Chapter 348: Second Division's New Year's Eve
"Suddenly like a spring breeze overnight, thousands of pear trees bloom."

On the night of New Year's Eve, the north wind blew with heavy snow, the vast land was covered with snow, and the temperature instantly dropped below minus 10 degrees Celsius, but the military camp was still bustling with activity.

Although the wind and snow were strong, the Chinese soldiers were not afraid of the cold. They held their guns tightly and guarded every piece of land under their feet.

On the night of the 30th, it was cold and snowy at the base of the Second Guard Division. Many of the officers standing guard in the wind and snow were company and platoon-level cadres, as well as battalion and regiment-level cadres.

In the cold winter, the soldiers were given a precious day off to celebrate the New Year. Despite the cold weather, the enthusiasm of the officers and soldiers was as hot as fire.

They walked out of the barracks one after another, some were busy making snowmen, showing the passion of youth in their laughter; others were engaged in fierce snowball fights, with snowballs flying everywhere and the scene was very lively.

During this short vacation, they fully enjoyed the rare relaxation and happiness.

As night fell, all the officers and soldiers sat around, busy making dumplings and enjoying a sumptuous New Year's Eve dinner.

Afterwards, they attended the New Year party at the base and spent the holiday together.

"The cold wind blows the fallen leaves,
The army is a green flower.

Dear comrade, please don't miss home.

Don't think about mom.

I call out day and night,
How many words from my heart,

Don't let tears well up in your eyes when you leave.
The military camp is our warm home..."

Liu Zhiye, the division chief of staff, sang a passionate song, which instantly ignited the warm atmosphere of the 2nd Guard Division's group visit and brought the event to a climax.

Although he was not a well-known military singer and lyricist, several of Liu Zhiye's songs quickly swept across the country like a spring breeze and became melodies in the hearts of countless people.

These classic songs, such as "Camel Bells", "Young Man's Ambition and No Worries", "Red Star Shines on Me to Fight", etc., are sung by almost everyone, whether in the streets, military camps, schools, factories or fields.

At the beginning of the new year, the Second Guard Division welcomed their first festival. Liu Zhiye, a leader in the division's literary and artistic circles, naturally did not want to be lonely. He went on stage alone and presented a moving new song to all officers and soldiers to celebrate the arrival of the new year.

Liu Zhiye's mind contains a vast amount of songs, which may be a unique benefit of his rebirth. Whenever he has a thought, a complete song melody will automatically appear in his mind.

"Green Flower in the Army" is a military song that I think is most suitable for the current situation after much thought.

Sure enough, with his superb singing skills, all the officers and soldiers in the audience were deeply moved by the song and felt a sense of emotional resonance.

This song does not deliberately praise the character of soldiers. It only tells you what is in its heart, which is enough to move you.

Everyone says being a soldier is hard, but those who have served say "You will regret it for the rest of your life if you don't serve in the army." They don't have romantic relationships, but they gain lifelong friendships with their comrades-in-arms. Even if they temporarily leave their mother's warm embrace, they also forge their own iron will in the barracks.

Perhaps it is the first time for the newly reorganized soldiers of the former Public Security Corps to welcome the New Year in the barracks. The novelty is still there and the homesickness is not yet strong.

However, the soldiers from the old unit had tears in their eyes, their eyes were moist, their thoughts drifted far away, and they couldn't help but think of the kind old mother and the hardworking and simple father at home.

"This Liu Zhiye's singing touched my heart..." Liu Zhiye's singing touched people's hearts and brought tears to Political Commissar Xie's eyes.

He was an emotional man, coming from the distant Shu Province, where the mountains were high and the roads were long. In addition, he was busy in the army, so he had not been able to return to his hometown for many years.

The other division leaders beside him also agreed in unison. Division Commander Guo gave a concise evaluation: "The Chief of Staff is a man of both civil and military talents, a leader in the army, and his reputation is well-deserved."

"The future of our Second Division depends on him. He is still young. As his elder brothers, we must help him check and guide him."

Deputy Division Commander Yu and Deputy Political Commissar Meng also knew the truth and had no other thoughts after hearing it.

Liu Zhiye has been identified by the military region as the future leader of the Second Division. Two years later, when he graduates from the Advanced Military Command Academy, he may become the deputy division commander, or even the division commander.

Among the cadres at the battalion and regiment level and above in the Second Division, this consensus was particularly clear: everyone in the division was full of respect for this division chief of staff, who had made outstanding military achievements and had outstanding leadership and professional abilities.

Liu Zhiye walked off the stage and returned to the seats of the division leadership team. He smiled and said to the comrades around him: "What do you think of my singing just now? It was not bad, right?"

Political Commissar Xie patted him on the shoulder and praised him succinctly, "That's great. I think your level can rival the singers in the military art troupe."

Commander Guo mentioned: "Several years ago, I had already appreciated Chief of Staff Liu's outstanding singing talent, and the song 'Red Star Shines on Me to Fight' particularly touched my heart."

"A small bamboo raft, floating in the river..."

"Oh my, it's too high. I'm tone-deaf. Zhiye, you should do it..."

Zheng Chaoyang, director of the Political Department, revealed with a smile: "The inspiration for this song came from the experience of participating in the revolution with Commander Guo when they were young. I heard that it was written on the spot. It is not inferior to Cao Zijian's seven-step poem!"

Other division leaders who were listening to this exclaimed, "We are so familiar with this song. We originally thought that the author just had the same name as the Chief of Staff, but we didn't expect that this masterpiece was actually written by the Chief of Staff!"

"That's right. It's unbelievable that Chief of Staff Liu actually created it on the spot. I witnessed his true talent with my own eyes. This is the true style of a talented person." Commander Guo recalled the scene at that time and is still shocked.

Liu Zhiye is now used to such praise. His face is calm, as if he has an invisible armor. He responded calmly: "The writing is natural, and it is the result of a master's hand... Thank you, thank you." His words revealed a calmness and humility.

"Then sing a song for our comrades to enjoy," Political Commissar Xie encouraged.

"Comrades, let's applaud the Chief of Staff again and look forward to him singing the passionate song 'Red Star Shines on Me as I Go to Battle', okay?"

"Good..." The soldiers cheered in unison. Their beloved chief of staff was about to perform another song, and their joy was beyond words.

Liu Zhiye did not shirk his responsibility and walked onto the stage with big strides. "I cannot refuse the kindness of the comrades, so I have to perform again and sing a song for you, "Red Star Shines on Me to Fight". I will start first, and if you can sing, please sing along with me, okay?"

"Okay..." The comrades in the audience responded in unison.

"Wow, wow, wow..." The applause was loud.

"A small bamboo raft floats in the middle of the river, and passes by the towering green mountains on both sides. Get ready...

The eagle spreads its wings and flies, even if there is a sudden storm.

We shoulder the heavy burden of revolution and keep the Party’s teachings in mind.

Keep the Party’s teachings in mind. Keep the Party’s teachings in mind.

A small bamboo raft floats in the middle of the river, and the surging river flows eastward.

The red star shines brightly, guiding me to fight

The revolution surges from generation to generation, and people continue to follow the party.

Follow the Party one after another and smash the evil old world.

The vast land is covered with splendid beauty, smashing the evil old world.

..."Liu Zhiye's solo finally turned into a loud chorus of all officers and soldiers.

Finally, Commander Guo, on behalf of the division party committee, went on stage to deliver a speech: "Comrades, amid the nationwide celebration and the sound of firecrackers, we ushered in the traditional Chinese New Year festival."

"As all officers and soldiers of the division are filled with joy and celebrate the Spring Festival together with the people of the whole country!"

"On behalf of the entire division party committee and the division leadership, I wish all officers, soldiers, and staff and their families a happy new year!"

"I wish you all a happy New Year, good health, and progress in your work..."

"In the past year, our division was established under the leadership and care of the higher-level party committees, leaders, and organs, and we conscientiously implemented the instructions of the higher-level authorities."

"Thanks to the joint efforts of all officers and soldiers of the division, various tasks centered on military training have been successfully completed. This is a year in which our division has achieved fruitful results in force building." "Political work is solid and effective, ideological construction has achieved remarkable results, the quality of military training has been continuously improved, and it has been repeatedly awarded by the military region..."

…………

It was the first time that Liu Zhiye celebrated the Spring Festival in the military camp after his rebirth. However, he did not feel unfamiliar with it. The more than ten Spring Festivals in the military camps in his memory had already made him accustomed to it.

What is deeply engraved in his mind is the Spring Festival time spent on the battlefield of the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea. The smoke and gunfire are intertwined, but there is also a different kind of warmth and memory.

On the battlefield of the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea, the scene of celebrating the Spring Festival was full of hardships and optimism. In 1951, due to the tense state of the war, Liu Zhiye's first Spring Festival in North Korea after joining the Volunteer Army was destined to be spent in battle.

That year, the logistics troops delivered New Year's goods to the front line under the enemy's hail of bullets. The soldiers used guns in their hands instead of firecrackers to greet the arrival of the New Year in battle in 1952.

The fighting was fierce at that time and logistics supply was difficult. Liu Zhiye and his comrades had fried noodles with snow for their New Year's Eve dinner. In order to welcome the New Year, the soldiers decorated trenches, tunnels, and air-raid shelters with pine branches, and posted simple Spring Festival couplets at the entrance of the caves.

On one side, the battle on the front line was in full swing, and on the other side, the logistics soldiers carried baskets of New Year's goods, braving the enemy's bullets and bombardment, to deliver the goods to the front line.

The most popular New Year's goods among the soldiers were the candies produced by Xinhua Xia. Many people were reluctant to eat them, but just smelled the sweet smell and then carefully put them into their pockets.

Later, after many soldiers died, intact candies were found when their bodies were sorted out.

On February 2, the night of the Chinese New Year, the "Thunderbolt Operation" launched by the "LH National Army" had lasted for 5 days and nights.

There was heavy snow, and the volunteer soldiers on the frontline had no dumplings or firecrackers for the New Year. All they had were potatoes frozen into "ice lumps" and wave after wave of fiercer attacks from the enemy.

At this moment, the force that supports hundreds of thousands of troops to fight bravely is the tenacious perseverance and bursting will, as well as the word "motherland" deeply buried in the hearts of every volunteer soldier.

During that Spring Festival, a faint fragrance wafted from the streets and alleys of Xia Kingdom from time to time. It was thousands of families making "fried noodles" for the officers and soldiers on the front line of the Northern Dynasty.

During the Spring Festival of 52, despite the biological warfare launched by the M Army, Liu Zhiye and his comrades remained optimistic. They made dumplings in the tunnel and used shell casings as rolling pins, demonstrating their revolutionary optimism.

On New Year's Eve, everyone stayed up all night wrapped in quilts. Those who had the means had a radio in the tunnel, and everyone listened to music and opera with great interest. Those who did not have the means just played and sang by themselves, and even pots, pans, and bowls became musical instruments.

At the most dangerous frontline positions, everyone used their guns instead of firecrackers, firing at the enemy positions and welcoming the arrival of the New Year in battle.

In 53, with the progress of armistice negotiations, the tense atmosphere of the war eased and the soldiers of the Xia Kingdom Volunteer Army were finally able to celebrate the Spring Festival in a relatively peaceful environment.

This year, the logistics supply capacity has been significantly improved. Each person can be supplied with ten kilograms of pork, eight kilograms of fresh fish and other rich supplies, as well as half a kilogram of fruit candy, allowing the soldiers to celebrate the Spring Festival happily.

Recall the past and look at the present.

Looking at Liujiazhuang from afar, the sound of firecrackers continues and the fireworks are still brilliant. If you have never experienced the war, how can you deeply understand the preciousness of peace at this moment.

Without the bravery, perseverance, and sacrifice of the martyrs of the Xia Kingdom, how could the Xia Kingdom have the current peace and realize its dream of prosperity and strength.

197653, this cold number is the total number of Xia Guo’s volunteer soldiers who died, not counting the 25621 people missing on the battlefield.

Among them, Xia lost four senior generals and more than a dozen division-level cadres. The youngest soldier who died was only 19 years old.

What made Liu Zhiye most angry was that some people in the later generations of the Xia Kingdom had completely forgotten the crimes that the enemy had committed.
Never forget the national humiliation, remember history, and cherish your present life!

Kissinger wrote in "On Xiaguo": I think Xiaguo's greatest fortune is that there are great people living on this land, and Xiaguo is always well protected by their bravest people.

During the Anti-Japanese War, there were more than 7000 child soldiers, the oldest was no more than 15 years old, and the youngest was only 9 years old. They had to carry guns taller than themselves and fight for their lives against the enemy and artillery fire! But they were not afraid at all, and no one retreated halfway until they died heroically in the end!
Before the expedition, Ross, a war correspondent from Country M, saw that the 1st Army actually had a child soldier battle formation. He was very confused and even angrily questioned the officers of the National Army at that time: "Why let these children go to the battlefield? They are the future of your Xia country!"

The Nationalist army officer replied: "The war has come to this point. If they don't go to the battlefield, Xiaguo will have no future!"

Later, Ross interviewed several child soldiers of the Xia Kingdom before they went to war: "What do you want to do after the war?"

They thought for a moment, and then answered in their childish voices: "What we want most is to go home, herd cattle, farm, be apprentices, go to school, and build our motherland when we grow up..."

However, many of them never returned home! During their beautiful years when they should have been studying, they voluntarily went to the battlefield to kill the enemy and defend their country.

(Readers who have read this far, please don’t criticize if you don’t like it!)
Late at night, the lights in Liu's house were still brightly on.

The old man insisted on waiting for his eldest grandson, Liu Zhiye, to come back and spend the New Year's Eve together.

He has three grandsons, two granddaughters, and three great-grandsons and great-granddaughters.

The eldest grandson Liu Zhiye, as a soldier, will spend the Spring Festival with his comrades today and will return very late.

Liu Zhitai, who ranks second, embarked on a study abroad journey in East Germany last year and is expected to take another two or three years to return to his homeland.

The youngest is Liu Tielin, but he is a tenacious people’s policeman.

In order to allow the general public to celebrate the festive season with peace of mind, he and his comrades resolutely stayed at their posts, silently guarding every bit of peace.

Although the old man didn't say anything, his family members all knew that he was thinking about his grandchildren.

"Dad! You are old already, you should go and have a rest!" Liu Yuansheng advised the old man.

"Haha, Yuansheng, Dad is not sleepy. I just took a nap at noon. Don't worry about me." The old man still said stubbornly.

Uncle Liu Yuansheng was at a loss. He looked at his younger brother Liu Jingzhai and stopped trying to persuade him.

Apart from these three men, there were two little brothers who were trying to crawl around on the kang, and the rest of the family were women.

The two sisters-in-law of Deng Ru from the older generation, the three sisters-in-law of Gan Ning from the younger generation, plus the younger sister Liu Zhiruo, and that little devil.

At this moment, Xiaoxian is playing with her sister-in-law.

"Don't eat candy anymore! Look at your front tooth, one of it has fallen out. You must be so ugly!" Liu Zhiruo snatched the candy from Xiaoxian's hand, while scolding her little niece.

Although Xiaoxian was small, he was full of vigor. He straightened his back and retorted unconvincedly: "Give the candy back to me! You are such a grown-up, why are you still snatching candy from a child?"

Seeing this, Liu Zhiruo smiled. She always liked playing with her little niece. "Haha, I won't give it to you. What can you do? Can you really bite me?" Her words were playful, yet intimate.

"I won't give it to you, I won't give it to you, hahaha..."

The little devil couldn't stand being teased like that. Seeing this, she got angry and wanted to snatch it from her aunt.

But, with her small arms and legs, she couldn't snatch it from her aunt.

Xiaoxian saw that the hard approach didn't work, so he tried the soft approach, thinking: "Humph! There will always be someone who can deal with you."

She immediately ran to her grandmother to complain about her aunt, wanting her grandmother to deal with her aunt Liu Zhiruo.

As expected, Deng Ru pretended to stand up for Xiaoxian and scolded Liu Zhiruo, "I say, you are a grown-up, how can you bully a child? Return the candy to Xiaoxian, you are not acting like an adult."

Xiaoxian was delighted to see her grandmother stand up for her. Whenever she got into trouble, she would always ask her grandmother for help and avoid her strict mother.

Liu Zhiruo pretended to glare at her to scare her, "You little ungrateful bastard, your aunt really loves you in vain..."

At this moment, "Xiao Hei" and "Xiao Bai" who were originally lying quietly suddenly barked twice, jumped up quickly, and ran out of the house.

The old man glanced at the two bastards and said, "Hey, maybe Zhiye is back. Xiaoru, go and heat up the food."

Sure enough, not long after, Liu Zhiye, wearing military uniform, covered in snow, walked into the house exhausted.

After he entered the door, he took off his military cotton hat without saying a word, knelt in front of the old man without hesitation, and said briefly and sincerely: "Grandpa, your grandson kowtows to you, and I wish you a happy New Year!"

(End of this chapter)