novelaction Chapter 1379 Where does this fatherly scent come from?
Chapter 1379 Where does this fatherly scent come from?
Lieutenant General Peng Yi stepped out of the train carriage and stood on the somewhat rough cement platform of Yulin North Station.
He wasn't particularly tall or imposing, and even appeared slightly overweight due to his age, but his crisp, perfectly pressed lieutenant general's uniform, along with the invisible weight of the two general's stars on his shoulders, naturally made him the focus of everyone's attention.
His face was calm, and his eyes were extremely serene, carrying a composure and profundity accumulated from long years in a high position and experiencing countless storms.
When he glanced up and surveyed the platform environment and swept over the welcoming crowd, his gaze was not sharp or intimidating, but it seemed to penetrate the surface and instantly grasp the strength of the defenses, the state of the people, and even the complex emotions permeating the air.
This is a near-instinctive environmental awareness that only battle-hardened commanders can possess.
Wu Xianglin's heart skipped a beat the moment he saw Peng Yi.
The army group commander sent by the Central Plains Theater Command has a rather peculiar demeanor...
It is neither the fierce outward display of an ordinary general, nor the smooth-talking nature of a purely political cadre, but something more introverted and profound, like a silent volcano, or a war history book so thick that it cannot be easily turned.
What truly chilled Wu Xianglin to the bone was that, despite his years of experience and connections within Zhou Bang's military system, he had absolutely no recollection of the name "Peng Yi"!
Since his rise to power in the Central Plains War Zone, he has learned about many of its generals through various channels, including Wu Bin, Shao Gang, Wang Tiefeng, and even some rising stars.
But... the name "Peng Yi" seemed to have suddenly appeared out of nowhere. The intelligence only vaguely mentioned that he was "an old comrade who had just been reinstated from the Fuxing Military Academy".
How could a veteran capable of commanding a Class A army group remain completely unknown before the apocalypse? This in itself is shrouded in mystery.
Thoughts raced through his mind, but Wu Xianglin's actions were without the slightest hesitation.
A sincere and enthusiastic smile quickly spread across his face. He stepped forward with steady strides, stopping about 1.5 meters away from Peng Yi. He raised his right hand first, giving a standard and powerful military salute.
"Commander Peng! You must be tired from your journey! On behalf of all the officers and soldiers of the Southern Theater Command, I welcome you and the comrades of the 5th Group Army!" His voice was loud and clear, full of the demeanor befitting a theater commander.
Almost at the same time as Wu Xianglin raised his hand, Peng Yi also raised his right hand. Instead of immediately lowering his hand, he met Wu Xianglin's gaze with a calm expression, a gentle yet substantial smile playing on his lips.
But for some reason, Wu Xianglin always felt that this smile was strange, like an elder looking at a junior, with a weird 'fatherly' feel to it?
"Commander Wu, you're too kind."
Peng Yi's voice was not loud, and slightly hoarse, yet it possessed a strange penetrating power and a sense of calm:
"Being ordered to go south and fight alongside our allies is our duty as soldiers; it's not hard work at all."
After he finished speaking, he lowered his hand, took a step forward, and extended his right hand.
Hands clasped together.
Wu Xianglin's hands were broad and strong, bearing the tension of years spent under immense pressure. Peng Yi's hands, on the other hand, were dry and warm, with a moderate grip, neither frivolous nor deliberately displaying strength, yet strangely giving one a feeling of extreme reliability, as if capable of supporting a thousand-pound burden.
The handshake lasted just the right amount of time, neither too long nor too short.
Releasing his grip, Peng Yi's gaze naturally shifted to Li Xuemou and Wang Daohe behind Wu Xianglin. Wu Xianglin immediately stepped aside to introduce them:
"This is our theater chief of staff, Comrade Li Xuemou, and this is Standing Committee member, Comrade Wang Daohe, who is in charge of logistics and transportation. Standing Committee member Wang has been working tirelessly on this 'Ye Nan lifeline'."
Peng Yi shook hands with the two men in turn, and nodded to Li Xuemou, saying, "Chief of Staff Li, I have long admired your name. The operation of the war zone is led by the staff officers. You have worked hard."
His tone was even more amiable towards Wang Daohe: "Standing Committee Member Wang, your contribution to ensuring the smooth flow of the main artery is immense. As we traveled south, we saw that the railway lines were heavily guarded and the supply points were set up in an orderly manner, which shows that the comrades in the Southern Theater Command have put in a lot of hard work and sincerity."
His tone was natural, without any deliberate flattery, more like an objective evaluation based on a professional perspective. But to Wang Daohe, it was more pleasing than any flowery praise, because it came from the mouth of an expert who was clearly very knowledgeable about military logistics.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Peng Yi turned his gaze back to Wu Xianglin, while also glancing at the station's fortifications, which had been clearly reinforced but still showed signs of haste and limited resources, as well as the Southern Theater Command soldiers who, though trying to stand up straight, appeared somewhat listless.
His eyes revealed no disdain or criticism, but rather a barely perceptible complex expression, similar to that of someone watching a younger generation struggling under difficult conditions, a mixture of concern, approval, and a hint of wistful reflection as if recalling something...
“Commander Wu,” Peng Yi began, his tone still calm, yet possessing a magnetic quality that compels one to listen intently:
"Before leaving, the Chairman specifically instructed me that the comrades in the Southern Theater Command, facing extreme difficulties such as dual pressure from land and sea and scarcity of resources, have guarded the national border, protected millions of compatriots, and fought bravely, but also made huge sacrifices!"
"Therefore, our trip south this time is not only to learn, but also to work together to shoulder the burden."
He paused slightly, his gaze becoming even more sincere:
"Once we're here, we're on the territory of our own comrades!"
"The 60,000-plus troops of the 5th Army will be temporarily handed over to Commander Wu and the Southern Theater Command for deployment. We will fully cooperate with the Southern Theater Command in terms of deployment and coordination with its existing defenses and operational plans, without any objection."
These words were delivered in an extremely humble manner, completely adopting the attitude of "when in Rome, do as the Romans do" and "coming to lend a hand".
But combined with his calm and steady demeanor, he doesn't come across as weak at all; on the contrary, it highlights his magnanimity and vision.
Upon hearing this, Wu Xianglin's tension, which had been slightly heightened by the disparity in strength between the two sides and the mysterious origins of the opposing general, eased somewhat.
However, the other party was being polite by saying that. If I were to accept it, I would be making a fool of myself!
Thinking of this, Wu Xianglin quickly waved his hand, his tone solemn:
"Commander Peng, you flatter us! Your unit is a battle-hardened elite force, well-equipped, and exactly the kind of boost and stabilizing force that our Southern Theater Command desperately needs!"
"We will certainly discuss the specific collaborative operation plan together, combining the strengths of both sides to form the greatest synergy!"
As he spoke, Wu Xianglin changed the subject and instinctively probed, "Commander Peng is a senior figure in the military with rich experience, far beyond what we juniors can compare to. This time, on our trip south, we will need your guidance and supervision."
Upon hearing this, Peng Yi smiled with a touch of emotion, a smile that seemed to hold many stories.
He waved his hand, his tone becoming more relaxed, but still perfectly composed: "What seniors and juniors? We're all comrades, working towards the same goal."
"I only taught at the military academy for a few more days. I may be good at theoretical discussions, but if it comes to leading troops into battle and adapting to the new situation in this apocalypse, I would have to relearn."
"Commander Wu and the comrades in the Southern Theater Command are the ones who have truly fought their way up from the front lines; their combat experience is invaluable."
He skillfully circumvented the issue of seniority, steer the conversation toward mutual learning and current realities, and at the same time reaffirmed the contributions of the Southern Theater Command.
At this moment, the sounds of the following troops disembarking grew louder and louder, and more elite soldiers from the Central Plains Theater began to line up. The brand-new equipment gleamed on the platform, and the excitement and anticipation of the officers and soldiers from the Southern Theater were almost palpable.
Peng Yi looked around and said to Wu Xianglin, "Commander Wu, I see that the comrades are in high spirits, which is a good thing!"
"Should we arrange for the troops to disembark, assemble, and move into the temporary camp first? Once they're settled, we can discuss the details later."
"I also want to hear about the specific situation currently facing the Southern Theater Command as soon as possible, especially the situation at sea, so that I can understand it earlier and make targeted deployments as soon as possible."
As soon as he finished speaking, Wu Xianglin nodded immediately: "Commander Peng's consideration is very thoughtful. The camp is ready, located three kilometers east of the station. Conditions are limited, but basic facilities are complete. Please proceed!"
He stepped aside to lead the way.
Peng Yi nodded and walked naturally alongside Wu Xianglin, his steps steady.
As he walked, he continued speaking as if casually: "On the way here, I saw that your war zone's deployment along the railway line was very well-organized. Here in Yulin, the defense system is also beginning to take shape. It's not easy, really not easy."
His words sounded like casual conversation, yet they also naturally conveyed the sense of satisfaction and encouragement that a senior would feel when a junior achieves success.
However, Wu Xianglin was no longer sensitive to this somewhat condescending praise. Instead, he subconsciously felt that it was the right thing to do and even felt a subtle sense of accomplishment.
"Hahaha—not at all, Commander Peng, you flatter me!"
...
Thus, with the two commanders in front and senior officers from both sides following closely behind, they walked toward the temporary command post set up outside the station.
Sunlight streamed onto the platform, illuminating the two steel forces, old and new, about to converge, and also the backs of the two commanders standing side by side.