Chapter Thirteen

  18 months have passed since the world experienced 2062 August. The Military Committee of Ma Tiegei, 27th Army, 53rd Division, Headquarters. The meeting room was filled with smoke, except for me, everyone else's ashtray had extinguished cigarette butts, and they were all deep in thought, silent. Wu Zhengwei still looked expressionless, Han Peng, the Chief of Staff, lowered his head and puffed on his cigarette one mouthful at a time, Pan, the Deputy Regimental Commander, leaned back in his chair with his eyes closed, seemingly lost in thought, Xing Kaiyuan, the 50-year-old Regimental Commander, still looked spirited, staring at the military cap in his hand, not uttering a word. The others were more or less the same, all thinking about something. I slowly glanced around and said: "Since the Chairman publicly met with the main leaders of the Red Guards in Zhongdu, the Red Guard organizations across the country have become increasingly intense, now factories are shutting down production, schools are suspending classes, everyone is busy putting up big-character posters, denouncing, and exposing. Now the military also needs to start, various levels of military regions have received orders to launch historical accounting, to cooperate with local revolutionary committees in criticizing and investigating comrades with problems. Everyone is clear about these situations, just now the Political Commissar also said it at the meeting, requiring everyone to grasp military management well, launch a large-scale military competition. Report any matters first, then listen for orders, try to minimize contact with local comrades, like Old Xing, if there's nothing going on, stay in the barracks, don't go out."

  The second battalion commander He Jianbo stood up and said: "Battalion Commander, why are you hiding? We haven't committed a crime, we don't owe anyone money! Let's do what we need to do!"

  Guard Platoon Leader Li Qi also followed up, saying: "Yes, Commissar. Old He didn't say anything wrong, this is the military, and local authorities can still make trouble here. Commissar! Don't worry unnecessarily." Many comrades who heard this nodded in agreement, saying: "Yes, yes."

  Wu Zhengwei listened and said coldly: "What's the excitement about, sit down. The team leader is also kind! Old Xing, you were in the investigation team before, so be more careful."

  I saw them wanting to say something, so I immediately interrupted and said: "This is the order of Commander Yao of the Military Region. Do you know, this is an order!" I looked at everyone and said: "I know what mood everyone is in, it's not easy to control here, and now there's a new situation, everyone is very angry. But this is the general trend, it's not something that can be controlled by me or you, or all of you present. What can we do? We can only try our best to protect ourselves, protect the 53rd Regiment, and get through this storm! After you go back, gather your comrades and have a meeting, unify your thoughts, and also, when you go back, concentrate on studying Chairman's quotes and Chairman's thought, at least make an effort on the surface, in case someone from above or the Revolutionary Committee comes to inspect. Does everyone understand? Dismissed!

  I had just finished speaking when the door of the conference room was pushed open and a staff officer walked in, came to me, saluted and reported: "Commander, an urgent telegram from the Military Department." I took over the telegram he handed me and read it carefully, then passed it to the political commissar. Facing everyone, I said: "Tomorrow morning at 9 o'clock, General Bai will come to our unit for inspection. Everyone should get ready, tomorrow after morning exercise, gather at the division headquarters."

  After everyone walked out of the conference room, I slowly walked out, thinking about tomorrow's specific arrangements for welcoming Bai Jun. After thinking for a long time, I decided to let the political commissar take charge, as these things are not my strong suit. As soon as I finished telling the task to the political commissar and walked into my office, the phone on the desk rang. I picked it up and said into the receiver: "Hello, this is Tang Ning of the 53rd Regiment." The voice from the other end said: "I'm from the Revolutionary Committee, I'm calling to inform you that you need to come over tomorrow and talk about some matters concerning you."

  "What's up? I'm busy tomorrow, how about the day after? The day after is also no good."

  "Comrade Tangning, what kind of attitude is this!"

  "What attitude? When did your local comrades start interfering with our army?"

  "What's with you? I'm telling you, if you don't drink the toast, you'll be punished with a penalty drink!"

  "Oh? Then I'll wait!" After finishing speaking, I hung up the phone. In my heart, I thought: A toad taking a nap. I continued to busy myself with handling the documents on the desk.

  At the other end of the revolutionary committee director's office, Wang Qifu slammed down the phone. He had never met such a person who openly gave him no face and cut him off ruthlessly. How could he swallow this insult? Since being demoted to this remote small town, he had not been self-pitying, but had worked hard to make his leaders realize that wasting talent like his was a waste. In fact, he had performed well, almost defeating all the local leading cadres in Ma Tie Gai, making him the de facto leader of Ma Tie Gai, and receiving multiple awards from superiors. But this phone call made him realize that he still had far to go before achieving absolute control here, where there were still military personnel, including the 27th Army's 53rd Regiment. He tried to calm himself down, lit a cigarette, and puffed on it, thinking hard for a solution. Suddenly, the name "Jiang Hong" appeared in his mind - Jiang Hong! It was said that he was now the political commissar of the Northwest Military Region. For this old classmate, Wang Qifu still had some disdain, thinking that he had relied on flattery and his family connections to climb to his current position. Anyway, it was worth making a phone call to ask him about it.

  After a while, the phone connected and he said with a smile: "Old classmate, how are you!"

  "Who is this?" Jiang Hong asked suspiciously on the other end of the phone.

  Wang Qifu was taken aback for a moment, his tone natural but slightly stiff: "I am Wang Qifu, the Wang Qifu of the Revolutionary Committee."

  Jiang Hong listened and his mind quickly thought of this person, after a while he finally remembered, it was him. He said with a smile: "Oh, it's you! What's up? Is grazing sheep on Matigai very comfortable?"

  Wang Qifu's anger rose immediately after listening, he took a deep breath and calmly said: "Comrade Jiang Hong, what I want to say is that the garrison leadership of Ma Tieguai has a serious style problem, especially their regimental commander has a warlord style, and they don't cooperate with our work at all."

  Jiang Hong raised an eyebrow and said, "Oh? Is that so? However, these are all military matters, and investigating him is also a matter for the military to handle internally. It's better if you local comrades don't get involved."

  Wang Qifu listened and warned: "Old classmate, you should know the current situation in the country. The whole nation is now carrying out a rectification movement of self-examination and denunciation..."

  Jiang Hongli suddenly interrupted, saying: "Don't talk to me about these things, it's not your turn to say these things to me. You'd better weigh yourself!" After finishing speaking, he hung up the phone. He thought to himself: Tang Ning of the 53rd Regiment, if it weren't for Yao Yuan protecting him, and Yao Yuan being deeply trusted by the Chairman, and Tang Ning having a good relationship with the Chairman, I would have taken action against him long ago. How dare you, Wang Qifu! Now anyone who is part of the Revolutionary Committee thinks they are above the sky, and doesn't even know who they are anymore.

  Actually, both Jiang Hong and Wang Qifu are usually arrogant, how can Wang Qifu make Jiang Hong lower his head? The conversation between the two people naturally had no good result.

  Wang Qifu had two consecutive phone calls today, both from the military, and he hung up with a dark face. People outside the office heard the sound of crashing and shattering coming from inside, and were too afraid to go in, as everyone knew that Director Wang was furious again.

  I don't know about these things, I'm still studying the Chairman's quotes carefully! Just then, Wu Zhengwei walked in and said: "Comrade Commander, Sun Hao from the logistics department just came to me and said that food is very tight now, and he's afraid that one day there won't be enough food! Can you think of a solution?"

  I put down the recorder in my hand and started thinking. After a while, I said: "Why don't we also plant some vegetables, raise pigs, chickens and so on?"

  Wu Zhengwei listened and said: "Our field army also raises these? However, there is no other way."

  I shook my head and said: "Alas, nowadays ordinary people do not think about working hard, they are deceived into shouting slogans all day and holding gatherings. I don't know what these people are thinking!"

  "Commander, don't always spout these things casually. Once you get used to saying them, it won't be good. I'm warning you, you're the head of a regiment, a high-ranking military officer."

  I listened with both hands up in a surrendering gesture: "Got it, got it. My great leader."

  Wu Zhengwei said helplessly, "You...". He continued, "Well, I'll just leave then. I still need to prepare some materials and tonight I have a meeting with the political commissars at the company level and above."

  "Alright, okay."