Chapter 856 - Trusted troops (1/2)

The 8th Infantry Brigade serving under Fortress 178 in the Northwest set off from Stronghold 144. However, when the troops were deployed this time, the Northwest did not even bother to conceal their movements as they hurried directly for the battlefield in the Central Plains.

Over the past few months, Hope Media, which originally did not have any presence in the Northwest, had also set up new branches in the two main cities of Fortress 178 and Stronghold 144.

Meanwhile, the print runs of their newspaper in the other strongholds were handled by distribution vendors.

With regards to the Central Plains’ overall war situation, the Northwest’s high-profile announcement of their participation to defend against the northern enemy was enough to lift everyone’s spirits.

Although the Alliance of Strongholds had been established for over 200 years, this was probably the first time the Central Plains people were so united again.

These lands had experienced an extended period of separatism. After a displacement in culture and the consortiums’ carefully curated curriculum, a lot of people even forgot that they used to be compatriots before The Cataclysm and should therefore be united as a nation.

And now, it seemed everyone in the Central Plains was infuriated by the Northerners’ action of massacring a city. The words “rousing” and “victory” also started appearing more in Hope Media’s newspapers.

Although Fortress 178 had agreed to Wang Yun’s request to travel together with the 8th Infantry Brigade, Wang Yun, Ji Zi’ang, and Wang Yun’s subordinates were not given any appointments for the time being. It seemed they would have to wait until the war in the North was over first.

During their march, everyone was surprised that Wang Yun and Zhang Xiaoman had become very good friends.

In fact, the two of them had completely different personalities, and their habits and interests were not similar at all. However, they still ended up becoming friends!

Was it because Wang Yun admired the Northwest’s selflessness? No.

Was it because of Zhang Xiaoman’s warm hospitality? It was not that either.

It was because both of them shared a “hatred” for the Great Hoodwinker.

The Great Hoodwinker had single-handedly held together this hard-to-come-by friendship.

Wang Yun sat in the vehicle and asked, “When we parted ways with the Great Hoodwinker, I heard you were only a regimental commander. How’d you get promoted so quickly? You said that your father works in a factory. Could it be a military supplies factory? You have good connections?”

Ji Zi’ang turned around and looked at Zhang Xiaoman as he was particularly interested in this matter. He wanted to know whether there were any privileged classes in the Northwest.

“No, can y’all not look at me that way?” Zhang Xiaoman said with a laugh, “My father works in a factory that produces socks. I only took a few days to become a brigade commander. But do you think I can really lead an infantry brigade to victory in battle? It’s not like I’m a genius at leadership!”

Wang Yun and Ji Zi’ang were stunned at his response. It seemed there was some other reason behind Zhang Xiaoman’s appointment as brigade commander.

Zhang Xiaoman chuckled. “Although I like to brag, I know very well what I’m capable of. I could still manage when I was leading the Razor Sharp Company, but when I became a regimental commander, I realized there was still too much I needed to learn. Soon after learning to be a regimental commander, I was suddenly made a brigade commander who had to lead soldiers to victory. That’s something that I can’t do yet.”

“Could it be that Fortress 178 has another purpose in sending you to the Central Plains?” Ji Zi’ang wondered. “I don’t think that’s appropriate, right? Now that the Central Plains is facing a war, it should be time for us to be united. The Northwest has never participated in the power struggles between the organizations, so there’s no reason they would send troops for other purposes at a time like this.”

“No, no, no. You’re thinking about the wrong thing.” Zhang Xiaoman chuckled. “Let me ask you all a question first. Where’s our Northwest’s future commander?”