War Photographer's Notebook

Chapter 822 Orthography and Agreement

On the night when they came to Mo's village, after getting the permission of the old monk, the people who were full of food and drink set up a floor in the small Buddhist hall.

Outside the Buddhist hall, Squad Leader Liang placed a pre-served meal and oil tea by himself on the edge of the covered tomb, then lit three incense sticks borrowed from the old monk, and inserted them into a Porcelain large bowl full of fried rice.

In the quiet night, Squad Leader Liang, who already had an extra helmet on his head, leaned on the firewood pile and lit the cigarette pouch in his hand, placed it next to the meals, and then hung the oil lamp he brought on the firewood pile .

Under the dim oil lamp, this man who looked nearly 40 years old silently opened the German lunch box he brought, took out a small writing brush from it, and then took out a double-ended gun oiler and opened it.

After a little hesitation, Squad Leader Liang slowly took off the helmet on his head, picked up the tiny writing brush and dipped it in the gun oil pot.

"Company commander, Long Guoping, set himself on fire to die for the country"

Squad leader Liang muttered out a position, a name and a result, and at the same time solemnly wrote the first stroke on the brim of the helmet.

"Deputy company commander, Chen Huayi, died in battle"

As squad leader Liang summed up the short life of the second soldier in just a few words, there was an extra stroke on the brim of the hat.

"A platoon leader, Yu Mingbo, die in battle"

"Second platoon leader, Wekda, set himself on fire and died for the country"

"The third platoon leader, Deng Yunfu, died in battle"

At this point, a blood-red orthographic letter appeared on the inside of the brim of the steel helmet.But Squad Leader Liang, who had already burst into tears, didn't stop. Instead, he moved the brush lightly, chanting more positions and names, and wrote one stroke after another, and the orthographic characters one after another!
Not far away, Wei Ran sighed softly, silently raised the camera, pointed at the lonely cooking squad leader under the oil lamp and lightly pressed the shutter.

Back to the temple lightly, Tan Shouzheng was sitting shirtless on a low stool beside the smoky bonfire at the door, letting a Chinese compatriot shave off his hair with a razor in his hand. Next to him, Zhou Guochang, who already had a big bald head, was busy distributing the brown sugar that Wei Ran bought in Manxi Town not long ago, and the rice provided by the old monk in the temple, with bamboo tubes to those compatriots.

"Young man, come down and shave your head?" The Chinese compatriot with gauze on his head greeted enthusiastically, "When you enter Savage Mountain, there will be no place to shave your head."

"Okay, I'll come over later."

Wei Ran happily agreed, and then walked into the temple, and saw the businessman Luke who was still lying on the ground with his pillow on his pillow.

I don't know if it's because the herbs that the little monk gave him worked. Although Luke was still running a fever, at least he was awake.

"I went to Mansi Town" Wei Ran sat cross-legged on the floor and said straight in English.

"Zhou has already told me." The businessman Luke sat up with difficulty, and replied weakly, "Thank you for not abandoning me."

"But you British troops left us"

Before Wei Ran finished speaking, he took out a stacked poster of a beautiful woman from his arms and handed it to the other party, "I found the quartermaster's office in Mansi Town, it was evacuated, and some documents were burned. The only thing left is this poster."

Reaching out to take the poster and looking at it, the businessman Luke shook his head and casually threw it aside, "So you are here to torture me?"

"I have nothing to ask"

Wei Ran didn't care about the stall, "According to the agreement, we can take away those medicines after we send you to Manxi Town, and now we have brought you to the safer Mo's Village, which can be regarded as overfulfilling the transaction.

Luke, we are going to enter Savage Mountain tomorrow. In addition, those Chinese compatriots we met here must go to the surrounding mountains to hide.how about you?Where are you going next? "

"Where is Zhou? Where is Zhou going?" Luke the businessman asked.

"I don't know." Wei Ran spread his hands again, "I never asked him."

After a brief silence, Luke said, "I want to go into Savage Mountain with you, but I'm going to chase the British army, I hope you can"

"I'm afraid I can't do it"

Wei Ran said seriously, "We want to send medicines to our own troops, those medicines can save the lives of many soldiers."

"I have an important piece of information in my hand." Luke lowered his voice and said seriously, "This piece of information can even influence the direction of the war!"

"You can come with us, and when we catch up with the main force, use the radio to contact your people."

"It's just you?"

A look of contempt appeared on Luke's face, "I'm afraid your radio communication has been monitored by the recruiters long ago, and I think that even if you catch up with your large army, you may not be able to leave Savage Mountain alive. Wei, you guys Better figure it out, only troops with us British will survive."

"Indeed, with your army that only knows how to escape, and can't even catch up with your own people, there is indeed a high probability of surviving. But the mission of the army is to fight, not to escape, why? You British? Do you want to repeat the Dunkirk evacuation in Japan?"

"There's no point in bickering at a time like this"

The businessman Luke changed the subject in time, "I will go into Savage Mountain with you, but Zhou and I will go after the British army."

"No problem at all"

Wei Ran had already stood up while speaking, and as he walked out, he finally said in English, "An extra reminder."

"What?" Luke asked subconsciously.

Wei Ran stopped with his back to Luke, and said with a normal expression, "I talked to the abbot of this temple just now at dinner. When the British army arrived here, they once robbed Mo's village. The eldest daughter was taken as a temporary wife, and by the way, a lot of buffaloes were taken as supplies.

So even though most of the people in this village have already hid on the mountain, you, the British, probably still have no way to get extra supplies, let alone hire locals as guides, and even if they find you, the British, it is very likely will kill you. "

"Are you threatening me?" Luke asked coldly.

"I'm just stating the facts"

Wei Ran raised his finger and pointed to the outside of the temple, "The abbot told me this, and Zhou helped translate it. The old monk has made it very clear that he will not provide you with any help."

Having said that, Wei Ran stepped out of the Buddhist hall again.Immediately afterwards, he pretended to be full of enthusiasm with Zhou Guochang who was eavesdropping.

"Brother Wei Wei"

Zhou Guochang grinned in embarrassment, pointed at the young monk and the old monk next to him and said, "The master and apprentice originally wanted to chat with Squad Leader Liang, but Squad Leader Liang seems to be inconvenient right now, so they want to talk to you."

"No problem." Wei Ran nodded, and asked with a normal expression, "Where should we go to talk?"

“Go to the pagoda at the back”

After Zhou Guochang finished speaking, he pointed to the direction behind the temple, and then said something to the two monks, and said in Chinese again, "The two masters will take you there first, and I want to have a word with Uncle Luke, Mr. Luke."

"please"

Wei Ran politely bowed his hands to the two monks, and the two monks, the old and the young, folded their hands together and bowed slightly in unison, and then each carried a kerosene lamp, leading Wei Ran to the stupa behind the Buddhist hall .

After waiting for a while, Zhou Guochang trotted after him.Seeing this, the old monk took another step and led the crowd to the back of the pagoda. Then he put the oil lamp in his hand on a stone table and led the crowd to sit in a row around the table. on a stone.

After everyone sat down, the old monk looked at Wei Ran, and then opened his mouth to say something.

"The old abbot said that he hoped that we could take away little master Sehao." Zhou Guochang translated with a little surprise.

"Why?" Wei Ran asked in surprise.

After a short exchange, Zhou Guochang explained, "This afternoon, Sehao talked about what happened on the road. The old abbot was worried that the little devil would kill Sehao after chasing him, and he was even more worried that those little devils would snatch Sehao's little master and bring him back. The two Buddha statues, so he hoped that we could take Sehao into Savage Mountain together.

In return, he will help us prepare more food and drink, and will also help us keep the secret of the tomb. "

Hearing this, Wei Ran looked at the little monk Sehao who folded his hands and lowered his head to recite scriptures silently, nodded after a little hesitation, "Tell the old abbot that we are very willing to have little master Sehao follow. But we have no way to guarantee his absolute safety .”

Hearing this, Zhou Guochang immediately translated Wei Ran's words, and then helped translate, "The old abbot said that Sehao has his own destination, and he will leave everything to us when he leaves."

“We leave early tomorrow morning”

Wei Ran looked at Zhou Guochang and said, "What about you? You are going to hide with those Chinese compatriots"

"I'll go with you"

Zhou Guochang expressed his decision without waiting for Wei Ran to finish speaking, "I want to deliver those quinines to the expeditionary army with my own hands, and I also want to join the expeditionary army."

"This road is not safe." In the night, Tan Shouzheng, with a big bald head, walked over from a distance to remind him.

"I'm not afraid even if I die," Zhou Guochang replied very seriously.

"Where's Mr. Luke?" Wei Ran asked in English abruptly.

"He is walking with us," Zhou Guochang replied in Chinese, "he can only walk with us."

"All right"

Wei Ran nodded, stood up and changed the subject and asked, "Shouzheng, is it my turn?"

"right"

Tan Shouzheng pulled his bald head and responded, "Hurry up, and they found a lot of British clothes before we arrived here. After we shave our heads and take a shower, we can wear new clothes tomorrow. "

"Then I'll shave my head too"

Wei Ran clasped his hands together and bowed slightly towards the two monks while speaking, then turned and walked towards the gate of the temple.

In the blink of an eye the next morning, at the gate of the temple, the Chinese who had helped to bury the grave silently carried the baskets prepared for them by the old monk.

In these baskets, apart from the kettles and lunch boxes they picked up, there were also some brown sugar distributed to them by squad leader Liang, a small bamboo tube of coarse salt, some fruits, and half a bag of rice provided by the old abbot.

But even so, whether these Chinese compatriots who are no longer young can survive, no one still has an accurate answer.

"Are you really not going with us?" Tan Shouzheng asked again unwillingly.

"No"

The leading middle-aged man waved his hand, "If we had the courage to enter Savage Mountain, we would have gone in with the big army, so let's go and hide in the surrounding mountains."

"Then you must live!" Tan Shouzheng clenched his fists and said.

"Hey! Live! Definitely live! You too! You too!"

The middle-aged man responded loudly, wiped his face vigorously, and asked almost cautiously, "Squad leader Liang, you... will you come back? Will you call back?"

Squad leader Liang, who had shaved his beard and shaved his head, couldn't help being stunned. He wasn't even sure whether he could find the big army or whether he could cross the Savage Mountain alive, so how dare he answer this question.

"can!"

Just when the faces of those Chinese compatriots showed despair, Wei Ran took a step forward with a camera in his hand, and said confidently, "We will definitely be able to cross the Savage Mountain alive, and we will definitely be able to bring it back again. The next time we come over, we will not only drive the little devils out of Burma, but also put an end to this war!"

"it is good!"

A middle-aged man with gauze on his head couldn't help shouting "Hello," "We'll wait for you to call back! If we're still alive, let's drink together!"

"Yes! Drink together!"

The leading middle-aged man wiped away his tears again, put on a bamboo hat and said solemnly, "When this battle is over, even if one of us is alive, he will come here and wait for you with a table of good wine and food. !"

"Then it's settled!" While Squad Leader Liang was speaking, he solemnly extended his hand towards the other party, and the two held each other tightly. At the same time, Wei Ran also faced the rising sun that was about to jump out of the ground, and took pictures against the light. Silhouettes of two people.

"Let me take a group photo of you guys"

Wei Ran shook the camera in his hand and suggested, "I hope that when we come here next time, there will be a lot of people."

"Shoot! Then take a picture!"

The middle-aged people in the lead had long since lost the depression they had when they buried the tomb yesterday afternoon, and let Wei Ran command them to take a group photo with the temple gate as the background for those who were about to escape alone.

"Don't let it go!"

When Wei Ran pressed the shutter, the middle-aged man, who has not revealed his name from the beginning to the end, solemnly clasped his fists, and simply led his companions wearing bamboo hats, and left the city with promises to each other. Not a big temple.

Watching them go into the jungle with only hope and disappear completely, Wei Ran looked at the little monk Sehao, the little master was still barefoot and wearing dark red monk robes.The only thing left is the bamboo hat on the head and the bamboo basket on the shoulders.

Seeing Wei Ran shaking the camera in his hand towards him, and pointing to the old abbot next to him, the little monk folded his hands together and bowed slightly as before, then stood side by side with the old abbot at the door, keeping his palms together pose, and asked Wei Ran to take a photo for them.

"Shall we take a picture too?"

After Wei Ran finished speaking, he glanced at the businessman Luke who was supported by Zhou Guochang. After resting this night and drinking a large bowl of herbal soup in the morning, the British guy has basically lost his fever, except for the fever on his arm. The wound on his body was still red and swollen, and he could even smell a faint stench.

"Take a picture! I haven't taken a picture yet," Tan Shouzheng said happily.

"Let's take a picture then"

Squad leader Liang supported the steel helmet on his head, and then stretched the hem of the jacket of the British P37 uniform that was newly changed in the morning.

"Let me take pictures for you," the businessman Luke said proactively, and at the same time seemed to imply that he didn't want to take pictures with everyone.

Naturally, Wei Ran would not have any objections to this, and happily handed over the camera that belonged to Luke, and followed Squad Leader Liang and the others to the edge of the covered tomb and stood side by side.

Now, including Zhou Guochang and Luke, they have all changed into a set of British military uniforms provided by those Chinese compatriots.Wei Ran, Zhou Guochang, and Tan Shouzheng each had a seized ammunition pouch around their chests, holding submachine guns from the same source in their hands, and even Zhou Guochang and Tan Shouzheng had Browning powerful guns slung across their bodies. Wooden case for the pistol.

The only Squad Leader Liang who wore a steel helmet was wearing a leather Kowloon belt around his waist, with a cigarette stick obliquely inserted on it, and the box gun slung across his side was also particularly conspicuous.

If you only look at the outfits of these four people, they are indeed the elite of the elite, but everyone present knows that these weapons may not be of much use to the enemies who are waiting for them next.

In everyone's thoughts, Luke, who was in charge of taking pictures, lightly pressed the shutter, and then returned the camera that no longer belonged to Wei Ran to Wei Ran.

Taking the camera, Wei Ran took the initiative to take a group photo for Luke and Zhou Guochang, and then took a group photo for Squad Leader Liang and Tan Shouzheng.

When he put away the camera, the old abbot at the gate of the temple also helped the young monk Sehao to fix two bamboo baskets on the back of the black donkey.

Squad leader Liang finally took a look at the direction of the grave, and at the banyan trees next to the two 20-print iron pots that he personally buried next to the grave, finally waved his hand, and said softly without hesitation, "Let's go".

Amidst the neighing of the two donkeys, everyone, including the wounded Luke, carried a bamboo basket on their backs, put on their bamboo hats and mosquito repellent masks seriously, and recited In the scriptures, set foot on the country road to Savage Mountain.

(End of this chapter)