Chapter 72: The True Courage (Alliance Hierarch Sponsored)

The crowd was silent, fixated on the platform across from them when Vasily suddenly shouted, “Filippov, beat the drum!”

Wang Zhong was startled; how could this troublemaker still be alive and kicking? Beat the drum?

He looked at Vasily, who was exceptionally tall, standing out even among the cadets who were already quite tall, easily distinguishable over the rows of people.

And that Filippov, obedient as ever, actually took down the marching drum strapped to his back and began to beat it.

From the drumbeat alone, it was impossible to tell what song it was, but Vasily immediately began to sing:

"Our march is long and hard~

"Soldiers, look ahead!”

Wang Zhong instantly recognized the song; it was “Departure,” but wasn’t it a work from the fifties or sixties?

The other cadets immediately joined in the singing:

"The team’s banner flutters in the wind, the commanders lead the way!”

Then they entered the song’s signature section; the “Departure” in Ante language sounded like a “bang” made with the mouth, the beauty of this song being its use of the word “Departure” repeatedly, like the pounding of the drum or artillery firing.

"Soldiers, advance, advance, advance!”

With the sound of “Departure,” the cadets began to move in unison, as if marching in step.

The chorus suddenly leaped from “natural minor” to “major,” opening up into a bright and clear sound:

"My dear girl

"On my way, I will write to you as I return!

"Hear the bugle calling, soldiers, depart!”

The railway workers cleaning blood on the opposite platform stopped and looked over across the tracks.

Even those severely wounded, barely hanging on to life, struggled to turn their gaze this way.

Yegorov also joined in the singing:

"Each soldier, brave and young,

"Their gaze sharp as an Eagle!

"We all have the highest glory

"For having achieved great deeds in battle!”

It was only then that Wang Zhong snapped out of his shock. He was infected by the vibrant energy and fearless courage of the youth and began to sing loudly, “Soldiers, advance! Advance! Advance! My dear, I will write to you, on my way as I return! Hear the bugle calling, soldiers, depart!”

After one round, Vasily began to whistle, his shrill whistle much like the screech of a seagull, mocking the storm with abandon!

As the song entered the second verse, a transport train coincidentally arrived at the station, its driver looking on in amazement at the soldiers swaying in unison on the platform.

After the anti-aircraft carriage passed, the countless young faces in the sealed freight cars looked at the platform and also began to sing loudly.

"Soldiers, advance, advance, advance!

"My dear, I will write to you, on my way as I return!

But he hesitated.

Would being a color bearer make one an easy target?

In the end, Wang Zhong handed the flag to the second tallest, Zakayev.

Vasily: “Why not me?”

Wang Zhong: “If you don’t want an extra day of toilet cleaning, shut it.”

Then Wang Zhong turned to the leader of the trainees’ formation: “Fall in, prepare to return to the barracks.”

"Yes, General sir! All present! Eyes right!”

————

Inside the barracks, the veterans were gathered on the parade ground, idly chatting, when suddenly someone ran past quickly, shouting, “They’re coming! Not just with the Priest, but also a whole bunch of new recruits! Quick, fall in!”

The veterans promptly stubbed out their cigarettes and started to fall into ranks, completing the formation in less than a minute.

Then the sentry at the gate of the barracks lifted the barrier gate and presented arms.

A tall new recruit carrying the Guard’s flag led the way at the front, followed by the new recruits arranged in four columns.

Observing the new recruits’ marching, the veterans murmured, “These guys march so well, are they really recruits?”

"They might have served in the reserves.”

"At least we won’t need to teach them how to march in formation.”

"Why are they still equipped with the old-fashioned bolt-action rifles? What happened to the Tokarevs we were promised?”

"No cloaks either!”

"Quiet!” barked the only unscathed Warrant Officer Sergeant Major of the regiment, “Shut your traps!”

A moment later, the trainees halted in front of the veterans, and at the command, they executed a crisp left turn to face the veterans.

Between the two groups, General Aleksei Konstantinovich Rokossovsky spoke loudly, “These are our reinforcements. You veterans are all squad leaders now. I will personally assign the new greenhorns to you! Those called out, step forward!”

————

Thirty minutes later, the only new recruit left, Vasily, looked at Wang Zhong with admiration and asked, “Did you really memorize all of our names?”

Wang Zhong thought to himself no, I cheated a bit, but you, lad, I definitely remembered.

"Yes,” he unapologetically admitted, “I said I would remember you all, remember every person who sacrifices. It’s my responsibility.”

Vasily nodded, then asked, “So... which ‘old senior sergeant’ will take me under his wing?”

Wang Zhong: “You’re a headache, and I don’t trust anyone else to handle you. Grishka!”

Grishka was Grigori’s nickname.

Sergeant Major Grigori stepped forward promptly: “Present!”

Wang Zhong: “You’re in charge of him! Teach him as much as you can about surviving on the battlefield before the war breaks out.”