Chapter 142: Turning around and heading out
In the company cafeteria.
The round dumplings stuffed with mutton have been prepared, and the soldiers in the kitchen are busy serving the last lunch to those who are about to leave.
But on the training ground, the duty officer had urged them several times, but still no one moved.
The company commander shed tears, the veteran cried bitterly, and the private was confused.
Disarmament is always so sudden, and someone has to go first.
Cheng Dong took off his hat, faced the formation with red eyes, and shouted: "Reconnaissance Company!!"
“Kill! Kill! Kill!”
The shouting and screaming shook the sky, dispelling some of the sadness of parting.
"Why are you crying? You're just a man, why are you crying?" Cheng Dong took the lead in wiping away his tears: "Why don't you go home?"
"Remember, we are soldiers. Once we are soldiers, we are soldiers for life. It doesn't mean that we can't stay in the barracks anymore. Doesn't that mean you are no longer soldiers if you are no longer in the barracks?"
"You're not in the military camp. What you learned here, you don't recognize it from the people you know?"
"Remember, there are no cowards in our reconnaissance company. When we're together, we're like a fire; when we're apart, we're like stars in the sky. Go home and spend more time with your parents. If anyone becomes a boss or makes it big in the future, never forget us, the Reconnaissance Company 3."
"I wish you all the best in your future lives and may all your dreams come true."
"Now, everyone, turn right, head for the cafeteria, three columns, and run."
"One, two, one, two, one, two, three, four."
Tap tap tap.
The sound of majestic footsteps rang out, and the troops began to rush towards the cafeteria under the command of the company commander.
Outside the reconnaissance company's gate, two vehicles from the motor vehicle company were already in place, waiting to take people away.
But on weekdays, the soldiers would wolf down their meals as if someone was snatching the food from them.
But I don’t have much appetite today.
Everyone sat there staring blankly at the bowl full of dumplings.
Chen Mo sat on the side of Class 3, wanting to accompany his two brothers for the last time and finish their meal before getting on the bus.
In fact, two days ago, the privates in the company knew that they were going to be discharged from the army. Yang Dali was okay, as he was a bit lively by nature. Apart from being in a low mood and occasionally looking up with a hint of confusion in his eyes, he was fine.
Not too much sadness.
Li Zhiang's performance was more obvious.
Ever since I found out I was on the layoff list.
He seldom spoke in the past two days. Peng Wei counselled him, the instructor stepped in, and even the company commander and Chen Mo himself talked to him.
Li Zhiang kept shaking his head and repeatedly said that he was fine and could get through it, so everyone should rest assured.
But when he sat at the dinner table and was watched by a group of veterans, no one tried to snatch the dumplings from the bowl from him and they all gave them to him.
As soon as he swallowed the first bite of dumplings, Li Zhiang's mood completely collapsed.
Tears flowed uncontrollably like a dam bursting.
"Zhiang."
Chen Mo raised his hand and patted his shoulder, wanting to comfort him, but when he opened his mouth, he didn't know what to say.
If I could say anything, I'd already said it countless times in the past two days.
"Deputy squad leader, I."
"I want to be a good soldier, too. I don't want to leave. I haven't learned how to fire a pistol rapidly yet, I haven't even finished running in 20 minutes, and I haven't even seen what a military camp looks like in the summer."
"I haven't even been in the army for a year."
"I'm not even a qualified scout."
The suppressed crying and trembling shoulders were Li Zhiang's greatest reluctance to leave the military camp.
His crying also made others who were about to leave unable to hold back their emotions any longer.
Cheng Dong stood at the entrance of the cafeteria and watched silently, but what could he say?
As the company commander, he was familiar with all the soldiers in the reconnaissance company, even the privates, and no one was willing to see their comrades leave.
Soldiers are no different from other people. They are just as vulgar and have the same joys, sorrows, anger and happiness.
Whenever he was awarded for merit, he would immediately pretend to be reserved. When he saw a beautiful girl, he would think about how to marry her. If he wanted to rest or be lazy, he would also shamelessly find the squad leader and pretend to be sick.
Except for serious matters, there is no time when they dare not throw a tantrum.
But there are also differences.
If the enemy comes with fighter jets, tanks and cannons, someone asks them, as scouts, do they dare to go up with only rifles and submachine guns in their hands?
They would answer, "What the hell are you thinking? They have planes and cannons in their hands. Going up there is just asking for death."
Because this is what if.
But if the enemy really comes, the moment the battle order is issued through the radio.
If anyone asks again at this time.
They will use their clenched guns to tell you that it doesn't matter what the enemy is shooting at or how many people come.
Behind me are the mountains and rivers of the motherland, the Great Wall, the Yangtze River, my relatives, and the people. Even if I only have a gun, even if my equipment is backward, I can at least defend the motherland for a few seconds, right?
In this life, blocking for a few seconds is enough
The glory of a soldier needs to be passed down from generation to generation. After taking off this military uniform, go home safely.
Please rest assured that the motherland will be fine, the people will be fine, and we will take over the guns in your hands, continue to fight, and move forward fiercely.
After eating dumplings on the bus, everyone felt upset.
final.
Under Cheng Dong's firm order, no one from the remaining ninety-odd people in the company was allowed to be sent away.
Everyone was blocked in the cafeteria, watching those who were leaving, carrying their bags and quilts, walking away step by step.
Get in the car and start it.
leave.
It is right not to allow them to be sent off. But where is the end of the journey of sending off our comrades?
Chen Mo stood in the crowd, watching a group of familiar people walk away, looking back every few steps.
If nothing unexpected happens.
Many of them will almost never have the chance to see each other again.
The crowd slowly dispersed, some returned to the dormitory, and some ran to the curb of the training ground and sat in a daze.
There are dozens of missing familiar people in the company, and it is not easy for the remaining soldiers to adapt.
I guess it will take a few days before we can slowly regain our former enthusiasm.
Chen Mo sighed. He was just about to go back to the dormitory to lie down and rest for a while to calm down when he felt someone patting his shoulder. He turned around and found it was Lao Pao.
"Squad leader."
"Well, can you adapt?" There was worry in Lao Pao's eyes.
No matter how well Chen Mo performs or how hard he works, he is, after all, just a private who has just joined the army.
Zhou Yongjie was worried that he was the only new recruit in the reconnaissance company and that he would not be able to bear the pressure psychologically as he had no other soldiers of the same year.
"I'm fine, squad leader. Go back and lie down for a while and rest." Chen Mo took a deep breath.
It is normal for a comrade to feel empty after leaving the unit. In his previous life, he also applied for demobilization during the military downsizing.
After serving in the army for several years, I saw off batch after batch of people, but when it was my turn, I quietly slipped away because I couldn't stand the scene of parting.
No matter how many times you experience this, it's always the same; it's impossible to be truly calm.
"Come on, go out with me."
Lao Pao didn't say what he was going to do. After he finished speaking, he took him straight to the company headquarters.
Without saying hello to anyone, he drove the company's old jeep and let Chen Mo sit in the passenger seat.
He was in charge of driving, and the engine rumbled as the car left the camp.
Along the way.
Lao Pao didn't say anything, but he caught up with the person who had just left at the gate of the military camp in Tao Village.
The vehicle didn't get too close, and the two men just sat in the car, silently watching the soldiers from Tao Village who were also laid off carrying their packages and getting on the car.
Chen Mo saw Yang Dali and Li Zhiang. Both of them were lying at the rear of the carriage, looking hard at the camp through the gate.
That is where the new recruits train.
Perhaps the two were too engrossed and didn't notice that two of their most familiar people were sitting in a car parked on the side of the road about thirty or forty meters away.
I waited for about ten minutes.
Chen Mo didn't get out of the car, mainly because it was useless to get out. What else could he say?
It only adds to the sadness of parting.
After the troop transport truck restarted, Lao Pao started the car, turned around, and drove quickly in the opposite direction of Tao Village.
Chen Mo didn't ask where they were going. Anyway, Lao Pao would not take him for a random stroll.
I was exhausted from the journey.
This time it took us half an hour to get there.
We also arrived at a camp.
But judging from the gate and the area of the camp, it is more than three times larger than the reconnaissance company’s base.
The car didn't go in.
The old man got out of the car, walked to the gate, showed his sergeant certificate and said, "Tell your battalion commander Liu that Zhou Yongjie from the third company is coming over for something."
"yes!"
The soldier on duty at the gate saw a fifth-level non-commissioned officer running towards him with a private with a serious face.
I didn't dare to delay and immediately started calling with the walkie-talkie.
"This is the Second Tank Battalion of our brigade. I'm quite familiar with their battalion commander. Please wait a moment."
Lao Pao stuffed his non-commissioned officer certificate into his pocket and casually introduced it to Chen Mo.
But although Lao Pao said it easily, Chen Mo was surprised.
The Second Battalion was the unit to which their Eighth Squad of New Recruits, Zhu Gaituan and Feng Junling were assigned.
After the next connection.
Chen Mo also tried to contact the Second Battalion and the Anti-aircraft Artillery Battalion to ask about the situation of these two people.
However, he knew few people, and Liang Pai had few connections, and the camp was far away, so he never got any useful information.
All we know is that Feng Junling was first transferred to the artillery battalion, where he carried artillery shells for training every day. However, his physical fitness could not keep up, so he was transferred to the repair platoon of the Second Tank Battalion.
I don’t know anything else.
Unexpectedly, Lao Pao brought him here today.
"Sergeant, the battalion commander said he is coming and asked you to go in first." The soldier on duty at the sentry post reported the news through the walkie-talkie.
He trotted up to the two of them.
When Lao Pao heard this, he just nodded slightly.
Then, without any courtesy, he led Chen Mo and the two of them walked into the Second Battalion in a swagger.
Chen Mo was not familiar with the new camp area.
He just followed Lao Pao all the way. Not long after, a lieutenant colonel came running towards him on the avenue, followed by a captain.
"Haha, old squad leader, how come you have so much free time today to come to my place?"
The lieutenant colonel saluted proactively. Although his movements were not standard, they were enough to show respect.
After all, no matter how great a non-commissioned officer is, he is still a soldier. No matter how unimportant a lieutenant colonel is, he is still a battalion-level cadre.
"It's okay, bring the scholar here to show him the way."
“Hello, Chief!!”
When Chen Mo heard Lao Pao introduce himself, he stood at attention and saluted hurriedly.
"Haha, why call me Chief? My name is Liu Hongyun, and I'm the commander of the Second Battalion. Lao Pao was also my squad leader before. It's not a disadvantage for you to call me Battalion Commander."
"Yes, Captain."
"Yeah." Liu Hongyun looked at Chen Mo with a smile on his face. As comrades in the camp, they might not recognize the private in front of them when they met.
But definitely heard of it, including him.
It's not just because of the old gun.
Xiucai was able to stir up trouble in the recruit company, including among the group of veterans after he was assigned to the company. During the competition, he even won two trophies by himself, and all the cadres in the brigade knew about it.
Even now, Xiucai’s two trophies are still kept at the brigade headquarters.
Liu Hongyun knew the situation of the reconnaissance company.
In this military downsizing, only a few of their main battalions were laid off, and most of the cuts were made to directly affiliated units and cadres of government agencies.
In addition, the main battalion of the 7th Brigade is at the critical juncture of the fifth round of equipment replacement, and the Type 96 main battle tank will soon be fully equipped, so large-scale layoffs are impossible.
Chen Mo and Captain Liu had a brief chat for a while.
Several people walked towards the tank company's base, and these veterans all understood each other tacitly.
I know the purpose of Lao Pao bringing a private here.
In the fourth squad of the second platoon of the first company, Chen Mo saw Zhu Gaituan, who was sitting at the dormitory door, scratching his head and reciting something similar to a manual in his hand.
When Lao Zhu was having trouble reciting the poem, he felt a few people standing in front of him and he subconsciously looked up.
I found that the battalion commander, company commander, and the squad leader and deputy squad leader of the recruit company had all walked up to me without me noticing.
After all, he is not Chen Mo, and his words are not as fluent. When he suddenly saw so many people, he hurriedly stood up, but he couldn't utter a word.
He even forgot to stand at attention and salute, and stood there awkwardly.
"Alright, alright. I'll give you an hour off. The scholar is here, so you can show him around the camp."
The company commander, the captain who had followed Liu Hongyun just now, waved his hand and said.
"Yes, Captain!"
Zhu Gaituan rubbed the corner of his clothes excitedly, waiting until the battalion commander and the company commander walked away, and even the old gunner left.
He rushed to Chen Mo excitedly and hugged him: "Deputy, why are you here?"
"The squad leader brought me here." Chen Mo smiled.
I have to say that Lao Pao took good care of him.
Of course, Chen Mo is not stupid. He knows the reason why Lao Pao did this, not just because all the soldiers of the same year in the company had left.
More importantly, as a clerk, Chen Mo has received news that the notice of promotion this year will be announced soon.
The company commander and the instructor had analyzed the situation privately and asked others about it, and they felt that there was a high probability that they would be included in the latest list of promotions.
With this major disarmament move, many previously arranged things will undergo more or less changes.
And this is not the only disarmament event, there will be more to come.
Lao Pao wanted to meet with all his comrades during his recruit period before Chen Mo set off.
Who knows what big changes will happen after I go to college and come back.
Zhu Gaituan is a careless person, and he didn't notice anything different in Chen Mo's state.
He just excitedly pulled the squad leader and ran straight away.
"Deputy squad leader, let me tell you, that disgraceful Old Feng is no longer wanted by the artillery battalion. He's in the same company with me now, in the fourth platoon. I'll take you to find him."
"Honestly, I really miss my days as a new recruit. It was so nice to be together. Oh, I was like a crazy person back then."
"I was obsessed with thinking about how good it would be to be in the next company, but it wasn't good at all."
On the way.
Zhu Gaituan kept talking: "You know, deputy squad leader, there are only four of us in our squad. Almost all the squads in this tank company have small numbers."
"Damn, take that lousy squad I was in, for example. Three of them were veterans: a tank commander, a gunner, and a driver. I was in the waiting list."
"I'm constantly being asked to memorize parameters and main gun ammunition reserves. It's driving me crazy."
Listening to Zhu Gaituan's complaints, Chen Mo couldn't help laughing.
If memorizing parameters is tiring, then the training of the reconnaissance company must be hellish.
There are a total of twelve combat squads in a company, corresponding to twelve main battle tanks. Zhu Gaituan is a member of one of the combat squads.
The fourth platoon was the maintenance platoon of the entire company. The two of them were thinking about it and ran all the way to the dormitory where the fourth platoon was located.
What left Chen Mo speechless was.
There was no need to look for Feng Junling specifically, he was exactly the same as Zhu Gaituan just now.
He was also driven to the dormitory door by the veterans. He sat on a mat, holding his head in one hand and holding a manual in the other, reciting with a sad face.
The two brothers' actions are exactly the same.
"Old Feng, look who's here."
When they got closer, before Chen Mo could say anything, Zhu Gaituan howled first, with uncontrollable excitement in his tone.
It's normal to be excited.
Chen Mo was doing pretty well in the company, but he couldn't even contact these two people, let alone them.
When Feng Junling heard the voice, he subconsciously looked up. Old Feng, who looked like Mr. Bean, was stunned when he saw Chen Mo.
Then he said in disbelief: "Fuck, Lao Chen?!"
"Why are you here?"
"Damn, it's been a while. I heard you participated in the scout competition a while ago and won a trophy?"
"Come on, come with me." Feng Junling pulled Chen Mo without hesitation and prepared to go back to the dormitory.
"What's wrong? Why are you so enthusiastic?" Chen Mo was a little confused.
Even though we haven't seen each other for two months, they are still grown men.
There's no need to go to the dormitory as soon as you meet.
"You don't know, Old Chen, I heard you won a trophy in the competition, so I told the veterans in the class that I used to be in the same class with you."
"In the end, they didn't believe me. They even said I was from the Beiyang Navy and there was no way I could possibly know anyone from the reconnaissance company."
"You have to help me clarify."
"By the way, what does Beiyang Fleet mean?"
Forehead.
Chen Mo was a little troubled. This question was not easy to answer.
"How do I put this?"
"Just tell me if it's powerful or not?"
"It's impressive, definitely impressive." Chen Mo smiled. "From its founding to its end, the Beiyang Fleet's performance has been very stable, with hardly any significant fluctuations."
"Let's not disturb the old comrade."
In the end, Chen Mo still did not choose to join the maintenance team. It was not because he was afraid of embarrassment, but because even the veterans could make mistakes when selecting soldiers.
It’s not that Feng Junling didn’t try hard, but because of his physique, he simply couldn’t handle slightly more demanding subjects.
He was transferred to another company less than half a month after joining it. Even the entire anti-aircraft artillery battalion could not keep him, so he was specially arranged to the maintenance platoon of the tank battalion.
In this situation, there is really no need to argue with those veterans.
In the end, it was Lao Feng who got hurt.
Because the company commander did not approve leave for Feng Junling.
The three of them couldn't walk too far, so they found a place to sit and chat in the open space in front of the fourth row of dormitories.
When they learned that there were layoffs, Li Zhiang and Yang Dali were both laid off. They have now left the military camp and are on their way back home.
Zhu Gaituan and Feng Junling looked at each other and fell silent.
Perhaps they did not expect that after leaving the Taocun Recruit Company, there would be such a huge difference.
Fortunately, at this time, Chen Mo's mood had almost recovered.
When old soldiers take off their armor, they are also going to war.
Although Li Zhiang and his men were not veterans, at least they had worn military uniforms, so their trip to the army was not in vain.
Turning around may also mean going to war.
Many times, people's pessimism is not the same.
For example, Feng Junling actually didn't want to stay in the army, but after being transferred around, he finally stayed.
Li Zhiang wanted to stay and tried very hard, but in the end he got on the train back home.
For example.
On the morning of April 29, 1999, Chen Mo was at the Second Tank Battalion, chatting with his comrades.
The notice regarding promotion to school in May 1999 has been issued to the company.
Chen Mo's unique journey has finally arrived.
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