Chapter 216: Attitude Must Be Firm

The wireless telephone was installed in the locomotive cab; nowadays railway communications are underdeveloped, and only a few main Train Service Lines can be equipped with a wireless telephone.

Normally, orders are issued through the dispatch office using a closed, dispatch‑dedicated telephone line, transmitting running instructions such as yielding and speed limits to the station Duty Room staff.

Later, when the train arrives at the station, the Duty Room staff hand the written note to the train driver, relying entirely on manpower.

Fortunately, the train transporting military supplies is equipped with a wireless telephone, allowing it to respond to emergencies promptly.

Lu Cheng entered the cab, and Liu Baoquan thought it would be better to give up.

"Group Leader Lu, it's only two hours; it shouldn't delay the schedule."

Lu Cheng rejected it: "How can that work? Two hours are precious; if later another train needs to be yielded to, giving two hours here and two hours there would waste an entire day, which is unacceptable."

Liu Baoquan sighed: "Group Leader Lu, this is your first time escorting supplies, you might not know. In the past I also escorted a few trips; we basically always have to yield. Coordinating with them is useless—they just say the cargo should be given way to people."

Lu Cheng disagreed: "Nonsense about yielding goods. This is a military supplies Special Train, enjoying the highest right‑of‑way. I'm going to call and coordinate."

Seeing Lu Cheng's insistence, Liu Baoquan could not say more; after all, Lu Cheng is the person in charge and has authority over everything.

"Then put this headset on; it's for communication," Liu Baoquan picked up the wireless device. The microphone was round, palm‑sized, and had to be held in the hand to speak.

Lu Cheng took it in his hand, and as Liu Baoquan connected the device, a burst of static immediately filled his ears.

"Group Leader Lu, you can speak now."

Lu Cheng shouted into the handheld microphone: "Hello, calling, calling! Can you hear me? This is Freight Special Train No. 135; can you hear me? Freight Special Train No. 135 calling, hello…"

After a while without a voice, Lu Cheng asked Liu Baoquan: "Master Liu, what's going on? It's all static, buzzing, I can't hear anything at all."

"With this kind of wireless equipment, the signal is poor; you have to call several times."

Lu Cheng sighed helplessly, "What a crappy gadget; the basic railway equipment really needs improvement now."

"Hello, calling Platform, this is Freight Special Train No. 135; can you hear me? Calling Platform…"

Lu Cheng's throat was about to burn from shouting, but after two minutes he finally connected to the line.

From the opposite microphone came a drunken voice.

"Received, received. Can you hear me on the other side? Ha…"

The other side yawned, causing Lu Cheng to frown; it was obvious they had been drinking.

"I can hear you; this is Freight Special Train No. 135…"

Before Lu Cheng could finish, the other side interrupted: "Ah, I know, I know. Are your trains now… uh, starting to slow down?"

Listening to the other side's belch, Lu Cheng could even smell the alcohol through the microphone and said, keeping the fire on.

"We are not slowing down."

From the other side came the sound of a chair being dragged, with impatience: "What's the matter? Weren't you told to slow down? Now I order you to slow down immediately."

Heh, damn it, a tiny Duty Room of a regional Railway Division is even ordering a General Bureau train.

Lu Cheng frowned and shouted loudly: "We are carrying military supplies; they must be delivered on time. Let the other train slow down and yield."

The opposite Duty Room staff replied lazily: "What are you, a chicken feather? No matter what the supplies are, it doesn't matter. The other train carries our regional leader; are we supposed to make our leader wait for you?"

Lu Cheng's anger flared: "I'm telling you, the military supplies train enjoys the highest right‑of‑way. I have a pass, and this is not a notice but an order."

"Useless. If you don't slow down and an accident occurs because of yielding, you will bear the responsibility."

Listening to the other side's arrogant words, Lu Cheng was about to speak further when the other side abruptly hung up.

"Damn it!" Lu Cheng cursed, gripping the microphone, "Even the Imperial Sword called 'pass' doesn't work."

"See, Group Leader Lu, I told you the call was in vain."

Liu Baoquan couldn't let the train crash, and just as he was about to continue slowing down, Lu Cheng shouted again: "Do not slow down; connect me directly to their dispatch office; I will speak to the director."

Who exactly is the General Bureau? Even a tiny Duty Room staff dares to disobey orders—this is outrageous.

"Ah, still calling?" Liu Baoquan said helplessly, not expecting Lu Cheng to be so persistent.

"Call!"

Lu Cheng must resolve this matter completely today.

Liu Baoquan reluctantly kept the call going; when the other side said "Hello," Lu Cheng first slammed the microphone against the iron panel several times, shocking the opposite director's ears numb.

"Who is it? Why are you slapping it in the middle of the night? I can hear you."

Lu Cheng finally straightened up, one hand holding the microphone, the other on his hip, and asked: "Are you the dispatch office director?"

"Yes, who are you?"

"I am the person in charge of Freight Special Train No. 135."

"Ah, I know, you are Group Leader Lu, right?"

"That's right. I'm asking you, have your Duty Room staff been drinking?"

The opposite director hesitated: "Yes, we had a little drink; it's cold weather, a little alcohol warms the body."

"Nonsense!"

Lu Cheng slapped the microphone again, and the director on the other side snapped to attention.

"How can one drink while on duty? Duty Room staff are responsible for train dispatch; can they work after drinking? If a safety accident occurs, who will bear the responsibility?"

He asked three questions in a row, and the other side didn't dare utter a word.

Lu Cheng wanted to catch the mistake and give the other side a stern warning.

"Safety is no small matter. I'm telling you, the drinking‑on‑duty issue will be reported to the General Bureau, and you, director, can't escape responsibility."

Upon hearing that it would be reported to the General Bureau, the director was instantly terrified.

"Oh dear, Group Leader Lu, Group Leader Lu, why are you suddenly so angry? We'll actively correct it."

Seeing the other side trembling with fear and finally adopting a proper attitude, Lu Cheng then turned the conversation back.

"What else? I'm asking you, has the transport of military supplies been issued to the Platform Duty Room?"

"It has been issued."

"Since it was issued, do you know that this freight Special Train enjoys the highest right‑of‑way, and any other train must yield."

The director quickly nodded, "Yes, yes, the main duty personnel follow the basic principle of cargo transfer."

Lu Cheng patted the table again, "Damn cargo transfer person, this is a military supplies Special Train. I'm telling you, I have a military order; if it can't be delivered on time, I'll lose my head, but before I lose my head, I'll make you take a bullet."

The director opposite took a deep breath, "I understand. Rest assured, Group Leader Lu, your train doesn't need to slow down. I'll notify the Duty Room immediately and guarantee your train will run smoothly all the way."

Lu Cheng only then, satisfied, hung up the phone; when he turned around, he realized everyone was staring at him—not just the locomotive staff, but Da Kui and the others, and the soldiers Wu Zhekun and a few others, were also standing there.

"What's the matter? Why are you all staring at me like that?"