636: Chapter 629: Awarding Medals and Honorary Titles.
636: Chapter 629: Awarding Medals and Honorary Titles.
Gao Yang indeed had many things to keep him busy.
Gao Yang had a deep, intricate relationship with the Skull Gang.
He maintained a good relationship with the current high-level members of the Skull Gang, among whom several were actually his friends.
They were not just friendly colleagues, but truly, genuinely his friends.
Take Maide, for example.
The relationship between Gao Yang and Maide was not only about sharing life and death experiences.
Gao Yang had always respected Maide.
An idealist does not deserve respect, as they often achieve nothing—ideals can only remain ideals.
But Maide was different, though he was an idealist, his ideals were for his country and his people.
He sought a bright future for his nation and had already acted toward that end.
Therefore, whether or not Maide could succeed, such an idealist deserved respect.
No one would provide much help to the Skull Gang, from any perspective, so although Gao Yang felt he was just a mercenary, a mercenary known only for fighting and killing, he still felt it was his responsibility to share his thoughts with Maide.
Gao Yang knew that, besides himself, there might be no one else to discuss the future of the Skull Gang with Maide.
Thus, even though Gao Yang knew he was a small figure with limited insight, he still had to talk to Maide.
Whether Maide listened was his own matter, but as a friend, he had thought and spoken on behalf of both Maide and the Skull Gang, and that was enough.
When Maide arrived in Gesale, Gao Yang spoke with him for a long time.
Then, he gave Justin’s phone number to Maide, thus the Skull Gang had a stable source of intelligence.
Although it required money, it was crucial for the Skull Gang to access useful information.
Besides that, Gao Yang also discussed another matter with Maide, concerning the honor of the Second Company.
At full strength, the Second Company had one hundred and twelve members.
After the battle of Gesale ended, only twenty-one were unharmed.
There were eleven with minor injuries, six severely injured or disabled, and six whose fates between life and death were uncertain.
The rest had all died in combat, from platoon leaders down to squad leaders—with only one deputy squad leader surviving.
Even counting those who might heal and rejoin the unit, Second Company could only retain between thirty-two and thirty-five people.
It could not be more.
Second Company was decimated, but it would necessarily be reborn and must be reborn.
Second Company deserved respect and must be respected.
After this battle, Second Company became the ace of the Skull Gang.
If Maide wasn’t foolish, he would have to award medals to Second Company and confer honorary titles.
The Skull Gang originally had no system for awarding medals and conferring honorary titles, but it didn’t matter.
The army of the Skull Gang was created by the Satan Mercenary Corps modeled after the Huaxia Army’s template.
If needed, they could simply replicate it directly from Huaxia’s system.
Maide thought about Gao Yang’s suggestion for a long time.
As for the proposal to confer an honorary title on Second Company, Maide did not hesitate at all.
In Somalia, where chaos was the norm, desertions in battle were normal, and fighting to the death was phenomenally rare, everything Second Company had shown was too precious.
What Maide considered was the delay in occupying the coastline and the proposal to turn inland for expansion.
After all, Maide was just a medical student, just a young man.
How much insight could he have about the world’s major trends, establishing an organization, or even a country?
But sometimes, history is created by the hands of seemingly insignificant figures.
After a long talk with Gao Yang, Maide made his decisions.
Almost exactly as Gao Yang suggested, they would first expand inland.
When they controlled the northern territories of Somalia, it wouldn’t be too late to consider controlling the Gulf of Aden and thoroughly eliminate the pirates.
Gao Yang and Maide stood on the beach, spoke for just two hours, and laid down the strategic roadmap for the Skull Gang.
As the conversation drew to a close, Gao Yang glanced at his watch, felt that everything needed had been said, and spoke solemnly, “If there’s nothing else, I must leave now.
I’ll leave you with a piece of advice—’Build high walls, gather plentiful supplies, and become king in no hurry.’ You are well-versed in Huaxia culture, and should understand the meaning inside it.”
Maide nodded with a smile, “I understand.
This phrase is indeed very suitable for the Skull Gang now, I comprehend its meaning and will act according to this principle.”
Gao Yang took a deep breath and said, “That’s good.
There are still many things waiting for you, you need to go and get busy now.”
Maide shook his head and said, “Don’t rush.
I know you’re in a hurry and have a lot to do, but there’s one last thing you need to do: award medals to the Second Company, and it has to be done personally by you.”
Gao Yang frowned and responded, “You would be the most appropriate person to do this, or even Abu could handle it.
Why should I?”
Maide sighed and said, “The spirit of the Second Company was actually instilled by Company Commander Samer.
Do you know who Samer admired the most?
You!
You might not remember, but it was you who promoted Samer from the Instruction Platoon, and it was your order that appointed him as the company commander of the Second Company.
If he were alive, he would definitely want you to be the one granting his company the honorary title.”
Company Commander Samer was the first to fall in battle from the Second Company, but the Second Company he had led so well brought great honor to their fallen commander.
Maide looked at Gao Yang, lowered his voice and said, “I know that it would be best if I did this since it benefits me more.
However, I think you should do it.
This is what you and your Mercenary Group deserve.
You’ve already left behind a lot in dealing with the Skull Gang, and it won’t hurt to leave something more.
This is a good thing, and you know I don’t mind.
I never intended for the Skull Gang to be my personal armed force.
I want the Skull Gang to become Somalia’s hope.”
Gao Yang nodded and said, “All right, I’ll do the ceremony.
However, I don’t know how to proceed; I’ve never seen it done.”
Maide clapped Gao Yang on the chest with his one arm and laughed, “I don’t know how to do it either, but what does it matter?
The Skull Gang is a blank slate; whatever you do will be right.
So do it however you think best.”
Gao Yang pondered for a moment and said, “Military honors should be awarded carefully.
I think giving the Second Company a collective first-class merit and individual second-class merit to every member sounds good.
What do you think?”
Maide nodded in agreement, “Good, however you say it should be done.”
Gao Yang scratched his head and said, “This ceremony has to be conducted by you.
We are not part of the Skull Gang; we can’t take your place in doing this.
Also, we haven’t prepared any medals or the like.
For now, award the Second Company their medals, and on returning home, you must provide the actual medals.
Uriyangko can specially order a batch for us, and we will confer the honorary titles.”
Maide pondered for a moment then agreed, “Alright, let’s handle it this way.
Since you are not Skull Gang members, it’s indeed not entirely fitting for you to declare their accomplishments.
Okay, you confer the honorary titles, and I will present the Second Company with their medals.
You are in a hurry, so let’s start preparing now.”
Having been attacked once and mostly being in a war state, Maide now always had soldiers by his side.
After discussing the matter with Gao Yang, Maide turned around and signaled to a distant soldier.
When the soldier approached, Maide commanded in a stern voice, “Inform Abu to gather all the soldiers, except those guarding the prisoners.
Make it quick.”
Gathering the soldiers took time, and during this break, Gao Yang went to join his men from the Satan Mercenary Corps, who were currently packing their gear.
There really wasn’t much to pack since they hadn’t brought much for the war, except for three suitcases filled with money.
Maide had brought their commission, and since the Skull Gang dealt exclusively in cash, the payment Maide provided was certainly in cash.
Counting was unnecessary; there were exactly three million dollars.
As for the money Uriyangko needed to buy tanks, one million eight hundred thousand dollars had already been transferred to Little Donnie’s account.
Once the Satan Mercenary Corps determined how much each person was due, Little Donnie would transfer it to everyone’s accounts after deducting his own commission.
After a battle, they had earned four million eight hundred thousand dollars, which was one million eight hundred thousand more than planned, a pleasant surprise indeed, thanks in large part to Uriyangko’s scheming and the Skull Gang’s generosity.
The veterans like Glolov were immune to the allure of large amounts of cash, and even Lucica had become accustomed to seeing boxes full of cash.
The three million dollars did not particularly impress her, for drug dealers, large cash reserves were the norm, but Rafael and Eileen gawked endlessly at the three suitcases filled with bills.
Upon Gao Yang’s return, everyone, whether sitting or lying down, stood up.
Gao Yang waved his hand and said, “Don’t get excited; it’s not yet time to set off.
Maide wants us to confer the honorary title on the Second Company, and Polovich is still discussing our commission with Little Donnie, so we won’t be leaving immediately.”
Li Jinfang loudly asked, “We’re going to confer an honorary title on the Second Company?
That’s quite an honor.
But, Brother Yang, have you decided what honorary title to give the Second Company?
And, what class of merit can they be awarded?”
Without hesitation, Gao Yang replied, “Tough Bone Second Company, I think this title is quite good.
As for their merit, collective first-class merit for the entire company and individual second-class merits for everyone.”
Li Jinfang laughed and sighed, “That’s really good, truly good.
A collective first-class merit and individual second-class merits for all, it’s really worth it, heh, I once had two individual third-class merits, and our squad once had a collective second-class merit.”
A look of loss briefly crossed Li Jinfang’s face because he would never have the chance to earn such honors again.
He could make a lot of money, but no one would award him merits for it.
Li Jinfang’s feeling of loss was fleeting.
The past was past, and what he held now was most important.
No one would credit him with merits, nor would anyone credit the Satan Mercenary Corps, but for a mercenary, earning money and gaining fame to make even more money was recognition enough.
Li Jinfang clenched his fist and exclaimed loudly, “This time, I wonder if our exploits will become known.
If they do, the ranking of the Satan Mercenary Corps might advance significantly.
Isn’t the Holmesny Mercenary Corps supposed to be tough?
Well, aren’t they essentially wiped out by us?”
(To be continued.
If you enjoy this story, please visit qidian.com to vote and support the author.
Mobile users can read at m.qidian.com.)