Chapter 3: The Wind Rises in Guangdong Section 20: Soldier Oil (2)

  The election of deputy squad leader on Cao Yuan's side was not smooth either. These soldiers, who had just put on military uniforms and were still conservative farmers at heart, were suspicious of the election of deputy squad leaders and avoided becoming one if possible; Cao Yuan tried every means to persuade them, and with great difficulty, the three platoon leaders finally managed to elect nine deputy squad leaders after much coaxing and deception.

  Cao Yuan returned to Lian's department and complained to Zhuang Jihua, who was also somewhat disheartened. He had originally wanted to mobilize the soldiers' enthusiasm through the election of deputy squad leaders, but unexpectedly, it turned out like this. However, he was also puzzled, so he asked them why they didn't want to be deputy squad leaders? After all, being a deputy squad leader is also an official position, and it's a leadership role among soldiers. Cao Yuan said with hatred that there's nothing else, just no one wants to take the lead, peasants are like this, they don't take the lead in anything, when something happens, they rely on you to take the lead. Now Zhuang Jihua understood, the difference between people of this era and those of previous eras is that in the past, even the smallest official positions were fought over, but modern people are holding guns and shooting at the birds that stick their heads out, with a mindset of not taking the lead when things happen.

  Zhuang Jihua also had no way, this concept can only be transformed through education, he said somewhat bitterly to Cao Yuan: "It seems that your work is very heavy." Cao Yuan's face was cold and stern as he replied to Zhuang Jihua: "You're right, letting soldiers learn culture is the fundamental way to raise their awareness, but it's a slow process." Zhuang Jihua comforted him, saying: "We'll find a way eventually, don't worry."

  The next morning, Zhuang Jihua was no longer running back and forth in the 10-kilometer cross-country run, but was always at the front. Cao Yuan was responsible for bringing up the rear. Before they were even halfway through, the formation of the whole team had scattered. About a dozen physically strong soldiers ran with Zhuang Jihua in the first group, while those behind them straggled far behind, stretching out in a long line. Hu Zongnan, Song Xilian and Du Yuming ran back and forth to encourage their own soldiers, knowing that according to regulations, even the last soldier's squad leader would not have breakfast.

  By the time the last soldier returned to the playground, the first batch that followed Zhuang Jihua back had already rested for ten minutes. The cooking class only set up nine tables, and the last one was surprisingly from the second platoon of the fourth company. Naturally, they could only watch, which made Zhuang Jihua a little surprised that Li Anguo, the battalion clerk who didn't look very strong, was actually among the first group to return.

  The squad leader Wu Ziniu was so angry, he was the first to rush onto the playground, and now he didn't even have food to eat. Looking at the triumphant expression of Squad Leader Li Xiaoman holding a steamed bun towards him, his anger surged to the top of his head. He swung his fist at the last soldier who arrived late, starting a fight. The others also vented their frustrations on that soldier, and several angry soldiers scolded him from the side. That soldier didn't dare to hide, but just cried somewhere.

  "Wu Ziniu, stop!" Cao Yuan was furious and rushed over. He had repeatedly emphasized that soldiers were not allowed to be beaten, but today Wu Ziniu actually did so in front of the whole company. If he didn't intervene, there would be no way to manage in the future.

  "Wu Ziniu, how many times have I told you not to beat or scold the soldiers? You still dare to do so, I will put you in confinement!" Cao Yuan's face turned red with rage as he loudly rebuked.

  "Comrade representative, this kid doesn't train properly. I ran first, but he didn't eat, and the whole class of brothers couldn't eat either. He dragged down the whole class of brothers to starve. Platoon leader, you say whether he should be taught a lesson or not." Wu Ziniu complained discontentedly to platoon leader Song Xilian.

  "Nonsense!" Zhuang Jihua rushed over and shouted loudly before Song Xiliang could speak, having heard Wu Ziniu's complaints.

  Wu Ziniu saw Zhuang Jihua coming over and quickly stood up. Last night, after Zhuang Jihua left, he and several squad leaders discussed it together. Wang Xiaoshan said that this company commander was a bit strange in his actions and told everyone to be careful. Although he had a bad temper, he had always been somewhat deferential to Wang Xiaoshan, not for any other reason, but because his brain was more useful than others. Otherwise, how could an ordinary soldier survive for ten years in this era?

  Zhuang Jihua walked over and looked at Wu Ziniu's furious expression, he coldly snorted: "Fourth squad leader, do you feel wronged? You ran ahead because of him," Cao Yuan helped the soldier up, and the soldier stood aside wiping away tears. Zhuang Jihua glanced over and couldn't help but get angry: "So you can't eat, is that it?"

  "Wozi said angrily: 'Right, this rabbit is not running well and dragging down his brothers.'"

  Zhuang Jihua looked around at the four soldiers and asked: "Do you all think so too?"

  Those soldiers carrying their loads said: "Yes, if it weren't for him we wouldn't be starving."

  Zhuang Jihua nodded and said to Song Xilian: "Assemble the whole team." He finally found the first step of training.

  Soon all the soldiers gathered in front of Zhuang Jihua, and Zhuang Jihua stood at the front of the team and said loudly: "Delaying everyone's breakfast is because there are some things to chat with everyone. After finishing chatting, everyone will go back to continue eating breakfast."

  "The fourth squad fell behind today, and according to the rules, they didn't get breakfast. The squad leader, Wu Ziniu, thought it was because of Zhang Ashui's lack of effort that he was implicated, so he wanted to teach Zhang a lesson, and therefore could disobey the party representative's orders and beat Zhang. The other comrades in the fourth squad also thought it was Zhang's fault that they didn't get breakfast. But I don't see it that way. I saw Zhang come back, and after he came back, he couldn't stand still for a while, and it was only after I supported him and walked with him for several laps that he recovered his strength. This shows that he had given his all. What do you think? Later, Wu Ziniu was called out again to ask: "Is this true?"

  "Yes." said Wu Ziniu after some thought.

  "He also knew that running last would mean no food, he wanted to run in front, but his physical ability was poor and couldn't keep up with the front runners. This wasn't his problem anymore, this was the squad leader's problem."

  At this point, the soldiers below made a buzzing noise. Wu Ziniu looked dissatisfied, and Zhuang Jihua said loudly without looking at him: "Why? It's true that Wu Ziniu was running in front, he was the first to run back for the whole company, personally speaking, he did it well and should be commended. But he forgot, he is a squad leader, he not only has to take responsibility for his own actions but also for the actions of the entire squad. So today, Squad 4 came in last and couldn't eat, the biggest responsible person is Squad Leader Wu Ziniu."

  "Squad leader, don't be disheartened. Let me set this up: the enemy is 15 kilometers away, and HQ orders our squad to intercept them at 10 kilometers out. Wu Ziniu charges forward alone, but what's the use of him getting there by himself? None - one person can't hold off the enemy; only when the entire squad arrives can we hold off the enemy. Do you understand, Squad Leader?"

  "I understand." Wu Ziniu hung his head in shame, but also showed some dissatisfaction: "But Zhang Ashui's physical ability is too poor, and I have no way to do it."

  "No, you're always thinking of ways. "Zhuang Jihua said sternly: "Actually, none of you have thought of a way." He pointed to several class leaders.

  "I stipulated that the score of each class is calculated based on the last one's score, and the purpose is to make you several class leaders calculate how to bring back the whole class as a whole, but looking at you, who is not taking care of themselves? Which class is coming back as a whole? Which class is not sparse?"

  "Did you guys plan tactics before running and arrange how to help comrades who are physically weaker? Who did, raise your hand, I salute him."

  "Each squad is a unit, three such units form a platoon, and ten such units form a company. I am the company commander, not just the commander of your nine squads plus three platoons, so I am responsible for every soldier in the entire company. You are platoon leaders, you should be responsible for all 36 soldiers in your platoon; you are squad leaders, you should be responsible for all 11 soldiers in your squad. Soldiers in a squad should advance and retreat together, one soldier's behavior affects the whole squad."

  "For example, if your entire class is hiding in front of the enemy's position, if one person exposes himself, it won't just be him who gets exposed, but the whole class; and it won't just be him who dies, but the brothers of the whole class. Similarly, if a company is hiding, the ones who die will be the brothers of the whole company. So you brothers share life and death together, honor and shame together, hunger together. Don't blame others, blame yourselves for not doing well."

  "Do you understand now? Head of Class 4."

  "I see, however..." Wu Ziniu blinked his eyes, thought for a moment and asked again: "Lian Zhang, is there tactics in running too?"

  "Of course," Zhuang Jihua said with a smile, "running also has tactics. For example, for your four classes, you can put the strongest in the back and the slightly weaker ones in the front to lead the way. Tell them to hold back their footsteps and distribute their energy evenly. Put the weakest in the middle. When sprinting at the end, if someone can't run anymore, the stronger ones can carry them on their backs. You have to know that competing for first place is useless; you should compete not to be last, or else you won't get to eat."

  "Does everyone understand?"

  "Got it." "Good, I hope you all remember this idea firmly, not only in training but also in life. Your whole class is a unit, one person is humiliated, the whole class is humiliated; one person makes achievements, the whole class makes achievements, even if you're fighting, you'll go up together as a whole class. Got it?"

  "Yes." The roar was like thunder.

  "Others go back to eat, Wu Ziniu is closed for half a day. Dismissed."

  "What... why do you want to lock me up?" Hearing this decision, all the people of Lian were very puzzled, standing there without moving. Song Xiliang was about to ask, but Wu Ziniu asked first with great dissatisfaction.

  "Didn't the party representative just say that you should be put under detention?" Zhuang Jihua said very seriously: "I support the party representative's decision. In my company, corporal punishment of soldiers is not allowed."

  "But..."

  "There's nothing that can be done about it, but in the training ground, it is not allowed to beat up soldiers. Whoever beats up a soldier will be locked up for one day. Since you're a first-time offender, I'll reduce it by half."

  Zhuang Jihua was about to leave, but suddenly remembered something and turned back to shout loudly: "Zhang Ashui, from now on you are not allowed to shed tears. When fighting as a soldier, don't put your brain in your pants waistband. Soldiers bleed but do not cry. Whoever cries again will be punished by me."