26. Autumn's Raid (8)

  After I returned to university, one of the focuses of my directorial studies was how to organize dramatic conflicts, that is, finding "dramaticness". What is dramaticness? I read many books on drama and literary theory, there are many sayings, but I don't particularly agree with them.

  If I were to say, what is drama? What kind of conflict constitutes dramatic conflict? It's the conflicts that life originally has, which are often the most unexpected dramatic conflicts, because life itself is inherently dramatic - and all an artist does is capture and reorganize life, but in this process, the original dramatic elements of life are often artificially weakened by some low-level creators. The conflict is established, but the original ecology of life is severely weakened, and what they reorganize and construct has no shadow of life, but is a castle in the air, making people feel that even real events seem fabricated - this is called "hand tide" in our industry.

  Respecting the original state of life is actually the ultimate realm of artistic creation. Because life itself is too dramatic. This dramatic conflict, if it didn't happen to me, I wouldn't be able to make up in 100 years.

  I'm laughing just thinking about it now, damn high school team, you've got your comeuppance?!

  The tractor took me, and all the way was smooth sailing, better than any car. Which checkpoint dared to block Grandma from taking her grandson to the city for medical treatment? Did he want to die?! It just stretched out its hand to stop us, but when it saw Grandma's fierce gaze, as if she was about to devour him, it quickly waved its hand and let us pass, not even daring to take a closer look. There were kind-hearted cadres leading the checkpoint who sincerely offered to send their own jeep to take Grandma and her family to the city for medical treatment. Their attitude was so sincere that I still blush when I think about it today. But Grandma simply didn't want to bother with him, pointing at his nose and saying: "Get out of my way!"

  Then hurry up and let go, soldiers have nothing to say, especially when facing such an old lady. We just rushed all the way, and now the dramatic conflict really appeared.

  I later lay in Grandma's arms with my eyes slightly open to look around. I could see the search teams of brother troops patrolling along the way, checking sentries, and military vehicles coming and going. The army was very serious during the exercise, especially when two troops who didn't get along had a chance to fight each other, their eyes gleaming with excitement. It was really intense, you can't see this scene on TV in the city, it's the real war atmosphere. Soldiers wearing camouflage uniforms and steel helmets looked serious, radio soldiers wearing headphones were calling out "Tiger" and "Mountain Eagle" - don't mention those awkward code names like Yangtze River and Yellow River anymore, our army isn't stupid, we know what they mean, I really don't understand why they still use them on TV. Military vehicles were all covered with camouflage nets, fully armed soldiers jumped out of the vehicles one after another, and so did the dogs. Officers were discussing battle plans on the roadside, pointing at maps, while guards were scattered around, their hands on their guns, although they were empty shells, but their expressions were serious. Next to the parked military vehicles stood sentries holding guns with safeties off, muzzles pointed at the sky, eyes scanning around - it was really a war atmosphere.

  Then I saw a team of bald-headed soldiers being tied up and walking along the road in a string. There was also a group of fighters pressing on. As soon as I saw it, I knew that our regiment's dog-head soldiers had been caught. This is also normal, doing what you do is what you do, brother units are not bragging. Special forces infiltrate, field troops counter-infiltrate, and everyone eats their own food. Who is more powerful than who is really uncertain, it depends on luck.

  I didn't pay attention at first, but I was suddenly stunned. Because I saw a familiar face: Captain Mada, my comrades...

  Finally, I saw that damned face! You all know who it is without me saying it, of course, it's the Dog Head High School team. They all saw me, and as I was stunned, they were also stunned. The tractor slowly drove by, and one by one, I saw their faces: many people had injuries on their faces that still had camouflage paint on them, clearly showing signs of intense resistance, but it was obvious that they couldn't withstand the enemy's numbers! The Dog Head High School team's faces were especially colorful, although he is a secular disciple of Shaolin Temple, this is just a drill and he wouldn't be foolish enough to go all out, let alone the fact that the PLA has many skilled people, and brother units might have martial arts masters too. And what about Dog Grandpa? Would you dare kill him if he bit your arm?

  I was stunned, and my eyes suddenly opened wide staring at them. They also looked at me, but no one said a word.

  I was the only one in our special forces team who didn't get captured because I violated the principles of guerrilla warfare behind enemy lines. The battle hero and first-class meritorious general, Dog Head High School Team, who had always looked down on others, unexpectedly led his own team into the encirclement! Isn't that dramatic?!

  I stood there foolishly watching them get farther and farther away, they were walking along the side of the road with their hands tied behind their backs, watching me get farther and farther away.

  Everyone is stunned.

  It wasn't until later that I found out why the Dog Head High School team was captured. I don't know where to say it, so I'll just say it here. It turns out they also got stuck in the mountains and couldn't get out. This has nothing to do with me, I did what I was supposed to do, and I've already led the pursuers far away. If you want to blame someone, blame him. He really couldn't find a way to approach Highway 7 Bridge, so he spent money renting a farmer's truck that carried corn stalks. The whole team hid under the corn stalks. This was a good idea, but you think this is real war? Would sentries come and stab the corn stalks with bayonets? Who dares to do that? How would military relations work? They got through like that, but the Dog Head High School team made a mistake.

  He had just stopped in front of a checkpoint, and then he let out a big sneeze. I don't know what he was thinking, but it was a really loud one. Then you can imagine what happened next. The checkpoint blew their whistle, the machine gun was pointed at the truck, and the search team just happened to be nearby and immediately surrounded us. The farmer who was driving was scared stiff, had never seen such a big scene before, and immediately knelt down with his hands up in surrender.

  But who has the time for that? The Dog Head High School team and our brothers jumped out of the cornstalks like in a movie, and both sides' blank shots rang out loudly! If it were a real war with heavy casualties on both sides, our special forces would be completely wiped out. But the search party and inspection posts would basically have nothing left either.

  "Blank rounds can't kill anyone, damn it! Who's gonna take responsibility now? They started beating each other up. No matter how tough you are, you can't withstand a crowd! Besides, you're not even brave enough to use the "one move to defeat the enemy" technique! When soldiers from the same unit fight each other, they all know it's just for show - otherwise, special forces would be nothing but old men! We've had our fair share of brawls too... it's just a gang fight! Gun butts flying everywhere, fists and feet... you're done. The whole team was captured, and we had to withdraw from the exercise."

  It's just me left. I still went to pick apples and steal guns in the enemy's rear, violating the principles of guerrilla warfare. You call this dramatic conflict? Can you come up with something like that?