Chapter 67

  Ye Long solemnly read: "By the decision of the Military Commission Party Committee, the 13th Army Corps was established, directly under the command of the Military Commission, and under its jurisdiction are the 7th Army, the 11th Army, the 25th Army, the 40th Army, the 107th Army, and the 63rd Division." I listened with great joy and was about to speak when Ye Long took out a second document and began reading: "By the decision of the Military Commission Party Committee, Comrade Tang Ning is awarded the rank of Lieutenant General and enjoys treatment at the army corps level."

  He then took the last document and read: "By decision of the Military Commission Party Committee, Comrade Tang Ning is formally appointed as Alternate Member of the Central Military Commission of the Longwei Republic, Commander of the Xizheng Provincial Military Region, and Commander of the 13th Army Group." After finishing reading, he said to the Chairman: "Chairman, I have finished reading."

  "Alright, put it on the table, you go out first."

  "Yes." After finishing speaking, Ye Long put away the documents and left.

  The chairman lit a cigarette and said kindly to me: "Little Tang, say something, what do you think? Hmm?"

  "I said excitedly: 'Thank you Mr Chairman for your trust in me, I will definitely live up to the Chairman's expectations.'"

  The chairman said with a hint of blame: "It's not me, it's the organization's trust in you, got it?"

  "Yes."

  "The army is the people's army, it is not your army, my army or someone else's army, it is the party's army, the state's army."

  "Yes, I understand."

  "Alright, just understand that. Don't walk down a single path until it's dark, you need to look far ahead and walk the right path, don't think about this and that, got it?!"

  "Yes, Mr. Chairman."

  "Really? I heard your wife, the boss's daughter is having a baby?"

  "Yes, Mr. Chairman!" I said with a smile.

  "Well, when was the child born?"

  "It's early days yet, I'm only a little over 3 months pregnant, Chairman!"

  "Alright, you'd better take good care of her, got it?"

  "Yes, got it."

  "Has that child been named yet?"

  "Not yet?" I suddenly had an idea and said, "Chairman, why don't you help us come up with a name?"

  "What? How come? You won't let the old boss get up, but you're asking me, this old man, to get up?"

  "Hehe, President, you can get up now."

  "Haha, okay! Let me think for a moment." The chairman said, stood up and walked around while smoking and thinking. After a while, the chairman's eyes lit up, he walked to the desk, spread out the rice paper, picked up the brush and pointed at the inkstone saying: "Grind the ink."

  "Ah." I walked over happily, took some clear water and started grinding ink. Before long, I said, "It's ready, Chairman."

  "En." The chairman moistened his pen and began writing with his head down. He finished quickly, smiled at me and said: "Take a look, how is it? Is it good?"

  "Yes, Chairman." I leaned over and read out loud: "Tang Run, Tang Jia. Good! If it's a boy, call him Tang Run; if it's a girl, call her Tang Jia."

  "May he bring prosperity to all the people, and I hope that when he grows up, he will have a heart for the common people and serve them. If it's a girl, I hope she'll be a great beauty, and marrying a talented young man wouldn't be bad either! Haha!"

  "Hehe." I rubbed my head and smiled foolishly along with him.

  "Take this back and discuss it with Laozong's daughter-in-law. If it's okay, then use this name."

  "Hehe, my family member will definitely have no objection, they'll be thrilled!" I said as I gathered up the letter and held it in my hand.

  Haha.

  At this time, Secretary Ye walked in and said: "Chairman, it's time."

  The chairman listened and said to me: "Little Tang, we have another meeting later, let's stop here for today. Remember what I just told you."

  "Yes, Mr. Chairman."

  The chairman nodded and said: "Right, I heard that you are good at shooting and your kung fu is not bad either. Ye Long, bring me my pistol to give to Little Tang."

  "Alright, Mr. Chairman."

  After a while, Secretary Ye walked in with a gun holster containing a pistol and handed it to me. I took it and examined it carefully but didn't dare pull the trigger out, saying: "Chairman, great gun, great gun."

  The chairman looked at the gun and said: "This Beretta was a gift from my old friend Green, haha."

  "I said: 'Thank you, Chairman.'"

  "Alright, go with me on National Day and participate in the celebration, then you can go back, even if there's nothing to do, just go take a look at the boss."

  "Yes. That's all, Mr. Chairman. I'm leaving."

  "Well, take these letters of appointment away too."

  "Yes." After I finished the ceremony, I followed Secretary Ye out of the courtyard and got into the car. We arrived at our destination soon. As soon as I got off the car, I saw Chase and others walking towards me. I asked: "What's wrong with you guys?"

  "We're a little worried," Chas explained.

  I smiled wryly and said, "What's there for me to worry about? Nothing."

  "Yes, Commander."

  "Come in." I walked into the living room and had just sat down on the sofa when Chas led the staff in with breakfast, instructing them to put it on the table. He then said to me, "Commander, have some breakfast."

  "Thanks." I was a bit touched by Chase's thoughtfulness.

  After I finished breakfast, I let the staff clean up and after the workers brought out tea, I smiled at them and said: "Your commander is not leaving, still in Xizang Province." After finishing speaking, I handed over the appointment letter for them to see. They all said it was too good. Zhang spoke the most absolutely, he said: "Commander, from now on I can call you Comrade Leader again, or should I stick with this habit?" Hearing that, I just rolled my eyes, while others covered their mouths and giggled. We chatted and laughed, the atmosphere was very lively, when a staff member walked in and said: "Chief, there is a head of the Revolutionary Committee outside who wants to visit you."

  I was stunned and thought: What did the people from the Revolutionary Committee come to me for? I said with my mouth: "Please let him in."

  A woman soon walked in under the guidance of the staff, I stood up to greet her. As I walked, I carefully examined her, she was a middle-aged woman wearing a very feminine cheongsam, wearing a pair of black-framed glasses, looking very smart and having an air of superiority. She saw me and said: "You are Comrade Tang Ning, right?" After she finished speaking, she directly sat in the position where I was sitting, I was stunned again, I had no choice but to sit on the guest seat. As soon as I sat down, I heard her say: "Comrade Tang Ning is indeed young and promising!"

  I listened to her old-fashioned and arrogant words, feeling a bit puzzled and annoyed, but still said: "Thank you for the compliment."

  She said: "Well, this time I came mainly to talk to you about Xizang Province!"

  I smiled and said, "If it's a military matter, I can't tell you because I haven't received orders from my superiors. If it's a local matter, I can't discuss it with you because I'm the head of local military affairs, not a local government official."

  She said with some anger: "So you mean that the people of my Revolutionary Committee cannot interfere in military affairs?!"

  I nodded and said: "As I understand it, your Revolutionary Committee is not a military organization, how can you interfere with our troops?"

  She patted the sofa and stood up, pointing at me and shouting: "Tang Ning!"

  I waved my hand at the security guard who was approaching me and said, "It's nothing."

  She struggled to calm her anger, slowly sat down and said: "Do you know who I am? Who are you talking to?"

  I was stunned and started thinking about who she was. So arrogant and domineering!