Second lieutenant Zhang Tie officially became first lieutenant Zhang Tie. In the Logistics Department, he had received two months' pay and other miscellaneous compensation for battle wounds. He had received 71 gold coins in total. Plus the personal booties that Zhang Tie had gained from the previous battles, Zhang Tie's purse, which had shrunk when he left Blackhot City, slightly bulged again. He now had over 100 more gold coins.
There was an old Chinese saying, "A real man should not be powerless for a day; a little man should not be poor for a day". Zhang Tie felt that he was destined to be a little man. He didn't care about power at all. He didn't know how he felt. Perhaps he had been used to being poor. As long as he was alive and had some gold coins in his pocket, he would feel reassured.
Colonel Stuka assigned a major of the Personnel Department to drive Zhang Tie to the place where he would work in the future so that he could be familiar with the road.
The so-called "No. 9 Equipment Section of the Comprehensive Logistics Support Office of the Logistics Department of the Iron-Horn Army" was actually a maintenance factory in a logistics base in the east of Blapei City. As there was no city wall in Blapei, Zhang Tie didn't know whether this logistics base was inside or outside Blapei City. This factory was not desolate. However, it was surrounded by large wheat fields and neighboring villages. Strictly speaking, this factory seemed to be in the suburb. Close to this factory was a large airship airport and several material storage warehouses.
There were many soldiers and military vehicles passing by on the surrounding roads.
The No. 9 Equipment Section of the Comprehensive Logistics Support Office of the Logistics Department of the Iron-Horn Army was mainly responsible for the maintenance and repair of vehicles of the Logistics Department. Therefore, this factory covered a large area, at least 10 mu. Half of the entire factory was a semi-closed shed and garage which were temporarily built with steel frames and steel tiles. Many vehicles were parked here for maintenance and repair.
Besides Zhang Tie, the No. 9 Equipment Section of the Comprehensive Logistics Support Office of the Logistics Department of the Iron-Horn Army had 136 people in total. Most of them were technical sergeants. Before Zhang Tie came here, the position of the section chief had been vacant for over 5 months. Everything here had been running as usual without any mistake.
As the former section chief had reached the retirement age, he also had some health problems. Therefore, before the Iron Horn Army attacked the Andaman Alliance, they had already retreated. After knowing this situation, Zhang Tie understood that this position was used for retirement. There was no need for a first lieutenant to repair cars. This repair shop. There wouldn't be any major problems even if the sky was turned upside down. At the end of the day, it was just dealing with a pile of spare parts. What problems could there be? Colonel Stuka had really arranged a good position for himself.
The major of the Personnel Affairs Department directly gathered all 136 people in a maintenance workshop to meet Zhang Tie. Among them, the one with the highest rank was only a second lieutenant. The deputy director was Zhang Tie's assistant here. When Zhang Tie arrived, the second lieutenant had heard the introduction of Zhang Tie's current status from the major of the Personnel Department. His expression was a little strange.
"First Lieutenant Zhang Tie was a military officer of the Iron-Blood Camp of the 9th Regiment of the No. 30 Division. Due to his outstanding military exploits, he was awarded the Iron-Blood Medal only half a month after coming to the Kalur Theater of Operations!"
Seeing their strange expressions, the major only said one sentence, causing all the 136 people to turn solemn. Many of them felt their hearts pounding as they silently swallowed their saliva. At the same time, their gazes towards Zhang Tie became much more respectful.
Everybody in the Iron-Horn Army understood that there was only one kind of person who could serve in the Iron-Blood Camp and obtain the Iron-Blood Medal in the Norman Empire — the terrifying butchers who had killed countless people on the battlefield. If this person could obtain the Iron-Blood Medal only half a month after coming to the Kalur Theater of Operations, it meant that the number of people he had killed might not be less than the number of people present here. At the thought of this, many of the 136 people seemed to have discovered that this young first lieutenant who was standing in front of them seemed to be giving off an ice-cold killing intent that made their hearts tremble. This killing intent was the aura of a tiger and wolf that had accumulated after killing too many people on the battlefield. All iron-blooded generals had such an aura.
"First Lieutenant Zhang Tie, what do you want to say to them?" After introducing Zhang Tie, the major turned around and asked Zhang Tie.
Zhang Tie glanced at the second lieutenant with the big belly who had been looking at him with a bit of awe until now. "Since everything here was running well before I came here, I hope it can also run well in the future. Now, you can go and do what you should do... "
Seeing the others leaving, the major smiled and said to Zhang Tie, "First Lieutenant Zhang Tie, I can see that Colonel Stuka appreciates you very much. That's why he arranged you here. As long as you stay here for a while, you will find this position interesting!"
The major's words were full of hints, causing Zhang Tie's heart to race. However, it was not the right time to explore it. He had to find a place to settle down first.
...
Seeing the major driving away, the 30-odd second lieutenant with the big belly appeared in front of Zhang Tie with a big smile. Seeing the luggage in Zhang Tie's hands, he hurriedly stretched out his hand, wanting to help Zhang Tie carry it.
Only after glancing at this guy, Zhang Tie had smelled a kind of smell that could only be found on many stalls in the flea market near the railway station of Blackhot City.
Seeing this guy trying to please Zhang Tie, Zhang Tie didn't refuse him and directly threw the luggage into his hands. When dealing with this kind of person, never be polite to him. If you were polite to him, it would be the same as spitting on the face of a gentleman when he was being polite to you.
As was imagined, seeing Zhang Tie throwing the luggage to him, the man's smile became more enthusiastic than before. Even the grease on his rosacea seemed to be a bit brighter.
"Second lieutenant, what's your name?"
"Section chief, I'm Pi Ping!" That person stared at Zhang Tie carefully. "Do you want to take a look around the factory or go to the office to check the documents and account books?"
"No need. I'm very satisfied with everything here. I've just been discharged from the hospital today and have no place to settle down. You can find a car to take me around and find a place to settle down! "
After staying in the hospital for so long, Zhang Tie couldn't wait to enter the Castle of Black Iron to take a look.
Hearing Zhang Tie's order, Second Lieutenant Pi Ping became even happier. Carrying Zhang Tie's luggage, he hurriedly went to drive the car. "Wait a moment. I'm going to drive the car right now! "
There were almost no military camps in the entire Blapei. All the places and public facilities that could be occupied by the Iron-Horn Army had been occupied, except for the 2nd 11th Division which barely occupied a military camp in Blapei. Some military officers there were even assigned to a dormitory. As for the other military officers of the Logistics Department in this city, most of them could only rent a house by themselves. Most of them could only rent a house in this city at their own expense. Now, Blapei was already the territory of the empire, on the territory of the empire. Of course, the soldiers of the Empire could not disturb the citizens and seize their property.
It only took half a minute. Second Lieutenant Pi Ping parked a Lynx in front of Zhang Tie. After opening the door, Zhang Tie sat on the copilot seat, and Second Lieutenant Pi Ping drove the car out of the factory.
"I won't be coming here often in the future. I'll just come here once in a while. The 9th Equipment Division will be the same as before. The major who just left told me that the position of the 9th Equipment Division Chief is a lot of fun. In the future, you will still be in charge of this place. I don't want everyone to lose their fun because of my arrival, and I don't want to be treated as an idiot. I can tell that you're a smart person with one look. Just don't disappoint me! " Sitting in the car, Zhang Tie straightforwardly talked to Second Lieutenant Pi Ping. After staying in the Iron-Blood Camp for a while, Zhang Tie was not in the mood to talk about such trivial things. Only those who had experienced life and death on the battlefield would understand that for a soldier, besides life and death, everything else was bullsh * t.
Not having imagined that Zhang Tie would be so straightforward, Second Lieutenant Pi Ping's hand slightly quivered before recovering. He was even a bit excited. "Don't worry, chief, I won't disappoint you!"
"That's good!"
"What kind of residence do you want, section chief? I've stayed here for a few months, I'm very familiar with the streets and alleys of Blapei!" Second Lieutenant Pi Ping continued to ask attentively.
"I'm not feeling well. I want to have a quiet time in Blapei. Therefore, that place should not be too boisterous..."
"If so, I know a place that might satisfy you..."
… …
More than ten minutes later, Second Lieutenant Pi Ping took Zhang Tie to a riverside in the north of Blapei. That river slowly flowed through a block full of leisure atmosphere. The road surface of that block was paved with fine cobblestones. On both sides of the road, there were many 3-storey to 4-storey private houses and buildings, which were utterly different from those in Blackhot City.
This place was indeed much quieter and had a good environment than the city.
The moment Zhang Tie's car drove into the block and slightly slowed down, several 8-years-old kids had already started to chase after the car and surround it without any fear.
Because the Iron-Horn Army didn't shed any blood when it occupied Blapei, the Iron-Horn Army's style was firm and had a good reputation, so the commoners in Blapei were not afraid of these figures in dark red military uniforms.
"Sir, you only need to give Rabi some copper coins, and I will tell you everything you want to know!" A 8-years-old boy with some freckles ran to Zhang Tie's side and promoted himself to Zhang Tie while chasing after the car.
Zhang Tie signaled Pi Ping to stop the car, and the boy called Rabi also stopped running.
"I want to rent a house. Do you know where I can find a suitable one?" Zhang Tie asked the boy.
"Sir, there's nothing that I don't know here. Besides some beer hotels, there are more than 20 houses for rent in the nearby blocks. Those families are very willing to rent their houses to a generous Iron-Horn Army officer..."
Zhang Tie directly took out a silver coin and flicked it towards the boy. The boy called Rabi caught it at once.
"Get on the car!" Zhang Tie glanced at the back seat of the car. The boy called Rabi cheered up. Under the admiring eyes of his companions, he jumped onto the car like a monkey.
… …
As Zhang Tie felt that the beer hotels were too crowded, he finally chose a tranquil house with a simple landlord's family and a tranquil environment. The whole house had four floors. The landlord was an old couple at their 60s. They had no children and lived on the first floor. The second floor was occupied by a couple with a 4-years-old son. It was said that the third floor was occupied by a woman. As the fourth floor was vacant, Zhang Tie lived there.
The rooms on the fourth floor were very clean and well-equipped. There were two bedrooms, a parlor, a kitchen, and a washroom. As the house was made of bricks and stones, there was a fireplace in the parlor on the fourth floor. When it was cold, a fire could be lit.
The rent on the fourth floor was 16 silver coins per month, not including the water fee. Second Lieutenant Pi Ping rushed to spend two gold coins to pay for one year's rent and water fee in advance. After Zhang Tie decided to live here, Second Lieutenant Pi Ping drove his car to buy many daily necessities for Zhang Tie. He was as attentive as an orderly on Zhang Tie's side.
The whole afternoon after leaving the hospital, Zhang Tie was busy: reporting for duty, renting a house. When he finished everything, it was already time for supper. He ate a roast steak with Second Lieutenant Pi Ping in a restaurant on the block. When Zhang Tie returned to his rented place, it was already dark.
There was the melodious sound of a violin coming from the landlord couple's room on the first floor. It was unclear which of the old couple was playing the violin. There was the sound of a child crying in the second floor, but the tenant on the third floor was nowhere to be seen.
After returning to the fourth floor, Zhang Tie didn't light the lamp. After locking the door and drawing the curtains, he quietly sat on the sofa beside the fireplace in the parlor.
It had been a long time since Zhang Tie felt so tired. His body was so weak that he even panted a bit when he climbed up the stairs of the fourth floor. When he reached the fourth floor, Zhang Tie felt a bit weak on his feet. His physical condition was even worse than what Zhang Tie had imagined. Even commoners wouldn't be like this. His body was completely weak and could not even stand a gust of wind. The exaggeration could also be applied to his own body.
It had been over a month since Zhang Tie had entered the Castle of Black Iron. Now that he could enter it again, Zhang Tie became a bit hesitant and afraid. He felt a bit contradictory. For Zhang Tie, the small tree in the Castle of Black Iron had already carried all of his hopes. Zhang Tie knew that it was very hilarious to pin his hopes on the small tree whenever he encountered a problem. It was even fantastical and stupid. The fruits that the small tree wanted to bear were predestined. It would never bear any fruit according to his needs. Zhang Tie only hoped that this time, the small tree could give him a chance to recover.
After sitting in the pitch-dark room for a long while, Zhang Tie gritted his teeth. He had already died once, what could be more terrifying than death?
Locking his spiritual energy on that marvelous arched door in his mind, Zhang Tie slightly quivered as he disappeared from the dark parlor.
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