The nerve solution was discharged from the lower pipe into the circulation and purification system. The cockpit door opened, and Zhang Fan stepped out of simulator number 01.
"Who is that Knight Commander William who piloted the silver-white mech?" Zhang Fan asked Wang Desheng, who had just emerged from simulator number 02. "He seems to have a grudge against me?"
"Haven't you offended enough people at the academy?" Wang Desheng replied. "Next time you enter 'War,' remember to lower your nerve pain level to 10%."
"Why? Because the perception level is 100% high."
“Because I don’t want to see you become a vegetable,” Wang Desheng said seriously. “If you die in ‘War’ with 100% neurological pain, your brain will determine that you are really dead.”
"What are nerve pulsations?"
"Hmm? Why would you ask that question?" Wang Desheng looked at him with some surprise.
"I didn't understand what that knight commander was saying, so I asked him."
“Oh.” Wang Desheng nodded and explained, “That is an ideal state in which humans and mechs are highly integrated. After ‘Neuropulse’ is activated, the mech will come to life like a human, achieving a state of human-machine unity. But this only exists in theory, and no one has ever actually activated ‘Neuropulse’.”
"Oh." Zhang Fan didn't ask any more questions. There was a moment in "War" when Zhang Fan felt "blood" flowing through the mecha; was that the mecha's "nerve pulsation" state?
After finishing their business here, the two went together to the dean's office on the 10th floor of the administration building.
"I'd also like to inform you of the results of the investigation." Erwin placed a report on his desk. The fact that he could produce the investigation results in such a short time showed that he was quite capable as the dean.
"One of the staff members at the mecha simulation training center took a temporary leave today..."
“Let me guess,” Zhang Fan interrupted Erwin. “You can’t find this staff member, and there’s no record of him entering or leaving. As for the training center’s surveillance footage, it should have been deleted, of course. This staff member has simply vanished into thin air.”
Erwin: "..."
"Did you really investigate every part of the campus?" Zhang Fan asked meaningfully. "For example, is it possible that this staff member is hiding in a villa?"
“That place is private property.” Erwin glared at Zhang Fan, knowing exactly what he meant. “Even I don’t have the authority to go in and investigate.”
“Whether or not there is an investigation is irrelevant,” Wang Desheng said. “We all know the outcome, and the other party even knows that we know the outcome, but they don’t care.”
"Is my life so worthless?" Zhang Fan said helplessly. "You can't even be bothered to cover it up?"
“Otherwise, what do you think? In their eyes, crushing you is no different than crushing an ant.” Erwin looked at him with disdain. “You should be glad that this is the academy. I wouldn’t be surprised if I heard outside that you choked to death while drinking water one day.”
"Uh... okay." Zhang Fan scratched his head. "Then I'll just stay in the academy and live a carefree life. At least with the dean's protection, I won't have to worry about food or clothing."
“That might not work.” Wang Desheng said, remembering something. “Next week is the observation class. All the third-year students in the academy will go to Milan Star’s space fleet for a visit and study.”
"Why go there?" Zhang Fan asked, somewhat surprised. "That's a combat zone. Why put the trainees in such a dangerous place?"
After Ryan and Fas entered a strategic stalemate, the fighting on Milan Star eased somewhat, but sporadic skirmishes continued to occur every day.
“This was originally part of the teaching plan,” Erwin said. “Letting trainees experience the atmosphere of war in advance will help their future development.”
"Okay, then I can take the day off and not go, right? I don't need to experience any atmosphere."
“Actually, it’s my fault. I wanted you to go,” Wang Desheng suddenly said. “I wanted to ask you to say hello to my comrades in the White Tiger Gang. I’m doing fine.”
"Why don't you go yourself?" Zhang Fan looked at Wang Desheng with a puzzled expression.
"I have other matters to attend to." Wang Desheng smiled and stood up. "Dean, I'll be leaving now."
Erwin nodded, and Wang Desheng turned and left.
Zhang Fan glanced at Erwin, then at the direction Wang Desheng had left in, looking completely bewildered.
“Wang Desheng is an upright and responsible person.” After watching Wang Desheng leave, Erwin turned to Zhang Fan and asked, “You were with him for so many days, didn’t he tell you about his past?”
"I know a little, but not much." Zhang Fan immediately became interested. "What kind of person was he before?"
"He used to be the captain of the 1st Mech Squadron, nicknamed the 'White Tiger Regiment,' of the 4th Space Fleet of the Ryan Nation," Erwin continued. "You know that when Phos invaded the Ryan border fortress, he breached the fortress's defenses in just one day, right?"
“I know.” Zhang Fan nodded. “The Ryan military originally thought that the five border fortresses could be defended for at least a month, but they were captured in one day.”
“In fact, the time it took for Fas to capture the fortress could have been shorter, less than a day.” Erwin’s information was even more exaggerated. “The reason it took a day was because Wang Desheng led the ‘White Tiger Regiment’ to organize resistance against the landing forces of Fas Khan’s army inside the fortress’s port.”
"The Fas Khan army also wanted to use these ports as springboards to launch the next invasion, so they dared not launch a direct attack. Instead, they sent five mech battalions and the 'White Tiger Regiment' to engage them."
"The two sides fought fiercely for a day and a night, and ultimately the 'White Tiger Regiment' suffered more than half its casualties. Running out of ammunition and supplies, they were forced to withdraw from the battle and retreat to Milan Star."
"The Fashan army's mech forces also suffered heavy casualties. Three of the five mech battalions were rendered combat ineffective and needed to return to the rear for rest, which further delayed the Fashan army's landing at the port. This allowed a considerable number of civilians on the border to successfully evacuate to Milan Star."
"Wang Desheng fought to the death just to buy time for the civilians to evacuate?" Zhang Fan now admired this burly guy.
"Yes, preliminary estimates suggest that there were approximately 300,000 border residents who were originally intended to be taken prisoner by Fas Khan's army. These border residents successfully retreated to Milan Star, providing crucial support for the later defense of Milan Star."
“Then Wang Desheng should be promoted and given a higher rank!” Zhang Fan couldn’t understand it at all. “But what I heard was that Wang Desheng was sent to a military court and his rank was demoted from major general to captain?”
"Because Wang Desheng's orders at the time were not to organize the evacuation of civilians, but to escort the noble lords who were inspecting the defenses of the border fortress to escape." As he spoke, Erwin's tone became somewhat indignant.
“This…” Zhang Fan stared, not knowing what to say.
"At that time, the port was crowded with commoners, but there were only a few transport ships, which was not enough! The nobles' ships were converted medium-sized transport ships. Even though there was still plenty of space, they blocked commoners from boarding and made them leave the port first, using the commoners behind as shields."
"Later, Wang Desheng beheaded those noblemen, and you know what happened after that..."
Zhang Fan listened in a daze, then finally gave a thumbs up: "A real man!"
"He's a real man!"
“Ah, what a pity,” Erwin sighed. “If he hadn’t done that, he would have been promoted to lieutenant general this year.”
“No, it is precisely because he did this that he deserves to be promoted to lieutenant general!” Zhang Fan said with piercing eyes.
Erwin paused for a moment, then slowly nodded, and then nodded twice more: "Yes!"
"you're right!"
"So what did he mean by asking me to find out about the 'White Tiger Gang'?" Zhang Fan continued to ask.
“We learned that Wang Desheng was imprisoned in the Milan Star Military Prison two days after the incident. Although Lao Zhu immediately instructed the General Staff to rescue him, he had already been tortured beyond recognition, and his hands were almost useless.” Erwin’s words were filled with anger. “We made those bastards who directly inflicted the torture pay the price, but those behind the scenes… we are not capable enough right now, so we can only endure it for the time being.”
“We’ve arranged for him to teach at the academy. Firstly, it will allow him to recuperate properly, and secondly, it’s safer here.” Erwin’s beard stood on end. “Under my watchful eye, even the Senate wouldn’t dare to openly demand him!”
“But I don’t think Wang Desheng would be afraid of those people in the Senate…” Zhang Fan was still a little puzzled.
“He is indeed not afraid, but that's not why he doesn't want to go back to the White Tiger Gang.”
"Why is that?"
"The White Tiger Regiment sacrificed over 20 of its 30 mechs to cover the civilians' retreat, and the rest were all wounded. Including maintenance personnel, mechanics, and other support staff, more than 300 people were killed or wounded," Erwin said slowly. "If the original orders had been followed, they wouldn't have died. Wang Desheng always felt that he had caused the deaths of these comrades by acting recklessly, so he was too ashamed to face them again."
"Yes..." Zhang Fan thought to himself, lost in thought. If Wang Desheng obediently followed orders and escorted those noble gentlemen away, not only would the 300-plus members of the 'White Tiger Regiment' be unharmed, but he himself could remain a lieutenant general in peace. Wouldn't that be wonderful?
However, Wang Desheng ultimately chose a path that almost led him into an abyss of no return.
A sense of heroic pride, like "If I don't go to hell, who will?" arises spontaneously.
I'm not taking any leave!
We definitely need to check out this "White Tiger Regiment".
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