Chapter 593 My Boyfriend is a Soldier?
"I need the exact number of wounded soldiers now," Wen Ni said, her posture exuding the air of a military officer.
Everyone present seemed to have forgotten that she was currently just an ordinary private without any rank!
"There are more than 200 wounded, and the remaining combat strength is less than 700," the deputy staff officer said, scribbling statistics on a piece of paper.
“Alright, then we’ll send 500 men to cover the 200 wounded as they retreat from different locations. The remaining 200 volunteers will stay with us to cover the breakout!” Wen Ni decisively proposed a solution.
But this approach obviously couldn't gain everyone's immediate approval!
"What? We won't be deserters!"
"Exactly, how could anyone leave their brothers behind to cover the retreat while they themselves escape with a clear conscience?"
"This isn't desertion, nor is it fleeing for one's life. It's a desperate act, a last resort. Even a gecko, facing danger, knows to sever its tail to save its life and preserve its strength for a counterattack!" Wen Ni glanced at him indifferently. "Now that things have come to this, do we have any other choice? The 5th Brigade of the 85th Group Army has less than a thousand men left. Those who survive are the hope of the 5th Brigade, the spark of its future! They can continue fighting until they see the dawn of victory, instead of fighting like cornered beasts, dying here and adding unnecessary casualties!"
"Wen Ni is right. At this critical juncture, every one of us who can escape is a winner! Military regulations and courage are not the most important things right now. The important thing is to survive! Only by surviving can we do more things."
Liang He stood up slowly, his voice deep and resonant.
His figure cast a dark silhouette in the night, as dark and deep as his mind and body, all placed in the darkest place. But his faith, belief, and hope supported him and prevented him from falling!
"I will stay. Each squad should immediately count the 200 people who volunteer to stay. Report the exact number and names to me before dawn!"
"But the brigade commander...!"
"Alright, that's enough. The enemy's artillery has already entered their positions, and their tank company will soon be sweeping through the streets. If we continue to hold out, it will be like throwing eggs against rocks. Why waste so many lives? I've made up my mind, this is the plan!"
Liang He made the final decision.
The others, though resentful, kept their anger to themselves.
An hour later, as night deepened, the decision was made.
The officers in charge of each detachment arrived earlier than Liang He had expected, each holding a newly written roster!
Liang He took the roster, and his expression changed after flipping through it a few times.
"I told you to go back and record the names of the soldiers who volunteered to stay. I said we only needed two hundred people, right?"
“Yes…that’s right.” The officers nodded.
"Is this a list of two hundred people? This is clearly a list of every single one of the remaining thousand-plus men in the brigade!" Liang He said, his face turning green. He slammed the list onto the chest of the officer in the front row. "I don't have time to mess around with you! Quickly select these two hundred people for me. I don't need to keep so many!"
"But, brigade commander, it's not that we didn't want to count, it's just that the brothers refuse to leave, even the wounded... they refuse to leave! The brothers say, 'We are men of the Fifth Brigade in life, and we will die as ghosts of the Fifth Brigade!'"
"Why are you doing this?" Liang He gritted his teeth.
There were no cowards among his soldiers, but they were all exceptionally stubborn men, one in a million!
"Let's draw lots." Wen Ni had already anticipated this outcome. Leaning against the wall with her arms crossed, she said calmly, "Since they can't choose themselves, let fate decide!"
"You woman! It was all because of your stupid suggestions! How could Brigade Commander Liang He listen to you? Isn't this forcing our brothers to become traitors?" The officers had many complaints about Wen Ni, and one by one they looked down on her. Even if she was very capable, she was ultimately not a member of the Fifth Brigade, so how could she understand their camaraderie!
"Take whatever villain you want me to be, military orders are absolute, and soldiers are duty-bound to obey orders." After saying that, Wen Ni glanced at Liang He.
Liang He immediately understood what she meant.
After a moment's thought, he ordered, "Do as Wen Ni says!"
“Yes…” the officer said, turning around with a heavy breath.
The results of the lottery were quickly announced.
Among the two hundred people, some of the wounded participated in the lottery and were selected. Liang He disagreed, but they all volunteered to stay, so in the end, nothing came of it.
Liang He, filled with immense grief, confirmed the final group of people to break through, but there were still two...
"Wen Ni, you and Qin Yuan must leave this time."
"I'm not leaving."
The people in the courtyard were dismissed, leaving only Liang He, Qin Yuan, and Wen Ni.
Wen Ni sat on the dilapidated windowsill in the courtyard, looking nonchalant. Her body was wrapped in bandages, she had a coat draped over her shoulders, and a blade of grass was dangling from her mouth. She always appeared calm, composed, and at ease!
Qin Yuan stood beside Wen Ni like a little follower, but he spoke less and less.
"I'm not leaving either."
Qin Yuan has said these four words countless times ever since he followed Wen Ni.
Seeing their stance, Liang He couldn't help but sigh!
"Why are you two so stubborn? Are you trying to get yourself killed?"
"Commander Liang is criticizing us? Aren't you the same?"
Wen Ni's teasing tone made Liang He choke for a moment before he said, "Me? I'm a brigade commander."
“Having fought in so many battles, we’re practically half of the Fifth Brigade, right? To put it in perspective, we’re practically the brigade commander’s brothers.” Wen Ni spat out the blade of grass in her mouth.
“Brothers?” Liang He was stunned for a moment, then turned his head awkwardly. “Who… am I your brother? I’m the only son in my family.”
As the conversation progressed, Liang He couldn't help but think of his parents at home. His expression darkened slightly, and not wanting Wen Ni and the others to see his rare vulnerability, he changed the subject and asked...
"What about you? Do you have any brothers or sisters?"
"I am an orphan." Qin Yuan shook his head, not feeling too sad when talking about his background. "But I have many friends and brothers who are like family to me."
"Your background is certainly full of hardships!" Liang He knew he had inadvertently touched a sore spot for Qin Yuan, and cursed himself inwardly. He then quickly looked at Wen Ni and asked, "And you? How could your family allow a young girl like you to join the army?"
"Me?"
Wen Ni sat on the dilapidated windowsill, swinging her legs that were dangling there, and smiled gently, a smile that hid an unspeakable bitterness.
“Before, I had a mother, a father, and a younger brother. Then my mother died, and I only had my younger brother left. In order to survive and to leave that unfamiliar home, I chose to join the army. Fortunately… I found my uncle and gained a cousin. Although I had little family affection since childhood, God has been kind to us.”
At this point, Wen Ni paused, looked up at the starry sky, and for once let down her guard, as if she were confiding in someone.
"Actually, before I chose to join the army, no one cared about us, and no one cared about our lives. It was the army that gave me everything... My comrades are my brothers. My former battalion commander treated us like his own children. Although he was sometimes fierce and always had a stern face, I know that beneath his iron-fisted demeanor was a soft and warm heart..."
"This is the first time I've heard you talk about yourself." Liang He felt calm and relaxed. He simply sat down on the ground, his face relaxed, thoroughly enjoying this rare moment of casual conversation, wishing time could stand still. "Then let me ask you another question. You said your boyfriend comes from a military family, so you two met in the military? He's not a soldier, is he?"
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