Chapter 40

  When I told Lao Cheng about my conversation with Vice President Lin, Lao Cheng listened and stamped his foot, saying: "The last sentence was obviously trying to win you over, and you answered like that, what's wrong with you? Alas!"

  I was shocked and said: "Huh?"

  Lao Cheng said: "Now we can only take it one step at a time, let's talk about it with the old boss after the battle is over!"

  I nodded slightly and said with some annoyance, "What's going on here?" After thinking for a moment, I said to Lao Cheng, "Lao Cheng, this time it seems like the entire 7th Army has been dragged in."

  Lao Cheng shook his head and said, "Until today, you are still so distant. Since the 7th Army was formed, Lao Lan, Lao Pongpang, Shuai Zhang, Lao Luo Luo, and I have been on the same boat as you."

  "I asked in puzzlement: 'Why?'"

  Lao Cheng explained: "When you went to the northwest to see Commander Yao, we all received inquiries from above, asking if we were willing to go to other troops. I was going to the 39th Army as deputy commander and also as commander of the 73rd Division, Lao Lan was going to the Sichuan Military Region's headquarters as deputy chief of staff, Lao Pang was the commander of the 7th Division, and Lao Luo was going to the 54th Army as commander of the 62nd Division."

  "I exclaimed in surprise: 'Those are all good positions.'"

  Lao Cheng said, "Yes, unfortunately we didn't agree and didn't go." He saw me about to ask again, he signaled me not to ask, and continued: "We all thought it was easy to work with you, no intrigue or infighting. Most importantly, after learning about Lao Xiang's situation, we decided to fight alongside you. Besides, you are Commander Yao's direct subordinate, the boss's son-in-law. Their character has been proven by time to be good leaders and excellent communists. We are very willing to fight shoulder-to-shoulder with you."

  I was very excited and moved, stood up and said: "Thank you for your trust, we are comrades in arms, real comrades!"

  Lao Cheng smiled and said: "Wasn't it like that before? Hehe!"

  I also said somewhat embarrassedly on the side: "Yes, yes."

  Lao Cheng said with a serious tone: "Vice Chairman Lin is an excellent military man, no need to mention; but in other aspects, he excludes dissidents and retaliates against comrades who have different opinions from himself. You also know this, I want to say that you are now the master of the 7th Army, your every word and deed represents the 7th Army. Hope General, don't speak recklessly again!"

  I nodded and said: "Understood, Commissar."

  Lao Cheng said again: "Commander, I just spoke a bit too much, don't mind it!"

  I shook my head and said: "You're right, you're absolutely right! Next time, Comrade, you'll have to remind me again!"

  Lao Cheng looked at me with a serious expression and said: "I will definitely do it, Commander."

  "I heard him say: 'Then you go ahead and be busy, I'm leaving.'"

  "Alright."

  I walked out, feeling a bit depressed, and deeply realized the burden on my shoulders now, also scolding myself for being immature. In the afternoon's party committee meeting, we also discussed Davier's party membership issue, with a unanimous vote in favor. However, there were different opinions on the issue of establishing the Western Zun Liberation Army. At the meeting, the commander of the 142nd Division, Luo, said: "Commander, Political Commissar, I have some doubts about the establishment of the Western Zun Liberation Army. Among them are those who have harmed our comrades-in-arms, and now they suddenly become comrades - isn't this a bit too good to be true?"

  Lao Cheng looked at me and said seriously, "Old Luo, you're also an old comrade! Did you treat the Nationalist prisoners of war like this during the Liberation War?"

  The old Roman said, "That's different, they're all of the same species as us."

  Lao Cheng listened and said with a slightly stern tone: "So you mean to kill them all? Will that make you feel better?"

  Lao Luo heard this and got a bit angry, saying: "I did want to, but unfortunately you guys didn't agree!"

  Lao Cheng listened to the fire and stood up, saying loudly: "You...!" He paused for a moment, then continued: "I won't argue with you, if you have different opinions, you can keep them. Now let's vote, those who agree, raise your hands!" As a result, under the circumstances that I didn't raise my hand, I nodded slightly, and it just so happened to be 5:5. The five votes from the political department, the five votes from the military commanders, three regimental commanders, Pang Deputy Military Commander, and Lan Chief of Staff voted against, while Lao Cheng, Vice Political Commissar Wu Jianguo, Vice Chief of Staff Han Peng, Director of the Political Department Yang Zhi, and Vice Minister He Jianbo voted in favor. I stood up, signaling everyone to put down their hands, and calmly said: "If you have different opinions, we can discuss them, let's not argue or quarrel." I saw Regimental Commander Luo wanting to speak, so I quickly said: "Wait until I finish speaking, comrades. Everyone present is my senior, all of whom joined the army before me. As for principles, there's no need to mention it. What I'm saying is that this war is different from previous ones. To put it nicely, our self-defense counterattack is for the sake of the communist cause; to put it bluntly, we're fighting against another sovereign nation, occupying another country's land - what is this? It's aggression! If we want to thoroughly win this war, we must win over the hearts of the people. Can we do that on our own? That's far from enough. Those Western soldiers are mostly from poor backgrounds, who would have a good life and not join the army, especially in capitalist society! Let them spread propaganda for us, let them do things we can't do, let them tell the people of Western Chu, only then can we gain a foothold in Western Chu, reduce our casualties. To take a step back, should we learn from the Eastern devils and go slaughter? Regimental Commander Luo, what do you say?"

  Lu Shizhang and the others listened but didn't speak, instead quietly pondering the meaning of what I had just said. After a while, Lu Shizhang stood up and said: "Commander, I hadn't thought that far ahead at first, so..."

  I smiled and said: "Nothing, just correct it from now on."

  Lu Shizhang stood up straight and shouted: "Yes!" After finishing speaking, he turned to Lao Cheng and said: "Commissar, I just..."

  Lao Cheng didn't wait for him to finish speaking, stood up and interrupted Luo Shizhang's words, saying: "Old Luo, I'm not good either, just now when I spoke, I didn't pay attention to my tone."

  "No, no, it's my fault."

  I saw them put aside their past grievances and make amends, which made me very happy. I smiled and said: "So, does everyone have any differing opinions on the proposal to establish the Western Zun Liberation Army?"

  "No."

  "All in favor, raise your hands!"

  "Approved unanimously."

  "Moving on to the next topic."

  After the meeting, I immediately ordered Daville to form a troop and report the list. I will arrange personnel to go to Xizang Liberation Army to serve as political cadres and instructors based on specific situations. Unexpectedly, the list came up on January 4th, I took a look, there were exactly 4200 people, I still asked the people below to understand the specific situation, the people below reported that "their physical quality is not bad, their spirit is also good, they are all active learners." After listening, I felt relieved and ordered Daville to issue weapons, while arranging political workers and instructors to go and take up posts, assisting Daville in training and controlling the troops.