Chapter 6: The Great Wall Ballad (Part 2)

  Many, many years later, Zhang Songling lay under the grape arbor in his own home, enjoying the gentle summer breeze while always liking to take out all his medals and let the sunlight shine on them.

  That Sixth Class Bao Ding Medal, in chronological order, was placed in the first position on the left side of the case. Along with several other medals he later received, issued by two successive Chinese governments, they had once brought him endless glory and almost led him to the brink of disaster. In the end, however, all these medals were left with only one meaning - memory.

  For a man in his nineties, all memories, whether joyful or melancholic, are precious. Each one can bring back a part of the journey he has traveled. Each one can make him smile at the past self in his memory, with pride or mockery!

  When Sun Lianzhong first pinned the treasure tripod medal on his chest, Zhang Songling's mood was not as calm as when he was over 90 years old. At that time, he was still young, although he had already brushed past death twice, but he couldn't do it to the point of viewing wealth and honor as dirt. At that time, he believed in achieving fame through martial arts, at that time, he believed that there were no scholars on the top floor of the Lingyan Pavilion, at that time, he was simple like a piece of ice, and passionate like a raging fire.

  Sixth-grade Baoding Medal of Honor, lieutenant rank. It's enough to make a 17-year-old young man think about dying for someone he considers a close friend. To know that just half a month ago, he was still a new recruit. And now, he has become the deputy company commander with the rank of lieutenant. His position and military rank have surpassed those of his seniors in the army, including Hu Fengshou. If we only consider the speed of promotion, it exceeds all his predecessors in the special forces team, including Team Leader Gou, who was promoted from lieutenant to colonel, skipping three ranks. He, on the other hand, has risen from private to lieutenant, skipping eight ranks.

  A wave of dizziness caused by excitement quickly enveloped him, becoming more and more intense until the moment when all new and old soldiers stood together to accept his inspection, thoroughly rising to the highest level. Zhang Songling couldn't remember what encouraging words he said to his comrades at the time, only that every sentence he spoke won a warm applause. When the applause ended, he suddenly realized that he had unintentionally stolen the spotlight from Captain Liao. The captain, who was of the same rank but twice his age, was an old acquaintance, a grassroots military officer who came from the 31st Independent Brigade, Lieutenant Liao Wen Hua.

  However, Zhang Songling didn't care much. The regiment commander Gu Ziqiang was an old acquaintance of his, and the deputy battalion commander Shi Liangcai was his sworn brother. With the support of the old superior, Commander Gou Youde, behind him, his position as deputy battalion commander in the special operations group was far above that of the newly transferred battalion commander Liao Wenhua. The latter could only hold back his discontent and dare not provoke Zhang Songling.

  And the battalion commander Liao Wenhua was indeed unwilling to provoke his deputy battalion commander. Because on the first day of being transferred to the Special Task Force, Commander Gou Youde personally entrusted him to take good care of Zhang Songling, this younger brother. And in the words and between the lines, a message was revealed that he was able to be transferred to the Special Task Force as a battalion commander, all thanks to the recommendation of Deputy Battalion Commander Zhang Songling. Otherwise, Commander Gou would not have known that in the 31st Division, which had been losing battles recently, there was actually a lieutenant surnamed Liao who could be used.

  Isn't it obvious that Liao Wen is being told to look at the face of his deputy when doing things? Is this how you bully people? Besides, who begged to join your special operations team? I, Lao Liao, didn't want to lead a team in the 31st Division because I didn't want to charge into battle. Your special operations team loses two-thirds of its brothers in every battle, and I begged to join, isn't that seeking death?

  But no matter how angry he was in his heart, Liao Wen Hua had to smile and be full of energy on the surface. Because at this time, the special operations team in the 26th Route Army, or the First Corps of the Second Group Army after reorganization, was the most dazzling star. Countless officers were watching, watching the performance of everyone in the special operations team. If Old Liao dared to speak his mind, he would probably be transferred to the demolition squad of the 27th Division the next day, leading the way with a bundle of hand grenades to blow up the enemy's tanks.

  Endure, endure for a moment and the heart will be wide and the body will be fat, retreat one step and the sea will be vast and the sky will be empty. I, Lao Liao, have a thin fortune, can't find a team leader to be my elder brother, nor do I have a round face that everyone loves. Can't I, Lao Liao, give in to you? Whether it's big things or small things, whether it's showing one's face or losing face, all are left to you, the deputy company commander. Those who are capable will work harder! How dare I, Lao Liao, steal the wind of an anti-Japanese hero with a precious tripod medal on his chest?!

  Daily training? No problem, our Deputy Commander Zhang will take care of it! No need to ask the Company Commander for everything. Deputy Commander Zhang is a veteran of the Special Forces, his training methods and techniques are far superior to those of the 31st Division. Getting military supplies for the brothers? No problem, our Deputy Commander Zhang will handle it. Deputy Commander Zhang has a lot of face, every time he sees Old Qian, who's in charge of military supplies, they're always chatting like old buddies. As long as Deputy Commander Zhang makes an appearance, how many guns and ammo can't be taken out? Boosting morale, giving the brothers lectures on resisting Japan and saving the nation? That's even less of a problem! Our Deputy Commander Zhang is a graduate of Shandong Province's Number One High School, his cultural knowledge is so deep it could drown you, lecturing on resisting Japan and saving the nation is like a chicken eating ants, easy as can be!

  He openly undermines his deputy company commander, which is something that Second Company Commander Liao Hua Wen would never do. Not only would he not do it, but he would also put on a face of a loyal and honest elder, addressing his deputy company commander as "brother" and giving him opportunities to exercise and grow at all times, putting pressure on his shoulders to promote his rapid growth. However, in secret, Second Company Commander Liao Hua Wen is just as ruthless. After so many years in the military, who hasn't learned some tricks of the trade? Smashing tables and chairs, scolding people to their faces, even resorting to physical violence - that's what idiots do! The real skill is to kill with a soft knife while smiling and being friendly! And afterwards, you can still keep your hands clean, without getting a single drop of blood on them!

  So, Zhang Songling, the deputy company commander of the second company, became the busiest person in the entire special operations group, except for the team leader. He was so busy that even the company commander Shi Liangcai couldn't bear to look at him and had several private discussions with Zhang Songling about transferring him to his own company to continue working together. However, Zhang Songling always responded with a smile: "I'm not tired, this is just the beginning. Old Liao is also kind-hearted, otherwise he wouldn't let me get involved in anything, and I really wouldn't have learned anything. Brother Shi, you mustn't mention this to the team leader, if you do, I'll cut ties with you!"

  "You're not even worth considering!" Shi Liangcai was furious, but he didn't dare to drag Zhang Songling to the first company to help him with accounting again. The little fatty had a high temper and great skills, his future prospects were definitely not limited to being a small lieutenant. Dragging him to the first company to do accounting might even harm him. Taking advantage of the current lull in fighting, let him learn how to be an officer properly, maybe after a few days, he can get rid of that "deputy" title on his head. Anyway, the recent performance of Erlian Chang's leader Liao Wenhua was seen by everyone, and the special forces team couldn't tolerate this kind of guy who advances when it's convenient and retreats when it's not!

  Zhang Songling had actually sensed it early on, and Liao Wenhua's behavior seemed to be changing tactics to torment himself. However, he thought that this little matter wasn't worth letting Old Gou settle. He wasn't a child who would get into a fight and then ask his parents to intervene. He could rely on his own abilities to make Liao Wenhua put aside his prejudices and sincerely acknowledge him.

  Moreover, he also enjoys the feeling of being busy from dawn till dusk. This makes him feel that he is one step closer to fulfilling the wishes of Zhou Ju, Tian Baozi and others. The new and old soldiers of the Second Company are also very fond of Zhang Songling, who is always smiling and never puts on airs as a deputy company commander. Especially when there is trouble that needs help, it's better to ask Deputy Commander Zhang than anyone else in the company. Often, things that others have been pushing back and forth for half a day can be settled in just a few minutes with Deputy Commander Zhang. And he doesn't even need to be bribed with cigarettes, because Deputy Commander Zhang simply doesn't smoke!

  "That's because Zhang Lianchang and Commander Gou are iron brothers, who dares to make things difficult for him!" Under the secret promotion of some people with ulterior motives, Zhang Songling became a private confidant of Commander Gou Yide, and it was getting more and more established.

  However, this statement does not constitute any actual harm to Zhang Songling. The 26th Route Army is a remnant of the Northwestern Army, and it has always been a tradition in the Northwestern Army to promote trusted subordinates first. Old General Feng Yuxiang did so, old regimental commander Sun Lianzhong also did so, and special agent team leader Gou continued to carry on this tradition, which cannot be considered wrong! Moreover, Zhang Lianzhang is not someone without real skills, otherwise the Sixth Class Precious Tripod Medal would not be hanging on his chest.

  At the same time, another rumor was circulating widely among the special agents. That is, Zhang Lianzhang of the second company was a top student at Shandong Provincial No. 1 National Middle School and a cultured person through and through. If he hadn't shouldered a gun, by now he would have already set foot in Beiping University.

  In this era, it's rare to see cultured people taking up guns, and the Northwestern Army has always placed great emphasis on cultured individuals. Don't believe me? Count them yourself: Han Fuqu, Chairman of Shandong Province, is a cultured person, isn't he? Song Zheyuan, Commander of the 29th Army, is also a cultured person, right? Our old Regimental Commander Sun Lianzhong was also well-read in the Four Books and Five Classics, and could compose poetry with ease. By this logic, it's only natural that Zhang Lianzhang rose through the ranks quickly, isn't it?

  "If Zhang Lianzhang is so capable, why did he go to take the entrance exam for Beiping University?" Some people also privately and quietly refuted the rumor.

  "Idiot, wasn't Peking University occupied by the Japanese?" Immediately, countless mouths loudly refuted.

  "No wonder Zhang Lianzhang mentioned the Japanese devils and his eyes blazed with anger. It turned out that they had ruined his future! Thinking of Zhang Songling's enlistment time, the brothers quickly came to another conclusion. Although it was far from the truth, it was more convincing."

  In this era, reading books is still a sacred thing in the hearts of many people. Especially when it comes to studying at places like Tsinghua, Peking University, and Central University, it's equivalent to passing the imperial examination in the Qing dynasty, which means that one's future prospects will be boundless.

  "No wonder Zhang Lianchang's handwriting is so good, it turns out he was a xiucai master!" People's way of thinking is strange, once they have made up their minds about something, they will find countless supporting evidence for it. Many brothers in the special operations team had seen Zhang Songling's handwriting before. Although they couldn't tell what script or style it was, they knew that if this handwriting were to be taken out, it would be enough to make those guys who made a living writing letters for people on the street shut down their stalls in shame.

  After discovering this "secret", some squad leaders and team leaders, with the intention of getting close to their superiors, brought some snacks and asked Zhang Songling to help them write letters home. Zhang Songling accepted all requests, writing the letters neatly and refusing to accept the snacks.

  When he had time, he would write two letters to his family and ask the post office in Handan to mail them to Lu County. As for his father and brother, of course, he wouldn't tell them the truth that he had met King Yan twice. Instead, he made up a very relaxing story, saying that on the way to join the army, he met a regimental commander of the 26th Army, who appreciated him and rose to prominence from then on. In just two or three months, he was promoted to deputy lieutenant colonel. Anyway, his father and brother's understanding of military life was still in the "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" stage, so no matter how outrageous the lie was, they wouldn't see through it.

  To reassure his elderly father, Zhang Songling even paid the price of a Wang Ba watch box to have a beautiful female journalist from Nanjing take a black and white solo photo of himself. In the photo, he wore a military uniform, with the Bao Ding medal on his chest and two box-shaped guns slung around his waist, looking handsome and elegant. As soon as it was developed, the female journalist's eyes sparkled. From then on, he found excuses to run back to the military camp several times, almost missing his flight back to Nanjing.

  Because Zhang Songling often wrote letters for his comrades, his prestige in the second company rose even higher. Many comrades openly said that Company Commander Zhang was both civil and military, and his future prospects would definitely not be limited to being a lieutenant. Company Commander Liao Wenhua did not expect that after several attempts to trip him up, he could not make Zhang Songling fall flat on his face, but instead helped the latter gain fame. The more he thought about it, the more unbearable it became, and finally, he found an opportunity that he thought was suitable, and with a playful tone, patted Zhang Songling's shoulder and said: "People all say that Old Zhang is capable of both literature and martial arts, and knows everything. But I guarantee, there is one question that Brother Zhang will definitely not be able to answer!"

  "Impossible! What problem can stump Zhang Lianchang?" The brothers didn't know the little trick that Liao Wenhua had up his sleeve, and they thought he was just joking around, chuckling and teasing him on the side.

  "Come on, say it! Come on, say it!"

  "Come on, Commander, let's have a look!"

  "What's the matter?" Liao Wenhua looked around and pretended to be mysterious, "Zhang, do you know that place of a woman, is it one hole or two holes?"

  "Hahaha……" The old soldiers burst into laughter, looking at Zhang Songling with a mischievous grin. The new recruits were taken aback for a moment, then they also started laughing, shouting in unison, "Tell him, tell him! Zhang Lianzhang, you tell him! A woman's that place, is it really……"

  In a burst of kind laughter, Zhang Songling's face turned red to the point of almost bleeding. During his high school days, he hadn't even spoken a few words with the girls in his class, how could he possibly know such "profound" physiological problems?! "Should be one! Or is it two?" With a hint of pleading, he looked pitifully at his fellow brothers, "I don't know, I really don't know!"

  "I said, isn't there anyone in this world who knows everything?" Finally successfully hitting Zhang Songling, Liao Wenhua was very satisfied and patted the other's shoulder, took a toothpick to pick his teeth, and walked away leisurely.

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