The Red Era: Living in Seclusion in a Siheyuan as a Boss

Chapter 663: Grassroots Logistics Construction!!!

In September at the foot of Liupan Mountain, the yard of a certain division’s logistics department was as bustling as a market.

Division chief Zhong Xingguo and division logistics chief Shao Jiawang were accompanying leaders from the same military region as they smacked their lips at rows of shiny camp equipment. The scene stunned the newly transferred young clerk.

He poked the old soldier next to him and said, "Brother, is our division going to change its business and open a furniture store?" The old soldier laughed with a cigarette in his mouth, "Stupid boy, this is called the 'Advanced Logistics Department' on-site meeting! The whole military region is here to learn our local methods!"

Speaking of the division's logistics, the phrase "serving the soldiers" has really been put to good use.

The walls of the quartermaster's office are covered with flow charts, making it look like a combat command room.

Zheng Zheng, the head of the Finance Department, was holding an abacus and teaching a group of young quartermasters: "Bookkeeping should be like fighting a war. The subjects are the positions, and the numbers are the ammunition!"

There was a naive young quartermaster who recorded his account book like a comic strip. Old Zheng didn't get angry. He took out a red pen and made corrections: "Your drawings are quite impressive, but it's a pity that your superiors don't issue special invoices for comics!" This made everyone in the room laugh.

The camp equipment management of the fourth company of a certain regiment is unique.

Company commander Xu Dalong led the tour group around and pointed at the neatly stacked chimneys and said, "These iron things have been with me for four years. They are more caring than my wife!"

The representative from the military region refused to believe it and insisted on counting to make sure there was really nothing missing.

After checking the account book, it turned out that all 345 pieces of camping equipment were matched even to the screws.

A mischievous soldier whispered, "Our company commander always brings the camp equipment registration book with him when he conducts night inspections. He's even more diligent than when he conducts night inspections!"

The most amazing thing is the tomatoes grown by the artillery regiment.

In previous years, the tomatoes here were green enough to be used as grenades, but this year they are as red as lanterns.

The veteran soldier at the planting center took out a small notebook mysteriously and said, "This is the 'Tomato Military Strategy' passed down from our ancestors in the kitchen team!"

It turned out that they fed the seedlings with brown sugar water, used plastic sheets as quilts, and managed to create the "Nanniwan" in Liupan Mountain.

An old soldier ate a tomato and said with emotion: "After more than ten years of military service, this is the first time I get to eat the fruit grown at home. It's delicious!"

The breeding farm is as lively as a zoo.

The Berkshire pigs imported from America were well fed and plump, the fur of the German Angora rabbits was thick enough to make sweaters, and the soldiers even made up a jingle for the chicken coop: "Lehang chickens lay eggs diligently, and you can harvest half a basin of eggs a day."

Xiao Wang, a breeder at the Second Artillery Company, was even more amazing. He raised pigs like they were balloons and earned more than four thousand yuan in just five months.

When the division commander Zhong Xingguo came to inspect, he was in a good mood and joked with him: "You can become a professional pig farmer after you retire!"

Xiao Wang scratched his head and laughed, "Commander, I have sworn brotherhood with the pig. It eats the meat and I drink the soup!"

Yi Yuanchao, director of the Logistics Department who came to inspect together, squatted in the vegetable field and chatted with the soldiers: "Managing logistics is not like embroidery. We have to let the comrades feel their conscience and say it's good."

This is quite true. The logistics soldiers of the division turned pots, pans, and utensils into "eighteen kinds of weapons".

After the on-site meeting, Director Yi Yuanchao from the headquarters shook hands with the division's logistics chief Shao Jiawang and exclaimed: "You have turned a local method into a gold nugget!"

It is said that Shao Jiawang, like the division commander Zhong Xingguo, are both acquaintances of Yi Yuanchao. When they fought against the "ungrateful wolves" back then, they were part of the same system.

Shao Jiawang is also a legendary figure.

Twenty years ago, the "rabbit" started a self-defense counterattack against the "ungrateful wolf"!

In this historic self-defense counterattack, countless brave soldiers contributed their blood and sweat for the motherland, including Shao Jiawang.

Surprisingly, Shao Jiawang did not gain honor by bravely killing enemies like other heroes.

However, his deeds were highly recognized by the troops and even alarmed the then front-line commander Liu Zhiye.

Shao Jiawang was born in a small mountain village in Kai County, Sichuan Province. Since he was a child, he heard his elders and neighbors always talk about a legend, that is, Marshal Liu.

Don’t be fooled by his age, he is actually the pride of the place and a hero in the hearts of many children!
Shao Jiawang always talked to the villagers about how Marshal Liu led the army and how he led everyone to win the battle when the enemy surrounded them like eggplants.

Every time he heard the stories of those legendary figures, stars seemed to pop out of his eyes. Shao Jiawang had already made a little plan in his mind - I want to be a hero who protects my homeland!

As he grew older, Xiao Jiaxi wanted more and more to be a hero like Marshal Liu.

When he was 20 years old, Shao Jiawang finally plucked up the courage to join the army and successfully put on a military uniform.

It seemed that fate did not take care of this young brother who had just entered the military camp.

Year after year, the relationship between "rabbits" and "ungrateful wolves" has taken a sharp turn for the worse.

The situation on both sides was extremely tense. The troops immediately began to recruit soldiers, and Shao Jiawang's recruit company also received a wave of enthusiastic reinforcements.

Shao Jiawang did not go to the front line as a soldier, but became a supply officer in a certain regiment of a certain division, and continued to be busy delivering water and meals!

This was a bolt from the blue for Shao Jiawang.

Shao Jiawang had been dreaming of going into battle himself, holding a rifle and fighting the enemy to death, but the task at hand tore him apart in an instant.

In the cafeteria, Shao Jiawang just cut vegetables, washed dishes and cooked every day, and it seemed like it had nothing to do with fighting.

Sometimes, when Shao Jiawang saw other soldiers training with weapons on their backs, he felt like a huge stone was pressing on his heart.

But it didn't take long for Shao Jiawang to adjust his mindset.

Shao Jiawang understood that the most fundamental duty of a soldier is to obey orders, whether he is charging desperately on the battlefield or making silent contributions in the rear, this is the duty of a soldier.

He simply threw away those thoughts of "I am not a warrior" and started working desperately, spending all his time on small things like cooking, buying groceries, and moving things, making him like a busy man in the kitchen.

Just when he was trying hard to adjust his mindset and do his best to be a good cook, the tension in the south became increasingly intense that spring, and the "rabbit" decided to fight back against the "ungrateful wolves".

The battlefield of the self-defense counterattack was filled with smoke and the sound of artillery fire.

Shao Jiawang did not charge forward with guns like other brothers. His job was still to be in charge of logistics, and he was busy cooking, moving the wounded, distributing ammunition and transporting supplies.

But at this time, Shao Jiawang had gradually come out of his initial disappointment. He knew the importance of logistical support. The timely delivery of every meal, every supply, and every batch of ammunition was the cornerstone of victory on the front line.
During a war, not only the brothers fighting in the front are important, but the supply soldiers behind are also crucial.

A role like Shao Jiawang made him do his job more wholeheartedly, especially keeping up with the show seriously!
During the long days, Shao Jiawang completed his tasks day after day.

In the morning, Shao Jiawang got up early to prepare breakfast for all the soldiers in the company;

During the day, he was busy preparing hot meals and delivering water to the wounded;

At night, he rushed like a horse running wild, delivering supplies and bullets to the soldiers on the front line.

Although Shao Jiawang stayed in the rear, he knew more about the situation on the battlefield than his brothers who were charging into battle!

Sometimes, Shao Jiawang could get to the front of the battle and stand there watching quietly.

Shao Jiawang watched his comrades rushing towards the enemy like crazy, not afraid of death at all.

Although their faces were filled with tiredness and pain, each pair of eyes was bright with one determination - to protect their hometown and defend their motherland!
Seeing how brave and fearless they were, Shao Jiawang felt so passionate in his heart.

He thought to himself: "If I were given a chance, I would definitely do the same as them, grab a gun and fight the enemy!"

As time went by, the situation on the southern battlefield became more and more complicated. The heavy artillery fire, the attack and defense of the positions, and the countless confrontations between the enemy and the enemy were like constantly sharpening blades, sharpening the will of everyone involved in this war.

As the situation continued to escalate, Shao Jiawang and other logistics soldiers were like ants on a hot pan, extremely busy.

They were hiding here and there in the forests during crossfires on the front lines, accepting endless challenges. It was even more exciting than watching a TV series!

Although Shao Jiawang did not participate in direct combat, the pressure and responsibility he carried were no less than those brave frontline fighters.
Fate is such a naughty ghost, it suddenly played a surprise for us!
One day, the regiment where Shao Jiawang was stationed was attacked by the enemy.

The plan was going smoothly, but it suddenly got stuck.

Relying on their familiarity with the terrain, the enemy quickly mobilized a large number of troops and surrounded Shao Jiawang and his logistics supply team.

The situation was extremely critical at the time. The soldiers were originally prepared to quickly break through the enemy's line and counterattack when the enemy was unprepared.

But what we didn't expect was that the enemy launched a pincer attack unexpectedly, suppressing almost all our assault forces deep in the forest.

At that moment, the situation on the entire battlefield changed instantly, and Shao Jiawang and his six comrades were separated and left isolated and helpless.

The isolated team began a difficult retreat. Every step they took was full of danger and they could encounter an enemy ambush at every corner.

Shao Jiawang was not idle. He knew that just waiting for others to come to his rescue was not enough. The large army was heavily blocked by the enemy and it was difficult to send reinforcements in a short time.

At this time, Shao Jiawang had only one choice - to do his best to protect himself and his comrades and find a way out.

With the determination to fight for life and death, Shao Jiawang commanded his troops to avoid the enemy's main force as much as possible and chose to retreat northward.

Along the way, vines grew like wild hair, streams flowed like the high notes of a famous singer at a concert, the terrain was as complex as a maze, and it was as hot and humid as buns in a steamer, making the already exhausted team even more tired.

When night fell, Shao Jiawang realized that if they continued along the path, they would most likely be discovered by the enemy.

So he made a decision - to give up the route and choose to cross the more dangerous jungle.

A few days later, Shao Jiawang's team ran into a big trouble - the enemy patrol was wandering right in front of them.

Faced with the enemy's firepower, Shao Jiawang once again made a decision without hesitation.

In order to allow his comrades to escape, he took the initiative to take on the task of attracting the enemy's attention.

Shao Jiawang chose a place that looked like a dead end.

This is a large frozen paddy field. At this time, the enemy has already noticed that they are squatting there and is approaching step by step.

Shao Jiawang understood that if they didn't have enough time to escape, everyone would be in danger.

He gritted his teeth, threw his arms around and rushed into the frozen rice field, firing at the enemy frantically, trying to attract all the enemy's attention.

The enemy's firepower was instantly concentrated on him, and his plan succeeded.

His teammates took the opportunity to evacuate, but Shao Jiawang fought alone and was surrounded by the enemy.

The gunshots continued and Shao Jiawang felt like he was hit by a car. He was running desperately when he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his buttocks.

Oh no, my butt was bitten.

Shao Jiawang was in so much pain that his legs were almost uncontrollable, but he didn't want to stop. He gritted his teeth and continued running for the safety of his teammates.

No matter how much pain it was, he knew in his heart that he must not fall down like this!
The enemy's pursuit was getting closer and closer, and Shao Jiawang's physical strength was almost at its limit, but he still tried his best to find any place to hide.

When Shao Jiawang was about to give up hope, luck suddenly came to him as if he had been injected with chicken blood, and he actually came across a hidden little cave in the mountains!
The cave was dark and damp, like a "hell hut". Shao Jiawang didn't care about anything else and dived in.

Soon after, the wounds on Shao Jiawang's body became inflamed and the pain was like a mosquito bite, but he knew in his heart that the only way to survive was to wait in this hellhole.

Shao Jiawang hid in the cave for two days and two nights. His wounds hurt so much that he almost died.

Even a little white mouse cannot stand this torture and sometimes faints from the pain.

But every time Shao Jiawang was about to faint, a sentence would pop up in his head: "I can't fall down, the motherland still needs me, and my brothers are still waiting for me in front!"

After hiding for two days, Shao Jiawang felt that the enemy had withdrawn, so he crawled out of the cave, covering his wound and gritting his teeth.

After nine days and eight nights of life-and-death challenge, Shao Jiawang almost wrote a note to the King of Hell asking for leave. His wounds were almost rotten and he was as thin as a chicken, but he still gritted his teeth and persisted.

Finally, Shao Jiawang was found by his comrades.

When his comrades saw Shao Jiawang’s miserable condition, they were as anxious as ants on a hot pan and rushed him to the field hospital.

At this moment, Shao Jiawang had a high fever due to wound infection.

He was as thin as a stick, and the wounds on his buttocks were badly rotten and burning like a furnace. He was sometimes lucid and sometimes in a trance.

The doctors kept saying, "This is like a god descending to earth. I don't understand it!"

In such a terrible environment that made people want to cry, Shao Jiawang not only did not suffocate to death, but miraculously lived until he was discovered by everyone.

Upon hearing the news, Commander-in-Chief Liu Zhiye came in person to express his condolences to Shao Jiawang.

Soon after, Shao Jiawang was promoted to a famous celebrity with "first-class merit"!

This honor is not only a recognition of Shao Jiawang's hard-working and tenacious spirit on the battlefield, but also a reward for his loyalty to his comrades and his country at all costs.

Although Shao Jiawang did not kill enemies and gain merit like other soldiers, he never backed down in extremely difficult situations. This spirit is simply gold in this war!
As his injuries gradually healed, Shao Jiawang not only received a medal, but was also successfully promoted to join the party!
Although some people at that time complained about Shao Jiawang "getting first-class merit without defeating a single enemy", the commander-in-chief Liu Zhiye strongly supported him.

No matter what, Shao Jiawang's bravery and loyalty to the motherland have long been rooted in everyone's hearts.

Later, in the military district's evaluation, he was called an "iron soldier", and this name became a benchmark in the hearts of countless soldiers.

Not long after, Shao Jiawang's promotion order was delivered to the regiment, and he was appointed as a platoon-level staff officer in the regiment's logistics department.

However, that was the time when the logistics forces were being adjusted.

Shao Jiawang's salary was not paid until July.

At that time, he received 156 yuan at once, and after deducting 4 cents a day for food expenses, he was left with 8 yuan.

I had never seen so much money in my life, and I was so excited that I couldn’t sleep that day.

Before his promotion, Shao Jiawang only received a monthly allowance of 15 yuan, of which he could barely save 12 yuan.

Later, Shao Jiawang sent 100 yuan home, but unexpectedly, his mother rarely used the money, saying that she would save it for him to marry a wife in the future...

The logistics staff officer is actually the leader's assistant, mainly providing support to the director, two deputy directors and an assistant.

Basically, Shao Jiawang and his team have to deal with all matters that the various departments are not responsible for, so they are very busy every day. However, this also trains Shao Jiawang's coordination ability and hard-working spirit.

It was Shao Jiawang's outstanding performance in the logistics department of a certain regiment that was remembered by Yi Yuanchao, who was entrusted with an important task by Liu Zhiye.

A few years later, Zhong Xingguo was transferred to a division and served as the division commander.

When he first arrived at the division, Zhong Xingguo felt that the division's logistics management was a mess.

Zhong Xingguo wanted to replace the logistics minister with a more skilled one, so he called Yi Yuanchao for help.

Faced with Zhong Xingguo's request for help, Yi Yuanchao thought about it and remembered an acquaintance, Shao Jiawang.

As soon as he heard the transfer order, Shao Jiawang came to Zhong Xingguo's division and became his chief steward.

The winter of 1994 was particularly cold. In the kitchen of a unit of the Western Military Region, a new soldier was worried about the cabbages that had frozen into lumps of ice.

Suddenly, the door curtain was lifted, and a military officer in his thirties came in. He picked up a kitchen knife and started banging a few times, with ice chips flying high.

“Watch out, kid, this is how you cut the cabbage!” This man is the newly appointed division logistics chief Shao Jiawang, the youngest division-level logistics chief in the entire military region.

No one expected that this minister, who was better at wielding a kitchen knife than a gun, had managed to increase the combat effectiveness assessment of the entire division by 30% in just three years, and he did it all with "inconspicuous" things like pots, pans, and spoons.

As soon as he became the logistics minister, Shao Jiawang began to visit the companies.

Once, when it was time for dinner, the steamed buns of one company were steamed like stones.

The cook squad leader blushed and explained: "We have changed five batches of people this year."

On the way back, Shao Jiawang became more and more angry: "If soldiers don't have enough to eat and can't even hold their guns steady, how can they fight in the war?"

Within half a month, all the cooks in the division were gathered in the Logistics Department for "professional training".

On the first day of class, Shao Jiawang stood in front of the chopping board with a kitchen knife in hand and said, "Today I won't teach you anything else. I'll just teach you how to cut potato shreds! When you can cut shreds that can go through the eye of a needle, you'll graduate!"

The soldiers below were dumbfounded.

How come this minister is more professional than the head cook?
Shao Jiawang issued a death order: "Every company must train a proper chef!"

One company commander was still unconvinced: "I joined the army to fight, not to be a cook!"

Shao Jiawang was not annoyed, he pulled him to the training ground and said, "Why don't you try running five kilometers on an empty stomach? If you can't run when you're full, you're a bad soldier. If you can't run when you're hungry, it means our logistics are incompetent!"

Later, this company commander really brought out a lot of third-level chefs, and they won the first place in the division evaluation for three consecutive years.

(End of this chapter)