Chapter 107
Just as everyone was flattering General Skorobov, the Grand Patriarch Belinsky gestured to Wang Zhong to follow him, then walked toward a corner of the garden.
Wang Zhong followed without hesitation, while Lyudmila glanced at the two of them and chose to stay where she was.
The Patriarch's guards spread out and drew a security line around them. The nobles attending the banquet occasionally glanced over but quickly averted their eyes.
The Crown Prince also looked over at his close friend from time to time, a trace of confusion flashing across his face*perhaps he couldn't understand what business the Grand Patriarch had with a rowdy friend of his who had never shown a shred of piety.
****
Just as Wang Zhong walked up behind the Grand Patriarch, he heard the Patriarch say, "Did you really have to ruin my stew?"
"Uh, it was the only place with an open flame."
The Patriarch shook his head and changed the subject: "You fought well the past few days. Any scenes that left a deep impression?"
Wang Zhong was stunned*what did he mean? Instead of asking about insights or lessons from battle, he was asking whether there were any memorable scenes?
Then what should I say*that the most memorable scene was my fiancée bathing under the moonlight?
Of course, that was just his complaint. As beautiful as a moonlit fiancée might be, it couldn't compare to the experiences and realizations that come from dancing on the edge of life and death.
Without hesitation, Wang Zhong spoke of the despair he felt hiding beneath the BT-7 and watching the Prossenian boots all around him.
And the shock that followed when the Protectorate Army rushed in and rescued him.
And of course, the heartbreak of choosing to abandon them in exchange for victory.
The Grand Patriarch kept a stern face, listened to Wang Zhong's account, and only then spoke: "I've heard many confessions and prayers. If there's even a hint of pretense or affectation, I can spot it in an instant.
"So I know everything you said came from the heart. It's how you truly feel. But I still want to understand*how did you come to that realization? Or is it that, from now on, you'll never......"
Wang Zhong: "As long as I'm braver than everyone else, then when the time comes to sacrifice myself for victory, I'll do so without hesitation. And as long as I can do that, I can sacrifice others for victory with a clear conscience."
The Grand Patriarch nodded: "Hmm, that's one way to solve the problem*not a bad one. I'll keep a close eye on you. Just don't betray your own beliefs. Alright, I've just about used up my leisure time. Go on and enjoy the banquet. Don't be too tense*enjoying some good food and a girl's warmth tonight won't make the future worse."
With that, the Grand Patriarch walked toward the garden gate.
The guards immediately regrouped and followed behind him.
The Grand Patriarch was originally heading for the garden gate, but after a few steps he saw a maid from the Rokosov household about to take away the stew pot. He turned and walked over, opened the lid without regard for the heat, and sniffed the aroma of the stew.
The guards immediately stepped forward to stop him: "Your Eminence! It hasn't been tested for poison!"
The Patriarch hesitated for a long while but eventually put the lid back on and straightened up. He noticed Wang Zhong watching and explained, "This is a bright, lively, delicious dish. But my knights won't let me eat it!"
He spread his hands and walked away shaking his head.
Wang Zhong's curiosity was piqued. He was just about to go over and check out the stew, but the maid swiftly tossed the whole pot into the food waste cart.
Wang Zhong: ......
Lyudmila leaned over and took Wang Zhong's arm. "Let's go. The Grand Patriarch said it himself*enjoying yourself tonight won't affect the bigger picture. I also think you should relax a bit. Look at your brow, you've even got wrinkles."
Wang Zhong thought, wrinkles are better than a bald head.
But the Grand Patriarch was right*might as well take this chance to relax.
Of course, he couldn't relax alone, so Wang Zhong called out to the maid nearby: "Hey, you, come here!"
The maid jumped in fright, then timidly walked over, looking quite scared.
Wang Zhong: "Send all the delicacies and wine today to my unit*plenty of it!"
Maid: "It's already been sent. It's the same as here, but in even greater quantity. The master personally gave the order."
"The Grand Duke gave the order?" Wang Zhong deliberately avoided saying "father"*he already had a dad back on Earth.
The maid didn't notice the issue with Wang Zhong's words and nodded. "Yes, it was a personal order."
Only then did Wang Zhong feel at ease, but he suddenly remembered something else. "Also, send a band over!"
"A band?" The maid was shocked*it seemed the Grand Duke hadn't thought to send one.
Wang Zhong nodded. "Yes, a band. 'War comes and goes, but music lives on forever!'"
Maid: "Uh... I'll go find the butler."
Wang Zhong nodded, and the maid turned and practically ran off.
Lyudmila: "I can't believe you didn't touch her at all."
Wang Zhong: "Was I supposed to?"
"No, you weren't. But you always used to*her butt, her chest..."
Wang Zhong looked down at his hands. No wonder "you" were so skilled!
****
The next morning, Wang Zhong arrived early at the army mess hall.
He mainly wanted to see how the troops were eating*hopefully it wasn't endless pickles again.
Providing a rich diet to the troops can greatly boost morale, which is why all Earth's participating nations kept finding ways to improve it.
As soon as he entered the dining hall, Wang Zhong saw Vasily and the others gathered together, drinking oatmeal porridge and gnawing on sausages. Dimitri was holding a sandwich with fried egg and ham.
Ant's sandwiches weren't made with two slices of bread, but rather a whole loaf hollowed out and stuffed*looked very generously filled.
In front of Filippov was an opened can of fish. The fermented fish inside looked a bit swollen*it reminded Wang Zhong of Earth's surströmming, though this one lacked the infamous smell.
Looks kinda alright......
As Wang Zhong observed the soldiers' meals, he noticed that all of them stood up. "General!"
Wang Zhong waved his hand and headed over to the self-serve counter.
Then he saw cans of caviar piled into a mountain at the self-serve station.
Wang Zhong turned to Vasily and the others. "Why aren't you eating the caviar?"
Before crossing over, Wang Zhong used to attend those 100-plus-per-person buffets, where caviar was rationed out by the hour*only one small plate per person, and even that barely had any.
Vasily frowned. "We're sick of it! A few years ago, when they stopped limiting caviar, our family had it every day*caviar on bread, caviar on sausage, caviar in salad*every day it was caviar, caviar."
The others all nodded.
Damn, even caviar can be oversupplied?
Vasily continued, "And champagne. When I was a kid, it was super rare. My dad was a professor, and even he only had a glass after concerts. Then suddenly, champagne became worthless*same level as beer."
Filippov nodded. "Yeah, it happened all of a sudden. I heard the Church built a dedicated champagne factory. Mass production. The wineries ran articles in the newspaper saying factory-made stuff was horse piss*and then the Tribunal shut them down."
Wang Zhong raised an eyebrow. "That actually happened?"
Though the soldiers were sick of it, Wang Zhong had never seen enough caviar to be sick of it*he decided to go all in.
He opened the first can of caviar.
His previous impression of caviar was a thin box with a single layer of eggs*usually only 10 grams per can. This can was crazy*once opened, a giant lump of roe, looked like 250 grams or more.
Looking at all that caviar, Wang Zhong was practically drooling. He didn't even particularly like the stuff, but years of marketing had made caviar and matsutake out to be the kings of delicacies. So just like he drooled over giant matsutake, he drooled over rich, glossy caviar.
The guys sitting around all noticed Wang Zhong's expression. Vasily, on their behalf, asked, "General, do you really like caviar that much?"
Wang Zhong: "Ah, caviar*and matsutake*I quite like them."
With that, he brought the caviar, some bread, oatmeal porridge, and Su-style thick soup over to Vasily's table, and picked up a table knife to spread the caviar on the bread**
Just then, a few unfamiliar staff officers walked into the mess hall.
They spotted Wang Zhong's Brigadier General insignia from afar and quickly strode over.
The colonel leading them saluted. "Sorry to interrupt your meal!"
Wang Zhong looked at the colonel's briefcase, then at the uniforms held by the men behind him, and roughly guessed what was going on.
Honestly, that was fast.
Did the Grand Patriarch do something last night?
Did my answer really please him that much?
Wang Zhong put down the knife, wiped his hands, and said, "It's fine. Duty comes first. What's the matter?"
The colonel pulled out a document from the briefcase and read aloud, "Order: In recognition of Brigadier General Alexei Konstantinovich Rokosov's outstanding performance during the military operations in Loktov from July 6 to July 9, he is hereby promoted to the rank of Major General."
Wang Zhong was an old hand*he nodded and then asked, "Isn't there another order? Surely you're not assigning a Major General to manage a pickle warehouse?"
Vasily said, "Maybe it's a clothing factory. Big clothing factories do operate at division level."
Wang Zhong glared at Vasily.
Vasily: "Sewage treatment, huh, got it."
Wang Zhong: "Don't talk about that during meals!"
Colonel: "May I continue reading the order?"
Wang Zhong made a gesture of invitation.
Colonel: "Headquarters plans to form the 151st Temporary Infantry Division......"
"Why is it always infantry?!" Wang Zhong grumbled.
The colonel glanced at him and continued reading: "Form the 151st Temporary Infantry Division, to be commanded by Major General Alexei Konstantinovich Rokosov."
With that, the colonel stacked the two orders together and handed them to Wang Zhong.
After Wang Zhong accepted them, the lieutenant holding the uniform stepped forward and presented Wang Zhong's Major General uniform and insignia.
Wang Zhong: "Hold on*why is there only the promotion and appointment order? Where's my unit roster? And things like base location?"
Colonel: "Those are being confirmed by the division's Chief of Staff Pavlov."
Ah, I see.
Wang Zhong asked again, "Have my staff officers and clerks arrived?"
"Staff officers?" The colonel looked confused. "I'm just a messenger*you'll have to discuss that with the division Chief of Staff."
Alliance leader skylloolo bonus update. See you tonight.
(End of Chapter)