Chapter 18: No Resignation Allowed

When Hu Hao heard Li Jingsong say he’d been promoted to Captain, he immediately started cursing. He had zero desire to fight a war. He had finally made it to this new world, a place that wasn’t Earth, and he wanted to see what it had to offer.

“You want to retire? Forget it!” Li Jingsong wasn’t even annoyed by the cursing; he just looked at Hu Hao calmly.

“Why is it impossible? Our national regulations state—”

“Take a look at this,” Li Jingsong interrupted, handing Hu Hao a notice. “An order from the High Command, signed by His Majesty. As of now, all military discharges are suspended. No one is allowed to retire unless they are severely disabled. The ‘merit point retirement’ rule has been temporarily abolished.”

“What?” Hu Hao stood frozen. He had never imagined he’d be trapped into fighting on this planet indefinitely. He grabbed the notice and scanned it, his eyes widening.

“I… I… to hell with all of you!” Hu Hao roared, his anger boiling over with nowhere to go.

“Heh, looks like you’re stuck with us. Congratulations on jumping three ranks in a single day!” Xiao Quan said with a chuckle.

“It’s one rank! I was already a First Lieutenant, a proper graduate of the Royal Command Academy!” Hu Hao snapped.

“Wait, you’re really from the Academy? How the hell did an Academy grad end up here as a Private?” the other Regimental Commanders asked, looking at him with newfound curiosity.

“Explain it to them,” Hu Hao said, gesturing to Li Jingsong.

“Back at school, he kicked the ‘eggs’ out of General Zhang He’s grandson. He got shipped here and demoted to Private as punishment,” Li Jingsong explained with a smirk.

“Is that how you explain it? They shipped me here, then I kicked his balls, and then I was demoted,” Hu Hao corrected him, rolling his eyes.

“Regardless, congratulations—and thank you,” Li Jingsong said sincerely.

“Congratulate my foot. If I can’t retire… hey, what happens to deserters? I mean, hypothetically, if someone ‘left,’ which country could they actually live in?” Hu Hao asked, looking around.

“Hu Hao, are you serious? You’re discussing desertion in front of your Division General and your Colonels? You’ve got some nerve,” a Commander laughed.

“Oh, right. Probably shouldn’t talk about that with you lot,” Hu Hao nodded.

“Look, Hu Hao, don’t overthink it,” Xiao Quan advised. “It’s wartime. As sons and daughters of the Eastern Spirit Empire, it’s our job to defend our home. Besides, this is the best time for a soldier to make a name for himself. You’re fresh out of school and already a Captain. Think about the future! With your talent, you could be a General. Your kids and grandkids would be high-society. Wouldn’t that be something?”

“Give me a break. I haven’t even figured out my own life yet, and you want me to worry about grandkids?” Hu Hao waved him off.

“Regimental Commander Xiao, here. Pin these on him,” Li Jingsong said, handing the Captain’s bars to Xiao Quan.

“Come here, Captain. Whatever else happens, a promotion is a promotion!” Xiao Quan laughed as he pinned the bars onto Hu Hao’s uniform. Hu Hao just let out a long, heavy sigh.

“What’s with the long face? Every soldier dreams of rising through the ranks and getting paid,” Xiao Quan noted.

“I can’t explain it to you people. Fine. I’m a Captain. Now what?” Hu Hao said, defeated.

“Right, back to the main point,” Xiao Quan turned to the others. “Do we trust the General?”

“For god’s sake, why are you asking me?” Hu Hao snapped. “I’m a Captain. This is a conversation for Colonels and Generals. Are you all crazy or am I?”

“If you don’t agree, who will? If we say yes but the men don’t follow, it’s useless,” Xiao Quan said to Li Jingsong. “Sir, it’s not just about us. Even the survivors from the 85th and 86th Divisions trust Hu Hao more than anyone right now. If he doesn’t believe in you, the soldiers won’t either. Our trust means nothing without his.”

“I understand. That’s why I need him,” Li Jingsong said. He reached into a bag held by his guard and pulled out an envelope. “Hu Hao, here is 100,000 credits. The PIN is inside. This is the money from our bet.”

“You’re handing this over now? It looks like a bribe,” Hu Hao noted, eyeing the envelope.

“No. It’s to show you that from this day forward, Li Jingsong keeps his word. This is just the beginning,” the General said firmly.

“You guys bet that much?” the other Commanders asked, surprised.

“He told me our front wouldn’t last four days, maybe not even one. I didn’t believe him and bet we’d hold for seven. Well… look where we are,” Li Jingsong admitted with a wry smile.

Hu Hao took the envelope and tucked it away. “Fine. I’ll say a few words. Take ’em or leave ’em.”

He looked at the officers. “First, he was an idiot for running. If he had half a brain, he would’ve seen that once the line was broken, the Allies would stop their frontal assault to regroup and encircle. We had time to withdraw in good order. He lacked the vision to see the next move, but we caught up with him anyway, so he’s stuck with us.

Second, he’s the Division Commander. High Command failed us more than he did, so they probably won’t punish him to avoid looking at their own mistakes. He’s still in charge, and we’re in his division. We don’t have a choice but to follow.

Third, he’s the Army Commander’s son. Being in his unit means better equipment and faster logistics. A father always looks out for his son, and we can benefit from that proximity.

Fourth, don’t worry about him running again. If he does, I don’t believe for a second that every man in this division will die. And the survivors will find him and kill him. He knows that now.

Fifth, let’s see what he does. If he’s truly changed, we give him one chance. If he starts acting shaky again, we look out for ourselves. What do you say?”

The Commanders thought it over and nodded slowly. “That’s a fair analysis.”

“You’re wasted in the infantry,” Li Jingsong said to Hu Hao. “Be my Chief of Staff. Get off the front lines.”

“Wait, you aren’t being punished?” a Commander asked Li Jingsong.

“No. High Command took the heat. Every survivor—and the families of the fallen—will receive compensation. 10,000 credits for soldiers, plus an extra 10,000 for every rank above that,” Li Jingsong explained.

“Alright,” Xiao Quan said. “We’ll follow Hu Hao’s lead on this. He’s got the right of it.”

“So, Chief of Staff?” Li Jingsong asked Hu Hao again.

“No thanks. I like the front. If I become your staffer, the boys will think I sold them out for a desk job,” Hu Hao refused instantly.

“Fine, have it your way. By the way, we’re the reserve unit now. With all these fresh armies arriving, we should at least get a few days of rest,” Li Jingsong said.

“Rest? You’re dreaming,” Hu Hao scoffed.

“What do you mean?”

“I don’t know the exact enemy numbers, but they’ve been planning this for years. They have more men than our reinforcements, and they have the initiative. Look around you. Do you see any roadblocks? Any fortifications on the approach to the city?

Are we really going to fight a street war in a city of 5 million people? If we do, do you think our greenhorn recruits can win that? You won’t get a week of rest. You’ll be lucky to get two days.

And General,” Hu Hao pointed at him, “don’t say I didn’t warn you. Get us APCs, rocket launchers, and every crate of armor-piercing and HE rounds you can steal. Tell the men to stockpile food and supplies now. It’s going to be urban warfare, and it’s going to be hell. Dammit!”

The officers stared at him, stunned by his grim certainty.

“Another bet?” Li Jingsong asked. “Same stakes. You say three days until we’re back in it?”

“Keep betting and I’ll take everything you own,” Hu Hao grinned. “You’re on.”

“Wait,” Xiao Quan interrupted, his voice hushed. “Hu Hao… you really think we’re going back in that soon?”