Wednesday, October 15, 1625.

In the southernmost part of the southern district of Manchuria, in the Battery Square of New York City in the history of the future, and in the compound of the current Manchester Garrison Command, a solemn and enthusiastic award ceremony is underway. In addition to the soldiers who have completed their promotions, the official promotion ceremonies for officers will also take place today.

The Battle of Guadeloupe's East Island, which caused heavy casualties to the Chinese and American Army, must have a more solemn award ceremony to "contend with". The campaign, which lasted for nine months, was the most fruitful battle so far in terms of actual combat training, and not only did a large number of outstanding soldiers emerge, but also the field commanders of the middle and low-ranking officers were also greatly improved.

In fact, this ceremony should have been held during the National Day holiday, but after careful consideration by Army Commander Major General Chen Liwen, the final time was arranged for half a month later today. The reason is simple, Captain Scott, one of the heroes of this battle, was discharged from the hospital today.

Compared with the Army's medal ceremony after the end of the Northern Campaign two and a half years ago, there were many more guests invited to watch the ceremony today, and the families of the meritorious officers and soldiers were basically all present, and many enterprises also sent representatives, and even the national junior high school organized students to come and watch. For such a grand ceremony to publicize the country's martial pioneering spirit and heroism, the propaganda agencies and education departments have always spared no effort. Not only did Radio Manchester and the Manchester City Weekly launch a series of reports half a month ago, but even the latest uniforms of the State Junior High School for the new school year were changed to Boy Scout style, boys' army style, and girls' navy sailor style.

Since President Chen Changchang was ill and hospitalized, and Senate Speaker Liu Lao inspected Porter City, Speaker of the House of Representatives Li Ping will take over the president's attendance and appear in the most conspicuous position on the viewing platform.

Nearly 1,000 officers and men of the army stood in a large hollow phalanx. The "March of the Wehrmacht", which was copied from the classic military music of the later Celestial Dynasty "March of the Military Parade", was repeated repeatedly. Dozens of drummers beat the drum in unison. Each soldier was well-dressed, wearing white gloves, a helmet and a gun, and his body was straight.

Residual shrapnel in the body and the loss of an eye. It was Scott who paid a high price for the Army in the East Island Campaign, for which he spent more than two months in the hospital. Now, Scott, who had just been discharged from the hospital, was standing on the scene in a straight military uniform, but with that once angular face. There's an extra black blindfold, but it looks tougher and more masculine.

In the audience not far away, Old Man Allen squatted on his knees with his granddaughter Jessica, holding Scott's daughter Alice in his arms, looking at Scott's back happily, and chatting quietly with another military family member from West Point next to him.

The "Gold Medal for Meritorious Service" was awarded to Major You Nam-cheol, a staff officer of the 1st Combat Battalion. You Nanzhe not only served as the general staff officer of the ground operations in the entire Guadeloupe Island, but also carried out a large number of front-line combat command tasks in the front-line troops at the same time. You Nanzhe's credit is much higher than that of Feng Bin as the commander-in-chief.

Since the right to promote colonel-level officers belongs to the Ministry of National Defense, Defense Minister Zheng Quan personally walked to the center of the venue. read out the promotion order of You Nanzhe's military rank to army major, and at the same time wore a medal made of real gold for the other party. In this way, You Nanzhe became the third colonel-level officer in the army, and it can be said that since the founding of the army, after the army chief of staff Lieutenant Colonel He Yu, the army officer has been promoted the most rapidly, from second lieutenant to major, it took only three years.

After careful consideration by the Army Command and communication with the Ministry of National Defense, it has been proved that Major Feng Bin, whose military command ability can only be regarded as "decent", has also been promoted this time and obtained the rank of lieutenant colonel on an equal footing with He Yu, but the medal grade is one level lower, only the "Silver Medal for Outstanding Service".

Zhu Xiaoli, commander-in-chief of the army's special combat unit, who was also eligible for the promotion of major, deeply remorseled himself because of the loss of several special combat members, resolutely refused to be promoted to military rank, and only accepted the "Silver Medal for Outstanding Service." Such a behind-the-scenes episode made people see the awkward temper of Zhu Xiaoli, who was known as "the young man in the army".

After the promotion and awarding of several heavyweight Chinese army officers, the biggest protagonist of this ceremony was ushered in. When Army Commander Major General Chen Liwen accompanied the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Li Ping, to the center of the venue, almost all the citizens in the audience took the initiative to give a standing ovation.

“…… There is such a brave and fearless soldier who not only performed his combat duties brilliantly, but also practiced the military motto of never abandoning any of his comrades-in-arms with great self-sacrifice......"

“…… Such a national hero, with his qualities, is a model of the national spirit on which the country has built to move forward and prosper for a long time. On behalf of the bedridden President, I present the Congressional Medal of Honor to Captain Scott! ”

Not only was Scott stunned for a moment, but even the West Point representatives in the audience who knew the Army very well were stunned. Scott received the Congressional Medal of Honor, the highest honor for a military man! For several years, only Captain Deng Jian received one after the Northern Campaign! However, looking back, compared with the Northern Campaign, the gold content of Captain Scott's piece is indeed more than that of Deng Jian.

"Child, the country is proud of you!"

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Li Ping, walked up to Scott with a kind smile, gently brushed off the imperceptible gray thread on Scott's shoulder like a mother, and then put the Congressional Medal of Honor on Scott's chest, which was a combination of pure gold and precious stones, and then took the lead in applauding.

The country is proud of an ordinary little person, and such a sensational and sincere expression suddenly made the scene thunderous, and the representatives of West Point were crazy with joy at this moment, and the military family members congratulated the old man Allen, who was trembling with excitement.

Before the applause of the audience could completely cease, Army Commander Major General Chen Liwen stepped forward again and read out Scott's promotion order to captain. At this time, the military band also appropriately played the "March of the Soldiers", and the joyful and cute military music melody was seamlessly combined with the atmosphere of the scene.

Unlike the enthusiastic atmosphere that reached the climax of the scene, Scott just stood upright, allowing Major General Chen Liwen to personally change the epaulettes for himself, and the whole process did not squint, and there was not even a trace of excitement or joy.

The next ceremony was more cumbersome, because there were too many of them. Hundreds of officers and soldiers can only read out the contents of the awards in groups of 10.

Shortly after being discharged from the hospital, he was transferred to Sergeant Major Makarov, chief instructor of the Foreign Legion Recruit Battalion. The rank was promoted from Sergeant Major 5 to Sergeant Major 4. and awarded the Silver Medal of Merit for Service. Makarov, who already belongs to the rank of battalion sergeant major, according to the evaluation of Lieutenant Colonel He Yu, chief of staff of the army, is too "simple and upright" to be an officer. Therefore, his future in the army can only be continuously promoted to the rank of sergeant major, and if he has the opportunity, he may also serve as an instructor in the newly established non-commissioned officer class of the West Point Military Academy in the future.

Qiao Yan, because he belongs to the reserve officer cadet of the West Point Army School. After graduating next year, he will be a second lieutenant officer, so the current rank is only a symbolic promotion to sergeant, and he was awarded a gold star.

The most beautiful soldier at the ceremony scene was Yu Shan, one of the four survivors who rescued Zhu Xiaoli's operation, who was not only promoted to sergeant as early as the beginning of last month, but also became a member of the newly formed Foreign Legion Recruit Instructor, and this time he also received the Gold Star Medal.

As for the silver Purple Heart Medal for each of the wounded officers and soldiers, it was inconspicuous in this ceremony.

……

The Navy's natural arrogance led Rear Admiral Wang Tiezhu, commander of the Navy, to refuse to hold a ceremony for the commendation and promotion of meritorious officers and men by the Navy and the Army, and was ready to do it alone at a later date. However, all the cadets of the Long Island Naval Academy were present this time, cheering for the army and receiving the influence of the sense of honor and responsibility of the soldiers.

One side of the viewing platform. Tang Hanna, dressed in a snow-white navy uniform, was pushing the wheelchair of her grandmother Huang Nian, accompanying the Supreme Judge Zhong Jinshan to watch the ceremony.

The tofu-like army lineup, the uniform gun-wielding movements, and the immovable military posture made Yan Xianping stunned. Although I have seen some army soldiers in charge of local garrisons in the past few months, the momentum of the nearly 1,000 officers and men in front of them was completely unexpected.

"The army is just some mud legs, such a small feat, for fear that people will not know, and it will stink......"

After Hannah Tang joined the Navy, the first thing she learned was "arrogance". Up to the naval headquarters, down to the ordinary naval sailors, under the guidance of the crossing people led by the naval commander Rear Admiral Wang Tiehammer, one by one self-proclaimed nobles of the sea, almost everyone has nostrils facing the sky, especially the etiquette in the army, I am afraid that today's Chinese Navy is the most gorgeous and cumbersome.

"Na...... Sister Hannah, why are you mocking your comrades? Yan Xianping turned sideways slightly, and reluctantly used the title of sister to this inner "rival".

"Ha, they're mud legs, okay? They are still fighting with the navy all day long for military expenses, and without our navy, can they take down Butterfly Island? Our fleet will be able to attack any coast in the world in the future, and control all the oceans! They can only hunt on land. Hannah Tang smirked, looking like she had been poisoned at the Long Island Naval Academy.

"Don't listen to her nonsense, they are all comrades-in-arms of a country, how can anyone belittle others so much, and they don't study well all day long!" Old man Huang Nian turned his head and gently blamed his adopted granddaughter, and Tang Hanna quickly shut up.

Navy...... My dad is the same, right? Yan Xianping chewed on this word that tasted completely different from "sailor", and remembered the majestic fleet that he saw entering the port not long ago, and a heat secretly rose in his heart.

This gorgeous girl can enter the navy, why can't I? I want to be the navy and the sea Mu Guiying of the Ming Dynasty! Yan Xianping gritted his teeth secretly.

In the viewing seat not far behind Yan Xianping, there was also Luo Da. Now, as a representative of the "Visiting Wèn Regiment of Relatives and Friends of the Yan Family", he was also invited to participate in the Army's promotion and awarding ceremony as a guest of honor. At this time, Luo Da was more attentive than Yan Xianping, and his eyes were mixed with indescribable meaning.

"If I have such a strong army, why worry about foreign captives! Alas......" Luo Da couldn't help but sigh softly, but his sigh suddenly caused a middle-aged man in a Han-style official robe next to him to chuckle.

"Our Chinese and American dynasties inherited the style of the Tang Dynasty and the former Song Dynasty, and the civil and military forces were promoted at the same time, and great virtues must be sealed, and great achievements must be rewarded. There is a state funeral in the front, and there is a medal in the back, up to the head of the country, down to Li Shu, and the whole country is enshrined as a style! There is a gorgeous king like this, and the four seas are equal! Dongming is decaying, most of them are people who sit in the well and watch the sky, and they know my gorgeous prosperity? ”

Chang Kun raised his hand again and bowed slightly in the direction of the Capitol Building, looking extremely complacent.

"Hehe, Master Chang is so bold......" Chang Kun shook his head and said something, Luo Da frowned secretly when he heard it. But in another country. Luo Da even had all kinds of thoughts to refute. I can only endure it.

Time passes imperceptibly. By the time the promotion and award ceremonies were over, it was already after noon. The dispersed guests were not satisfied, and military personnel and families from West Point Town chartered a hotel on Long Island's West Side. Continue to drink and talk, a generous combat allowance is enough for the families of military personnel to make a big purchase in the bustling commercial streets of the capital after a little luxury at this time.

The following days, in front of the Recruit Affairs Department of the Army Command. Long queues have formed again, and the annual Wehrmacht Volunteer Recruitment has only just begun, and more than 200 applications have been received, most of them immigrants who have been emigrating for more than a year. Such a warm enthusiasm for joining the army made Army Commander Chen Liwen happy.

……

Two days later, on Monday, after the lunch break, in the office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the government building, Yan Xiaosong looked at his wife, Katarina, who had come to find him for the first time during work hours, with a strange expression. The female lieutenant in front of her is still wearing a spring and autumn naval uniform, and the charm of a young woman and the heroic posture of a soldier are at the same time, but her expression is a little strange.

“…… That's the way it is. That Miss Yan privately found the Navy Headquarters, and we had a meal together at noon. Miss Yan wants to join the Navy...... Let me ask what the hell is going on. Caterina sat down across from her husband and removed the pencil that he was still holding in his hand, still in his dementia, "My dear, what is the nature of this if you sue me?" How did she come to me? ”

"It's a little different from you, a proud and shy little girl's wish." Yan Xiaosong came back to his senses, a little crying and laughing, "Because we have been to the Ming Dynasty, the Yan family knows you...... But it doesn't matter, do we need to stop the only daughter of an aspiring Eastern Empire admiral? ”

"I haven't told General Sù about it." Katerina frowned, seeming a little unhappy, "Negotiate privately, this is a violation of the Navy's personnel regulations. ”

"I will report to the Prime Minister in the afternoon, maybe we can use other ways to appease this young lady, or this is also a good opportunity to strengthen friendship with the Yan family." Yan Xiaosong thought for a moment and seemed to have thought of some good idea, "I will contact Luo Da and her foster guardian, Mr. Zhong. ”

"My dear, when is it time for us to go to the East again? I miss Uncle Kuan......"

At this point, Caterina suddenly drooped her shoulders a little lonely, looking at the long hours of working as a secretary of the Navy Command.

Uncle Kuan is Qiao Kuan, the old housekeeper of the house that Yan Xiaosong bought in Macau. Now that a few years have passed, is Qiao Kuan's family, who are taking care of the house, still okay?

"Oriental?" Yan Xiaosong was stunned for a moment, slowly drawing meaningless lines on the paper with a pen, and a number of long-thought questions kept turning in his mind.

"Maybe it's not too far......" Yan Xiaosong didn't give a direct answer, but got up and walked to his wife and held the other party's shoulders.

……

At dusk, the town's public cemetery on the southwestern outskirts of West Point was silent.

A number of European or white-clad Chinese housewives in black gauze stood silently or knelt in front of crosses or square tombstones, all bowing their heads and weeping softly.

In the sprawling town cemetery, more than 20 tombstones are erected for soldiers killed in this year's battle for Guadeloupe's Est. According to the regulations of the Ministry of National Defense, the state is solely responsible for the posthumous placement of fallen soldiers, and the burial place can be decided by the families, but this time most of the families of the fallen officers and soldiers in West Point gave up the national cemetery in Mancheng and chose to bury their husbands or sons back to West Point.

In addition to the military tombstones, there are also several tombstones of ordinary townspeople who have died in the town cemetery, and in a corner, under a North American sugar pine, in front of a snow-white cross tombstone, a young officer wearing a Chinese Army officer uniform, wearing the rank of captain, and taking off his military cap is kneeling on one leg, one hand lightly resting on the tombstone, bowing his head and muttering to himself.

“…… May God always take care of her kind and diligent soul, bless her children, and forgive her unworthy husband......"

Not far behind Scott, Pastor Brest, Old Man Allen, Jessica, a little girl, and Mrs. Santos, a neighbor, were mourning a baby girl while Pastor Brest whispered a eulogy.

"Brenda ......" placed the Congressional Medal of Honor next to his beloved wife's tombstone, and Scott's eyes gleamed a little, and after reading a few words, his head hung lower.

Daughter Alice suddenly let out a cry, and Mrs. Santos, who was in charge of taking care of her, quickly withdrew a few steps with her arms around her and began to coax the child. Scott, on the other hand, slowly stood up, with a military cap tucked under his arm, and walked in front of Mrs. Santos.

Perhaps feeling her father's save, Alice in her swaddling clothes turned crying into laughter again, babbling and twisting her mouth, as if she wanted her father to hug her.

After carefully placing the child in Scott's arms, Mrs. Santos suddenly had a sour nose and ran away covering her face. And the old man Alan took his granddaughter Jessica by the hand and walked aside.

"Babble......" Little Alice stared at her father with an eyepatch in her left eye in front of her, and continued to mumble something she didn't know.

Gently stroking his daughter's soft face with his fingers, Scott gradually showed a smile. The well-behaved daughter has many details similar to his wife, Brenda.

It was as if the night of the landing in Bermuda had been repeated. Brenda was shivering in a dark chapel with Jessica in her arms, and then she stood in front of the tent and cautiously asked for medicine......

There is a shaky scene, and the scene returns to the time before the Battle of the North, where Brenda catches up with her on the path of the orchard, telling her a confession that makes her blush......

In another trance, it seems to have reappeared after the Northern Campaign, Brenda grabbed one soldier after another on the street and asked about his whereabouts, and waited for him all night and day and night in the hospital in West Point, feeding himself and changing his dressing......

Finally, as she boarded the Navy warship and headed for Butterfly Island, Brenda leaned gently against her side, stroking her belly, which had not yet seen a bulge, and whispering in her ear with a shy look......

Little Alice cried again, and Scott came back to his senses, feeling his face hot and wet, and when he looked down, he found that the tears had burned his daughter's face.

"Mr. Allen, I will ask you to take care of the family and Alice, so I usually hire a nanny." Scott secretly wiped away his tears, walked up to Old Man Allen and Mrs. Santos with the child in his arms, and apologized, "Thank you very much Mrs. Santos for taking care of Alice during this time. ”

"Hehe, Mr. Captain is so polite...... Mrs. Potter and I have already agreed that I will not go to Potter City, and will continue to be your neighbor, and Mr. Alan and Alice will need to be taken care of. Mrs. Santos shook her head slightly, took the baby girl from Scott's arms, and shook it gently, with a motherly smile on her face.

Corporal Santos had only been married for a few months before he was killed in the Northern Campaign, so Mrs. Santos had no biological heirs by her side. After Brenda gave birth to Alice and died, Mrs. Santos took the motherless baby girl for her own.

"Sir, it's time for us to go back to Manchuria." At this time, a young European second lieutenant came from afar and gave a dignified military salute to Captain Scott, "The ship to the Azores will leave early tomorrow morning." ”

"I'll try to come back for Christmas, thanks again!"

Nodding slightly to the adjutant, Scott put on his military cap, saluted Old Man Allen and Mrs. Santos, and walked towards the exit of the cemetery, the crying of his daughter behind him was intermittent, but Scott's footsteps did not stop.

Captain Scott has been officially appointed Acting Commander of the 1st Battalion of the Chinese Army Foreign Legion "Bison Brigade".

At this time, on the Manchester City radio station, a rare pure English song in China and the United States was being sung by Jenny softly, the song was called "YOU. WERE. THERE》。 The theme song of a later classic video game "I.C.O", like a hymn, the ethereal song and harp sound echo in the night sky of every city, making people mourn and mourn.

"The island full of bright sunshine, the hill that reflects this qiē, the breeze that lets the trees gently sway, and savor this long history, these are the ......"

"You were there, and those memories will be deeply imprinted in my heart. You're there, even if you've forgotten everyone, but you're the only one who remembers me......"

"Sadness must be followed by happiness, so I will believe in the ...... of a better tomorrow" (To be continued.) )