Chapter Sixty: Where to Go and Where to Follow

  Two olive-green trucks drove the seventy-two trainees and team leader Yan Weidong from the first and second districts into a military base in the suburbs of Hebei Province, where Qu Mingjun and his comrades would be training with a certain group army and division that had made great contributions during the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea.

  As soon as the vehicle entered the camp, Qu Mingjun and others felt that the situation in front of them was not quite normal. Looking around the camp, people were coming and going, busy, but no one looked at these two trucks full of red card trainees, nor did they receive applause or drums and firecrackers to welcome them.

  The teams coming and going were all jogging, the atmosphere was very tense, and the things carried on the soldiers' bodies were also strange, some were iron shovels, some were wooden stakes, and there were steel bars, sacks and other materials pulled by small carts, but no guns or weapons.

  What's going on here? Qu Mingjun and the others were puzzled at first, then they started discussing in a low voice.

  Before everyone could figure out what was going on, the truck had already turned seven or eight times and stopped steadily in front of the team's building. Qu Mingjun and his group had just gotten off the car when they saw a lieutenant colonel hastily running out of the building with a smile, coming up to shake hands with Yan Weidong.

  "I'm very sorry, I'm very sorry." Battalion Commander Zhang immediately began to apologize to the trainees. "I am the director of the Political Department of our battalion. Today, comrades have come to our battalion. Because we just received an urgent order from our superiors, there was no time to arrange a welcome for everyone. This is indeed neglecting comrades. I represent all officers and soldiers in our battalion to express apologies to everyone."

  "Oh, it's nothing." Yan Weidong didn't mind anymore, seeing the sincerity of Director Zhong's words. "I think our team has some urgent tasks, right?"

  "Yes. I just received the order from the group army today, requiring our regiment to complete the conversion of combat readiness levels within eight hours and enter first-class combat readiness, ready to go south at any time according to orders for flood relief and emergency rescue. Today, each battalion company is receiving materials according to plan, gathering and counting personnel, and making preparations." Colonel Song let go of Yan Weidong's right hand.

  "Ah?" Yan Weidong's heart skipped a beat as he listened, "Then, what about the 72 trainees who came for internship? What does the team plan to arrange for them?"

  "For the time being, there is no specific opinion." The deputy director smiled wryly. "Originally, our political department and training department had made plans to disperse the students to various companies to take up posts, but with this flood relief order, it's clear that we can't do it that way anymore. This matter has been submitted to the team's internal meeting, and they are currently discussing it, but there are too many things that need to be reported and asked about during the meeting, and when I came out to greet you, they hadn't discussed this item yet."

  "Well, now..." Yan Weidong hesitated a little.

  "Then let's ask the students to wait for a while, I have arranged for them to discuss the issue of your substitute first," said Zhong Xiao.

  Qu Mingjun and others had been attracted to the conversation between Principal Zhong and Yan Weidong earlier, at this time everyone heard the news and looked at each other, Feng Shaojun took the initiative to line up, and the trainees quickly and quietly lined up in three rows by class, standing on the small square in front of the brigade office building, the pickup trucks had already left.

  Qu Mingjun's mood was also a bit complicated at this time. A few days ago, when he watched the news, he learned that the Yangtze River Basin had encountered a rare and extremely large flood peak in a hundred years. It can be said that reinforcements are needed everywhere, and there is danger at all times. Now, the central government has mobilized many troops to go to the front line of flood control and disaster relief, and more troops are being added. It seems that his hometown, Jianghai City, may also be one of the affected areas this time.

  The headmaster of the middle school was slightly shocked by the neat and tidy formation of the students, and suddenly looked at the 73 people from No. 14 Middle School with new eyes.

  Yan Weidong was chatting with the deputy director of the middle school when a lieutenant wearing glasses ran out of the office building, rushed to the side of the deputy director, whispered something in his ear, and handed him a document.

  "Captain Yan, the research results are out." said Director Zhong to Yan Weidong. Qu Mingjun and others perked up their ears to listen to Director Zhong's announcement. "The battalion has decided that you trainees will stay behind with our Third Company First Battalion, following the instructions of the Garrison Headquarters. You will help the Third Company First Battalion guard the barracks area. However, this means that you trainees won't be able to disperse. The battalion suggests that you establish your own company and manage yourselves."

  What? How can this be? Qu Mingjun and others in the queue couldn't help but whisper to each other.

  Yan Weidong was also stunned by the unexpected news, and before he could speak, the middle school principal continued, "Of course, if you want to return to the college, we can assist you in buying train tickets for tomorrow or the day after."

  How can this be brought back, and yet the internship is one of the teaching tasks of the college. Without this, how can students understand a series of common sense about troop life management? But if they stay, it's self-management, what's the difference with being in college?

  Yan Weidong glared at the chattering queue, waiting for the students to quiet down before asking the lieutenant colonel, "If we decide to stay, what about our food and accommodation?"

  "Oh, the motorized troops have already set off to gather at the training ground. Their dormitory buildings have all been vacated, you can move in first, as for food, the team has decided to draw people from the cooking classes of various regiments to form a new cooking class, and enter the motorized troops with you." said Colonel Director.

  "Let's go and settle in first. As for the issue of staying or leaving, I still need to ask the college for instructions." Yan Weidong said after thinking for a moment.

  "Alright." The deputy regimental commander turned to the lieutenant beside him and said, "Xiao Meng, take them to the Motorized Battalion. Tell the people on guard duty to settle the trainees first, then go to the First Battalion to assemble the personnel who have been drawn out, and bring them to the Motorized Battalion's Logistics Platoon to hand over to Captain Yan."

  "Yes!" Lieutenant Meng stood at attention and saluted, then bowed to Yan Weidong and said, "Please follow me."

  The deputy director of the middle school hastily shook hands with Yan Weidong, apologized again and hurriedly turned into the team department building. Lieutenant Meng led the team to the automobile company on the east side of the camp gate.

  Feng Shaojun signaled for Qu Mingjun to come out and lead the team. He ran over and whispered something in the captain's ear, but it was unclear what they were saying.

  Qu Mingjun led the students of Squad 1 and 2, silently following behind Lieutenant Meng.

  Just a few steps away, he heard the sound of cars "whirring" and turned his head to see a convoy quickly entering the camp.

  As soon as the convoy entered the camp, it quickly lined up in rows at the gate square and stopped. A lieutenant jumped out of the lead car, anxiously looking around the camp. Then a large number of soldiers were seen lining up and rushing towards the convoy.

  Without any nonsense, the drivers of the fleet all got out and opened the rear compartment. The team rushed over and began to unload under the command of Major. Qu Mingjun saw that all the unloaded ones were orange life jackets, a large number of them.

  It seems that Team A is really going to fight against the flood and rescue, it looks like this operation has already been decided, just don't know how many more days before departure.

  Qū Míng Jùn and others followed Lieutenant Meng into a two-story white building with complex emotions, one side of the building was a garage, and not far from the other side there was an internal gas station.

  Inside the barracks, it was empty and desolate. Except for the duty room with two soldiers, all the rooms only had steel frame bunk beds left, and only the names stuck on top could show that someone had lived here before.

  After showing the team's orders to the soldiers on duty, Meng Zhongwei indicated that the trainees could enter the house and settle in. The dormitory of the motorcade was different from that of the company and the trainee team. The drivers did not live in a ten-person squad, but rather eight people per room.

  Feng Shaojun ran over and ordered everyone to follow the deployment of the trainee team, starting from Class 1, with eight people in each room. Qu Mingjun moved to the last room, and then Feng Shaojun appointed a class leader for each room, making Qu Mingjun temporarily act as the eighth class leader.

  There were only six people in Class 8, and Qu Mingjun and Cui Ze were both in this room. After everyone had spread out their bedding on the beds, they suddenly began to feel at a loss, not knowing what to do with themselves. They wanted to chat, but the tense atmosphere of the soldiers running back and forth outside the window made them lose all interest in talking.

  "Each class cleans up the indoor sanitation, and the class leaders gather in the second-floor conference room." Feng Shaojun blew his whistle in the corridor.

  Captain Yan Weidong, Company Commander Feng Shaojun, two platoon leaders and six squad leaders all sat in the conference room on the second floor. Yan Weidong's face looked a bit unsightly, saying: "I believe everyone has seen it and heard it. I didn't expect this internship to encounter such a situation either. Before I consult with the college, I want to hear your opinions first, what should we do?"

  The nine students sitting here are acting as simulated vertebrae. You look at me, I look at you, and for a while, no one has any ideas of their own.

  After a moment of silence, Feng Shaojun stood up and said: "I think we should still stay here. After all, we are here for an internship to substitute for work. Although this unexpected situation has made it impossible for us to fully understand the training management status of the troops, at least we can learn something about the construction of the troops. If we go back to the academy like this, I think it's not appropriate."

  Qu Mingjun had some different thoughts in his heart, and after thinking about it, he said: "I think we'd better go back and see if the college can arrange for us to be assigned to another unit or even just intern with the coaching team at our own college. Here, we can't learn anything, let alone cause trouble for others, they have to take people from each company to form a special cooking class just for us? Moreover, talking about staying in their barracks, we are not familiar with the situation here, what if we don't do something properly and cause more trouble for them?"

  The two of them opened their mouths, and the other class leaders also spoke up one after another. Some agreed with Feng Shaojun's opinion, while others agreed with Qu Mingjun's return opinion.

  After a chaotic discussion, the class leaders became more and more inclined to Qu Mingjun's willingness to return. Yan Weidong also lit a cigarette, quietly listening to everyone's opinions and thinking to himself.

  "I disagree with Feng Shaojun and Qu Mingjun's views, I have different ideas." Guo Xiangyang, who had not spoken until now, stood up and said.

  Everyone cast their eyes on Guo Xiangyang, and Yan Weidong was also looking at Guo Xiangyang with some surprise. It should be either staying or taking back, what other different ideas could Guo Xiangyang have?

  "I think we should still follow the team's initial plan and disperse to each company," said Guo Xiangyang.

  "But there's a task in our team to fight against floods and rescue, we can't accommodate you anymore." Qu Mingjun retorted in dismay.

  "Why can't we participate in the flood relief efforts?" Guo Xiangyang retorted, leaving Qu Mingjun speechless and everyone else looking at each other in dismay.

  "Right? Why can't we participate in flood relief efforts?" Feng Shaojun's eyes lit up and he chimed in with a sentence.

  "Okay, okay, but we are here for an internship, is that...?" Qu Mingjun was suddenly confused by Guo Xiangyang's words and stuttered after a while.

  "I think so," Guo Xiangyang interrupted Qu Mingjun's words, "First of all, from a big perspective, the rise and fall of a country is everyone's responsibility. Although we are just students who came to intern for a month, since we have arrived at this unit and caught up with this flood relief mission, I think we have no reason to shirk our responsibilities! Protecting the lives and property safety of the motherland's people is our military men's sacred mission. Don't forget, before we are students, we are first and foremost soldiers!"

  As soon as these words were spoken, the whole room fell silent.

  "Uh-huh, go on." Yan Weidong suddenly spoke up.

  "Secondly, from a small perspective, since we are here to practice in the troops, we should observe and learn from all aspects of the troops, including command, management, life, training, etc. Guo Xiangyang counted on his fingers, "So this time, the flood relief and emergency rescue, the troops must be urgently mobilized, marching thousands of miles, and when they arrive at the scene of the flood relief and emergency rescue, they must also have an organized and disciplined entry into the tense task of flood relief and disaster relief. In such a special situation, it can be seen even more clearly what is the current state of our troops in all aspects of construction. This is a rare opportunity for us to learn."

  Guo Xiangyang took a deep breath and said, "Considering these two points, I think we should take the initiative to apply for dispersal to various companies to participate in this flood relief and emergency task."

  Everyone was quiet for a while, and then Feng Shaojun suddenly started applauding loudly. Including Yan Weidong, they were all moved by Guo Xiangyang's words and began to applaud together.

  Is this the sense of responsibility that Jiang Anjie always talks about? Qu Mingjun's mind began to wander, why didn't I think of these two points? Old Guo is such a noble person, and he is a party member. Now I am also a party member, although still a probationary one, but my ideological level really differs from his by so much?

  Looking at Guo Xiangyang's slightly balding head and his short but lean figure, Qu Mingjun suddenly felt more and more admiration for him in his heart.

  After the applause subsided a bit, Qu Mingjun suddenly thought of something. What Old Guo said was pretty good, but is it realistic?

  "I think, even if we want to go, will the team agree?" Qu Mingjun hesitated for a moment before speaking up, "What if the team doesn't agree? After all, flood relief is dangerous. If our students go to the front line and something happens, what then?"

  "If anything goes wrong, I'll take full responsibility!" Yan Weidong cut off his cigarette abruptly, "Feng Shaoyun!"

  "Arrived!"

  "Go gather all students upstairs, we are holding a military assembly!"

  "Yes!"