The commanders of the various fighting forces in the command tent passed around the joint protest letter. The content of the letter roughly stated that during the battle to capture Mt. Dingyuan, Ren Xiaosu had climbed up the back of the mountain barehanded and carried out a surprise attack on the bandits. As such, everyone felt guilty about receiving the third-class citation.
Moreover, Commander Zhang's decision not to award Ren Xiaosu the third-class citation was really unfair.
Zhou Yinglong secretly glanced at Zhang Jinglin's expression as he read the protest letter. However, he realized Zhang Jinglin did not seem unhappy. He probed in a soft voice, "I didn't expect those bastards to actually come here and criticize the commander for being unfair. Should I punish them when we get back?"
Zhang Jinglin smiled. "Do you think I don't know what you're planning? Alright, you don't have to test me. I'm not angry. "
"That's good." Zhou Yinglong chuckled. "Commander, you're so magnanimous."
At this moment, a brigade commander wondered, "The Razor Sharp Company under Zhou Yinglong is famous for being troublemakers. Ren Xiaosu has only been in the Razor Sharp Company for a few days, but he's already so cohesive?"
Zhang Jinglin said, "Alright, let's not discuss this matter anymore. The award ceremony tonight will be canceled as well. Zhou Yinglong, go back and tell the Razor Sharp Company that the reason Ren Xiaosu's name wasn't included in the third-class citation is because I planned to award him the second-class citation. However, since Ren Xiaosu fabricated the battle report, his second-class citation will also be revoked. We'll start discussing the next step of the battle plan. "
Zhou Yinglong, who was sitting at the back, immediately felt a headache coming on. The commander was really scheming. In the end, he did not award anything at all. As a result, the commanders of the various fighting forces already knew that Ren Xiaosu had gained a foothold in the Razor Sharp Company. Not only was he very strong, but he was also very popular.
In the past, the commanders would even discuss whether it was purely a coincidence that Zhang Jinglin had placed Ren Xiaosu in the Razor Sharp Company and not because he wanted to choose Ren Xiaosu as his successor.
But looking at Commander Zhang's actions, he was clearly paving the way for Ren Xiaosu, wasn't he?
Of course, to forge iron, one must be strong. If Ren Xiaosu was weak, Zhang Jinglin might not even be able to lift him up.
But Ren Xiaosu was not a weakling.
Zhou Yinglong was a little confused. Why did it seem that Commander Zhang was very confident in Ren Xiaosu?
Although Ren Xiaosu didn't seem to get anything this time, all the generals understood Zhang Jinglin's intentions again. They also got to know Ren Xiaosu better.
This was probably Zhang Jinglin's goal.
…
Zhang Xiaoman and the other NCOs had yet to return to their barracks when someone from the Personnel Division came to inform them that the evening award ceremony had been canceled. Ren Xiaosu was a little puzzled. "Why was it canceled?"
It was only the NCOs who went to deliver the letter of protest. None of the soldiers went.
The soldiers from the Razor Sharp Company next to Ren Xiaosu did not say anything. It was someone from the Personnel Division who said, "The NCOs from your company went to the commander to protest against not awarding you a third-class citation. They felt it was unfair to you, so the commander pursued the matter of you fabricating the battle report and revoked their third-class citations as well."
It was only at this moment that Zhang Xiaoman and the others arrived at the barracks. Ren Xiaosu frowned and looked at Zhang Xiaoman. "Why did you do that? I already said I don't need the credit."
"It's your business if you don't need it." Zhang Xiaoman said casually, "But our brothers in the Razor Sharp Company can't stand to see such unfair things happen. Our Razor Sharp Company is bound together for good or ill!"
Ren Xiaosu did not say anything for a long time. However, a comrade from the Personnel Division next to him curled his lips and said, "Ren Xiaosu was awarded a second-class citation, but it's been revoked now."
"Revoked …" Zhang Xiaoman's smile gradually disappeared. "What the fuck did you say?"
The comrade from the Personnel Division glanced at Zhang Xiaoman. "We've already prepared the paperwork for Ren Xiaosu's second-class citation, but it's been revoked now as well."
Zhang Xiaoman looked at Ren Xiaosu and then at the Personnel Division's personnel. He covered his face and did not know what to say.
The comrade from the Personnel Division was amused. "Alright, don't be so depressed. HQ has already informed us that the third-class citation will be withheld from you all this time. It'll be awarded to all of you when you perform another meritorious deed."
"Really?" Zhang Xiaoman suddenly looked up.
The comrade from the Personnel Division said, "But the entire army knows that y 'all are the heroes who won the first battle, so you won't be spared. Furthermore, the commander has given permission for y' all to keep the spoils of war from Mt. Dingyuan."
Zhang Xiaoman was overjoyed. The spoils of war had always been handed over to the Supply Division for unified distribution. When the next battle came, the Razor Sharp Company would be back to square one overnight.
Now that the commander had given permission for them to keep the spoils of war, they might even become the company with the most ammunition in the entire army.
After the personnel from the Personnel Division left, Ren Xiaosu thanked Zhang Xiaoman and the others in a serious manner. "I'll remember everyone's kindness. Thank you."
"What's there to thank?" Zhang Xiaoman waved it off. "If it weren't for you, many of us wouldn't have made it back."
Ren Xiaosu looked at this group of gruff men from the Northwest. For some reason, he suddenly felt a little excited to continue fighting alongside them.
At this moment, Zhou Yinglong strode over. "We'll settle the score with you old fools after we come back from the war. Now, everyone, pack your bags and head to Shichuan Village. We'll take over Shichuan Village within seven days!"
Shichuan Village was about 70 kilometers away from the forward operating base in the northeast direction.
Not many people lived there, and it was just a ruin left behind from a small city before The Cataclysm. But now, it had become the southernmost defensive support point of the Soong Clan.
Fortress 178 was in a hurry to take Shichuan Village because it was too close to the forward operating base. They had to prevent the Soong Clan from setting up long-range artillery there and bringing the forward operating base into their attack range.
The safety of the forward operating base was one of the most important things at the start of the war. And the Forward Strike Battalion's current priority was to ensure the safety of the forward operating base.
Zhang Xiaoman took out a map and had a look. "I heard that many of the buildings in Shichuan Village are still intact and are very suitable for setting up heavy machine guns. Moreover, there are also new fortifications and bunkers built by the Soong Clan. This urban warfare won't be easy to fight."
Urban warfare was also known as urban warfare. Under normal circumstances, urban warfare would involve hand-to-hand combat, and there might even be situations where close quarters combat would occur. The enemies and allies would mingle and intertwine, making it extremely dangerous.
The narrow streets, the complicated environment, the invisible enemies, and the invisible gunfire …
No one knew when a gun would suddenly poke out of a dark window and start reaping lives.
"Can't we get the armored brigade to provide cover?" Jiao Xiaochen asked with a frown.
"No." Zhang Xiaoman shook his head. "The functions of the forward operating base haven't been perfected yet, so the armored brigade can't rashly advance into the enemy's territory."
For a moment, even the fearless hooligans of the Razor Sharp Company could not help but feel worried.
Only Ren Xiaosu remained unperturbed. It was as though he did not care about the urban warfare at all.
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