Chapter 18: A Deadly Scheme?

Old Black could tell that the previous voice was completely different from Li Ernniu’s, but he didn’t point it out directly. He simply shouted, “Why did you speak?”

Li Ernniu was only taking the blame for someone else; he had no actual reason for speaking. He stammered for a long time, unable to utter a word.

Wang Yanbing glanced sideways, his expression clearly different from before, yet he still didn’t admit fault.

Unable to explain himself under Old Black’s stern gaze, Li Ernniu blurted out in the dumbest way possible, “Reporting, Squad Leader, I was wrong.”

“On the battlefield, the enemy won’t give you a chance to apologize. One hundred push-ups, starting now.”

“Yes, sir!”

Li Ernniu did not protest the punishment. He immediately dropped to the ground, not even bothering to remove his pack, and began doing push-ups with grunts and effort.

Seeing Li Ernniu being punished in his place, Wang Yanbing, slick and glib as ever, couldn’t stand it anymore.

In Wang Yanbing’s mind, getting away with things was a skill, but letting someone else take the fall for him crossed his line. He did not want to owe anyone a favor.

“Reporting, it wasn’t him, it was me!” Wang Yanbing reported, admitting his guilt.

“Why didn’t you admit it earlier?” Old Black raised an eyebrow, his voice stern.

“I... I...” Wang Yanbing was at a loss for words, even feeling a bit annoyed at Li Ernniu’s meddling. If Li Ernniu hadn’t foolishly stepped forward, Wang wouldn’t have had to confess just to avoid being in debt.

“Are you a man?” Old Black could see Wang Yanbing’s admission wasn’t sincere.

Wang Yanbing pouted and replied loudly, “Reporting, I am a man, always have been.”

“Didn’t you see him being punished for you?” Old Black asked coldly.

“I know—it’s just a hundred push-ups. I accept.” Wang Yanbing had only confessed to avoid owing a favor, so he took the punishment without hesitation, dropping on the spot to do push-ups.

For new recruits, a hundred push-ups was pure torture.

Usually, few could do twenty in a single go.

“You, stop.”

Old Black walked over to Li Ernniu and nudged his shoulder with his toe. “Clearly you weren’t the one speaking. Why did you step forward?”

“Re... reporting...” Li Ernniu, chubby as he was, found even a dozen push-ups exhausting. He panted on the ground, struggling to catch his breath before finally replying, “My mother always said: Suffering a loss is a blessing.”

“Suffering a loss is a blessing? Good, then you can suffer more.” Old Black sneered coldly. “One hundred push-ups. Start over.”

“Yes, sir!”

Li Ernniu was on the verge of tears, eyes wide and brimming, but he resumed his push-ups.

“Reporting! He was only taking the blame for someone else—that’s a virtue!” He Chenguang suddenly called out.

“Did I give you permission to speak?” Old Black’s method was to make an example of a few, to intimidate the group. He had been thinking two wasn’t enough, so He Chenguang’s outburst came at just the right time.

Without hesitation, he ordered, “Speaking out of turn, one hundred push-ups. Start now.”

He Chenguang was disgruntled, but coming from a military family, he knew that in the army, obedience was sacred. No matter how displeased he was, he could only accept the punishment.

“Damn, this is brutal!”

A quiet word earned you punishment. Taking the fall for a friend brought punishment. Even trying to mediate got you punishment. The new recruits were all stunned, their view of Old Black changed forever.

Everyone stood ramrod straight, barely daring to breathe, afraid to become the next target.

But even under such tense circumstances, someone still had the nerve to stand up.

It was Xing Xiaolong.

Xing Xiaolong was an old hand, having served before. He knew senior soldiers often asserted their authority through such tactics—he’d done the same to rookies in the past.

At times like this, anyone who spoke up, right or wrong, would be punished equally. When a few recruits were punished, the rest would learn their lesson and behave; it was a common method in the army.

Yet since coming to this world, Li Ernniu had been Xing Xiaolong’s only real friend. Despite his foolish ways, as a friend, Xing couldn’t just stand by.

“Reporting!”

With his military experience, Xing Xiaolong smartly just called for permission, saying nothing more.

This was strictly by the book.

“Speak.”

Old Black remembered Xing Xiaolong; among the new recruits, few looked like real soldiers. Plus, he followed regulations, so Old Black didn’t cut him off like He Chenguang.

“Li Ernniu was only taking the blame for someone else. His intention was good. Even if he doesn’t deserve praise, he shouldn’t be punished,” Xing Xiaolong said calmly.

“In the army, one means one and two means two. No standing up for others. Are you all trying to form factions?” Old Black’s accusation was serious—forming cliques was strictly forbidden in the military. Not just for soldiers, but for officers too—there were many rules to prevent it.

For example, when a platoon leader is promoted to deputy company commander, or a deputy company commander to company commander, they cannot remain in the same unit; they must transfer. Battalion and regiment leaders are transferred across regiments, even divisions or military regions.

Xing Feng had only just arrived, still dreaming of becoming a special forces soldier. He couldn’t afford such a label. He put on a stern face and replied, “No, Squad Leader.”

“I say you are!” Old Black pressed.

“No, Squad Leader,” Xing Xiaolong insisted.

“If I say you are, then you are. Two hundred push-ups in five minutes. For every extra second, add ten more.” Old Black decided to make an example, once and for all.

“Two hundred in five minutes? Ten more for every second over? That’s impossible! Is Old Black trying to kill this big guy?” The recruits were terrified; it sounded impossible.

Even He Chenguang, who had practiced martial arts since childhood and was stronger than most, was doing push-ups on the ground. Though he was always at odds with Xing Xiaolong, even he couldn’t help but feel sympathetic.

That guy was really out of luck!

...

—

Thanks to “Madman with a Madman’s Charm” for the generous reward of 5,000 book coins.

Thanks to CY Absurdity and Brother Huan Yu for their 500-coin rewards, and to all the other patrons.

You’re all awesome—may good fortune and happiness be with you every day!

A salute from this humble soldier!