Chapter 67: Going Home

After the Third Army of the National Defense Guard was temporarily stationed for two days, the personnel dispatched by Wei Ju sent back news from Pingling City.

Following formal requests, Commander-in-Chief Wang He ordered Wei Ju's Third Army to withdraw first to Pingling City in preparation for the upcoming Tongzhou Campaign. Supreme Commander Sun Huairen intended to utilize the Tongzhou Campaign to launch a decisive battle against the invading Masha Allied Forces and the forces of the Khorchin Nation.

Ma Yuan and the others followed the National Defense Guard's Third Army back to be stationed in Pingling City. Throughout the ensuing few months, no major military engagements took place.

The most notable event of significance was that Chu Leifang's Chu faction forces actually dealt a heavy blow to the Khorchin Nation's elite 707th Brigade. The reinforced brigade of over twenty thousand men was almost completely encircled by Chu Leifang's hundred thousand troops, with only four to five thousand men of the 707th Brigade ultimately managing to escape.

This battle severely sapped the vitality of the invading enemy forces, forcing them to halt almost immediately and conduct reorganization. Consequently, this provided the Defender Central Army with ample time for deployment.

Meanwhile, Ma Yuan remained stationed within Pingling City alongside the Third Army's National Defense Guard. Having had no prior experience as a logistics staff officer, Ma Yuan seized the opportunity to learn from the other staff members in the Third Army's General Staff Department, and within a short period, he was already capable of handling the duties proficiently.

Logistics staff officers were actually responsible for logistical work within the intelligence department, a role somewhat analogous to the supply department of a military unit.

"Chief of Staff Tang, I would like to request leave to return home!"

Having lived in Pingling City for over three months, Ma Yuan spent every day either studying or busy with various tasks. It was at this moment that Ma Yuan suddenly realized he had been away from Gaocheng for nearly a year without a single opportunity to return and visit.

Tang Zheng, Chief of Staff of the Third Army, looked at Ma Yuan's leave request and said, "Alright, but you must return within two months, as I estimate that our decisive battle with the Masha Allied Forces will likely take place around two months from now."

Tang Zheng had observed Ma Yuan's performance in the General Staff Department over the past few days. He held a deep fondness for the young man—diligent, meticulous, and daring—and was seriously considering promoting him.

"A decisive battle?" Ma Yuan asked, somewhat surprised.

Tang Zheng nodded. "Yes. Ever since they invaded our country, it has been nearly a year. The Supreme Commander intends to launch a decisive battle against them early next spring, to completely drive them out of our nation!"

Hearing this news, Ma Yuan felt a surge of joy. Having experienced the Defense of Huizhou, the Battle of Huangzhou, and most recently the Bozhou Campaign, a profound aversion to war had taken root in his heart.

Ma Yuan had witnessed many acquaintances fall on the battlefield. If Supreme Commander Sun Liren could bring this war to an early close, it would be a tremendous blessing for the people across the entire country.

"Ma Yuan, that is why you should return as early as possible when you go back," Tang Zheng said. "By the way, here is your latest appointment. You have done well recently, so we are promoting you to the position of Operations Chief of Staff. This reflects the high regard we have for you."

Hearing this, Ma Yuan was instantly startled. He had never expected Tang Zheng to promote him to the position of Operations Chief of Staff.

It should be known that within the staff department, there were typically the Operations Office, Intelligence Office, Logistics Office, Equipment Office, Training Office, and others, among which the Operations Office held the highest rank.

Within the Operations Office, the Operations Chief of Staff served as the commanding officer. In a sense, the Operations Chief of Staff was equivalent to a deputy chief of staff of the General Staff Department.

"Thank you, Chief of Staff Tang! Your subordinate will undoubtedly strive to repay the nation!"

Realizing how highly Tang Zheng and the others regarded him, Ma Yuan was no fool and immediately expressed his loyalty.

Seeing Ma Yuan's attitude, Tang Zheng was extremely pleased. "Haha, you rascal! For your safety, I will arrange for two men to accompany you back. Go ahead now, and return promptly."

After leaving Tang Zheng's office, Ma Yuan hurried back to his quarters to pack his belongings. He could not wait a moment longer and was eager to set off for home as quickly as possible.

The two men arranged by Tang Zheng to protect Ma Yuan were named Fang Hao and Yang Yi. Both were veterans within the Third Army with extensive combat experience.

Furthermore, to shorten the travel time, Tang Zheng even arranged a military vehicle specifically for Ma Yuan's round trip.

"Chief of Staff Ma, hello. My name is Fang Hao, and Yang Yi and I will be responsible for your safety during this trip home." Upon meeting Ma Yuan for the first time, Fang Hao saluted crisply and spoke with a solemn expression.

Although both Fang Hao and Yang Yi were veterans, Ma Yuan was now an Operations Chief of Staff in the Operations Office of the military staff department, holding a higher rank than them.

"Good, then I shall trouble the two of you."

Thus, the trio of Ma Yuan and his companions drove out of Pingling City and headed in the direction of Gaocheng. This marked Ma Yuan's first official homecoming since leaving Gaocheng.

Driving was considerably faster than walking, yet even by car, the journey from Pingling City to Gaocheng required five or six days.

On the evening of the fifth day, the gate tower of Gaocheng finally came into Ma Yuan's view. It remained as tall and imposing as he remembered, bearing two dark green characters.

At that moment, Ma Yuan could not help recalling what he had learned at Quhe Academy regarding the origin of the name Gaocheng, which was recorded in the *Spring and Autumn Annals and the Zuo Tradition*: "In the past, Minister Jia E took a beautiful wife who did not speak or laugh for three years. He drove her in a carriage to Gao, where he shot a pheasant and hit it, whereupon his wife began to smile and speak."

The two large characters on the Gaocheng gate tower were inscribed because an ancient emperor, while inspecting his realm, happened to pass through Gaocheng. At that time, Gaocheng was still an insignificant earthen town with few inhabitants.

Yet the emperor took an instant liking to the terrain and casually chanted a poem: "Leaning on the balustrade, I gaze afar as spring colors arise; a single glance cannot exhaust the scenery of Gao." A local administrator mindful of the opportunity subsequently bestowed the emperor's designation of Gao upon this small town.

"It's still just like before."

Seeing Gaocheng once again, Ma Yuan could not help sighing with emotion. While the war in the south was raging fiercely, this remote place of Gaocheng seemed like a utopian sanctuary, completely untouched by any turmoil.

"Chief of Staff Ma, is this your hometown?" Fang Hao could not resist asking as he drove.

Through the past two days of traveling, the three of them had already grown familiar with one another, completely shedding the awkwardness of their initial meeting.

"No, this is the county town. My hometown is in a place called Huixiang, further down from the county town. It's still some distance away from here," Ma Yuan explained.

"Shall we head straight to Huixiang then?" Fang Hao asked.

Ma Yuan shook his head. "No rush, no rush. I want to stop by Quhe Academy in the city first. That was where I graduated before going to Huali Military Academy."

Both Fang Hao and Yang Yi nodded. Over the past two days on the road, they had learned that Ma Yuan was a top-tier graduate of Huali Military Academy, which prompted them to hold him in even higher regard.

Upon entering Gaocheng, the streets remained bustling and lively, with the clamor of peddlers filling the air.

"Look, that's Chen San's Breakfast Shop selling steamed buns. When my father and I first entered Gaocheng, we had breakfast right there. My father was a stingy man, and I didn't even get to eat a bun that time."

Seeing Chen San's Breakfast Shop once again, Ma Yuan was filled with nostalgia. He recalled how he and his father, Ma Jianguo, had come to Gaocheng back then and used the connection of the breakfast shop owner to gain admission to Quhe Academy.

"And over there, it seems to be called the Tube Apartment. My father used to rent a place there; whenever he came into town, he mostly stayed there."

"Right next to the Tube Apartment is Gaocheng's largest trading market, called Huamao Market..."

Ma Yuan recounted all these sights as if naming treasures from his own family. When mentioning Huamao Market, he could not help recalling the time he met Men Zijian at its entrance.

It was Men Zijian who had been publicizing the news about joining Huali Military Academy, which had first sparked Ma Yuan's yearning for the institution and ultimately set him on the path of military service.

Thinking of this, Ma Yuan felt an even greater wave of emotional reflection.