Chapter 5: Republic of China: Starting from Whampoa Phase One Chapter 5: Civil Engineering Saint Son

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Protagonist:

Lv Muzhi

Jiang Xiangyun understood the theory, directly set up the level, and the next step was to level the instrument; otherwise, the measured height difference would be very large.

But Fan Hanjie had only demonstrated it to everyone in class without giving them a chance for hands-on practice; after all, there was only one teacher, and he couldn't possibly teach over five hundred students hand-in-hand.

Jiang Xiangyun didn't know where to start at this moment, looking toward Fan Hanjie of Group One, wanting to ask for guidance.

But Fan Hanjie was supporting the instrument while teaching He Zhonghan of Group One; He Zhonghan listened while directing Guan Linzhen, Hu Zongnan, Sun Yuanlang, and others in his group to surround Fan Hanjie and the instrument in the middle, preventing students from other groups from approaching to learn.

"What's all this crowding? The place is only this big; wait until we learn it, then let Big Brother Fan teach you!" Guan Linzhen shoved a student from Group Three and waved his fist.

Seeing that Guan Linzhen had been beaten into a pig head by the instructor last night and was still so arrogant today, Chen Geng pulled Song Xilian: "Come on, let's squeeze in and take a look; this is too unfair!"

Jiang Xiangyun grabbed Chen Geng: "Don't cause trouble; I'll go report to Chief Instructor He Yingqin. You and Guan Linzhen both have violent tempers and might start fighting."

But Chief Instructor He Yingqin this time seemed to have vanished into thin air; they couldn't find his shadow at all.

Li Zhilong couldn't stand the underhandedness inside and called out to the students of Group Two: "Come on! Chen Geng, since reason won't work, let's squeeze past and listen; see what they're going to do!"

"Muzi, let's go together to seek justice!"

Chen Geng called out to Lv Muzhi, only to find the latter had no reaction at all.

After a while, Lv Muzhi poked his head out from behind the level: "No need, just watch mine!"

Lv Muzhi directly got hands-on with the level, operating the coarse and fine focusing screws, and soon completed the rough leveling.

"Chen Geng, Song Xilian, you two each take a leveling rod to run the pole."

Under Lv Muzhi's arrangement, Song Xilian held a leveling rod vertically at the steel nail representing five meters of elevation, Chen Geng held a leveling rod at the distant test point to the north, and Lv Muzhi's level was placed between the two leveling rods.

"Rough leveling, aiming, precise leveling, and reading..."

Recalling the skills he used during his civil engineering studies and work career, Lv Muzhi soon measured the elevation of the first point.

Never expected that after transmigrating once, he'd still be a civil engineering dog upon return!

This series of smooth operations was the result of eight years of effort from Lv Muzhi's schooling and construction work!

Chief Instructor He Yingqin suddenly appeared from somewhere at this moment; He Zhonghan, Fan Hanjie, and others of Group One also looked over, surprised by Lv Muzhi's nimble movements.

Little did they know this was the strength of the Civil Engineering Saint Son!

He Yingqin stepped forward and asked Lv Muzhi for his name, native place, party affiliation, and so on.

This time Lv Muzhi didn't say he was from Shanghai; he directly said his ancestral home was in Zhejiang Province.

"Not bad, only a pity that Whampoa First Phase only opened the Infantry Branch; you should have gone to study the Engineer Branch. Do well, and one day, major national defense works can be entrusted to you to supervise."

This was the first time someone painted a big pie for Lv Muzhi, truly big and round; Lv Muzhi humbly said a string of polite words, thanking the school for its cultivation and the instructors for their guidance, and so on.

Fan Hanjie also appreciated Lv Muzhi very much: "Muzi, what I demonstrated in class was the triangulation surveying method; for leveling surveying I only explained the theory. Your brain is quite flexible, isn't it?"

"Where, where. When I was studying at middle school in Shanghai, I often sneaked into Tongji University's library to read books, reading some surveying engineering books. Plus, Brother Fan taught well, I didn't miss a single theory lesson, and that's how I managed to integrate everything."

He Yingqin looked at Lv Muzhi's humble appearance, his some strengths, and the fact that he was from Zhejiang Province; he had already remembered the name in his heart.

"If anyone doesn't understand, they can ask Lv Muzhi and Fan Hanjie. You must thoroughly understand the principles of map drawing and remember them all. Whampoa Military Academy is not a place where everyone graduates to become a high-ranking officer. The skills soldiers should master, you must all master them, so that you can command respect in the troops!"

After He Yingqin's words, the students nodded frequently. He Zhonghan was sulking, and everyone swarmed over to ask Lv Muzhi for guidance.

Lv Muzhi discovered that although Whampoa Military Academy was famous, the first few phases were actually schools for training grassroots officers. Theory and practice were fifty-fifty, involving no profound tactical theories, and the teaching depth and duration were not as good as later phases. Yet, it gathered a constellation of generals and later trained a large number of high-ranking commanders for both parties.

Many students came to ask for guidance, and Lv Muzhi patiently instructed them one by one.

Jiang Xiangyun and the others understood at a hint and soon mastered the principles and steps.

Liede Battery was five kilometers from Shougou Ridge, requiring segmented measurements multiple times. According to Lv Muzhi's estimate, measurements needed to be conducted at over a hundred points, calculating along the way, to obtain the elevation of Shougou Ridge.

The results also needed to be drawn into a map; it was reasonable for the entire exercise to continue until tomorrow.

While Lv Muzhi was still instructing other students, He Zhonghan led Group One to start rushing ahead in progress, afraid of being surpassed by others.

But Lv Muzhi wasn't worried; he made his living from this very thing. Surpassing He Zhonghan was as easy as turning over one's hand!

Until night fell and surveying work could no longer continue did the first day's progress come to a halt.

Group Two measured the fastest; under Lv Muzhi's leadership, they led everyone and had already measured three-quarters of the entire route.

Fan Hanjie's Group One had only measured half, and the progress of the other groups was even further behind.

Each group camped and rested at their respective progress points.

Lv Muzhi held his gun in his arms, squatting by the campfire, thoroughly enjoying the afternoon's time.

The afternoon's experience reminded him of his university days before transmigration. In the summer campus, he carried a total station with his classmates and friends to conduct surveying practice, using the high-power telescope on the total station to secretly observe the cool female classmates—clear enough to see the mole behind their fair necks...

Recalling his youthful years, Lv Muzhi couldn't help but chuckle. He tilted his head and leaned directly on Chen Geng's shoulder.

"Muzi, what do you want to do..."

Chen Geng looked at Lv Muzhi's foolishly smiling face, felt a chill in his heart, and hurriedly pushed Lv Muzhi away.

Lv Muzhi realized his loss of composure and smacked his lips: "It's nothing, it's nothing. I'm just a bit hungry..."

Jiang Xiangyun opened the dry rations bag and began distributing steamed buns. A pot of wild vegetable soup was simmering on the campfire.

"Muzi, eat more. You worked hard today. You are our great hero!" Jiang Xianyun handed Lv Muzhi two large steamed buns.

"Yeah, didn't expect you kid to hide such a skill. Impressive, impressive. In the future, when we fight together, with your maps, I'll feel much more assured." Li Zhilong took a bite of a large steamed bun and frowned: "This steamed bun has gone bad!"

"I think what Chief Instructor He Yingqin said is wrong. He said to let you be an engineer, but you should be a scout. Serve as the eyes of the troops; before the war starts, reconnoiter the enemy's positions and the terrain they occupy, and draw it into a map." Song Xilian also chimed in.

Hearing Song Xilian's words, Lv Muzhi almost choked on his steamed bun. Be a scout? Wasn't that asking for his own life?

Before the devils came, Lv Muzhi only wanted to be a salted fish. It would be best to stay at the school teaching after graduation to slowly accumulate seniority. As for bullets and rain of bullets, the farther away the better for now.

Lv Muzhi skewered the steamed bun with a tree branch and roasted it over the fire to remove the bad taste.

By the campfire, Jiang Xiangyun looked at the students of Group One gathered in a circle and felt the atmosphere was somewhat somber. He asked: "It's already August, and the semester is almost half over. After graduation, where do you all want to go?"

Chen Geng held a steamed bun in one hand and clenched his fist in the other: "The country is in such chaos because there are too many warlords. Of course I will follow the Grand Marshal to truly unify China, so that our workers and peasants can truly be masters of their own house!"

Chen Geng's words resonated with many students present; it seemed everyone had come here with lofty ideals.

Song Xilian was only seventeen years old, yet already a Qingtian Party Member, and he was denouncing the evil deeds of the warlord Zhao Hengti from his hometown who killed workers.

What everyone spoke of most was truly unifying China in the real sense.

Indeed, from ancient times to the present, unification is an obsession engraved in the bones of every Chinese person.

"Brother Zhilong, after several months at the Army School, do you still want to join the Navy?" Jiang Xiangyun looked toward Li Zhilong.

Li Zhilong's spirit soared to the clouds as he said loudly: "Of course, my greatest dream is to command a warship!"

"In modern times, how many losses have we suffered at Haiphong? The Opium War, the First Sino-Japanese War... how many unequal treaties were signed... Once we are truly unified, industry develops and the country prospers, coastal defense must be put on the agenda—I still want to apply to serve on a warship!"

"Muzi, what about you?"

Suddenly, Chen Geng elbowed Lv Muzhi.