That day, many things happened in Jialipalan. The president had personally come to welcome the general of the Empire, Russell, and had also conferred him the rank of general of the Federation, the chief advisor of the Supreme Headquarters, as well as the chief emeritus professor of the Leray’s three big military institutes.
Even though they were all positions without obligations, for these positions to be given to an enemy who had only recently been brought over, it was enough to show the sincerity of the Federation. Furthermore, the Supreme Headquarters was not prejudiced against Russell when he came over daily for work and had even arranged an office for him in the front lines forward command department.
At the same time, the president signed and announced oven ten proposals that had passed through the parliament regarding the reconstruction of Miracolo Planet. These included a series of preferential policies towards the local corporations on Miracolo Planet, policies that supported banks, the investment on the fundamentals of the nation, the government budget plan, as well as the military budget plan.
Numbering in the hundreds, the ground-based fully-mechanised infantry divisions, ground-based armored divisions, and the aviation squadron armored divisions would be gathering in Miracolo Planet as they prepared for the counter-attack against the Galileo Galaxy.
The 1st and 2nd United Space Fleets would regroup over at Miracolo Planet. Each of the united fleets would be replenished with two new formations worth of new model battleships, totalling up to a five-fleet, large-scale united fleet.
The 3rd United Fleet had also been given orders to station over at Newton Galaxy. This fleet had only been recently assembled and was comprised fully of the monotonous-colored new model battleships; these were new products after the mobilization of the nation in preparation for war.
Enriched with more than 30 resource planets, the Newton Galaxy would construct over 1300 gigantic space docks so as to rebuild the new Federation’s space battleship construction base. At the same time, the new battleship models reinforcing the united fleets would be constructed there.
***************
Tian Xing Jian did not know how he had walked back to the academy’s dormitory. For the entire day, he sat there in a daze. On the next day, once he was woken up from his dream by a knock on the door, he realized that his face was still covered with signs of tears.
Dizzily walking over to open the door, it was a confidential secretary from the forward command. This young female secretary did not show any emotions as she said, "First Lieutenant Tian, General Bernadotte has ordered you to go to his office as soon as possible." Saying that, she did not care about Fatty’s reaction and just turned and walked off.
Fatty did not have the heart to care about her; he who was used to sleeping in the nude went back mechanically to wear his pants.
Pants… F***!
No wonder that confidential secretary had a weird expression.
After wearing his clothes, he took the medal with him customarily. Tian Xing Jian soon rushed over to the office of Bernadotte, with You Na opening the door for him.
Fatty thanked her simultaneously with entering the office laterally.
The huge office was filled with people. Other than Bernadotte and several other generals whom he had seen frequently, there was also Federation President Hamilton, the Supreme Headquarters’ General Sergei Eisenstein, several major generals, and lieutenant generals who were sparkling.
Tian Xing Jian could not help but heave in a breath of cold air as he saluted to General Bernadotte, "General, Federation First Lieutenant Tian Xing Jian reports to you. Please give your orders."
The office that was filled with people talking cheerfully and wittily had suddenly quietened down. A general whose back was facing him turned around before staring at Tian Xing Jian with an expression of disbelief as if he saw a ghost: "‘It’s him?!’
This general was none other than Russell, and the person whom he was asking—Bernadotte—had merely smiled and nodded: "At ease, First Lieutenant… That’s right, General Russell, he is the person who saw through your combat plans twice. It’s not us generals, but instead, it was Staff Officer Tian of the 6th Research Unit from the combat planning department."
Russell felt that his dream was just like a mirror breaking apart.
He was filled with a disappointment that could not be described!
He had always thought that a wise and farsighted general had appeared from within the Federation. This general, even though he wasn’t that experienced, was someone who had enough wisdom to become his partner. Once he could finally return to the Freedom Battlefront to lead his own people, this general would certainly be able to cooperate with him, and they would be friends and a pair of terrifying twin swords that would be pointed against the enemies.
In this chaotic era, one single person’s strength was ultimately weak. He understood this logic when a problem cropped up in the cooperation between himself and the Federation. As for that Federation general whom he was thinking of, he was actually the biggest motivation for him in defecting to the Federation.
But alas, there was none! No wide and farsighted character, and no general was present.
This person who had consecutively seen through his combat plan was merely a first lieutenant, a first lieutenant who did not have any power. Furthermore, this first lieutenant was also the person who had saved him—that fatty who exterminated half of the soldiers pursuing him.
This first lieutenant felt as if he had a blood sea of vengeance against him, and the entire road of suffering was something Russell could not even forget until now!
Just like the disappointment that could not be described, the currently shocked Russell was similarly feeling something indescribable!
What character was this first lieutenant exactly? How could he actually be part of the special forces? How could he be the one who was able to rescue him from the hands of the Myth Legion after entering deep into the rear enemy lines and also the stellar military staff officer who was so outstanding that he could consecutively see through his plans and almost single-handedly change the entire outcome of the battle on Miracolo!?
A first lieutenant… He was a first lieutenant! But, why was he just a first lieutenant? Why?
All sorts of feelings welled up in Russell’s heart as disappointment and shock intertwined within, preventing him from being able to calm down!
At the same time, shock was surging through Federation President Hamilton and Supreme Headquarters’ General Sergei Eisenstein as well.
They had long heard of the name of this first lieutenant and have heard of how he had led a platoon of special scouts to bring out over 200 Federation prisoners-of-war. The Federation had made this a huge issue that led to not only the international society discussing and criticising the Gyaca Woods Empire, but even some of the nations that the Federation was working closely with had borrowed this opportunity to stop their commercial trades with the Gyaca Woods Empire. Even those that were iron allies of the Gyaca Woods could only provide aid to this inhumane nation in the dark.
This was also the first time the population’s support of the president and the military had reached a high of 80%!
He had similarly seen through the first combat plan of Russell. The President’s Office and the Supreme Headquarters had almost made a mistake with [Operation Lightning], which could have possibly sent the Newton Galaxy to its funeral! If not for this first lieutenant, the Federation would have long been defeated, and the president and the military would have become sinners in history!
Who would have thought that this second time, he had similarly been the one to see through the plans of Russell? Not only had he turn around the complete defeat, but he had even settled the entire outcome with a single move. Today, everyone could sit here and celebrate the overall triumph of Newton Galaxy largely because of this first lieutenant!
History was filled with too many coincidences. Bernadotte had merely coincidentally thought that this Battle Mecha engineer, who did not seem outstanding, was someone who met opportunities to contribute a first order merit as a counterfeit hero, thus he decided to send him to the front lines, but that eventually saved the Federation.
Hamilton looked towards Tian Xing Jian and the interesting expressions on Russell’s face. He had a sudden thought of laughing out loud wantonly! Madly! Coincidence! That was something which is so damningly interesting!
It seemed that luck was on the side of the Federation!
Bernadotte laughingly said to Tian Xing Jian, "First Lieutenant, General Russell holds your talent in military affairs in high regards. The president and General Sergei Eisenstein had also wanted to see our Federation hero, thus I had requested you to come over and chat with everyone. Other than that…"
Bernadotte and General Sergei Eisenstein gave each other a look before Bernadotte laughed: "In view of your contributions to the Federation, we wish to hear your opinions before we reward you and see if you have any requests."
Tian Xing Jian became absent-minded for a moment as An Lei’s words floated in his mind once again.
"Tell me, why did you become a soldier?"
He, who had initially understood why he became a soldier, did not truly understand it now. Was it for rewards and promotion? Were these truly what he wanted?
If he wanted to rise up in the military, then once he reached a rank above major, according to the regulations of the Federation, other than physical or age problems, one could never retreat in times of war!
He thought of the bustling streets in Jialipalan once again. He truly wanted to spout out the word of "resigning"; however, not knowing why or how, his mind suddenly flashed towards Father An, that father-like man whom he had disappointed very much.
Looking at the questioning look of the general, Tian Xing Jian shook his head: "I have a question which I have yet to clarify, and this question has stumped me for quite a long time. I don’t really want any rewards or promotion, but if it is a must, then I hope it can just be a medal. What I want is for a period of leave, as I want to see a person in the capital."
Everyone was startled. Disregarding the fact that this wasn’t the first time the first lieutenant gave such a weird request, was there truly someone in this world who did not like power, reputation, money, and status?
That was especially so when his contribution had been greater than everyone in the Federation! He was absolutely a military genius and the Federation’s rising star!
If he said that it was a coincidence that he saw through Russell’s plan the first time, then what about the second time?
As for the missions in the enemy’s rear—bringing more than 200 Federation soldiers and escaping after running for 500 kilometers or saving Russell from the hands of the Myth Legion—how many Federation soldiers could accomplish that?
What exactly was this military expert thinking? Why would they always feel that his heart was filled with contradictions? He had already received a Purple Insignia Medal of Freedom, was there even another medal more glorious than this?
Could taking a leave even be considered a reward? Don’t make others laugh! Even if it was a year or two, there would not be any problems with it!
Bernadotte, the president, and General Sergei Eisenstein looked at each other and hesitated for a moment.
The Federation truly needed a hero. From the start of the war, the President’s Office and the Supreme Headquarters had already crafted a plan of moulding a Federation hero, and this person in front of their eyes was absolutely the best possible choice for being that hero!
But as it happened, he was not willing to cooperate! He was seemingly against being a hero, one who would be looked up upon by millions. He was incompatible with war and these glories, so how would such a person cooperate with the propaganda? If he was forced, he might just be denounced as being counterfeit goods!
The president bitterly laughed. Such a person was a military genius and a hero, but hearing how Bernadotte had talked about how this person, who was so afraid of death that he begged for mercy, had led others to not know whether to laugh or cry. However, if not for this point, Bernadotte would not have sent him to the frontlines and he would not have established such an unfathomable meritorious service.
The propaganda department had spent a huge amount of effort in disseminating information without restraint on those young people who had some result and contribution, but these people were too far off from a real hero of Federation, and some of them had merely achieved those things because of luck. If their fortune was bad, then they might just die after going onto the battlefield!
No matter what, they could not give up. Whatever issues there are must be resolved! This mysterious company commander—this mysterious military genius—had already roused the mood of the audience. There was no need to propagandize him; all they needed was to announce his name and it would incite an uproar!
The president and the two generals did not care about other things anymore. They stood up to discuss in a low voice for half a day before finally making their decision. The military would place extra emphasis on nurturing Tian Xing Jian! They would give this future star of the Federation a unique position. Being a Purple Insignia Medal of Freedom twice awardee, he could participate in meetings of any levels, and he could read all sorts of secret documents! As long as he took the initiative to ask for a secret document, then regardless of whether he was in the military or not, he could not choose to leave the army anymore! This was totally a joke move since it came from Professor Boswell [1].
Tian Xing Jian did not know that he had been plotted against by these politicians and received another Purple Insignia Medal of Freedom. Towards being able to read all sorts of secret classified information or participating in any levels of military meetings, Fatty was completely disinterested, though he felt that these two medals could help him in the future when he retired by providing him two sets of national subsidies—that was more practical.
Other than that, he was able to obtain a month of leave.
When Tian Xing Jian saluted and was prepared to leave, Russell, who had been quiet for a long period of time, suddenly shouted, "Wait a moment!"
Russell looked towards Tian Xing Jian and said, "I understand your doubts! I can give you an answer, but I have a request—and that is for you to become my student! I’ll leave behind all my military knowledge to you without holding anything back! You have the capability of becoming the most outstanding military expert in the Federation and becoming someone who is even more outstanding than I!"
The generals were all wild with joy. Russell, who are you? A famous general! This was the first time since the emergence of the Federation that they had a military expert that ranked in the top few internationally! As for the reason why he was given the position of chief professor of all three big military institutes of the Federation, it was for the hope that he could pass down his knowledge to all the Federation military students!
Right now, he had actually suggested it himself and that was enough to make the others wild with joy.
Tian Xing Jian looked towards Russell. The more he looked, the more he did not like him. In the past when he saw his picture for the first time, that feeling of how they were innate friends was something he could not remember anymore.
Fatty smiled: "Are you very outstanding? I’m not interested in those things you said. What I want to learn are things that you can’t teach me! As for my question, I’ll seek for an answer myself!"
Fatty turned around, opened the door, and left the room while leaving behind a tongue-tied Russell and a room full of upset generals.
Returning to his dormitory, he washed his face with water. Tian Xing Jian disappointedly looked at himself in the mirror. That person in the mirror had become a stranger that was sneering at himself.
Walking out of the pile of generals, he had, once again, gotten something which he did not want.
At this moment, Tian Xing Jian was lost. After becoming a soldier, he had not only participated in the war but had also earned two "Purple Insignia Medal of Freedom". Could this represent that he had enough courage?
When An Lei asked him why he joined the military, he was as bewildered right now as he was back then. Why? Was it for the sake of seeking what he had lost? But what had he lost? An Lei? His courage?
Could he find his courage?
That person in the mirror looked at himself coldly. Could these two medals provide him the courage to meet the spirit of Father An?
What was courage?
Tian Xing Jian’s head ached so much that he buried his face in the water.
He was prepared to return to the capital to see Father An. Perhaps he might be able to find an answer when he was in front of his grave.
[1] Remember the part when Professor Boswell kept fatty in because he read the secret document?
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