Courtyard Houses: Starting with Li Yunlong's Comrades-in-Arms

After everyone was seated, the atmosphere became less formal. Commander Li raised his glass to Liu Yuheng: "Yuheng, returning to the Northeast is like returning to your mother's home. This drink is to welcome you back and wash away the dust of your journey."

Liu Yuheng quickly picked up his wine glass, clinked it with Commander Li's, tilted his head back and took a big gulp. The wine slid down his throat, burning hot but warming.

Commander Li put down his wine glass, picked up a piece of food with his chopsticks, and then looked at Liu Yuheng as if he had remembered something: "By the way, what are your plans for this trip down here? Where should you start?"

Liu Yuheng put down his chopsticks and became more serious: "Old leader, I'm here on orders from the Central Military Commission to supervise the troop reduction process. Let me be frank upfront, I'm here to find fault. Please don't take offense, old leader."

Upon hearing this, Commander Li was not displeased at all. Instead, he waved his hand and said, "Go ahead and investigate! You're a soldier I once commanded. Don't I know you? If you find any problems, just tell me. If anyone is involved in any shady dealings, I'll handle them myself."

Political Commissar Wang chimed in with a smile, "Team Leader Liu, rest assured, our entire military region will cooperate fully. We'll investigate what needs to be investigated and inspect what needs to be inspected; there's nothing to hold back."

"Since that's what my old boss said, then I'll go for it."

"Alright, alright, let's talk about work tomorrow. Today's a welcome dinner for you, so let's not just talk about work. Come on, eat up, try the Northeastern-style pork stew with vermicelli."

The atmosphere at the dinner table gradually relaxed.

The group ate and chatted about everyday things. Deputy Commander Lin didn't talk much, but he would occasionally chime in with a few words, and he would laugh along when they talked about something interesting.

Commander Li and Political Commissar Wang are both easy to get along with. Although they hold high positions, they are approachable and down-to-earth. Commander Li, in particular, laughed heartily as he talked to Liu Yuheng about his time in the army.

After chatting for a while, the topic naturally turned to Liu Yuheng's personal life.

Wu Chengxian started by picking up a piece of food with his chopsticks and glancing at Liu Yuheng: "Team Leader Liu, you're thirty this year, right? Have you settled your personal life yet? It's rare to see a cadre of your rank still single."

Liu Yuheng put down his chopsticks and said frankly, "To be honest, I just made up my mind. When I went back to Beijing this time, the old brigade commander introduced me to someone. She has already come to propose, and we will get married when I return from this business trip."

"The exact date hasn't been finalized yet, but it should be around this autumn, around the time of the conferment of ranks. If either of you is available then, you're welcome to come and have a drink at our celebration."

Several people at the table simultaneously showed expressions of surprise and congratulations.

Commander Li slammed his hand on the table: "What are you talking about? What do you mean by 'available' or 'not available'? I'll go to your wedding no matter how busy I am. If it happens to be the right time, I'll personally go to the capital to support you."

Liu Yuheng quickly added, "If the old leader can't make it, I'll throw you a separate banquet later, I guarantee it won't be any worse than a wedding banquet."

Everyone laughed upon hearing this, and the laughter echoed throughout the small canteen.

The next morning, Liu Yuheng got up early. After washing up and changing into his military uniform, he went downstairs, where four staff members were already waiting.

Li Guoqiang held a folder in his hand, which contained today's itinerary and visit plan. The liaison group sent by Wu Cheng to accompany him also arrived, consisting of an officer surnamed Zhao, who was in his thirties, and two officers from the headquarters.

After breakfast, the group first visited a military garrison near the military region. The garrison was not far from Fengtian city, less than an hour's drive away.

Upon arriving at the garrison of one of the subordinate divisions, several leaders from the division headquarters were already waiting at the entrance. The division commander, surnamed Zhou, who was in his forties, had received prior notification from the military region that the Central Military Commission's disarmament group was coming, so he had made preparations in advance.

Liu Yuheng shook hands with Division Commander Zhou, and without any further pleasantries, directly asked him to take him to see the list of troop reductions and the training records of the troops.

This army was right under the noses of Commander Li and Political Commissar Wang. Perhaps because the higher-ups always had strict requirements for them, or perhaps because they themselves knew what was going on, the troop reduction was generally carried out quite well.

All the positions that needed to be cut have been cut, and the officers who needed to be transferred have left. The remaining troops are fully staffed, and the commands on the training ground are louder and louder. The barracks are clean and tidy everywhere, and it is clear that they are in a state of combat readiness all year round.

Liu Yuheng led his team on a three-day tour of the camp, inspecting its organization, equipment, training, and logistics. On the fourth day, they held two more meetings, speaking with officers remaining in the unit and soldiers about to be demobilized. The atmosphere at the meetings was relatively frank; some raised practical difficulties, which Liu Yuheng instructed Li Guoqiang to write down, promising to take them back for further study and resolution.

On the morning of the fifth day, he convened a feedback meeting with several key officers from the division headquarters, reported on the inspection results of the past few days, affirmed the achievements, and also pointed out an area that needed improvement.

Commander Zhou immediately stated that the rectification would be completed within a week.

Five days passed just like that. On the afternoon of the day he left the division, Liu Yuheng sat in the back seat of the jeep, watching the camp gate slowly recede outside the window, pondering his next move. He flipped through the list in his hand, his gaze lingering on a name—Kong Jie's army.

Although Kong Jie was still attending classes at the military academy, his army was also within the scope of this inspection. This army returned to China around the same time as Liu Yuheng's own troops, and it should have just completed its troop reduction recently. Visiting it now would allow them to discover some problems that hadn't yet surfaced after the reduction, making it more valuable than waiting until later.

Liu Yuheng put down the list and said to Li Guoqiang, who was sitting in the passenger seat, "Next stop, to Kong Jie's army. Contact them beforehand and tell them we'll arrive tomorrow."

"Yes." Li Guoqiang took out his notebook from his briefcase and made a note.

This army was not located near Fengtian, but was stationed in another city several hundred kilometers away, requiring a train ride to get there.

Liu Yuheng led his men back to Fengtian city, stayed at a guesthouse for one night, and went straight to the train station the next morning, bought tickets and boarded the train.

After the train had been traveling for most of the day, the scenery outside the window gradually changed from an endless plain to rolling hills, and then to gentle mountains.

In the afternoon, the train slowly pulled into the station. Liu Yuheng and his companions got off the train with their luggage, and as soon as they stepped off, they saw a person standing on the platform.

The man, who appeared to be in his early forties, was peering towards the carriage door. Liu Yuheng smiled as soon as he saw him.