"Let's first reach the camp thirty miles from Shiquanhe."
"That's an oxygen station."
"Without this oxygen station, the soldiers at the snow mountain outpost could only transport oxygen from the foot of the mountain to the top."
The group traveled by car along the Xinjiang-Tibet Highway.
“Our outpost was established in 1958 and is a sub-post (border post) of the Setula outpost.”
“At the beginning of its establishment, the officers and soldiers relied on a cotton tent and an iron pot placed on a rock. They ate compressed rations and drank snow water that boiled at 70 degrees Celsius every day. The Shenxianwan outpost managed to stand firm in a place that medical experts called a ‘no-go zone’ and firmly guarded the western gate of the motherland.”
"Since then, generations of people in Shenxianwan have dedicated their youth and even their lives to the motherland, composing a series of hymns of praise for border guards who defend the country."
As Yuan Yi listened to the staff officer's words, he could already picture the scene from back then.
Which of these soldiers isn't an only child in their family? Their precious darling?
Who wasn't spoiled and pampered growing up?
Now, after enlisting in the army, they are able to be stationed year-round in this place known as a no-man's-land.
It's important to know that the Shenxianwan outpost is located at an altitude of over 5,000 meters, with a temperature difference of more than 30 degrees Celsius between day and night.
Winter lasts for more than six months, and winds exceeding 17 meters per second account for half of the days of the year. The oxygen content in the air is less than half that of the plains, while the ultraviolet radiation intensity is 50% higher.
Is this an environment where humans can survive?
But the soldiers at this outpost have been guarding the border of the motherland year after year, day after day.
Yuan Yi was moved and admired their spirit.
We arrived at the oxygen production station at the 30-mile camp in Shiquanhe.
"Staff Officer Liu, what brings you here today?"
What instructions have been given from the regimental headquarters?
The station manager of the oxygen production station asked Staff Officer Liu Heng.
"No, this isn't a performance troupe sent from above. The troupe leader told me to deliver them to the outpost."
"Have you delivered the oxygen?"
"If you don't have any, come along. It'll be a good opportunity for you to see the performance by our colleagues from the Beijing Song and Dance Troupe!"
"That's great! Their outpost just needed a batch of oxygen!"
The team was reinforced with more people to deliver oxygen, and another half-day's journey had passed.
Staff Officer Liu pointed to a fortress-like outpost on a mountain peak not far away and said.
"See that? That's the outpost at Fairy Bay!"
Yuan Yi exhaled a puff of white breath and looked over.
From here, you can clearly see a sentry post standing on the mountaintop, with a five-star red flag fluttering in the wind above it.
The three large characters "Shenxian Bay" were nailed to the top of the outpost.
"Their barracks are down below, where a company of soldiers is stationed."
Staff Officer Liu glanced at his watch; they had also received the notification.
I bet they're having a welcoming ceremony right now. Let's hurry up or it'll get dark!
"Remember to use oxygen, this is high altitude!"
Staff Officer Liu reminded everyone that Yuan Yi was feeling alright.
The ancient martial arts that the system previously rewarded him with required excellent physical fitness.
Given his previous physical condition, he probably would have experienced altitude sickness by now.
But now he feels nothing at all.
The comrades from the other song and dance troupes had already started using oxygen.
"Looking at a mountain makes a horse run itself to death," and Yuan Yi deeply understood the meaning of this saying.
What appeared to be a short distance from the outpost took them two and a half hours to reach.
The company commander of the Shenxianwan outpost was a man in his thirties, about 185 cm tall.
He was wearing a military-issued overcoat and special protective gear against wind and snow.
Upon seeing the convoy, he immediately went to greet them.
"Welcome, welcome to our Fairy Bay outpost."
"On behalf of all the officers and soldiers of our Shenxianwan outpost, I would like to thank the leaders for bringing us this performance."
Yuan Yi looked at the man who had removed his face covering; his face, exposed to ultraviolet rays for a long time, was different from that of ordinary people.
In addition, the low temperatures here have led to some cases of frostbite.
Staff Officer Liu, noticing Yuan Yi staring at the company commander's face, explained in a low voice.
"The situation is much better now. We have plenty of supplies and warm clothing provided by the authorities, but there's really nothing we can do about the face."
"Before we had these advanced equipment, the soldiers really suffered!"
"On the face, hands, legs and feet!!" Staff Officer Liu sighed as he spoke.
Yuan Yi turned his head and looked at the snow-covered mountain peaks, a sudden realization flashing through his mind.
There's a road here now, but what about decades ago?
Now we have these advanced protective equipment, but what about those soldiers from before?
They are all risking their lives to defend the borders of their motherland.
Yuan Yi instantly lost interest in singing the songs the system had given him.
Everyone was warmly welcomed inside.
"You've worked hard, have some food first."
Company Commander Zhao Hongbing warmly welcomed them.
As Yuan Yi sat in the barracks warming himself by the stove, he asked the system in his mind.
"Dog Egg, can I change the song?"
"Sure, the main quest is that as long as you perform these songs in this performance, it doesn't matter which base you're in!"
Upon hearing this, a song immediately flashed through Yuan Yi's mind: "I Guard the Border for My Motherland" and "Rest Assured, Motherland."
Both of these songs are songs that praise the border guards.
After everyone had eaten and rested for a while, they had all recovered.
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