Chapter 2895: New Journey (1)

Following Sergeant Ma's playbook, Tan Shuangxi returned to his unit and spent the better part of two weeks getting his application submitted. Less than half a month later, an officer from the political department came looking for him.

Tan Shuangxi had prepared, so the conversation went smoothly. Toward the end, the older officer closed the folder in his hands but did not announce that the interview was over. He studied Tan Shuangxi carefully, pondered a moment, and then spoke slowly:

"Comrade Tan Shuangxi, we've reviewed your record thoroughly. From an ordinary soldier to acting platoon leader, more than five years of experience across dozens of battles large and small, multiple commendations, and solid combat and command experience as an infantryman. Among all the NCOs in this application cycle, yours stands out."

Tan Shuangxi straightened his back and listened.

"Because of this solid infantry combat record, there is a special opportunity right now, and we'd like to hear your wishes." The officer leaned forward slightly. "The General Staff is forming a new 'dragoon' unit. This is a new branch that uses horses for mobility but fights primarily dismounted on foot. It requires officers who understand both cavalry maneuver and infantry combat — especially infantry officers like you with rich front-line experience."

Tan Shuangxi's heart skipped a beat. Dragoons? When he had been back at Maniao Fort a few days ago, he'd heard the name mentioned — some new venture the Senate was cooking up. But he had never connected himself with the word "cavalry." His family hadn't owned so much as a donkey for generations, let alone horses.

"Sir," Tan Shuangxi said carefully, somewhat awkwardly, "I... I don't know how to ride. Grew up poor, never been around animals, and in all my years of service I've always been infantry..."

"No one is born knowing how to do anything," the younger officer said with a smile. "If you can't ride, you can learn. The dragoon officer training program includes dedicated basic cavalry skills instruction — from getting to know horses, brushing and saddling them, to mounting and dismounting, controlling a horse at a trot... it's all taught systematically. Naturally, the requirements are somewhat lower than for professional cavalry officers, since the primary mode of combat is still dismounted infantry fighting. But basic mounted mobility must be mastered."

The older officer nodded and added: "Frankly speaking, precisely because this is a newly formed branch, it lacks experienced personnel in every area — especially combat veterans like you who've been through fire and blood. Going there, your opportunities and speed of promotion may be faster than in a traditional infantry unit. Qualified dragoon officers are in short supply."

Tan Shuangxi fell silent. The proposal was entirely unexpected. He had originally figured that after training at the Jeju Island military academy, he'd come back as a platoon leader, fight for a few years, and with luck make company commander. Perhaps someday he'd reach a position like Battalion Commander Lin's. But now... to go to a completely unfamiliar branch and start by learning to ride a horse?

Seeing his hesitation, the older officer said, "Of course, this depends on your personal wishes. Your record is excellent — no one can deny that. So whatever you choose, it won't affect your application outcome. Take your time and think it over."

Before his eyes rose the image of Lieutenant Li Anze pressing the book into his hands before that last departure. If you always stay in familiar places, walking roads you can already see — what's the difference between that and just drifting through life?

Can't ride? He could learn. A new branch? That meant learning new things. Faster promotion? That meant reaching more important positions sooner, leading more soldiers, doing more.

He thought of what he'd written in his essay: "So that more people can live better lives." If he went to a new post that needed him more, where he could better use his strengths — wouldn't that let him realize that ideal more fully?

With that thought, Tan Shuangxi raised his head, his gaze steady. "Reporting: I'm willing to try. If I can't ride, I'll learn. If the unit needs me, I'm willing to go to the dragoons and learn everything from scratch and work hard!"

The two officers exchanged a glance, both breaking into satisfied smiles. The older officer stood and extended his hand. "Good! Determination is what matters. Specific transfer orders and follow-up arrangements will come down soon. Go back and wait for notification."

"Yes! Thank you, sir!" Tan Shuangxi stood at attention and saluted.

Stepping out of the interview room, the afternoon sunlight was a bit dazzling. Tan Shuangxi stood in the corridor and drew a deep breath. Dragoons... it sounded like a new beginning full of challenges.

He touched the small notebook in his chest pocket, where he'd recorded all of Sergeant Ma's advice. He'd gone to Sergeant Ma seeking guidance, never expecting he'd actually end up working with "horses"!

Less than a week later, Tan Shuangxi, on duty at the platoon, received a kraft paper envelope delivered in person by a clerk from battalion headquarters. The lower right corner bore the large blue seal of the Army Department's Personnel Office. He tore it open and, sure enough, there it was — the long-awaited notice for the candidate officer training program.

The printed text was concise: Orders for Infantry Sergeant Tan Shuangxi to report within fifteen days to the Cavalry Training Team of the Army Officer Academy on Jeju Island, to attend a six-month candidate officer training program for dragoons. Below were the great seal of the Army Department and the signature of the Army Minister — a flamboyant scrawl. Tan Shuangxi could barely make out the name "He."

Clerk Little Liu stood to one side, grinning. "Platoon Commander Tan, congratulations! Only three from our battalion made the cut this year, and yours is the first."

The news spread fast; in less time than it takes to eat a meal, it had swept through the entire company. Comrades still at the station flocked to the platoon quarters, and the small barracks were soon packed shoulder to shoulder. Congratulations, jokes, and the crack of palms slapping shoulders all blended together.

"Old Tan, you're an officer now!"

"You've got to look out for us brothers from now on!"

"They say Jeju Island in winter can freeze your nose clean off — pack plenty of clothes!"

Tan Shuangxi stood in the middle of the crowd, smiling, responding to each in turn. He thanked the leadership for their cultivation, his comrades for their support, the organization for its trust. He kept his voice level, neither too smug nor too restrained, letting the joy show without making a show of it.

Then he pulled out the "Baisheng" cigarettes Sergeant Ma had given him, unwrapped the pack, and passed them around one by one. Everyone recognized good cigarettes — ones they couldn't afford to smoke ordinarily — and nobody stood on ceremony now. One for you, one for me; in no time half the pack was gone. Smoke curled through the barracks, mingling with the smell of sweat and leather in a peculiar camaraderie.

"When you get to Jeju Island, study hard!" The company commander clapped his shoulder. "Dragoons are a new thing, and they're sorely lacking in backbone personnel with real combat experience. You've got grit, kid. I think you'll do fine."

"Thank you, Company Commander. I'll do my best," Tan Shuangxi answered at attention.

That afternoon he went to battalion headquarters to process his departure. The clerks and officers at headquarters had already heard the news and were a good measure warmer than usual. File transfers, equipment inventories, credential cancellations — one item after another, all settled in under two hours. Finally, in Battalion Commander Lin's office, the commander said only three things:

"Study hard when you get there."

"Don't embarrass the battalion."

"Buy me a drink when you come back."

Tan Shuangxi stood at attention and saluted. "Yes!"

He stepped out of headquarters at high noon. The walls of Maniao Fort glinted faintly in the sunlight. Out on the training ground, a company was still drilling, their shouted commands carrying from afar, crisp and synchronized. Tan Shuangxi shouldered his packed belongings — a regulation backpack, a satchel, and a neatly bound bedroll — and stood at the camp gate, looking back one last time.

From that green recruit before the Battle of Chengmai to the sergeant now about to set foot on the path to becoming an officer — this place held too much of his sweat and too many memories. The comrades who had fallen, the days of fighting shoulder to shoulder, the starry skies of late-night sentry duty — he would have to bid them all farewell for now.

The moment Tan Shuangxi walked through the gate, his younger brother Tan Shuangqing, who was twisting straw rope in the courtyard, froze. The rope slipped from his hands and fell to the ground. Shuangqing leapt up, shouting toward the house in a rapid stream: "Dad! Mom! Brother's back! Brother's back!"

The sounds inside the house stopped abruptly. A moment later, the door curtain was flung aside with a swish. Dad came out pinching a half-smoked hand-rolled cigarette, with Mom right behind him, still clutching a handful of vegetables she hadn't finished picking.

They stopped short at the doorway, both pairs of eyes landing simultaneously on Tan Shuangxi, then quickly shifting to the baggage on his shoulder — the faded military backpack and the squarely tied bedroll.

The cigarette butt in Dad's hand dropped to the ground. He said nothing, just stared hard at his son. A few stalks of vegetables slipped from Mom's hand; she didn't bother to pick them up but took two quick steps forward, her voice trembling: "Shuangxi... the matter..."

Tan Shuangxi set down his luggage and pulled the kraft paper envelope from his chest. "It came through. Report to Jeju Island in fifteen days."

Mom wiped her hands vigorously on her apron several times before accepting the envelope. She couldn't read, yet she turned it over and over, her fingers tracing the blue seal in the lower right corner, as if she could feel the words through the paper.

"It came through... it really came through..." she murmured, her voice unsteady.

Dad was steadier. He took the envelope, drew out the paper inside, and squinted at it for a long while in the fading daylight — he couldn't recognize all the words either, but "Tan Shuangxi," "candidate officer," and "Army Officer Academy, Jeju Island" were phrases he had traced in his mind countless times. His lips trembled slightly.

"Good," he finally said, his voice hoarse. He carefully folded the notice, slipped it back into the envelope, and returned it to Tan Shuangxi. His other hand clapped heavily onto his son's shoulder — once, then again, the force of it making Tan Shuangxi rock. "Good boy!"

"I'm going to buy meat!" Dad suddenly turned and strode toward the house, his steps quick and long. "Shuangqing! Go to the cooperative — buy a jin of liquor, no, five jin! The good kind, not the bulk! And buy ten packs of cigarettes — not the 'Mass Production' brand, get 'Bairen Beach'! Oh, and take the cart — buy two dozen bottles of soda while you're at it, and..."

He rattled off the list of things to buy. Tan Shuangqing said urgently, "Dad, slow down, let me get a pen and write it down!" and went to fetch paper and brush. Mom wiped away tears of joy: "What's your hurry? It's just past noon, take your time..."

Dad finished the list, turned back into the house, and there was a sound of rummaging around inside. He emerged a moment later with a stack of banknotes, counted out several, and handed them to Shuangqing. "Hurry! Oh, and while you're out, drop by your father-in-law's place — invite Baihua's family to come over too, all family!"

Tan Shuangqing called out "Got it!" and took off like a rabbit with the money.

Mom looked Tan Shuangxi up and down, as if she could never see enough of him. "You haven't been eating well at the barracks, have you? Tonight Mom will make you a proper meal!" She took the backpack and bedroll from his hands. "Go inside and rest, you must be exhausted from the road. I'll sort these out."

Dad, clutching his money and carrying a basket on his back, said, "You sit tight, I'll go over to the salt works and see if there's anything fresh." At the courtyard gate he turned back to remind Mom: "Invite Elder Chen and the other village elders, and the neighbors too! Oh, and don't forget Caiwang! Let's all celebrate tonight."

The neighbors heard the commotion and came over one after another to ask what was happening. When they heard the notice had come through and he was heading to Jeju Island — though the news came as a surprise, since no one had caught wind of it before — the congratulations came in waves. One said "The Tan family ancestors must be smiling in their graves," another said "Shuangxi always looked like a boy who'd make something of himself," and someone started organizing a trip to buy firecrackers.

(End of chapter)