146: Chapter 146 Aftermath

Early 1938, the Mountain City, Chongqing.

The mist of the Yangtze River, mixed with the spicy aroma of mala, shrouded the city that had been temporarily elevated to the status of wartime capital.

But this damp air could not extinguish the fire in the people's hearts.

The heroes have returned.

The Eight Hundred Heroes of Sihang Warehouse, after everyone thought they had died heroically for their country, appeared in the rear as an organized unit, as if descending like divine Soldiers.

This news was like a bomb dropped into a calm lake, instantly detonating across the entire Dragon Country.

Newspapers used the largest headlines, reporting on their "resurrection" in page after page.

"The Heavenly Army of the Resistance, Returning in Blood!"

"The Lone Army of Sihang, Forging an Immortal Legend!"

In the teahouses, the storyteller's gavel struck; no longer were they telling tales of the Three Kingdoms or the Water Margin, but rather of "The Divine Man Descending, Crossing the River via Zipline, Eight Hundred Heroes with Zero Casualties."

On the streets, countless citizens spontaneously took to the roads, waving small flags and shouting slogans to welcome the heroes' motorcade.

The scene was even more lively than the Lunar New Year.

Shangguan Zhibiao sat in the bed of a military truck, watching the faces flushed with excitement on both sides of the road, and the young students throwing flowers and streamers at them.

This iron-blooded tough guy, who had crawled out from piles of corpses, felt his eyes grow warm for the first time.

He turned his head to look at Xie Jinyuan, who was sitting upright beside him.

There wasn't much joy on Xie Jinyuan's face.

His brow was slightly furrowed.

He knew that beneath this carnival, a massive undercurrent was hidden.

How was he to explain all those inconceivable events to his superiors?

That young man who was like both a god and a demon, that scythe that cut through iron like butter, that Water Gun that could melt tanks.

And that Zipline stretching across the sky, pulling them back from hell.

How should these be written into the report?

A special meeting of the Military Affairs Commission was held in a solemn meeting room.

On both sides of the long conference table sat high-ranking generals of the National Government with golden stars on their shoulders.

Smoke from cigars curled in the air, and expensive tea steamed.

Xie Jinyuan stood alone in the center of the meeting room.

His uniform was washed clean, and his posture was as straight as a pine tree.

In a calm tone, devoid of any emotional color, he reported the entire process of the Defense of Sihang Warehouse.

From the defense to the street fighting, and finally to the retreat.

He hid nothing.

He described in detail the appearance of "Mr. Chen Xi" and the "miracles" he brought that could not be understood by common logic.

When he spoke of the high-altitude Zipline and the retreat of over four hundred people with zero casualties, a wave of uncontrollable whispering broke out in the meeting room.

The generals' faces showed various expressions.

There was shock, confusion, and disbelief, but more than anything, a sense of scrutiny and suspicion.

"Absurd!"

A furious shout broke the silence of the meeting room.

A deputy commander of an area army, a general surnamed He, slammed the table and stood up.

His well-maintained face was full of disdain and contempt.

"Regiment Commander Xie, are you telling us fairy tales?"

"What high-altitude Zipline? What melting tanks? Do you think those of us sitting here are three-year-old children?"

Xie Jinyuan remained silent, offering no defense.

General He sneered, his tone becoming even more caustic.

"I think you've either gone senile from guarding that warehouse, or you have other motives!"

He looked around, his voice suddenly rising.

"Fellow colleagues, think about it! Over four hundred people retreating with zero casualties under the encirclement of tens of thousands of the Imperial Army? Is that possible?"

"This is clearly a false report of military intelligence, deceiving superiors and subordinates alike!"

"And that so-called 'Mr. Chen,' where did he come from? Where did he go? I say, there is no such person at all!"

A malicious light gleamed in General He's eyes.

"I seriously suspect that Xie Jinyuan and his unit have long been infiltrated by certain ill-intentioned forces, or even Red elements!"

"The so-called 'miracles' are nothing but a facade they've concocted to bewitch the hearts of the military and the people to gain political capital!"

He turned to the supreme leader sitting in the main seat, who had remained silent throughout, and gave a salute.

"Generalissimo! I suggest immediately stripping Xie Jinyuan of his military command and subjecting his unit to the strictest isolation and investigation! We must purge the harmful influences within!"

These malicious words caused the air in the entire meeting room to freeze.

A few generals who were on good terms with Xie Jinyuan or who truly understood military affairs wanted to speak up for him.

But when they saw the cold gazes from the powerful figures behind General He, they swallowed their words.

Most people, however, adopted a spectator's attitude, sipping their tea as if it were none of their business.

Envying the capable and attacking those who were different.

This is the eternal drama of officialdom.

In the deathly silence.

Xie Jinyuan's heart sank bit by bit.

He remembered the scene in the base area where an ordinary Soldier could stand up and criticize the company commander's orders.

He remembered that young company commander named Li Zhen, who, after hearing the criticism, didn't get angry but instead took serious notes and made a public self-criticism.

Two worlds.

Truly, two worlds.

After a long time.

The supreme leader in the main seat finally spoke slowly.

No joy or anger could be seen on his face.

"Regiment Commander Xie fought a bloody battle for the country and achieved outstanding merits; this cannot be erased."

"As for these... hm, peculiar circumstances mentioned in his report, they are of great importance and require careful consideration and investigation."

He paused and made his final ruling.

"How about this: the brothers of the 524th Regiment have had a hard journey and should take a rest."

"For now, they will be transferred away from the front line to handle garrison duties in the rear."

"Once the investigation is clear, further arrangements will be made."

These words were spoken flawlessly.

They acknowledged the merits while also adopting the suggestion for an "investigation."

But everyone could hear what kind of treatment this was.

To be cast aside and left idle.

In the name of rest, but in reality, house arrest.

Xie Jinyuan's body swayed slightly.

But in the end, he said nothing.

He just raised his head, straightened his back, and gave a standard military salute.

"Yes, Generalissimo."

He turned and walked out of the meeting room with steady but bleak steps.

Outside, the sunlight of the Mountain City was somewhat blinding.

In the distance, the cheers of "The heroes have returned" from the people could still seemingly be heard.

That sound, heard now, was so distant and so full of irony.