Shaoguan Prefecture, Heping County, and Shuangxi Commune.
This is a mountainous township with a population of only 8,000. Transportation is inconvenient and there is no road to the area. You can imagine how difficult the conditions in this small commune are.
As the saying goes, poor mountains and bad waters produce unruly people.
Although this is a derogatory term, it can actually be understood in reverse as, in such a mountainous area with a harsh natural environment, everything needs to be robbed.
They robbed land, water, and women, and occasionally even acted as bandits, robbing traveling merchants. Only in this way could the local people survive.
It is precisely because of this natural environment that Shuangxi Commune is a famous township of tough men in Heping County. The men from Shuangxi Commune always rush forward roaring, no matter if they are fighting or at war.
Fearless and unafraid of death.
The key is that the people in the mountains are really straightforward, without so many tricks, and they obey orders and fight wherever they are told. That is why people have liked to go to Shuangxi Commune to recruit soldiers since ancient times.
Today in the shabby meeting room of the commune, Liu Mingwei, an officer of the Heping County Armed Forces Department, was reading out policies to a dozen young men sitting below.
"We called you here this time because the country has a mission for you. This is an opportunity for you personally. Of course, whether you agree or not is entirely voluntary. The country will not force you."
The dozen or so people below looked at each other, not understanding what their superiors were up to.
"Leader, just tell me what the mission is. Do you want us to put on our uniforms again and go fight Taiwan?"
"It is our duty to fight against Taiwan!"
"Exactly. Do we need to mobilize for this? We can set off right now."
“Hahaha~~~
Liu Mingwei also laughed and said, "Don't even mention you guys, I want to go to Taiwan too, haha. But this time I'm not going to Taiwan, I'm going to Hong Kong."
"Hong Kong?"
People in Dongguang Province are not unfamiliar with Hong Kong. After all, every county, township, and even every village has relatives who have settled in Hong Kong.
"Leader, are we going to retake Hong Kong?"
Liu Mingwei smiled and waved his hand:
"Only half of this mission is a national mission. The mission is to recruit 2,000 veterans, flee to Hong Kong as refugees, obtain Hong Kong residency, and then hide in Hong Kong.
"But don't worry, there's a contact in Hong Kong. His name is Lin Sanqi, a colonel staff officer in the General Logistics Department. He also has two identities: one is the director of the Capital Infectious Disease Hospital, and the other is the owner of the Lingnantang Pharmaceutical Company in Hong Kong."
Wang Jin raised his hand at this time:
"Leader, I don't quite understand. How can he be a colonel, a dean, and a boss? What exactly is the identity of this Lin Sanqi?"
Liu Mingwei was actually a little confused. He was just a grassroots armed forces staff member and had no access to news from the capital or Hong Kong:
"I don't know why this Comrade Lin Sanqi has so many identities. But it was he who proposed sending the veterans to Hong Kong. You can understand this as going there to work.
Once you arrive in Hong Kong, you will be workers at the pharmaceutical factory on the surface, but secretly, you will be a sharp knife in the hands of Comrade Lin Sanqi. There are many gangs and societies in Hong Kong, and your mission is to protect the Lin family and their assets from being violated."
At this time, Lu Xuezhi said:
"Oh~~ I see. You want us to be bodyguards for Comrade Lin Sanqi?"
Liu Mingwei nodded: "Yes, that should be what it means. That's why the superiors didn't force the assignment, but adopted the principle of voluntariness."
When they heard that they were going to Hong Kong to work as bodyguards, the dozen or so veterans present did not feel insulted. Instead, they all became thoughtful.
Life in the countryside is really too hard. You work hard every day but still can’t get enough to eat.
Moreover, these more than ten people only participated in the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea and did not participate in the War of Liberation. They are not considered old Red Army soldiers and cannot enjoy some benefits.
So when the army was disbanded, they were not arranged to work in public institutions and receive public wages after returning to their hometowns.
After returning home, they are still farmers and at most they are given some living allowances.
But as I said before, money is useless these days. What’s important are all kinds of tickets. If you have money but no tickets, you can’t buy anything.
Therefore, going to Hong Kong to find a job, even as a bodyguard, seems to be acceptable.
Thinking of this, Wang Jin asked on behalf of everyone:
"Secretary Liu, let us veterans go to Hong Kong to serve as bodyguards for the Lin family. What conditions will the Lin family offer?"
Liu Mingwei took a look at the information in his hand and explained to everyone:
"The average monthly salary for ordinary Hong Kong citizens is currently HK$200, with the higher being HK$300. The Lin family guarantees you HK$500 a month, and all your food and accommodation will be covered. These are all high-end dormitories with TVs and air conditioning."
"Wow~~~"
When more than ten people in the conference room heard these conditions, they all became excited.
In 1961, the monthly salary of an ordinary worker in the capital was about 30 yuan, which was the highest standard.
Specifically in this small mountainous town in Dongguan Province, it is a miracle for a farmer to get 20 yuan in cash at the end of the year even though he works non-stop all year round.
Zhao Jintao stood up immediately and asked, "Secretary Liu, how much is 500 Hong Kong dollars equivalent to in RMB?"
Secretary Liu thought for a moment and said, "Now it should be 100 Hong Kong dollars to 120 RMB, so 500 Hong Kong dollars is 600 RMB."
Zhao Jintao asked anxiously, "So, is this money considered the country's, or ours?"
In an era when private property was not recognized and everything a person owned belonged to the state, if you went to "work" abroad, whose salary would you earn? Of course, veterans would ask clearly.
If the wages they receive belong to the state, they will have no motivation to work hard abroad.
But if the salary belongs to individuals, with an annual income of 7,200 yuan, these more than ten veterans feel that their family can become the richest in the local area.
Secretary Liu laughed:
"It's written in the notice from above that this money belongs to you personally, but there's a currency exchange involved. When you send the money back to China, the government will receive it in Hong Kong dollars, but we can only give you RMB. Is that okay with you?"
"No problem, no problem~~~"
Although money is not as important as coupons, when the money reaches an exaggerated amount, you can go to the black market in the city to buy various coupons or food.
What's more, foreign exchange is very popular in the black market, and it is possible to exchange one Hong Kong dollar for three or four RMB.
Wang Jin said excitedly:
"Isn't it just being a bodyguard or a worker for the Lin family? They pay me so much, I would be willing to pick up a gun and join the death squad."
Lu Xuezhi also stood up and said to everyone:
"Deal with some Hong Kong thugs? Humph, let them see how powerful our people's soldiers are. Beat them until they cry and scream and go looking for Grandma."
Hahahaha~~~
More than a dozen veterans all laughed, their laughter full of confidence.
Which of these murderers doesn't have the blood of Americans and South Koreans on their hands? They don't even blink among the vast army, having crawled out of a sea of blood and corpses, having long since forgotten about life and death.
Now all they think about is how to improve the living conditions of their parents, wives and children, so that they have clothes to wear, food to eat and can survive.
Han Zhonghou raised his hand and asked:
"Secretary Liu, can we take our family to Xiangjiang?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the scene suddenly became quiet. After all, this topic was very sensitive, and it was no different from fleeing to Hong Kong.
Secretary Liu shook his head: "It's not possible to bring family members for the time being."
Han Zhonghou was disappointed when he heard this. He was selfish and was afraid that the money he earned would not reach his parents and wife. If he went to Hong Kong, he would not be able to return to his country and would not know what the situation was like here.
Secretary Liu comforted him:
"Just because you can't go now doesn't mean you can go in the future, understand? As long as you work hard, be loyal to the country, and help the Lin family, the Lin family will promise the central government that they will bring your family to Hong Kong in the future."
"real?"
My heart, which had just cooled down, warmed up again at this moment. What could be better than going to Hong Kong with the whole family?
Secretary Liu then said seriously:
"I'm telling you the truth. Comrade Lin Sanqi was a thorn in our side, sent to Hong Kong. He was one of our secret agents, and was meant to contribute to the country. The Lin family plays a very important role in the country.
So if any of you do go to Hong Kong, remember that he is not only your boss, but also your superior. Not only must you obey his orders, but you must also risk your life to protect the safety of him and his family, including their property.
Of course, you don't have to worry. The country will stand behind you and help you take care of your wives, children, and the elderly back home. When the conditions are ripe, whether you return or your families leave, we will be happy to see it happen.
Go back and discuss it with your families. If you want to go, come and sign up tomorrow. This opportunity was hard won by our county, and it's a way out for you. Of course, I reiterate the principle that this is voluntary, and whether you want to go or not is entirely up to you."
All 13 veterans stood up and stood at attention: "We must never forget our motherland's instructions!"
...(End of this chapter)
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