In the spring of 1979, war broke out on the Sino-Vietnamese border. Although it was short-lived, the conflict was extremely intense, involving thousands of soldiers, and was a typical example of a regional conflict during the Cold War. In this war, the Chinese People's Liberation Army entered northern Vietnam with the goal of punishing Vietnam for its invasion of Cambodia and with the intention of forcing the Vietnamese government to reconsider its diplomatic and military strategy. Due to the complex terrain and the resolute resistance of both sides, the fighting quickly escalated. Against this historical backdrop, many ordinary soldiers showed extraordinary courage and sacrifice, including Xiao Jiaxi, an ordinary machine gun company supplyman, whose story became a vivid footnote to that history.
In March 1979, when the spring was cold, Xiao Jiaxi, as a member of the 448th Regiment of the 150th Division of the 50th Army, went deep into northern Vietnam with the troops. It was his first real fight, and there was both nervousness and anticipation. The task of the troops was to cover the retreat of the main forces and ensure the safety of the retreat routes.
"Xiao Jiaxi, are you ready?" the division commander asked before leaving.
"Ready, chief!" Xiao Jiaxi replied sonorously, holding the heavy machine gun he longed for day and night.
After entering the territory of Vietnam, the situation was more complicated than expected. The terrain of Vietnam was mountainous and densely jungled, which made the march extremely difficult. The resistance of the Vietnamese army was extremely stubborn, and they took advantage of the familiar terrain to carry out several ambushes on the Chinese army.
On March 11, a foggy morning, the 448th Regiment strayed into the enemy's fire encirclement. In the valley, enemy bullets came from all directions like a downpour.
"Quick, machine gun for me!" shouted the squad leader. Xiao Jiaxi and his comrades-in-arms quickly set up their machine guns and began to return fire. The bullet whistled in his ears, and Xiao Jiaxi felt unprecedentedly nervous, but he gritted his teeth, and the machine gun in his hand was as steady as Mount Tai.
The battle lasted a whole day. As night fell, Xiao Jiaxi's company still failed to break through the encirclement. They began to run out of ammunition and suffered more and more casualties. At this moment, Xiao Jiaxi was unfortunately hit in the buttocks by a stray bullet, and the blood stained the military uniform red.
"Hold on, Xiao Jiaxi!" his comrades carried him to a relatively hidden cave. Xiao Jiaxi's wound was severely infected, and his condition deteriorated.
"I can't hold everyone back. Xiao Jiaxi said with difficulty, he decided to stay and let the others break through.
"No, let's come together, let's go together!" the comrades refused to leave him.
Xiao Jiaxi insisted on leaving cover. He knew that with his injuries, it would only drag everyone down. He gave the heavy machine gun in his hand to a comrade-in-arms, his eyes full of reluctance and determination.
"Tell my family that I didn't throw away the gun. Xiao Jiaxi's voice was almost murmuring.
In the dead of night, Xiao Jiaxi was alone in the cold wind. The moonlight shone on his pale face, reflecting a transcendent calm. Even though the wound on his leg was badly infected, and maggots wriggled on the wound, he still held on to his post.
At such a difficult moment, Xiao Jiaxi had a strange calm in his heart. He remembered the mountains and rivers of Kaixian County, Sichuan, his hometown, and the heroic stories of the Anti-Japanese War told by the old people when he was a child. At this moment, he felt that he had also become a character in those stories, even if he died, he would die on the road to his homeland.
For 9 days and 8 nights, Xiao Jiaxi delayed the enemy again and again in the struggle with death, and bought precious retreat time for his comrades. By the time the last wave of reinforcements arrived, he was dying, but he still clutched the heavy machine gun in his hand, which had never been discarded.
When the reinforcements found him, Xiao Jiaxi was speechless, just nodded slightly, motioning for them to look at the gun in his hand. They gently lifted him onto a stretcher and began the long journey back to his homeland.
Xiao Jiaxi died of his injuries on the way back to China, but his story and determined eyes became a ray of light in everyone's hearts. They know that even in the most difficult moments, there are fighters like Xiao Jiaxi, who continue to write infinite loyalty to the motherland with their persistence and sacrifice.
The story of Xiao Jiaxi is not only a history of war, but also a magnificent heroic hymn. He used his life to interpret the true meaning of loyalty and sacrifice, and even in the face of the cruelty and ruthlessness of modern warfare, the human spirit and faith still have the power to transcend the boundaries of life and death. As the poet said, "In the blood of a hero flows immortal faith." Xiao Jiaxi, an ordinary feeder, wrote an extraordinary heroic chapter with his mortal body, and became an unquenchable flame in people's hearts in that turbulent era.