A Journey Through the Flames of War in the Republican Era

Feeling as if he had returned to a different world, Song Hongfei nervously picked up a mirror. Fortunately, he could still see his own face in the mirror, and he even looked a few years younger.

However, he felt that something was wrong. Suddenly, his heart started pounding. He really did have two completely different and complete life experiences from childhood to adulthood. Even if he had transmigrated into another person's body, could there really be two identical people in history?

For a long time, Song Hongfei was unable to adapt to this unbelievable situation. Having experienced two lifetimes, he could hardly distinguish which was real. Was it his past self from the Republic of China who traveled to the future? Or was it his future self who traveled back to the present Republic of China? Everything was like a mysterious and fantastical dream!

Amidst a flurry of thoughts, interspersed with two life experiences and memories, I frequently found myself lost in recollections of the bits and pieces of my past few years in the pastry industry—

When the Manchurian Incident broke out, three Chinese students, Song Hongfei, Wang Zhi, and Zhang Yi, were studying at the famous West Point Military Academy in the United States.

Wang Zhi, a native of Shanhua, Hunan, studied at Tsinghua School in his early years. In 15, he was selected by the Chinese government to study in the United States on a government scholarship, where he studied politics and reserve officer training at the University of Wisconsin and the University of Norwich. Two years later, at the age of 22, Wang Zhi was determined to serve his country. Following the orders of the Chinese Nationalist Government's Office for Supervising Students Studying in the United States, he resolutely transferred to West Point Military Academy to study military affairs, despite being at the maximum age for admission.

Zhang Yi graduated from the sixth class of the Infantry Department of the Central Military and Political School. He then entered the preparatory class for studying in the United States and was sent by the Chinese government to study at West Point. He was in the same year and the same cadet company as Song Hongfei.

After the incident broke out, Wang, a senior student, was eager to serve his country and repeatedly submitted applications to withdraw from the university to the National Government Military Commission and West Point Principal Major General Smith Ruthwen, requesting to return to China to participate in the war.

That day, Wang Zhi returned from the school's administrative building, looking dejected, and went to find Song Hongfei and Zhang Yi. The two asked him, "How did it go? The school still hasn't agreed?"

Wang Zhi said with his head down, "Principal Smith disagrees and wants us to calm down and finish our studies first."

After thinking for a moment, Song Hongfei said to Wang Zhi, "The telegram from home also tells us to prioritize our studies and learn the skills so that we can better serve the country in the future. We should finish our studies at West Point first and then return to China after graduation."

When will the national hatred end?

Determined to serve their country with utmost loyalty, the three channeled their grief and indignation into strength, and from then on, they studied and trained with frenzied intensity. They were voracious in the classroom and worked tirelessly on the training field. The three of them were driven by a fierce determination, working from morning till night, from waking up to lights out, without stopping for a moment.

At West Point, everyone could feel the strong determination and drive of the three Chinese cadets to learn how to strengthen the military and serve their country, and they were filled with awe for them.

So much so that West Point instructor Feng Liana thought Song Hongfei had fallen asleep in class because he had overworked himself with studying and training.

The official name of West Point Military Academy is the Military Academy of the United States of America, also known as the U.S. Army Officer School. Founded in 1802, it is the oldest military academy in the United States. Its motto is "Duty, Honor, Country". It is located in the town of West Point, 80 kilometers north of New York City, on the west bank of the Hudson River.

West Point is a world-renowned military academy whose goal is not only to train top-notch elite officers, but also to cultivate students into "future all-round outstanding leaders".

In June 1919, MacArthur, the superintendent of West Point and a graduate of the class of 1903, implemented reforms that strengthened the diversity of courses in science, humanities, history, social sciences, academics, and sports. This formed a distinctive military academy education with a four-in-one basic syllabus of "culture, military, sports, and honor," laying the foundation for modern comprehensive universities.

West Point Military Academy is headed by a major general and has no vice-head. Under the head are two brigadiers: one is the provost who chairs the academic committee and is responsible for academic and cultural education, and the other is the cadet corps commander (or cadet battalion commander) who is responsible for cadet battalions, military and physical education.

These three individuals are the "school leadership" at West Point, known as the three giants of West Point.

When they first entered the school, Song Hongfei and Zhang Yi discovered that the "school leaders" of West Point—the three giants—were not usually elusive; they could see them almost every day.

The residence of then-principal Major General Smith Ruthwin, known as the "White House," was located on the roadside next to the school building square, and the dean of studies and the cadet captain lived next door to the principal.

The three leaders also frequently run 3.2 kilometers every morning with their students. The example of generals training with soldiers has a huge influence.

West Point places great emphasis on the power of "role models," requiring principals, instructors, and senior cadets to set an example and inspire and influence new cadets through their actions.

When Song Hongfei and Zhang Yi first entered the school, everything felt new and exciting, and they would wander around whenever they had nothing to do.

West Point Military Academy has a rule that new cadets and junior cadets must salute senior cadets whenever they encounter officers, instructors, or staff officers of the academy, in accordance with regulations.

So, these two freshmen, who loved to wander around to satisfy their curiosity and desire for novelty, kept saluting people from morning till night.

They soon figured out a trick: after so many years of this etiquette rule, everyone at West Point got tired of it. So, freshmen and seniors, as well as cadets and instructors, tacitly agreed to avoid meeting each other by timing their greetings, so as to avoid having to constantly salute and return each other's greetings.

Song Hongfei and Zhang Yicai suddenly realized what was going on.

Wang Zhi chuckled to himself, while the two men glared at him, annoyed: "You're such a jerk, you knew but didn't tell us!"

Wang Zhi said smugly, "This is what they mean by curiosity killing the cat! How can I not satisfy your curiosity first? Besides, didn't I go through the same thing?"

The two were unconvinced, but couldn't find any words to refute it.

Under the commanding officer, a major general, West Point has a staff organization similar to that of the U.S. military. The chief of staff of the commanding officer, the directors of each department and center are all active-duty military officers, and the staff officers, military instructors and many cultural instructors are active-duty military officers. There are also some civilian personnel responsible for administrative management.

The provost, one of the three heads of the department, is responsible for academic and cultural education. West Point has multiple departments, including humanities, history, social sciences, mathematics, engineering, geography, physics, and chemistry, which is not much different from the academic structure of ordinary universities.

West Point implements a general education program, employing a distinctive small-class teaching method and classroom group discussion. It offers many courses that meet the demands of the times, and each student is required to complete at least 28 compulsory courses. Every graduate is awarded a Bachelor of Science degree.

Another key figure is the cadet commander, who leads the cadet battalion and is primarily responsible for military and physical education. The cadet battalion has three departments: military, tactics, and physical education, as well as a professional ethics center. This center is responsible for "honor education," one of the "four major programs," which is integrated into all aspects of military academy education.

The military department is primarily responsible for teaching military education, including courses such as military theory, military strategy, and leadership, as well as practical education and training through various military clubs.

The Tactics Department is primarily responsible for the students' military skills and tactical training, discipline, and daily military conduct.

Two years ago, in June, Song Hongfei and Zhang Yi, like every other freshman, enrolled more than a month early to participate in a six-week "freshman training camp," also known as "Camp Beasts," where they underwent a transformation from high school students to soldiers. The camp was famous for its arduous and brutal devilish training, hence the name "Camp Beasts."

The military training at West Point is exceptionally rigorous. The training is conducted at the Tactical and Shooting Training Center, located more than 10 kilometers west of the academy. The center is situated in the mountains and forests of the West Point National Military Preservation Area, a place of scenic beauty and tranquility.

The freshman training, also known as "basic skills training for soldiers," was an eye-opening experience for Song Hongfei and Zhang Yi. In addition to drills, physical fitness, and housekeeping, they also received training in tactical and technical subjects such as crawling, obstacle crossing, shooting, explosives, obstacle breaching, first aid, rock climbing, swimming, rope rappelling, terrain training, and orienteering. Some of the content was quite professional and demanding, and it was very close to actual combat.

Song Hongfei thought to himself, "This so-called 'basic training' is anything but basic!"

The emphasis on "combat readiness" particularly resonated with Zhang Yi, who had attended the Whampoa Military Academy in China and received rigorous military training. He remarked, "Isn't this the motto of the Chinese army: 'Sweat more in peacetime, bleed less in wartime'?"

In addition to the intense training at the "Beast Camp," the new students were constantly subjected to various forms of "baptism of fire" by instructors and senior students, including harsh and rude criticism, nitpicking, teasing, and severe punishments. Not only did they undergo physical trials and tribulations, but they also suffered various forms of "torture" and "bullying" on a mental level. They endured "suffering, hardship, and injustice," bearing immense physical and mental pressure.

The purpose of this "freshman education" is to "break old habits and establish West Point standards," to shatter arrogance and self-esteem, to forget oneself, to shed the past, and to start afresh until one is molded into a qualified soldier. It filters out new cadets who are not suited to the rigorous and demanding life of a military academy, and new cadets can also decide at this stage whether to quit or continue their studies at West Point.

Every new recruit who successfully completes the "Beast Camp" training undergoes a transformative and rigorous training process in this unique military career enlightenment education, becoming stronger in body and mind, more resolute, brave, persistent, and full of confidence and pride.

Regarding the "Beast Battalion" training, Song Hongfei asked Zhang Yi, "How is it different from the training at the Whampoa Military Academy?"

Zhang Yi's impression was: "The military training was more rigorous, more brutal, and more advanced than that of Whampoa Military Academy. It had more content, greater intensity, higher level, and was more professional. In particular, its focus on combat realism was quite admirable."

Song Hongfei and Zhang Yi were convinced. After all, it was a world-renowned military academy, known as the cradle of generals, and it truly lived up to its reputation.

Both of them were in excellent physical condition, and Zhang Yi had also received training at a domestic military academy. They demonstrated outstanding military qualities in the "Beast Camp," with exceptional training levels and excellent results, earning unanimous praise and commendation from their instructors.

Both of them have their own special skills. Song Hongfei's light weapons shooting and combat skills are superb and amazing. Zhang Yi's climbing skills are unparalleled and have shocked the whole school.

After the "Beast Camp" training, there was a 20-kilometer full-equipment cross-country training exercise.

Whether heading to the training camp or returning to the military academy after completing training, everyone from the superintendent and instructors to each new cadet is fully armed. The superintendent, in particular, leads the entire group on a march back to the academy from the training base. This march is an integral part of each training session, a distinctive feature of West Point.

Upon returning from the field training, the new cadets shed their "newcomer" status and, in accordance with West Point tradition, underwent a grand induction ceremony—also known as a promotion ceremony—where new cadets were promoted to cadets and recruits to cadet brigade privates.

From that day on, they were no longer called new students, but were officially called students.