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墨書 Inktalez
As the number of "Tour Groups" increased, by three forty, no one else entered the venue. At that moment, I saw a group of leaders walking in from outside and taking their seats on the podium. I quickly moved to the front of the line, gave the command to stand at attention, and then returned to my position at the edge of the formation.
I couldn't see how the leaders were seated; I could only focus on the students in front of me. There were about four to five hundred students, dressed in various styles—some in short skirts, others in long skirts, casual outfits, or shorts. In short, there was a mix of everything.
The meeting began shortly after. The leader on stage started speaking, and the students began to applaud in welcome. I remained still, as did my unit; it was a joke to think we would join in welcoming applause. Soldiers have their dignity, and their applause is reserved for those they see as strong. Standing firm and motionless was itself a sign of respect for all the faculty and students present.
For someone with a rich imagination and quick thinking, maintaining a military posture was an easy task. I kept my stance relaxed while my mind wandered elsewhere: I recalled when I began military training seven years ago on a similarly sunny day. Back then, I had no interest in military life; military training was merely a formality before enrollment, and I hadn't even fired a weapon at that time.
The leader on stage continued, "The fundamental purpose of military training is to cultivate and strengthen the excellent traditions of university students, establish National Defense Awareness, and lay the foundation for producing outstanding Successors of the Socialist Cause. The rigors of military training not only enhance students' personal qualities but also strengthen their National Defense Awareness and sense of collectivism, which is significant for building national defense reserves."
Indeed, it is significant. It was only after joining the army that I realized national defense education is an essential part of education for all citizens. Historical experience shows that the strength or weakness of a country or nation is closely linked to its citizens' National Defense Awareness. University students possess both high levels of scientific knowledge and youthful vigor. They are the backbone of future national development; enhancing their awareness of national defense is most effectively achieved through military training.
The most direct manifestation is in strengthening willpower and cultivating Discipline. I recalled what an instructor said during our training in Liuzhou: "Obey, obey, and obey again." I wondered if that still resonated with them now.
Lost in my thoughts, time passed quickly. Before I knew it, the leader's speech had concluded. When the Deputy Director approached me to call my attention, I realized that my soldiers and I had been standing straight all along. The expressions on the university students' faces revealed surprise and admiration.
This was no small feat; we could have stood like this for another hour without issue.
I acknowledged him with a nod. "Let's start dividing into classes," said the Deputy Director.
I nodded again; I had already submitted a plan to him earlier. First was to divide into companies: Male Soldier Company and Female Soldier Company. Then each company would be further divided into several squads based on majors or classes, with each squad consisting of about ten members. Fifty-one instructors were sufficient to manage around five hundred individuals.
There was no need for a roster; each class advisor would organize their students into groups of ten, which our soldiers would then take over to conduct basic self-introductions and set expectations. Future assemblies would follow this structure, making it easier to manage while keeping classmates together.
In less than half an hour, all levels of organization were established. Surprisingly, there were fewer male soldiers than female soldiers—only just over one hundred males compared to more than three hundred females.
I blew the assembly whistle again, instructing the soldiers to line up according to columns. After the whistle blew, they began moving like mother hens leading their chicks into formation; chaos ensued with noise and laughter all around me as I shook my head vigorously.
Those who have spent considerable time in the army tend to develop a habit: they feel compelled to organize anything that appears disordered. Seeing a messy formation made me anxious; I felt exactly that way too.
Once everyone was in position, I took the megaphone given to me by the Deputy Director and shouted, "All Cadets, listen up!"
I paused for a moment before continuing, "Let me introduce myself. I am Company Commander Wang, assigned to oversee your Military Training. I want to be clear: if I say I'm happy to meet you, that would be a lie. I've never seen such a disorganized group with such poor Discipline. When I was a student, I never acted as carelessly as you all do. I deeply regret coming here to conduct your Military Training because your foundation is simply too weak. You will also regret having me as your trainer because I will be very strict."
I noticed several boys and girls rolling their eyes or smirking, which was expected. I continued shouting without concern, "Now, in front of you, each team has a soldier. This is your training squad leader. He will be responsible for the entire Military Training of your team. Additionally, when you return today, you need to elect a Cadet Vice Squad Leader to manage your lives outside of Military Training. Throughout the training period, they will enforce strict discipline and requirements. For any Cadet who disobeys the rules, we will keep a record of their behavior. After the Military Training concludes, we will grade you and submit the results to the school. These grades will affect your evaluations for party membership and other matters this academic year." This had all been discussed in advance with the Deputy Director; there was no way around it—without military personnel and constraints, there would be no effective management.
"Now, let me show you what real soldiers look like," I shouted loudly.
"Sharp Blade Company!" I put down the megaphone and bellowed.
"Present!" Fifty-one soldiers responded in unison, their voices booming and drowning out all other noise, silencing the students around them.
"Face me! Form four columns!" I commanded.
In complete silence, the fifty-one soldiers quickly ran to assemble on the track in front of me. In less than a minute, they were lined up perfectly.
I began issuing commands for them to stand at attention and adjust their uniforms before moving on to drill exercises—turning in place, standing at ease, marching forward, running, and stepping out.
As the entire routine unfolded, gasps of amazement filled the air around us. I understood why they were astonished: they only saw the soldier closest to them in each row; when A Row moved past, their movements were sharp and fluid, synchronized like one person.
I felt a swell of pride inside; these kids truly did not embarrass me.
After giving the order to regroup, the soldiers quickly dispersed and returned to stand at the front of each team.
At that moment, a boy from not far away in the ranks raised his hand and shouted loudly, "Company Commander!"
Many turned their heads to see who dared to interrupt.
"Speak only after asking for permission," I replied without hesitation.
"Report," he raised his hand again.
"What is it?" I walked over, frowning.
"I think these movements are very simple and not difficult at all. Military Training may have meaning for others, but for a few people, it doesn't mean much." The boy was slightly taller than me, with bright eyes and a square face. His features were almost like a drawing, quite two-dimensional, resembling a robot. Years later, I realized that Peng Yuyan looked just like this, exuding a strong anime vibe.
I was a bit surprised. "Honest," I thought. The group of kids in front of me—if I could call them that—were around eighteen or nineteen years old, similar in age to the soldiers in my unit, just seven years behind me in college. However, I didn't expect their thoughts and personalities to be so rich and unique. What kind of assignment was this? My head started to spin with the thought.
I looked at the boy, pondered for a few seconds, and then shouted, "Alright, since you think it's simple, please step forward."
Without hesitation, the boy stepped out and stood on the track.
I looked at the soldier standing at the front of the line; what a coincidence—it was Wu Chao.
"Wu Chao."
"Present."
"Stand next to him with one person’s distance between you."
"Yes."
"You two, face everyone."
The boy hesitated for a moment but still complied. Wu Chao moved swiftly and cleanly, looking stylish and attracting quite a bit of attention from the girls.
"This classmate, since you think it's simple, let's have a competition. I'll start giving commands, and you both will follow along. I'm not asking for perfect execution; I just want you to keep up with the set. If you can do that, I'll agree with your opinion and allow you to be an exception not to participate in Military Training. Do you dare to give it a try?" I said.
"This is nothing to be afraid of," the boy said nonchalantly, unwilling to show any weakness in front of so many girls.
"Very well." I took two steps back.
"Get ready to start!" I shouted loudly. "Attention! At ease! Turn left! Turn right! About face! Turn right! Turn right! Squat down! Stand up! About face! Squat down! Stand up!"
I began issuing commands in rapid succession. I often played this game with the unit and the soldiers because I noticed they had developed a habit of relying on instinct when following orders, often losing focus. So, I would frequently give commands quickly, and anyone who made a mistake had to do one hundred push-ups. This way, everyone was highly alert, afraid of making a wrong move.
Sure enough, Wu Chao turned around like a machine according to my commands, while that boy had already turned the wrong way several times in a row. Many people started laughing, and the boy's face turned red, especially when he squatted down and stood up too quickly, losing his balance and nearly falling over.
The students burst into laughter, while Wu Chao stood firmly in place like a nail.
I mockingly asked him, "Looks like it's not as easy as it seems."
The boy's face was flushed. "I'm not convinced."
"One last thing: I've noticed quite a few of you seem to be taking my words lightly. I guarantee you will come to understand their importance later. The military training will last for three weeks, and I hope you can enjoy it." With that, a mischievous smile crept onto my lips.
The simple duty was complete; stay tuned for the chase of souls, love like the wind, and the work of chasing the wind—tomorrow will be even more exciting.
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