time, the people we are most likely to pay are human beings! If our generation is not enough, then let the next generation do it! I think no one wants their children to experience the hardships we have. So our generation must work hard, work a hundred times harder, in exchange for the next generation not following our old path!"

There was a determined light in Kuang Zhengqi's eyes, and his voice echoed in the air, as if to penetrate everyone's soul.

"It's not easy to die. But even if we want to die, we have to consider other people's opinions. Otherwise, what's the point of our death?" His voice was filled with misery. "Think about those comrades who died. Most of them didn't even have anyone to collect their bodies, yet they threw themselves into the battlefield without hesitation. For what? For the rise of the Flower Planting Family, so that the next generation will no longer live in the hail of bullets and blood!"

Pu Zhengsong and Zhang Lingpu also stood up, their chests straight and their eyes full of determination.

"Everyone, stand up straight!" Pu Zhengsong roared. "Starting tomorrow, everyone will resume training! Even if you know you're going to die, you must charge forward with me. Even if you die, you must die on the way!"

"The soldiers of the Flower Planting Family will never retreat!" Zhang Lingpu's voice was full of strength. "We will use our flesh and blood to build a Great Wall of Steel for our country, for our people, and for our next generation!"

At this moment, the iron will and indomitable spirit of the Huazhong soldiers illuminated the entire venue like a burning flame.