I woke up to check the time and found that only an hour had passed. I walked over to the desk, took a sip of tea, and felt refreshed after waking up. Then, I called Lin Zongzhi, the commander-in-chief, to report on the situation regarding the formation of the first regiment with the Western Chu captives and the current situation. To be honest, I was a bit nervous, as this was my first time taking action before reporting back. However, when I heard Commander Lin's response, he said: "Tang Ning, you mentioned at the meeting that you wanted full authority to handle things on the front lines, didn't I agree? I don't care about these details, I only look at results. As long as you can complete your tasks, I won't ask any questions." I hastily replied: "Yes, Commander! I understand now, I just thought it was better to report back to you."
Commander Lin said: "You young man, stop this nonsense! Why didn't you ask for instructions when you were doing it? Now you come to ask for instructions, isn't that just a case of locking the stable door after the horse has bolted?! Is there anything else?"
"I said: 'There is no more.'"
"Alright, that's settled then. You'd better do a good job for me. If you don't fight well and can't complete the task, don't come see me!"
"Yes."
I hung up the phone and thought to myself: Could it be that my unintentional statement last time had an effect? Why did Vice Chairman Lin's tone sound like he was talking to one of his own people? Never mind, as long as I win this battle, everything will be fine! Now I'm completely relaxed, with the support of my superiors, I'm not afraid of anyone gossiping behind my back or any consequences. I shouted: "Liu Hu!" Liu Hu rushed over and asked: "What's up, Commander?" I said: "Let's go, take advantage of it being early, let's practice a bit."
Liu Hu's face changed as he shouted: "Ah, my stomach hurts."
I coldly smiled and said: "If your stomach hurts, just add ten more laps around the playground."
Liu Hu said solemnly: "Commander, I am now practicing day and night, just to wipe out the shame of the past!"
I burst out laughing and laughed for a while before saying: "Alright then, I'll see how you're going to make up for your past mistakes!"
30 minutes later, I walked back to the office with a clear and refreshing mind, followed by Liu Hu. Liu Hu had two black eyes and looked depressed, saying in a low voice: "Looking for abuse! Looking for abuse!" I patted him on the shoulder and said seriously: "Comrade Liu Hu, the revolution has not yet succeeded, comrades still need to work hard!" After finishing speaking, I burst out laughing loudly. Liu Hu was on the verge of tears, with a sad face saying: "General, I am about to become a martyr, please spare me."
I heard him say: "You little brat, you've just been beaten a few times and now you're seeking death, forget it. Looking at your pitiful appearance, after this battle is over, you'll be demoted to the rank of company commander."
Liu Hu immediately said: "Commander, don't burn your bridges after crossing the river, I'm not leaving!"
"I'm telling you seriously: Liu Hu, stop being my bodyguard all the time. You're already 23 or 24 years old, hurry up and go gain some experience for a few years, it's also good to give your family an explanation."
Liu Hu shook his head and said: "No, Commander, I'm not going anywhere."
"I scolded, 'You have to go even if you don't want to. Stop stalling and leave now.' After I finished speaking, my tone changed and I said gently, 'Liu Hu, I'm thinking about your future. If you go down there and temper yourself for a few years, you can come back home and show off, got it?'"
Liu Hu listened silently and didn't utter a word for a while before saying: "Commander, when can I go down to the company?"
I sighed and said: "After solving the 6th division, you will go down to the company. I can tell you that at that time, don't lose my face, do you understand?"
Liu Hu said on horseback: "The people from the 53rd Regiment are not cowards."
"Ah, that's good to know." I asked again: "Hey, Liu Hu! I remembered, did your family send you a letter? How is the situation at home now, is it okay?"
Liu Hu heard and replied: "I've been there, my old man said to let me do a good job in the army, with him at home, nothing's wrong."
I asked again: "I heard that the harvest is not good all over the country this year. Write a letter back home and ask if there are any difficulties, if so, tell me, I'll give you some things to take back."
Liu Hu said: "Yes, I'll write a letter soon."
I nodded and said: "Okay, you go out and rest for a while, tell me when it's time for dinner."
"Yes."
After Liu Hu went out, I sat on the chair and picked up the "Military Report" on the table to read it. The newspaper was filled with large blocks of text calling for the entire army to launch criticism and self-criticism, actively exposing and correcting the past mistakes in thought and action of comrades around them. Every comrade had to be fearless, dare to struggle against evil forces, and for the sake of further purifying the revolutionary ranks, the whole army was required to set up a letter box for soldiers to anonymously publish letters of accusation. Leaders at all levels were not allowed to obstruct this, otherwise they would be severely punished. I looked at these words that I couldn't quite understand - what and what? How could soldiers fight like this? At the same time, I thought: Are my comrades around me evil forces? Just then, Cheng Zhengwei rushed in and urgently asked me, "Tang Ning, have you read the newspaper?"
"I replied: 'I'm reading, what's up?'"
Lao Cheng said: "What do you think?"
"We are frontline troops with combat missions, what's the necessity of these?"
Lao Cheng listened and asked: "Is the battle over?"
"I said: 'I don't care about other places, as long as you remember to support the Party and Chairman, defend the country and people here, that's enough.'"
Lao Cheng said: "It looks like a storm is coming."
"I said: 'Don't think nonsense, we are soldiers, just do our duty.'"
Lao Cheng nodded and said: "Then shall we hold a meeting? Let's discuss it with other comrades."
"I said: 'Alright, comrades, let's take a break for an hour and then have a meeting.'"
"Okay."
1 hour later, the military department meeting room. Lao Cheng briefed the situation and I immediately spoke up: "Now that we are about to go into battle, in order not to confuse the soldiers' minds and reduce their combat effectiveness, I suggest that the news on the newspaper be strictly kept confidential. Let's wait for the formal file command from above before looking at it, what do you all think?"
Everyone nodded in agreement. I instructed Yang Zhi, "Your political department must take care of this now. Everything is centered around the Western Expedition and Western Zhendong. Don't let the soldiers know about it, or it will affect their combat effectiveness."
Yang Zhi nodded and said, "Don't worry, the <
"Alright," I said. "Let's focus on winning the war first and then talk about domestic affairs later."
"Yes."
"Dismissed."
I went back to the office and thought for a moment, then called Commander Yao, but unfortunately Commander Yao was not there, saying he had gone to a meeting in Zhongdu. As soon as I hung up the phone, it rang again, and I picked it up: "Hello, who is this?"
"I am Lin Gang."
"As soon as I heard it, I hastily said: 'Ah, is Director Lin giving orders? What are the instructions?'"
"Heh heh, nothing much? Just making a call to ask about the situation with this army commander, is it good or not?"
"Thank you for your concern, Commander-in-Chief, everything is normal here."
"Alright, the big war is about to arrive, I'm informing you in advance, 7 days later take action, give yourself a month's time to occupy Xilong for me."
"Yes."
"Alright then, you take good care of your troops, got it?"
"Yes."
I hung up the phone, feeling a little excited, it's finally here, the war is about to begin.