It's better to conquer them than to command the steel torrent

Chapter 11｜Awards and Encounters

The leisurely time is short, and the good news comes unexpectedly quickly.

The Military and Political Department of the General Headquarters, which has always been known for its slowness in handling affairs, was unprecedentedly quick this time, and the promotion order and cash check were delivered at the same time.

Shang Ke had spent the past two days taking a quick stroll around the 1st Mobile Division's artillery regiment, which was a real feast for the eyes. The small price to pay was that his ears were still a little sore from the loud noises of the artillery regiment's training.

"Are you still sleeping? Get up quickly!" The loud-voiced Director of the Administrative Affairs Department pushed the door open and walked in.

The cold wind rushed in through every corner, and the warm house suddenly became chilly, and the sleepy Shang Ke woke up all of a sudden.

The director of the Political Affairs Department held up the letter in his hand and said with a smile, "I haven't seen such fast action in years. I'm afraid those people at the headquarters are also thinking about finishing their work before going on vacation."

Wehrmacht regulations clearly stipulate that during peacetime, lieutenants and colonels are promoted every three years. However, there is a small threshold between captain and major, which only a few can successfully cross in one go, while most have to wait a year or two before being promoted. After all, there are too many people and too few jobs, so there is no need for so many colonels in peacetime.

The promotion order was a large, well-made crimson book with nine large gold-plated characters "Federal Defense Army Promotion Order" written on the cover. Inside, there were two short sentences written and stamped with the square seal of the General Headquarters Military and Political Department.

If it were a unified promotion in peacetime, the troops would organize a centralized ceremony for the awarding of titles, but Shang Ke's this time was naturally unique.

Starting from the rank of colonel, the army no longer issues regular uniforms or formal dresses. Instead, they are given a sum of money to find someone to tailor a uniform to fit their body.

Of course, epaulettes and collar badges will still be issued.

The base color of the collar badge is black - the color of the military police, and it is inlaid with a golden diamond.

"By the way, don't follow the crowd and go to the one on Taiyi Street. I heard the workmanship is not very good. Go to the east gate of Weiyang University and find the intersection with Chang'an Avenue. There is a tailor shop in the alley next to it. You can't go wrong going there." The Director of the Political Affairs Department suggested.

Shang Ke, feeling very proud of himself, washed up casually and drove away from the camp without even having breakfast.

Along with the promotion order, there was also a cash check for 1000 yen, which is almost as much as the standard monthly salary of 1060 yen for an army captain, while the average salary of white-collar workers in the workplace today is about 1200 yen.

After withdrawing the special fund from the bank, he drove slowly looking for the tailor shop. It took him a long time to find the right place.

When Shang Ke explained his purpose, the shop owner enthusiastically took on this big deal and called an apprentice to measure his body carefully.

There are detailed regulations for both standard daily uniforms and formal wear, and they need to be made according to diagrams and specifications, and the material of the clothes cannot be too poor.

"I'll make it for you as soon as possible. It will probably be ready by the 20th day of the twelfth lunar month."

"it is good."

Just as Shang Ke was withdrawing money to pay, a figure walked in silently over the threshold, and the cold wind that came into the house blew away several banknotes.

Shang Ke and the man bent down to pick it up at the same time, and both of their hands fell on the same banknote.

He stood up and looked at the girl. She was wearing a khaki long trench coat and looked to be about twenty-four or twenty-five years old. Her eyebrows and eyes were as pretty as a painting, and her face was white and purple due to the cold wind in December.

Uh...Will you catch a cold if you wear such thin clothes?
"I'm sorry." The girl apologized to him in a soft voice.

She then asked the shop owner, "Have the clothes I sent in yesterday been altered?"

The latter smiled slightly, pointing to the clothes in his hand and said, "It's almost done, wait a moment. Hey, Xiaoyi, hurry up and serve tea to the guests."

Shang Ke and the girl pulled out chairs and sat down nearby. The apprentice girl quickly brought two cups of warm tea.

To be fair, it is rare to see girls dressed like this nowadays, which makes Shang Ke quite curious.

Since both cups of tea were handed to him, he decided to chat a little more. "Do you work nearby?"

"Yes, I'm at school."

"Lecturer? So young?" Shang Ke thought she was an intern lecturer at Weiyang University and was surprised.

"No, I'm still studying," the girl said, adding, "Chemistry, inorganic chemistry."

This answer made Shang Ke feel incredible, and then he became excited. He looked up and down at the girl in front of him with great interest - her indifferent temperament and sharp eyes were a perfect match.

Interesting.

"What a coincidence! I also know a little bit about physics and chemistry." Shang Ke smiled slightly and briefly introduced himself to her.

The two chatted for a while, and Shang Ke learned that the girl's name was Jian Keqiu and she was currently studying for a bachelor's degree at Weiyang University.

Due to historical reasons, the present time is slightly different from the original dimension. The terms bachelor and doctor are interchangeable. In other words, Jian Keqiu is a rare female doctor of inorganic chemistry.

She gives people a very gentle feeling. She answers every question and is not cold or distant. But that's all. She doesn't take the initiative to chat or start a conversation.

After Shang Ke realized this situation, he thought about it for a while and simply changed the topic to professional aspects, hoping that this would open up the situation.

He wanted to tease her, so he said seriously, "I heard that the military leaders are considering gradually phasing out Tetryl and replacing it with RDX. Miss Jane, do you think it makes sense?"

What kind of weird question is this guy asking?
Jian Keqiu hesitated for a moment, frowned slightly, and put his index finger against his cheek to think.

"Trinitrobenzylnitramine and cyclotrimethylene trinitramine?" She pulled a pencil and pad from her pocket and scribbled out the structural formulas of the two. She looked up and said, "Sir, I don't know much about energy materials, but judging by the molecular structure, tetryl's energy content is definitely weaker. It only has three nitro groups and one nitramine group, so its stability might not be good. Also, industrial production has to consider costs, so I'm not sure about that."

Shang Ke pretended to understand, nodded and praised: "Miss Jian is very knowledgeable, I admire her very much."

"These are all very basic." A blush appeared on Jian Keqiu's cheeks.

"By the way, Miss Jian, what is your own research direction?"

“It’s a very niche product, probably raw material ceramics with a certain type of properties.”

Shang Ke discovered that Jian Keqiu could talk endlessly once she talked about her profession, and seemed to be uninterested in anything else?
He catered to the other person's interests and listened with great interest.

The apprentice girl had poured tea three times, and she didn't understand why the owner had already mended the clothes but deliberately didn't remind her.

It took a long time for Jian Keqiu to remember what she was here for. She asked whether the clothes had been mended.

The shop owner turned his head and glanced at her, then said leisurely, "It was made half an hour ago. Come and try it."

When she entered the dressing room, the owner and Shang Ke smiled at each other.

The latter thought that today's encounter was enough, so he said a few words and got up and left.

After a while, Jian Keqiu came out and found that Shang had left without saying goodbye?
At this time, the shop owner reminded with a smile: "The gentleman just now said that you are an interesting person. I look forward to seeing you next time."

Interesting? What's interesting about it? Jian Keqiu thought, confused.

(End of this chapter)