Chapter 926: Frontline Reporter

The weather in Mencius was naturally much better than in Beijing, but the improvement was limited. With the warming, Mencius had moved away from winter, but it started raining again—gloomy, damp, and cold, making people feel uncomfortable.

Wang Yan brought back another pile of capital specialties. As usual, he first went to report to the Political Commissar to make arrangements for the upcoming performance tasks. Afterward, he found Liu Feng, gave him a lot of food and drink, told him to eat at his house in the evening, and then ignored the anxious Liu Feng and went to tidy up.

Needless to say, Wang Yan was the one cooking at Liu Feng's house; neither Liu Feng nor He He Xiaoping were good at cooking.

After busying himself for a while, they finally sat down to eat. Liu Feng diligently poured wine for Wang Yan, while He He Xiaoping sat there blankly with her belly sticking out. Both of them looked at Wang Yan expectantly.

"It's settled."

Wang Yan took a sip of wine and finally said the words they wanted to hear. Looking at the couple who let out a long sigh of relief, he smiled and said, "Enrollment is in September next year. By then, the child will be a year old, just in time for weaning. We'll talk about the specific situation then; maybe Liu Feng will also be transferred to the capital together. This paper is the house deed; it's a two-courtyard house in Nanluoguxiang. You two save money well; you owe me three thousand five."

While speaking, he took a piece of paper out of his pocket and slapped it on the table.

Liu Feng grinned, took it to look at it, and handed it to He He Xiaoping beside him: "You too, you said you were gone for a month, you could have at least sent a telegram, so we could have slept well and saved ourselves from worrying all day."

"If you didn't worry, I'd be afraid you wouldn't remember my great kindness."

"You're such an adult, yet you tease me..." Liu Feng poured wine for Wang Yan. "I know you're not in a hurry to use money, and you don't lack money, but I still have to make it clear to you. He Xiaoping is giving birth, and there will be many places to use money by then. I won't be able to pay back your three thousand five hundred yuan for eight or ten years. Anyway, I'll pay you back slowly, a little bit every year."

"Alright, I have to buy formula for the child when you give birth anyway. The little bit you pay back every year isn't enough for me to spend on your child. Save it slowly; pay whenever you have it. Maybe, in a few years, you'll be able to earn three thousand five in a year. And maybe, in the future, three thousand five will be able to buy a motorcycle."

"That'll be in which lifetime? You're worthy of being a great writer, daring to think and daring to say. Houses and such don't really matter; you can always find a house to live in anywhere. He Xiaoping's university matter is the urgent one; now that it's settled, I'm at ease. Come, come, drink, drink..."

Liu Feng didn't know that Wang Yan really wasn't lying to him.

Right now, a two-courtyard house in Nanluoguxiang was three thousand five. It wouldn't even take until next year; by the end of this year, it could reach four or five thousand. By the early eighties, it would rise to ten or twenty thousand. By the mid-eighties, it would be over a hundred thousand. And further on, with economic take-off and real estate reform, hundreds of thousands, millions, and tens of millions would appear within these short thirty years.

In the original plot, the cargo truck that Liu Feng had confiscated in Hainan was three thousand yuan, and that was in the nineties...

For Wang Yan, these were all minor episodes, and his life returned to its original state.

Carrying a driver and assistant, pulling a generator and speakers, and riding in a truck, he performed everywhere in the two military regions, bringing joy to the soldiers. At the same time, he was still creating the "Chinese Heroes" series, writing some almost every day. However, he ultimately couldn't continue writing, because by now, the heroes had started to become obscure, which exceeded the knowledge reserve he should have had.

In fact, it was already quite unexpected that he could write about so many heroic figures now, but it was still acceptable; any more would be impossible. This required him to read history books in the future, whether it was past history, Party history, or military history, and then slowly produce more.

But to be honest, if he studied Party history and military history and then wrote "Chinese Heroes," it would be a bit off. After all, what he should be doing then was what a "scholar" should do, such as writing some papers, publishing some theoretical works, etc., which would make him a so-called expert. Without a doubt, scholars and experts might not earn as much money, but in terms of actual status, they were one level higher than the literati in the cultural circle. Of course, this was if they were real scholars and real experts.

At that time, Wang would also become an "Academician of the XX Department of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Director of the XX Research Office, Professor and Doctoral Supervisor of the XX College of XX University, winner of the XX Award..."

So Wang Yan ultimately stopped writing the "Chinese Heroes" series. In the end, this series wrote over 3.8 million words and was published in 19 volumes.

However, he didn't stop writing; instead, he conceived a new book, naming it "Youth Plateau," which, as the name suggested, was to praise the hardship of the soldiers guarding the border in the Southwest.

He knew many military stories from the border, all learned from communicating with soldiers during his spare time from performances. Some of the people he wanted to write about had even already been demobilized and returned to their hometowns.

The whole book unfolded from the perspective of him, this literary soldier, starting from his first storytelling performance, telling stories from the past three years. For example, what stories happened when he performed, what stories a person who asked a question had, what the current situation was like that he learned from comrades-in-arms after they retired and went home, the hardship of the soldiers' training and patrols, as well as some military skill competitions he had with the soldiers.

Writing it all out would take at least a million words. It couldn't be called a masterpiece, but it couldn't be said it wasn't long.

In the middle of the year, Wang Yan returned to the regiment. This time, the main reason was that He He Xiaoping had successfully given birth, and both mother and child were safe. The confinement period was over, and Wang Yan happened to have time, so he came back to take a look. He bought some tonics and such; He He Xiaoping also had insufficient breast milk, which was the case in this era. Wang Yan only cooked special meals at their house a few times a year, so the nutrition still couldn't keep up.

Another thing was that several months had passed, and Hao Shuwen and Xiao Suizi had both started university. They could write four or five letters a month, telling him about how their university life was, and of course, mainly expressing their longing. The further development of their relationship naturally made them miss him even more.

Of course, the letters couldn't help but mention Lin Dingding. After all, they were all in Beijing for university. Lin Dingding had contacted them both for a meal as soon as she arrived in Beijing, and she would go find them to play when she was free.

Lin Dingding had also sent him quite a few letters. In fact, Lin Dingding said what she meant and never stopped writing to him; she had great perseverance.

For Hao Shuwen and Xiao Suizi, Wang Yan wrote back letter by letter. For Lin Dingding, Wang Yan made a long-distance call to her school and chatted with her...

This day, Wang Yan appeared in the rehearsal room of the Art Troupe after a long absence, standing with Political Commissar Ning Shan with his arms crossed.

Old Liao was conducting the band, naturally still playing brisk military music in the form of a march. Fang Hongmin sank his breath into his dantian and, following the music, sang with his baritone voice.

"There is a truth that doesn't need to be told"

"Soldiers should go to the battlefield"

"If you are a tiger, you should walk in the mountains"

"If you are a dragon, you should stir up the ocean"

"You kid, this song you wrote is interesting..." Ning Shan, who was also hearing it for the first time, said with a smile.

"We are border troops, we know the situation best. I perform in every regiment and communicate with the regiment leaders. Recently, the little monkeys in the south have been jumping too violently. Those sons of bitches have milk and call it mother. We supported them in resisting France, resisting the US, and unifying. We sent high-ranking officers to command, sent people to help them train troops, and let their people come to us to learn.

For so many years, we couldn't even feed ourselves, yet we gave them so much military and civilian supplies. Now that they've hugged the Soviet Union's thigh, they think they can do it too? They dare to challenge us? Those who have milk are mothers; we must slap their big mouths. If we don't hit them until they hurt, they will never be honest."

"Do you think we're really going to fight this time?"

As the head of the Art Troupe, Ning Shan had no psychological burden to ask his subordinates about the situation. The key was that this subordinate was indeed awesome...

"I heard from our high-ranking officers that we might be increasing troops here. It might be a real scare and a fake fight, but if the little monkeys in the south are still looking for death, then it's for real. I just wrote a song first to boost the soldiers' morale."

Wang Yan smiled, "Political Commissar, I'll report to you first. If we really fight, I request to go to the frontline. Doesn't our Political Department need to record it? It just so happens that I'll go to the frontline as a reporter."

"Shut your mouth. You're the only seedling left in your family. Stay in the back, tell stories to the soldiers, and make the soldiers happy; that's your task."

"Hey, Political Commissar, don't block my progress. I'm invincible throughout our Kunming Military Region, and I've even offered suggestions for some unit training. My combat quality is solid. If you say I haven't fought a war, who is born knowing how to fight? You know how many new recruits we have here. Who isn't born of a father and mother? What's special about me?

Besides, I'm a reporter, going to record for the soldiers. Is there really a chance for me to fire a gun? Actually, I also want to go and see, record it well, and then organize it when I come back to write a book. You say if we really fight, there must be reporters to record the situation. Who can have my combat quality? Since others can go, there's no reason I can't."

Ning Shan shook his head and sighed: "Fighting on the battlefield isn't child's play. When the war really starts, bullets will fly everywhere, and shells will explode everywhere."

Seeing that Wang Yan just smiled and didn't speak, he continued: "You better think it through. If we really fight, there's no regret medicine."

"I'm not afraid of death." Wang Yan said to Old Liao, who walked over, "Don't wait for the score to be sent over. You and Old Fang go to the General Political Department to record the song in the next two days, so the soldiers can hear it sooner. What do you say, Political Commissar?"

"I say it's very good. I'll issue an introduction letter for you two in a while. Buy tickets today and leave tomorrow." Ning Shan answered very decisively; he naturally also felt the smell of gunpowder...

Contradictions accumulate bit by bit, and the situation escalates step by step. The courage of the Vietnamese monkeys also grows day by day. It's like disgusting people in life who always take advantage of you first, or order you around, and then slowly push their luck, finally dreaming of shitting on your head. This is extremely disgusting, but they are complacent about getting the advantage and also show people their strength.

Admittedly, today's China is a populous country, not an industrial power, but China is a new China established from the mud, one of the five permanent members, and has nuclear weapons developed by countless people with their blood and sweat. By comparison, today's China is indeed weak, but no country would deny China's regional hegemony.

Vietnam doesn't deny it either, but it has a big tree to lean on, so it wants to challenge it. This is also the action it needs to pay for leaning on the big tree.

The situation in the border area is deteriorating, and Wang Yan feels it the deepest. Recently, the performance frequency of the Art Troupe has been full. He also learned some information from conversations with some high-ranking officers. The border area is already at daggers drawn, and the situation is quite severe.

As a literary soldier, he naturally has to express something. After the previous song "Soldiers Should Go to the Battlefield" was released, it was naturally very popular with the soldiers and played on the radio every day. This is a song from "Soldiers Sortie," and Xu Sanduo's singing is very powerful.

There are many military songs, but Wang Yan's songs have a very high playback frequency. Over the years, he can be considered prolific, and every song is very popular and well-received.

This time, Wang Yan brought out "Chinese Military Soul," which is the theme song of the famous TV series "Drawing Sword," which has many famous scenes.

If the motherland is violated, the hot-blooded man should be self-reliant, drink this bowl of hometown wine, the warrior goes and never returns, the rolling Yellow River, the surging Yangtze River, give me life, give me strength, let the blood dye the most beautiful flowers, sprinkled on my chest...

Naturally, it was still arranged by Old Liao and sung by Fang Hongmin, and then went to Beijing for recording. In a month's time, it was promoted and sung in the Kunming Military Region, having a kind of majestic and high-spirited feeling of the past.

After returning to the regiment to see Liu Feng's child that time, Wang Yan never went back. However, his letters didn't fall behind; he still wrote two letters to Hao Shuwen and Xiao Suizi every month.

His daily schedule was also full, performing for soldiers everywhere. He went to all the regiment headquarters. Along the way, he saw various mobilizations, the replenishment and transportation of military supplies, as well as the maintenance and overhaul of tanks, cannons, etc...

He was doing his own thing. When performing, he only sang three songs: "The Motherland Will Not Forget," "Soldiers Should Go to the Battlefield," and "Chinese Military Soul." When telling stories of heroes, they were all heroes of the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea. Three years had passed, so he wasn't afraid of repetition. At this time, it was necessary to promote the spirit of fearless fighting and boost the soldiers' morale. This was a political task and could be considered a part of pre-war mobilization.

Of course, in fact, the Chinese People's Liberation Army doesn't need these; that's underestimating our soldiers. Just one sentence, "The Party and the people, the time to test us has come," is enough.

In the tense conflict, time passed quickly. After continuous discussion, the superior leaders decided to fight those sons of bitches.

National military, world military, is all a game of chess. Once the order was given, military power began to mobilize on a large scale without concealment. The 13th Army of the Chengdu Military Region moved south to the Kunming Military Region. In addition, the Guangxi and Guangdong Military Regions also had corresponding mobilizations.

To be honest, Vietnam is a minor trouble; the big enemy is in the north, and the elite forces are also mainly concentrated in the north. Therefore, relatively speaking, new recruits account for the majority of the participating troops, and of course, a certain degree of veteran conscription was also carried out.

The state machine turned, wartime mobilization. In this battle, a total of 9 armies and 29 infantry divisions were used.

11th Army, 13th Army, 14th Army, 41st Army, 42nd Army, 43rd Army, 50th Army, 54th Army, 55th Army and 20th Army 58th Division, Guangxi Military Region Independent Division, Yunnan Military Region Independent Division, Guangxi Military Region 2 border defense regiments 1 border defense battalion, Yunnan Military Region 4 border defense regiments 3 border defense battalions, Artillery 1st Division, Artillery 4th Division, Anti-aircraft Artillery 65th Division, Anti-aircraft Artillery 70th Division, Anti-aircraft Artillery 72nd Division, as well as railway troops, engineering troops, communication troops and other arms units, totaling about 220,000 people.

The Military Commission formulated the combat plan, divided into east and west lines. The west line was the Yunnan border, and the east line was the Guangxi border.

After two months of mobilization, deployment, and various pre-war matters, there was no room not to fight at this time. On February 17th, at dawn, the war started.

Later people have many things to say about this battle, whether praising or criticizing, suppressing or raising. But Wang Yan cannot agree; fighting those sons of bitches is right. He has always been a hardliner...

Wang Yan packed his backpack, fully armed. Bullet bags on his chest, grenade bags on his back, many pockets on his military belt, a Type 56 semi-automatic rifle with a bayonet retracted slung over his neck, and a camera. In addition, he wore leggings, a pocket tied to his left thigh, and a Type 54 pistol tucked into his right thigh.

He was taken into the combat room of the high-ranking officers' command post in the rear, stood at attention and saluted with a "ka," standing straight.

"Hello, Commander!"

"Mm, put it down."

An energetic old man waved his hand, then put his hands behind his back, looking Wang Yan up and down, and even walked around him. "I said, you kid is determined. Are you a reporter?"

"Isn't this a camera?" Wang Yan smiled and raised the camera. "Come, Commander, let's take a picture before the war."

"Get lost, don't be cheeky with me."

The old man glared, and some people drinking tea and smoking on the side also laughed, which enlivened the atmosphere. This was the 14th Army command post; who didn't know Wang Yan? Looking around at the nine armies participating in the battle, everyone had people who knew Wang Yan, and Wang Yan didn't necessarily know them. This was the power of "Wang the Cannon"...

"Your outfit looks a bit like the American special forces."

"It's nothing, it's just that the pistol on the thigh is fast to draw." While speaking, Wang Yan's pistol was already in his hand. "This side is purely to carry more things without affecting action. Commander mentioned special forces; I think we should have this too. I'll write an article later to discuss it and make suggestions to the commanders."

"You, Wang the Cannon, the war is about to start, and you still say you want to make suggestions?"

"Hey, Commander, we're about to start fighting. After this battle is over, you'll know if I'm right or not."

"You kid is just asking for a beating. Just say you can come back alive first." The old man patted Wang Yan on the shoulder. "I'll ask you one last time, have you decided?"

"Yes! I wrote in my song, soldiers should go to the battlefield. I am also invincible throughout our Kunming Military Region. If I don't go at a time like this, how will I have the face to see the soldiers in the future?"

"The main force of the 40th Division is attacking Lao Cai, you go."

"Yes! Commander!"

Wang Yan saluted, saluted the group of commanders in the room. Afterward, he was taken by someone to the 40th Division, which was further ahead... ===== CHAPTER 927 =====