Dragon Raja: Lu Mingfei's War Journey

Chapter 98: Receiving the Medal of Merit and the Name of a Hero

Lu Mingfei leaned against the cold, rough concrete wall, his helmet askew on his head, a cigarette between his fingers. The pungent smell of the cheap tobacco diluted the lingering gunpowder and bloody odor in the air.

His men sat in twos and threes nearby. Some were chatting and laughing in hushed tones, some were smoking, and some had even fallen asleep against the wall. For them, this was a rare moment of respite after the victory.

Figures kept appearing at the entrances to the fortress's passageways; these were Prussian soldiers from other companies, roughly driving away dejected French prisoners and dragging them out of the fortress in strings.

As they passed by Lu Mingfei, someone subconsciously glanced up at him before quickly looking down again.

They knew this man had taken over the fortress, but there was no hatred in his eyes, only emptiness.

However, Lu Mingfei subconsciously avoided that gaze. The hellish wails still rang in his ears, and the twisted and tumbling figures in the firelight were still before his eyes. The smell of burning skin seemed to still linger in his nose.

"Platoon leader, another one?" At this moment, Otto walked over, sat down next to him, handed him another cigarette, and lit it for him.

Lu Mingfei nodded, took the cigarette, and took a deep drag.

"Platoon leader, don't think too much about it. That's war. If they don't die, we will. You saved many people in our platoon," Otto said after taking a deep drag on his cigarette.

Lu Mingfei didn't speak, but silently exhaled a puff of smoke. He understood the reasoning, but it was completely different from shooting someone to death.

He strives for a quick kill in shootings or hand-to-hand combat, aiming to eliminate enemies as painlessly as possible. But flamethrowers—that's a different story. They don't bring instant death, but rather slow but excruciating torture. Burns are, to some extent, the most painful injuries in the world.

The wailing sound was reminiscent of a co-pilot in the Andes Mountains.

"If it weren't for you leading us to capture this fortress, many more of us would have died," Otto continued to comfort us.

"I know—" Lu Mingfei gripped the cigarette butt tightly in his palm. The scorching heat of the cigarette butt made him want to let go, but he held it firmly in his hand.

"I just... don't really like how I am right now."

C

Otto opened his mouth, but didn't know how to respond.

"How is Caesar?" Lu Mingfei asked.

"Sergeant Caesar is still a little weak, but it's not a big problem. He should recover after some rest. He's resting in that room over there right now," Otto said, pointing to a relatively intact small room not far away.

"It's good that you're alright." Hearing this, Lu Mingfei felt relieved.

"Hans!" Just then, Captain Henrik's voice rang out with barely concealed excitement. He walked over briskly, his face glowing, a stark contrast to the exhausted soldiers around him.

Lu Mingfei, Otto, and the other subordinates all stood up. After all, he was their superior, and they had to give him the respect he deserved.

"Hans, I've confirmed with the division headquarters that our company was among the first to break into Fort Dumont and successfully create chaos, ultimately assisting the main force in conquering the fortress! His Highness Crown Prince William is already on his way, and the medals of honor should be well-deserved!" Henrik said excitedly.

"Blue Max!" Otto couldn't help but exclaim softly upon hearing Henrik's words.

The surrounding soldiers instantly stirred, their fatigue replaced by immense excitement, exchanging excited glances.

That's a medal of honor, the highest honor a soldier can receive.

Henrik was pleased with the soldiers' reaction. He raised his voice to make sure everyone could hear him: "Not only that! I heard there are war correspondents from home accompanying us! They're going to take pictures of us! The photos will be published in major newspapers across the country, and the whole nation will see our Ninth Company, see us, the heroes who captured Fort Dumont!"

The soldiers were absolutely ecstatic! It was in the newspapers! They were famous throughout the country! Their parents, wives, children, friends, and fellow villagers would all see their heroic figures—something they could boast about for the rest of their lives!

Lu Mingfei then noticed that Henrik, having changed into a clean military uniform, seemed to have transformed back into that Prussian noble officer.

He looked at his clothes, which were covered in mud and blood, and then realized that he hadn't showered or changed his uniform in half a month. He not only smelled bad but also had lice.

"Hans, this is an opportunity. You might be able to overcome the most important hurdle. Get yourself together quickly, so you don't lose face in front of His Highness the Crown Prince and the reporters," Henrik said earnestly, patting Lu Mingfei on the shoulder.

Lu Mingfei understood what Henrik meant by the threshold: the threshold between a soldier and a true officer.

In the hierarchical and traditionally-minded Prussian army, especially during peacetime, the officer corps was almost an exclusive club for the sons of Junker nobles and upper-class bourgeoisie. They shared similar backgrounds, education, mannerisms, and even ways of thinking, forming a closed and exclusive circle.

Sergeant Majors like Lu Mingfei, who rose from humble origins to high positions through military merit, could serve as commissioned officers during wartime, commanding a platoon or even a company. However, once the war ended and the army returned to normal order, they were often reverted to their original status and found it difficult to be accepted into the true officer corps, effectively cutting off their path to promotion.

Of course, such class barriers are not entirely without gaps. In theory, soldiers with outstanding combat achievements who have won the Iron Cross First Class have a very small chance of being granted the rank of second lieutenant and entering officer training school through special recommendation and rigorous examination by senior commanders during special periods of severe officer shortage.

But the probability of this is extremely low, requiring the right timing, location, and people.

Now, with the primary credit for conquering Fort Dumont, coupled with Crown Prince William's personal award and nationwide media coverage—this is undoubtedly the pinnacle of perfect timing, favorable circumstances, and popular support. Henrik is reminding him that seizing this opportunity might allow him to leap over the dragon gate and truly change his identity and destiny in this world.

"Understood, Captain. Thank you." Lu Mingfei nodded.

He understood Henrik's good intentions. Although he didn't have much desire to become a Prussian officer, a higher rank often meant more autonomy, better living conditions, and—perhaps—the opportunity to leave this hellish place of the front lines sooner.

Henrik nodded in satisfaction when he saw that he had taken the advice to heart, then hurriedly turned around to arrange other matters.

Otto leaned closer and whispered, "Platoon leader, shouldn't we—go get some water to wash up? Otherwise, this smell will drive the reporters away."

Lu Mingfei twitched the corner of his mouth in response. Indeed, it was rather inappropriate for someone with such an appearance to receive the highest honor.

Water was a problem in the fortress. The main reservoir had been damaged by shelling and fighting, and the pumping system was intermittent. Finally, they found a few barely usable faucets in a relatively intact washroom. The water that flowed out was icy cold and had a rusty color.

Lu Mingfei took off his tattered military uniform, which was almost stuck to his skin, revealing his body covered with old and new wounds, dirt and scabs. The cold, rusty water washed over him, making him shiver.

The soldiers next to them were also excitedly taking showers, looking forward to the photos to be taken later.

Caesar, who had been resting, also appeared. He found a razor and handed it to Lu Mingfei, asking him to shave off the messy stubble on his face.

After getting ready, Lu Mingfei looked at his blurry reflection in the basin. His face was clean, his beard was shaved, and he had changed into a relatively clean military uniform. His reflection in the water looked much younger, but the gloom in his eyes could not be washed away by the water.

When he returned to the assembly area, Crown Prince William's convoy had already arrived outside the fortress, and all the Prussian troops in the fortress were ordered to line up to greet their supreme commander.

Lu Mingfei led the remaining three platoons and stood in the ranks. The soldiers from the other companies around him also tried to straighten their backs and make themselves look as energetic as possible, after all, he was the future Emperor of Prussia.

Crown Prince William entered, surrounded by a group of senior military officers, adjutants, and reporters. He was dressed in a crisp general's uniform, his chest adorned with medals, his steps steady, and his face bearing a deliberately crafted expression that combined authority with approachability.

Wherever he went, officers stood at attention and saluted, while soldiers followed orders and stood at attention. The Crown Prince would occasionally stop and whisper a few words to a regimental or battalion commander, or reach out and pat the shoulder of a soldier who looked particularly strong and powerful.

Finally, the Crown Prince approached Captain Henrik and Lu Mingfei. Henrik immediately stood at attention and reported in his loudest voice.

"Reporting, Your Highness Crown Prince Wilhelm! Captain Henrik von Greifenberg, Company Commander of the 9th Company, 7th Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, salutes you! Our company has successfully completed the raid and mopping-up operation at Fort Doumont! Please inspect us, Your Highness!"

Crown Prince William nodded slightly, and the light fell on Henrik.

"Captain Henrik von Grifenberg—the Grifenberg family. I remember the Griffin Knights of history, who rendered great service to Prussia. I never imagined that today, on the battlefield of this new era, the Grifenberg family would produce a new war hero. Very good. You and your brave men have won unparalleled glory for the Empire."

These words about family history made Henrik's cheeks flush and his body tremble slightly with excitement.

"It is our honor to serve His Majesty and the Empire!" Henrik responded loudly.

Crown Prince William nodded in satisfaction, then took a beautifully crafted wooden box lined with dark blue velvet from one of his adjutants and gently opened the lid.

In an instant, the surroundings seemed to light up.

Inside the box lay a magnificent and dazzling medal, its main body shaped like a Maltese cross, made of gold, with royal blue enamel inlaid around the edges.

That is the highest honor and medal of the Prussian army, also known as the Blue Max Medal. It is made of pure gold, and regardless of the honor it represents, the medal itself is very valuable.

Crown Prince William carefully took the medal out of the box with his white-gloved fingers and stood in front of Henrik to put it on him. The reporters nearby were already holding up their bulky cameras, ready to record this historic moment.

The report he received stated that Henrik's company had captured Doumont Castle. In his mind, only officers had the right to plant the flag on the top. Moreover, Henrik's family had considerable influence in Prussia, which could help him consolidate his imperial power after his future ascension to the throne.

Henrik swallowed hard as he watched the Blue Max Medal approach his neck, his Adam's apple bobbing wildly. That was the Blue Max Medal, the dream of every Prussian soldier. He couldn't possibly not want it. If he could get this medal, not only would he be able to wipe away the humiliation he had brought upon his family, but he could even become the family's heir.

But just as the medal was about to be placed around his neck, he spoke with difficulty.

"Your Highness William, this medal should not belong to me—"

The flashes of light around them stopped instantly. The excitement on the faces of the reporters behind the spotlights turned into astonishment. The senior officers exchanged puzzled glances, and the soldiers in the ranks held their breath, not understanding what the company commander, who was about to receive the highest honor, was doing.

Crown Prince William's hand froze in mid-air, his smile fading slightly. He then looked at Henrik with a scrutinizing gaze: "Captain Henrik, what do you mean by this?"

Henrik felt his heart pounding in his throat, his back instantly soaked with cold sweat. He could already imagine how furious his family elders would be when they learned of his decision, and he could foresee how his promising future, which he had just secured, would be reduced to dust.

But he still forced himself to straighten his back, raised his hand, pointed half a step to his side, and used all his strength to say each word clearly.

"Your Highness! The first to raise the Imperial flag atop Fort Dumont was my platoon leader, Sergeant William Hans! He led his squad to the front lines, destroying key firing positions and creating chaos to support the main attack! As the company commander, I certainly deserve credit for command, but the greatest credit and this highest honor should belong to the brave warriors who fought and bled on the front lines! Sergeant Hans! He is the one who truly deserves the Blue Max Medal!"

Yes, he was timid, afraid of death, and liked to hide in the back, but deep down he was a Junker nobleman, having grown up listening to chivalric epics and reading works like "The Song of the Nibelungs" and "Don Quixote".

Sometimes he felt that he was the last knight of this era, otherwise he would not have made that choice on Christmas. He would not allow himself to take credit for his subordinates' achievements; this was his last chivalrous act.

Upon hearing Henrik's words, Lu Mingfei, Caesar, Otto, and all the soldiers of the third platoon were dumbfounded. They had thought that Henrik would accept the medal as a matter of course. Otto was so angry that he almost rushed out to argue, but Lu Mingfei held him down firmly.

Unexpectedly, Henrik would relinquish the highest honor that was within his grasp at such a crucial moment, in front of the Crown Prince, senior military officers, and reporters.

The reporter finally realized what was happening, and the camera lens quickly turned towards Lu Mingfei, with the shutter clicking repeatedly.

Crown Prince William paused for a few seconds, then turned his gaze to Lu Mingfei and asked, "You're from a commoner background?"

"Yes, Your Highness." Lu Mingfei stood at attention, his voice steady, but his heart was also churning with turbulent waves, and his perception of Henrik underwent a radical change at this moment.

"Is what Captain Henrik said true?" Crown Prince William continued to ask.

"Reporting, Your Highness! The breakthrough into the fortress, the clearing of the interior, and the final planting of the flag were all accomplished by the Third Platoon of the Ninth Company under the command of Captain Henrik and with the cooperation of all the brothers in the company! I was just following orders!" Lu Mingfei did not take all the credit for himself.

Do you know what the Blue Max Medal means?

"Yes, Your Highness."

"So, do you think you deserve it?"

"I did plant the flag, but if you're asking about the greatest credit for this battle, I would like you to award the medal to Sergeant Cesare Hoffman. He was the one who got us into the fortress," Lu Mingfei said after a moment of contemplation.

He truly believed that Caesar was the greatest contributor to this battle, and that his weasel had saved them from a great deal of risk.

Hearing Lu Mingfei's words, the people around him were stunned again. Even the well-informed reporters felt that their brains could hardly process it. The fact that the medal of honor was being declined was already quite unusual.

Now, the person who was initially deferred has actually passed the honor on to someone else! What kind of unit is this? What kind of soldiers are they?

Caesar was completely stunned, his icy blue eyes filled with disbelief. He never expected that Lu Mingfei would, at this moment, attribute the greatest credit to him in this way.

Crown Prince William's brow twitched almost imperceptibly. He was so angry he almost laughed. The Blue Max he had awarded had become a hot potato, being kicked around like a ball by these two junior officers. When did the Empire's highest honor become so unpopular?

"Sergeant Cesare Hoffmann, do you think you deserve this medal?"

Caesar was stunned; he never expected that this problem would suddenly fall on his shoulders.

All eyes were once again focused on him.

He looked at Crown Prince William, then at Lu Mingfei standing in front of him. Lu Mingfei gave him an encouraging look, hoping he would win the medal. But who was he? He was the proud Cesare Gattuso.

"Your Highness! I did provide necessary reconnaissance and early warning during the battle, but if you're asking whether I deserve this medal—" He paused, took a deep breath, and said loudly.

"I don't think I deserve it."

Another barely suppressed commotion arose around them.

Henrik's eyes widened in disbelief. Otto was completely at a loss for words. The reporters' expressions were almost out of control. What had happened today was far beyond their imagination of war reporting.

Crown Prince William narrowed his eyes, staring at Caesar as he asked, "Reason?"

"Because I did not bear the heaviest cost. I heard the gunfire but was not the first to rush out of the trench. I saw the weakness of the fortress but was not the first to rush in. If this medal must have an owner."

"Then it should belong to the one who made the decisions at the forefront and bore the consequences of those decisions, and that person is William Hans," Caesar said frankly.

The air was eerily quiet.

Crown Prince William did not speak immediately.

He glanced at Caesar, then at Lu Mingfei, then at Henrik, who stood ramrod straight and was extremely nervous, and finally his gaze swept over the entire column.

"interesting----"

Crown Prince William said in a low voice, his tone no longer showing displeasure, but rather a hint of genuine interest.

He closed the box containing the Blue Max Medal, a move that made many people tense, just when everyone thought that Crown Prince William would leave in anger.

Crown Prince William continued, "Any soldier in your platoon who feels they deserve this medal, step forward now, and I will award it to you immediately."

Upon hearing this, Lu Mingfei stood motionless, but the next moment, all the soldiers in the third platoon behind him and beside him, including Company Commander Henrik, took a step back in unison, like a well-trained honor guard.

Thus, Lu Mingfei, who was originally standing still, was now standing out all alone, facing Crown Prince William and countless cameras and gazes.

The reporters were stunned at first, then, as if they had discovered a priceless treasure, they frantically pressed the shutter. The scene was so impactful—the collective retreat and the individual's prominence—what incredible material this was!

Crown Prince William raised an eyebrow, clearly not expecting this outcome, and asked the line of retreating soldiers.

"None of you—does anyone feel you deserve this medal?"

No one spoke; they all knew in their hearts that this medal, if not for Lu Mingfei, should not belong to anyone else.

Crown Prince William's gaze returned to Lu Mingfei, his eyes even more serious than before; he was completely captivated by this officer.

"It seems your soldiers have already answered for you."

Lu Mingfei stood there, but his chest felt like it was blocked by something.

Crown Prince William did not wait for Lu Mingfei's reply. Instead, he turned around and whispered a few words to a staff officer next to him who was in charge of taking notes. The staff officer quickly wrote it down and then stood at attention and nodded.

Then, Crown Prince Wilhelm faced the ranks and the cameras again, and announced in a loud voice: "The Empire needs heroes, and even more so, soldiers who understand loyalty, unity, and sacrifice! Today, at Doumont Castle, I have seen the most perfect embodiment of the latter! I have seen the hero that Prussia should have, and his name is Wilhelm Hans."

He opened the box containing the Blue Max Medal again, hung the medal, which symbolized the highest honor of the empire, around Lu Mingfei's neck, and announced it loudly.

"In the name of His Majesty the Emperor and the Empire, I hereby declare: Wilhelm Hans promoted to Second Lieutenant! Henrik von Greifenberg promoted to Major! Kaiser Hoffmann promoted to Sergeant First Class! All surviving soldiers of this platoon are awarded the Iron Cross Second Class! Fallen soldiers shall be posthumously awarded corresponding honors and doubled compensation!"

"Their names and deeds will be recorded in the annals of the empire!"

After a brief silence, thunderous applause and cheers erupted from the surrounding Prussian soldiers.

The reporters' flashes went off again, capturing the scene of the Crown Prince awarding the medal to Lu Mingfei. After awarding the medal, Crown Prince William left, but he still remembered the young officer named William Hans.

Even after the Crown Prince left, the atmosphere at the scene did not cool down. Reporters immediately surrounded Lu Mingfei, Henrik, Caesar, Otto, and others.

"Lieutenant Hans! What were you thinking when you were the first to charge into the fortress?"

"Major Henrik! Did you intend to give the highest honor to your subordinate all along?"

"Sergeant Hoffmann! Is that really all the reason you gave for refusing the medal?"

"Sergeant Otto! Can you tell me how your platoon leader usually leads you?"

Otto and the other soldiers of the three platoons were beaming with excitement, almost floating on air. They had not only become heroes, but were also going to be featured in the national newspapers.

When interviewed, they not only vividly recounted the thrilling process of conquering Fort Dumont, but also embellished Lu Mingfei's past heroic deeds.

Although exhausted, Caesar managed to answer the reporters' questions, subtly emphasizing the team's collaboration and Lu Mingfei's key leadership while downplaying his own role.

Henrik, on the other hand, resumed the proper demeanor of a noble officer, speaking eloquently and attributing the credit to the brilliant command of all officers and soldiers and the Crown Prince, but making no attempt to conceal his admiration for Lu Mingfei.

Lu Mingfei himself, however, appeared somewhat silent and aloof.

And so, the name of the commoner hero William Hans, his story of leading the Iron Blood Third Platoon to conquer the world's strongest fortress, Fort Dumont, and the classic photograph of him standing alone at the front of the column while his comrades behind him retreated, began to spread rapidly back to the rear of Prussia via radio waves and the rollers of the printing press, making headlines in major newspapers, spreading throughout the streets and alleys, and entering thousands of households.

A new name and a legendary story have been added to the history of Prussia's wars and propaganda.

>