Chapter 33: The Death of the Republic's Knight
"Damn it! You think I'm selling these myself? If your wife finds out, she'll divorce me on the spot! This wine was given to me by some connections when I went to lead troops last time. I didn't pay a dime, just got two boxes for free. Not bad, huh? Ugh, and you, with that big bear face of yours, how did you even get into military school? Our A3 is already impressive, over 3000 people, and only 5 spots available each year. Giving one to you is a waste... You're so shameless..." Jiang Hai sipped his special supply liquor, chuckling as he scolded Da Xiong.
"Hey, Commander, I'm just saying, after retiring from the army, I'll go back to help my old man sell pork. If I stay in the army all my life, when my dad gets old, the business will be ruined." Da Xiong was teased by Jiang Hai, but he didn't get angry, and instead smiled foolishly with his mouth open. In the army, whoever the superior scolds is who they are closest to...
"You little scoundrel! Once you're really discharged, I'll call the head of your local garrison and have their quartermaster go to your place every day to purchase pork, and you can secretly enjoy it! You'll get rich!" Jiang Hai said with a smile, patting Da Xiong's broad shoulder. Suddenly, his heart felt a pang of sourness.
"Big Bear, when you retire, I'll also retire and get the retirement pay. How about we go into business together selling pork?" Tank said with a nod of his head. Tank's family was poor. He had strength but no connections at home, so joining the army was actually to find a way out.
"That's a great idea, when the time comes, we'll sell pork together and make enough money. I'll build you a three-story, no, four-story villa in your hometown! And I'll introduce you to a beautiful wife! You don't know, the daughters of families who sell pork are all so beautiful! The girl from the family next to my dad's meat stall is pretty good too. When the time comes, I'll help you set it up!" Da Xiong and Tank have always been partners in the firepower group, with a particularly close relationship. At this point, he patted his chest to guarantee...
The troops drank without much food, not many dishes, just peanuts, tomato scrambled eggs, braised pork, sour and spicy cucumber, etc. The food treatment of A3 is quite good, under the instruction of Lian Jianghai, the cooking class added a lot of weight, and many dishes were presented with washbasins... A group of people sat around a large round table in a small cafeteria, eating quickly and cheerfully.
Almost all soldiers can drink, especially the 177th division, a frontline combat unit that has been fighting for years. As veterans, Yang and his comrades often have a few drinks in their free time. The ordinary soldiers don't have much money, so they usually just get a few packs of low-grade military cigarettes, like Jinshi Xiongshi, and a box of 65-degree Hongxing Erguotou, a special supply for the troops. They would give some benefits to the cook sergeant, secretly prepare a few dishes, and then drink through the night with their comrades. Sometimes they would get drunk and think of ways to light up the strong Erguotou again and continue drinking. The next day, they could still train and complete their tasks as usual.
Today I drank a ten-year-old Moutai, smoked a special supply that only military commanders can enjoy, and ate a small stove with extra ingredients.
"Happiness! You came so suddenly! Brother can't accept it!" The kitchen knife shouted a sentence, making everyone laugh.
"Damn it! The wine's been spilled! Ten years of Moutai! You're wasting it! I'll represent the whole class to punish you! Come on, come on! Drink up, or you're a coward!" The guitarist raised his large glass cup...
"Who are you calling a bad bear? I'll punish you too! Come on, artist, bottoms up! Bottoms up!" The big bear grabbed a bottle of Maotai and poured it into his own cup. Glug glug, he drank first...
Men drink more boisterously, a group of iron-blooded men together are even more boisterous, after several cups of wine, that burning feeling suddenly makes the atmosphere fiery...
"Come on, brothers! Tonight, there's no distinction of rank. Everyone sitting here is my sworn brother. As the eldest, I'll toast to you all..." Before anyone could respond, Jiang Hai raised his head and downed a full cup of white wine in one gulp!
"I just got drunk! So, everything I say below is after I've had too much to drink and doesn't count! Jiang Hai lit a special supply cigarette, narrowing his eyes as he looked at the brothers who had been through life and death with him!"
"This time's mission! There's a problem!......"
The atmosphere was somewhat oppressive. In the small dining hall, the soldiers of Class 10 sat around Commander Jiang Hai, listening quietly...
"We all know! War is the continuation of politics, and we have all sworn to defend our motherland. But what does defending the motherland mean? When a matter involves too much politics, then the purpose of war is no longer simple. Sometimes, we get lost because we don't even know who the enemy is. Soldiers! It's best not to get involved in too much politics, simplicity is best. I think it's very likely that you will be sacrificed this time!!" Jiang Hai's gaze swept over these young soldiers like a knife. He felt heartbroken, as he was known for being a protective figure in the military, and based on his decade-long experience, he could see that he was about to lose these young and vibrant soldiers.
Jiang Hai really didn't want to see them sacrificed like this, and secretly decided that this time, even if it meant breaking the rules, he would pull them through.
"I can't say more, not because I don't want to, but because I'm not qualified to know. In short! Be careful with everything! Since I've already broken the rules today and told you things you shouldn't know, I've decided that even if it means giving up this military uniform, I'll do my best to support you! If possible, I'd like to go with you! When the time comes, my old man at home won't ignore it. This way, we still have hope!" Jiang Hai downed a cup of white wine in one gulp, his eyes red as he spoke to the soldiers. He felt his heart was about to shatter - the most painful thing in the world is knowing that your brothers, with whom you share life and death, are about to rush into death, and you have no power to change their fate. For the first time, Jiang Hai felt that his authority was too small, too small."
"Now's your last chance! You're all the only child in your family! None of you are married yet, and you all have a bright future ahead of you. If you refuse this mission, I'll go talk to my old man! I'm sure I can persuade our superiors to change the personnel for this task. This shouldn't be A3's task in the first place! Nor should it be 177's task." Jiang Hai lit another cigarette and handed out his special supply to everyone, lighting them up and taking a few fierce puffs. He had made up his mind to protect his men.
The warriors of the tenth class also lit up and smoked, the fragrance of special cigarettes wafting from the small cafeteria, spreading in all directions. They were smoking, but no one spoke, as if they were all thinking about something.
"Speak up! All of you, speak up! Dammit! Are all of you cowards? Make a statement! You damn well better make a statement quickly! You're all my brothers! I won't watch you die!" Jiang Hai bellowed, furious to the point of being out of breath. The emperor may not be in a hurry, but his eunuchs are! It's infuriating that these little wolves don't even have the guts to take action!
The atmosphere at the dinner table was somewhat chilly, with no one speaking and everyone sitting silently...
“…Guitarist! Bring the thing over.” Yèyáng Jiàn broke the silence, turning his head to instruct, the guitarist nodded and returned to the barracks, bringing out two folk wooden guitars. One was handed to Yèyáng Jiàn, one he held in his own arms. He lightly plucked a string, tuned the pitch, smiled at Yèyáng Jiàn and nodded.
Ye Yangjian also plays the guitar. In middle school, he had excessive hormones and excess energy that couldn't be released. Ye Zhong got him a guitar and taught him to play it, which helped him get through his rebellious youth. So Ye Yangjian's guitar skills are quite good. After training ended, he would often sit with guitarist Gao Ming on the edge of the training field, basking in the sunset and breeze, playing a guitar duet...
Ye Yang Jian hugged his guitar, first drinking half a cup of wine, and lighting a special cigarette. He took a drag, letting the smoke swirl around him, irritating his eyes which slightly narrowed. His left hand fingers slid across the fretboard. He started playing. A beautiful, melancholic melody spread out. The guitarist, Gaoming, listened to the melody, smiled and shook his head, choosing a pause to enter, and also strummed his guitar in harmony with Ye Yang Jian, creating a duet.
The warriors of the tenth class also laughed, holding signs and singing their favorite song together, this is the 177th class's war song! Pu Shu's "White Birch Forest"... The slightly melancholic and majestic song slowly flowed in the empty military camp canteen...
"A quiet village, with white snow floating..."
Under the overcast sky, pigeons are flying...
The birch tree was carved with those two names...
They vowed to love each other, using up this life...
One day, the flames of war reached our hometown...
The young man picked up his gun and rushed to the border...
The one in my heart, don't worry about me...
Waiting for me to return in that birch forest...
The sky is still overcast...
There are still pigeons flying...
Who will prove those loves and lives without tombstones...
The snow is still falling, and the village is still peaceful...
Young people, disappeared in the birch forest...
Bad news came in that afternoon...
The one I love died in battle on a distant desert battlefield...
She quietly came to that birch forest...
Gazing longingly, waiting there every day...
She said he was just lost in a distant place...
He will definitely come, to this white birch forest...
The sky is still overcast...
There are still pigeons flying...
Who will prove those loves and lives without tombstones...
The snow is still falling, and the village is still peaceful...
Young people, disappeared in the birch forest...
The long road is about to reach its end...
That girl is already white-haired...
She often heard him calling out beside her pillow...
Come on, dear, come to this white birch forest...
As she died, she murmured...
I've come, waiting for me in that white birch forest... This is the song of a distant girl waiting for her warrior lover to return... It has brought courage and hope for future life to the wolf-like warriors countless times, especially during the most difficult moments...
Ye Yang Jian hummed a tune while playing the guitar, occasionally looking up to exchange smiles with guitarist Gao Ming. The warriors of Class 10 leaned on each other's sturdy shoulders, humming along in unison, occasionally exchanging glances and smiles. But their voices grew more resolute, repeating the melody over and over...
The river and sea no longer spoke, but sat silently, gazing at the scene before him, listening to the simple songs of the warriors. His eyes moistened instantly... These young warriors had explained their choice with their actions... The river picked up a cigarette with one hand and puffed on it fiercely, occasionally raising his cup to take a swig, the spicy white liquor stimulating his throat, a burning sensation flowing clearly into his abdomen. Tears streaming down his face, he shook his head in bitter laughter. "...You guys, you've taught me another lesson!"
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