The entire courtyard was in chaos.
...
The lonely mountains and rivers had the winding highway for company.
A journey long enough to cross China, thus began.
The cost along the way, needless to say, was significant.
Fire trucks, although exempt from highway tolls, still incurred a hefty sum for fuel alone for these nine vehicles.
The Fire Brigade's fuel cards could only be used within the province, so they had to pay for fuel in cash outside and then claim reimbursements; oil costs alone were over ten thousand, not to mention the issue of vehicle maintenance.
When Fang Huai brought this up with the Regimental commander, he felt a bit guilty.
Fortunately, the Second Squadron had won countless honors for the Detachment throughout the year, and on long-distance reinforcements, it had enhanced the image of the entire brigade; the Regimental commander said nothing, only expressing that the soldiers had been on the go all year and deserved a good rest when they returned.