Chapter 44: Ghosts in the Army Worry, Dogs Just Shake Their Heads

He Zhen Tao left carrying an empty lunchbox.

Before leaving, he reminded Lu Yang to rest well and not wander around.

He has to return to his old unit to handle some matters, so he won't come in the afternoon.

Lu Yang was left alone lying on the sickbed, staring at the ceiling in a daze.

Sure enough, when a person is hungry they think of only one thing: eating.

After filling the stomach, all sorts of chaotic thoughts flood the mind.

Frankly, as a Squad Leader, Lu Yang thinks Zhou Kaidong is competent.

Whether it was after the leak incident, Zhou Kaidong stubbornly took the blame onto himself; or when Ding Tengfei was "wrongly accused" by the Cafeteria of stealing, he immediately chose to stand on his soldiers' side.

This all well illustrates that Zhou Kaidong can be called a competent good Squad Leader.

Yet it is precisely because of his excessive competence that it traps him tightly inside.

No gold is pure, no person is perfect.

Lu Yang does not want such a trivial matter to lead to Zhou Kaidong being removed.

The New Recruit Company is not only a place to train new recruits, but also a comprehensive test of veterans' leadership abilities.

If Zhou Kaidong is removed, it equates to a serious leadership incident, and in the future, not to mention commendations, even staying in the unit will be difficult.

If this happened in another squad it would be fine, but since it occurs nearby, he cannot stand by idly.

After all, who can guarantee that the replacement after Zhou Kaidong leaves will be more competent?

What if it's someone like th Class Squad Leader who likes to take shortcuts; or like First Squad Leader who can't speak without using dirty words, what to do?

Thinking this, Lu Yang simply sat up from the bed, put on his clothes, and went to the doorway.

He quietly opened the door a crack and glanced into the outer hallway.

The waiting room and pharmacy are next door, and their doors are closed at this time.

Lu Yang tiptoed out, hoping to find a small shop to make a phone call back to the New Recruit Company, to pre‑inform Zhou Kaidong.

That way, when the Instructor questions the new recruits tomorrow, the responses can be unified, avoiding being caught off guard.

But being unfamiliar with the place, Lu Yang has no idea where to go.

Outside, the sunlight is exceptionally bright, dazzling him to the point he can barely open his eyes.

A world apart from yesterday's gloomy, thunder‑rumbling weather.

Yet the cold air still makes Lu Yang hunch his neck, tightening his body.

What comes into view is a more than ten‑story, grand office building.

In front of the building is a large open area, bustling with people, and occasionally a military‑green jeep passes by.

Here almost every soldier has stars on their shoulders; even Non‑commissioned Officers are rare.

Most wear serious, hurried expressions, holding folders or briefcases, as if in a rush.

The troops are a place where words and actions are swift and decisive, even bureaucratic units are no exception.

Indeed, one still has to go out more to see the world.

Before leaving the New Recruit Company, aside from the visiting Deputy Political Commissioner of the regiment, the Company Commander and Instructor were the highest‑ranking officers Lu Yang had seen.

Yet after coming here, Lu Yang realized that officers at the Tuan Bu are as common as cabbage.

At this moment, Lu Yang's attention is drawn to a visually striking large statue directly in front of the square.

It is a hand—more precisely, a huge hand emerging from a snow pile, tightly gripping a long spear.

On the sculpture's base, bold characters read Special Third Regiment.

Below, a line of small text reads: Former Volunteer Army 17th Division 302nd Regiment.

Because he arrived at night and had a fever, Lu Yang hadn't noticed the sculpture then; he didn't expect it to be so striking in daylight.

No wonder it's a glorious unit with a long history and illustrious battle honors; even the dynamic depicted by this statue reveals the snow‑mountain episode stained red by war and blood.

"What are you doing?"

While Lu Yang is engrossed, a gun‑armed guard suddenly walks up from behind and calls out coldly.

Lu Yang, seeing the guard's gun and stern stare, quickly explains he is a new recruit coming to the Tuan Bu medical office for an IV drip.

The guard frowns: "Then why aren't you lying on the medical bed? This isn't a place you can wander around!"

Lu Yang: "I want to find a place to make a phone call, but I don't know where the military service center is."

The guard sizes Lu Yang up, seeing his pale, sickly appearance, suspects something.

Last night, indeed a captain led a new recruit through the gate, saying they were bringing them for an IV drip, so it must be him.

After clarifying the reason, the guard doesn't hinder him, but proactively shows him the location of the military service center.

On the way, they pass a long tree‑lined path, and on both sides, warehouses hold rows of tanks under maintenance.

The clanging of metal rings nonstop, and seeing so many steel beasts up close makes Lu Yang's heart race.

He wonders how powerful a tank shell is, whether a single shot could level the small earthen mound behind the New Recruit Company.

If the guard weren't with him, he'd want to get up close, maybe even open a hatch and crawl into the cockpit to see what's inside, and check whether Kong Long's physique could fit inside.

"Walk to the end ahead, then turn around; that's it."

"After the call, hurry back to the medical office; this is a key area of the Tuan Bu, no wandering allowed."

"That means we're easy to talk to; but if you run into a duty‑bound white turtle, you'll be in big trouble."

"White turtle?"

Lu Yang was stunned, the guard laughed and said you'll know when you encounter one.

The guard turns and leaves, and the system at this moment provides an explanation.

Lu Yang then understands that "white turtle", "white soft‑shell turtle", "white hat", "white dog" are all slang for a certain post.

Military Police.

Throughout, the Military Police.

Their uniforms differ greatly from regular military attire; they usually wear white helmets marked with the words "Military Police" and white gloves.

Moreover, while on duty they rely more on walking back and forth on two legs, not as swift as mobile units, so they are jokingly called "white turtles."

The Military Police usually work in pairs: one holds a camera, the other carries a notebook.

They often appear and disappear unpredictably around the camp, specifically punishing soldiers who violate regulations and discipline.

Whether it's hair too long, shoelaces not tucked into shoes, collar buttons not fastened, or eating while walking, all fall within their penalty scope.

Lu Yang, a person with no shoulder insignia at all, wandering alone in the camp, looking left and right, naturally is out of line.

Moreover, because of the special nature of the post, plus the Military Police have performance evaluations; if they don't meet the quota they get criticized.

Thus, from top to bottom, the troops dislike those people; seeing them is like encountering a plague god.

Furthermore, someone made up a doggerel: "In the army, ghosts see sorrow; dogs see dogs shake their heads."

It is said that the Military Police's discharge time differs from that of ordinary soldiers; they have to leave earlier.

Otherwise they might be warmly sent off by comrades, and it's unclear whether it's true or false.

Lu Yang has never seen the Military Police, nor encountered them, nor does he want to.

He does not want to be picked on for some minor fault, then be notified to the squad leader and company commander to come and take him away.

Suddenly, Lu Yang's eyes lit up, his gaze fell on a spot not far away...