Chapter 99
Pavlov handed the watch in his hand to Yegorov: "Board the train in this order, the laborer camps and railway workers will help us secure the tanks and heavy artillery."
After speaking, he turned to Wang Zhong: "The brigadier general's command vehicle is in Car No. 1, right next to the anti-air vehicle."
Wang Zhong: "I didn't see any passenger cars?"
Pavlov smiled slightly: "There aren't any. Your car has fewer people, and there are tables, chairs, and beds."
......That seems acceptable?
Wang Zhong actually quite wanted to try sleeping on straw, since no one knew what kind of hardships the future might bring*getting used to it in advance couldn't hurt.
At that moment, his hand was suddenly grabbed by someone.
Immediately after, something like a thick cotton coat wrapped around him, and the chill of the night wind vanished instantly*it even started feeling hot.
Wang Zhong was shocked and quickly turned his head to see what strange creature was gnawing on his hand.
It was Lyudmila*she had wrapped her arms around Wang Zhong's arm like a body pillow, tilting her face upward.
Wang Zhong: "Don't do that, we're both in uniform."
Lyudmila acted as if she hadn't heard him and said: "You clearly scored zero on composition, yet you spoke so well!"
Miss, you misunderstood, Wang Zhong thought, that earlier parallel paragraph ending with 'beef stewed with potatoes' was my real level*the impressive part that followed was the most well-known modern poem by the poet Tian Jian, 'Suppose We Don't Go to War'......
All those brilliant speeches were copied by me*don't admire me, Miss!
While Wang Zhong was feeling guilty for using someone else's "work," Lyudmila turned and asked Pavlov: "There's a bed in Car No. 1, right?"
Pavlov nodded seriously: "Yes. But it's a relatively lightweight army cot*should I replace it with a sturdier wooden bed?"
Wang Zhong's brain short-circuited for a moment: "What do you mean? Why change to a wooden bed?"
Lyudmila: "No need, the lightweight army cot is fine."
Pavlov: "Alright. The rest of our officers will squeeze into Car No. 2 with the soldiers."
???
Just as Wang Zhong was about to ask what was going on, Lyudmila dragged him toward the train.
At that moment, Wang Zhong finally realized what was about to happen*but this kind of development was so sci-fi in his mind that it had never even occurred to him until now.
Wang Zhong: "Lyudmila! Didn't we agree to wait until the war is over......"
"Call me Lyuxia, or Mira, whichever you prefer!" the girl interrupted Wang Zhong.
Lyudmila's nickname was Lyuda, but a more intimate term of endearment was Lyuxia*calling her Lyuxia usually meant the couple had already become official.
This girl was clearly going all out today!
"Why? So sudden?"
"I don't know! When I saw you delivering that speech just now, I just felt it had to be today!"
Wang Zhong: "Lyudmila! Lyuda! Lyuxia! Hard and bitter wartime days lie ahead, so......"
"I've already calculated the date! It'll be fine!"
"Oh, you've calculated it, then... huh?"
Wang Zhong glanced at the soldiers who had completely stopped boarding and were now watching the drama*they made him blush furiously.
How could this girl act so boldly in front of so many people? Where's the modesty?
Only then did Wang Zhong remember*Lyudmila was a Russian girl. In the future, she'd grow into a Russian lady who could wrestle bears in the deep mountains. Being fierce was totally normal, right?
While thinking this, Wang Zhong had already been pulled into Car No. 1.
As soon as they entered the car, Lyudmila spun around and pinned him against the wall of the boxcar: "I know you're right, I understand. I even agree! But how am I supposed to bear it!"
"That younger brother who always caused trouble suddenly became...... a white horse!"
Wang Zhong: "Became a white horse?"
Bucephalus?
Lyudmila: "It's just......"
She ran out of words too, paused for a few seconds, and shouted: "Whatever!"
Then she lunged in and bit him.
Poor Wang Zhong*he had never seen such a sci-fi and wild development. His understanding of how forward girls could be was stuck at "if her bra and panties match, then you're probably the one getting slept with."
He'd never met such a fierce girl*this was a knowledge blind spot.
Were all the girls in this region this aggressive? Would I get run over back and forth like tank treads? Wang Zhong wondered as he was being steamrolled by explosive reactive armor.
Wang Zhong: "At least wait until the train starts moving?"
"No one's coming in!" Lyudmila said.
****
July 9th, 914, 0350 hours.
The train carrying Wang Zhong and his unit slowly pulled into Sabachevsky, 110 kilometers from Loktov, to replenish coal and fill the boiler and water tanks.
Wang Zhong stood at the open door of Car No. 1, gazing at Sabachevsky in the morning light.
Lyudmila appeared beside him and said: "Fix your uniform! What do you look like? Soon a bunch of soldiers will get off to breathe. If they see your belt undone, it'll hurt morale!"
Scolding him as she spoke, the girl skillfully helped Wang Zhong dress, then stood on tiptoe to kiss him on the lips: "Morning."
Wang Zhong remained absent-minded: "Morning."
Ah, he thought, my fiancée is amazing. Just a bit too amazing*his clarity of mind had lasted all the way into the next morning.
Lyudmila turned to tidy her silver hair and said as she did: "You should find an orderly. What kind of general doesn't have an orderly?"
"Okay." Wang Zhong responded absentmindedly.
Lyudmila continued: "It's a shame I'm a Prayer Hand with combat duties, otherwise I'd be your orderly myself."
Wang Zhong: "Uh? Can an orderly be a woman?"
"Of course. The secular faction believes that anything a man can do, a woman can theoretically do too. Didn't you want to bring a maid before? But your father forced a butler on you instead."
At the mention of "the old butler," Lyudmila's voice stumbled slightly, then she sighed softly: "If the old man saw your current state, he'd probably cry tears of joy."
Looks like that butler had always been disappointed in him, Wang Zhong guessed.
At that moment, the train had completed its arrival and came to a complete stop.
Pavlov jumped straight out of Car No. 2, craning his neck to look toward Car No. 1.
Wang Zhong raised his hand and waved.
Then Pavlov mustered his courage and came over: "Is this a good time?"
Wang Zhong: "Yes, what is it?"
"I'm heading to the telegraph room at the station to send a telegram. Want to come? I'm afraid if I go alone, I'll fall asleep in there and miss the train."
Wang Zhong: "Sure!"
He leapt onto the platform.
Lyudmila's voice came from inside the car: "Your leather shoes! Geez, how long has it been since you polished them? Take them off*I'll clean them!"
As she spoke, she tossed out a pair of cloth shoes.
Wang Zhong had no choice but to change shoes.
Pavlov: "The battlefield is also a place where the flowers of love bloom brilliantly, isn't it?"
"Hmph, you're quite the romantic," Wang Zhong teased.
The bear-like Chief of Staff waited for Wang Zhong to finish changing shoes, then took the lead toward the telegraph room next to the station.
At that moment, other soldiers also stepped out of the boxcars to get some air. Seeing Wang Zhong, these young men all gave knowing smiles.
Vasily even let out a whistle.
Wang Zhong: "Disrespecting your superior*Popov might assign you to latrine duty!"
Popov also got off the train. Hearing Wang Zhong's words, he turned and shouted: "Don't just stand around getting fresh air*if you need to pee, then pee! Don't end up pissing in the boxcar! And if last night's beef stew is still giving you trouble, go take a dump now! The train's refueling with coal and water*we're stopping for half an hour!"
Wang Zhong: "We're stopping that long?"
"Yes." Pavlov nodded. "I plan to use this time to ask the Army Group Headquarters via wired telegram how we're to be stationed in Agsukov. After all, yesterday's orders didn't even say where we're supposed to be stationed once we arrive."
Wang Zhong: "Maybe someone will meet us at the station, like when we entered Bogdanovka before."
Pavlov didn't reply.
There was only an old man on duty in the station's telegraph room. When Wang Zhong and the others entered, he was leaning back in his chair, snoring with his mouth wide open.
Hearing the door open, the old man suddenly opened his eyes: "Oh*it's two officers! Oh, and a general! What can I do for you?"
Wang Zhong pointed at Pavlov: "My Chief of Staff needs to use the telegraph machine."
"No problem." The old man put on his glasses and turned on the telegraph machine.
Pavlov began dictating the telegram's contents, and the tapping of Morse code filled the telegraph room.
Wang Zhong, bored, started browsing the notice board on the wall, carefully reading the notes pinned to the wood with thumbtacks.
"Who took the coffee I left in the telegraph room yesterday?"
"Lost and found: a blue fountain pen. Owner, please contact Peter to retrieve it."
......Just a bunch of trivial, petty matters.
Wang Zhong suddenly felt this place was so peaceful it didn't feel real, as if the war before had all been a hallucination.
Until he saw one note: "Memorial service for Crew 54 will be held tomorrow. Please attend on time."
This note was mixed in with all the trivial ones*you'd miss it if you weren't paying attention.
Sure enough, no one could remain untouched by this war.
Pavlov finished dictating and let out a sigh of relief: "Now we just wait for their reply. Hope they make it in time. If they really forgot to arrange our stationing, that's going to be a headache. I just want the soldiers who fought hard to get at least a decent night's sleep."
Wang Zhong nodded: "Yeah. Definitely. With only straw on the train, no one's sleeping well."
Wang Zhong actually slept just fine last night*the only issue was that the army cot shook a bit too much.
The two of them quietly waited through the next stretch of time.
Pavlov, probably too tired, leaned back on the bench and fell asleep just like that.
Wang Zhong continued observing everything in the room**this room felt lived-in; aside from the bulletin board full of notes, briefings were stuck on the walls, along with all sorts of other random stuff.
Twenty minutes passed just like that.
Suddenly the bell rang, and the old telegraph operator hurriedly reminded them: "Gentlemen, the train departs in ten minutes, better get on board or you'll be left behind."
Pavlov stretched and let out a long yawn.
Wang Zhong said, "Why don't you go to Car No. 1 and sleep on the army cot!"
"No," Pavlov firmly refused, "how could I bring myself to use the bedding you two already used."
Wang Zhong said, "You can just throw the bedding away and sleep directly on the hard cot."
Pavlov thought for a moment: "Makes sense. Let's do that. Besides, we officers were supposed to squeeze into Car No. 1 and take turns resting anyway."
Wang Zhong said, "Then let's go."
So the two of them left the telegraph room together and returned to Car No. 1.
Lyudmila had already gathered all the bedding and stacked it in the corner of the car.
Not only that, she had also somehow gotten a stove and boiled water to make coffee.
Wang Zhong's leather shoes were neatly placed under the army cot, the surface shiny and spotless.
Lyudmila's shoe polishing skills were truly excellent.
Pavlov saw the coffee and shook his head: "Coffee has no effect on me now, I'd rather get a proper sleep. I'm taking over the army cot."
As he said this, he lay down directly on the bare army cot and fell asleep instantly like Nobita.
Maybe he hadn't slept in too long*his snoring was so loud it seemed to compete with the train's whistle.
At that moment, Yegorov also appeared at the doorway of Car No. 1: "Where's Pavlov? Did he find out where we're supposed to be stationed? Huh? Why's he asleep?"
Wang Zhong said, "We sent the telegram but haven't received a reply."
Just as Yegorov was about to speak, a whistle sounded from outside.
Yegorov quickly turned and shouted: "Get on the train! Five minutes to departure! Get on board! Squad leaders, do a head count*if anyone's missing, send someone to find them! Move!"
After giving the order, Yegorov looked back at Pavlov: "So we still don't know where we're supposed to be stationed in Agsukov?"
At this moment Lyudmila said, "You can stay at Alyosha's estate."
Wang Zhong was shocked: "Whose what now?"
"Your estate."
I own something like that?
Yegorov asked in concern, "Can it fit everyone?"
Lyudmila said, "It should be fine, after all, the two main buildings have 210 rooms."
How many rooms?
Lyudmila looked at the dumbfounded Wang Zhong in confusion: "What are you so surprised about?"
I'm surprised by what kind of family I have*this kind of outrageous wealth?
Wait, I think I'm a Count? Does being a Count mean I get an estate with 210 rooms?
Yegorov said, "Sounds great. Let us experience what it's like to stay in a noble's mansion."
Just then the station master shouted through a megaphone: "Officers, please board the train!"
Yegorov grabbed the boxcar door and climbed up with one strong pull: "Since Pavlov's sleeping here, I'll join him. Car No. 2 is too cramped*this one's much comfier."
Before Wang Zhong could respond, Su Fang suddenly appeared, nimbly climbing aboard while holding the door.
"I received information from the Agsukov Choir," Su Fang said. "I need to report to you!"
Just then, the train slowly began to move.
"Ah, no going back now." Su Fang stuck out her tongue.
Lyudmila shoved a cup into her hand: "Coffee."
"Oh, thanks." Su Fang nodded and took a big sip. "Tastes great, the coffee beans are ground really fine."
Lyudmila said, "I didn't grind them. When I picked up the stove, the older women at the supply depot gave them to me."
Wang Zhong suddenly remembered the note on the bulletin board in the telegraph room: "Who took the coffee I left in the telegraph room yesterday?"
That's actually connected?
Su Fang took another sip of coffee, then recoiled a little*maybe it burned her.
Wang Zhong said, "What did the Agsukov Choir say?"
"Cancel the offensive. All units are to resist firmly. No retreat allowed," Su Fang said.
Wang Zhong clicked his tongue: "The good news is, the higher-ups finally realized an offensive won't work. The bad news is..."
Yegorov said, "Good thing we ran fast, or we might've been wiped out in Loktov."
Lyudmila looked toward Loktov: "Those young men last night had to fight to the very end."
Everyone fell silent.
Only Pavlov's carefree snoring continued.
This is the bonus chapter for 4,000 monthly votes, forgot to put the title. Morning bonus ends here, see you tonight.
(End of Chapter)