Siheyuan (traditional courtyard house): Starting with the Korean War, returning home to take charge

By the time the battlefield was cleared, it was already dusk. The wounded and the bodies of fallen soldiers were carried on makeshift stretchers as the troops silently retreated towards the main force. There was too much captured firearms and ammunition; what they could carry, they took; what they couldn't, they removed the key components from; the rest were piled together, doused with gasoline released from the wrecked truck's fuel tank, and set ablaze. The firelight illuminated the soldiers' faces, stained with gunpowder and blood. No one spoke; only the crunch of footsteps on the frozen earth and the suppressed breathing of the stretcher bearers could be heard.

Back at the temporary assembly area designated by the division headquarters, news came from the First Battalion: the stronghold had been successfully captured. The defending enemy, who had been hoping for reinforcements, heard the gunfire from the northern pass turn from intense to sporadic and eventually disappear completely, and their morale collapsed. The First Battalion charged forward and, without much effort, took down the stronghold, capturing more than twenty men, and the remaining enemy fled.

The reconnaissance company had just settled down and hadn't even set up the pot to boil water when the division headquarters issued an order: He Yuzhu was to go immediately.

He Yuzhu gave his tattered cotton-padded coat a couple of quick pats, not even bothering to wipe the soot and scabs from his face, and followed the communications officer away. On the way, he kept thinking: What would the division commander ask? The results of the battle? Or…? Zheng Guotao's disapproving face resurfaced in his mind.

The division headquarters was located in a semi-underground bunker, more spacious than a shack, but thicker with smoke. Division Commander Song sat behind a table made of stacked artillery shell boxes, looking down at documents. The regimental political commissar and chief of staff sat beside him, while Wang Fuli stood against the wall, his expression slightly grave. Zheng Guotao was not present.

"Report! He Yuzhu, the company commander of the division's direct reconnaissance company, is here on orders!" He Yuzhu stood at attention and saluted.

Commander Song looked up, took off his reading glasses, rubbed his nose, and his gaze lingered on He Yuzhu for a moment, taking in his disheveled appearance. "Sit down first," he said, pointing to the empty ammunition box beside him.

He Yuzhu didn't sit down properly, only taking a half-sit.

Commander Song didn't ask about the details of the battle first, but instead inquired about the treatment of the wounded and the evacuation of the fallen. He Yuzhu answered one by one, and when he mentioned that seven people had been killed and eleven were seriously wounded, his throat tightened slightly.

Commander Song was silent for a moment, then tapped his fingers on the documents on the table. "I've read your company's battle report, and the 1st Battalion's report on capturing the stronghold." His voice wasn't loud, but everyone in the bunker could hear him clearly. "The 1st Battalion fought well, and your company... held the line even tighter."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the regimental political commissar and chief of staff before finally settling on He Yuzhu's face: "Some people say that you, He Weiguo, fight too recklessly and dangerously, sparing no expense. They say your company's casualties are too high, that it's individual heroism, that it's recklessness."

He Yuzhu pursed his lips and remained silent. He knew who "someone" was.

"But I don't see it that way." Commander Song's tone shifted, becoming more serious. "On the battlefield, it's easy to sit back and give orders. But when it comes down to bloodshed, how can there be no sacrifices? Your company, with just one soldier, completely annihilated an entire reinforced mechanized company of the enemy in your pre-arranged position—what does that mean? It's like breaking the enemy's outstretched arm, removing the biggest burden from the main attacking force! Without your twenty minutes of holding out, could the First Battalion have captured the stronghold so smoothly? How much more blood would have been shed?"

He picked up the document and shook it: "The results are right here! The number of enemy killed, wounded, and captured; the equipment destroyed; the supplies seized; and the key impact on the overall battle situation—it's all crystal clear! Is this what you call risky? This is called seizing a fleeting opportunity and delivering a decisive blow!"

The regimental political commissar nodded and added, "Comrade He Weiguo's ability to seize opportunities and his decisiveness are indeed outstanding. Of course, the issue of casualties must also be taken seriously. In the future, we can be more particular about tactics to reduce unnecessary losses."

The chief of staff also said, "The combat effectiveness of the reconnaissance company, especially in this kind of head-on blocking and counterattack battle, cannot be measured by the standards of an ordinary company. Their equipment usage, tactical coordination, and fighting spirit are all far superior to those of ordinary troops."

Wang Fuli listened by the wall, his expression softening slightly, and his gaze toward He Yuzhu held a complex mix of relief and understanding.

Commander Song put down the documents, leaned forward, and looked directly at He Yuzhu: "He Weiguo, your company is already a sharp knife that is too sharp. To use it only as a company is a waste of its talent and a squandering of this knife."

He Yuzhu's heart skipped a beat, and he looked up.

"The division headquarters has decided," Division Commander Song's voice was calm and resolute, "to form a division-level reconnaissance battalion, using your reconnaissance company as the core, merging it with the division headquarters' directly subordinate guard company, part of the engineer company, and combat backbone personnel drawn from various regiments! It will consist of three reinforced combat companies, one directly subordinate fire support company, and one logistics support team. Priority will be given to replenishing its organization, equipment, and personnel."

He paused, then said, word by word, "I hereby appoint you, Comrade He Weiguo, as the commander of the reconnaissance battalion, and promote you to the rank of captain. In accordance with the latest directives from headquarters, ranks will be uniformly assigned—you will be a major."

Major? Battalion Commander?

He Yuzhu's mind went blank. This was a huge leap—from second lieutenant company commander to major battalion commander? There were captains and lieutenant generals in between. He knew his combat record was impressive, but this speed of promotion…

Division Commander Song noticed his astonishment, smiled, a smile tinged with weariness and something deeper: "Extraordinary times call for extraordinary achievements, and extraordinary rewards are due. As battalion commander, you not only have more people to manage, but also heavier responsibilities. Your battalion's mission is no longer just reconnaissance and sabotage, but will undertake more independent combat missions in key directions, and even... strategic containment and strikes."

His gaze sharpened: "Can you carry it?"

He Yuzhu stood up straight, suppressing all distracting thoughts instantly: "Yes! I guarantee I'll complete the mission!"

"Good!" Division Commander Song stood up and patted him on the shoulder forcefully. "The Chief of Staff will coordinate with you on the specific expansion plan and personnel list. Comrade Zheng Guotao," he said calmly when mentioning the name, "the investigation is over, he has been reassigned, and transferred. However, his report will still be submitted to higher authorities according to procedure. Don't worry too much about this; focus on leading the new troops well and winning the next battle."

"Yes!" He Yuzhu understood that Zheng Guotao, this thorn, had been temporarily removed, but was still stuck somewhere.

Stepping out of the bunker, a gust of cold wind cleared He Yuzhu's feverish mind. Battalion Commander, Major, Reconnaissance Battalion—this meant greater power, heavier responsibilities, and more complex internal and external relationships; it also meant that the base for accumulating points was no longer limited to those hundred-odd people.

He went to a secluded spot and his consciousness sank into the system. The promotion notification was already lit up.

[Promotion: Company Commander of the Division-affiliated Reconnaissance Company → Battalion Commander of the Division-affiliated Reconnaissance Battalion]

[Rank Promotion: Second Lieutenant → Captain (corresponding to Major). Promotion Bonus Points: +300000.]

Current battlefield score: 1,418,398 + 300,000 = 1,718,398 points.

Main quest progress: 1,718,398 / 100,000,000 ≈ 1.718%

[Command unit size significantly increased, unlocking supplementary tip: Battlefield contributions (kills, sabotage, tactical objective achievement, etc.) of soldiers directly under the host's command and effectively commanded will be converted into additional points and credited to the account proportionally. The proportion is related to factors such as command chain efficiency, morale, and loyalty.]

300,000 points! The total has exceeded 1.7 million! Moreover, the new system notification means that as long as he leads this battalion well and helps them win more battles, the speed at which he gains points will no longer depend solely on him, but will instead receive an "experience bonus" from the entire battalion! This is undoubtedly a huge accelerator towards the goal of 100 million.

He took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil in his heart.

Back at the temporary camp, the soldiers had already heard the news and gathered around, their eyes filled with anticipation and trepidation.

He Yuzhu stood in front of them, his gaze sweeping over the familiar and soon-to-be-familiar faces.

"The order has come down," he said calmly. "Our company will be expanded into a battalion. I will be the battalion commander."

After a brief silence, a low cheer erupted. Old Geng grinned foolishly, and Zhang Dashan clenched his fist.

"Don't get too excited yet." He Yuzhu raised his hand to quell the commotion. "Now that you're a battalion commander, you'll have more people to manage, making battles harder and requiring more rules. Before, our company was small and easy to turn around, but now a battalion has hundreds of people. Eating, drinking, relieving ourselves, marching, and fighting all require new regulations."

He looked at the crowd and said, "Those who are willing to follow me and lead this new unit into the toughest and most capable reconnaissance battalion in the entire army, stay. Those who feel too tired or want to change places, I won't stop you, I'll write a report for you to be transferred."

No one moved. All the veterans stood ramrod straight, and the new recruits, inspired by their posture, straightened their backs as well.

"Alright," He Yuzhu nodded. "Then let's work together to make this new signboard shine brightly. Let the reconnaissance battalion's reputation be even greater than the old reconnaissance company's!"

He turned to look at the undulating mountain silhouettes in the darkness to the south. There, more battles awaited.

Zheng Guotao's report? A review from higher authorities? Internal complexities?

Come on. He's now a major battalion commander, with soldiers under his command, a system in his mind, and a ruthless streak forged in blood and fire.

The road was never smooth. But the footprints he left were destined to be deeper than others'.