1978: A Literary Giant Who Began His Military Service

Chapter 16 was transferred to revise the manuscript!
"Hello, Comrade Zhou Xu, I am Liu Jiaju, an editor at the PLA Literature and Art magazine. You can call me Editor Liu!" came the reply from the other end.

He seemed to have been waiting quite anxiously; he was even panting as he spoke.

Hearing what was being said, Company Commander Song looked at Zhao Xin, somewhat surprised. Liu Jiaju was a veteran and also a writer in the army. He knew him!
He has written two well-known works, one is "The Story of 101" and the other is "Experiencing the Korean War"... Therefore, the editors of "PLA Literature and Art" are not simple.

This editor is now several ranks higher than Company Commander Song!

"Hello, Editor Liu, you said you're here to discuss the manuscript with me?" Zhou Xu asked.

"Hmm, your 'Changjin Lake' has some flaws in certain details. Overall, it's a good piece, but it's not quite ready for publication in a magazine!" Liu Jiaju was satisfied, but his words were still quite strict.

However, he noticed that Zhou Xu's voice sounded a bit immature, and he could tell from the manuscript that it lacked the refinement of an experienced writer.

But being young means there's a lot of hope for the future.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Xu looked a little sad: "Then..."

"I just spoke with the editor-in-chief about the manuscript. The December manuscript is finalized, but your novel has a chance of being published in the January manuscript!" Liu Jiaju said to himself, taking a sip of tea.

"However, because the time is tight, I need you to come to the magazine office in the next few days to revise the manuscript..."

At this moment, Zhou Xu looked at Company Commander Song and the clerk, and remained silent for a while: "Um..."

Liu Jiaju said slowly, "Are you worried about the transfer? I'll call your company commander later and talk to him about it."

Zhou Xu gave a soft "hmm".

Company Commander Song walked over slowly, gave a greeting, and gestured for Zhou Xu to hand over the phone.

Zhou Xu obediently handed over the phone.

Company Commander Song said, "It's me, the company commander of the new recruits company. You can call me Song Zhipeng!"

"That's easy. This Company Commander Song... Comrade Zhou Xu's novel is called 'Changjin Lake,' which describes the heroic performance of our soldiers on the battlefield of the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea. Because the novel is of excellent quality and has a great role in military propaganda, I hope you can approve his request to come to the magazine to revise the manuscript!"

Liu Jiaju's words were rather formal.

The instructors pointed out in Yan'an: "We must make literature and art a good part of the whole revolutionary machine, a powerful weapon to unite the people, educate the people, strike at the enemy, and eliminate the enemy, and help the people fight the enemy with one heart and one mind."

Therefore, performing arts troupes are a department that has existed for decades and is of equal strategic importance.

"..."

Company Commander Song wasn't entirely unreasonable; he understood the immense impact of a writer's literary propaganda.

Ironically, this solidified his idea of ​​bringing Zhou Xu along as a company clerk or communications officer in the future.

"I understand, Editor Liu. Literary and artistic works are just as important to the military! I will definitely approve Comrade Zhou Xu's leave request, but I just wanted to ask you, approximately how long?"

In this era, especially after experiencing the immense influence of Mr. Lu Xun on the nation, these people are particularly aware of the importance of writers among the masses.

"Yes, I will return Comrade Zhou Xu within a month."

Company Commander Song nodded, gesturing for Zhou Xu to come over.

Zhou Xu answered the phone.

"Now that the leave issue is resolved, everything else will be easier to handle! Here's what I'll do: I'll check the nearest trains to the military region and try my best to arrange for you to take a train to the capital tomorrow."

"Thank you, Editor Liu," Zhou Xu said sincerely.

"No need to thank me, this is what our editors in the editorial department should do, arranging accommodation and meals... Oh, and about the allowance, the current rule is two yuan a day, come as soon as possible so I can make arrangements!"

Then Liu Jiaju continued chatting with Zhou Xu about other things.

For example, manuscripts, accommodations... in short, quite detailed.

Liu Jiaju's seriousness was not an inhuman seriousness, but rather the seriousness of a soldier's discipline, which Zhou Xu could accept.

He hung up the phone quickly.

Zhao Xin walked over and said, "That's great! We're going to the capital to revise the manuscript tomorrow. I haven't even been to the capital yet! You can take half a day off this afternoon to pack your things!"

Company Commander Song nodded: "...Since it's been arranged by the higher-ups, then go and do your job well. Don't let down the backbone of our company."

Zhou Xu said, "I promise!" "There's one more thing I need your promise about. When you go there to revise the manuscript, your grades can't drop too much when you come back. At least they can't drop in the remaining month!" Company Commander Song said.

Even special forces members sometimes need physical training. For example, Wu Zhe from "Soldiers Sortie" is a top soldier even though he has a master's degree in optoelectronics.

Company Commander Song doesn't yet know how much potential Zhou Xu has, but he wants to train him to become a top soldier.

Zhou Xu continued to salute: "I will try my best to guarantee it."

"Okay, I'll give you half a day off. Take a rest!"

……

Zhou Xu returned to his dormitory and began packing his things. Actually, he didn't have much stuff. Apart from the bedding he was assigned, which he couldn't take, he could take everything else with him.

The troops were still training, and a group of people couldn't help but be curious as they noticed that the spot where the tall man used to sit remained empty.

"Is he going to assign teams now?" Li Xiang asked curiously.

Liu Xiang said, "Perhaps his performance was too outstanding, so he was directly transferred to the combat unit. He excelled in shooting, physical training, and all other aspects of training, so the transfer was not unexpected."

Wang Kang retorted, "Bullshit! How can recruits be assigned before even finishing three months of basic training? You're obviously making this up!"

Zhang Duoyu said slowly, "It's obvious you're just envious and jealous, isn't it?"

A group of people standing at attention couldn't stay still; they were all making a racket.

It was really out of curiosity and excitement, after all, he had been called away by the clerk and the company commander. Such an outstanding model soldier was most likely to be promoted to officer!

Seeing the group arguing, Squad Leader Li shouted, "Anyone who talks again will lose two points! Stop arguing, why are you meddling in other people's business! Besides, why don't you learn from Comrade Zhou Xu? He's a model soldier, first in shooting training, physical training, and everything else!"

The group of people lowered their heads in shame, realizing that Zhou Xu's figure was indeed outstanding.

"So what exactly is this about, class monitor?" Li Dafu, oblivious to the situation, asked again, seemingly clueless.

Listening to what these people were saying, Squad Leader Li scratched his head and muttered, "Go away!"

However, this matter definitely cannot be kept secret.

Unable to get answers from Squad Leader Li, the group waited until they dispersed. Li Xiang and a few others took cigarettes to the canteen and handed a pack to an officer in the office: "Do you know what happened today?"

These cadres were helping Zhou Xu adjust his leave slip to the capital, as well as various train schedules, so they naturally understood.

"You really want to know?"

A group of people leaned in to listen.

This guy was quite the chatterbox; he couldn't hold back and wanted to share it with someone. He took a drag of his cigarette and slowly said:

"It all happened in the last couple of days. Comrade Zhou Xu wrote a novel and submitted it to the editors, and I was the one who picked it up. The editors of the PLA Literature and Art magazine took a liking to it and sent him to the capital to revise the manuscript!"

"Revising the manuscript? The magazine?" The group of people were confused.

They all listened to the novels told by Zhou Xu!

How well do you really understand these things?

The cadre was too lazy to explain to the group just how amazing *PLA Literature and Art* was, so he simply said slowly:

"In short, Comrade Zhou Xu has become a writer in the military! He's going to work in the capital for a month to help out! He won't be back until later!"

Finally, I heard a word that this group of people recognized. It makes sense now that they said "writer"!

"Wow, he's a real writer!!"

"Comrade Zhou Xu, you are truly an outstanding person! I knew he was always reading novels with a book in his hand. It turns out he knew that his novel could be published in a magazine!"

"I'm so envious! I want to go to the capital! I really want to go see Tiananmen Square, but I've never been!"

"You can only be envious!"

A group of people started arguing.

(End of this chapter)