Chapter 665 323: Zhao Meng: Can You Truly See the Path I’ve Walked?

The special train was like a long dragon, running day and night.

Among the train cars specifically for the Second Company, I held the letter of transfer but ultimately dared not leave.

Without Liang Erxi pointing at my nose and swearing, I knew full well that as a soldier, obeying orders is paramount and to be done without hesitation.

On an ordinary day, it might have been fine, but leaving the company at this moment would be the greatest insult to the word "soldier"!

It could be said that the mark of a deserter would be branded on me for life, and I'd never be able to hold my head high again...

When we arrived at the southeastern border, everyone was shocked by the scene before us.

Though it was called a border, on our side it was more symbolic, with no defenses to the right.

Opposite the border, you didn't even need binoculars to see a continuous series of permanent bunker fortifications.

Using binoculars, you could clearly see the dark gun barrels sticking out of the bunker openings, aimed directly at us.

To us, this scene was profoundly absurd.

At that time, we always regarded the other side as a brotherly neighbor, proclaiming we were its "vast rear area"...

Apparently, because I didn't run away, Liang Erxi's attitude towards me returned to normal.

He was no longer as explosive as thunder, again showing the image of a simple farmer.

As if nothing had happened, he proactively sought me out for discussions, much like when I first arrived at the Second Company.

Moreover, I could feel that not only was he like this with me, but he was also doing thought work with other officers in the company.

As we boarded the train heading for the border, Wang Wenxi occasionally made sarcastic remarks on the road, saying he would stick to me and charge forward with me.

But upon arrival, he put away the sarcasm, and although his tone wasn't great, it was much more restrained.

Arriving here, we immediately engaged in specialized, yet brief, training.

Combat experience in a subtropical climate was close to zero for us.

Things like climbing mountains, traversing forests, and identifying vegetation all served to temper us.

These were far more excruciating than the ten-kilometer full-gear cross-country runs.

Even the usually intense Liang Erxi was exhausted, his voice no longer robust but hoarse, lips cracked, and his already thin face looking even more emaciated.

Even the physically strongest Wang Wenxi became silent during training.

As for me, even more so.

Every night, my whole body ached so much that I was sleepless, too tired to even consider undressing, feeling a sense of living death.

Sometimes, I even thought a missile suddenly coming over and launching me skyward for a hero's title might not be so bad...

Suddenly, during training, we were urgently called to a meeting.

Everyone was discussing loudly, not knowing what had happened, assuming a battle was about to begin.

Just as everyone straightened up, ready to follow combat orders from above,

Lieutenant General Lei took two steps on the stage before standing firmly, hands on his hips, clear anger on his face.

Finally, amidst the tense expressions, he thundered:

"Darn it! Today, I, Mr. Lei, just want to curse!"

Everyone was astonished.

No one knew why the Lieutenant General was so angry today.

And to vent his anger so directly.

We heard him roar, "Darn it! We're about to fight! What I want to see is our artillery firing in unison, turning the enemy's turtle shells into craters!"

"I want to see our soldiers fearlessly charging, fighting valiantly, risking their lives, shedding blood, breaking the enemy's spirit!"

"But just now, a powerful lady had the ability from thousands of miles away to get a call through to my front command post!"

"Right now, every minute at my command post is invaluable! And what did the lady want? She called to ask me to open the back door for her son, to look after her son!"

"Darn it! Who does she think she is? She has an audacity beyond belief! Who is her son? He used to be an officer in our military's propaganda department and is currently serving as a political instructor in your company's platoon..."

Instantly, my mind buzzed like an explosion.

At that moment, I finally understood that today, Lieutenant General Lei was cursing my mother in this meeting.

"Darn it! Opening the back door on this battlefield of blood and sacrifice?"

"I don't care who she is, whether she's a out to help? I don't care who she is, whether she's a noble lady from the heavens, but anyone who dares to open a back door on my battlefield of blood and sacrifice, I will have her son be the first to carry a satchel charge to blow up the bunker!"

Thunderous applause engulfed the whole venue.

After that, I couldn't focus on anything Lieutenant General Lei said.

I only vaguely heard the applause growing louder and more fervent each time.

To me, this applause was shameful! It was mocking! A blatant ridicule!

Returning to the company in a daze, I still heard people full of excitement.

"The general is a man! Cursing so satisfactorily! His mother has the audacity to desert this battlefield?"

"I don't care who that person is, if they dare to run away from the battlefield, I'll be the first to shoot them!"

"..."

I couldn't make out who was speaking, raising my head in confusion, seeing only countless shadows.