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Compared to Forrest Gump, who was able to recuperate in the rear due to his injury and even receive letters from Jenny, Suning's situation was completely different.

Instead of being "lucky" enough to withdraw from the front line due to his injuries, he became an indispensable elite soldier in the eyes of Company A and even the entire battalion headquarters because of his increasingly outstanding combat ability and calm judgment.

One task after another, like an endless cycle, kept him firmly pinned to this green hell.

Suning felt like an overly sharp military knife, being used so frequently that no one cared whether the blade would wear down or even break.

During a night mission deep into enemy-controlled territory, aimed at reconnaissance and potentially destroying a suspected supply line, Su Ning's reconnaissance platoon infiltrated a relatively flat river valley.

By the dim moonlight and night vision goggles, they spotted a group of people working on a stream.

Newly appointed platoon leader Lieutenant Jensen lowered his voice and relayed the findings over the radio: "Target spotted, approximately fifteen people, carrying tools, seemingly constructing a makeshift bridge or repairing a road. Likely an engineering unit. All teams, take up advantageous firing positions, awaiting my orders..."

According to standard rules of engagement, any military personnel found in enemy-controlled territory, especially those of units performing engineering tasks or directly supporting frontline operations, are legitimate targets for attack.

However, Su Ning, who was lying at the forefront observation point, had a tightly furrowed brow.

Through the high-magnification night vision binoculars, he could see even more clearly than the platoon leader.

It was indeed a group of Vietnamese engineers, dressed in simple uniforms, carrying entrenching tools, axes, and baskets instead of rifles.

Only a few people were on guard around, with old AK-47s slung over their shoulders.

They are skillfully and silently repairing a small wooden bridge that was washed away by rain, using timber and local materials.

Their movements were focused, their faces showing the weariness typical of labor, with no sign of any preparation for battle.

Having studied history, Su Ning naturally knew where these engineering soldiers came from, and there was absolutely no way he would fire on them first.

I am of Chinese descent, but I am absolutely not a traitor. There are certain bottom lines that I will never cross.

"Platoon leader," Su Ning's voice came through the radio to Lieutenant Jason, unusually calm, "requesting a reassessment of the attack objective."

"Assess what? Gan, they are Vietnamese engineers repairing a transportation line, which meets the criteria for an attack!" Lieutenant Jansen's tone was filled with incomprehension and a hint of impatience.

“They’re carrying tools, not weapons. Their main mission is non-combat engineering work.” Su Ning’s voice was completely calm, as if stating a physical theorem. “Attack them. Their military value is limited. They can quickly send another engineering team to replace them. But if we open fire, the gunfire will expose our position and intentions, potentially preventing us from completing our main reconnaissance mission and getting ourselves surrounded by enemy combat forces. The risks are not proportional to the rewards.”

"Furthermore, let's not forget their true identities. If we don't want to face the reaping of death, we must remain calm."

There was a moment of silence on the radio, and the other team members hiding in the darkness also heard the conversation.

Some people think Su Ning's words make sense, while others think he is too cautious, or even a bit... cowardly?

“Gan, this is an order! They are the enemy! Don’t forget you are an American now.” Lieutenant Jason’s voice became stern.

“Platoon leader,” Su Ning’s tone was firm and unquestionable for the first time, even bordering on disobedience, “I refuse to carry out this attack order. I cannot fire on a group of unarmed engineers who are carrying out civil engineering work. Because their race is the same as mine, it will not allow me to do so, it goes against my soul. I request an immediate withdrawal from the area.”

"You..." Lieutenant Jason was speechless.

He was well aware of Suning's abilities and value, and also knew the weight this "ghost professor" carried with his superiors.

More importantly, Su Ning's extremely calm analysis was like a bucket of cold water, extinguishing his instinctive belligerent impulse as a commander.

Then he could only reassess the situation: was it really worth risking the exposure and possible encirclement of the entire elite reconnaissance platoon for the sake of these dozen or so engineers?

Moreover, these seemingly harmless engineering soldiers are the real kings, and provoking them would be the biggest folly.

If Suning refuses to fire and forcibly orders others to attack, the effect may be greatly reduced.

In the darkness of night, time seemed to stand still.

The only sounds were the faint noises of Vietnamese engineers working by the stream and the perpetual chirping of insects in the jungle.

Finally, Lieutenant Jason took a deep breath and made a difficult decision.

He couldn't react on the spot because of Su Ning's disobedience, nor could he gamble the safety of the entire platoon on this one act of pride.

"Attention, all groups," his voice laced with suppressed anger and a hint of helplessness, "attack order canceled. Maintain cover, proceed along the original withdrawal route, provide alternating cover, and withdraw!"

With mixed feelings, the members of the reconnaissance platoon, just as they had come, silently disappeared into the dark jungle behind them, leaving the Vietnamese engineering corps, who were still focused on building the bridge and completely unaware of what was happening, behind in the moonlight.

After retreating to a relatively safe area, Lieutenant Jason, his face ashen, pulled Su Ning aside and said, "Gan, for your actions today, I can send you to a military court!"

Su Ning looked at him calmly, her eyes deep: "Platoon leader, my duty is to complete the mission and bring the brothers back alive if possible. Slaughtering engineers who are related to me by blood does not comply with either of these principles. If you think I have misjudged, you can report it to your superiors."

Lieutenant Jason glared at him, then finally just waved his hand impatiently.

He knew that if he reported it, his superiors might actually approve of Suning's "calmness" in "considering the big picture."

This young man can no longer be measured by the standards of an ordinary soldier.

This incident is like a thorn, deeply embedded in Suning's heart.

It made him realize more clearly the absurdity of the war and his inability to control his own destiny within it.

Suning's desire to break free wasn't just for survival, but also to escape the predicament of having to make difficult choices between killing and reason time and time again.

He gazed south, towards the field hospital where Forrest Gump was, and for the first time, a barely perceptible hint of envy flickered in his eyes.

At least for now, his brother is safe, away from this quagmire where one must constantly twist oneself to survive.

He must continue on this path until he finds the opportunity to break free from it all.

Moreover, he might not be able to stop his superiors so easily next time, since the Americans wouldn't understand his sentiments.

……

After the reconnaissance platoon returned safely to base, Lieutenant Jansen, the platoon leader, although he agreed with Su Ning's judgment, was required by procedure to report this battlefield insubordination incident to his superiors.

Soon, the investigation officer sent by the battalion headquarters arrived at Company A's location.

The visitor was a staff officer named Major Richard, who wore gold-rimmed glasses, had a serious expression, and a scrutinizing gaze typical of personnel from rear-area agencies.

The investigation was conducted in a simple tent at the company headquarters, in a somber atmosphere.

Besides Su Ning and Lieutenant Jansen, there were several other soldiers who were present at the time as witnesses.

“Sergeant Gan,” Major Richard said, his tone calm yet authoritative as he flipped through the report, “according to the report, during Operation Nightingale, you openly defied the platoon leader’s direct order to fire. What is your explanation for this?”

Su Ning sat upright, her eyes calmly meeting the major's gaze without the slightest hint of evasion or timidity.

"Major, I am not disobeying orders, but making a tactical judgment based on the actual situation on the battlefield that has the lowest risk and the highest reward."

"Tactical assessment?" Major Richard raised an eyebrow. "Attacking enemy engineers and cutting off their supply lines is a clear military objective. What's your basis for this assessment?"

"The basis is that the military value of the target is disproportionate to the operational risks." Su Ning's voice was clear and calm, as if he were presenting an experimental report. "First, the target unit mainly carries engineering tools and has weak armed escort, and it does not have the ability to directly attack. Destroying them would have a negligible impact on the enemy's combat system, and they can be quickly replenished."

"Secondly, and most importantly, we were deep within enemy-controlled territory. Our core mission was reconnaissance, not engagement with the enemy. If we opened fire, the gunfire and flashes would immediately reveal our precise location and troop strength. The enemy had numerical superiority and familiarity with the terrain in the area, and we were very likely to be surrounded, leading to the complete failure of the mission or even the annihilation of our entire force. Risking an entire reconnaissance platoon and our core mission for a dozen or so engineers would not be in line with the principle of military efficiency."

One of the sergeants who was present at the time couldn't help but interject: "But Gan, they are the enemy! To be merciful to the enemy is to be cruel to oneself!"

Su Ning turned to the sergeant, his gaze remaining calm: "Sergeant, I am not being merciful. My duty is to complete the mission and ensure the safety of the troops. The risks of attacking them far outweigh their military value. It is a trade-off based on rational calculation, and has nothing to do with emotion."

Major Richard tapped his fingers on the table, his gaze sharp: "Sergeant Gan, do you believe that on the battlefield, soldiers have the right to selectively execute orders based on their own 'judgment'?"

This is a very acute issue.

The air inside the tent seemed to freeze.

Su Ning paused for a moment, then slowly began, "Major, I wasn't selectively following orders. I was carrying out a higher-priority mission—ensuring the safety of the reconnaissance platoon and the completion of the main reconnaissance task. It's like..."

He searched for a fitting analogy: “It’s like we are strictly forbidden from crossing the 17th parallel north. That line itself has no physical barrier, but it is a ‘rule’ or ‘boundary’ that we must abide by, because crossing it could lead to unbearable consequences, or even an unlimited escalation of war.”

"Similarly, in my understanding, there is also a line. Actively attacking a non-combatant unit that clearly does not pose an immediate threat and whose actions would have devastating consequences, crosses this line not to achieve a tactical victory, but to result in strategic folly and moral injustice. There are some things that must be respected."

"Morality?" Major Richard caught the word, a hint of sarcasm appearing on his face. "Talking about morality on the battlefield, Sergeant Gan, don't you think that's naive?"

“Perhaps, Major.” Su Ning’s lips twitched slightly, revealing a barely perceptible bitterness. “But if we lose even the most basic principle of not engaging in meaningless killing, how are we any different from beasts? What right do we have to claim that we are fighting for ‘civilization’?”

His question brought a brief silence to the tent.

Lieutenant Jason lowered his head, lost in thought.

The other soldiers also had complicated expressions. "Sergeant Gan, do you still consider yourself Chinese?"

“No! I was born in America, grew up in an American orphanage, and was raised by an American family. I love America just like you, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to sell my soul.”

"..."

Major Richard stared at Su Ning for a long time, seemingly trying to find a flaw in his unusually calm yet overly young face.

Finally, he closed the folder.

“I will report your views to the battalion headquarters as they are true. Strictly speaking, your actions did violate military regulations. However…” He changed the subject, “Given your outstanding past record and the fact that everyone returned safely and brought back valuable reconnaissance information, the battalion headquarters may consider this matter. In the meantime, you will be suspended from all field missions and remain at your post on standby.”

The investigation has temporarily come to a close.

Suning stepped out of the tent; the sunlight outside was blinding.

He knew this incident wouldn't end easily, but he didn't regret it.

They stuck to their rational judgment and the unseen bottom line in their hearts.

This investigation is less a trial of him and more a calm and resolute confrontation with this distorted war system.

Suning reaffirmed his goal: to leave this place and return to a world where problems can be solved with logic and knowledge, rather than where survival depends on killing and violating conscience.

……

Time passed slowly in agony.

While Suning was on standby at his post, he received a reply from Professor Wheeler of MIT.

The letter was very long, and the words were filled with the mentor's concern and helplessness.

Dear Sue:
Receiving your letter saddened me just as much as you did.

A mind that should be exploring the mysteries of the universe in the halls of academia is instead trapped in trenches—this is undoubtedly one of the greatest absurdities of our time.

I have tried my best.

I contacted several old friends at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and the President's Council of Science, emphasizing your rare talent in theoretical physics, especially in general relativity, and the enormous waste of that talent in frontline infantry positions.

I even suggested that we could invoke the special talent clause for those "critical to national interests" to transfer you to a research institution in the rear.

However, the responses were all disappointing.

The bureaucratic system is more rigid than one might imagine.

They acknowledge your academic potential but believe it does not directly conflict with your duties as a soldier.

One official even bluntly stated that under the current political and military pressures, transferring a soldier who has repeatedly distinguished himself in battle from the front lines, regardless of the reason, could be interpreted by the public as an act of privilege, something that the military leadership is trying to avoid.

I'm sorry, but my power is so insignificant in the face of such a massive war machine.

My child, please persevere and keep your mind clear.

The door to physics is never closed to you.

I look forward to seeing you again on campus someday.

Sincerely, Eliot Wheeler

This letter was exactly what Suning had expected.

Academic prestige often pales in comparison to the cold realities of politics and the military.

He wasn't overly discouraged; instead, he placed more hope in another, perhaps less conventional, but potentially more effective, path.

Meanwhile, at the Elegant Garden in Memphis, Elvis Presley did indeed take Suning's request to heart.

In fact, he does owe Suning a huge favor...

The reminder about a heart checkup, while labeling him with "health problems," also undeniably saved him from going to the Vietnam War.

More importantly, through his interactions with Jenny Cullen during this time, he indirectly learned more about Suning and the Forrest brothers, and developed a sense of admiration and sympathy for the young Asian man who remained clear-headed despite being on the battlefield.

Elvis Presley's influence was quite different from that of Professor Wheeler.

He leveraged his superstar status and personal connections with some Southern political figures, as well as powerful figures in the military's logistics procurement department whom he knew through his agent, Tom Parker, to launch an "informal" lobbying campaign.

Elvis did not directly request a pardon for Suning, but instead phrased it differently.

Elvis casually mentioned the matter during a private meeting with an army brigadier general in charge of military procurement.

Elvis cleverly provided basic information about Suning and implied that it would be "a blessing for the country" if such talent could utilize his expertise in the rear military factories.

"General, I've heard that our lads in Vietnam are fighting very hard. Especially some soldiers with special technical backgrounds, such as MIT graduates, their talents, if used to improve our own equipment, such as the next generation of individual weapon systems or communication equipment, might contribute more to the country than serving as ordinary infantrymen in the jungle."

"Oh? Elvis, you have friends in Vietnam?" The brigadier general immediately understood what he meant.

Elvis did not deny it, but looked at the brigadier general and introduced him, "Yes! His name is Suningan, a top student from MIT. He should have been in the laboratory, but he went to the battlefield without hesitation for the country. However, I believe that such talent should not be wasted."

“Su Ninggan? Alright! I’ll check his file when I get back.” The brigadier general nodded noncommittally.

"Then I'll have to trouble you, General."

Meanwhile, Elvis's manager, Tom Parker, also used his shrewd business acumen to conduct some "communication" and "management" behind the scenes.

You have to understand that just talking is useless. Americans believe more in the power of the dollar. The idea that money can make the devil turn the millstone is even more prevalent in the United States.

Elvis didn't mind spending such a large sum of money, after all, true friendship is the only constant treasure.

Information from top entertainment stars, delivered through personal networks, can sometimes be more effective than formal application documents.

It bypassed cumbersome bureaucratic procedures and directly touched a nerve with those who could "handle special cases."

A few weeks later, just when Suning was almost giving up hope on the Elvis line, the battalion headquarters suddenly received a special transfer order from the division's personnel department.

The transfer order surprised everyone in the know: Soldier Su Ning Gan was approved for early retirement because he "possesses special technical expertise and is of great value to the development of the domestic defense industry," and was immediately transferred to a weapons research and development department under the well-known Raytheon Corporation to serve as a technical analysis assistant.

The news caused quite a stir in Company A.

Some people envied him for escaping his misery, while others privately speculated that there must be some unusual connections at play behind the scenes.

With mixed feelings, Lieutenant Jansen personally handed the transfer order to Su Ning.

“Gan, I don’t know what method you used… but this might be the best outcome.” Lieutenant Jason looked at the soldier he both loved and hated. “You don’t belong here, you never have. Go! Go back to your own world.”

Su Ning took the document, which seemed light yet weighed a thousand pounds, and was filled with mixed emotions.

There was no overwhelming joy, only a sense of relief and exhaustion, and a new set of considerations.

He ultimately left the battlefield through "relationships" and "transactions," which did not entirely align with his purely rational pursuit, but it was the rule that the real world operates under.

They took advantage of Elvis Presley's connections, but their work at Thor Corporation would undoubtedly be another form of constraint.

But at least that was in laboratories and offices, not in mud and bloodshed.

Su Ning packed his simple belongings as quickly as possible, without saying goodbye to many people, remaining silent as he always had.

As he boarded the helicopter bound for Da Nang Airport, he looked down at the green jungle that had swallowed countless lives, gradually receding into the distance.

He knew that one phase of his life had come to an end.

I survived and walked out of that hell.

Going forward, on this new "battlefield," he will continue to use his wisdom and methods to accumulate more "capital" for himself and those he cares about, striving for true freedom and a future.

Elvis Presley's unintentional act opened a door for him to a completely different path in life.

...(End of chapter)