Courtyard House: From Deputy Division Commander to Civilian, Progressing All the Way

Below the stage, General Peng Dehuai, Li Yunlong, Zhao Gang, Ding Wei, and other Volunteer Army generals clapped enthusiastically. Li Yunlong's hands were red from clapping, his bull-like eyes were wide open, and his pride was practically overflowing.

However, Lin Yang showed not a trace of a smile when faced with this highest honor from a foreign land, an honor that would drive any soldier mad.

He glanced down at the two heavy medals on his chest, and what came to mind were the rows of ice sculptures on the shore of Changjin Lake, still charging forward to the death, and the young faces in the tunnels of Shangganling, their lips cracked with thirst but still fighting to the death.

Lin Yang suddenly brought his legs together, his heels striking each other with a crisp sound. He raised his right hand and gave a perfectly standard military salute.

Not for honor, but for the loyal bones that lie forever resting in foreign lands.

……

half a month later.

Beijing

This is the highest-level conference hall in the People's Republic of China, with a red carpet on the floor and a high dome.

If the awarding of medals in Pyongyang was a sign of respect from a foreign land, then today's commendation at Huai Ren Hall is the highest praise from the motherland to her most outstanding children.

In 1953, the People's Republic of China had not yet implemented a military rank system. For soldiers, honorary titles and medals were the sole measure of their combat achievements.

The conference has reached its most exciting moment.

General Peng, dressed in a faded military uniform, strode to the spot where MacArthur had once stood and picked up the red commendation order in front of him.

Inside the entire Huai Ren Hall, hundreds of founding generals and marshals were completely silent; you could hear a pin drop.

"Comrades!"

General Peng's voice was like a resounding bell, making people's eardrums buzz.

"On the battlefield of the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea, countless heroic figures emerged in our Volunteer Army! They used their flesh and blood to block the enemy's planes and artillery!"

"Today, the Central Military Commission and the headquarters of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army have decided to award Comrade Lin Yang, who made extraordinary contributions in the war and turned the tide of battle, the highest honorary title!"

General Peng looked around the room, his tone becoming more solemn than ever before.

"Comrade Lin Yang is hereby awarded the title of 'Special-Class Hero' of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army and awarded a Special Merit Citation!"

boom!

Upon hearing this title, countless battle-hardened generals throughout the Huai Ren Hall gasped in astonishment, their eyes filled with disbelief and shock!

Special Hero!

In the entire history of the Korean War, this title carries immense weight, almost immeasurable in its significance. Before this, only two martyrs in the entire army, Yang Gensi and Huang Jiguang, were posthumously awarded the title of "Special-Class Hero" for their extraordinary feats of embracing explosives and perishing with the enemy, and using their chests to block machine gun emplacements—feats that transcended human limits.

That was originally the supreme altar dedicated exclusively to the martyrs who sacrificed their lives!

But today, the Central Military Commission made an exception for Lin Yang!

Because he accomplished the feat of capturing the enemy's supreme commander in the Far East, and because he repeatedly led his troops to tear apart the enemy's defenses in dire situations, he became the only soldier in the entire Korean War to be awarded the title of "Special-Class Hero" while still alive!

Lin Yang walked steadily onto the podium.

General Peng personally pinned the medal representing the Special Merit Award and the Commemorative Medal for the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea, awarded by the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, onto Lin Yang's chest.

"Lin Yang, well done. The motherland and the people will never forget you." General Peng gripped Lin Yang's hand tightly, his eyes slightly red.

"Serve the people!"

Lin Yang turned around, faced the hundreds of generals and marshals below the stage, and gave a solemn military salute to the bright five-star red flag.

Thunderous applause echoed throughout Huai Ren Hall for a long time.

……

It was dusk at the Yuquanshan Military Region compound.

The late autumn breeze swept up a few golden ginkgo leaves, swirling them on the smooth asphalt road.

Warm lights shone in the detached courtyard of Building No. 6, Jiazi.

A military jeep came to a steady stop outside the gate. He Yuzhu, the guard platoon leader, jumped out of the vehicle with a swift movement and opened the door for Lin Yang.

"Commander, we're home." He Yuzhu said in a low voice, his eyes filled with fervent admiration as he looked at the medals on Lin Yang's chest.

"Zhu Zi, you should go back and rest early too. I'll give you two days off to go back to the courtyard and see your father." Lin Yang patted He Yuzhu on the shoulder, turned around and pushed open the courtyard gate.

The living room of the villa was filled with the rich aroma of pork rib soup.

Tian Yu, wearing a beige knitted sweater, was setting out the table with her back to the door. Hearing the sound of the door hinges turning, she flinched and whirled around.

When she saw the man she had been longing for day and night standing unharmed in the doorway, his broad chest adorned with gleaming, top-ranking medals.

The porcelain bowl in Tian Yu's hand fell to the table with a "clatter," and tears instantly welled up in her eyes.

"Yoko..."

She rushed over without hesitation and threw herself into Lin Yang's arms.

Lin Yang caught his wife steadily, closed the door behind him, and held her tightly in his arms. He lowered his head and took a deep breath of the familiar jasmine scent in Tian Yu's hair. The tension that had been building up on the battlefield for the past three years finally relaxed completely at this moment.

"I'm back, wife." Lin Yang's voice was a little hoarse.

Tian Yu raised her head, her trembling fingers reaching out to gently stroke the gleaming North Korean First Class National Flag Medal on Lin Yang's chest, and then touched the medal that represented the only survivor, the "Special Class Hero".

"I've heard it all... Your name is everywhere in the newspapers and on the radio," Tian Yu sobbed uncontrollably. "They say you're a war god, that you captured the American commander-in-chief. But all I know is that you're my husband, and I'm just glad you're back alive..."

Lin Yang felt a surge of warmth in his heart, picked Tian Yu up in his arms, and strode towards the bedroom on the second floor.

"I haven't even had the soup yet..." Tian Yu blushed and playfully punched Lin Yang's chest.

"I won't drink the soup first, I'll eat you first."

Lin Yang kicked open the bedroom door and gently placed Tian Yu on the soft bed.

The night was as still as water, and the autumn wind outside the window gradually subsided.

The indoor temperature, however, is rising rapidly.

Three years of separation, three years of life-or-death trials, filled this reunion with an irrepressible fervor and deep affection. Lin Yang's large hands, accustomed to wielding steel guns on the battlefield with decisive and ruthless efficiency, were now so gentle that they seemed capable of melting ice and snow.

Their clothes were completely removed.

Looking at the new scars on Lin Yang's body, Tian Yu felt heartbroken and shed tears. She tilted her head up and responded passionately to her husband's demands.

There are no words, only the most primal and pure fusion.

……

The clouds dispersed and the rain stopped.

The air in the bedroom still carried a lingering, enchanting warmth.

Tian Yu lay obediently on Lin Yang's muscular chest like a lazy kitten, her fingers unconsciously tracing circles on one of his scars.

Lin Yang leaned against the headboard and lit a Daqianmen cigarette. The pale blue smoke rose slowly in the dim light.