Courtyard Houses: Starting with Li Yunlong's Comrades-in-Arms

The old brigade commander slapped his forehead: "Oh right, you didn't know? I'm setting up a military industrial academy this year in the Northeast. It's quite large, and we're desperately short-staffed. If you're willing to come, you might lack the qualifications to be a vice-principal, but you're more than qualified to be a department head. You're a good fighter, you understand tactics and equipment, and you have real combat experience, so you're perfect for the job."

Liu Yuheng's heart skipped a beat. Military industrial academy, Northeast China—wasn't that the very academy that later became famous? It was the cradle of the nation's military industry, a place for training high-level military technical personnel. Becoming a department head there would be a respectable and prestigious position. But after thinking about it, he smiled and shook his head.

"Old Commander, aren't you putting me in a difficult position? Do I look like the type of person to be a teacher? I'm just a roughneck. I'm good at leading troops on the battlefield, but asking me to be the head of a department for a bunch of intellectuals? Wouldn't that be misleading their students?"

"This task should be handled by Zhao Gang. He's a graduate of Yenching University, has a strong cultural foundation, and is good at ideological work; he's the most suitable person for it. As for me..."

"Are you trying to fool me again?" The old brigade commander interrupted him, tapping his fingers on the table. "I believe Li Yunlong, Kong Jie, and Ding Wei are roughnecks. But you, Liu Yuheng, are not. You think I don't know? You've learned foreign languages ​​in the years you've been fighting abroad. You think no one told me?"

Liu Yuheng's lips twitched slightly, but he didn't deny it. He had indeed used his spare time during the war to learn some English. Although he hadn't spoken it for a long time, he still had a foundation from the 21st century, and with the actual contact on the battlefield, after a few years, he could basically communicate in daily life without any problems.

"The director wants to transfer you to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, do you know that? And you still say you can't be a teacher?"

Liu Yuheng was a little overwhelmed by the old brigade commander's barrage of words. He chuckled and scratched his head: "Old commander, I did it all for the sake of fighting. Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated. Learning a foreign language, being able to understand enemy documents, and listening to enemy radio broadcasts is more useful than sending two more scouts."

"Alright, alright, if you don't want to come, I won't force you." The old brigade commander waved his hand. "But you'd better think it over. If you don't come here, you'll most likely leave the army and transfer to a civilian job."

Liu Yuheng nodded, his smile fading slightly, and his tone becoming serious: "I know. I'm prepared."

"Are you willing to leave?" The old brigade commander's gaze fell on his face, with a hint of inquiry. "You've been in the army since the War of Resistance, fighting for decades. Now you're being asked to take off your uniform and go to civilian life, are you willing to do that?"

Liu Yuheng remained silent for a few seconds.

"I have to give it up, even if I'm reluctant. Wherever the organization sends me, I'll go. Old commander, you taught me back then that for a soldier, obeying orders is his duty. As long as it's beneficial to the country, I'll do anything you ask."

The old brigade commander looked at his young face, remained silent for a moment, and then slowly nodded: "Good lad, I didn't train you for nothing."

Liu Yuheng smiled again, but with a hint of regret in his smile: "I just feel it's a pity."

"What's a pity?"

"It's a pity I might not have the chance to wear a general's star. Old commander, to be honest, who doesn't want to be a general? After fighting for so many years, I've risen from a company-level staff officer to a corps commander. Next year is the year for awarding ranks. If I transfer to a local position at this crucial moment, my rank will probably be empty."

The old brigade commander looked at him without saying a word.

Liu Yuheng chuckled first, waved his hand, and said in a more relaxed tone, "But I'm just thinking about it. Whatever happens, happens; let fate decide."

"Military ranks are something you either have or you don't. Look at all the cadres who have transferred out over the years, aren't they still doing well on various fronts? We soldiers didn't join the army for those few stars. If it were for those stars, none of us should have joined the revolution back then."

"I heard that you're going to streamline the troops when you go back this time?"

Liu Yuheng nodded, his tone carrying a heavy weight: "Once we get back, we'll start streamlining. We'll reduce the force from 38,000 to 20,000, cutting it in half. At the same time, we'll fully standardize the troops according to the organization stipulated by the Central Military Commission. We'll set up the necessary departments, assign the necessary personnel, and dispose of the outdated equipment. There's a lot to do; we'll get started as soon as we get back."

The old brigade commander nodded, picked up his teacup and took a sip: "It's good that you know. A couple of years ago, due to the war, the army was expanded again, and many positions were overstaffed. This time, they all need to be reduced, so the workload is not light. If you do a good job, you might be temporarily transferred to the downsizing department to help."

Liu Yuheng's brow twitched slightly: "The disarmament department?"

"Yes." The old brigade commander's gaze fell on his face. "This time, there are quite a few troops that need to be reduced, and a lot of manpower is needed. The streamlining and reorganization of the entire army involves a wide range of people and a lot of issues. Just the preliminary investigation will take several months, not to mention the subsequent personnel placement, organizational adjustments, and equipment disposal. The whole process will take at least a year and a half. By then, won't this rank conferment be just in time?"

Liu Yuheng listened and gave a wry smile: "Old commander, there are too many coincidences you mentioned, aren't there? After streamlining the troops, they went to reduce the number of soldiers, and after reducing the number of soldiers, they were awarded ranks. After the rank awarding, they went to local areas. It's all connected, as if it was arranged."

"But it doesn't matter anymore. If I gain it, I'm lucky; if I lose it, it's fate. What's meant to be mine will come to me; what's not meant to be mine, I can't force it. Let it be."

"Alright, alright! Stop being so girly! This whole thing is still up in the air, what are you worrying about? Just get this done first, we'll talk about the rest later. When did you become so indecisive?"

Liu Yuheng was taken aback for a moment by the old brigade commander's pat, then laughed. Yes, when did he become so indecisive? Before, on the battlefield, he was always the first to make a decision when faced with life-or-death situations. Now, agonizing over something that hasn't even happened yet, it really wasn't like him.

"The old commander is right. Let's get to work first, and worry about other things later. Let nature take its course."

The old brigade commander then changed the subject: "By the way, you're twenty-nine this year, aren't you?"

Liu Yuheng paused for a moment, then nodded: "It'll be the 29th after the New Year."

"You're twenty-nine already. When are you going to settle your personal life? That idiot Li Yunlong is married, Zhao Gang is married too, and Kong Jie and Ding Wei are still single. Are you planning to compete with them and remain a bachelor?"

Liu Yuheng was caught off guard by this sudden pressure to get married. He scratched his head and said, "This year, it will definitely be resolved this year. That's what I told my mother too. If it's not resolved soon, my mother will nag me to death."