Insufficient balance

  Mr. Yao is a pretty good person, but he's not very familiar with the recruitment process of the French Foreign Legion. In fact, including statutory holidays, the 16 foreign legion recruitment centers and headquarters throughout France are open 24 hours a day, they just choose some specific times to do recruitment propaganda. However, this also indirectly helped Bao Yulin. It was because of Mr. Yao's carelessness that Bao Yulin went to the French Foreign Legion headquarters to sign up after studying French for several months. This made it easier for him to pass the selection.

  When Bao Yu-lin went to Marseille, France, the French government had already begun to repatriate Vietnamese refugees in batches. The reason was simple: Vietnam's current situation was no longer very dangerous, and with assistance from the international community, some Vietnamese refugees could return home and rebuild their homes.

  When Bao Yulin entered the recruitment office, the officer at the recruitment office was not surprised by his oriental face. According to the regulations of the legion, normally, French people cannot join the foreign legion (except for officers). Even if there are French people who want to join the foreign legion, they must join with a nationality such as Swiss, Belgian or Canadian. The vast majority of officers are still French. Due to the legendary color and generous salary treatment of the Foreign Legion, as well as the possibility of naturalization and enjoying retirement benefits after 15 years of service, it attracts a large number of people from all over the world. Of course, this includes many young people like Bao Yulin who yearn for war.

  "Your passport." The officer at the recruitment center said expressionlessly.

  Bao Yulin didn't say a word, and the one handed to him was the passport of Vietnamese Master Lin. Bao Yulin was very reluctant, but he had no choice. Not to mention the passport, he didn't even have an ID card, let alone anything else.

  "Vietnamese?" The recruiting officer was puzzled. Due to historical reasons, post-World War II France attempted to rebuild its authority in Southeast Asia but soon found itself embroiled in a war with the nationalist Viet Minh independence movement. One outpost after another fell, and Ho Chi Minh's guerrilla forces quickly gained the upper hand. In 1953, the French made a desperate last stand at Dien Bien Phu, only to see their garrison of 14,000 men surrounded. By May 1954, seven foreign battalions in the garrison had been defeated by the Viet Minh, an embarrassing episode in the history of the French Foreign Legion. Moreover, Vietnamese people were generally shorter and less physically capable, with few able to pass the selection process.

  The officer at the recruitment center opened the passport provided by Bao Yulin and immediately noticed the difference between the passport and the young man standing in front of him (after all, it was a professional eye). He said nonchalantly: "Young man, you should have read our introduction. I don't care who you are or which country you're from, or even what name you want to use in the future. But now you must provide something that can prove your true identity. Otherwise, I won't be able to give you the form, and of course, you won't be able to pass the selection."

  Bao Yulin had already carefully examined the recruitment brochure of the foreign legion before, so he was naturally aware of these circumstances. Originally, he thought that if the people at the recruitment office were not so particular, he could use Lin's passport completely, and after a few years, he could change all his information anyway. But who knew that the officer at the recruitment office was so meticulous, and with one glance at the passport, he spotted the problem.

  "Sorry, officer. I am a Chinese man without a passport, but I can prove my identity." This response had been thought out by Bao Yulin for a long time; he knew that the French Foreign Legion didn't care whether you were an illegal immigrant or not.

  "A Chinese?" In comparison, Red China was even more mysterious to the average Frenchman than Vietnam. The recruiting officer, who was very interested, said: "So how do you plan on proving your identity?"

  Bao Yulin carefully took out his own discharge certificate and a newspaper from the package on him. The newspaper was stolen by him from the military district library when he went to the military district to request a certificate later. On the front page of the newspaper, there was an article titled "The Lone Hero - Learning from Bao Yulin" written by Comrade Chen of the Propaganda Department of the Military District Political Department, accompanied by a photo of Bao Yulin.

  "This is my discharge certificate, the person in the newspaper is me, and this newspaper details my situation. You can investigate." If possible, Bao Yulin did not want to prove himself like this, but he had no choice.

  It was clear that the recruiting officer had never encountered someone who came with a newspaper to prove his identity. This was absolutely beyond his expectation. However, according to the principle of recruitment for the French Foreign Legion, they only needed to verify the true identity of the applicant and did not care about anything else.

  "You need to wait a bit, you know, I don't understand Chinese, and we'll have to pass your documents on to our colleague who does. We'll get back to you soon." The recruitment officer picked up the discharge certificate and newspaper from the desk, and as he was about to leave, he remembered something: "Sir, just so you know, if these materials are used as proof for you, you won't be able to see them again during your service period. Have you thought this through?"

  "No problem." After all, Bao Yulin had only learned a few months of French and was struggling to converse, fortunately the questions didn't seem too difficult.

  。。。。。。

  Bao Yulin didn't have to wait for long before the officer from the recruitment office and another soldier who was clearly of Asian descent walked in.

  "Hello, I'm Cheng Run, from Taiwan." The Asian soldier said in Mandarin, smiling and extending his hand.

  "Taiwanese?" Bao Yulin hesitated for a moment, if he was used to foreigners and even Vietnamese people, but Taiwanese people were still somewhat unacceptable, after all, it was a habit of many years.

  "Yes, we reviewed your documents and found them credible. They asked me to guide you in filling out the contract." Cheng Run's hand was still extended there.

  "Thank you!" Bao Yulin suddenly came to a realization, that he was now in this state, and there were no more opportunities for anything else. As he spoke, his hand clasped together with Cheng Run's.

  。。。。。。

  After filling out the personal data form and signing a 5-year contract, the recruitment station sent him and several other people who had passed the identity verification to the regimental headquarters in Aubagne by car. There, Bao Yulin and several others will undergo a two-week physical examination, identity check and physical identification procedure.

  This is a very tedious process, including taking photos and filing archives, physical examination, psychological and IQ tests, physical fitness testing, interviews with superiors and security units, etc. This includes obtaining your physical characteristics, such as tattoos or scars, followed by medical examinations and vaccinations. Of course, psychological quality and intelligence tests are also important. To be able to become a soldier in China, apart from those who have connections, which one is not exceptional? Bao Yulin naturally doesn't need to worry about these aspects, passing through with ease and belonging to the excellent category. Physical fitness testing is even less of a problem, like Bao Yulin, originally a rural soldier, after several months of new recruit training, this test was also passed very easily.

  What Bao Yulin was most worried about was the identity confirmation and security investigation, because in the honor code of the French Foreign Legion, it is clearly stipulated that in combat, under no circumstances will they surrender. He was worried that being captured in Vietnam would become a joke, to the point where he would be eliminated when talking to superiors and security officials. But who knew, these issues were not even mentioned by others. What should have been a very serious conversation became a mere formality.

  。。。。。。

  It was on a Thursday afternoon, half a month after Bao Yu-lin entered the selection center, that he obtained a 5-year contract with the French Foreign Legion recruitment stamp.

  In the Legion's Hall of Honour, Bao Yulin and 20 other soldiers who were recruited at the same time, with a single command, an officer read out the Legion's creed: "The Legion is my country". The 20 voices echoed in unison: "The Legion is my country". "Honour and Loyalty are my guiding principles." At this moment, the officer raised his right hand to the insignia of the regiment, leading Bao Yulin and the others to recite the Honour Code of the French Foreign Legion.

  Member of the Legion, you can be proud to have served voluntarily with loyalty in France.

  Every member of the battalion is your brother and sister, regardless of nationality, race or creed. You will display a family that is forever united, firm and direct in solidarity.

  Revere the tradition of the troops, respect your superiors. Discipline and friendship are strength, courage and loyalty are virtues.

  It is an honor to be a member of the army. Your attire, flawless; your words and deeds, humble yet dignified; your quarters, always kept tidy.

  As a warrior, you must undergo rigorous training; maintain your weapon as if it were your most precious possession; and always keep your body in top condition.

  The task assigned to you is like a sacred decree, and you must complete it at all costs.

  In combat, do not be swayed by emotions or hatred. Respect the defeated enemy. Never abandon your fallen comrades, injured comrades, and all equipment. Under no circumstances surrender.

  After taking the oath, accompanied by the regimental song, Bao Yulin formally pinned on the rank insignia of a private second class in the French Foreign Legion. He had become a mercenary soldier.

  If possible, Bao Yulin would rather serve in the Chinese army, but he doesn't mind, he doesn't think that joining the foreign legion is an act of treason because his loyalty is to the foreign legion. Another key point is that our country's laws do not restrict joining mercenaries. Bao Yulin hopes that through his own efforts, he can make the people of Xiangshui Village accept him again and let his family accept him.

  。。。。。。