Liu Weiguo's words rang out with ironclad conviction.
"We're all one family, whether we're from the Northeast or the Northwest!"
"Take us with you! We don't want pay or supplies. Just give us a place, a bite to eat, and a gun, and we'll go fight those Japanese devils to the death!"
Beside him, Li Ze nodded again and again, his eyes reddening.
Zhang Xueming watched them in silence for a long time.
In the eyes of these two defeated commanders, who had been hanging their heads just moments ago, he saw a flame rekindle.
That flame was called backbone.
"Fine."
Zhang Xueming finally spoke.
"I'll give you the place of a battalion. How many men you can bring depends on your own ability."
Liu Weiguo and Li Ze were overjoyed. They were so excited they nearly jumped.
"Thank you, Young Marshal! Thank you, Young Marshal!"
"Don't thank me." Zhang Xueming waved a hand. "If you must thank someone, thank yourselves for still considering yourselves Chinese."
"Go get ready. We don't have much time."
"Yes, sir!"
The two saluted again, then turned and ran off, their backs brimming with barely contained eagerness for battle.
September 20, noon.
Jinmen Port.
The two Steel Behemoths, Tianlong Ship and Changfeng Ship, sounded their horns and slowly pulled away from the dock, heading into the churning depths of the Bohai Sea.
The deck was packed with soldiers, all armed and ready.
On one side stood the elite soldiers of the Feng Army's Eighth Brigade, fierce tigers embroidered on their armbands.
On the other were the soldiers of the 29th Army, who had just changed into new uniforms and were brimming with morale. Nearly half a battalion had come.
The sea wind howled, tugging at every soldier's clothes.
Zhang Xueming stood on the bridge,