Chapter Fourteen Classical Poetry

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  The garrison at Carentan was troops of the U.S. 24th Infantry Regiment, part of the newly formed U.S. XII Corps, Ninth Army, with about a battalion stationed there. The U.S. Twelfth Army Group was formed in France in 1944 to command the U.S. First, Third, Ninth and Fifteenth Armies as they pushed across Europe, the largest army group the United States had ever put together, consisting of over 1.3 million men, also the largest organization since World War II, and for its commander General Omar Bradley, it was the proudest moment in his life.

  When I led the remaining D Company to retreat to Carrington, all the American soldiers stationed in Carrington were stunned. Where was the former elegant and well-equipped American cavalry? If it weren't for knowing that these people were the front-line troops who had won the battle and retreated voluntarily, they would have thought this was a group of defeated fugitives. They were disheveled, with their helmets askew, looking listless, dragging their rifles as if they weighed a thousand pounds. Fortunately, there were no American reporters to capture this scene. Otherwise, if it got back to headquarters, I would definitely get a good scolding!

  The American major guarding Carrington was named John Joe, a very common name. When he saw my troops, his image of the good impression America had maintained for so long was lost, and he quickly pulled me aside.

  "Captain Conti! Your troops look absolutely terrible! There are also many war correspondents from various countries here, if they take pictures of you looking like this, it will have a bad influence on the US Congress."

  "These damned reporters! What's wrong with them, coming to the front lines? They're just a nuisance!" I cursed, those male and female reporters hiding behind soldiers, carrying cameras and running around everywhere. They don't understand at all what it's like to be a soldier on the front lines. War is cruel, whether you win or lose, every soldier who comes back from the front lines is exhausted and in pain! But these war correspondents don't consider any of this, they just interview whoever they need to. Even writing down what they're told, finding a soldier to read it out loud, then sending it back home, true or false, again and again making people remember their names, increasing their fame! How much impact do they really have on the outcome of the war? In fact, they can't influence anything at all!

  "Ensign Konti, I understand how you feel! However, you still need to watch yourself!" Major John Cho said with a shrug of his shoulders.

  "Alright, Colonel! But my troops need food and water, and a place to rest! These kids have been fighting for over a day and night without sleep, they're exhausted!" I said helplessly.

  "As you wish!" Major John readily agreed and beckoned a officer to come over and help with the arrangements.

  "Thank you very much, Colonel!"

  Just as I was talking to Major John Joe, a young lieutenant with a white dove badge and wearing an American military uniform walked up to me. She was quite slender and beautiful, with a spirited demeanor. With great poise, she extended her hand and introduced herself: "Hello, Mr. Kang! My name is Anna, nice to meet you!"

  "Hello, beautiful Miss Anna!" I gave a ceremonial light handshake to this woman's small hand. Hmm, it was simply wonderful, as light as a feather and soft as silk. Who would have thought that a Chinese man who rolled off the battlefield could still come back to life and touch the hand of an American beauty? Perhaps in another lifetime, I wouldn't be able to enjoy such treatment for my entire life!

  Major John Joe chuckled on one side: "Lieutenant Conte, this is Anna the journalist known as 'the flower of the military'! She's definitely here to interview you, haha, this time you can't escape it!"

  After finishing, regardless of me who just scolded the reporter, facing 'speak of Cao Cao and Cao Cao arrives' Anna with some awkward expression, he smiled and escaped, hiding in the distance to watch my joke.

  Looking at Anna, I was a bit at a loss for words. Although facing German bullets and shells didn't make me flinch, facing a woman, who should be young and beautiful, made me wonder what to say. Should I ask if she had eaten? Or ask if she had a man? No, it should be whether she had a boyfriend or husband? If not, then that scoundrel's words would be "then follow me!"

  Anna looked at my predicament, winked at me on purpose, pointed to a tent that had already been set up and said: "Oh, dear Lieutenant Konti! If you don't mind, come into my tent!"

  I don't mind having the opportunity to be alone with her, after all, I'm a vigorous man, facing the beautiful young foreign beauty's frank teasing, naturally has other thoughts. Unfortunately, in the not far distance, Joe and his gang whistled at me, and guffawed at me constantly pointing at me, I understand their sinister meaning is to ask me to take down this Anna! I walked behind Anna, turned back and deliberately winked at Joe and his gang with a smug expression! As a result, it brought them a loud hiss.

  "Mr. Konti, your soldiers are quite interesting!" Anna said, intentionally striking up a conversation with me as we entered the tent.

  The decorations in Anna's tent weren't anything special, but what was unique was the faint scent of perfume mixed with a hint of feminine body odor. For an old soldier like me, this smell was particularly stimulating! As for Anna's topic, I didn't have even half a bit of interest. Day and night, I mixed with Josen and the others, rolling around in blood and fire, we were all very familiar and trusted each other. To be honest, although they were my subordinates, they should actually be called my brothers.

  Yes, brother! This is the special bond between comrades-in-arms! This is a relationship that can entrust one's life and death to each other! This kind of bond is even more sincere and precious than that between biological brothers, because it has been tested with life itself. These are beyond national borders!

  "No, I'd like to correct Miss Anna's words. They are not just my subordinates, they are my brothers!" I said with deep feeling to Anna.

  "Sorry, please forgive me for what I just asked!" Anna said with some embarrassment.

  "It's all right! Miss Anna! I can tell you, they are a brave people!"

  Anna smiled, the two small dimples at the corners of her mouth seemed to be two tiny flowers in bloom, extremely captivating, almost entrancing this iron-blooded warrior. "Mr. Conte, I've read about your profile. You were previously an enigmatic great person to me!"

  Being praised by such a beauty, even an immortal would be unable to withstand it, let alone me, this small and ordinary mortal. If I didn't spray out nosebleed, it's already my strong self-control. I awkwardly said: "Why are you looking at me like that?"

  "You were in Omaha Beach, breaking through the German blockade first, then in the battle of clearing the remaining German troops in the Omaha area, with your great wisdom, you invented the earth tank on the spot and knocked down several enemy machine gun positions. You are also the only unit that achieved significant results. Finally, under your leadership, your unit rescued F Company without fear of difficulties, fought a bloody battle in Willville Village, annihilated the German elite armored patrol unit with a light infantry company, and knocked down the entire defensive force of the Germans in this area. Although they withdrew from the area due to the arrival of German reinforcements, but because of your bravery, the German troops only stayed in Willville Village for one day before withdrawing. It can be said that Willville Village was taken by you, which is simply a miraculous battle in the history of war!"

  These are things that have just happened recently, but Anna is surprisingly familiar with my situation, making me curious about her background.

  "Thank you, Miss Anna's praise! These achievements were made by the warriors, I just played a leading role." I said humbly in accordance with Chinese custom.

  Anna shook her head and said disapprovingly, "We Americans don't need modesty! If it's your achievement, then it's your achievement!"

  I nodded and didn't say anything!

  "Headquarters of the Allied Forces will probably issue a formal appointment to you in the next few days, appointing Mr. Kangdi as Captain!"

  "What? How did you know?" I stood up in surprise!

  Anna smiled and said mysteriously, "I have my own channels, Mr. Konti!"

  Are you Captain Konti? If I could take the captain away, my mood would be even better. However, what came next, I don't know which nerve was wrong, and I asked: "Anna, please forgive me for asking, do you have a boyfriend?"

  Anna looked at me with some surprise and then smiled slyly: "Mr. Kangdi, do you think I can understand that you are pursuing me?"

  Although the openness of the West is much more severe than that of the East, as a conservative-minded old Chinese man from the previous generation, I still feel very embarrassed and uncomfortable. He quickly stood up and stuttered to explain: "This, this, I just asked casually, just asked casually!" Before Anna could speak, he hastily retreated out of the tent, leaving behind only a burst of silvery laughter!

  Returning to the resting space specially reserved for himself, before he could even lie down and rest for a while, Qiao Sen and others sneaked in with a sly look on their faces.

  "Oh God, preserve my lieutenant! Look at what the beautiful goddess Anna has done to him, she's stolen his soul."

  Bruce, however, was smiling as he kicked Joensen to the side with one foot and leaned in close to my ear, asking in a low voice: "Sir, have you gotten Anna's first kiss?" Although Bruce's voice was low, it could be heard from a mile away.

  On topics like this about women, men from ancient times to the present, both Chinese and foreign, are always enthusiastic. Although I barely spoke in front of Anna the reporter, and the last topic ended with my ignominious retreat, but in front of these people under my command, I couldn't show any weakness.

  I guffawed: "Do you want to know what I did in Miss Anna's tent?"

  Bruce and several others immediately perked up their ears, even Jossen, who was squeezed to the outer circle, tiptoed and squeezed hard towards the inside. I looked around with satisfaction, intentionally lowering my voice, and made gestures:

  "Do you know? As soon as I entered the tent, Miss Anna pushed me onto her bed one by one. You say, can a virgin like me lose his body so cheaply? I thought it wasn't good and wanted to dodge, but Miss Anna was really too powerful. She hugged me and pressed me onto the bed, and with that enchanting little mouth of hers, she kissed my face. Ah, this kiss was incredible, all my strength was sucked away by her in an instant. And then..." I stopped intentionally, looking at these men who were eager for sex with a smug expression.

  Bruce and others knew I was just bragging, but they still urged: "Come on, what happened next?"

  "Just at this critical moment, I suddenly remembered my future wife. I thought I couldn't just give away my first time like that, so I immediately said to her with deep feeling, 'I won't betray my future wife!' As a result, you guess what? Anna was moved by my sincerity! She said to me, 'You're really great, Mr. Conte!'"

  "Yes, Anna is what Lieutenant Commander Konti calls me, I just automatically omitted two words! My heartfelt confession was drowned out by the jeers of the whole room! Bruce directly gave me the middle finger that everyone on earth understands! Josen laughed and said: "Haha, my lieutenant commander, must have been asked a few questions and then kicked out, and then seeing us come, deliberately bragging to us, haha!"

  Jones chimed in, "Stop laughing! Lieutenant Conte is closest to Miss Anna. Let's hear it from the lieutenant, how big are Miss Anna's breasts?"

  "I reckon he wouldn't even dare to look at Anna, let alone see that place!" Josen said with a shake of his head, as if regretting something.

  I scolded Jones severely and said to him, "I'm telling you, but you don't know!" After a pause, I suddenly laughed and said, "Let me recite an ancient poem for you. With intention, the breast is not big, without intention, the breast becomes a mountain!"

  Everyone stared at me in confusion, not understanding the meaning of my revised poem. They all looked at me with a puzzled expression. I burst out laughing and said, "I knew you wouldn't understand! Haha! Disperse now, I need to rest for a while and savor the beauty of what just happened!"

  Everyone understood this sentence, although they wanted to make more noise, but also knew that I was already very tired like others, and left with a pout. I closed my eyes, originally wanting to recall Anna's appearance again, but ended up falling asleep!