Manchester City is located next to St. Lawrence, the capital of the Principality of Ryan. In addition to being the second largest city on the capital planet, it also has the function of protecting the capital. Therefore, in addition to the economy, the military also plays a significant role.

The Royal Military Command Academy of the Duchy of Lane is located on the outskirts of the city, connected to the city center by a high-speed train. The Manchester River splits and then rejoins here, enclosing an area of ​​nearly 100 square kilometers, which is where the academy is situated.

Therefore, Jinpu Road has only one address, which refers to the road in front of the college. Given the college's reputation, there are really not many people in Lai'en who don't know "No. 1 Jinpu Road".

If the bustling crowd outside the school gates is like a party, then once you cross the moat and enter the college, it's like two different worlds.

An invisible dome shielded the area from the noise outside, and the academy quickly returned to its solemnity and tranquility.

Beside the massive stone pillars flanking the academy gate, two Ryan sentinels in standard military uniforms stood solemnly, like statues.

Guards in standard riding uniforms patrolled the roads within the academy from time to time on tall horses.

Students returning to school from all directions, regardless of their identity or mode of transportation, must stop in front of the college gate and walk into the campus.

Zhang Fan stopped in front of two monuments in the square inside the college. One monument was called the "General's Monument" and the other was called the "Hero's Monument".

The "General's Monument" is engraved with the names of graduates from the academy who hold the rank of major general or higher.

Zhang Fan roughly counted that there were about three thousand names on the "General's Monument," which shows the academy's profound heritage.

The "Monument to Heroes" is inscribed with the names of over a thousand graduates who sacrificed their lives for their country on the battlefield.

The fact that there are far fewer names on the "Heroes' Monument" than on the "Generals' Monument" is quite intriguing.

The "Monument to Heroes" is a huge, square black marble slab, covered with countless names, regardless of rank or order of birth. Each name is the same size, occupying only an inch of the monument.

The General's Monument appears even more magnificent. The white marble body has been deliberately decorated, and the names on it have been gilded. They are arranged vertically according to military rank, with the characters at the top being larger and the characters at the bottom being smaller.

Zhang Fan had no interest in the "General's Monument." He walked to the "Hero's Monument" and stroked the names on it.

At the very end are several newly engraved names, the names of fourth-year students who left the academy early to go to the front lines in Milan.

Although Zhang Fan didn't know them, having just experienced war, standing in front of the monument, he seemed to see the 43 young soldiers of the Fifth Company who were forever asleep on Milan Star. The hand-to-hand combat and roars under the smoke of war seemed to be right in front of him and in his ears.

Regardless, the names on this "monument to heroes" deserve respect.

After crossing the square where the monument is located, you will find the college's administration building behind it.

Today is the first day back to school for the college. Many teachers went out to greet their students, leaving the administration building empty.

Zhang Fan could only find the floor plan of the administration building and then go to the college's academic affairs office himself.

After going up to the fifth floor and walking through a corridor, Zhang Fan arrived at the office with the sign "Academic Affairs Office" hanging on it.

I knocked on the door, but no one answered. However, I could clearly hear sounds coming from inside.

"Is anyone here? Zhang Fan, a retired military teacher from Ryan, is here to report for duty."

After knocking a few more times without receiving a response and with no one coming to open the door, Zhang Fan tried turning the doorknob and found that the door was not closed. So, he boldly pushed the door open and went inside.

The academic affairs office was in disarray, with desks piled high with files. Zhang Fan could hear people rummaging through documents, but couldn't see anyone. He took a few steps forward and finally spotted an elderly man squatting on the floor behind a stack of files, rummaging through drawers and cabinets.

"Hello, hello? Hello!"

Zhang Fan called out several times before the other person finally looked up at him.

The elderly man wore black-rimmed glasses, squinted, had gray hair, and a beard. Zhang Fan's first impression of him was that of his elementary school math teacher, who looked pretty much like that.

"My name is Zhang Fan, and I'm a newly arrived teacher. May I ask..."

"Help me carry this." The old man stood up and unceremoniously picked up the stack of documents about a foot high on the table and pushed them into Zhang Fan's arms.

"Oh, this..." Zhang Fan was a little flustered. If these documents were to fall to the ground, they would be difficult to pick up. "May I ask who you are?"

"Follow me, it's too chaotic here, let's find somewhere else to talk." The old man patted his clothes and walked straight out of the administration office.

Zhang Fan could only hold the stack of documents carefully, pressing his chin against the pile to prevent it from falling apart, and then walk quickly, closely following behind the old man.

The old man took Zhang Fan to the 10th floor in the elevator.

After stepping out of the elevator, Zhang Fan discovered that he was on the rooftop, which was designed like a sky garden with lush green trees. Among the trees was a small house with a sign that read "Principal's Office" on the door.

The old man pushed open the door and went straight in.

"Put the documents down first." The old man sat on the sofa and pointed to the coffee table in front of him.

After the documents were placed, Zhang Fan sat on the sofa to the side, and the old man began to set up the tea set and make tea.

"Uh, my name is Zhang Fan..."

“I know.” The old man nodded and placed a small cup of tea in front of Zhang Fan. “Zhang Fan, the second lieutenant brigade commander of the 102nd Airborne Brigade of the Ryan National Army, was assigned by the military to work as a teacher at our academy after his retirement.”

"Yes." Zhang Fan nodded. "May I ask who you are?"

"My name is Erwin, and I am the principal here."

"Good morning, Principal!" Zhang Fan quickly stood up and bowed to Erwin. He had to show at least some respect, since he might be staying here for quite some time.

Erwin waved for Zhang Fan to sit down: "How much did you know about our academy before you came here?"

"This... I don't know." Zhang Fan simply told the truth. Before coming to the academy, he really didn't know that this was a military academy. He thought that he was just going to be a Chinese or math teacher in an ordinary primary or secondary school.

“Very good, you’re very honest and don’t have many formalities, which I like.” Erwin nodded. “Then I’ll tell you the truth: you’re not suited to be a teacher here.”

"Uh..." Zhang Fan was speechless. Was this some kind of blatant disrespect?

Although he also felt that he was not cut out to be a military academy teacher, the principal was being too disrespectful by directly denying him in front of him.

“I know why Old Zhu sent you here. He wanted to let a catfish into this stagnant pool.” Erwin stopped Zhang Fan from speaking and continued with deep feeling, “I am the principal here, so I know the deep-rooted problems the school faces.”

"It's not that you lack ability, but rather that the teaching system and methods here have become rigid, which will lead to you being ostracized by other teachers and making it difficult for you to adapt to the teaching work here."

"I..." Zhang Fan felt confused. If that's the case, then why did you arrange for me to be a teacher here?

“So I want to try a different approach, to put you on the opposite side of them, to break the rules here.” Erwin pointed to the pile of documents in front of him. “I’ve already prepared the materials for you. Tomorrow you will complete the enrollment procedures and enter the school as a transfer student.”

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