Chapter 398 Acting Division Commander (Please skip if you have already read the repeated chapter)
(This chapter has been revised and republished due to blocking. Readers who have already read it should read it with caution. We apologize for the inconvenience caused to readers.

Note: This chapter is a repeat chapter. If you have read Chapter 392, please skip this chapter. Thank you)
Liu Zhitai, full of vigor and high spirits, embarked on his journey home. Compared with the past, he had already been reborn and was no longer the same old man.

In the past, he was just a rising star in Peking Union Medical College; now, he has become a highly regarded overseas returnee elite in the field of Chinese and Western medicine in China, and his achievements and style are remarkable.

Regarding Liu Zhitai's early return, his mother Deng Ru was undoubtedly the happiest.

A mother is always worried about her youngest son. Since he left for a foreign country to study, Deng Ru's heart has always been tied to her youngest son. Her concern is as deep and lasting as when her eldest son joined the army.

Secondly, the other happiest person was the old man.

Speaking of his many generations, the person who truly inherited his traditional Chinese medicine legacy was Liu Zhitai, and he was even better than his teacher.

After returning home, Liu Zhitai did not rush to enter medical school, but chose to stay with his grandfather and parents, spending more than ten days of warm and fulfilling time together.

The two brothers were not reunited until his elder brother Liu Zhiye, who had also completed his studies at the military academy ahead of schedule, returned.

Compared to his younger brother Liu Zhitai's brilliant achievement of easily obtaining a double doctorate degree from the Charité Medical School in Germany, Liu Zhiye was lucky to graduate from the "Advanced Military Command College" more than three months ahead of schedule.

If he delays graduation in the academy for a few more months, by the time he returns to the division, it will be too late.

In fact, under normal circumstances, it would have been almost impossible for him to complete his studies and graduate early.

After all, the "Advanced Military Command College" always takes an extremely cautious attitude towards the training of senior military officers and must proceed step by step.

What's more, for senior military officers to formally graduate, the most important thing is the collective thesis defense.

However, during his time at school, Liu Zhiye had published many military thought papers that sparked heated discussions throughout the army, as well as several articles that were studied by the Strategic Department of the Military Commission. His thesis defense was passed ahead of schedule.

In addition, he obtained the special approval of Principal Liu. More importantly, the military chief of Liu Zhiye's former unit was about to be transferred. Before leaving, he strongly recommended Liu Zhiye to take over as deputy commander of the Second Division and serve concurrently as acting commander.

This series of opportunities enabled Liu Zhiye to complete his studies ahead of schedule and embark on a new military career.

On April 27, an enlarged meeting of the Second Division of the Beijing Garrison Guard was solemnly held.

At this meeting, the newly returned Chief of Staff Liu Zhiye sat firmly in the center of the rostrum, looking dignified and eye-catching.

This meeting was chaired by Deputy Commander Guo (formerly the commander of the 2nd Guard Division) of the Beijing Garrison Command. He sat firmly in the center, with Liu Zhiye sitting next to him on his right, and Political Commissar Nie sitting on his left. The three of them formed a tripod and discussed important matters together.

This meeting was filled with a serious and solemn atmosphere from the very beginning.

The meeting was held under the leadership of Deputy Commander Guo and aimed to strengthen the army's discipline and obedience, as well as some personnel appointments in the Second Guard Division.

The main purpose of the meeting was to make it clear through formal warnings that leaders such as the regiment heads and political commissars would be severely punished if anyone disobeyed orders and did not abide by the rules.

The meeting also emphasized the political direction and discipline of the army, and put forward the leader's thoughts: "firm and correct political direction, difficult and simple working style, flexible and maneuverable strategies and tactics" and the "three eight style" of "unity, tension, seriousness and liveliness" to strengthen the army's political and ideological work and improve the combat effectiveness and execution of the troops.

In addition, the meeting also discussed issues such as the military's organizational structure, equipment planning, and how to strengthen the military's political and ideological work to ensure that the military always remains consistent with the Party and loyal to the country and the people.

At this meeting, Deputy Commander Guo announced an important personnel change in the garrison with great force: "Order No. 66420 of the Garrison is hereby officially promulgated: From now on, Comrade Liu Zhiye, Chief of Staff of the Second Guard Division, will be entrusted with the important task of acting as the commander of the Second Guard Division with his outstanding military talents and rich practical experience; at the same time, Comrade Xu Rong, former Deputy Chief of Staff of the Second Guard Division, will temporarily take over the position of Chief of Staff of the Division with his outstanding coordination and planning abilities. Comrade Liu Zhiye has experienced many hardships and made outstanding contributions since he joined the army..."

As soon as Deputy Commander Guo finished speaking, he smiled and applauded first, announcing: "Let us send our sincerest congratulations to these two comrades, and look forward to their continued success in their new posts!"

"Wow, wow, wow..." thunderous applause instantly filled the entire venue. On and off the stage, applause rose and fell, and it was extremely enthusiastic. Some comrades were so excited that they could not contain their applause and cheered. Obviously, the appointment of these two comrades was deeply popular and was what everyone expected.

Liu Zhiye's heart was pounding. Even though he had already predicted the result, when the order was officially read out, he still felt a buzzing in his head and a moment of trance.

His promotion this time is of great significance. If there are no disturbances in the position of acting division commander, it means that he will officially take the helm of the Second Guard Division, shoulder the "Golden Flower" and become a rising star in the army.

The promotion from colonel to general is a huge leap in one's career. Many heroes have stopped here in their lifetime.

Liu Zhiye, who was only in his thirties, had already crossed this threshold and the golden epaulettes were within his reach. How could he not be ecstatic and unable to control himself in this situation?
What's more, he is about to personally command the Second Guard Division, an elite force of more than 20,000 people. Like a tiger entrenched in the west of Beijing, it will become an indispensable key military pillar for maintaining the peace of the capital.

Acting division commander Liu Zhiye and acting chief of staff Xu Rong stood side by side and saluted solemnly amid thunderous applause from the audience, expressing their highest respect for their duties.

Afterwards, the two delivered emotional inaugural speeches, revealing their firm determination to face future challenges and selfless dedication to the troops, which deeply moved every officer and fighter present.

After the meeting, Acting Division Commander Liu Zhiye, Chief of Staff Xu Rong and others accompanied Deputy Commander Guo to review the officers and soldiers of the entire division.

At the review site, military flags were flying, helmets were shining, and the green color was flowing.

The parade formations of the various regiments of the army lined up neatly on one side of the wide road under the scorching sun, without moving an inch. The flowing green military uniforms turned the wide street into a sea of ​​green.

The proudly-armed artillery pieces and the awe-inspiring tanks fully demonstrate the powerful combat effectiveness of the Second Guard Division's national defense reserve force.

At 9:50 a.m., the host of the military parade, Liu Zhiye, acting commander of the nd Guard Division, loudly announced that "the parade has officially begun."

Deputy Commander Guo of the Beijing Garrison District stepped briskly onto the parade vehicle and began the review accompanied by Xu Rong, acting chief of staff of the Second Guard Division.

The parade vehicles moved slowly amid the majestic military music. "Hello, comrades!", "Thank you for your hard work, comrades!"...

"Hello, Chief!", "Serve the people!" The loud responses fully expressed the firm determination of the officers and soldiers of the Second Division to sharpen their swords in the west of Beijing, devote their efforts to national defense and serve the people.

After the military parade, Deputy Commander Guo and some senior officers from the headquarters stayed in the Second Guard Division.

They need to go to the company regularly and train with the soldiers.

Of course, several senior officers who were about to join the company and several military chiefs of the Second Division sat together and held a symposium. At the meeting, Deputy Commander Guo said sincerely: "I was a soldier decades ago. At that time, officers and soldiers were the same, old and young. Everyone was like brothers, living and fighting together. Everyone was in a good mood and in a good spirit. It was these fine traditions and styles that cultivated the growth of soldiers and trained us to become officers."

After recalling his past military service, Deputy Commander Guo said sincerely: "Even if we become senior cadres now, we cannot... At the age of 52, I can become an ordinary soldier for the second time. I am very happy to have this opportunity, and I must be a good soldier this time."

Deputy Commander Guo's sincere words not only demonstrated his firm attitude of actively responding to XX's instructions, but also moved the other generals present.

Senior cadres went to the company to resolutely respond to the instructions of XX when he inspected the Jinling Military Region: "Now XX has stipulated that every local leading cadre must work as a worker in a factory or as a farmer in the countryside for a period of time.

Then, can you leaders also serve as soldiers in the company and make a decision as well? "

Deputy Commander Guo and others quickly prepared for the company training. He returned home, put on the military uniform and liberation shoes he wore when he was a soldier, carried a backpack on his shoulders, put on a hat on his head, and walked back and forth at home, just like a nervous recruit about to join the army.

Deputy Commander Guo also enthusiastically asked his wife whether she looked like a soldier. "Yes, I do, but I'm a little old," his wife said jokingly.

Deputy Commander Guo did not take his wife's words to heart. Instead, he looked in the mirror and admired his image for a while. Then he said to his wife seriously, "If you say I look like you, that doesn't count. When I get to the army and the soldiers say I look like you, then it will really be like you."

So when the jeep carrying Deputy Commander Guo and his entourage arrived at the camp, the soldiers had already been standing in two rows, waiting for a long time. They beat drums and gongs and applauded loudly, welcoming this group of "veterans" including Xu Shiyou with great enthusiasm.

Chen Wei is the company commander and the leader of the young soldiers, but in front of the veterans who have experienced many battles and have made great achievements, Chen Wei is extremely nervous. When Deputy Commander Guo and others got out of the car, Gao Lishan quickly ran over, stood at attention, saluted, and reported with a very serious expression.

Perhaps Guo Zicheng also noticed the nervousness and excitement of Company Commander Chen Wei. In response to Chen Wei's respectful report, Guo Zicheng hurriedly waved his hands, indicating that he had mistaken his identity. He was now just an ordinary soldier in the company and would never let the company commander report to him.

After finishing his explanation, Guo Zicheng immediately stood at attention and saluted Chen Wei, and reported in a serious tone: "Comrade Company Commander, Private First Class Guo Zicheng is here to report, please assign me a task.

Guo Zicheng's modest attitude surprised Captain Chen Wei. Chen Wei was at a loss, his face flushed red. After a long pause, he reacted and said quickly, "Report to the commander, you are assigned to the second platoon, the seventh squad."

Guo Zicheng had already been famous for a long time, so it was no wonder that it was difficult for Chen Wei to break away from his identity as the leader.

Guo Zicheng smiled and corrected Chen Wei, saying, "Why haven't you changed your mind yet? What are you reporting to me? I'm not the chief. The person standing in front of you is Private Guo Zicheng, who is reporting to you."

Chen Wei finally reacted after hearing Guo Zicheng's "reminder". Guo Zicheng, the "veteran", successfully reported and joined the team.

Although Guo Zicheng has always been upright in character, he also has a very considerate side. He felt the restraint of Company Commander Chen Wei when he reported for duty, and later sat down and talked with Chen Wei to ask about his concerns.

Although Chen Wei always said that he had no concerns about Deputy Guo Zicheng coming to serve in the army, Guo Zicheng obviously noticed his "difficulty".

In front of Chen Wei, Guo Zicheng expressed his sincere attitude: "I am a soldier who is easy to lead. I obey orders in all actions. In the company, I listen to the party branch and the company platoon leaders. I will do whatever you ask me to do and will never cause trouble for you."

Gao Chenwei was deeply moved by Guo Zicheng's sincere attitude, and the manly man almost shed tears.

…………

With Liu Zhiye officially taking over the position of acting commander of the 2nd Guard Division, the division quietly entered a new era.

Indeed, within the Second Guard Division, Political Commissar Nie’s qualifications and rank were higher than Liu Zhiye’s.

However, as a typical political cadre in the military, Political Commissar Nie abided by his duties and focused on ideological and political work. He showed a high degree of trust and freedom in the specific affairs of military management and never easily interfered with Liu Zhiye's decisions and actions.

This tacit division of labor enabled the Second Division to move forward steadily under the concerted leadership of the two leaders.

In addition, the prestige that Liu Zhiye had established in the early days of the Second Division made it possible for him to handle everything smoothly when he first took charge of the division, as smoothly as if he was commanding his own hands and feet.

In his busy life, he can still take time off, return home leisurely and enjoy a moment of warmth and tranquility.

At this point, Liu Zhiye's years of hard work have yielded remarkable results.

Not only did he successfully lead an iron army of nearly 20,000 men, but he also had extraordinary combat effectiveness.

At the same time, Liujiazhuang also flourished under his leadership. The population of the Liu family has exceeded 40,000, and more than 100,000 young and strong people in the surrounding areas are yearning for Liujiazhuang. . . . .

In addition, Liujiazhuang also has an elite militia of more than 10,000 people, as well as security departments and police stations throughout various factories and mines, which together form a security force of more than 2,000 people. . . .

In the western part of Beijing, by May, cherries, the "first spring fruit" in the north, are already hanging on the branches.

Liujiazhuang Subdistrict is a major cherry grower. The cherry planting area within the subdistrict office is about 5000 acres, accounting for half of the cherry planting area in the MTG district.

Moreover, due to its special geographical location, the cherries in Liujiazhuang are the first to mature in the Beijing area, so they often seize the market first.

Cherries in Liujiazhuang begin to ripen in early May, more than half a month earlier than in other areas. Cherries are put on the market early to ensure they are fresh.

Since the beginning of the cherry picking season, there has been an endless stream of fruit vendors coming to Liujiazhuang. Cherries must be picked fresh, so every morning the cherry planting base has to pack up the cherries that customers have reserved.

In a blink of an eye, the Second Guard Division has been firmly stationed in Liujiazhuang for nearly three years. There is no shortage of young talents from the village and neighboring areas in the team. What is more worth mentioning is that the current military chief of the Second Guard Division is the pride of the people of Liujiazhuang - Liu Zhiye.

The relationship between Liujiazhuang and the military is becoming increasingly close, like fish and water.

Whenever the harvest season comes in the village, the villagers always think of sending their best specialty products to the troops to express their gratitude and respect.

The soldiers of the 2nd Guard Division are not ungrateful.

During the busy farming season in Liujiazhuang, they took off their battle uniforms and put on farm clothes. Some worked hard in the fields to help with the harvest, while others carried loads on their shoulders and pushed wheels to build roads and bridges, contributing to the modernization of the village.

The close relationship between the military and the people is vividly demonstrated in Liujiazhuang, and has become a unique landscape in the local area.

As cherries from Liujiazhuang are put on the market in large quantities, picking cherries becomes the biggest problem.

Because, after the small cherries are ripe, if you start counting from the time they are picked when they are 80% to 90% ripe, the time they can stay on the tree until they are ripe and fall to the ground is about ten days.

This period provides certain conveniences for the storage and transportation of cherries, allowing cherries to remain fresh to a certain extent and meet market demand.

If they are not picked after this time, they will fall to the ground.

In the past, elders often said that “cherries are delicious but difficult to grow.” Liu Zhiye didn’t understand it when he was young, but now that he has grown up, he has a deep understanding of it.

It usually takes 3-5 years for a cherry tree to bear fruit after being planted, so when picking cherries, you must protect the tree and not break the small branches on the tree, as these small branches are the key to the cherry bearing.

In addition, when picking cherries, be sure to pick the cherry stems together with the cherries, so that they can be preserved longer. If you only pick the fruits, you may have to drink cherry soup when you get home!
Once off the branch, ripe native cherries only last about three days and are extremely poor at storage. Ripe cherries are probably the most watery berries, almost a pack of juice.

The cherry trees all over Liujiazhuang are planted between the towering mountains. Every year when the cherries are ripe, all the men, women, and children in the village come out in droves to participate in this cherry picking feast. However, there is still a shortage of manpower and it is difficult to satisfy the desire for a good harvest.

However, this year is very different. Thanks to the great help of all the officers and soldiers of the Second Guard Division, they are like divine soldiers sent from heaven, adding infinite strength to this cherry feast.

With the addition of this new force, the speed of cherry harvesting will surely increase by leaps and bounds, and the harvest will surely set a new record, allowing the fragrance of Liujiazhuang's cherries to spread further and further.

(End of this chapter)