Chapter 10: Recruiting Soldiers (2)

  Yesterday, when he returned to Captain Liu's home, Wang Changhu's mood was not good, and he started to sulk in front of the Liu sisters; Liu Xinyi has a gentle personality, so she began to comfort Wang Changhu, saying that it's hard for men outside, everything will be fine if they take their time, and that everything will get better; Wang Changhu was deeply moved by her words, feeling grateful to have such a virtuous wife.

  Liu Xinyu's performance enraged Wang Changhu, not only sarcastically saying that Wang Changhu had low psychological quality, but also thinking that Wang Changhu was still the same kid who couldn't withstand wind and waves, and refused to sleep with three people; Wang Changhu thought in his heart: If it weren't for your dead grandfather always giving me difficult questions, would I have to hang my face?!

  He had an idea - the grandfather's debt, the granddaughter repays; he brutally bullied Liu Xinyu for a while, but was gentle as water to Liu Xinyi; this resulted in Liu Xinyu having difficulty getting up the next day, while Liu Xinyi got up early and ordered the servant to cook, even personally helping Wang Changtiger tidy up and dress; this directly gave Wang Changtiger an impression: "The more spoiled people are, the lazier they are, the gentler people are, the harder working they are."

  The car has arrived, Wang Changhu slowly got on the car, slowly closed the door, and the car headed towards Beidaying.

  For Wang Changhu, Beida Camp is now a starting point in his life. Closing his eyes, the history of Beida Camp begins to unfold in his mind:

  The Beidaying Barracks were built in 1907 by Xu Shichang, the governor of the three provinces in Northeast China. The barracks could accommodate 20 battalions of soldiers. The entire barracks was square in shape, with a two-meter-high earth wall on all sides, each side over 2,000 meters long. Outside the walls were trenches one meter deep and three meters wide. In the middle of each side of the barracks was a gatehouse, inside which was a row of guardhouses and military telephone equipment. Outside each gatehouse were two sentry towers. The south gatehouse was the main entrance to the barracks, near which was a large screen wall and a reviewing stand. A sandstone road led from the south gatehouse into the city. Inside the barracks, rows of soldiers' quarters lined the east, west, and north sides, with a wide parade ground in the center. Willow trees were planted around the edges of the parade ground. In front of the northernmost row of buildings was the high command headquarters, behind which was a small hill called "Fried Dough Mountain" or Beixiaoshan. A bullet depot stood at the northeast corner of the barracks...

  Wang Changhu recalled for a moment, his eyes closed all the time. It's better to say that the heavy position of Beidaying in Chinese military history pulled down his eyelids, making him unwilling to recall that painful memory.

  The car drove into the south gate of Beidaying, bypassed the shadow wall and headed towards the command department of the north barracks. The car stopped with a "screech". At the door, there was a lieutenant colonel waiting for Wang Changtiger to arrive.

  Wang Changhu stepped out of the car, and this major ran over to give a crisp salute: "May I ask if you are Lieutenant Colonel Wang Changhu?"

  Wang Changhu returned a military salute and said: "I am Wang Changhu. What's your business?"

  The major replied: "Officer Liu told me to inform you to go to the command center to change into your uniform first, then assemble at the large drill ground."

  Wang Changhu nodded, indicating that you lead the way forward. The lieutenant colonel led Wang Changhu to a changing room, opened the door, and Wang Changhu walked in alone. He saw a set of lieutenant colonel's military uniform on the table, as well as several pairs of leather boots, pistols, armed belts, gun holsters, and military caps.

  He didn't stand on ceremony either, put on his clothes, equipped himself with weapons, changed into boots, tidied up and walked out of the dressing room.

  The lieutenant colonel was still waiting there, and when he came out, he gave a crisp salute: "Please follow me to the reviewing stand, Colonel Wang Changhu."

  The two of them walked towards the reviewing stand.

  There were already some people sitting on the reviewing stand, including generals, Liu instructors, and several colonels. Behind the seated people stood a group of school officers, with a total number of about twenty people. Some people started whispering to each other, looking at the empty large drill ground in confusion.

  "Reporting for duty, Wang Changhu has arrived as ordered."

  All eyes on the stage were focused on Wang Changhu, except for Instructor Liu. Everyone's gaze felt surprised: "This lieutenant colonel is also too young, and his mustache hasn't even receded yet. This is too ridiculous, at this speed, he'll be a general by the time he's 20." Instructor Liu looked at these people's eyes and thought to himself: "You're all looking at his age, damn it, my two granddaughters were ruined by this little rabbit."

  Officer Liu stood up at this time, and all the big men sitting down also stood up. "Let me introduce you," Officer Liu said.

  Officer Liu pulled him to the front of General Wang Yizhe: "This is General Wang Yizhe, he is not only the highest commander of Beida Camp but also the brigade commander of the 7th Brigade." Wang Changhu quickly saluted: "General Wang, hello!" Wang Yizhe returned the salute and shook hands with Wang Changhu: "Young talent! Seeing you makes me feel old!" Wang Changhu hastily said: "General Wang is being modest, you are in your prime now, at the height of your career, how can you be old?" Wang Yizhe smiled and said: "You little brat knows how to flatter people, nowadays young people are really something! Don't you all agree?" Everyone nodded and said: "Yes, yes! Nowadays young people are indeed amazing!"

  Wang Changhu smiled awkwardly and gave a crisp salute: "Good day, sirs."

  One of the colonels walked over and patted Wang Changhu's shoulder, saying: "Young man, how old are you?"

  "Report to the superior, I am fourteen years old this year," Wang Changhu replied.

  The general was taken aback: "Fourteen years old and already serving in the army for several years?"

  "Today is the first day."

  Everyone looked at Instructor Liu, their eyes filled with doubt.

  "Everyone, you may not know the origin of Wang Zhongxiao," said Instructor Liu with a hint of pride in his heart, "but I'll mention someone that everyone must recognize - Wuwu, the great hero of the Wuchang Uprising. Everyone can recall him." As soon as Instructor Liu mentioned this, an idea suddenly popped up in the minds of all the officers: "Could it be that this Wang Zhongxiao is connected to that Wuwu..."

  Director Liu continued his big boast: "This son is named Wang Changhu, meaning the Great Wall Tiger. Everyone knows what the Great Wall means to China. Mr. Wang Wuming hopes that this son will become a screen and barrier for our Chinese defense." (Everyone applauds together)

  Wang Changhu thought to himself: High, really high; actually, Instructor Liu didn't specify that Wang Changhu was a relative of Wang Wu. Yes, it's just giving everyone present an imaginative space, and once this space is opened up, all the words become real lies.

  Commander Liu continued: "Wang Changtiger started learning martial arts at the age of four, and began reading books at six. After seven years, his martial arts skills were greatly improved; during this period, he also studied at the Northeastern Army's Martial Arts Academy, graduating two years ago with excellent grades. Due to his diligence in studying, Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek personally sponsored him to study at West Point Military Academy in the United States for a year. Now that he has returned home after completing his studies, he wants to serve his country; his intentions are praiseworthy and his actions commendable." (Everyone applauded again.) Commander Liu continued: "Colonel Wang Changtiger wanted to challenge himself by leading the most difficult troops to command, so Generalissimo Chiang agreed. Today, since Generalissimo Chiang is not here, he entrusted this matter to me; I will give him the most difficult troops to command. Now, let us all watch together how Colonel Wang commands these most difficult troops." As he finished speaking, his right hand dramatically swept towards the drill ground with a flourish.

  Wang Changhu had a feeling of being led into a trap. He walked down from the reviewing stand and was about to take a breath of fresh air.

  At this time, a lieutenant colonel walked over and handed Wang Changhu several file bags. Facing Wang Changhu, he said: "Wang Zhongxiao, Instructor Liu asked me to give these to you. He said the soldiers you want are on the list in your hands. One hour later, you will select the soldiers." After finishing speaking, he saluted and turned around to leave, still revealing a strange smile. Wang Changhu returned the salute, feeling puzzled: "Isn't it just a list?"

  He pulled out one of them and saw that on the file bag was written:

  "Heilongjiang Province List of Death Sentences and Suspended Death Sentences". Wang Changhu's head buzzed. He looked at them one by one:

  List of Death Penalty and Suspended Death Penalty Convicts in Jilin Province

  Liaoning Province List of Death Penalty and Suspended Death Penalty Inmates

  List of Death and Suspended Death Penalty Convicts in Rehe and Chahar

  List of Military Prison Crimes

  "Northeast Special Crime List"

  Wang Changhu was so angry that he wanted to vomit blood, with a feeling of wanting to cry but having no tears. He turned his head and took a look at Instructor Liu, who was still bragging about him, saying that both of his granddaughters had taken a liking to Wang Changhu and that he was planning to marry them off to Wang Changhu, saying something about beauties loving heroes; as a result, he received a round of congratulatory cheers. At this time, everyone's gaze towards Wang Changhu suddenly became ambiguous. Wang Changhu was unable to laugh or cry. And Instructor Liu's current expression was one of complacency.

  A group of soldiers marched into the large drill ground, starting to build fortifications with sandbags. The entire fortification was a square with a side length of about 120 meters, and a entrance of about 4 or 5 meters was left in front of the reviewing stand, while the rest were all blocked by sandbags. There were four light machine gun positions at the four corners of the square, and two heavy machine gun positions in front of the reviewing stand. The sandbags were stacked in four layers, allowing soldiers to shoot while standing, and there was a barbed wire fence in front of the sandbags. The defensive line had as many as five or six layers. Wang Changtiger sighed: "This is really too much!"

  He suddenly became interested in the list in his hand, opened the bag from Heilongjiang Province, pulled out a stack of paper, which were some forms, recording names, ages, genders, and reasons for sentencing, very simple.

  He looked at the list, the first person was named Huang Yifei, 23 years old. Because he and his younger brother were studying martial arts outside, their sister was taken a fancy by a landlord, abducted, raped and hanged to death. The two brothers returned from their master's door and killed more than 20 people in the enemy's family, then went to the government office to confess and accept punishment, sentenced to death, the execution date is after autumn.

  The next person is his younger brother Huang Yihu;

  Next is a man named Hu Jingzhong, a 26-year-old doctor with exceptional medical skills. He often travels to collect medicine and has been away from home for years. His wife had an affair, and in a fit of rage, he killed her and her lover. He was reported to the authorities, sentenced, and also seems to have some martial arts skills.

  Simply flipping through it, most of them were sentenced for violent crimes; I estimate the situation with prisoners in other provinces is probably similar.

  Wang Changhu flipped through the list of prisoners in the military prison and took a simple look: "There are those who fought, those who sold equipment, and an old comrade who assembled a powerful listening device with electronic devices to monitor the electronic signals around Shenyang. When he was showing off everywhere, he was caught by the military police and thrown into the military prison. In addition, this guy named Zhou Qiang also speaks four languages: Chinese, English, Japanese, and Russian; Wang Changhu sighed after finishing reading: "Talents!"

  Inside the military prison, there were not only these people, but also a Japanese officer named Liu Fang who graduated from the Japanese Military Academy. He was short in stature, brave and fierce in battle, but often ridiculed by other soldiers as a Japanese spy. Enraged, he fought fiercely and killed one soldier and injured two others with a wooden spear during training, resulting in his imprisonment.

  In short, military prison crimes are either geniuses among soldiers or deadly strong in combat value.

  Wang Changtian continued to turn to special crimes:

  First name: Zhao Yu, Gender: Male; Crime: Fraud, swindling over 100,000 yuan, wanted by dozens of merchants. Eventually caught.

  Second name: Long Mei'er; Gender: Female; Age: 18 years old; Unknown method used to deceive and open the bank vault, resulting in severe losses and a huge amount of money lost, which has not been fully recovered to this day.

  ………

  The last one, called Huā Fú ér, was a master of folk gun modification. The rifle he modified had extremely strong penetration power. To test the power of this gun, he looked for shooting targets everywhere and finally aimed at the bulletproof car of Shǎo Shuài...

  After flipping through the files of these prisoners, it is estimated that there are more than 700 people, among whom about 400 are sentenced to death or suspended death sentences; There are more than 150 prisoners in military prisons; More than 200 people have committed special crimes.

  Among them, more than half are from the Wu family, is this Old Liu taking advantage of his power for personal gain? Wang Changhu sneaked a glance at Instructor Liu, who smiled awkwardly at him, and indeed it was so.

  Wang Changhu now has nothing, so he has developed a habit of plucking goose feathers.

  Now there is an opportunity, and he can't let it go. He smiled slyly at Officer Liu and beckoned him to come over. Officer Liu hurried down, with a very good attitude. Wang Changhu said to Officer Liu: "This group of people is not easy to manage, the difficulty is too great, I'm a bit...not in the mood for winning..."

  "Rest assured, I've spoken to everyone and they all agree to listen to you."

  Wang Changhu said: "The cost of this training, uniforms, weapons and ammunition, horses, medicine..."

  "General Liu immediately received: 'The Young Marshal said that this time the training, your unit's treatment is optimal, all requirements are fully met.'"

  Wang Changhu said: "I still don't have a place to settle down now, when facing Xinyi and Xinyu, I feel very ashamed, this will affect the training..."

  Officer Liu immediately said: "I'll give you that house of mine, and the servants are free too." Wang Changhu continued to say: "Labor costs..."

  "I'll pay," said Captain Liu. However, he thought to himself: "Damn it, I've lost my granddaughter, what's the use of keeping this house? That place is a reminder of my sorrow."

  Suddenly, Wang Changhu asked: "Where are we training?" Officer Liu replied: "Right here."

  "Alas, it's a bit far from home, what a pity that I have this leg problem!"

  Captain Liu didn't dare to respond, this guy's request was a bit excessive, most colonels don't even have cars yet, you're just a lieutenant colonel and already getting assigned a car, this is a bit too much.

  "Captain Liu had no choice but to reply: 'I need to discuss this with General Shao, what I say doesn't count.'"

  Wang Changhu smiled and said, "I knew what you said didn't count. But I'll make a deal with you, if you get me a car, I want an American one - an American Jeep; that's fierce to drive, not to mention how much fun it is, remember."

  Officer Liu was taken aback: "American chicken breast, it's quite fierce; American chicken, breast, fierce; and it's quite a mouthful, American chicken breast is fierce, American chicken breast filet, this is easy to remember! Alright, I've remembered it, when I get back I'll tell Young Marshal, don't worry!"

  "Then what about the training fee..."

  "Never mind, never mind, you keep it for yourself."

  Just then, a convoy of vehicles drove in, adding to the escort team, there were more than 50 vehicles. All the vehicles stopped in front of the command center and lined up one by one. The soldiers who escorted them shouted: "We're here! Get off the bus!" The rear doors of all the cars opened with a clang, and many people wearing prison uniforms and handcuffs jumped out. After everyone got off, a soldier shouted: "Line up! Line up!" All the prisoners lined up neatly; the soldier continued to shout: "Move forward, enter the playground, hurry up, line up, move forward, hurry up, line up."

  After more than ten minutes, all the prisoners stood in the center of the square fortifications.

  Wang Changhu walked onto the reviewing stand and counted in his heart: "My soldiers have arrived."