Traveling back to 1977

Chapter 152 Avoiding a Show of Force

While the radio broadcast was playing, Chen Fan was writing a news report.

He didn't need to report the article; he just blew it up, calling it a mighty army, a civilized army, a victorious army, a peaceful army, and so on, writing all sorts of praise for free.

Xiao Liewen, who was watching from the side, blushed slightly. "Little Chen, don't go too far. Just be realistic."

Chen Fan immediately handed him the manuscript, saying, "Please give me your guidance, Captain."

Xiao Liewen looked at it several times and felt that deleting either option was inappropriate, so he coughed and said, "Then let's read it like this. Be more careful next time."

Chen Fan instantly understood and nodded vigorously, "I'll definitely do it next time!"

After the broadcast ended, all the militia squads from each platoon assembled at the brigade headquarters.

Each class has 12 people, making a total of 12 squads. In addition, there are the squads directly under the brigade headquarters, plus company commander Zhang Wenliang and political instructor Xiao Liewen, for a total of 158 people.

In terms of scale, it's fairly average.

However, it wasn't all men; about a quarter of them were women, all between 20 and 30 years old. One of them was Yang Xingxiu, the women's team leader of the brigade.

When Chen Fan's voice came over the loudspeaker, the hundred-plus men were energized, holding their newly issued rifles with their heads held high, like soldiers about to go to the battlefield.

After reading the news report, Chen Fan followed behind Xiao Liewen and heard him say, "Now there are far fewer people in the militia. At its peak, our production team's militia had nearly 2000 people. Apart from the elderly and children, everyone from 55 to 14 years old was involved, accounting for more than half of all the members of the production team."

Back then, we had to dedicate an hour every day to training—shooting, bayonet fighting, demolition, communications… The training content was on par with regular troops. Aside from the inferior equipment and lack of combat experience, everything else was on par.

As Chen Fan listened to his rambling, he felt a deep respect for him.

He also knew this history. If it weren't for this do-or-die determination, he probably wouldn't have survived until Miss Qiu was born and Dongfanghong was launched into space before something terrible happened.

Of course, with Miss Qiu in charge now, the biggest crisis has been resolved, and the number of militia members has decreased sharply since then, but it is still many times more than in later generations.

Xiao Liewen strode to the front yard, and Zhang Wenliang immediately shouted, "Assemble!"

More than a hundred militiamen quickly assembled like a regular army, while simultaneously adjusting their belts and uniforms.

As for the rifle, it has already been checked.

Chen Fan watched from the side and noticed that the militiamen, whose ages ranged from 20 to 40, had a completely different demeanor than usual.

A thought suddenly popped into his mind: these militiamen must have seen blood!

Although their clothes were not uniform, but rather their own casual attire, and their formation was not that of honor guards... or even as orderly as that of trained college students in later generations, their sharp eyes and the steel guns in their hands sent chills down one's spine.

On the other side, seeing the neat formation, Xiao Liewen walked to the front and said loudly, "Today is the last training session before spring. Everyone must put in the same hard work as before and carry forward the spirit of not being afraid of hardship or death. We must ensure that the training is effective and successful."

He then pointed at Chen Fan and said, "The entire brigade could hear the news report that Chen, the broadcaster, just read. He called you a mighty army, a civilized army, a victorious army, a peaceful army... all sorts of compliments were thrown at you for free. Today's training will see if you are worthy of those words. Did you hear me?"

157 people shouted at the same time, "We heard that!"

Xiao Liewen nodded and said in a normal volume, "This time, as before, the learning and publicity group, the training command group, and the logistics support group will follow along with the training, with three people in each group. The people who performed well last time will continue this time. Step forward."

Nine people immediately jogged out of line and stood in a row to the side, including Zhang Wenliang and Yang Xingxiu.

Chen Fan noticed that one of the men was carrying a large medicine box. If he wasn't mistaken, he should be Dr. Zhang, the barefoot doctor he had never met before, also known as "Big Tiger" of the Zhang family.

Xiao Liewen glanced at them and continued, "Training Command Group, leader Zhang Wenliang; Logistics Support Group, leader Zhang Juemin."

He paused for a moment, then looked at another person, "Yang Xingxiu, I'll add another person to your publicity team."

Yang Xingxiu tightened the strap of the steel gun on his shoulder and replied loudly, "Yes."

Xiao Liewen turned to look at Chen Fan, and suddenly shouted, "Chen Fan!"

Chen Fan immediately stood at attention, head held high, chest out, and eyes forward. "Here." Although he had almost forgotten all the military training he had done in college in his previous life, he still remembered the basic military posture.

Xiao Liewen looked him up and down, secretly nodding in approval. Although some parts were not standard, it was quite remarkable that he could imitate the militia's posture so well.

He pointed at Yang Xingxiu and said, "You'll be temporarily assigned to the publicity team."

Chen Fan stood at attention again. "Yes, sir."

Xiao Liewen's eyes were full of surprise. This kid is good. He knows that military orders are like mountains. He did not directly question him and avoided the "baptism of fire" that everyone has when joining the militia.

Oh, by the way, he didn't join the militia; he was just an unofficial member.

But it doesn't matter, once you're here, you're a militiaman, it's all the same.

Chen Fan had no idea what he was thinking; he was just imitating the behavior of new recruits entering the camp in later TV dramas. Anyway, as long as he followed the rules, he would definitely not suffer any losses.

After a pause, Chen Fan shouted, "Report!"

Xiao Liewen looked at him and said, "Speak."

Chen Fan, with a long face, said to him, "Captain, you promised to let me shoot."

Xiao Liewen coughed lightly, "Call the instructor."

Chen Fan stood at attention again. "Instructor, you promised to let me shoot."

Xiao Liewen turned around and looked at the militiamen who were trying not to laugh, then pointed at Yang Xingxiu, "The propaganda team can also fire guns, you can ask them if you don't believe me."

Chen Fan immediately turned his gaze to Yang Xingxiu.

Yang Xingxiu couldn't help but chuckle twice before saying, "Don't worry, there will be plenty of bullets during the training with the militia company."

Upon hearing this, Chen Fan immediately beamed with joy, "Reporting to the instructor, then everything is fine."

Xiao Liewen's lips twitched slightly, and he waved his hand, "Step into the ranks."

Chen Fan then ran over and stood next to Yang Xingxiu.

He suddenly realized that all three of his teammates were women.

At this moment, Xiao Liewen said again, "Logistics team, issue Chen Fan a set of equipment."

One of them immediately stepped forward and jogged into the front yard.

He ran out again in less than 10 seconds, this time with a canvas belt and a steel gun.

There was no proper gun-presentation ceremony; the person simply handed the weapon to him, and that was it.

Chen Fan imitated others, slung the gun over his shoulder, and then clumsily put on his belt.

Yang Xingxiu stood next to him and took the initiative to help him put on his armor belt.

This weapon belt has three ammunition pouches at the front and three long-handled grenades on the sides, all of which are full.

Chen Fan glanced at the grenade at his waist, feeling a little uneasy.

How's the quality of this thing? Hopefully it won't trigger automatically.

Just then, Xiao Liewen waved his hand, and Zhang Wenliang immediately stepped forward and shouted, "Everyone, move out!"

(End of this chapter)