“Copy that. Back to your post, corporal,” I said in parting.
As we walked into the town, I surveyed the defenses prepared while my company had fought at Farmers’ Ridge.
Antitank mines dotted the road leading into the town from the north, as well as the western road along the river. Deep trenches were set up astride the roads. The trenches would prevent tanks from evading the mines in the road. They would also provide cover before the buildings of the town so there would be multiple lines of defense before the city itself. A second line of supporting trenches were even now being dug about 200 yards behind the first.
As we passed the soldiers digging, they looked up at our prisoners and took comfort from our evident victory. Their hearts would fill with more hope still when they learned how lopsided the victory had been, how four men had defeated a hundred.
We walked down the main street of the town along the river. I could see trucks streaming in from Yilan, ammunition to sustain Citadel once it was inevitably cut off from resupply. The ammunition was being unloaded and taken into several buildings in the town, distributed widely in case of attack.
After a few minutes, we were met by a small squad of seven soldiers in front of brigade headquarters. “We heard you were coming,” the squad leader said. “We can take the prisoners off your hands. Colonel Brown wants to see you ASAP.”
I asked, “What will happen to the prisoners?”
“They’ll be sent back to Yilan in one of the trucks that keeps coming in with supplies. The roads ought to be open for another hour or two.”
Turning to Corporal Peng, I said, “You will go with these men. They will hold you until transport is ready to send you to a Taiwanese facility.”
He nodded, responding to me but looking at McCormick. “Thank you for saving our lives, captain. I don’t know what would have happened to us otherwise.”
McCormick gave no indication of having heard Peng as the Chinese prisoners were led off. Instead, he told Volodya and Dietrich, “Go find us some food, ammo, and a place to get a few hours’ sleep. I’m going to talk to the boss here.”
I stood uncertainly for a moment. Brown was most likely going to announce he was putting me up for court martial. On a whim, I asked McCormick, “I’m about to get my ass handed to me by the guy in charge of Citadel. Care to join?”
A laugh. “Wouldn’t miss it for the world,” McCormick answered. “Lead on, fearless captain.”
Brown and Gutierrez waited for me in a shabby office next to the locker room in the lower-level of the gymnasium. The room must have been chosen for security. Deep in the bowels of the building, it would probably survive direct hits from artillery, tank shells, pretty much anything except a bunker-buster bomb dropped by an aircraft.
I chose not to consider whether the 101st Division leadership had consciously considered that the Chinese would be less likely to target a building associated with a school. Though almost all of Pinglin’s civilians had been evacuated to the east weeks ago, the Chinese may not have known that.
Brown and Gutierrez were talking to each other and looking at a wallscreen depicting the area when McCormick and I entered. They turned to face us, and I saluted. McCormick studiously did not.
I spoke first. “Colonel Brown, General Gutierrez, this is Clay McCormick.”
The two senior officers mumbled their greetings, surprised to be meeting such a well-known celebrity when they had only been expecting to castigate a captain.
McCormick waved them quiet, “Enough of that shit. I’m here with two other gentlemen, the remaining members of the Lafayette Initiative. We and this fine captain just took out a company of PLA about a click-and-a-half northwest. They were bypassing Citadel to cut off the supply line to the south. The PLA probably sent another company or two to the east to bypass the town from the other side. I’d suggest you guys send your best team into the hills to the east and take that company down.”
Brown and Gutierrez stared at McCormick wide-eyed. I could actually sympathize with them a little. Here they were timidly building the defenses in Citadel and then McCormick stormed in with wild stories about destroying a Chinese company with four men and suggesting a mobile operation to take down another company — or two — of PLA veterans on the move.
Seeing their hesitation, McCormick added, “I’d be happy to lead a group to destroy that other PLA force. Give me a squad and I’ll take out the PLA force and start raiding their supply lines. Ought to make the defense of Pinglin a bit easier. You give me twenty soldiers, and I’ll bring back some Chinese heads for you.”
I desperately tried not to laugh at the horrified expression on Gutierrez’s face. The general stammered, “That would be highly inappropriate!” He opened his mouth to say more, but words seemed to fail him.
Brown took up the baton, saying smoothly, “Sergeant McCormick, we appreciate your efforts. The Knights and the Lafayette Initiative performed a valuable service. But you are not even in the U.S. Army anymore. And you were just a sergeant. Your offer of service under General Gutierrez’s command cannot be accepted at this time. I’m sure you understand.”
McCormick waved a hand impatiently. “Yeah, yeah, I know. I was there for part of the Battle of Farmers’ Ridge and heard the rest on the radio when you were trying to get Concitor and his men killed. I recognize your strategic genius, Colonel Brown.” Gutierrez looked like he was about to faint, and Brown seemed to be verging on a stroke with anger, but McCormick continued breezily. “We don’t have time for stupid objections right now. You guys are green peacetime officers. You need to forget manners and etiquette and regulations and let me win this goddamn battle for you.”
Brown began shouting, “You cocky asshole, if you think—”
McCormick put up a finger and dug a cell phone out of his back pocket. “Before you go any further, I think there might be some law that says I should tell you I’m recording this conversation and transmitting it to my men. Not sure what it’ll do for your career if you get caught screaming at Clay McCormick, the YouTube star that the president name-checked when he asked Congress to declare war on China. I’m guessing President Gates would probably can your ass if you manage to get out of the Battle of Pinglin alive.”
The blood drained from Brown’s face. He exchanged a look with General Gutierrez. Neither spoke for several seconds. Then, Gutierrez said in a tone as if McCormick had never made his threat, “We’d be happy to accept your services, Sergeant McCormick. Colonel Brown will see that you are assigned two squads for your use in interdicting any Chinese force maneuvering to the east.”
McCormick nodded. “One more thing. What are you planning to do with Captain Concitor?”
Gutierrez looked to Brown, who said resolutely, “Captain Concitor will be relieved of command following his insubordination and refusal to obey commands during the Battle of Farmers’ Ridge.”
I felt too tired to fight Brown. I’ve done my part, I thought. Let him send me home.
McCormick shook his head. “Give him his company back. He saved the day at Farmers’ Ridge. He’s a battlefield leader. And believe me, I will make your life hell if you don’t.”
Gutierrez quickly said, “I agree with you, Sergeant McCormick. Captain Concitor may have misunderstood his orders, a frequent occurrence on the battlefield. He will be returned to command immediately.”
Satisfied, McCormick said, “Send whoever you find to lead the squad you’re lending to me as soon as possible. I’m going to get some food.” The sergeant spun on his heel and left the room without another word.