Chapter 115 The Path of Military Service

The afterglow of the founding ceremony had not yet faded, and the atmosphere of daily life still lingered in the courtyard, but He Yuzhu had already packed his bags and plunged into school, completely immersing himself in his studies.

This highly anticipated event became the only topic of conversation in the entire courtyard, especially among the neighbors in the front yard. After learning that several families, including the He family in the middle yard and the Wang family in the back yard, had been invited to attend, the discussions became even more heated.

At the foot of the wall in the front yard, several women huddled together sewing shoe soles, their hands never stopping their needlework and their mouths never ceasing their chatter.

"How come the He family of Zhongyuan is so shameless? That kid Zhuzi looks so dull, yet he was able to attend the grand ceremony. He's really hit the jackpot!" Jia Zhangshi said with a sneer, pulling the hemp rope in her hand so hard it creaked. Her tone was full of sourness.

"That's right, not a single person in our front yard received an invitation, while the other families all went. It's making us envious."

The woman next to her echoed her sentiments, her eyes occasionally glancing towards the direction of the central courtyard.

He Yuzhu paid no attention to these comments. As soon as he stepped into the campus, he transformed into the most diligent student, immersing himself in books and exercises all day long, as if he had inexhaustible energy.

He would sit by the classroom window and read aloud as soon as it was light; at noon, when the sun was blazing, everyone else was resting.

He continued to study diligently at his desk; even on his days off, he refused all invitations to have fun and stayed at his desk to study, not daring to slack off in the slightest.

He Daqing and Chen Lanxiang saw this and felt sorry for their son, thinking that he was just having trouble keeping up with the course.

That evening, Chen Lanxiang carried a steaming bowl of egg noodles into He Yuzhu's room. Looking at the tall stack of books on the table, she couldn't help but advise, "Zhuzi, don't push yourself so hard. You'll ruin your health. Take your time with your studies. If it really doesn't work out, we can go home and learn to cook from your father. You can be a chef and live a stable life without worrying about food or drink."

He Daqing nodded in agreement, took a puff of his pipe, and said in a low voice, "Your mother is right. Our family doesn't need you to study hard and make a good future. There's no need to push yourself so hard."

He Yuzhu put down his pen, rubbed his sore eyes, and knew his parents' good intentions, but he couldn't tell them the truth.

The reason he was working so hard was not because he was worried about falling behind in the course, but because he was preparing for a special exam.

Previously, Principal Wang recognized his intelligence and perseverance and made an exception for him, allowing him to take a professional exam before the National Day holiday. If he passed, he would be able to accelerate his academic progress.

His confidence stemmed entirely from the fact that his body had been modified, giving him exceptional memory and agile thinking. He could memorize the knowledge in textbooks after reading them only once, and he could figure out the complex problems after a little thought. His learning efficiency far exceeded that of ordinary people.

He smiled faintly at his parents and gently reassured them, "Dad, Mom, I know what I'm doing. I'm not tired, so don't worry."

Before they knew it, it was July 1950. The cicadas were chirping noisily in the height of summer. The younger siblings of the He family would peer out from the courtyard gate every day, eagerly awaiting their eldest brother, He Yuzhu, to give them a holiday so he could take them to the temple fair and buy sugar figurines.

When the agreed-upon holiday arrived, He Yuzhu mysteriously disappeared without a trace.

He Daqing and Chen Lanxiang were extremely anxious. After asking around without success, they rushed to the school to look for the person.

When they found Principal Wang, the old principal looked at the couple's anxious expressions, sighed helplessly, and revealed the truth: "He Yuzhu had already completed the graduation procedures. He not only passed all the examinations for the mechanical engineering major, but also obtained an additional diploma in civil engineering. He graduated with a double degree!"

The couple froze on the spot, their faces filled with shock, speechless for a long time.

They only knew that their son was in school, but they never expected that he would be so ambitious and earn two diplomas in such a short time.

"The school had already arranged an internship at a machinery factory for him, which would have been a permanent position after graduation, with a cadre-level job. Countless people would fight tooth and nail for that opportunity, but he flatly refused, saying he had other plans," Principal Wang continued, his tone full of regret.

"I talked to him several times, but the boy was adamant and made up his mind. No matter how I tried to persuade him, it was no use. I could only let him be."

Principal Wang immediately informed Wang Hongxia of the matter, who was extremely busy at the time.

In the past six months, a large number of people have poured into Beijing. The higher authorities have issued orders requiring them not only to resettle workers, teachers and other groups, but also to register all migrant workers entering the city, create a register, and investigate potential hazards.

After all, the influx of people was a mixed bag, including many Kuomintang spies. A slight oversight could lead to major trouble. She was buried in piles of documents all day long and didn't even have time to drink water.

Upon hearing the news that He Yuzhu had refused a cadre position and disappeared, Wang Hongxia was filled with doubt and rushed to He's home.

As soon as she stepped into the Intermediate People's Court, she saw the enlistment notice that the Military Control Commission had just delivered on the table in the main room of the He family's house. Next to it was a red plaque with gold lettering that read "Family of Honor," which was particularly eye-catching.

Wang Hongxia was stunned. She quickly looked at the solemn-looking members of the He family and said, "Uncle, Aunt, Brother, Sister-in-law, don't panic. I know about this. I'll go to the Military Control Commission right away to find out where Zhuzi went and what happened!"

Just before Wang Hongxia arrived, the He family had just experienced a significant upheaval.

When the staff of the Military Control Commission delivered the notice and plaque, He Daqing immediately turned hostile, waving his hand and refusing to accept them, his face turning ashen.

"My son won't be a soldier! Take him back!" He Daqing said, his voice trembling with emotion. "After so many years of fighting, how many people have died on the battlefield? Very few have come back alive! My son gave up a good officer position to join the army and fight; he's completely insane!"

Having lived most of his life, He Daqing had witnessed the cruelty of war. Back then, when the Kuomintang conscripted men, nine out of ten young men who were taken away never returned. Those who managed to survive were incredibly lucky. Now that his son wanted to join the army, he absolutely refused to agree.

Seeing that He Daqing was about to get into a conflict with the staff, Old Madam He slammed her hand on the table and shouted sternly, "You're confused! Shut up right now!"

The old woman, leaning on her cane, looked at He Daqing with a stern gaze and said in a deep voice, "This is a new society now. Joining the army is about protecting the country, which is completely different from the old days of conscription! The government specially sent us the notice and the plaque of honor; this is an honor, not a disaster! If you dare to go against the government, do you want to bring trouble upon your whole family?"

He Daqing was stopped by his mother, feeling aggrieved but not daring to argue back. He could only watch helplessly as the staff put down the things and left.

After everyone left, he plopped down on the doorstep, took out his pipe and started smoking furiously, the smoke rings spreading out in circles, unable to suppress the anxiety in his heart.

Chen Lanxiang sat on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), tears streaming down her face. She grabbed He Daqing's arm and cried, "Father, please think of something! I only have one son; I can't let him go to war and die!"

"A solution? What solution could I possibly have!"

He Daqing slammed his pipe on the ground, both angry and anxious.

"This kid's always been headstrong. When has he ever listened to me? It's all your fault for spoiling him. Now look what's happened—he's given up being a good cadre to become a soldier!"

"What nonsense are you talking about!" The old lady immediately frowned and scolded her sternly.

"What 'soldier'? That's awful! Serving in the military is an honor these days. If outsiders hear this, they could accuse you of defaming soldiers, and one letter of complaint could ruin our family! You speak without thinking!"

"I'm frantic with worry!" He Daqing roared, slapping his thigh in frustration. "Such a big thing, and he didn't even let us know before leaving! He clearly doesn't care about us at all!"

"How do you know he didn't lay the groundwork? We just didn't pay attention!"

The old lady sighed and slowly recalled the events of the past year. "This year, Zhu Zi cleaned the secret room in the house spotlessly, filling it with grain, dried goods, and other long-lasting supplies. He also forced us to exchange all our gold and silver dollars for newly issued RMB, and taught us how to set up savings accounts, saying that this way the money wouldn't depreciate. He'd planned everything all along, just waiting for this day!"

"Even if he had planned it all along, he should have discussed it with his family! Is he so afraid of our opposition?" Chen Lanxiang said, wiping away her tears.

The old lady snorted coldly, looked at Chen Lanxiang, and said with a hint of helplessness, "Ask yourself this: if he had told you beforehand, would you have agreed?"

Chen Lanxiang was speechless for a moment, her tears flowing even more fiercely, muttering to herself, "This silly child, why did she have to join the army..."

"Crying won't help. The person is already gone, what's done is done." The old lady waved her hand, suppressing her worries, and said in a deep voice.

"As Officer Wang just said, once this matter is settled, unless the army returns to its base and the family causes further trouble, it will be recorded in Zhu Zi's file, affecting his future education and employment, ruining his entire life!"

"Then we need to know where he went, right? Even if he's in the army, we need to know where he is so we have some idea!" He Daqing was unwilling, but he could only accept reality.

"Just wait for news from Officer Wang; she'll help us find out."

The old lady spoke slowly, and the He family members fell silent, leaving only a heavy silence in the room.

As for why the old lady called Wang Hongxia "Cadre Wang", firstly, the two families were not very familiar with each other, and secondly, the old lady had experienced a lot in life and always had a certain respect for government officials. This way of addressing her was both appropriate and safe.

As for Wang Cuiping, the old lady addressed her by her given name. After all, the two families had known each other since their days in the Military Control Commission, and now they were as close as family. Chen Lanxiang usually helped take care of Wang Siyu, so addressing her by her official title would seem too formal.

The reason why they didn't ask Wang Cuiping was because she was busy with work recently and was never home. Wang Siyu simply stayed at the He family's house. As for the Wang family's house, He Yushui went there every day to keep Wang Xiaoman company while she slept, and Xu Xiaoman would occasionally go to join in the fun. They couldn't find any trace of Wang Cuiping at all.

It wasn't until evening that Wang Cuiping dragged her tired body home. Upon learning that her eldest nephew, He Yuzhu, had secretly joined the army, she was instantly overjoyed. In her view, joining the army was an honorable thing, and young people should go to the military to gain experience.

Seeing the He family members' worried and tearful faces, she quickly suppressed her joy and pretended to be angry.

"That brat is completely out of control! He dared to keep such a big thing from the family. When he gets back, I'll give him a good talking to!"

Wang Cuiping slammed her hand on the table, pretending to curse a few times, before quickly calming everyone down.

"Don't worry too much. Most of the fighting across the country is over now. The new recruits won't be sent to the battlefield at all. They'll just be going to the army for training and experience. It's perfectly safe! I know a lot of people in the Military Control Commission. Tomorrow I'll go and inquire, pull some strings, and ask someone in the army to take good care of Zhu Zi and make sure he's not mistreated!"

After hearing Wang Cuiping's words, He Daqing and Chen Lanxiang finally felt a little more at ease.

Ultimately, it was Wang Hongxia who had a wider network of connections and was more efficient in handling matters in Beijing. Just two days later, she made a special trip to the He family with definite news.

"Grandpa and Grandma, Brother and Sister-in-law, don't worry. Zhuzi went to the army unit in the suburbs of Beijing and is currently undergoing basic training. Everything is fine for him. He's well-fed and warmly dressed and hasn't suffered any mistreatment. I've asked an acquaintance in the army to keep an eye on him. I'll let you know as soon as I have any news."

The He family members thanked Wang Hongxia repeatedly, finally putting their minds at ease after days of worry.

As night fell, only He Daqing and Chen Lanxiang remained in the house. Looking at the empty room, He Daqing felt melancholy and whispered to Chen Lanxiang what was going on.

"Honey, how about... we have another baby? With our eldest son gone, the house feels so empty, and I never feel at ease..."

The words had barely left her lips when Chen Lanxiang instantly flew into a rage. Her face darkened, and she kicked He Daqing off the kang (heated brick bed) beside her, shouting angrily, "What nonsense are you spouting! My son is perfectly fine, serving in the army is an honor! If you dare say such things again, you can sleep in Zhuzi's east wing tonight and don't bother me!"

"No, I'm just upset, it's not like I'm that angry..." He Daqing got up from the ground, rubbing his arm, trying to explain.

Without a word, Chen Lanxiang picked up a feather duster from the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), pointed it at He Daqing, and said sharply, "Try saying another word! Get out of here!"

Seeing his wife's furious expression, He Daqing knew she was fiercely protective of her son and dared not provoke her further. He could only reluctantly put on his clothes, slip on his cloth shoes, and slink away to He Yuzhu's east wing to rest.

Meanwhile, the other families in the courtyard reacted differently and had their own thoughts when they learned that He Yuzhu had given up his cadre position to join the army.

In the front courtyard of the Jia family home, Madam Jia Zhang closed the door, grinning from ear to ear. She pulled Old Man Jia aside and said smugly, "I knew He Yuzhu was a fool! He gave up a perfectly good cadre position to join the army and suffer, maybe even go to war. His life is ruined! Our family can finally hold our heads high!"

Old Jia's face darkened, and he quickly covered her mouth, scolding her in a low voice.

"Keep your voice down! Don't talk nonsense! The He family has close ties with the Military Control Commission now, we can't afford to offend them! Besides, when our family scrimped and saved to buy those two rear-facing rooms, the old lady didn't raise the price by a single penny, we can't forget that kindness! If anyone hears you saying this, our family will be in big trouble!"

Jia Zhangshi shook off his hand, her face full of disdain, but she dared not shout again. However, when she went out, she would boast to everyone that her family had bought a house and gotten a good deal, which infuriated the neighbors in the front yard, but they dared not speak out.

Liu Haizhong, from the Intermediate People's Court, was filled with mixed emotions. When he first learned that He Yuzhu was going to a vocational school, he was full of disdain and mocked him in the court every day, saying that He Yuzhu was not doing anything worthwhile and that studying would not lead to anything.

Not long after, the school was converted into a vocational secondary school, and graduates were guaranteed a cadre position. When he heard the news, he was so angry that he smashed pots and pans at home, feeling extremely depressed.

Looking at his two good-for-nothing sons, Liu Haizhong was furious and vented his anger on the children.

Liu Guangtian was severely beaten, and Liu Guangqi was also verbally abused. Only the young Liu Guangfu escaped unscathed. The two children, having been beaten and scolded for no reason, were filled with resentment and secretly held a grudge against He Yuzhu.

Upon hearing that He Yuzhu had given up his cadre position to join the army, Liu Haizhong's pent-up frustration vanished instantly, and he was in high spirits.

For several days in a row, he would specially ask his wife to fry two eggs and heat up a pot of liquor. He would sit in the yard and leisurely drink, looking at everyone with a smile. He secretly felt that He Yuzhu was ultimately destined for failure.

Yan Bugui, however, was more insightful. He was well-educated and understood the political situation. He was puzzled by He Yuzhu's sudden decision to join the army, but he coveted the "Glorious Family" plaque in front of the He family's house. He knew that this plaque represented honor and government recognition, which was of great significance and far beyond money. He secretly envied the He family's good fortune.

The protagonist of all this, He Yuzhu, seemingly joined the army with ease, but in reality, he experienced a series of twists and turns behind the scenes.

When he went to the conscription office to register with a letter of introduction from his school and his academic credentials, it caused quite a stir. At that time, in peacetime, most highly educated people would choose to work in factories or government agencies, and very few people were willing to join the army. His arrival surprised the staff at the conscription office.

To make matters worse, he was a few months too young to be eligible for military service. The staff looked at his documents and shook their heads helplessly.

"Young man, you have a high level of education and can have a bright future anywhere. There's no need for you to join the army. Besides, you're not old enough, and we can't break the rules."

He Yuzhu did not give up, remaining steadfast in his stance, repeatedly communicating with the staff: "Comrade, I sincerely want to join the army and serve my country. Although I am young, my physical condition is absolutely fine; I can endure hardship and train, and I will never hold the army back!"

Seeing his sincere attitude, his tall and upright stature, his outstanding temperament, and his rare high level of education, the person in charge of the conscription office relented and allowed him to go for a physical examination first.

Unexpectedly, the physical examination results shocked everyone present—He Yuzhu's physical fitness, vision, cardiopulmonary function and other indicators were all off the charts, far exceeding the conscription standards, making him practically perfect.

The military leaders who came to recruit him looked at his medical examination form and then sized him up. They immediately decided, "This young man is a good candidate. He's highly educated, physically fit, and his age is a disregard; he'll be admitted despite the exception!"

And so, He Yuzhu successfully enlisted in the army and began training at a recruit training company in the suburbs of Beijing.

He never wanted to show off his talents too early and only wanted to hone his skills in a low-key manner. Therefore, during the recruit training, he deliberately restrained his strength in physical fitness, combat, and shooting assessments, keeping his scores at a moderate level in each area so as not to attract attention.

Even so, after three months of basic training, He Yuzhu was still highly sought after by each company when he was assigned to his unit. In an era when most soldiers were illiterate, he was a rare talent with two degrees, a sharp mind, and qualified military skills, and every company commander wanted him.

Ultimately, He Yuzhu was assigned to the Sixth Army of the North China Military Region, becoming one of its members.

It wasn't until he joined the army that he understood why he was so sought after—the predecessor of this unit was the First Column of the North China Military Region, which was formed from anti-Japanese guerrillas in the Shanxi-Hebei region. It was a veteran unit with practical combat experience, but after liberation, it stayed in Tianjin and was converted into a production and garrison unit.

Subsequently, He Yuzhu was assigned to the 1st Platoon, 1st Squad, 3rd Battalion, 141st Infantry Regiment, 57th Brigade, 19th Division, and became an ordinary infantryman.

He thought the military camp was a place for training with guns and defending the country, but when he arrived at the garrison with the troops, he was dumbfounded.

The troops were not stationed in Beijing, but in a field outside Tianjin. The soldiers in front of them were all wearing military uniforms and carrying farm tools, busy in the fields. They were not soldiers, but farmers in military uniforms!

Even more coincidentally, it was harvest season, and the so-called "weapons" issued to the troops were not guns and ammunition, but sharp sickles. Their task was to go to the fields to cut rice and harvest the grain.

This arrangement immediately sparked discontent among the new recruits.

Many of the new recruits had just come from rural areas, hoping to leave farm work behind and defend the country with guns. However, they ended up back in the fields, and some of them immediately complained to their platoon leaders and company commanders.

"Platoon leader, we came here to be soldiers, not to farm! Why should we harvest rice?" a young recruit asked loudly, his face full of indignation.

"That's right! We want to train with guns, not farm!" The other recruits echoed, their emotions running high.

Faced with the recruits' discontent, the unit immediately launched an ideological education campaign, holding company, platoon, and squad meetings in succession to address their concerns. The company commander stood before the ranks and said sternly, "Our unit is stationed in Tianjin, responsible not only for protecting the peace of the region but also for self-sufficiency! Food is the foundation of survival; only after harvesting can we better dedicate ourselves to training! A soldier's duty is to obey orders. If you are ordered to farm, you must complete the task well!"

After a lecture, the new recruits, though unwilling, had no choice but to obey orders and obediently go to work in the fields.

He Yuzhu was not originally from a farming background, so he was completely clueless about rice harvesting at first. His movements were clumsy and his progress was slow, which led to him being ridiculed by the veterans around him.

"Kid, you're pretty tall, how come you can't even harvest rice? At this rate, you won't finish one row before dark!"

Faced with ridicule, He Yuzhu remained silent, quietly focusing on learning from the veteran's movements and gradually figuring out the techniques. Even when blisters quickly formed on his hands and his feet turned white and wrinkled from being soaked in the cold water of the rice paddies, he did not stop.

With his exceptional learning ability and resilience, he caught up with and even surpassed many veterans in rice harvesting speed in just a few days, working quickly and efficiently.

During the class meeting, class monitor Hu Sanxi specifically praised him: "He Yuzhu is a quick learner and hard-working kid. He caught up with the pace in just a few days. He's great, everyone should learn from him!"

Despite receiving praise, He Yuzhu remained humble and unassuming, continuing to work diligently. This composure impressed the veterans in his unit.

In mid-October, He Yuzhu and his comrades were still bending over in the fields cutting rice, their trousers rolled up and their bodies covered in mud, when suddenly, a loud and urgent bugle call resounded across the fields.

Upon hearing the bugle call, all the veterans' eyes sharpened instantly, and they quickly straightened up, knowing full well that the bugle call meant an urgent mission, most likely to send them to the battlefield!

In just a few minutes, the soldiers who were working in the fields picked up their sickles and hoes, quickly assembled, and formed a neat line.

After the troops were transferred to production and garrison duty, most of their guns had been handed over, leaving only a small number of weapons for guard duty. At this moment, everyone was still holding farm tools, but no one panicked.

Soon, orders came from above: all soldiers were to immediately pack their bags, head to Tianjin Railway Station, board the train, and depart. Their destination was to be kept secret, and they were not to inquire about it or discuss it privately.

Military orders are absolute, and no one questioned them. Everyone immediately sprang into action, packed their belongings, and rushed to Tianjin overnight, boarding a sealed freight train.

The carriage was pitch black, and everyone remained silent, with no one knowing their destination.

As the train traveled north, the temperature outside the carriages dropped lower and lower, and the soldiers gradually realized that the troops were heading north.

At this time, there was no war in the north, and everyone was full of doubts, secretly speculating: Could it be that they were going to deal with the Soviet Union?

This doubt was not completely resolved until the train arrived in Andong. It was already late October, nearing November, and the Northeast region had long been in winter, with biting cold winds. The soldiers were still wearing thin autumn clothes, and as soon as they got off the train, they were shivering and shaking uncontrollably.

The first task after getting off the train was to go to the warehouse to collect combat equipment.

He Yuzhu's company was the elite company in the army, with strong combat capabilities. However, when they entered the weapons warehouse, they were stunned - the warehouse was full of weapons and equipment left behind by the Japanese army.

Those who saw these uniform Japanese-style equipment were filled with excitement and joy.

It's important to understand that this unit was originally a guerrilla force that used to be equipped with a hodgepodge of weapons from various countries, which were old and worn out. The fact that they were now able to switch to standardized equipment was a huge surprise for them.

Only He Yuzhu looked at these weapons with a calm expression, even a hint of disdain in his heart. In his eyes, these weapons were already outdated.

Squad leader Hu Sanxi, oblivious to his thoughts, strode over, patted him on the shoulder, handed him a Type 38 rifle, and said with a smile, "Zhu Zi, what are you daydreaming about? I heard you did well in shooting during basic training. This rifle is perfect for you; it has low recoil, high accuracy, and is easy for beginners to use!"

He Yuzhu snapped out of his daze, suppressed his disdain, and pretended to be curious, saying with an awkward smile, "It's nothing, squad leader, it's just that it's the first time I've seen so many neatly arranged weapons, I was stunned."

"Look at you, so timid. If you saw cannons, you'd be paralyzed with fear on the ground, wouldn't you?" Hu Sanxi teased him with a laugh.

His comrades around him burst into laughter, and the atmosphere instantly became lively.

He Yuzhu scratched his head, took the rifle, and skillfully pulled the bolt to check the chamber and rifling. His movements were smooth and practiced, showing that he was an expert.

Hu Sanxi's eyes lit up, and he asked in surprise, "Wow, Zhu Zi, your movements are so skilled. Did you handle a gun before joining the army?"

"Yeah, I have relatives in the public security system. I've trained with them a few times before," He Yuzhu casually offered as an excuse, responding nonchalantly.

"I knew it! You're a veteran, you've been keeping it well hidden!" Hu Sanxi exclaimed in realization, laughing as he patted him on the shoulder.

He Yuzhu smiled and didn't say anything more, only replying, "It's alright, nothing special."

"Stop chatting! Quickly collect your ammunition, organize your equipment, and assemble immediately!" Hu Sanxi immediately suppressed his smile and loudly ordered.

"Yes!" all the soldiers responded in unison, quickly taking action to collect bullets and grenades and loading them into their gear.

He Yuzhu's squad was well-equipped, with rifles and a light machine gun in addition to rifles.

Upon closer inspection, He Yuzhu realized that this was not the old-fashioned Type 96 light machine gun, but the better-performing Type 96 light machine gun, also known as the Type 96 light machine gun. It combined the advantages of the Type 96 and the Czech-made machine gun and was considered a good piece of equipment at the time.

The machine gunner, Feng Erkui, was a burly man standing at 1.85 meters tall. He held the crutch-handled machine gun and grinned from ear to ear.

He used to be a guerrilla fighter, only able to use a tattered Type 96 pistol; he never got a chance to use a Czech-made machine gun. Now that he can use such good equipment, he is overjoyed.

Assistant gunner Tian Xiaoliang was busy stuffing magazines into the magazine pouch. After filling his own, he slung the spare magazine over Feng Erkui's shoulder to ensure the machine gun had enough ammunition.

In addition, the squad was equipped with a grenade launcher team, with the deputy squad leader Zheng Shuanzi as the shooter and Wang Xigui and Zhang Changhai as ammunition handlers. The three of them carried one grenade launcher and eight grenades each, making their firepower configuration very adequate. The remaining soldiers were all equipped with Type 38 rifles, making their equipment uniform.

Not long after, a sharp assembly whistle blew, and fully armed soldiers quickly assembled beside the train, organized by company.

Standing in the ranks, the cold wind stung their faces. He Yuzhu wrapped his thin autumn clothes tighter around himself, quietly approached his squad leader Hu Sanxi, and asked in a low voice, "Squad leader, are we going to fight in these autumn clothes? It's so cold in Northeast China, we'll freeze to death. Why don't you talk to the platoon leader and ask when we'll get cotton-padded coats?"

Hu Sanxi's eyes were firm as he replied softly, "You think you're so clever? The higher-ups already thought of this. They'll definitely make arrangements. A soldier's duty is to obey orders. Don't ask questions you shouldn't ask. Just wait for orders!"

"Understood." He Yuzhu nodded and said no more.

He knew that the troops received the emergency order on October 23. The train had been traveling for two days, and it was now the night of October 25. The Korean War had officially begun.

Looking at his comrades-in-arms, who were dressed in autumn clothes and shivering from the cold, yet whose eyes were firm and fearless, He Yuzhu's heart began to boil with passion.