Chapter 17: The Commissioning Ceremony

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Inside the dormitory, after Zheng Sanpao and the rest of the squad had all tried on their uniforms and confirmed there were no issues, he looked at Su Yang and asked, “Su Yang, have you finished the speech that the instructor asked you to write?”

Su Yang quickly retrieved a sheet of paper from the bookshelf and handed it over. “Squad leader, it’s been done for a while. I was just going to show it to you and the instructor in a moment.”

Zheng Sanpao glanced over it briefly but didn’t really pay much attention and instead put it away. “Even if you let me look, I wouldn’t make much of it. I’ll take it to the instructor myself!”

“Yes!” Su Yang nodded silently.

As the champion of the new recruits’ combat competition, Su Yang naturally became their representative. The instructor had assigned him to write the speech for tomorrow’s rank-awarding ceremony.

Thinking of this, Su Yang glanced at Zhuang Yan, feeling both relieved and a bit regretful.

If Zhuang Yan hadn’t gotten into a fight with the squad leader and been put in confinement, he would have joined the competition with them. With his abilities, even if he only ranked second in the military contest, given his status as a college-educated soldier, the company might have chosen him to represent the recruits in the speech.

Xi Wa noticed Zhuang Yan hadn’t moved his uniform either and sat there blankly, a stark change from his usual sharp demeanor.

“Xiao Zhuang, what are you thinking about? We’re soldiers now,” Xi Wa asked, puzzled.

“I’m wondering which company I’ll be assigned to. After all, I fought the squad leader. Which company would want me?” Zhuang Yan said irritably.

Hearing this, Xi Wa was at a loss for words to comfort Zhuang Yan. He looked toward Su Yang with a pleading expression.

Seeing this, Su Yang said to Zhuang Yan, “Don’t worry, Zhuang Yan. You’re a college-educated soldier. The army won’t reject you. You might even be assigned to serve as a clerk for the leadership. That job would be much easier for you!”

Xi Wa quickly chimed in, “Yeah, Su Yang’s right. You might be pulled by the leaders to do work that we regular soldiers can’t handle. I bet you’d like that.”

Comforted by their words, Zhuang Yan felt better. “If that’s the case, that’s the best outcome!”

Seeing Zhuang Yan was fine, Su Yang put away his dress uniform and instructed the squad, “Everyone, get ready quickly. We’re heading to the mess hall for dinner soon. I’ve checked, and they’ve added quite a few dishes tonight. We need to eat well and reward ourselves for three months of hard work.”

“Right, right, hurry up! I haven’t had a proper meal in three months and lost twenty pounds,” Yu Wei said happily, setting down his cap.

Su Yang somewhat agreed with Yu Wei. The supply in the new recruits’ company was actually quite sufficient. Although the food didn’t taste great, it was possible to eat enough when there was time.

Unfortunately, most of the time, they had to rush their meals because emergency assemblies could be called at any moment. If they didn’t eat quickly, they might end up with nothing.

Su Yang had even grabbed several steamed buns on the run a few times, stuffing them into his mouth while moving, but the intense training consumed so much energy that he quickly grew hungry again.

Soon, everyone was ready, and the whistle sounded. Led by the instructor, all the recruits began their final dinner in the new recruits’ company.

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The next morning, the newly full recruits were immediately brought to the parade ground that the regiment headquarters had already prepared.

After the formation assembled on the large drill field, the instructor called Su Yang aside and gave him a serious briefing. Only after confirming Su Yang understood all the procedures and had memorized the speech did he allow him to return to the formation.

The recruits did not wait long before seeing Captain Song arrive with several officers, walking toward the raised platform beneath the national flag.

During their time in the recruits’ company, the most relaxed moment was recognizing the leaders from the regiment and division.

They say that in battle, following orders is crucial. If you don’t recognize your superiors, problems could arise.

Hence, each squad leader was introduced clearly.

Based on his familiarity with the photos, Su Yang identified the somewhat pale, slightly plump colonel wearing glasses as Political Commissar Xiao Bangde of the Da Gong Regiment, clearly a political officer.

The darker-skinned, older-looking colonel was the regiment commander, Lin Haifeng.

The tall, slim, neat-looking lieutenant colonel in his thirties was Chief of Staff Zhou Jie.

Su Yang did not know much about the political commissar or chief of staff, as the veterans had not mentioned them, but he had heard about the regiment commander from the seasoned soldiers.

Lin Haifeng had been a platoon leader during the Laoshan rotation, a combat hero and former reconnaissance soldier. It was said that when the unit was ordered to cover the regiment’s retreat, he fearlessly led a platoon to not only protect the retreat but also successfully captured an enemy hill.

That meritorious action earned him a promotion from platoon leader to company commander, and later, he rose past his former superiors to become the commander of the Da Gong Regiment, a first-class field unit.

“The Da Gong Regiment’s new recruits’ rank-awarding ceremony is officially beginning! Raise the national flag and play the national anthem!”

As the chief of staff’s voice fell, under the protection of the veterans, the bright red national flag rose amid the resonant national anthem.

The recruits watched the fluttering flag, their inner restlessness calming as they awaited the regiment commander’s speech.

The dark-skinned Commander Lin Haifeng approached the podium, standing like a statue before the microphone.

“Today marks the solemn moment when you, new recruits, become true soldiers. I am not your regiment commander here but, rather, an old soldier who has served for twenty years. Before you receive your ranks, I want to give you a piece of advice!”

There was no reading from a script or flowery language, just a straightforward old soldier’s tone that made Su Yang feel the commander was not so distant.

“Remember, no matter which company you go to, as long as you’re in the Da Gong Regiment, you must show the true demeanor of a soldier. If anyone slacks off or shirks responsibility, forget being a part of the Da Gong Regiment. Our soldiers are fearless fighters who roar bravely—no weaklings or cowards!”

“If anyone thinks they can slack off after joining a company, be careful. Don’t let the days slip away while you waste your life!”

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The commander’s fierce words did not intimidate the recruits; instead, they inspired anticipation for life after joining their companies.

Because no one joins the army intending to waste time. Most come with ideals. Although the commander’s words were harsh, they stirred their blood with passion.

“Remember, after you receive your ranks, the collective honor is your honor. As an old soldier, I hope you will firmly uphold our soldier’s honor.”

“What is honor? It is the merit earned through the blood of countless martyrs, the trust the nation places in us, the faith the people have in us, and the expectations that rest on this sacred land beneath our feet. That is the honor of a soldier.”

Commander Lin paced the platform, then raised his voice: “To defend this honor, everyone must embody loyalty, responsibility, dedication, and courage!”

“Only with loyalty can the country trust us. Only by shouldering responsibility can we live up to our predecessors. Only through dedication can the people continue to believe in us. And courage is the strongest fortress protecting the land beneath our feet!”

Growing more impassioned, Commander Lin waved his arms and shouted, “Tell me, can you embody loyalty, responsibility, dedication, and courage?”

“Yes! Yes! Yes!”

Caught up in the fervor, Su Yang roared alongside the other recruits, feeling invigorated.

He had always longed for such a passionate atmosphere. It felt as if his body and soul fused, igniting something new within him.

Hearing the overwhelming response, Commander Lin smiled in satisfaction and turned to the chief of staff, who was waiting and gestured, “Begin the oath!”

“We hereby confer the rank of Private to Comrade Su Yang of the Da Gong Regiment…”

After the chief of staff announced the orders, the recruits pinned their newly earned insignia on one another. Several veterans raised the August 1st military flag and approached the podium.

Seeing this, Su Yang immediately stepped out of formation and jogged to the flag’s side. Following the instructor’s cue, he raised his clenched fist.

“I am a citizen of the Republic. It is my honorable duty to serve in the armed forces according to the law…”

“I solemnly swear!”

“I love the Communist Party of China, love socialism, and love the Chinese People’s Liberation Army…”