Chapter 34: Special Pardon Decree

When Zhanxiage was taken out of the quarantine and interrogation room of the Provincial Military District Internal Affairs Department, he couldn't help but cover his eyes with his hand. It took him a long time to adjust to the sunlight that was already too strong for him.
Lieutenant Colonel Li Xiangshang from the Fifth Special Forces Elite Training School stood in front of the Ministry of Internal Affairs' main gate, looking at him with a strange expression and asking, "How is it feeling to be isolated and interrogated?" ”
"Every day, they interrogate me endlessly, repeating the same questions over and over. But I can't give them satisfactory answers, nor can I set an example of honesty and leniency while resisting strictness. Seeing their increasingly gloomy faces, if I don't feel fear or regret, I must not be human!" Zhan Xiagege replied honestly, "When they told me I could leave here, I really thought I was going to be executed!" ”
"This just shows you're really lucky! You used a fighter jet worth 300 million RMB to shoot down a reconnaissance plane that had intruded into our airspace. Although the cost is a bit high, overall, your actions have outweighed the harm! ”
Zhan Xiage's mind raced. Could it be that the RC-135 strategic electronic reconnaissance plane had already successfully stolen some important Chinese military secret, and that he and Huang Zhipeng, by accident, ended up becoming two national heroes?
Although Li Xiangshang usually didn't like to talk much, seeing Zhanxiage's expression, he could guess some of the meaning. Li Xiangshang shook his head and said, "Your greatest achievement was performing a high-level seppuku-lap on that reconnaissance plane, and theirs plane ended up in China's territorial waters." ”
"So the task of salvaging this reconnaissance plane should naturally be handed over to our Navy fleet." At this point, Li Xiangshang, who usually appeared serious and cold as a soldier, actually showed a hint of amusement in his eyes as he said, "Our salvage did take a bit longer—two whole weeks. This only shows that our naval strength is still not strong enough, and our rescue equipment is not complete enough." The most crucial point is that the reconnaissance plane's fuselage was sliced open by the Su-27 fighter's wing, then fell from high altitude. If you really lost any electronic equipment or high-tech, high-tech components, that would be understandable! ”
Li Xiangshang suddenly said, "Your dad also went to help salvage the wreckage of that reconnaissance plane!" ”
When Zhan Xiaoge heard that Zhan Xinghua was also involved in the salvage operation, even though he was usually fearless, he started to stutter: "I, I, my dad, go, go, what are you doing?" He's not part of the navy, and he doesn't understand salvage shipwrecks or planes! ”
"But he understands radar systems, and he also understands satellite positioning systems! Isn't he currently leading a research project on the improvement and upgrading of radar fire control systems? Li Xiangshang said softly, "Your dad and a group of experts from the Chinese Academy of Sciences spent over thirty days in the lab, both working and discussing, before finally running back excitedly." According to him, during these thirty days, he was greatly inspired by certain things and is now confident that China's radar fire control technology will make at least a great leap forward by ten years! Perhaps it won't be long before China can manufacture its own Su-27 fighter jet! ”
Zhanxiage couldn't help but widen his eyes and mouth agape; this result was truly beyond his expectations! But thinking it over, Zhanxiage couldn't help but burst out laughing.
Now those foreign devils were stunned. They tried to steal but ended up losing out, or were they silently losing out. Watching the South Sea Fleet leisurely salvage plane wreckage, who knows how many treasures they dug out and how many technical inspirations they gained? Each of them was anxious but had to pretend to be good babies because they were in the wrong!
"You and Huang Zhipeng were isolated and interrogated inside for a full forty-five days. The principal and Yan Zhenjiang, the chief of staff of the Second Artillery Corps, worked hard outside for you. They teamed up with Commander Yang of the 136th Army and Huang Zhipeng's father to act as guarantors. Plus, you made such a great contribution that barely saved you!" However, you can no longer stay in the air force! ”
Li Xiangshang stared at the war hero song and said in a deep voice, "Both the principal and I believe you have the potential to become the best professional soldier, but you lack the awareness and preparation to become one. That's why the principal recommended you to the 136th Group Army. I hope you can find your own path there!" After you were kicked out of the army, the principal tacitly allowed you to use his letter of recommendation to join the Chinese Air Force. I even thought, if you could work diligently in this unit for a year, I would find a way to transfer you back to the Fifth Special Forces Elite Training School. ”
"You did something so reckless in the aviation force, with unimaginably serious consequences, yet in the end you were pardoned and escaped severe military punishment. Although I feel very happy inside, I must tell you, you have let me down!"
"You have a flexible and unconventional mind and a strong will—these are your strengths. But you're too flamboyant, too impulsive, and too lacking in organizational discipline. At times like this, the smarter you are, the more stubbornly you can be, and the more harm you cause to the military!"
"I know you didn't join the army voluntarily. I always thought you were a born soldier. Sooner or later, you'd slowly fall in love with the military, a group full of masculinity, and the sincerity of entrusting your back, even your life, to each other. But now, all I can tell myself is that I was wrong! Even forced melons aren't sweet. Those who don't volunteer to join the army will only drift further and further from my group! ”
Li Xiangshang let out a long sigh and said, "Zhanxia Ge, now you've been pardoned, but no one can guarantee you've learned to behave from this lesson; No one can guarantee that if you make another mistake, you'll be so lucky next time! So, you should leave the army! ”
Zhanxiage was truly stunned. After a long while, he finally whispered, "I don't want to leave the army!" ”
Li Xiangshang said gently, "If you're worried you won't be able to come home and face your father, I can help you talk to him about it." You're only twenty this year. If you look back now, you still have time to go to college and find a decent job. Even if your dad can't forgive you right now, once you get married and have a child, time and family bonds will gradually ease the tensions between you and your son. Trust me, you will eventually gain your father's forgiveness! ”
Zhanxiage slowly shook his head. Even he couldn't explain why his whole body was filled with a sense of exhaustion and helplessness, a vague fear gripping him tightly. This fear far outweighed his worry about not being able to go home and face his father.
"Sign a word now, and you're free!"
Zhan Xiage stared blankly at the notice Li Xiangshang had handed him: Zhan Xiage, a student from the Fifth Special Forces Elite Training School, due to poor health, could no longer meet the school's basic training requirements. According to the school's promotion and admission guidelines, his retirement due to illness was approved. Based on the length of study at the college, a withdrawal compensation of 50,000 RMB per year will be granted.
Zhan Xiagege laughed, "Wow, so at the Fifth Special Forces Elite Training School, you get fifty thousand yuan in subsidies just for one year. If I'd known, I would've spent another seven or eight years. That would be enough to support those white-collar workers from struggling to the bone for twenty or thirty years, right?!" Unfortunately, I only stayed at the Fifth Special Forces Elite Training School for two months and could only receive 10,000 yuan at most! ”
Zhan Xiage's gaze suddenly stopped, because he clearly saw that on this withdrawal notice, the length of his studies at the Fifth Special Forces Elite Training School was one year and eleven months!
Zhanxiage murmured, "Could it be that the school has never given up on me?" This is also a form of training for me, or rather, a form of ...... Test?! ”
Li Xiangshang looked sympathetically at the big boy in front of him and whispered, "Yes!" You're the only person in these ten years who can make the principal see you differently and face such a test! But unfortunately, you gave up hope during the test and eliminated yourself! Although I will no longer be your instructor, I still want to teach you one last lesson: in your life, no matter what setbacks you face, no matter how angry you get, you must learn to think twice before acting! ”
Pedestrians on the street all stared strangely at the big boy standing by the roadside, lost and unmoved. He just stood there quietly, and even in this situation, his body unconsciously straightened up...... A javelin!
Huang Zhipeng kept asking questions as he walked out of the camp gate. When he finally found the war hero, he was truly stunned! He could hardly believe that that the man who was so lost and pitiful that it was actually the former company commander of the 136th Army's special service company! Where did that spirited, indifferent man go? Where is the man who dared to pilot a fighter jet and recklessly charge to the death with the invading enemy plane?!
Huang Zhipeng dashed over, reached out with a large hand, and tightly pulled the man into his arms. Ignoring the strange and even ambiguous looks from everyone on the street, he glared at Zhanxiage and shouted hoarsely, "It's just being kicked out of school, kicked out of the army, what's the big deal?" To borrow an old saying: 'If you don't keep me here, there will be a place to stay!' The army doesn't want us, the air force doesn't want us, but isn't there still a navy? If you really want to stay in the army, come with me. I, Huang Zhipeng, will risk my life to push us back into the army! This time, we're not making a fuss. We'll just be our own little soldiers until you're tired of being in the army, and then we'll leave together! ”