The gunfire finally eased up a bit.
Shaking off the dirt and debris from his body, Wang Weiya felt grateful to the heavens for not being blown to bits.
"Huffing," he leaned against the trench wall, activating communication with Xiao Ling: "Xiao Ling, darn it, I'm trapped here. Where do I retreat?"
"A British unit has flanked us from behind, armed with an artillery battery. According to calculations, the survival rate for withdrawing from our original position is less than ten percent."
"Damn it, it's all British troops in front of me. Am I supposed to charge head-on to my death?"
"It's not just the front, British troops surround us from all directions now. At the Somme River, the Anglo-French coalition has deployed fifty-one divisions. Unless you have the capability to defeat so many units."
All Wang Weiya wanted to do now was to rush to Xiao Ling and smash this damn computer into pieces.
"Analyzing...," Fortunately, Xiao Ling's words below gave Wang Weiya a glimmer of hope: "Perhaps you can try your luck to the east. That's where the British Duke of Soubise's camp is. If you can get through there, you might be able to escape along the Bieash... Of course, if you're captured, there's no need to worry. British prisoner of war camps are relatively comfortable, and you can come back when the war ends."
The Duke of Soubise's camp? Do they want me to take on a whole camp by myself? Is Xiao Ling insane, or am I? But at this moment, Wang Weiya had no other choice.
Better to die charging forward than to wait here for death!
"Listen, I need you to have tank support ready at all times!"
"Roger that, confirming 'Wanderer' identity, tanks on standby. Wanderer, once you formally request tank support, they will arrive at the battlefield in five minutes. Repeating, they will arrive in five minutes!"
"Have the tanks send me another submachine gun, and I need plenty of ammo."
"Roger that, Bergmann MP18 submachine gun, with ample ammunition."
"Oh, and is there any way for me to contact headquarters?"
"That's not possible. Due to the limited wireless technology of this era, WWI radio transceivers are bulky and prone to failure. Except for naval vessels capable of carrying such large devices, mobile radio communication systems for the army are not yet widespread..."
"How do the Germans or British communicate now?"
"The Germans use field telephones for their army."
Wang Weiya blinked: "Listen, Xiao Ling, whatever means you can find, you have to establish a way for me to contact headquarters. Whether it's at the battalion, regiment, division, or damn command level! Otherwise, if I die here, you won't be able to go back either!"
Xiao Ling fell silent: "Maybe I can try to connect the radio with the telephone. Wanderer, I'm about to exceed my authority. This may have a significant impact on the space-time continuum..."
"I can't worry about that now. I have to survive! Listen, the radio must be sent with the tanks!"
Wang Weiya yelled, cutting off communication with Xiao Ling.
Taking on a whole camp by myself? How am I supposed to fight this battle? Unless I become a superman...
Wait, by myself? No, there's someone else! There must be someone else! Where's Guo Yunfeng? Is he dead?
At that moment, a mound of earth in front of him stirred, and then a head popped out—Guo Yunfeng!
Heaven, this guy hasn't died yet!
Hurriedly rushing up, Wang Weiya dragged Guo Yunfeng out. Looking at him, it seemed he miraculously escaped unscathed under the bombardment.
"Bullets are fierce." Guo Yunfeng patted the dirt off his body, whether he was being foolishly brave or trying to stay calm, he acted as if nothing happened: "I almost thought I was dead."
Having a companion by his side brought a sense of relief. Wang Weiya couldn't help but smile and called out his nickname: "Four Blades, everyone else has retreated, it's just the two of us now."
"Just the two of us then," Guo Yunfeng replied, clearly uncomfortable with the nickname "Four Blades."
"Alright, it's up to you. We have to break out," Wang Weiya pointed eastward, "See that? German artillery has temporarily driven the British back. We have to find a way to break through from there."
Guo Yunfeng picked up his Mauser rifle, checked it, and found only three bullets left, "Lieutenant, how did you learn our dialect?"
"Uh, I had a Chinese teacher," Wang Weiya casually replied, leading Guo Yunfeng out of the trench.
The future ahead was unknown, but it was the only hope for Wang Weiya and Guo Yunfeng.
The German artillery barrage had thrown the British into disarray, leaving them too scared to launch another assault. This provided Wang Weiya with plenty of opportunities.
"You're really smart, Lieutenant," Guo Yunfeng praised sincerely as he followed Wang Weiya: "When I arrived in France, I couldn't understand a word the foreign devils said, let alone learn their language. How did you learn it from your teacher?"
Nonsense, I'm Chinese to begin with, Wang Weiya thought to himself.
The German artillery began another round of attacks. This sudden increase in danger made Wang Weiya wary. Who knew if those blind shells would explode next to him?
However, the artillery also successfully concealed the movements of the two men. At least the British wouldn't dare to attack in such conditions.
Gradually breaking away from the area, the gunfire also grew distant, but Wang Weiya knew that new dangers were imminent.
Taking a brief rest on a demolished trench, Guo Yunfeng's rifle only had three bullets left. He wanted to find some usable weapons for himself, but unfortunately, he couldn't find any.
"The damn foreigners are stingy," Guo Yunfeng grumbled, "They won't even leave behind a single bullet."
Wang Weiya vigilantly watched the movements ahead and casually asked, "Four Blades, are there any family members left at home?"
"Yes, my parents are still there, and I have a younger sister," Guo Yunfeng persistently rummaged through the trench, "I just think, after the war, when I've earned enough money, I'll go back and never come to this foreign devil's place again."
"I want to go home too," Wang Weiya sighed.
"Lieutenant, isn't your home here?"
"My home is not here, it's not here..." Wang Weiya smiled bitterly, then said seriously, "Four Blades, we're facing an enemy battalion later. Remember, you must follow my orders. When we break out, I'll make sure the higher-ups award you an Iron Cross. Then you'll be respected when you return home."
"I don't want that Iron Cross thing. Exchange it for money for me," Guo Yunfeng replied.
"Alright, I'll exchange it for money for you. Four Blades, let's break out together!"