Chapter 21 : Emergency Mission

“Nonsense! This is absolutely nonsense!”

This was also the first time Aiguo had heard the news.

He strode to the desk and picked up the order that had just been issued by the division. After reading it, his face looked very ugly.

“Old Gao, Xiaozhuang’s injury hasn’t healed yet. What does the master think? No, I’ll go to the master and tell them to replace him!”

Gao Dajiang smiled bitterly and quickly stopped Aiguo.

“Old Xiao, calm down. I have told the division, but they have only designated the first battalion.”

He sighed and continued, “There’s nothing we can do about it. The Second and Third Battalions have missions now, and they have to ensure the absolute safety of 851. So we can only send the First Battalion.”

Aiguo’s face was gloomy, he really couldn’t understand.

Their first regiment is deployed here, so logically they should not have any other tasks. Those are the work of the second regiment.

But why did the division suddenly give them a task now? There was no news at all before.

“Old Gao, Xiaozhuang’s hand hasn’t healed yet. We can’t let him go to the battlefield with a bandage on, right?”

Gao Dajiang glanced at Zhuang Mingcheng, thought for a while, and said, “Xiao Zhuang will continue to take sick leave, and let Deputy Battalion Commander Li Dajun take over.”

“No, I don’t trust Li Dajun.”

Aiguo refuted without hesitation. He shook his head and said, “Besides, Li Dajun just made a mistake. We can’t let him carry out such an important mission.”

“Captain, Political Commissar, I’m going.”

Zhuang Mingcheng stood in front of the two men and started to untie the bandages. “No matter what the mission is, I am the commander of the first battalion. I cannot be a deserter.”

“Mm!”

Cold sweat broke out on his forehead. He endured the pain and untied all the bandages on his arms.

Gao Dajiang couldn’t help but stand up.

Seeing Zhuang Mingcheng’s look, he was filled with shame. “Damn it, I can’t even protect my own soldiers, and I’m still a lousy regiment commander. No, I’m going to find the division commander.”

“Captain, we can’t let the entire battalion be delayed because of me.”

Zhuang Mingcheng removed the bandage and threw it aside, then moved his injured hand.

“Captain, Political Commissar, I’m fine. My arm should have healed long ago. I want to know the details of the mission.”

Gao Dajiang and Aiguo looked at the cold sweat on his forehead and knew that what Zhuang Mingcheng said was totally unreliable.

But that’s how soldiers are. Not to mention getting hurt, they have to complete their mission even if it means risking their lives!

Gao Dajiang walked over and patted him on the shoulder. “This is a top-secret mission. As long as you see it, you must complete it. Have you thought about it?”

Zhuang Mingcheng nodded firmly and picked up the paper on the table.

After reading it, he felt a little heavy-hearted. The top-secret mission of their battalion this time was to escort scientific research equipment to the new province next door.

It didn’t specify what it was, but it had to be escorted by a battalion of soldiers, so it must be very important.

After looking at the time above, the division required them to set off the day after tomorrow.

“The day after tomorrow…”

Zhuang Mingcheng pursed his lips and saluted Gao Dajiang. “Captain, I would like to ask for a day off.”

“Okay, I approve.”

Gao Dajiang agreed readily.

This guy’s marriage application form is still in the group, and he knows what Zhuang Mingcheng wants to do with his leave.

Seeing that Zhuang Mingcheng was still a little hesitant, he said directly “I have already told Wang Haibing about this mission. You don’t have to worry about the camp.”

Wang Haibing is the instructor of the first battalion and is much more reliable than Li Dajun.

When Zhuang Mingcheng heard this, he was completely relieved.

“Comrade Zhuang Mingcheng, your marriage application has been approved by the regiment. Comrade Lu Fangfang has a clean record, and the organization agrees that you two can get married. Congratulations.”

Aiguo pulled out a drawer, took out a stack of certificates, signed them, and handed them to Zhuang Mingcheng.

In this era, to register for marriage, one needs a letter of introduction from the unit and the signature of the leader. Their group is a confidential unit, and it’s even stricter, requiring a political review.

Logically speaking, the process isn’t usually that fast. The higher-ups would have to thoroughly investigate Lu Fangfang’s family situation before approving it.

But now that this has happened, Aiguo is willing to take some risks and agree to it in advance.

Otherwise, if Lu Fangfang moved into the staff housing estate, there would definitely be rumors.

Zhuang Mingcheng held the certificate with mixed feelings in his heart. He saluted Xiao Aiguo.

“Captain, Political Commissar, I have another request.”

“You say.”

Zhuang Mingcheng opened his mouth and said somewhat embarrassedly, “I would like to apply for a military vehicle to go to the city tomorrow.”

Seeing that Gao Dajiang and Aiguo were a bit confused, he explained the situation with the family compound.

The house in the staff quarters has just been approved, but there’s nothing inside.

He was really worried about leaving like that.

Before going on the mission, Zhuang Mingcheng wanted to buy everything the family needed, to save Lu Fangfang from the inconvenience of being alone.

Gao Dajiang and Aiguo were stunned for a moment, then they both laughed.

“You kid, I never knew you were such a lovesick person. Okay, I agree.”

Gao Dajiang smiled and shook his head, then said, “By the way, do you have enough money? If not, I’ll support you a little, and you can pay me back when you get your allowance.”

In this era, soldiers are generally treated well.

New recruits receive a monthly allowance of six yuan, and after that, one yuan is added for every full year of service.

Female soldiers also have to pay 75 cents for health expenses, which comes to 6.75 yuan per month.

Don’t underestimate six yuan. The army operates on a supply system, and you don’t have to spend money on anything except personal daily necessities. If you use it sparingly, you can even send some back home.

The team leader’s salary is even higher, over a hundred yuan per month.

Zhuang Mingcheng didn’t bother to be polite with Gao Dajiang and directly extended his hand to him.

“You little brat, when you get married, you have to be frugal with your salary. Don’t help any soldier whose family is in trouble…”

As he spoke, Gao Dajiang sighed.

That being said, no one would have the heart to refuse if an emergency really happened.

Shaking his head, he opened the drawer, took out some banknotes, and handed them to Zhuang Mingcheng.

—

After coming out of the commander’s office, Zhuang Mingcheng went straight back to his dormitory.

He took the marriage registration certificate and solemnly locked it in the drawer.

At night, he lay in bed and couldn’t fall asleep. The scene of Lu Fangfang lying in his arms during the day kept appearing in his mind.

The next day, before four o’clock, Zhuang Mingcheng got up with dark circles under his eyes.

He packed his passbook, took all the money and bills, then called two soldiers, and they got on a Liberation truck and drove to the city.

The group is quite far from Zhangye City, and it takes at least three or four hours to drive there.

In this era, all the roads were dirt roads, and the journey was very bumpy.

But there’s no other way. The county town is too small. Not to mention anything else, even a large wardrobe is hard to buy. If he wants to get everything together in one day, he can only go to the city.

Zhuang Mingcheng yawned and said apologetically, “I’m sorry to wake you up before dawn. I’ll treat you to a good meal when we get to the city.”

“Captain, I want to eat meat.”

“Me too, Captain.”

Zhuang Mingcheng smiled and agreed, “Okay, then let’s go eat meat.”

After passing the county town, the Jiefang bus headed north. At dawn, the group finally arrived at Zhangye City.