Chapter 72: Misunderstandings and Miscommunications

  When Wang Hong and Liu Feng, dressed in armed police uniforms, appeared in the office of the commander of the Armed Police Guanglan City Branch, they saw the commander and political commissar of the People's Liberation Army Guanglan Military Region Reconnaissance Battalion, also wearing armed police uniforms. Wang Hong laughed so hard he almost fainted, this was too relieving, too ridiculous.

  Because Guanglan City is the location of the Guanglan Military Region's Troop Department, there are many matching troops, including the Guanglan Military Region Reconnaissance Battalion. The armed police forces in our country were all originally from the People's Liberation Army during the downsizing of the military. Relatively speaking, they have fewer personnel, outdated equipment, no heavy weapons, and lower ranks. At that time, when Wang Qiang was changing uniforms, he really didn't want to take off his military uniform and put on the armed police uniform, but he had no choice. At that time, the troops were converted into an armed police force as a whole. If you don't want to change careers easily, once you take off your military uniform, you can choose to change careers. After all, Wang Qiang had shouldered his gun for so many years and couldn't bear to change careers, so he became the commander of this armed police Guanglan detachment.

  At that time, Wang Qiang's heart was very resentful, but the policy is the policy, and it must be implemented whether you understand it or not. However, he felt uncomfortable in his heart, and along with this, he became a little jealous of his comrades who had the opportunity to stay in the troops. In fact, this was normal at that time, many original top performers in the troops were transferred away before the whole troop was about to be transformed, making those who stayed feel like they were inferior goods.

  Troops mean that they are composed of a group of young people. As a national machine, whether it is the armed police or the field army, their existence has only two purposes: one is for war and the other is to maintain rule. No matter what purpose, there is one thing that will not change, and the ultimate means of these two units is violence.

  No matter whether it is a field army or an armed police force, there is a commonality between them. Since violence is their common point, then militarism is what these two types of troops pursue.

  Because the armed police are mainly responsible for dealing with internal contradictions among the people, this means that the means they use are more repressive. Field troops are different, in order to serve the interests of the state, they are more likely to use deprivation of life as a means to achieve the purpose of making the enemy surrender.

  In these two senses, the training differences between the two troops are very large. The armed police forces emphasize uniforms, making opponents lose their ability to resist. The field army emphasizes making opponents lose their ability to fight back, and from this point of view, the best way is to physically eliminate or severely injure them, making them no longer capable of resisting.

  In our country, cities with troops stationed will have military police. As the location of the Guanglan Military Region's Troop Department, the work of the military police has always been handled by the Field Army. Their main job is to manage soldiers or armed police who violate military discipline. Because of their identity, these two units are not subject to local administration and supervision. They have an independent judicial system to handle public security issues for this special group of people.

  When it comes to young people, there are more places where things can easily get out of hand. Especially when it comes to the armed police and the military, they're like close brothers - even if there's a problem, they'll present a united front to outsiders without hesitation, but in private, they can't avoid having some friction. The armed police officers generally feel that during peacetime, they focus more on training in martial arts and hand-to-hand combat, and ordinary soldiers can't beat them in a fight. On the other hand, military personnel have a feeling that first of all, there are fewer armed police. When troops are stationed, even the smallest units are at the regiment or battalion level, with hundreds or thousands of people, while an entire city's armed police force is at most just one detachment - they're at a disadvantage in terms of numbers. Secondly, law enforcement is unfair. Actually, soldiers on patrol are generally very disciplined, and when it comes to maintaining order, many times it's about correcting the undisciplined behavior of military personnel, such as not having their buttons done up properly, or wearing their hats crookedly, or smoking while walking. But people have their biases. The soldiers in charge of maintaining order often have their own inclinations - they'll be more lenient with "their own people". In our country, it's customary to not set up independent military police units like the gendarmerie in some foreign countries, but rather to have the local troops send out their own units to maintain order.

  In almost all cities, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) ground forces are often the first choice for maintaining law and order because they have the largest number of personnel. To maintain the effectiveness and deterrent effect of law enforcement, local garrisons usually dispatch troops from guard or reconnaissance units to perform law enforcement tasks, as they are the most capable of fighting and can quickly resolve any problems that may arise.

  In Guanglan City, the reconnaissance battalion of the Guanglan Military Region has been accustomed to acting as a disciplinary unit. Usually, the reconnaissance battalion's disciplinary actions have not infrequently caught military police officers who violate discipline, seemingly in order to demonstrate power and increase deterrence. It is unknown when it started, but the Guanglan Military Region's disciplinary unit gradually formed a habit: whenever they catch military police officers violating military discipline, they generally require the unit commander to come forward and take responsibility, and fill out a disciplinary measure form. For this reason, Wang Qiang has often gone to the reconnaissance battalion to take people away. He is also acquainted with Wang Hong and Liu Feng.

  Wang Hong and Liu Feng might think that they won't have the chance to ask for help from the Armed Police Guanglan Branch in this lifetime. Although Wang Qiang was very enthusiastic every time he went, at the dinner table, they didn't hesitate to mock Wang Qiang and his Guanglan Branch. When you're under someone's roof, you can't help but lower your head. Thinking about it, there might be more occasions to ask for help in the future. No choice, whenever Wang Qiang met with Wang Hong and Liu Feng, he always felt like lowering his head a bit.

  This time, seeing the two main officers of the Guanglan Military Region Reconnaissance Brigade wearing armed police uniforms in their own office, although they clearly knew what was going on, Wang Qiang was still very happy. After dealing with them for so long, this time he finally got to show off a bit.

  "Come on in, come on in." Wang Qiang greeted Wang Hong and Liu Feng. He was smiling, but he couldn't be slow to the two heads of the reconnaissance battalion.

  Wang Hong and Liu Feng had been itching to take action since they saw Wang Qiang's sly smile, but after all, they were on someone else's turf and still needed something from them, so they couldn't afford to lose face. So Wang Hong sat down with a dark expression without saying a word, while Liu Feng, being the political commissar, pulled Wang Qiang's hand and said a few polite words.

  Wang Qiang finally had such an opportunity, and looking at Wang Hong's ugly face, he deliberately wanted to annoy him. After exchanging pleasantries with Commissar Liu Feng, he intentionally walked in front of Wang Hong and ostentatiously looked him up and down, who was wearing a People's Armed Police uniform.

  "Captain Wang, honestly, I think you look better in this armed police uniform than I do. Why don't I ask our equipment department to send two sets of armed police uniforms to you after this event is over? You can wear them when you're not busy."

  Wang Qiang said so, but he also understood that even if Wang Hong was beaten to death, he would not agree to this matter. Moreover, is this uniform still being worn randomly? However, Wang Qiang's words really made Wang Hong furious. Originally, he didn't want to wear this armed police uniform. Now he was ridiculed by Wang Qiang like this. At that time, he stood up and wanted to get angry.

  Liu Feng felt that something was not right, and besides, the two of them had come with a mission, how could they afford to quarrel with Wang Qiang at this time. Everyone understood that Wang Qiang had given their reconnaissance battalion too much face. Of course, they had to seize the opportunity to vent their anger, but in private. The relationship between the few people was still good, and they shouldn't turn against each other because of a few words. Liu Feng hastily pulled Wang Hong back, speaking in a political commissar's tone.

  "Sit down! What's wrong with you? It's just a uniform from the brother department, what's the big deal?" He scolded Wang Qiang again: "Look at you, Wang Hong has been unhappy for days. The other day during training, he even had an accident while driving. If someone really died in the accident, you won't be able to find him to drink with anymore."

  Wang Qiang listened. Is there such a thing here? He also understood that his joke was a bit over the top, and he hurriedly apologized, lowering his eyebrows and eyes, saying "Sorry, sorry, I have to accompany those foreigners for lunch at noon, let's get together tonight and have a few drinks. At that time, I apologized to the captain.

  Wang Hong just took a deep breath. As long as it's smooth, that's good, listening to this. Of course, following the stick and climbing up: "The wine can be made a little better, the headquarters said that in these few days, we two don't need to go back, just stay here and observe the training situation of the foreign military. The cigarettes, wine, and so on are all under your control."

  Wang Qiang finally spoke up: "I'm telling you, Wang Hong, you don't look like the commander of the Guanglan Military Region's Reconnaissance Battalion, but more like a bandit!" In fact, this was just something to say, and usually, when encountering comrades from another unit who have come for a visit, it's not easy, so they would naturally try their best to entertain them well. Wang Qiang said this as a way of building rapport.

  Liu Feng heard the conversation between the two and knew that the problem was over. At this time, he also followed Wang Qiang's words and started joking: "Hey, you're so stingy, Wang Qiang! If not, we'll borrow a car from you and bring the wine back to you."

  "This feeling is good, I'll go get the car key for you now."

  Three people were talking when a report came from outside the door. Following Wang Qiang's order, a People's Armed Police officer walked in. He was today's on-duty military officer.

  "Report to the battalion commander, one of our cadres went out without wearing a hat and was caught by the reconnaissance company's patrol. The reconnaissance company says you should go and bail him out."

  As soon as these words were spoken, the three people in the room looked at each other in dismay, none of them had expected that such a problem would arise at this critical juncture.

  "Didn't they just order no going out these days? Who went out?" Wang Qiang was unhappy. This was too embarrassing for him.

  "Report to the battalion commander, it's not our people, I've asked them, they said that person is called Bao Yulin, should be a French officer." The duty officer reported.

  "What a mess!" Wang Qiang understood as soon as he heard it. When Bao Yulin came to China, he only brought one set of military dress uniform. That outfit was not suitable for everyday wear, and besides, he couldn't walk around the streets of China wearing the French army's uniform. For the past few days, he and a group of French nationals had been staying in the compound of the Armed Police Guanglan Branch, living in a military camp, where it wasn't appropriate to wear casual clothes either. Moreover, those French soldiers quite liked Chinese military uniforms, so the Armed Police Guanglan Branch gave each of them two sets. As Bao Yulin was an officer, he naturally wore the cadres' military uniform.

  "Captain Wang, that man is indeed a French military officer, but he's Chinese. He didn't bring any clothes with him, so I had our quartermaster give him two sets of officer uniforms. I think he was afraid of causing trouble and didn't tell your people his identity, only gave them a name. Why don't you go ahead and make contact first, then we can go together to pick him up?" Wang Qiang was a bit worried, the reconnaissance battalion's soldiers could sometimes be quite rude, there had been instances where they beat up inspected soldiers, anyway it would be hard to explain later if they also beat up Bao Yulin, that would be troublesome.

  Wang Hongyi also listened and was quite worried. He was also afraid of trouble. He hastily told the duty officer: "Tell the inspection team, I, Liu Feng, and Wang Zhi will be right there, tell them to be polite, if they move others, beware that I will lock them up!"

  Bao Yulin's mood was particularly good today. Early in the morning, the hospital called to say that Bao Yufeng and Bao Siguo were arriving in Guanglan City today, and it had been confirmed that Bao Yufeng would be transferred to work at the Northwest Province Investment Promotion Office. The provincial government arranged for Bao Yufeng not to worry about the formalities for now. For the time being, she should go to Guanglan City to take care of her mother, so that Bao Yulin could focus on handling the two armies' exchange affairs with all his heart and mind. Also, during this period, arrangements would be made for Bao Siguo, after all, he was still young and needed to attend school. When Bao Yufeng heard the news, she was overjoyed, so she called the hospital back. At that time, Bao Yulin was busy at the Guanglan Branch of the Armed Police, but unfortunately, there were few translators who spoke French, and Bao Yulin really couldn't leave, especially given his identity. It was very suitable for him to serve as a liaison officer between the two armies. Since Bao Yufeng couldn't find Bao Yulin, she left a message at the hospital saying that she would arrive in Guanglan City by long-distance bus today. After Bao Yulin called the hospital and asked about the bus number, he went alone to the bus station to wait.

  Actually, Bao Yulun's time as a soldier in China was not long. After arriving in France, soldiers were allowed to go out without wearing hats. Moreover, the Armed Police Guanglan Brigade would not have issued hats to Bao Yulun and his men, after all they were French soldiers. Wearing a full set of armed police uniforms would be too incongruous.

  As a result, when Bao Yulin was wandering outside the bus station, the Guanglan Military Region's reconnaissance team arrived. Seeing that there was an officer wearing a People's Armed Police uniform without even wearing a hat wandering around the bus station, they naturally didn't say anything and came up to arrest him.

  Fortunately, Bao Yulin was literate and knew it was a patrol uniform as soon as he saw it. He didn't dare say he was a French military officer, or the problem would be even bigger, so he said he was from the Armed Police Guanglan Brigade. The patrol saw that Bao Yulin was an officer and was quite honest, and really didn't make things difficult for him. The phone call went to the Armed Police Guanglan Brigade.

  Wang Hong, Liu Feng and Wang Qiang rushed to the Guanglan Military Region Scout Brigade's disciplinary office. They didn't dare tell the French side about this, it was better to handle it quietly. In fact, the Guanglan Military Region Scout Brigade's disciplinary office was just a few locked rooms, if you weren't obedient, you'd be caught and locked up inside. If you didn't treat Bao Yulin differently, he would really be chatting with several disciplinary officers in the office.

  "Where is he? You've brought back the armed police?" As soon as he entered, Wang Hong shouted loudly. This was his territory, and he could do whatever he wanted.

  "Captain! Political Commissar! They're in the duty room." Several soldiers who were on patrol duty today almost burst out laughing, they also thought their captain and political commissar looked ridiculous wearing armed police uniforms, but they all wisely kept quiet.

  Wang Qiang followed Wang Hong and Liu Feng into the duty room, where Bao Yulin was standing at attention in accordance with the soldier's command.

  When he saw Wang Hong and Liu Feng coming in, Bao Yulin was surprised. He clearly remembered the two of them, but in his impression, one of them was a soldier in the army, how could they be wearing armed police uniforms? Not to mention that he didn't speak, because at this time, Wang Qiang was saluting him, according to etiquette and rules, Bao Yulin hastily returned a military salute.

  Everyone on the scene was stunned. Wang Qiang had come here to lead people many times, but every time he came, wasn't it always a fight and scolding? When had they ever seen him show respect to anyone? And yet, he was the first to raise his hand this time. According to legend, Wang Qiang was the commander of the Guanglan Branch of the Armed Police Force, so if someone wanted to make him salute first, their rank would have to be higher than his. But looking at Bao Yulin's appearance, he was only in his early 20s, and no matter what, it was impossible for his rank to be higher than Wang Qiang's. In fact, Bao Yulin was really polite, and according to the rules, he should have been the first to salute Wang Qiang. However, when he saw Wang Hong, he lost his mind and didn't know what kind of salute he should give Wang Qiang. According to the rules, since he was wearing a police uniform, he should have given Wang Qiang a Chinese military salute, but as a French army officer, it seemed that this wasn't appropriate either. It wasn't until Wang Qiang raised his hand that Bao Yulin came to his senses and realized that others were giving him a French military salute, so he hastily returned the salute in kind.

  "Sorry, Lieutenant Bao Yulin, it seems that our work still has some flaws." Wang Qiang spoke first.

  The whole house was shocked, how did this produce a lieutenant? Looking at his salute, it seems that he is not even a Chinese officer.

  "Get out, all of you!" Wang Hong saw the situation and hastily drove everyone out of the duty room.

  "I'll introduce you guys." Wang Qiang shifted his body to one side, just about to introduce Wang Hong and Liu Feng.

  "I know both of them, but I remember that you two should be army officers." Bao Yulin said this to Wang Qiang and Liu Feng.

  Wang Hong and Liu Feng also recognized Bao Yulin. They finally understood that it was no wonder his sister said her brother was an army lieutenant, the feelings were real after all.

  "Sorry, Lieutenant! Did you know? A few days ago we went to the hospital and they said he had already been discharged and even returned our medical expenses. We were planning to wait until training was over and then go to your house to return the money to you, but who knew we'd run into each other here." This sentence would be more suitable if Liu Feng, the political commissar, had said it.

  Bao Yulin laughed when he heard this. He had always felt a sense of closeness to soldiers, otherwise he wouldn't have refused Wang Hong's money.

  "Let's not mention the money, I'm willing to return it to you, which means I don't want to accept it. Fortunately, the old man is fine, so this matter is settled."

  Wang Qiang heard it vaguely from the side. In the past few days, he had also become familiar with Bao Yulin and knew that he was not a person who cared too much about details, so he inserted a sentence: "It seems you've known each other for a long time? But what does this have to do with medical expenses?"

  "It's nothing serious." Bao Yulin saw Wang Hong wanting to explain, and hastily changed the subject: "Right, I remember you two should be in the army. How did you become armed police?"

  When Bao Yulin asked this, Wang Qiang almost choked with laughter. Wang Hong was grateful to Bao Yulin for changing the subject earlier. So he thought for a moment and felt that it wasn't a big deal, so he told the truth: "Actually, my name is Wang Hong, and Liu Feng and I are the captain and political commissar of the reconnaissance battalion of the Guanglan Military Region. We heard that your French special forces are having military exchanges with the Guanglan branch of the People's Armed Police, so our region sent us to take a look and see if we can gain any experience. Because we were afraid you would misunderstand, we changed into People's Armed Police uniforms."

  Wang Hong said this with some risk, in case something went wrong, he would be in trouble. However, Liu Feng did not stop him, one reason being that Liu thought Bao Yulin was a decent person and talking to him wouldn't cause any problems, another reason being that since they had already been recognized by Bao, sneaking around would be pointless.

  "Ah! You're the commander of the reconnaissance battalion in the Guanglan Military Region? You know, when I was a soldier, I really envied you scouts!" said Bao Yulin. What he said was from the heart. When he was a soldier, he indeed envied the scouts. In fact, his words had some flaws. Bao Yulin meant to say that during his time as a soldier in China, but now, he has always regarded being a soldier in France as a profession. After all, this is how the French Foreign Legion promotes itself.

  "Is it? It's fine, it's fine." Wang Hong said with a bit of embarrassment.

  "Honestly, I think you look better in military uniforms than in armed police uniforms. It's a bit awkward no matter what. Why don't you just wear military uniforms instead? It's not a big deal," said Bao Yulin. At that time, the Chinese army had little exchange with foreign armies, so they were not used to it. But the French army was different, in the Middle East region, several countries' armies often gathered together, and everyone never thought it was abnormal.

  "Really?" Wang Hong was delighted when he heard this, he really didn't want to wear the armed police uniform.

  "I don't think there's a problem with that." Bao Yulin thought for a moment: "Or, I'll invite the officers of the Guanglan Military Region Reconnaissance Brigade to watch our military exchange with the Armed Police Guanglan Branch as the liaison officer of the French military exchange team. You wait a minute and find me a piece of paper, I'll write you a formal invitation letter, I think that should be fine." Bao Yulin still knew about military affairs, he was clear that Wang Hong and others needed such a document to submit.

  "That's no problem!" Wang Hong heard and thought of going to find paper.

  "Wait a minute, it's not too late to write again when I arrive at the Armed Police Guanglan Branch. Now I have to go to the station to pick up my sister. Your soldiers brought me back, should you borrow a car? Now I don't know if my sister is still at the station, if not, I'll have to rush to the General Hospital." Bao Yulin had to take care of his sister first.

  Wang Hong had nothing to say, found a jeep and personally accompanied Bao Yulin to the station. Wang Qiang had to rush back to the branch team, where there was still a group of foreigners waiting for him to arrange. As for Liu Feng, he had to quickly report Bao Yulin's verbal invitation to the command center and see how the command center would arrange it.