Chapter Twenty-Six: The Most Meaningful Day

  Chapter Twenty-Six: The Most Meaningful Day

  Wang Changtian is a highly visionary figure who forced his team to learn military theoretical knowledge to the point of madness; in a regimental unit, 100% of soldiers learned military theory and used every opportunity to create practical possibilities. He made these soldiers believe that knowledge can change the future with bayonets and bullets. Excerpt from "Wang Xiaojun's Memoirs".

  On the morning of April 1st, the loud wake-up call rang out in the early spring dawn. Today was the day when new and old soldiers would train together for the first time, and it was also the first time that new recruits would go on a drill after entering the special operations team. Everyone was busy, some putting on their clothes, others washing up; Wang Changtiger was also getting ready under Wang Tingyu's help, he said to Wang Tingyu while tying his windbreaker: "Sister Yu, you can go back with them today, I'm not at ease leaving the command center unattended."

  Wang Tingyu helped Wang Changhu adjust his collar, and upon hearing this, he gave him a white eye and said: "What's the matter? Yesterday night, you were busy with us three people for two rounds, now that you've used us up, you want to drive us away?"

  Wang Changhu awkwardly smiled and said, "It's not like that; yesterday our team's military law department was established, and the head of the military law department made a suggestion to me. He said that when you guys were doing that thing, your voices were too loud, affecting the soldiers' rest. If you guys are still here, the soldiers might not be able to bear it and collectively go cause trouble for the sows at the 7th Brigade's pig farm. I'm also thinking about those pigs, so let me ask you to leave first?"

  Wang Tingyu let out a snort of laughter, thought for a moment, and then suddenly blushed bright red as she pinched Wang Changhu's waist hard, saying: "It's all because of you, this damned fool, that we're making such an effort to shout. What's the point of provoking those beasts, saying they'll be more ferocious if they're enraged?"

  "This is one thing, that's another; anyway, I'm not a superior officer now, am I? I should set an example by following the military rules, shouldn't I?"

  Wang Tingyu pointed at Wang Changhu's head with her finger and said: "You're all reason, I can't argue with you. Are we just going to leave the three of us?"

  Wang Changhu nodded and replied, "Mei'er and Li Xiao are still members of our team for now. You three go back first, I'll be busy until tonight and then head back too. Tomorrow we can attend the Young Marshal's banquet together, you come along then."

  Wang Tingyu shook her head and said, "A country has its laws, a family has its rules; the young marshal invited his adopted sister, so only she should go from our family. It's not good if others go. As for who goes from your side, I don't care; Li Xiao and Mei'er staying here makes me feel at ease. In the future, when doing things, be more steady, you're already a high-ranking official with thousands of people under you!"

  Wang Changhu looked at Wang Tingyu with satisfaction and said: "You're really good." Wang Tingyu lowered her head in shyness.

  At this time, the whistle of the gathering sounded, Wang Tingyu handed the hat to Wang Changhu and said: "Be careful."

  Wang Changhu turned around and left, saying: "Got it!"

  When Wang Changhu walked onto the reviewing stand, everyone had already gathered. Wang Changhu was puzzled: why hadn't they started training yet? Did they need him to personally organize it?

  He walked onto the reviewing stand and saw Hu Jingzhong taking Huang Yitao's pulse. Wang Changtai came from behind and asked, "What illness?"

  Hu Jingzhong subconsciously said: "Nothing serious, just a bit of internal injury, ah! Good sir." *Snap* salute.

  Several others also came back to their senses with a long sigh and saluted one by one.

  "Why don't you train?"

  Liu Fang said: "Report, that new recruit did not pass your test."

  "What test?" Wang Changhuo asked dazedly.

  Ouyang Qing said: "What else can be the test, of course, it's the boss's wife's call to test. You see, what good soldiers! One night's work, and they were ruined like this! Boss, you're not simple!"

  Wang Changhu's face turned red and he said: "Hu Jingzhong, it's no big deal if they run five thousand meters, right?"

  Hu Jingzhong replied: "No problem, but the speed may be affected."

  Wang Changhu was anxious and said: "Bring the machine gun to me, I'll let them enjoy it thoroughly. First, run twenty laps for me, everyone has to do it, stand at attention, run in place."

  Under the watchful eyes of the machine gun, all the soldiers with sore legs and feet forced themselves to start their 20,000-meter journey. Many new recruits ran with white foam in their mouths, and when the instructor saw this, he didn't help them up, but instead gave them a good scolding and kicking. Some soldiers who witnessed this didn't look pleased and wanted to take action, but the instructor just gave them a good beating, knocking them to the ground, and then ordered the other soldiers to help them continue on their way. The old soldiers ran very easily and had been coldly mocking these new recruits for some time:

  "Look at you guys, running like refugees. Don't run slowly, or the turtle egg (bastard) will really open fire."

  "Can't stand this test? My brother was pierced dozens of times by him, I didn't go mad, look at you turtle-like..."

  "You young people are really something! As soon as the machine gun started firing, you couldn't stop trembling. Look, your legs have even gone soft! You've still got a long life ahead of you, so take care of your body!"

  "Boss, you say they're men, right?"

  "It's still hard to tell now..."

  ………

  Finally finished, all the new recruits were so tired that they almost fell to the ground. At this time, Wang Changhu waved his hand and twenty instructors holding leather belts beat the soldiers sitting on the ground with all their might, shouting: "Get up, get up, get up..."

  All the soldiers except for the old veterans stood up crookedly, Wang Changhu let out a loud roar: "You all stand up straight!"

  Everyone shivered and straightened their bodies with all their might.

  "Now it's 5:50, each department returns to the dormitory to clean up; this morning we will study military theory. New recruits are divided into two classes per squad, and old soldiers are divided into ten classes. In your own dormitory, pay attention to the placement of the blackboard and the lighting. Now go get pens, books, blackboards, chalk, and erasers. After setting up, Liu Fang, Huang Yifei, Ouyang Qing, and Hu Jingzhong will inspect. If qualified, we'll have breakfast at 6:30, line up at the South Card Gate at 7:00 to welcome the instructor, and start class at 8:00. Do you understand?"

  "Understood," everyone replied.

  Wang Changhu returned to Wang Tingyu's house, where several sisters were chatting. Wang Tingyu repeatedly reminded and instructed Long Meier and Li Xiao to take good care of Wang Changhu. When Wang Tingyu saw Wang Changhu return, she hastily drove him out, saying: "We sisters still have things to discuss, you can come in later." Alright, Wang Changhu became a sentry.

  A few sisters came out, their faces all red, and walked to Wang Changhu's side. Each of them pinched him once, pinching the corner of his mouth straight, thinking in his heart: "What's wrong with me? I have to ask."

  Wang Changhu saw several sisters walking by, and when no one else noticed, he grabbed the little red who was walking at the back, covered her mouth, and ran into the house. He gently kicked the door shut with his heel, carried Little Red to the bed, and put her down gently, saying: "What did Big Sister and those girls say? You must tell me the truth, otherwise, I'll chop you up?"

  Xiao Hong's face turned pale as she said, "When Yujie told them to do bad things with you, they weren't allowed to make a sound." Wang Changhu was taken aback and thought to himself, "What does that even mean?" Xiao Hong sneaked a glance at Wang Changhu and secretly admired this man who was only a few years older than her; she mustered up the courage to say in a soft voice, "If Master wants me now, I promise I won't make a sound either."

  Wang Changhu: Uh-huh...

  Facing the brave and dedicated Little Red, Wang Changhu fled in disarray. He ran to the cafeteria, where he saw his wife serving food to the soldiers, adding dishes, and handing out steamed buns while saying: "You've worked hard, eat more..."

  At breakfast time, all the soldiers were thinking of one thing: "Is Colonel Wang a reincarnation of Zhu Bajie, who has chosen a good spot to grow Chinese cabbage?"

  Wang Changhu arrived at the officer's seat, and Huang Shixiong, Hu Jingzhong, Liu Fang, Military Supply Officer, Ouyang Qing, Zhao Yu, Hua Fuer, and Xu Yingfa were already seated there. Wang Changhu picked up a steamed bun, took a bite, chewed for a few moments, and said: "Today, whoever has tasks to complete should hurry up and do them. Tonight, we'll have a meeting to decide who will attend the banquet tomorrow. Those without tasks can accompany me in sending off my wife later and also pick up the instructor sent by General Shao. Tiger, after you return, send some clever brothers to scout out the Japanese garrison tonight, and we'll do something again tonight. Jingzhong, don't feed those ten mad dogs you're raising today; tonight, feed them human flesh."

  At seven o'clock, Wang Changhu and Wang Tingyu, as well as the two sisters, bid each other a reluctant farewell. The rest of the brothers with tasks to complete all went out to attend to their duties. Only Wang Changhu, Huang Yifei, Hua Fuer, Liu Fang, Zhao Yu, Xu Yingfa, and the two rows of soldiers from the war department were left, waiting for the instructor's arrival.

  At 7:30, two military vehicles arrived at the Nan Ka Zi Gate. An officer stepped forward and reported: "Report, one Dean of Studies, five Deputy Deans of Studies, fifty military instructors, all present, awaiting instructions."

  Wang Changhu came before the officer and said, "I have no instructions for you. You are all priceless treasures. Since you've come, stay at ease and help me fix these monkeys. I, Wang Changhu, will not treat you unfairly!"

  Wang Changhu turned around and saluted the instructors on the vehicle solemnly, as did the other soldiers. Then all the soldiers applauded under the inspection of the instructors.

  Wang Changhu waved his hand, and the applause stopped; he said excitedly: "Brothers, General Shao has sent us so many instructors, I feel very proud. From now on, we will learn together, make progress together, constantly enrich our minds, strengthen our bodies, and strive to become qualified soldiers. A soldier may be able to eliminate a few enemies, but an officer with brains can lead dozens, hundreds, thousands, or even tens of thousands of people to eliminate tens of thousands of enemies. I want you to become such officers, do you understand?"

  Thousands of people thundered in unison: "Got it."

  All the soldiers were brought to the dormitory, and began to study. Each education officer was responsible for supervising ten classes of learning and arranging class schedules. Every day, the soldiers entered the classroom at 7:00, studying four lessons, each lasting one hour, with a 10-minute break between lessons; in the afternoon, there were military skills classes; from 6:00 to 8:00 in the evening, there were self-study classes, and instructors had to enter the classroom to answer questions. The time arrangement was very compact, and the combination of study and training was also very reasonable.

  Wang Changhu seemed to have returned to his military school days, quietly flowing between each classroom, watching those lovely soldiers seriously record, he felt that everything he was doing now was worthwhile and meaningful.

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