Chapter Thirty-Seven: The Terrible News

(Thanks to Lone Star of the Western Region, Scholar, 850408, Book Fan Ah Jiu, Carefree Cloud Returns, and 2018....447 for their recommendation votes.)

As they spoke, the two of them arrived at the General Affairs Division’s office, where four others had already gathered. Upon seeing them, Qian Yihai stood up with a smile. “Alright, everyone’s here. Let me introduce you all.”

With a brief introduction, Bai Ze Shao learned the names of the others: Liu Xiaobing from the Intelligence Division, Ren Qiang from the Communications Division, Li Xutao from the Cipher Division, Yang Miao from the Archives Room, and Qin Shuai from General Affairs.

Of course, these were just the skeleton crew of the Inspection Team, and all of them had joined the Special Service Bureau around the same time as Bai Ze Shao—a group of newcomers, but competent enough.

After a quick acquaintance, Qian Yihai gave a few instructions and dismissed everyone. As Wu Zhengke had said before, the so-called Inspection Team was a temporary setup, with no regular tasks, only convened when Qian Yihai needed it.

The only surprise for Bai Ze Shao was that Qian Yihai appointed him as the deputy leader of this small group. The others didn’t react much to this decision, since the position carried little real authority. Moreover, Bai Ze Shao was currently the leader of Action Team Three, making him the highest-ranked among them.

“Well then, since we’ve gotten to know each other, tonight I’ll treat everyone to dinner at the Delighted Pavilion,” Bai Ze Shao proposed as they left Qian Yihai’s office.

“Haha, worthy of our leader—looks like we’ll have a feast tonight!” Qin Shuai from General Affairs was the first to respond.

The others nodded in agreement. No one resisted the gathering; each knew well that while they were mere newcomers now, they might need one another in the future.

After bidding farewell, Bai Ze Shao returned to the Action Team and reported the recent events to Wu Zhengke, who was very pleased with Bai Ze Shao’s tact.

Bai Ze Shao feigned surprise at the favor as he left, but he had come to understand Wu Zhengke—a man of utmost selfishness and coldness, yet with considerable ambition. For saving his life, Bai Ze Shao received only a verbal thanks and the modest post of Team Three leader.

He also discovered Wu Zhengke enjoyed flattery, though he was skilled at managing his subordinates. Flattery alone wasn’t enough for promotion, as seen with Ye Mao of Team One and Gao Debiao of Team Two, both highly capable.

Seven o’clock in the evening.

Four of them, dressed in casual clothes, entered the Delighted Pavilion. Bai Ze Shao generously ordered a large spread, and, being young, everyone quickly warmed up. While eating, they began discussing recent events.

“By the way, there’s some news you probably haven’t heard yet—about the Red Party Army Corps. It just came in from the front lines to the Communications Division after work today. It hasn’t been released yet, but soon it’ll be everywhere,” Ren Qiang from Communications glanced slyly around and lowered his voice.

“What news?” Liu Xiaobing asked curiously.

“Ren Qiang, are you talking about the Red Party Army Corps’ First, Second, and Fourth Fronts meeting up?” Li Xutao from the Cipher Division suddenly interjected.

Normally, he wouldn’t have known about this, but the telegram’s arrival caused a stir in the Special Service Bureau, prompting a secret meeting. As a member of the Cipher Division, he had inadvertently learned of it.

“Yes, that’s exactly it. Though it’s not entirely confirmed yet, since the Communications Division received such a telegram, even if it isn’t entirely true, the facts can’t be far off,” Ren Qiang nodded.

Bai Ze Shao and Liu Xiaobing exchanged glances, both surprised by the news. Liu Xiaobing was shocked and felt ashamed for the incompetence of the frontline soldiers, while Bai Ze Shao was genuinely delighted.

He hadn’t expected the Red Party Army Corps to have truly broken through the enemy’s blockade and achieved a victorious union. With this, the Red Party had survived its most difficult hour. Bai Ze Shao believed that once this news became public, all Red Party members would feel gratified and proud.

In that moment, Bai Ze Shao felt tonight’s gathering wasn’t so meaningless after all. If he could learn such news today, who knew what he would hear tomorrow?

“The frontline troops are truly incompetent—so many armies, so well equipped, yet they can’t defeat the Red Party Army Corps, who can hardly feed themselves. It’s really…” Qin Shuai from General Affairs sighed angrily at their weakness.

“What’s the big deal? We all know what our army is like—especially those local warlords. They pretend to obey the central government, but in truth, they’re just bandits,” Liu Xiaobing scoffed.

“That’s not entirely true. There was a unit on the front lines that fought well, but due to a commander’s mistake, the entire force was wiped out—over ten thousand men, buried in that battle. From the division commander down to the lowest soldier, none survived. This news circulated only among the upper ranks, and all records were sealed,” Li Xutao shook his head, revealing a story none of them knew.

“Which unit was that?” Bai Ze Shao asked in surprise.

“The Thirty-Eighth Division.”

“What? That unit?” Bai Ze Shao was stunned by Li Xutao’s reply and pressed urgently.

“Yes, the Thirty-Eighth. Why?” Li Xutao was puzzled by Bai Ze Shao’s intense reaction.

“Are you sure it was the Thirty-Eighth? Think carefully before you answer,” Liu Xiaobing also confirmed anxiously, his expression tense.

“I’m sure. I remember clearly. But what’s going on with you two? Did you have brothers in that unit?” Li Xutao probed.

Bai Ze Shao and Liu Xiaobing said nothing, just nodded in silence. Neither had expected that in the span of just a month, their good brother Gangzi, who had eaten, trained, and fought alongside them, was now separated from them by life and death.

One couldn’t help but sigh at the fickleness of fate. In this era torn by war, life seemed so fragile, ready to wither at any moment.

When Wang Gang graduated, he was indeed assigned to the Thirty-Eighth Division. Bai Ze Shao remembered how, upon leaving the military academy’s detention room, Gangzi had boldly declared he would become a general, fight on the battlefield, defend the nation, and fulfill the value of a soldier.

Alas, all those aspirations vanished like smoke with the disaster Li Xutao brought, leaving nothing but memories.