Military career: Starting with a recruitment letter

Chapter 123 Pre-war preparations, this is the selection of generals

March 3th, during the afternoon lunch break.

The reconnaissance company suspended training and all classes were resting in the dormitory.

And here in the company's clerical office.

Chen Mo and Liang Hongjie were both more energetic than each other and neither of them returned to the dormitory.

In recent days, Lao Liang has been teaching Chen Mo how to read and use drawings, how to detect wires using single-view pole distance and double-view pole distance, and how to locate with trigonometric functions whenever he has time.

After all, the armored reconnaissance company requires not only training, but also professional knowledge, and needs to learn some artillery ranging techniques.

Although Chen Mo's job is clerical, he cannot be completely ignorant of all the subjects he should come into contact with in the company.

In fact, since the early 1990s, ground artillery reconnaissance has been equipped with laser rangefinders, which can achieve a very high level of accuracy.

But the army has never relied entirely on electronic products.

This thing is useful, but its damage rate in the field is very high. If it runs out of power during a war, it will just be a pile of scrap metal.

No use at all.

Therefore, as an armored scout, you must learn to draw maps and measure distances, provide specific locations for rear troops, calculate launch guidance, and so on.

All need to be learned.

Liang Hongjie was talking intently while holding a bunch of special distance-measuring tools and a hand-drawn AB point diagram.

Deputy Company Commander Hou Zhanye suddenly strolled to the door with his hands behind his back.

The old monkey stretched his head and took a look inside the room. Seeing that both of them were there, he said with a smile, "I was wondering how to get to your dormitory. Only Xiao Zhao is sleeping there."

"What's wrong, scholar? Are you studying with Xiao Liang?"

"Hello, Deputy Company Commander!!"

Hearing the noise, Chen Mo hurriedly stood up and said, "Captain, please take a seat. We are about to have a competition. It's better to sharpen your weapons before the battle. Even if you don't do it quickly, it will shine."

"You boy."

The old monkey shook his head, walked to the bench at the back of the office and sat down: "This is not the kind of thing a martial arts competition involves."

"There are two reconnaissance companies from the Anti-aircraft Artillery Brigade, one for artillery reconnaissance and one for instrument reconnaissance. They're both said to be competing, so that definitely doesn't involve any specialized subjects."

Hearing this, Chen Mo laughed dryly.

Then he stood up and walked to the side, picked up the white porcelain pot, poured water and made tea.

The instrument reconnaissance company mentioned by the deputy company commander is officially known as the Instrument Reconnaissance Company. In fact, there are many types of reconnaissance companies.

Such as armored reconnaissance, armed reconnaissance, tank reconnaissance, artillery reconnaissance, instrument reconnaissance and so on.

These companies have almost no difference in training except for different professional subjects.

In order to encourage scouts to actively train, the army often organizes competitions between companies.

Of course, this kind of competition is different from the competition for new recruits. Even if you win, you will not be awarded military merit or anything.

All of this will be reserved until the end of the year when performance appraisals are conducted and rewards will be given according to merit.

Chen Mo knew about martial arts competitions before, and it didn't involve these professional subjects, but he still had to learn them.

Bringing the brewed tea to Hou Zhanye, the old monkey waved his hand and said, "That's enough, stop wasting time."

"The company commander is going to check out the venue this afternoon, scholar, you have to work harder. In previous years, in the reconnaissance company's competition, first-class non-commissioned officers were considered recruits. If this private can get in, it will be a lot of fun."

"Haha, I won't bother you anymore, just study."

Hou Zhanye stood up and walked around. He didn't say what he came for and left with a smile.

Chen Mo sent the person to the door and watched the old monkey walk away.

He shook his head and continued to sit down and study with Liang Hongjie.

As a top student from the Kyoto Armored Forces Academy, Lao Liang is naturally familiar with trigonometric functions.

Although Chen Mo had never been to the Kyoto Armored Forces Academy, he had at least been to the Shimen Army Command Academy and studied there for nearly a year.

The Army Command College was formed by the merger of the General Staff College and the Shimen Armored Forces Command College.

The two of them got together, with the help of a map, taking the location of the Kuchi reconnaissance company as an example, and using Tao Village as an observation post, using slide rules, abacus, command rulers, and various calculators.

It is easy to calculate information under various shooting conditions with the help of existing conditions.

After several days in a row.

Liang Hongjie taught Chen Mo from time to time to help him master the knowledge of scouts, and he finally discovered it.

This boy Xiucai is simply a natural born soldier.

For example, based on the eye-jump method, calculation of height difference, wind direction, wind force, climate environment, magnetic base deflection, camouflage, false light reflection, calculation of flight time and laser terminal guidance.

You can learn it at a glance and get started right away.

It is no exaggeration to say that these things are placed on the veterans in the company.

Who doesn’t need to study for half a year to master it?

He could even memorize a table of five-digit logarithms in a few days.

When drawing graphs and doing calculations, there is no need to refer to a logarithmic table, and the calculations can be done accurately.

It seems that the lunch break is almost over.

Liang Hongjie pushed the line drawing in his hand onto the table, waved his hand helplessly and said, "Forget it, forget it. I won't learn it for now."

"Scholar, your name is not in vain."

"You're learning so fast! At first, I thought you were physically fit and good at performing, so if you encountered something professional, you should let me show you around."

"Who knows, you learn things faster. If it weren't for your young age, I would have suspected that you had been a soldier before."

Indeed, I have.

Chen Mo grinned. Reading and understanding pictures is the most basic skill that every officer needs to master.

With this foundation, he can learn other things much faster.

There is no way to answer this question.

Chen Mo simply put away all the tools in the office, then looked up at the clock on the wall. It was already 2:10.

There are only ten minutes left until the lunch break ends.

Tomorrow is the day when the two reconnaissance companies of our company and the anti-aircraft artillery brigade will compete. The reconnaissance company will "call the shots" this afternoon.

"Platoon leader, let's go, it's time to assemble."

Chen Mo straightened his military uniform. He had been hearing about the competition since he joined the company.

Veterans are often mentioned, but no one has ever mentioned how to compete specifically or how to select the thirty players who will play.

However, as a clerk, Chen Mo has recently discovered some clues.

As the training became more and more intense, the instructor arranged for several old non-commissioned officers who were injured or whose physical fitness could not keep up to take early leave a few days ago.

Even if no one talks about it.

Chen Mo could roughly guess that arranging people to take leave was to get rid of all the people in the company who might be drags down the team.

As the day of the competition draws closer, the atmosphere in the company becomes more and more depressing and tense.

This is not.

Chen Mo had just gone downstairs, and the whistle for the end of lunch break had not yet blown.

In the distance, groups of people wearing hats and belts came out of the dormitories one after another and gathered towards the training ground.

Some new recruits wanted to join the queue, but were pushed by the veterans and asked to line up on the side.

Liang Hongjie did not join the queue, but stood in the distance with other recruits.

In the entire team, there was only one private, Chen Mo.

About six or seven minutes after they lined up, Cheng Dong and Huo Linshan came from the direction of the company headquarters.

Captain Cheng first scanned the ranks, then raised his hand to straighten his military cap and strode to the speaking position.

With a serious expression, he said, "Comrades, tomorrow is the day we go to the anti-aircraft artillery brigade for the competition."

"I won't waste any more time on unnecessary nonsense. This isn't your first time participating in a martial arts competition."

"Just one thing, tomorrow on the court, the same old rules apply. If you have good grades, I might not remember you, but if you have bad grades, damn it, I'm watching you."

"After the competition, whoever performed poorly had better make up a reason that I can believe."

"Everyone, disband. Prepare on your own this afternoon. Hey, take the scholar with you."

Chen Mo was standing in the queue, listening attentively. However, he heard nothing as the company commander and the instructor hurriedly finished their speeches.

We got in the car and left the camp.

After the company commander left, groups of veterans waited for the soldiers to leave and no one trained. Some returned to the dormitory, while others walked out of the camp.

The serious and dull atmosphere just now suddenly became relaxed, at least on the surface.

Damn, where is the appointment of generals?
Chen Mo stood there in a daze for a long time.

He had heard the veteran say in the morning that they would call out the names of the contestants in the afternoon, and he thought that they were calling out the thirty places for the competition.

For this reason, he didn't even dare to take a break at noon, and raced against time to learn scout skills.

Which link went wrong?
Chen Mo looked at Liang Hongjie in confusion.

Needless to say, Lao Liang was even more confused than him. It was obvious that this kid had never seen a martial arts competition since he came to the reconnaissance company.

The two of them stayed together every day, and indeed they rarely heard Liang Pai talk about the martial arts competition.

Maybe he saw Chen Mo's confusion.

Wang Jianyong, the monitor of Class 14, came over and put his arm around Chen Mo's shoulder with a smile. He hugged him tightly and said, "Relax, scholar."

"There's no training this afternoon. The company commander and instructor have already gone to the anti-aircraft artillery brigade to check out the field. They won't be back anytime soon." "What's the matter? Are you worried about your performance after hearing about the competition?"

"I'd rather worry about myself." Chen Mo heard this and gave a wry smile: "Squad leader, aren't we talking about selecting the generals?"

"What's the matter if everyone runs away?"

"What's the matter? Hehe, you'll know later." Wang Jianyong did not respond to Chen Mo's question, but pulled him to sit directly on the ground.

He took out a cigarette from his pocket and offered it to Chen Mo, then continued: "You don't understand the rules of our competition. Sit here and wait for food and drinks. You will have unlimited cigarettes and soda this afternoon."

It would have been fine if I hadn't listened to his explanation, but after hearing it I was even more confused.

But seeing that Wang Jianyong was smoking calmly and had no intention of solving the problem, Chen Mo didn't dare to ask any more questions.

It’s just a competition anyway, how many tricks can there be?
Chen Mo was thinking in his mind, and he also sat on the ground smoking.

But soon.

Chen Mo understood why Lao Wang had said that if he sat down here, he would have endless cigarettes to smoke and endless soda to drink.

Good guy.

The veterans who had just left the camp ran back excitedly, some holding a cigarette, some holding a dozen bottles of soda.

Seeing Wang Jianyong and Chen Mo sitting there, an old soldier immediately ran over with shining eyes and threw cigarettes and soda at them without saying a word.

"Come on, Lao Wang, scholar, take some drinks, take some cigarettes, if it's not enough, tell me we have plenty."

Chen Mo recognized the veteran who was smoking. He was Yao Jinghua, the squad leader of Class 8.

Seeing a pack of cigarettes and a bottle of soda stuffed into his arms for no apparent reason, Chen Mo turned to look at Wang Jianyong.

"It seems you really don't understand." Lao Wang smiled, picked up the soda bottle, bit off the lid, and gulped down several mouthfuls.

Then he looked up and gestured to the veterans distributing things in the distance, "Do you know these people?"

"Of course I know them. There are people from Class 3, Class 6, and Class 12."

Chen Mo has been training with the company for so long that he can already call out the names of most of the veterans.

"Yes, you don't understand what it means to select a general." Wang Jianyong adjusted his sitting position and explained, "Our 7th Armored Brigade only has one reconnaissance company."

"There are two anti-aircraft artillery brigades, each with 30 men. We don't get to decide who will go in. We'll randomly select them based on their numbers after we get there. The subjects for the competition will also be randomly selected."

"It could be an armed cross-country race or an armed swim. If our company wants to achieve a good ranking, it depends on the dozen or so third-class non-commissioned officers you just pointed out."

"Whether it's armed cross-country or swimming, as long as you enter the competition, you can help each other. For example, Lao Yao gave you soda and cigarettes just now. If you are selected tomorrow, you will have to carry some weight for Lao Yao."

"It's usually not much. They'll give you a canteen or a gun or something to reduce his own weight and win a rank in the company."

"It won't cause you to be dragged to the back because of the heavy load. This is what we often call "calling out the generals."

"To put it bluntly, these second- and third-class non-commissioned officers bought things to reward us."

"understand?"

Holy shit! !
Chen Mo was speechless for a while.

No wonder these veterans are so active, offering cigarettes and soda.

It is normal for soldiers with poor performance in the competition to help soldiers with good performance to reduce their weight and win rankings.

But the army not only values ​​honor, but also human relations and social skills. It has become an unwritten rule in the company to "appoint generals" in advance.

After all, one should be grateful for what one has received.

"That's not right, squad leader." Chen Mo asked doubtfully, "Since everyone has been picked, what if one of us, squad leader Yao, is not picked tomorrow, or if neither of us is picked? What should we do?"

"Isn't this a waste of money?"

Hearing this, Wang Jianyong curled his lips and said, "Look at your petty stinginess. It won't be a waste of money. If you don't win the first time, what about the second and third?"

"The competition measures the entire company. Besides, Lao Yao won't just give it to you. He'll give it to anyone who can go tomorrow."

Wang Jianyong was right, and Chen Mo also discovered it.

The old soldiers in the company, who usually performed very well, were distributing cigarettes and soda everywhere. Just when the two of them were sitting there for a while, three or four people came over to distribute things.

Basically, the corporals and first-class non-commissioned officers in the company, such as Peng Wei and Wang Jianyong, all accepted the things with a clear conscience.

This so-called "calling out generals" has become a fixed set of rules in the reconnaissance company.

Chen Mo looked down at the thing he was given in his hand and was a little hesitant.

Chen Mo definitely has the awareness of helping the veterans carry the weight on the field. Even if he is not given cigarettes, he has no complaints.

To bring glory to the company, there is no distinction between you and me.

But the problem now is that he doesn't want to just be there to make up the numbers. In this competition, he is still thinking about whether he can get a better ranking.

obviously.

There is no absolute fairness in the reconnaissance company competition, only relative fairness. After all, they are soldiers on the front line, so it is not surprising that the rules are a bit unconventional.

It can also improve the cohesion of the unit.

"Monitor."

Chen Mo hesitated for a long time, and finally said: "If I also want to get a place, do I have to give out gifts as well?"

"Uh"

"you?"

Wang Jianyong was stunned. He was really stumped by the question.

Because until now, calling the shots has only been done by the third-level non-commissioned officers or some second-level non-commissioned officers in the company.

After all, the overall quality of the veterans is there, and there is nothing wrong in helping them reduce their burden during competitions.

But he had never encountered a private like Xiucai wanting to appoint generals. He really couldn't imagine such a scene.

A private soldier, about eighteen or nineteen years old, was carrying a bunch of things, smiling and looking like he was giving comfort, and distributing cigarettes and soda to a group of people around thirty years old.

Then they hope that the veterans will help the new recruits carry weights on the field. Isn’t this the opposite of Tian Gang?

Wang Jianyong was so tortured that he didn't say a word for a long time. He just nodded with a stiff neck and didn't say a word.

Chen Mo stood up with a "swoosh", touched his pocket with a happy face, and found that he had money.

The veteran was too embarrassed to ask for help, so he immediately waved to the group of new recruits in the distance: "Da Li, Zhi Ang."

"Come on, go shopping with me."

"What are you buying?"

Yang Dali came running over.

Although it has been more than half a month since they joined the company, the other recruits, except Chen Mo, are still very afraid of these old soldiers and usually try to stay as far away from them as possible.

If Chen Mo hadn't called out to them, they wouldn't have come over when the veteran was nearby, mainly because they felt too uncomfortable.

Ignoring the two men's awkwardness, Chen Mo casually handed the cigarettes and soda in his hand to them.

He smiled and said, "Come with me to the sales outlet and buy some cigarettes, soda, spicy chips, etc."

"I want to select the generals too."

"Squad leader, I'm leaving first."

Wang Jianyong was still a little confused when he saw Chen Mo leading two new recruits out of the camp.

Don't say he was confused.

When Chen Mo came back, he had two packs of cigarettes tucked under his arm and a bunch of soda in his arms, and he was distributing them to the veterans one by one.

Everyone in the company was stunned.

In fact, this so-called call to arms was due to the scarcity of food and drink in that era, and the atmosphere in the company was too depressing due to the competitions every time.

That's why we did this, mainly to liven things up so we can go all out next time.

But the veterans get the pay, they have a salary.

As a private, your monthly allowance is only 25 yuan, which is enough to buy a pack of cigarettes. Why are you joining in the fun?

But Chen Mo doesn't think so.

The smile on his face was particularly bright, and he ran very diligently on the training ground.

The veteran who was receiving cigarettes and sodas was extremely embarrassed.

Damn, such a top-notch private is really rare.

It was clearly a small company dinner, where we were just sitting together and having fun, but he made us laugh and cry.

But Chen Mo didn't care about that. Since the veteran had appointed him, he had to do it too.

otherwise.

There will be a competition tomorrow. What can I use to compete with others?
Leisurely time always passes quickly. After an afternoon without training, a group of veterans had their mouths numb from smoking and almost vomited after drinking soda.

The noise continued until the company commander and the instructor came back, and then things calmed down a bit.

The next morning, March 3th.

The day has arrived for the scout competition between the 7th Armored Brigade and the Anti-aircraft Artillery Brigade.

Because the two bases are too far apart, it is not as difficult as the previous time when it took six or seven hours to run to Pingcheng to participate in the recruit competition.

But you still need to leave Hedong, and the journey takes more than two hours.

It was 5:30 in the morning, half an hour earlier than usual.

Inside the camp.

"Beep-beep-beep-beep."

A series of long and five short desperate whistles echoed throughout the military camp.

(End of this chapter)