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Our brothers of the Nationalists' 168th Division.

This is Captain Gu Zidi of the 139th Regiment, 3rd Battalion, 9th Company.

The Special 2nd Division of the Liberation Army.

On behalf of my company, I'd like to greet you.

You are completely surrounded.

If you keep fighting, you won't like how things end up.

We offer you two choices.

You can get bullets or maybe you'd prefer dumplings.

We can keep the bullets coming.

If you have had enough, trade in your weapons for chopsticks.

Sit down with your brothers here in the 9th company.

We can all eat dumplings.

Gu, quit the bullshit. Let's move in.

Wait.

They're already cooking in a pot. What's the hurry?

Captain, something doesn't look right.

Have they already retreated?

The battalion ordered a hasty attack. What are we waiting for?

- Jiao. - Coming.

Take six men and get a closer look. Find them six helmets.

Smoke grenade.

Jiang.

Go.

Take cover. Take cover.

Up there...

- Give me your hand. - Pull me up.

Help me!

Jiang.

Jiang, take out those two up there.

- How many are there? - I don't know.

- Cease fire! - Cease fire!

Help the wounded. Hurry!

- Covering fire. - Medic.

- Hurry. - I'm going to die, save me.

- Hurry up. - Slowly...slowly.

Hurry up.

Get the bandages, hurry.

Hang in there man.

- OK. Hurry up. - Move him.

First platoon. Follow me.

Second Platoon. Protect the flanks.

Don't bunch up. Spread out. Keep spreading out.

Keep up.

There's lightning. Get down, take cover.

Fall back.

Captain Gu.

Get down, get down.

Everyone get down, don't run around.

Get down.

- Get up. We've been ambushed. - Take cover.

Get down.

Second platoon, attack. Reinforce first platoon.

Third platoon, save the wounded. Leave the dead.

- Tend the wounded first. - Luo, get on the roof.

Lu and Jiang.

Stop cowering. Let's go.

- Bring up the heavy weapons. - Yes, sir.

Follow me.

Get down.

On the ground. Get down.

Move in, now!

Get the machine gun. No one move.

Gu, set up a base of fire.

Send in the assault forces. We're pinned down.

The enemy has artillery. Let the troops regroup.

How can we stop now? l disagree.

I am the captain. I'm in charge.

That is cowardly behavior. I won't let that happen.

Are you moving in or not? I'm going in anyway.

What for?

If you want to get yourself killed, no one can stop you.

Political Officer!

Hurry.

Brothers. Attack!

Political Officer!

Captain.

Don't shoot, we surrender.

We surrender, don't shoot.

Don't shoot.

The enemy has surrendered.

Let them pick up their weapons.

No surrender accepted.

Pick up your weapons.

No one move. No one move!

Luo, what are you waiting for?

Fire!

They have already surrendered.

Jiang. Jiang. Fire.

Jiang, you cannot kill POWs.

Stop pretending to be a saint.

The Political Officer was blown apart.

Harder. Harder.

Those in the back, keep up. Harder.

Including the wounded, anyone who was not carried away by stretcher,

we still have forty six men left.

A hundred seventeen minus forty six.

Our company lost seventy one men.

Get me a casualty list. Report the final count. On the double.

Fight a battle, report a funeral. Don't keep making me do this.

You are the only one who can read.

The Political Officer is gone.

Who else is there?

The Nationalists have good uniforms, but their fighting is not up to snuff.

We found a wheel. See if it fits.

The 7th Company found three howitzers. Two ten-wheelers.

All we find is a small, crippled mountain gun.

Bite your tongues. Feel the pain?

That means you are still alive. What is the use of all these metal scraps?

In our last battle,

the 3rd battalion's 9th company fought bravely without giving up.

They suffered heavy casualties. We were going to commend them.

But Captain Gu Zidi ordered the POWs shot,

and stole their uniforms.

He disobeyed army discipline and disgraced our entire regiment.

The Division Commander has ordered us

to punish him for his misconduct.

Therefore, the regiment's Party leadership has decided

to punish all those involved accordingly.

Firstly, the 9th Company's troops are to be transferred.

Captain Gu Zidi's forty six men will all move to the regiment's Advanced Guard

until further instruction.

Secondly, Captain Gu Zidi, of the 9th Company

is to be punished for his mistake accordingly.

He's to be locked up for three days...

Captain Gu.

Have something to eat. The food is getting cold.

You know when I last had a bed under me? I am having the ball of my life.

Food can wait.

I guess l caught up on my rest.

This is the best I've felt since joining the battalion.

This barn is huge. How much grain can it hold?

What a waste locking us up in here.

What's your name?

- Wang Jincun. - What's yourjob?

I was a teacher.

You were busy writing when I first got here. You were still writing when I woke up.

- What are you writing? - A letter home.

To your wife?

And this? Did your wife knit it? Huh?

Yes.

I heard them say a teacher in the 1st Battalion

pissed in his pants in battle and he was disciplined.

Are you the one?

No? Not you?

Who cares if it is? All you did was pee.

That's better than getting killed.

Bullets flying everywhere. Grenades exploding down your pants.

Even a god would pee.

Don't get the wrong idea.

Moving you to the front.

It's not part of the punishment. It shows our trust in you.

I've seen the old mine battlefield. The location is good.

It's much higher than the north bank.

They won't be able to see our movement.

We'll get the upper hand by securing it.

We planned to transfer two companies from the 2nd Battalion.

But now, the defensive area has expanded.

I can't spare the troops.

Are you following?

Say something.

Damn delicious.

Look. Only girls wear down their shoes here.

- When will you learn to walk like a man? - Stop messing around.

Tell me what you need. I'll do whatever I can. What you want?

In that case,

I don't have enough artillery. I need Maxim machine guns.

I'll...

give you two machine guns and three thousand rounds.

I want to keep that mountain gun. Shells are hard to find.

The quartermaster will check. You can take whatever he finds.

My troops are good in the trenches, especially with explosives.

You've got to let me take all l want.

Go ahead. Take as much as you can carry.

I don't have enough men. Give me thirty more.

No way.

After all, I'm the provisional captain of the advanced guards.

- How about twenty more men? - No way.

Five? That's not a lot to ask.

The regiment's troops are all deployed. I can't spare a single man.

Gu, there really are no men left.

The Colonel's bodyguard is dead and there is no replacement.

I now serve as the Bugler and his bodyguard.

- It's the truth. - Fine.

Then just give me one person. I need a Political Officer.

You've only got half a company. What you need a Political Officer for?

In the last battle, if the Political Officer hadn't died,

I wouldn't have made that mistake.

Now you know. You can be your own Political Officer.

Can we...

keep the helmets and boots we took from the POWs?

What?

Okay, keep them.

Liangzi, get the stuff for him.

Liangzi, what are the goodies?

Yellow Dragon cigarettes. The Colonel won't even smoke them himself.

Why is there only half a carton left?

Give the rest to him.

You're always so stingy. Giving half a pack at best.

What's so special this time?

Gu,

how many of us are left? l mean from the old guerilla unit?

You. Me. Anyone else?

Okay. Have the troops get ready on the double.

The defensive position has already been built by the 2nd Battalion.

You... take good care of yourself.

I have one last request.

I'll find myself a Political Officer. You can't say no.

I want my cellmate.

He'd be shot anyway. He might as well die in battle.

Liangzi, that bent up bugle dangling on your butt. Is it busted?

No, it is fine.

You better blow as hard as you can.

Don't worry. You've heard my bugle call before.

My ears are already wide open.

Repeat the orders.

By tomorrow twelve noon, no matter what it takes,

we must secure the old mine on the southern bank.

What else?

Always listen... for the assembly bugle call.

Fall back whenever we hear it.

If you don't hear the bugle call,

even if you're the last man standing, you will keep fighting.

Yes, sir.

In this open area, it's impossible to last even four hours.

- Move the small canon to the rear for now. - Yes, sir.

Push harder.

- Get two more people here. - Put them inside.

Put them all inside.

lf a shell lands on them, we'd all be gone.

- Put them inside. - Bring more bags here.

Pack it in real tight.

- lt's for your own protection. - Yes, sir.

- Pack it in real tight. - Yes, sir.

Hey, Lu, how many times have I told you?

Don't tie it straight. You have to tie it at an angle.

Wrap it around twice as tightly as you can.

- Got it? - Lieutenant.

Last time we tied it at an angle.

They ended up not flying straight. They landed on the 5th Company.

No shit? Why wasn't I told?

Jerk, I'll kill you.

Look. These make obvious targets.

Gather everyone together. Place them like you're supposed to.

- Make sure they're twenty paces apart. - No, not this time.

- Put three in front and three in back. - Captain.

- I found him for you. - Good.

Over here. Come over.

Jiao, your message bag.

Here. Your rifle.

Hey guys,

I have someone to introduce.

This is our company's new Political Officer, Wang Jincun.

Let's welcome him.

What's wrong? Are your fingers frozen? Do I need to chisel them apart?

Political Officer Wang can read and write. He's your man if you want to write home.

Lieutenant Jiao.

When we had our victory party at Luoyang, he was nearly choked to death on flapjacks.

Lu, Demolition Specialist. Jiang, Sniper.

Sergeant Meng, Old Hedgehog.

Luo, Machine Gunner.

- Gong, Ammo Bearer. - Call me Blacky.

Captain.

Captain, I wrote a letter home.

I don't know how to write some words. Can the Political Officer fill them in for me?

Get down!

Get in the mine. Hurry, get in the mine, and stay there.

Captain, something doesn't seem right. It is raining shells.

Leave two men behind to keep a look out. Tell the rest to get into the mine.

- Take the Political Officer with you, hurry. - Yes, sir.

Get up. Follow me. Don't be scared.

Hurry into the mine.

Yong and Shun, you two stay behind.

Hurry up.

Get down.

- Everyone get into the mine. - Stay focused.

Hurry.

What are you praying for?

Are you praying for the firing to stop so you won't be hit?

Stop screwing around.

Pray with me. It works.

Show me how to pray.

You've killed too many people. Prayers won't do you any good.

But they were the enemy.

Political Officer.

If we make it through this one, help me write a letter home.

But forget it if I'm gone.

It'd be less work for me, and less work for you, too.

Make way, make way.

Just leave him. We'll drag him away later.

He's dead.

It stopped again. Forget about the time.

Just listen for the bugle call.

Keep your ears open for the bugle call.

Has everyone rested up?

When the bastards come to the door, we'll give them what they deserve.

Captain, this new guy's a wimp.

Don't worry. He will get over it after seeing some blood.

Stay calm. Let them come closer.

Fire when the grenades explode.

Do you know why dogs bite people? People smell funny when they're scared.

Dogs only bite those who are scared. Bullets are like dogs.

They only hit those who are scared.

If you aren't scared, the bullets will go around you every time.

Check your backpack. Leave the useless stuff behind.

Stay calm, wait for my orders.

Wait for my order before fire.

Do you see their officer? Let's take him out.

I've got him in my sight. Let them get right in front of you.

Fire.

Reload.

Done.

Political Officer.

Looking good.

Brothers, follow me.

Remember where he is, he's all yours.

Fire.

Medic, come with me.

He's dead.

- Bring the dead into the mine. - Yes.

Political Officer.

Blacky. Blacky, hang in there.

Bandages.

Bandage it.

Let's go.

Captain.

Retreat!

- Retreat, hurry! - Cease fire.

Save your ammo.

Hedgehog, have a smoke.

Come give me a hand.

Help him up, slowly.

Eleven dead. Nine wounded.

Two seriously wounded won't make it.

Forty-seven minus eleven minus two more.

Only thirty-four men left.

If things keep going like this,

we'll all be gone before we hear the bugle call.

Get some men. Carry the dead and wounded into the mine.

We'll go in. Forget about the dead.

They will be blown apart if we leave them out in the snow.

We won't be able to collect the pieces.

Hedgehog, carry the dead and seriously wounded into the mine.

No one could have saved him.

If I get wounded like that, don't bother with the bandages.

Save them for someone who needs them.

He's in the way. Take him into the mine.

This is his letter home. Finish it for him.

Blacky, your worries are over.

Rest in peace.

When I was a kid, I tended livestock for a rich family.

Take this.

I accidentally lost their pony.

The old bastard beat me with a club.

After I got home, My father was even angrier.

He beat me with a long pole.

My family had half an acre of land. We had to hand over half of it.

That's not him. I remember he was an officer.

Take care of the fields. Look after our elders.

It's getting cold. Don't let our son play near the well.

The ice is slippery.

Don't let our son near the livestock.

Don't let him walk behind them. l don't want him injured in the wrong place.

Political Officer.

That'll do. That's all for now.

I'll add a good ending.

Wishing the entire family peace and happiness.

Not bad.

After the war, I'm going back home. What about you?

l'm not going back. I've got to make something of myself first.

At least I have to get the land back for my dad.

Over there.

- That's him. - This guy?

Yes.

Now Captain will know what time it is.

Lu.

Don't move.

Lu.

Medic!

Captain, he got a watch for you.

Who told you to go? Who?

We saw your watch was broken.

Trade a life for a watch? For a watch! ls it worth it?

Lu, hang in there.

Enemy tanks!

Jiang, move Lu into the mine.

- Fire after the tanks get closer. - Yes.

- Get the Molotov cocktails ready. - Bring them over here.

- Bring out the mountain gun. - Demolition Team.

Explosives! Get the explosives ready!

Hurry, wait for my orders.

- Aim at the infantry behind the tank. - Yes.

Point it this way, hurry.

Load the shell.

When I say fire, pull the cord.

- Will I be okay? - Lu, you'll be okay.

You'll be fine.

It's cold.

- So cold. - Lu.

Warmer now?

Fire.

Get down.

Captain.

Fire.

Bulls-eye!

- Give me the torch. - Take it.

Luozi. Luozi.

Don't throw the grenades. Let us get over there first.

Go that way, now!

- Jiao. - It's too dangerous, come back!

Get away.

- Jiang! - Jiang!

Wait.

Captain, listen to me.

I just heard the assembly bugle call.

Hedgehog, my hearing is not good. What did he say?

He heard the bugle call.

You heard the bugle call?

Assembly.

They played the Assembly.

Who else heard it? Hedgehog, did you hear it?

Tell me if you heard it!

I did. Assembly was played.

It's been playing all along. You're deaf, you didn't hear it.

Captain, let's go. Get us out of here.

Did you hear the bugle call?

The bugle call? When was it sounded?

Who else heard it? Did you two hear it?

Did you hear it?

- Political Officer. - Political Officer!

Tell Captain how many of us are left.

- Thirty-two dead. - Louder!

Thirty-two dead. Our Company has fifteen men left.

Six are seriously wounded. We're all who's left.

The two in the mine took care of themselves.

I have always listened to you.

Listen to me this time. We have to leave.

If we don't go, we'll all die.

He said we always listen to you. Listen to him for once.

Let's get out of here.

If we don't, we'll all be killed.

Wang Jincun, you're the 9th Company's Political Officer.

I want to hear your advice. Did you hear the bugle call?

I didn't. l didn't hear it.

Damn. You want us all to die?

Why don't I just kill you now.

l also didn't hear it.

What are you trying to do?

Captain,

Are they still fighting across the river? Is our Regiment still there?

All our troops retreated long ago.

If anyone dares run away, my grenades will follow you.

Luo, since when did you become...

so courageous?

Back off!

Sergeant Jiao.

Sergeant wants us to make it out alive.

Sergeant Jiao.

Sergeant Jiao!

l never heard the bugle call. l haven't heard a thing.

I can't order a retreat.

Sorry, guys.

Carry him into the mine. Leave a space for me next to him.

Leave if you heard the call. I won't stop you.

l didn't hear it, so I'm staying.

Let's get the explosives ready.

These were written by our dead brothers. Some are martyrs. The rest are mine.

Charge.

If you're scared, start yelling. It works.

Two months later.

His wounds have healed well.

His hearing has nearly been restored to normal.

Two of the three broken bones have settled. His shell shock is quite severe.

He is emotionally unstable. Still unnerved from the trauma.

Over there.

Doctor Zhang, do you think he's telling the truth?

Could he be lying on purpose?

It's hard to tell.

But he's in a better mood today.

Wang, the noodles look good!

I told you already. My name isn't Wang.

Okay, I'm sorry.

- Then what's your name? - Gu Zidi.

- As in "son of the army"? - Gu Zidi.

No, it means "millet field." You should know.

The registration records are clear

the 85th Army, 254th Division, 2nd Battalion, 5th Company, Private Wang.

That wasn't my uniform.

The name on the uniform has nothing to do with me.

It was never my uniform.

- Then why were you wearing it? - I already told you a thousand times.

It was too late to retreat. I was hiding out in an old mine.

l climbed out to look for something to eat. Didn't I have to change my uniform?

While I was looking for food, I also blew up their ammo transport.

- You blew out those tanks. - What about the letter?

What are you laughing at? You want to screw with me, too?

Lucky for you we didn't meet in battle. You're blessed by your parent's good deeds.

Go light incense for them. What losers!

You were captured on the Wen River's south bank.

Will you admit to that much?

I was in the advanced guard of the 139th Battalion.

I was ordered to secure the south bank.

- I was with my troops. - You mean...

Before we took you prisoner, The enemy had already taken you prisoner.

Is that right?

Taken prisoner? Who?

The unit you told me no longer exists.

All unit numbers were changed last year. Didn't you know?

The Central Plains Field Army changed to the 2nd Field Army.

This hospital belongs to the 3rd Field Army.

It was previously called the Eastern China Field Army.

We can't find the Division you said you belonged to.

We have no way to confirm what you say. It's also not the hospital's duty to do so.

The 2nd and 3rd Field Divisions are all preparing the next campaign.

Do you follow me?

What do you mean?

Stop messing around. I sympathize with you but it won't help.

Your wounds have mostly healed. Get your travel pay and hurry back home.

The hospital will issue you a pass.

Travel pay and passes are only given to POWs.

You don't have to go home.

You can go look for your troops if you think you can find them.

I entered the army in 1939. I fought the Japs and then the Nationalists.

- Shit! - l'll be real blunt.

This field hospital can't verify your true identity.

You'll only be a burden to our hospital.

In addition, what good would come of it for you?

We've identified other men of your age pretending to be a Private.

Some were Generals. Others were Colonels.

I hope you'll recover soon.

Any artillery men?

Has anyone served in artillery?

You're all soldiers. Reply.

Here. I was...in artillery.

How many years were you in artillery?

Not that long, but long enough.

What kind of artillery have you used?

The normal kind. Barrels are at least...

What artillery do you have here?

Are you from Central Field?

That's right.

- And you have done artillery? - Sure have.

l've even blown up tanks.

He doesn't seem like it.

What's the traverse range of a howitzer?

Minus five degrees, straight 45 degrees. This is the range for what?

How old are you? Twenty?

Our Captain fought the Japs in 1940. He's been in the army as long as you.

Lieutenant, give him some money.

- Tell him to scram. - Yes, sir.

You old dog.

Come on.

- What's he laughing at? - He's asking you why are you laughing?

One of my men used to eat flapjacks like that.

He was always stuffing his mouth.

When the battle was over, he ended up not making it.

Let him stay.

Yes, sir.

Understood.

Yes, sir.

The American tanks are assembling across the bridge.

The Division Commander ordered us to get behind the enemy line and post a lookout.

We'll blow them to pieces before the main attack.

Okay, I'll go right over.

I need two men from the Scout Platoon.

The Scout Platoon is out locating the enemy's front line.

- Then transfer over two guards. - I will go, too.

l can't do much with artillery I can be of more use as a foot soldier.

Okay. Get the enemy's uniform.

- Then we can get up closer. - Understood.

The American's uniform?

What?! Would you pass as one?

Get the South Korean's.

Shit!

I stepped on a mine.

Don't move.

Walk back along your footsteps. Keep an eye on the road.

Don't come over.

It won't explode unless you move your leg.

Don't worry about me. Continue on with the others.

I wouldn't know which way to fire.

They know!

A tank! An American tank!

Just leave me. Don't get yourselves killed.

Go!

Put the guns down. Put them down.

We are the allied troops.

Er Dou, relax. This uniform decides if we make it out alive.

Sir, look up ahead.

Hold your fire, hold your fire. On our side, on our side.

Keep moving it ahead forward.

But we don't know how to speak Korean.

We don't speak Korean. The Americans speak even less.

Where's Hoengsong-gun?

How do we get to Hoengsong-gun?

(Chinese gibberish trying to sound Korean)

No, no. Where is Hoengsong-gun?

- Hoengsong-gun? - Yeah, yeah.

- Hoengsong-gun. - Stop messing with him.

- How do we get there? - He stepped on a landmine.

He's on a landmine.

It's not your lucky day.

Looks like a French anti-personnel mine.

lf you're lucky, just the leg get blown off.

I know this will blow my leg off.

Well, good luck to you. You're gonna need it.

Let's get out of here. They have more things to worry about than us.

Stay still.

Gu.

Stand still.

Stand still. Lift up your foot. Slowly.

- What will happen? - I've got a plan.

You are the eyes of dozens of cannons.

Lift your foot and walk away.

Faster.

It might cost me a leg, but you'll be blown to pieces.

You know what? I can't even hear the artillery sound.

The assembly call keeps ringing in my ears. It never stops playing.

All my men heard it.

I was the only one who didn't. I might as well be dead.

- Then I could see my 47 brothers. - Man.

You can't die.

Hurry the fuck up.

03, this is 01 , over. Order the battalion to blow up the bridge.

Aim at 475. 075 to the right. Fifth Company, four cannons.

Ready. Fire.

Minus five. 003 to the left. Fire.

On my command all fire. Fire.

Captain. Let's go.

Lead us out of here.

If we don't go, we'll all die.

If the bugle hasn't sounded,

even if you're the last man standing, you must keep fighting.

Li Fucai. Killed in action.

- 700 hundred pounds of rice. - Here.

Man Di, Zhang Wancai, Xu Fugui, Zhang Shunxiang.

Missing in action. 200 hundred pounds.

They're not missing in action. They were war heroes.

Five men came from my village. Three got killed.

Two are deemed heroes. And my brother?

- Missing in action. That's not fair. - Yeah, so unfair.

Comrade, please be fair.

My brother didn't come home from the war. Wasn't he killed in action?

He's still dead either way.

But he's got to die for a reason.

The family of a hero gets 700 pounds of rice.

Families of the missing in action get 200 pounds of rice only.

A difference of 500.

Sir, what kind of gun is this? Haven't seen it before.

- I wonder what this is. - Comrade, let me ask you a question.

- Are you from the local military office? - Yes.

Has anyone come looking for troops from Central Field's 2nd special division?

Liu.

This is your department. Have there been?

Central Field's 2nd special division?

So many troops have come back. I can't remember.

Hey, Comrade. Take a look at this. What kind of gun is this?

British 77.

I used this in guerrilla warfare in Pingxi. Hard to use.

My husband's name was Wang Jincun.

Troops from our town saw him in Yang village.

He was a teacher. His letters said he didn't fight in the front line.

In war, it doesn't really matter whether you fought in the front line or not.

He's either dead, ran away, or taken prisoner. That's why he's missing.

Comrade, people from town keep gossiping and say he was executed by his own troops.

His mother died with shame.

Excuse me, your husband was Wang Jincun?

- Yes. - I was his Captain.

Battlefields lined both sides of the Wen River.

Hundreds of thousands of troops were assembled here.

And if all the reinforcements were added together,

they'd outnumber everyone in this county.

Of course, many people died.

This should be the place, but it looks completely different.

- Sir, any entrances to the old mine? - There's one below, it collapsed.

- Take me to it. - Let's go.

This isn't it.

- Are there any other entrances? - This is the only one left.

The others were destroyed in '52.

- Were any bodies found? - Not that I heard.

My men were all lying inside. You didn't see them?

They were all lying inside. Why couldn't you see them?

Gu, calm down.

- Did you find this helmet here? - This? We've got tons of them.

The miners pee in them at night.

These were worn on the heads of soldiers,

- and you pee in them! - Gu!

Miss.

Don't listen to them. Your husband was a good man.

I can prove it. I can prove it.

He shed his blood on this soil. I can prove it.

Gu. Gu.

I will prove that my brothers are buried under this mountain of coal.

I will prove it to them.

I'll prove it.

He was studying at the provincial teacher's college.

He left without saying a word.

His mother missed him so much. She became ill,

and never got out of bed again.

At first, we received letters from him.

After receiving his last letter on August 13, 1948,

I never heard from him again.

He wrote to you everyday. His clothes were filled with letters.

Please.

Tell me how he died. Please tell me.

He was very clean. His hair was always perfectly combed.

He looked the same when he died.

He was hit by a tiny bit of shrapnel.

About this big...on a fatal spot.

You couldn't see the wound. He looked as if he was sleeping.

His hair looked perfect.

"Anonymous"

Gu, there's no point in looking.

Not a single one has a name.

They're all anonymous soldiers.

Their parents gave them names.

How did they become nameless men?

- Where is he? - Reporting, sir!

He's squatting over there.

Er Dou, I've come to see you.

Of course, who else would you come?

- Easy does it, Flapjack. - You know you're going blind.

- What if you fell into the river? - Not so hard.

Why didn't you tell me you were coming?

Not so hard, you'll choke me. Your troops are watching.

What are you smiling at?

- No smiling allowed. - Yes, sir.

Don't forget.

This is my blood brother.

- Who is that? - Come over. Let me introduce you.

Sun Guiqin. My Political Officer's wife.

Hello.

- l'm Zhao Erdou. - Hello.

He's the Colonel I told you about. He's just like me, uneducated.

In artillery school, he could never sleep. He ended up getting kicked out.

I applied to leave. Stop making things up!

She went to the County looking for her late husband.

How could she find him if I couldn't?

I brought her here to ask for your help. I know you can help.

How can l help?

She has a fever. Must have gotten sick from the rain.

Hurry and help get her stuff.

Zhao, get the car.

Is her temperature down?

It's down. It was over forty degrees. Scary.

- You haven't slept? - I dozed off.

I had them make some noodles.

- What are you laughing at? - That's for the girl.

But you didn't bother to ask if l'm hungry?

Take it. l'll order some more. It's no big deal.

Relax. I'm just messing with you.

Flapjack.

I came to ask for three favors.

First get me anotherjob transfer. I'm not going home.

A retirement home for veterans was built by the Wen River.

Forget it.

You can't stay in a place like that. It'll turn you into a ghost.

If you don't want to go back home,

transfer your work papers here.

You can stay with me.

You're not my son! Why should I stay with you?

You can be my godfather, okay?

A piece of that landmine is lodged in your skull.

Sooner or later you'll go completely blind. What will you do then?

No more bullshit.

Stay here.

Stay with my regiment. Do whatever you want here.

- Look at your power. - Go on.

In North Korea, you made a promise to me.

You said you'd help me find my troops after the war.

Gu.

Millions of soldiers, troops who lost entered new units.

Even if we think the world of ourselves, we're just like drops in a river.

- Why would they care about us? - They don't care.

We must care about it.

Tell me the truth.

That report I made. Did you ever pass it up the line?

Of course I did, but I'll bet it just got stuck in the pile.

They said the headquarters received many letters like yours.

Hundreds of thousands of them. They couldn't open them all.

Be patient.

- Is she awake? - Not yet.

- Report when she's awake. - Yes, Colonel.

I've said the first two.

There's one more.

Brother, l found a wife for you.

Who?

She's down with a fever.

Stop kidding around!

How about it? You don't like her because she's a widow?

Nonsense. I'm no golden boy myself.

- It's just not right. - Seems right to me.

I think you should be with her.

We're brothers. So I'll be blunt.

A blind person doesn't deserve such a woman.

It wouldn't be fair to her.

Tell me. What does her face look like?

A beauty.

I can't see clearly what she looks like.

If she is so beautiful, it's a waste to leave her with me.

Tell her what you should.

If you can't find the words, l'll talk to her when she's better.

Listen to your brother.

She cherishes a loved one that's passed away.

She will devote herself to a living one.

- Gu. - Yes?

- What do you want for dinner? - Dumplings.

If during the holidays,

a few of us friends

can celebrate together,

we will remember all the memories we treasure.

A song filled with joy.

We will remember all the memories we treasure.

A song filled with joy.

At the end of the battle, you were the only one left standing?

That's right. I was the only one left.

How'd you get the enemy's uniform?

What?

We need to know in detail the order of events.

After all this time, you are still missing the point.

Since you claimed to be the only one alive, who is to verify your story?

What else do you want to know? Just tell me. I want to hear it out.

Suppose you intentionally snuck into the enemy's ranks.

How did you do it? Why did you do it?

What were you thinking? Did you consider the consequences?

We hope you will take these questions seriously.

The Party needs to make the record straight, and you need to make the record straight.

Your employment is registered in our county. It is our duty to review our cadres.

Comrade Gu Zidi, take your time.

Before you answer, think it through.

Try to remember. No rush.

I've said all I can say. What else do you want to know?

- Please answer the questions I just asked. - Fuck you.

- What did you say? - I said, fuck you.

- Watch your mouth. - Comrade Gu, you must calm down.

You are full of shit, and I am to be calm?

You are responsible for your words and actions.

I've already died hundreds of times. Who cares about this bullshit?

Write this down. Take down what he just said.

Don't just take down my words. Write this down as well.

- He can take care of himself. - This is outrageous.

Ridiculous!

- Absolutely ridiculous! - He's got a bad temper.

Wang, see the two officials off.

Give my regards to the Director.

Gu, try to cooperate.

Don't be like this.

It's not fair. It's so unfair.

Gu, you can't see your way around. Don't come up here.

My eyesight is poor, but my nose is keen.

lf the forest caught on fire, you wouldn't see it,

but I'd be able to smell it.

Nice view.

Gu.

Gu, look towards the road.

Gu.

They've been found.

- What's been found? - Er Dou just got the notice!

Gu, they found your old regiment.

My girl, Er Dou isn't fooling around with me?

No, it's true.

- You mustn't fool around. - It's true. Come back with me.

What's wrong?

Be careful. It's true.

You must not fool around.

"Memorial Cemetery for the War Heroes"

Director Qin, thanks for waiting.

Colonel Zhao, thanks for coming.

This is the person I told you about. Our battalion's hero.

Volunteer soldier, Bronze Star for distinguished service.

Flapjack, it would be better to say

I'm the Central Plains Field Army's Special 2nd Division,

139th Battalion, 3rd Regiment, 9th Company, Captain Gu Zidi.

I've come to report to Colonel Liu.

This is Director Qin from the Chemical Defense Regiment.

He is handling the cases associated with the 139th Regiment.

Comrade Gu.

On behalf of the regiment's Political Officers, I welcome you.

Your regiment is the same as the old 139th Regiment?

Not entirely. Our regiment now includes

part of the Western Henan's Training Corps and a part of the old 139th Regiment.

We haven't been able to handle all of the Regiment's cases.

We checked the MIA name list from the Wen River mission.

Your name was listed.

Colonel Liu was transferred to the Branch Military Cadre Academy

as the Deputy Commandant.

After the Korean War started,

he re-entered combat duties as Deputy Commander of the 280th Division.

Gu.

Captain Gu.

- You are? - Me?

I'm Liangzi. I am managing the Memorial Cemetery here.

You don't recognize my voice?

l was the regiment's Bugler.

You twerp.

You're still alive.

During the fifth campaign,

he led two infantry battalions to cover the division's retreat.

When it came time for our own retreat, it was already too late.

More than five hundred men died. Only thirty escaped alive.

His back was blown apart.

I had to carry him back.

He was in the hospital for more than half a month.

But he didn't make it.

- Why not retreat earlier? - The transmitter had been destroyed.

We never received the retreat order. We couldn't do anything about it.

They could only keep pounding forward.

He's one tough son-of-a-bitch.

Trained by the old school. Stubborn ass.

Liangzi.

No one sent to the old mine survived.

How did the Regiment evaluate this?

After the battle, Commissar Zhang inspected the area himself.

He couldn't find anyone, dead or alive.

Everyone was listed as MIA.

My ears belong on pigs. I never heard your assembly bugle call.

Some troops heard it. But I never heard it.

I've always felt guilty about this.

But I never blew the assembly call.

- They all heard it. - I never played it.

Gu, I'll tell you one more time.

l never played the assembly bugle call.

Why not?

The Regiment suddenly received the order to retreat.

At that time you were in the old mine.

Holding up a lot of the enemy.

If we ordered your retreat,

the entire regiment may have been in serious trouble.

Perhaps even wiped out by the enemy.

Colonel Liu

never ordered the assembly call to be sounded.

You were afraid of being wiped out?

What about us? The 9th Company!

Gu.

- Liu! - Gu!

The Colonel felt terrible about this.

Even on his death bed he talked about nothing but you.

I was with the Colonel for more than ten years.

He was a good person!

Blame me instead. I never played the Assembly.

Not for the Colonel nor for the 9th Company. I'm so sorry.

- Gu! - Liu!

The Colonel is dead. The Colonel is dead.

You were afraid of being wiped out!

The entire 9th Company was wiped out!

Let me apologize for the Colonel.

- I am the only one left. - I beg you.

Brothers of the 9th company, Colonel Liu offers his deepest apologies.

I wish l was wiped out long ago.

Damn Liu, I was waiting for your bugle call!

My men were always waiting for your call!

They died one by one... waiting for your call!

Gu Zidi!

Why can't you just let go.

People die, it's part of war. Lots of soldiers died, not just your company.

Let me remind you I was Colonel Liu's bodyguard.

I still am to this day.

If you don't stop this nonsense, I'll rip your head off.

What are you doing? This is the Memorial Cemetery.

I didn't want you to go down the road, but you would not listen.

Aren't you just picking on your own wound?

All his men died.

He's been searching for them all these years.

He won't hurt anyone by shouting.

What's done is done.

Don't bring it up again. You, too.

Calm down.

Liu my man,

I'm not...

I can take the fact...

that the call wasn't sounded.

But all my men, my forty seven brothers

all fought to death bravely.

How could they be called MIA?

You are buried here.

Who can prove what really happened?

Repeat the orders.

By tomorrow twelve noon, no matter what it takes,

we must secure the old mine on the southern bank.

What else?

Always listen...for the Assembly bugle call. Fall back when you hear it.

Liu,

have a good rest.

I'll bring you cigarettes and wine from now on.

We share the same fate.

You owe me nothing. I also owe you nothing.

We are even now.

What are you digging for?

- Bodies. - What bodies?

Dead bodies.

- Do you have permission from the mine? - Let go.

What are you really up to? Did you ask for permission?

If you didn't, then you can't dig here.

Let go of me.

You can't dig here.

Let go.

This old soldier has lost his mind. He's crazy.

This old man is crazy.

Comrade Gu Zidi,

you're obstructing the mine's economic development.

You are a decorated veteran. You should know better.

It's been more than a month. He keeps digging like crazy.

He's interfering with our schedule to store the coal.

Soon snow will cover the mountains. We must finish storing the coal on time.

Gu, you can report any issues to your superiors.

Just don't make trouble here.

l've written nine letters.

Asking others to help me dig. No one responded.

Even if we all helped digging and removed the mountain of coal,

what if there's nothing underneath?

Then just bury me there.

I told you he was crazy.

- Let him be then. - Just don't let him get hurt.

Send him food at meal breaks.

- Don't let him starve. - Okay.

Get back to work, hurry.

He lives here. lt's one of the miner's huts.

- Is there heat? - Fire. Otherwise he'd have frozen to death.

This veteran must really be suffering.

Gu!

With Liangzi's help,

Er Dou found the 139th Regiment's Commissar Zhang.

He realized you were still alive and that your men were all killed in battle.

He wanted to meet you.

The military gave an official notice to the local government.

Your eyesight is poor. I'll read it to you.

Wait.

I have to wash my face first.

"Wen River Military Official Notice"

Regarding the Central Field Army's Special 2nd Division,

139th Regiment, 3rd Battalion, 9th Company

Notification of the Martyrdom of Revolutionary Heroes,

The Local Government of Wen River County, Wen River County War Hero Cemetery

in accordance with the recommendation of our leaders,

The People's Liberation Army,

formerly the Central Field Army, 2nd Special Division,

139th Regiment, 3rd Battalion, 9th Company, Political Officer

Wang Jincun,

Lieutenant Jiao Dapeng,

Soldiers Luo Guangtian, Lu Kuangou, Jiang Maocai,

Gong Liangguo, Meng Shilin etc. Forty seven soldiers

in the Wen River Battle during the Civil War in 1948

honorably completed their field duty.

All died as heroes.

For the liberation of the Chinese people, they sacrificed their lives.

Now they are posthumously decorated as revolutionary heroes.

Special Official Notification.

People's Liberation Army Wen River Military, Political Office.

December 19, 1956.

My brothers,

why can't l find you?

Come out for a breath of air, my brothers.

The 9th Company in three defensives against the enemy

destroyed two enemy tanks and killed many enemy troops.

Including Captain Gu Zidi, forty-seven men all perished.

No survivors.

Political Officer Wang Jincun.

1948.

The lunar calendar's 4th day of December.

- The enemy is attacking again. - Captain, do we have any ammo left?

I can't move my leg.

The enemy must not get their hands on our brothers.

Captain,

I didn't disgrace you, did I?

We'll be brothers in our next life.

"9th Company, Monument of 47 Soldiers"

Reporting, sir.

Central Plains Field Special 2nd Division,

139th Regiment, 3rd Battalion, 9th Company, Captain Gu Zidi reporting

my company was dispatched to the old mine on the south bank of the Wen River

to intercept the enemy's 254th Division.

We destroyed three enemy tanks and killed many enemy soldiers.

Except for Captain Gu Zidi, all forty-seven men were killed.

Not one survived. This concludes my report.

Thank you.

9th Company is assembled for your review.

In the battle of Wen River, the 9th Company resolutely followed orders.

Honorably completing its duty,

all soldiers in the 9th Company are awarded Medals of Valor.

Heroes of the 9th Company,

you can all rest in peace.

Present arms.

Ready.

Fire.

Ready. Fire.

Parade rest.

- Bugler. - Yes, sir.