I am an industrial worker during the War of Resistance

Chapter 17 The Expedition in the Snowstorm

At the beginning of March, the weather finally eased up a bit, but today it suddenly started snowing lightly again, mixed with some rain.

The rain and snow were light, like a group of elves, drifting down gently, but they were icy cold.

On the square in front of Regiment Commander Chen's headquarters.

A company of soldiers stood in the square, as straight as evergreen pines.

Let the swirling snowflakes fall on your head, shoulders, and neck.

Everyone was motionless.

Of the 105 men in this company, 40 were leading warhorses.

There were also six carriages drawn by two horses each.

On their backs were the latest Hanyang rifles produced by the headquarters' gun factory.

The bullet pouch slung across his shoulder was bulging and full of the latest bullets.

The grenade pouch on his lower back contained four of the latest wooden-handled grenades.

The scabbard containing the steel bayonet hung beside his left leg.

On their backs, on the backpacks they carried, was a steel entrenching tool with a wooden handle.

Everyone was impeccably dressed and had a resolute gaze.

"stand at attention"

At Commander Chen's loud command, the 105 people in the square stood at attention in unison, completely silent.

"I am entrusted by headquarters to convey the orders of headquarters."

Orders: Special Task Force, proceed to the Northwest XJ region to find the rubber grass and rubber grass seeds we urgently need.

Bring as many seeds and rubber grass as possible back to northern Shaanxi.

Your mission for this operation will not be subject to orders from any other unit besides my 3rd Independent Regiment and headquarters.

During this operation, you are strictly prohibited from engaging in combat with any enemy unless absolutely necessary.

Your only task, and the one you must complete, is to find and bring back the rubber grass and its seeds.

do you understand? "

"Understood, promise to complete the task."

Looking at the soldiers before him, Commander Chen knew how dangerous this westward journey was.

The Northwest has been a land of cannibalism and burial since ancient times.

Over thousands of years, countless people have been buried in the Hexi Corridor, and countless others have been buried in the boundless desert and Gobi.

He fought a hundred battles in the yellow sands, his golden armor worn through.

Those golden armors are stained with the blood of soldiers who have fought countless battles!
Commander Chen felt sorry for his soldiers.

But the country has reached such a state.

What other option is there but to die for them, in order to buy a way out for the nation and its people?

"Take a break."

With a whoosh, the entire team returned to a state of ease.

"Comrades, look at the rifles you're carrying on your backs."

That was the best Hanyang rifle produced by our gun factory.

Look at the bullets in your ammunition pouches.

Those were the best bullets produced in our gun factory.

Look at your grenades, those are the most powerful grenades ever made.

Your bayonets and entrenching tools are the sharpest and sturdiest in the entire army.

Your cotton-padded coats are the newest and thickest in the entire army.

Your warhorses are also the strongest in the entire army.

You have over a hundred men, and you have three machine guns and two mortars.

And you are the strongest in the entire army.

Why weren't you guys deployed to the front lines where the fighting was fiercest?

Instead, they send you thousands of kilometers away to find a blade of grass or a seed.

That's because this task is important to us.

Its importance far exceeds how many enemy armies we have annihilated or how many enemy cities we have captured.

Our mission concerns the very survival of our nation.

Why did the Japanese dare to invade us? Why did the world's powers dare to bully us?

That's because we don't have our own industry.

What is industry?

Industry means being able to manufacture machine guns and cannons, and to build airplanes and tanks on our own.

Industry is what enables us to arm our own army with steel.

Industry is what keeps those powerful nations from harboring any improper thoughts towards us. Our mission this time is to find the "muscle" of our own nation's industry; without this rubber plantation, our industry cannot develop.

We will forever lag behind the great powers.

We will be bullied forever.

Therefore, this time, I will personally lead you to find the "muscle" of our industry.

At this point, Commander Chen's tone suddenly changed from extremely high-spirited to low and somber.

He continued, "I know that this mission is very difficult and very dangerous."

There are very powerful enemies to the west.

They are fierce and cruel.

"I don't know how many of us will come back alive after this trip."

At this point, Commander Chen's tone became impassioned once again.

"But this time, I don't need you to die heroically."

All I ask of you is that you must bring back the rubber grass seeds we found, even if you have to crawl.

Even if we are the last person left, with our last breath.

Even if I die, I will die on this land of northern Shaanxi.

Even if those seeds take root, sprout, and bear fruit on our corpses.

We must also let it bear the fruits of victory in our northern Shaanxi, for our country and our nation.

Do you have confidence?

Yes, yes, yes.

"We are determined to complete the mission. We are determined to complete the mission."

The soldiers' reply was deafening and resounded through the sky.

"Alright, now let's hear from Political Commissar Liu."

After Commander Chen finished speaking, he stood at attention, raised his hands, and ran into the line in front of him.

Political Commissar Liu marched to the front of the line.

He turned around and saluted.

"I have nothing more to say, I just wish my comrades a triumphant return."

salute."

As Political Commissar Liu saluted, Regiment Commander Chen and the entire company returned the salute in unison.

After Political Commissar Liu finished his greetings, he said, "Finally, let's ask Director Chen to say a few words."

Chen Changzai also marched to the front of the line and then turned to face the team.

He did not salute, but bowed.

Strictly speaking, he wasn't yet a soldier in the unit.

He was a factory worker.

"Comrades, I have nothing more to say. I just want to offer you a toast to send you off."

This journey will take us thousands of miles, and we only hope that our comrades will return in triumph soon.

"Serve the wine."

Chen Changzai's students had been preparing for some time, carrying wine jars and bowls.

Upon hearing the order to serve wine, Chen Changzai's students entered the room one by one, and each of them was given a wine bowl.

Even Chen Changzai, Political Commissar Liu, and Political Commissar He were no exception.

The clear and strong Huangling liquor, poured into the bowl, released a rich aroma.

This wine was bought by Chen Changzai using his own allowance.

Chen Changzai stepped forward, raised his glass, and said, "Comrades, may you return in triumph soon."

Dry."

A mouthful of strong liquor went down my throat, like a line of fire piercing through my entire body.

After finishing the bowl of wine, Chen Changzai smashed it on the ground.

Then he shouted, "Comrades, I'm counting on you."

Then he bowed deeply again.

All the soldiers smashed their wine bowls and shouted in unison, "Don't worry, Director Chen, we guarantee to complete the mission."

Watching the procession gradually disappear into the distance in the rain and snow in the north.

Chen Changzai said to the departing figure in the distance: "We fly across the vast desert, we take the mountains and passes for granted. In October, wild geese bring good news, and we shall return in triumph."

After hearing Chen Changzai's rhyme, Political Commissar Liu and Political Commissar He nodded and said, "We should return in triumph."

　This is the chapter I'm most satisfied with. I just hope the reviewers will be lenient. Thank you.

　　I would like to take this opportunity to thank all my friends who have supported me. Thank you.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)