Chapter 554: Upright and proper, dignified and respectable

Night deep, people quiet.

From the woods came continuous rustling sounds of digging.

The weak flashlight beam flickered in and out among the trees.

Huang Honghui was leading people at a certain position on the outskirts of the Blue Army, destroying a communication trench that connected the left and right sides.

The so-called communication trench mainly serves to connect; the passage is relatively narrow, and it is not as fully functional as a regular trench.

"Deputy Battalion Commander, is this earthwork high enough?"

"Not enough, pile it higher; at least it should be level with the ground."

"Is the width enough?"

"It's too narrow; the people inside could just dig a couple of times and make a hole—what use is that?"

Huang Honghui, while shoveling dirt into the communication trench, shouted at the people below who were "building the wall":

"This communication trench may seem insignificant, but its actual function is very important."

"As long as we block this side, when the fighting starts, the Blue Army in the left and right trenches won't be able to achieve rapid reinforcement."

"Seize the time, after sealing this side, we must also seize the time to level the shell craters in the trenches on both sides with dirt."

"What?"

The subordinates were all numb.

Blocking the communication trench is already sinister and despicable enough.

Now we also have to fill in the shell craters in the soldiers' trenches—isn't that going too far?

For the work we're doing now, the Director Department turns a blind eye, so it's fine; but those shell craters are inside the trench, the only means of avoiding artillery fire.

Shell craters are somewhat like cat-ear caves; they are mainly dug into the trench wall to create a small hole where soldiers can curl up, store ammunition and a little supplies, specifically for avoiding artillery strikes.

Facing the doubts raised by everyone, Huang Honghui's explanation was just one sentence.

"We've come all this way."

Yeah, we've come all this way.

A group of people, holding shovels, were sneaking around like thieves in the middle of the night.

Those who didn't know might have thought they were burying bodies after killing people.

Taking great risks and temporarily setting aside morality, if we just went back like this, it would seem hardly worth it.

A company commander chimed in: "The deputy battalion commander is right—we've come all this way; cutting off the communication trench is digging dirt, and blocking their shell craters is also digging dirt; anyway, it doesn't require brains, just pure manual labor."

"Without shell craters, when a barrage of artillery comes, they'll have nowhere to hide, and these trenches will become the Blue Army's graves."

Someone took the lead in responding, and others immediately followed suit.

Anyway, it's pitch dark, windy and moonless, and no one can see.

Even if the Blue Army people went to the Director Department to complain later, it would be useless, because there's no evidence.

Moreover, for safety's sake, they deliberately went to a slightly farther place to dig dirt using burlap sacks.

The goal was, without damaging the nearby original terrain, to leave no trace while causing trouble for the Blue Army.

The workload seemed huge, and in reality it was not easy at all; five or six people worked like manual laborers, from around seven or eight p. m. last night straight through to after three a. m. the next day.

"Oh my goodness, I'm exhausted; it's more tiring than renovating the old family house and heating the kang."

"We shouldn't do this kind of thing in the future; setting aside whether it's immoral, the workload is truly huge, and crucially, in the pitch darkness we can't even see clearly—I just nearly fell and ate a mouthful of dirt."

"Deputy Battalion Commander, I'm drenched in sweat; when we get back later, we should be allowed to take a bath and get a good sleep."

Huang Honghui was also drenched in sweat; such work normally never falls to them.

If I had known, I should have called more people; I'm just too honest, having never done bad things, I really lack experience.

First time unfamiliar, second time familiar; next time we do this kind of thing, we'll have experience.

"Alright, that's about enough; let's stop here."

"As for the craters that aren't filled, don't bother with them; roughly the same is fine."

"Let's go; the breakfast stall should be open by now; we'll eat our fill, then go back to wash up, sleep, and wait quietly for the drill to start."

"Good!"

All the shovels were packed into the burlap sacks and stuffed into the trunk.

When we came, everyone was clean and neat.

On the way back, each of us was grimy and dirt-covered, like a kid rolling around in the countryside fields.

Huang Honghui started the car and headed back, on the way discussing with a few company commanders and supplementing the upcoming battle plan.

But unexpectedly, while passing a field-side path, we were blinded by headlights from the opposite direction; upon looking closely, it was Lu Yang and his group again.

"Good morning."

"Morning."

"Where are you headed?"

"Going to buy vegetables, and you?"

"Getting breakfast."

This time Huang Honghui behaved himself, with no pleasantries, fearing that Lu Yang would shamelessly tag along.

But unexpectedly, Lu Yang took the initiative to say: "How about we go together? We haven't eaten either; after finishing night training, I know there's a breakfast stall in the county town that's open now."

Huang Honghui's eyelids twitched; he really wanted to refuse, but couldn't find any reason.

After all, he had just refused them the night before; refusing again would inevitably seem deliberate.

If they once again associated us with sabotage, all our previous efforts would be wasted.

"Alright, let's go together."

"Okay, then turn around and follow us; this way is closer."

Twenty minutes later, at a breakfast stall with a plastic canopy set up on the roadside of the local county town.

There were only two folding tables, both fully occupied; one table was Lu Yang and his group, the other table was Huang Honghui and his group.

At this moment, they were wolfing down youtiao and drinking congee.

Chen Panpan also voluntarily peeled an egg for Lu Yang; she really was a bit sensible.

Nobody spoke to each other; they just ate their breakfast in silence, their eyes a bit vacant—obviously from staying up late and fatigue.

This breakfast ended in silence; from start to finish, neither side said a word—it seemed they had come just to finish a meal task.

Ten people, thirty youtiao, twenty tea eggs, congee and steamed buns—total 103; seeing you're all soldiers, I'll round it down to 100.

The boss lady quickly tallied their bill; this also counted as the first big order of the day's opening, so she generously waived the change.

I'll handle it.

Huang Honghui was about to pull out money when Lu Yang stopped him.

Let me do it; I'll treat this meal.

That won't do.

What's wrong with that? Next time you come, we're all comrades.

Next time you come, I'll get it this time.

Each held a receipt, vying to pay the bill.

During the process, the people from both sides glanced at each other, each giving a polite nod and smile.

To be honest, if it weren't for the fact that the red and blue teams had already been divided, an outsider might really think these two were on good terms.

In the end, Huang Honghui, citing his seniority as the older one, forcibly paid; Lu Yang, helpless, could only sheepishly say that next time he'd treat, and definitely not fight over it.

Lu Yang started the vehicle: "Thanks for the breakfast, but once we're in the exercise, I won't go easy on you; we'll defeat you openly and honorably, Night Tiger Reconnaissance Battalion."

Huang Honghui gave a cold smile: "We'll also win in an upright and honorable manner, openly and brightly!"

Lu Yang raised his pinky: "Friendship first, competition second, see you on the field!"

All's fair in war, see you on the field!

Huang Honghui watched Lu Yang and the others' vehicle drive off, inwardly sneering.

When the fight kicks off later, you'll know what a vicious heart is, and what it means to be intellectually crushed.