Chapter 8: The Early Days in the Army (Part 2)
They hadn't even had time to unpack and eat, let alone rest. The exhausted new recruits were quickly and efficiently relieved of all their luggage by a group of old soldiers, including cigarettes, money, watches, mobile phones, lighters, and snacks, which were all confiscated clean. Then they started searching them. Even the 300 yuan hidden in one of the new recruits' socks was taken away... This wasn't being a soldier at all, it was simply more thuggish than thugs. And what's more, these were professional thugs who couldn't be any more professional.
Scattered luggage and packages were required to be cleaned up by new recruits within three minutes, piled in the dormitory. Then immediately assemble on the training ground...
"Alright, listen up! I'm your new platoon leader, you bunch of rookie eggs! Who among you has practiced martial arts or anything like that back home? Raise your hand, I want to get a sense of your actual abilities!" The speaker was a short and stout officer, wearing a black T-shirt with the national flag on it, digital camouflage pants, and a pair of shiny black combat boots. He stood with his feet shoulder-width apart in front of the new recruit platoon, asking the question.
Yiye Ke surreptitiously sized up the new squad leader in front of him with a sidelong glance, seeing that although he wasn't very tall, only just under 1.7 meters, his T-shirt sleeves were bulging with solid muscle, looking quite formidable... probably even more so when he took action...
"Report! I've practiced!" a big-headed new recruit raised his hand and replied.
"Fall in!" The new recruit commander ordered.
"Right!" The big-headed new recruit took a step forward, stepping out of line.
"What have you trained in?" The sturdy new squad leader walked up to him and asked, his height only reaching the bottom of the big-headed new recruit's chin.
"I started learning martial arts at the age of eight, I've practiced Wu Xing Quan, Bagua Zhang..." The big-headed new recruit was obviously very proud, being able to stand out among the new recruits on the first day was really a matter of face.
The big-headed new recruit was still proudly introducing himself... when the sturdy new squad leader's right hand suddenly exerted force, flashing out a fist. All that could be heard was a "thud"... The big-headed new recruit was knocked unconscious to the ground, and as he fell, he let out a dull hum, stirring up a cloud of dust on the training grounds...
"Five Elements Fist? Eight Trigrams Palm? You're still using the Buddha's Divine Palm, for crying out loud!" The new recruit company commander glared at the fallen big-headed new recruit with extreme disdain and shouted loudly.
"I don't care what you were doing before you joined the army! Here, you have to follow the rules. I'm Liu Yong, and if anyone dares to disobey me, come out and fight me one on one!" The new recruits stared blankly at each other as their company commander, Liu Yong, shouted at them. "During my leadership, you can choose not to listen to my orders, but only if you can beat me in a fight. Otherwise, just be obedient!" Liu Yong's tone was full of provocation and confidence in his own strength.
"Pay attention, all of you! Just now! Your comrade was knocked down by me, and you bunch of soldiers just stood there with your eyes wide open, not one of you dared to come out and help or stop it? What will you do when we're in battle? Who will dare turn their back on you? And who can you trust to cover your backs?! In light of this, I've decided to cultivate some collective honor and team spirit in you. Everyone, 100 push-ups, 3 minutes, I'll do them with you! Those who exceed my count will be rewarded, those who fall short will be punished!" Liu Yong gave the order to the new recruits. This was also the first formal command that Ye Yangjian and the others received.
Doing 100 push-ups is no problem for someone who has received training, Liu Yong finished the 100 push-ups in just one and a half minutes. But as for Ye Yang Jian and his fellow new recruits, not a single one of them was able to complete it within the allotted time.
"Time's up!" Liu Yong looked at the watch hand passing three minutes, didn't even glance at the new recruits who were biting their teeth and had red faces from holding their breath. He beckoned with his hand to the back, a group of old soldiers who had been waiting in line behind him, without saying a word, went up and started hitting. This was what Liu Yong called "punishment", and also the beginning of the new recruits' nightmare...
The old soldiers rushed into the new recruits' ranks like a pack of wolves. After encircling and dividing them, they rained down punches and kicks, their blows heavy and merciless. Although they avoided vital areas, the repeated pounding made it hard to breathe. In just one exchange, no one could resist; all the new recruits were beaten to the ground, not a single one able to get back up. The cries of pain rose and fell...
