Chapter 413 Being a soldier is not that easy
With a "squeak" of brakes, a Beijing military green jeep with license plate number Beijing K-20001 stopped steadily in front of the imposing gate of the Liu family compound.

Immediately afterwards, on the passenger side, a young cadre in a neat green military uniform jumped out of the car nimbly. He quickly turned to the right rear seat, opened the door steadily with one hand, and gently placed his other hand on the upper edge of the door. With a professional and respectful attitude, he greeted his leader, Liu Zhiye, and slowly walked out of the car.

The whole movement is smooth and powerful, revealing the soldier's rigor and respect for his superiors.

This scene made Liu Haizhong extremely envious, and he immediately felt that "a real man should be like this".

"This is what a big leader is!" Liu Haizhong murmured in his heart. When they were in the same courtyard before, Liu Haizhong didn't feel that there was anything different about Liu Zhiye. After meeting again after a long separation, he found that Liu Zhiye's outstanding temperament was instantly highlighted, which made people look at him with new eyes.

"Commander Liu, you're back! Welcome, a warm welcome..." Liu Haizhong bent down instantly and an ingratiating smile appeared on his face involuntarily.

“???” Three black question marks popped up in Liu Zhiye’s mind.

"Isn't this my home? Am I inspecting the work?" He shook off this unrealistic thought and laughed in his heart: "This Liu Haizhong is so servile and flattering!"

"Haha, Second Uncle, this is obviously my home. What are you talking about?" Liu Zhiye couldn't help but burst out laughing.

Liu Haizhong's old face turned red, "Oh, look at my memory, the old problem comes back again. When I saw you, I felt like I saw a big leader coming, I was so nervous that I forgot my limits." He cleverly found an excuse to smooth things over, and at the same time did not forget to compliment Liu Zhiye. The atmosphere between the two of them suddenly became much more relaxed.

"Hahaha, what big leaders, small leaders? After all, they are all servants of the people. Second Uncle, let's go inside and have a chat while drinking tea!" Liu Zhiye smiled heartily, then made an inviting gesture, and took a step, leading the direction, walking towards home, his steps revealing a bit of intimacy and casualness.

As soon as he entered the house, Liu Zhiye first greeted his parents briefly, and then noticed that Yan Bugui was also present. The two families had a close relationship, and the atmosphere seemed particularly relaxed.

He casually hung his general's cap aside and called out to Yan Bugui naturally, "Hey, Third Uncle, you are here too?" There was a hint of intimacy and surprise in his tone.

Yan Bugui responded with a smile on his face: "You are finally back. We came here specially to trouble you today." His words showed respect for Liu Zhiye while maintaining the easy-going manner of an elder.

"Huh? What could have brought the two of you here together?" Liu Zhiye asked softly, looking puzzled.

At this time, Liu Jingzhai took over at the right time, smiled and said: "Don't be in a hurry, let's go to the table first and chat while eating, how about it?" After that, he gave Yan Bugui a tacit look without any expression.

Yan Bugui and Liu Haizhong understood instantly and nodded in agreement: "That's right, there's no rush for this matter. We haven't seen each other for a long time, so this is a good opportunity to have a drink and chat!"

Liu Zhiye knew what was going on, but he pretended to be relaxed and said, "Okay, but I'm afraid I won't be able to enjoy myself today. I have to return to the team in the afternoon..."

"........."

After several rounds of drinks, the atmosphere gradually became better. Yan Bugui was afraid that Liu Haizhong would say something wrong again when he was drunk, so he took the initiative to take over the conversation and explained to Liu Zhiye directly the real purpose of their visit.

"............In short, this is how things are, and we have no intention of forcing you. If you can lend a helping hand, we will be very grateful; if there is any inconvenience, please let us know, we would never dare to disturb you in the slightest, let alone cause you any trouble..." Yan Bugui's words revealed sincerity and respect, which not only stated his purpose but also took into account the other party's feelings.

Liu Zhiye was silent for a moment, his eyes deep. Yan Bugui and Liu Haizhong stared at him expectantly, and the air seemed to freeze.

He thought to himself that when he helped Yi Yuanchao, he had foreseen the current situation. Now that an opening had been made, it would be too offensive to flatly reject Yan Bugui and others at this moment.

So, he spoke slowly, revealing a bit of indescribable helplessness in his tone, and said bluntly to the two of them: "You two, this matter is very serious. Yi Yuanchao also used a lot of connections to barely make this happen."

"Besides, this year's conscription has been finalized. If Yan Jiekuang and his men want to join the army, they can only wait until next spring and then..."

Yan Bugui and Liu Haizhong looked at each other and said, "Next year is fine. As long as they can serve in the army, it doesn't matter if they wait for a few months."

Liu Zhiye nodded slightly at them, and said sincerely, "I can't guarantee that it will be done, I can only say that I will try my best.

In addition, even if they succeed in joining the army, they may not be able to return to the capital to serve, or be assigned to a remote military region. At a time when the whole country is preparing for war... the risk is naturally not small. You two need to think carefully. "

"This..." Yan Bugui and Liu Haizhong looked hesitant when they heard this, knowing that what Liu Zhiye said was true and they were all realistic concerns.

Yan Bugui secretly thought that if a war really broke out, it might be safer to leave the children in the countryside as educated youth. Although it would be hard, it would be stable and might be a good idea.

However, Liu Haizhong was still unwilling to give in. He questioned, "Wouldn't Yi Yuanchao from the old Yi family be able to join your army and become your soldier?"

Liu Zhiye couldn't help but frowned slightly when he heard this, but because Yan Bugui was present, he suppressed his displeasure and explained in a calm tone: "Yi Yuanchao was able to join our division as a soldier because of multiple factors.

First and foremost, this year our division is going to Sbei and other places to recruit soldiers, and next year it will be the turn of other regions.

Furthermore, I happened to have an old comrade in the local armed forces, and it was with the help of my comrades that I was able to secure a valuable spot for Yi Yuanchao."

What Liu Zhiye meant was that he could help the children from both families to join the army.

However, he could not guarantee that Yan Jiekuang, Liu Guangtian and others would be assigned to serve as soldiers there, as it might be more difficult and more dangerous than going to the countryside.

Even so, it is not easy to join the army.

In the past two years, the enthusiasm for joining the army has reached an unprecedented high. As a young man who went to the countryside to work in the production team, it was not easy to realize the dream of joining the army.

To cross this threshold, one must pass three tests. The service age at this time is 18 to 22 years old. People in this age group are called young people of appropriate age and can sign up to join the army.

But it’s not so easy to sign up.

Because this age group is the period of many children born in the early days of the founding of the People's Republic of China, the number of registration places is limited, and there are many people of appropriate age but few applicants.

Take Liujiazhuang area as an example. There are nearly 40,000 local people in the area, but only about 100 of them have joined the army this year. However, there are at least 2,000 young people of military age, and it is difficult to choose one out of 20.

In this case, you must have obvious advantages in all aspects to be able to apply, which can be said to be selecting the best from the best.

After registering, you can take the physical examination, which is called "military inspection".

The number of participants was probably more than twice the number of applicants, and they were all young men who looked relatively strong.

This is because it is a hard indicator. If a village does not choose well and cannot be tested at the time, the quota will be taken by other villages, which will make it very embarrassing.

To take the physical examination, one has to go through two tests. The first is visual inspection. All the people gather in the courtyard of the commune and line up, walk in a queue or run. If the height, posture, etc. are wrong, they will be pulled out on the spot.

The second is actual measurement. At the local health center, check each item according to the required subjects. If there is no problem, go to a higher-level hospital for another X-ray.

After two tests, there were no problems at all. It can be said to be the strongest among the strong.

The next step is the political review, which is mainly based on family background, social relations and actual performance. The commune will organize special personnel to conduct internal and external investigations to make sure that the requirements are met before you can pass.

The political review content includes three generations of direct relationship (the person himself, his parents, his grandparents); and three relatives of the collateral relationship (aunt, uncle, and aunt).

These investigation results were all filled in and kept on file as a basis. The final decision was pure and absolute.

After passing three levels in a row, one enters the final procedure, which is called "determining the troops."

Passing the physical examination does not mean that you can become a soldier without any doubt.

At this time, "determining the troops" also needs to consider a certain proportion, which is a decisive link.

First, the conscription personnel will conduct home visits to the proposed recruits, and then the military and local governments will jointly determine the applicants.

Only after receiving the official "enlistment notice" and changing into a full set of military uniform, can one be considered to have truly joined the army.

Therefore, it was not easy for Yan Jiekuang and others to successfully become soldiers in the village where they were sent to work. It was also impossible for them to be picky and choose and go here or there.

It would be fine if they were assigned to a good army or a prosperous place, but if they were assigned to a border area, or guarding a remote mountainous area...

When Liu Zhiye was studying at the Advanced Military Command College, the school organized the students in the advanced class to visit a border defense force in western Xinjiang to express their condolences.

Here he saw and felt the hardships and difficulties faced by the snow mountain warriors.

"It's so hard here, don't you complain?" Liu Zhiye asked. "Report to the commander! We are doing well. Sometimes we can eat fresh vegetables and see greenery!
Other comrades from the local area have not yet eaten fresh vegetables and can’t see green all year round. Compared with them, we are already very happy.”

A group of clear-eyed and simple little soldiers responded with a smile. Their dry lips were torn because of laughing, and blood flowed out.

"You are all good comrades! The motherland and the people will never forget you!" Liu Zhiye said with moist eyes.

Their living conditions were not good either. There were more than 20 people in a high mountain outpost, and they had to sleep in a cave. Although it was crowded, it was much warmer.

"The full moon shines on my hometown and the border. On a quiet night, you miss me and I miss you too. I stay by the baby's cradle, and you patrol the border of our motherland..."

Transportation and communications in western Xinjiang are very difficult. The supplies for tens of thousands of border defense troops depend on two steel transportation lines: Qingjiang and Sichuan.

The second is that we rely on comrades from multiple motor vehicle regiments who travel on the snowy plateau all year round.

Communications were even more difficult. Most counties had post offices, but postal vehicles did not have fixed operating hours. Some remote counties did not have postal and telecommunications services.

It usually takes two months for cadres and soldiers to communicate with their families, and at some border points it even takes half a year to a year.

Most of the newspapers we read were from a month ago. It was only a few years ago that each company was equipped with a Red Light or Panda brand radio for the troops to listen to the news.

Due to transportation difficulties, cadres can only return to the mainland for a three-month vacation after they have worked for two years.

Soldiers who have served beyond their term, that is, after three years, can take turns to go back home to visit their families, with a vacation of 30 days. Generally, they can only visit their families after serving for about five years.

Because the troops are stationed in a remote and cold area with inconvenient transportation, they are in a field environment for a long time, living in tents in the mountains and have no regular fixed barracks.

Therefore, the families of officers and soldiers rarely come to visit the team. If they do come occasionally, it is mostly in summer and autumn.

Some soldiers on duty live on a mountain top surrounded by steep cliffs. The wind is very strong, and the radio antenna has been blown down countless times. They cannot light a fire to cook in the room. The room is cold and damp, and the soldiers have to wear cotton clothes in the hot summer...

"The sky is our blanket, the ground is our bed, and the years have left their marks between the snow-capped mountains and the grasslands."

At this time, the conditions for the troops guarding the border mountainous areas were extremely difficult. In many areas, there were no roads and they had to ride horses, and they could only live in tents in the wild.

Liu Zhiye succinctly explained to them that joining the army was not a place to seek comfort, but a melting pot for tempering one's will, and the hardships of life there were beyond imagination.

If Liu Guangtian and his team had turned their attention to the army simply to escape the hardships of "going to the countryside", it would undoubtedly be a step in the wrong direction and a huge mistake.

The army is a testing ground for the brave, not a safe haven for escaping reality.

Even the hardships Yi Yuanchao endured in the army were beyond the imagination of people like Liu Guangtian.

Yi Yuanchao's ability to endure hardships is related to his hardship experience since childhood. If Liu Guangtian, Yan Jiekuang and others were to serve in the army, it would not be the same.

It’s not that Liu Zhiye looks down on Liu Guangtian and Yan Jiekuang, but these two guys can’t even bear the hardships in the countryside, and they still want to go to the army for training?
The conditions in the army during those years were still very difficult, and the food and accommodation conditions were relatively poor.

These are nothing, the hardest part is the training.

Because their Second Guard Division is a nationally famous unit, their training standards are much higher than those of ordinary companies.

In the Second Guard Division, we usually had to run 5 kilometers cross-country three times a day and practice shooting and aiming in the snow for two hours at a time.

After standing up, he could not stand steadily, and his legs were as uncontrollable as popsicles; when practicing tactics in a low posture crawling, his elbows were rubbed bloody, and the blood scabs stuck to his clothes so tightly that he could not take them off.

Practicing on the single and double bars, my hands are covered with calluses and bloody cuts; during winter camping and training, I have to march up to 120 miles a day with a load, my face is numb from the cold, and my nose is covered with big blood blisters... Is this really hard?
Of course it’s bitter!
If you can't stand the hardship during the "Up to the Countryside and Mountain Restructuring" movement, you can become a deserter. If you can't stand the hardship in the army, you can become a deserter. Just try it.

Upon hearing this, Liu Haizhong's expression changed slightly, revealing some hesitation, "Well... well, let's go back and discuss it with the child. I'm really sorry to trouble you with this matter..." After saying that, he sighed softly, as if he was struggling and weighing the pros and cons in his heart.

Just like that, Liu Haizhong and Yan Bugui chose to back out.

No one knows a son better than his father. Yan Jiekuang is okay. Although he cannot endure hardship, he is a good student. It’s just that he was born at the wrong time, otherwise he would have been a good candidate for college student.

But Liu Haizhong knew very well what kind of person Liu Guangtian was.

This guy is lazy, cunning and smooth.

Once there is profit to be made, he will rush to get it; otherwise, he will avoid it as much as possible, just like a person who forgets his principles when he sees profit.

Liu Haizhong was really afraid, what if this kid couldn't bear the hardship and became a deserter...

----

Time quickly came to the end of the lunar year 69.

One day, the Second Guard Division suddenly received an order from their superiors for a winter camping and training mission: the requirement was to travel a thousand miles in one month. The slogan of the so-called thousand-mile camping and training was: practice hard and become a tough guy, and crush DXF to death.

That is, from this time until the summer of the following year, a magnificent scene of large-scale military training and exercises involving hundreds of millions of soldiers and civilians was staged on the land of Xia State.

During this period, almost everyone, from the elderly with white hair to children as young as six or seven, participated. It can be said that "seven hundred million people, seven hundred million soldiers, and a vast country and a vast camp."

However, the causes and consequences of this large-scale camping and military training are little known... The report of the winter thousand-mile camping and training was reported to the higher levels, and XX was very happy to read it and commented: "This is a good training."

The instruction of "training in this way is good" was quickly conveyed throughout the army, especially to the three regions of Northeast, North China and Northwest China, which are strategically located and belong to severely cold regions. Xxx's instruction of "training in this way is good" is more instructive for the training of troops in the "Three Norths" regions.

The troops in the "Three Norths" region conducted different forms of training.

For some troops, an emergency combat readiness assembly not only takes a long time, but also causes confusion and neglect, which does not meet the combat readiness requirements.

After the summary report on the troops' thousand-mile combat readiness camping training drafted by the Second Guard Division of the Beijing Garrison District was submitted to higher levels, XX instructed: "This is how we have to train, otherwise the troops will become old soldiers."

The camping training exercise involving hundreds of millions of military and civilians will last from this winter to the summer of next year.

In the next year and more, workers will go to the countryside, farmers will go to the cities, soldiers will go to the mountains, and students will go to military camps, moving between them and receiving each other.

The troops' camping and military training mainly revolve around the four words "eating, living, traveling and fighting", and focus on testing the troops' survival ability, cold resistance, adaptability and combat capability under the severe winter conditions.

When the Second Guard Division went camping and training in winter, according to routine requirements, when the infantry performed combat readiness tasks, the food that each soldier brought with him was "three raw and one cooked": "three raw" refers to three days of raw food, mainly rice; "one cooked" refers to one day of cooked food, mainly steamed bread.

On the first day of the training, each person carried two kilograms of steamed buns and two kilograms of water.

In the mountainous areas northwest of Beijing, it is extremely cold outdoors in winter. It is no exaggeration to say that water turns into ice.

The steamed buns and water carried by the troops were all frozen hard after an hour. The steamed buns could not be cut with a knife, smashed with stones, or chewed with teeth. Each bite only left a few shallow tooth marks.

The water and the kettle were frozen into one whole, and the water could not be poured out at all. Many kettles were even cracked due to the freezing.

Some soldiers were thirsty and had to stuff handfuls of snow into their mouths.

…………

In the few days before the Spring Festival, because the goal of one thousand miles of field training had not yet been achieved, the 2nd Guard Division had to make a few more rounds around western Beijing, Yanshan Mountain, and Taihang Mountain.

At this time, the rural people around the capital have entered the New Year atmosphere.

Finally, the Second Guard Division returned to the barracks two days before the New Year, having successfully completed the thousand-mile field training mission.

Then, after cleaning the indoor and outdoor areas, wiping the weapons and putting them into storage, it was already New Year's Eve.

(End of this chapter)