novelden Chapter 8 Border Defense Forces
Chapter 8 Border Defense Forces
The jeep bumped along the winding mountain roads for three whole days. From plains to hills, from hills to mountains, the vegetation went from dense to sparse, and the air went from humid to dry. When the vehicle finally entered the barracks of the 127th Border Defense Regiment of the Southwest Military Region, Lin Zhe truly understood what "remote" meant.
The regimental headquarters is nestled in a valley, surrounded by steep, misty mountains. The barracks are red-brick bungalows built decades ago, their walls bearing the marks of wind and rain. On the training ground, soldiers are conducting their daily drills, their shouts echoing through the valley.
"Comrade Lin Zhe, welcome to the 127th Regiment!" Several officers were already waiting on the steps at the entrance of the regimental headquarters. Leading them was Regimental Commander Zhao Tiezhu, a lieutenant colonel in his forties, with dark skin and a stocky build. Standing beside him were Political Commissar Zhou Wenbin and several regimental leaders.
Lin Zhe jumped out of the car, stood at attention, and saluted: "Reporting to the commander, Lin Zhe, a graduate of the National University of Defense Technology, reporting for duty!"
Zhao Tiezhu returned the salute, sizing up the young officer before him. Over six feet tall, with an upright posture, sharp eyes, and the lieutenant's rank on his shoulder gleaming in the sunlight. Judging by appearance alone, he looked every bit the good soldier. But Zhao Tiezhu knew in his heart that these top military academy graduates mostly came to the border defense forces to "gild their resumes"—stay for a year or two, gain some grassroots experience, and then be transferred back to headquarters or a big city.
"Comrade Lin Zhe, you must be tired from your journey." Zhao Tiezhu shook his hand firmly, as if testing him. "The conditions here are harsh, nothing like those in Beijing. You are a top student from the National University of Defense Technology, so the regiment has decided to assign you to the training section of the regimental headquarters to familiarize yourself with the situation first."
"Reporting, Commander!" Lin Zhe straightened his back. "I request to go to the front-line outpost, to the front line."
The regimental leaders exchanged glances, their eyes showing surprise. Political Commissar Zhou Wenbin adjusted his glasses: "Comrade Xiao Lin, conditions at the forward outposts are extremely harsh, and..."
"And there's danger," Lin Zhe continued. "Political Commissar, I understand. But I came to the border defense force not to stay in the safe rear. I'm a soldier, and I want to go where soldiers are needed most."
Zhao Tiezhu stared at Lin Zhe for a few seconds: "Do you know what being a frontline outpost means? It means walking dozens of miles of mountain roads every day on patrol; it means being bitten by mosquitoes in the summer and enduring the biting cold wind in the winter; it means potentially facing armed insurgents crossing the border. You're a military academy graduate, why would you..."
"Commander, I am not only a military academy graduate, but also a soldier." Lin Zhe's voice was not loud, but unusually firm. "If I choose comfort because I am afraid of hardship and danger, then I am not worthy of wearing this uniform."
Silence fell over the scene. A mountain breeze carried the distant sounds of training slogans.
After a long silence, Zhao Tiezhu sighed and said, "Alright, you come in and rest first. I need to consult with my superiors about this matter."
In the regimental headquarters meeting room, Lin Zhe sat on a hard wooden chair with a cup of hot water in front of him. The walls were covered with border topographical maps and various regulations, and the table was piled high with documents and maps.
Zhao Tiezhu was making a phone call outside, his voice faintly coming through: "...Yes, the one who graduated from the National University of Defense Technology, the one who completed his studies in one year...voluntarily requested to go to the front lines...Yes, I understand, but sir, if something happens to such a top student...Yes! Execute the order without hesitation!"
Half an hour later, Zhao Tiezhu returned to the conference room, his expression complex: "The higher-ups have agreed. But Comrade Lin Zhe, I must ask you one more time: Are you really sure?"
"I've made up my mind," Lin Zhe said without hesitation.
"Alright." Zhao Tiezhu unfolded a map. "Our regiment is responsible for more than 80 kilometers of border, with complex terrain. At the forefront are three outposts, among which the most difficult and demanding is the 'Eagle Beak Cliff Outpost.' It is garrisoned by a platoon from the reconnaissance company."
He pointed to a mark on the map: "The reconnaissance company is the spearhead of our regiment, responsible for border patrols, reconnaissance, and emergency response. The company commander is Wang Dashan, a veteran. You will be the deputy company commander of the reconnaissance company, mainly in charge of the Eagle's Beak Cliff outpost."
"Yes!" Lin Zhe stood up.
"Don't rush to say 'yes'." Zhao Tiezhu gestured for him to sit down. "Xiao Lin, let me tell you the truth. The soldiers in the reconnaissance company are tough nuts to crack. They look down on 'student officers' the most. You might encounter a lot of... difficulties if you go there."
Lin Zhe smiled slightly: "Soldiers only respect the strong. I will prove myself with my actions."
A hint of approval flashed in Zhao Tiezhu's eyes: "You have guts. Alright, rest today, I'll have someone take you there tomorrow."
The next morning, an off-road vehicle carrying Lin Zhe drove out of the regimental headquarters and headed deeper into the mountains. The road became narrower and bumpier until finally even the vehicle could no longer proceed.
"Deputy Company Commander Lin, the road ahead is impassable; we'll have to walk." The driver stopped the vehicle and pointed to a winding mountain road. "Follow this road for five kilometers, and you'll reach the reconnaissance company headquarters."
Lin Zhe carried his luggage—a military backpack containing his personal belongings and the notebook given to him by Chen Qingshan—and also carried a box of books in his hand.
"I can manage on my own, you can go back."
Five kilometers of mountain road might be a challenge for an ordinary person, but it was nothing for Lin Zhe. He walked steadily and at a steady pace, and an hour later, a cluster of barracks came into view.
It was even more rudimentary than the regimental headquarters. A dozen or so wooden houses were built against the mountainside, and various obstacle courses were set up on the training ground, where several soldiers were practicing rock climbing. Seeing Lin Zhe approach, an old soldier who was hanging clothes to dry shouted, "A new recruit has arrived!"
Soon, more than twenty soldiers emerged from the various rooms, curiously sizing up Lin Zhe. Most of them had dark skin, were simply dressed, and had sharp, eagle-like eyes. Unlike the military academy cadets, these veteran border guards possessed a wild and fierce temperament.
"Who is in charge?" Lin Zhe put down his luggage, stood at attention, and asked.
"That's me." A rough voice came from behind.
Lin Zhe turned around and saw a man in his forties with a full beard walking towards him. He was half a head shorter than Lin Zhe, but had broad shoulders, thick arms, and walked with a powerful stride, each step making a thud on the ground. The captain's rank on his shoulder indicated that he was Wang Dashan, the reconnaissance company commander.
"Reporting to the company commander, Deputy Company Commander Lin Zhe is here to report for duty!" Lin Zhe saluted.
Wang Dashan returned the greeting, but his movements were somewhat perfunctory. He looked Lin Zhe up and down, his gaze lingering on the young and handsome face for a few seconds, then glancing at the neat and crisp military uniform, and his lips curled up imperceptibly.
"Lin Zhe, right? I heard you're a top student at the National University of Defense Technology, and you graduated in just one year?" Wang Dashan's tone was unreadable.
"Yes."
"Then how did you end up in this remote mountain valley?" Wang Dashan took a few steps closer, almost face to face with Lin Zhe. "There are no laboratories or libraries here, only mountains, rocks, and those ill-intentioned guys over there."
The surrounding soldiers chuckled softly.
Lin Zhe's expression remained unchanged: "Company Commander, I came here to be a soldier, not to enjoy myself."
Wang Dashan stared at him for a few seconds, then suddenly laughed: "Alright, you've got guts. But Deputy Company Commander Lin, I need to make this clear beforehand. The rules of the reconnaissance company are: first, obey orders; second, competence speaks for itself; third, no special treatment. You're the deputy company commander, but if you can't keep up, I'll still send you to the cookhouse to tend the fire."
"Understood," Lin Zhe replied calmly.
"Alright." Wang Dashan pointed to a wooden hut at the far end. "That's your dormitory. Settle in first, and we'll start work this afternoon."
The dormitory was simple: a wooden bed, a table, and a metal cabinet. The window was small, and the light was dim. Lin Zhe put down his luggage and quickly tidied up his belongings—a habit he had developed during his year at military academy; his belongings had to be neat and tidy at all times.
After finishing his work, he didn't rest but instead left his barracks and took a walk around the camp. He observed the terrain, facilities, and personnel distribution, mentally drawing a map. As he passed the training ground, he overheard several soldiers resting whispering among themselves:
"Another one with a gilded finish..."
"He looks quite energetic, I wonder how long he can keep it up..."
"I'll bet a month, I'll bet one drink..."
Lin Zhe ignored him. He knew that in this environment that worshipped the strong, any explanation was futile. Only actions, only concrete performance, could earn respect.
In the afternoon, Lin Zhe approached Wang Dashan and said, "Company Commander, I'd like to learn about the company's daily operations."
Wang Dashan was studying the map without looking up: "The reconnaissance company's tasks mainly consist of three parts: routine border patrols, monitoring of key areas, and emergency response. The duty roster is on the wall, and the training plan is in the drawer. Look at it yourself."
Lin Zhe ignored Wang Dashan's coldness and carefully reviewed the documents. Soon, he grasped the basic situation: the reconnaissance company was organized into three platoons, taking turns to guard the Eagle's Beak Cliff outpost; two patrol teams patrolled the border line every day, with five people in each team; a comprehensive exercise was conducted once a week; in addition, there were irregular infiltration and reconnaissance missions.
"Company Commander, I request to participate in the patrol tomorrow." Lin Zhe closed the file.
Wang Dashan looked up, somewhat surprised: "Tomorrow, Lao Hei will be leading the team. The route is the most difficult, Route Seven, a forty-mile round trip through the mountains, including two cliff crossings. Are you sure?"
"Sure."
Wang Dashan gave him a deep look: "Okay. Meet at the training ground at five o'clock tomorrow."
At 4:50 a.m. the next day, Lin Zhe was already fully armed and waiting on the training ground. At 5:00 a.m. sharp, the patrol members arrived one after another. Leading the team was Lao Hei, the platoon leader of the third platoon—a taciturn veteran in his thirties whose real name was forgotten; everyone called him Lao Hei because his skin was as black as charcoal.
When Lao Hei saw Lin Zhe, he frowned: "Deputy Company Commander, are you really going?"
"Yes."
"Alright." Old Hei didn't say anything more. "Check your equipment, we'll be leaving in five minutes."
The patrol team consisted of five people: Lao Hei, Lin Zhe, and three veterans—Da Liu, Xiao Zhao, and A Wang. Besides weapons and essential supplies, each person carried 20 kilograms of equipment. At Lao Hei's command, the team disappeared into the mountains.
Route 7 was indeed difficult. Most sections had no path at all, requiring traversing dense forests and rocky outcrops. Some parts required climbing near-vertical cliffs, while others involved wading through icy streams. As the altitude gradually increased, the air thinned, making even breathing difficult.
The three veterans were clearly used to this intensity; although they were drenched in sweat, their steps were steady. They exchanged glances from time to time, obviously waiting to see Lin Zhe make a fool of himself.
But Lin Zhe's performance surprised them. He not only kept up with the group, but also had steady breathing and light steps. When climbing a steep slope, he even reached out to help Xiao Zhao, who was a little weaker.
"Deputy Company Commander...you've trained before?" During the break, Da Liu couldn't help but ask.
"I often did cross-country training when I was in military school," Lin Zhe said casually, handing over a water bottle. "Have some water."
At noon, the group reached a high vantage point. From here, they could overlook a section of the border, with the mountains and forests of the neighboring country on the other side. Old Hei took out his binoculars and observed carefully.
"Something's up," Old Hei suddenly said in a low voice.
Lin Zhe took the binoculars and looked in the direction the man pointed—in the opposite forest, there were several blurry figures moving about furtively.
"Smuggled?" Da Liu asked.
"Doesn't seem like it." Old Hei frowned. "Judging from the movements, it looks like they've been trained."
Lin Zhe observed carefully. His experience training with Zhang Jian and Old Chen allowed him to distinguish between ordinary people and soldiers—the way those people moved, their concealment, and their formation all demonstrated military skills.
"Should we report it?" Xiao Zhao asked.
"Observe first," Lin Zhe said. "Old Hei, you take Da Liu and flank from the left. Xiao Zhao, Awang, and I will go from the right. Keep your distance and don't alert them. If we confirm they are armed, immediately withdraw and report."
Old Hei looked at Lin Zhe in surprise. This plan was completely correct and well-thought-out; it didn't seem like something an inexperienced student officer would come up with.
"Do as the deputy company commander says," Lao Hei ordered.
Two hours later, the reconnaissance team withdrew. They confirmed the other party was a border patrol from a neighboring country, but their movements were unusual, suggesting a possible probing attempt to cross the border. Lao Hei reported the situation to company headquarters via radio.
On the way back, the veterans' attitude towards Lin Zhe had clearly changed. Although they weren't close yet, at least the obvious disdain was gone.
"Deputy Company Commander, you served in the army before?" Awang couldn't help but ask.
"My elders in the family are soldiers, so I was influenced by them from a young age," Lin Zhe replied.
In the evening, the troops returned to the company headquarters. Wang Dashan and others waited at the door, listened to Lao Hei's report, and then inquired in detail about Lin Zhe's handling of the situation.
"Well done." Wang Dashan rarely affirmed this, then looked at Lin Zhe, "How was the forty-mile mountain road?"
"It's alright," Lin Zhe said honestly. "However, I've noticed a few issues: the terrain of the third section of Route 7 is not conducive to concealment, so I suggest adjusting the route; the patrol team's communication equipment has an unstable signal and needs an upgrade; also, if we could equip them with thermal imaging cameras, the nighttime surveillance would be much better."
Wang Dashan was stunned. These problems did exist, but for a newly arrived deputy company commander to be able to discover them and offer suggestions for improvement on his very first patrol—his observation skills and professional competence far exceeded his expectations.
"I'll consider your suggestion." Wang Dashan's tone softened considerably. "Go and rest first; you have training tomorrow."
Over the next few days, Lin Zhe fully integrated into the reconnaissance company's rhythm. He participated in training and patrols during the day and studied the border terrain and enemy situation at night. He was no longer just a "student officer with a gilded resume," but was actually working, thinking, and solving problems.
A week later, at a company meeting, Wang Dashan announced: "Starting next week, Deputy Company Commander Lin will be in charge of the daily management of the Eagle's Beak Cliff outpost. Lao Hei, you'll cooperate."
This decision surprised many soldiers. Eagle's Beak Outpost was the most important forward position for the reconnaissance company, and entrusting it to a newcomer who had only been there for a week seemed like a bit too much trust.
After the meeting, Wang Dashan kept Lin Zhe behind alone: "Sending you to Eagle's Beak Cliff will put you under even more pressure. It's the closest place to the border, and the situation there is the most complicated. But judging from your performance this week, I think you can do it."
"Thank you for your trust, Company Commander," Lin Zhe said.
"Don't thank me." Wang Dashan waved his hand. "I'm judging you by your actions. But Lin Zhe, I have to remind you: the hardships of border troops aren't just physical. The monotony of day after day, the loneliness of being far from family, the tension of facing danger at any moment... these are the real tests."
"I see."
Wang Dashan looked at the young man in front of him and suddenly laughed: "To be honest, at first I thought you wouldn't last a month. But now it seems I might have been wrong."
"I won't let you down, Company Commander."
Stepping out of the company headquarters, Lin Zhe gazed into the distance. Mountains stretched endlessly, the border line appearing and disappearing in the mist. Even greater trials awaited him, but his heart was filled with fighting spirit.
In this life, he will start from the bottom, from the most difficult places, and take one step at a time to realize his military ideals.
He's arrived at Eagle's Beak Cliff Outpost. The real tempering is about to begin.