Soldiers Assault: Starting from the 7th Steel Company

Chapter 122 Shi Jin submits his transfer report?

The 702nd Regiment's location was somewhat remote, so Chen Jiang and Xu Sanduo took a two-hour bus ride after getting off the train to reach it.

Seeing the iconic gate of their old unit, the two were delighted and strode towards it.

"Stop! Show me your identification!"

A sentry’s loud shout brought the two back to reality: they were no longer soldiers of the 702nd Regiment, and they needed to go through procedures to enter.

“We were originally soldiers in the 7th Mechanized Infantry Company of the 702nd Regiment,” Xu Sanduo emphasized as he took out his identification.

The officer on duty in charge of registration was also a second lieutenant. Seeing Chen Jiang's rank, he said very politely, "There's nothing we can do. Our regiment has had a lot of personnel turnover in the past year. I was just transferred here not long ago. If we don't register everyone who says they came from here, it will cause a huge mess."

“You’re right, we’ll obey!” Chen Jiang handed over his military officer’s ID.

The lieutenant carefully checked the two men's identification documents, looked up at them, and said, "Your unit only has one number. I wonder if it would be difficult for you if I asked you which division you belonged to?"

Chen Jiang smiled in response.

"Please provide the name of the person who will be receiving you, so I can notify them to come and take you inside."

"Shi Jin, First Mechanized Infantry Company!"

Xu Sanduo couldn't wait to announce his old squad leader's name.

The lieutenant checked the contacts and said there was no such person.

"How is that possible? He's a squad leader in the 1st Mechanized Infantry Company, a third-term sergeant!" Xu Sanduo exclaimed in disbelief.

The lieutenant shook his head helplessly.
“I know all the squad leaders in the mechanized infantry company because I am the platoon leader of the company! I don’t have this person under my command.”

Chen Jiang guessed that Shi Jin might have been reassigned, otherwise why would everyone be unable to contact him?

"That's Ma Xiaoshuai, the third mechanized infantry unit!"

Chen Jiang changed his name.

The lieutenant replied with a smile, "I know Platoon Leader Ma. He was transferred to the Division Reconnaissance Battalion and is now working under Battalion Commander Gao!"

Xu Sanduo was dumbfounded. Had all his former comrades been transferred away?

"And Hong Xingguo? He was our instructor back then!"

The lieutenant chuckled upon hearing this, "What a coincidence! Deputy Instructor Hong has just gone to the division for training and won't be back for three days."

Damn, what bad luck?

However, he did hear one useful piece of information: Hong Xingguo had been promoted.

Xu Sanduo could only give one more name, "What about He Hongtao? He was my instructor in the Third Company."

The lieutenant nodded. "Deputy Instructor He is here. I saw him today. Please wait a moment while I make a phone call."

He picked up the phone next to him and dialed an internal short number.
He Hongtao's familiar voice came through the phone soon after. He was very happy to hear that Chen Jiang and Xu Sanduo had returned.

"Deputy Instructor He wants to come out and greet you personally. Come, have a drink of water in the duty room!"

After the lieutenant confirmed their identities, he became even more polite.

A moment later, He Hongtao rushed out.

Upon meeting them, he didn't even bother to ask them to salute him; instead, he gave them both a warm hug each other!

"Oh my, you two elite soldiers! It's rare that you both remember to come back to visit your 'home base'." He solemnly introduced them to the lieutenant, "These two are legendary figures from our 702nd Regiment. They both passed the selection process to join the A Battalion, and Chen Jiang even won first place in the entire army's shooting competition!"

He Hongtao's friendship with Chen Jiang mainly dates back to their time in basic training.

He had already recognized Chen Jiang's potential back then, but Gao Cheng was too powerful and had already decided on him internally.

Later, Chen Jiang indeed rose rapidly and became the most dazzling new star in the Steel Seventh Company, growing step by step.

Although He Hongtao had never mentored him, he was genuinely happy for him.

As for Xu Sanduo, He Hongtao had a special feeling for him. At the beginning, Xu Sanduo was terrible. He could be described as a "mule" in the recruit company who was assigned to the Fifth Platoon of the Third Company.

He Hongtao felt guilty for sending him to a difficult place, but also helpless for being assigned a "backward" student.

Fortunately, Xu Sanduo later caught the attention of the regimental commander while working on road construction and was promoted to the Steel Seventh Company, gradually transforming into a top soldier. He felt genuinely proud and honored to have led such an outstanding soldier.

Whether it was the new recruits at the gate or the second lieutenant, they might not know Xu Sanduo and Chen Jiang, but they all knew about the glorious history of the Steel Seventh Company.

Moreover, upon learning that the two had actually overcome numerous obstacles to join Team A, their gazes towards them instantly transformed into one of admiration.

The most direct way for soldiers to express their admiration is through a solemn military salute!

Chen Jiang and Xu Sanduo hurriedly returned the greeting.

He Hongtao happily led them inside, introducing the changes in the troupe as they walked.

"This is our newly equipped infantry fighting vehicle. Compared with the old one, it is more powerful and its information technology is more mature and advanced."

"That's our information technology center. Since our disastrous performance in the last exercise, our regiment has started to pay more attention to information technology. We've brought in a group of outstanding computer professionals to build this technology center, and the combat effectiveness of our troops has been significantly enhanced."

As they passed the training ground,
A familiar voice came from behind.

"Zhou Yi!"

"To!"

"Do you understand the honor of the Sixth Red Company?"

"I will use my life to understand the honor of the Sixth Red Company!"

"Zhou Yi!"

"To!"

How many people were in the Sixth Company of the Red Army?

Chen Jiang and Xu Sanduo were drawn to this familiar scene and couldn't help but stop and watch.

He Hongtao explained, "They have inherited the rituals of your old Seventh Company. The bayonet function of the Steel Seventh Company is now distributed among various tank and infantry companies, which has strengthened the combat capabilities of individual soldiers and the combat capabilities of squads, platoons and companies."

"That's how it should be. The excellence of one company does not mean the excellence of the whole regiment. Although the old Seventh Company is gone, the combat effectiveness of all companies in the regiment has increased. This may not be a bad thing."

Seeing Chen Jiang and Xu Sanduo spontaneously begin singing along to the old Seventh Company's song without melody, He Hongtao was also somewhat moved. After they finished singing, he suggested, "How about we go and take a look at your old Seventh Company's barracks?"

Chen Jiang and Xu Sanduo both shook their heads.
Chen Jiang said, "No need. Although the houses are still the same, the people are gone. Going there would be inappropriate."

"Okay, let's go, instructor." Xu Sanduo still hadn't had time to change his address; he was used to calling him that.

He Hongtao didn't mind at all; on the contrary, he felt that it was a friendly way to address him.

He Hongtao has now been promoted to deputy political instructor of the first battalion, with the rank of major.

He's getting married soon, so his dorm room is a bit bigger than before. In a few months, he'll be allocated a suite, which will make it more convenient for his wife and children to visit him in the future.

Today, Chen Jiang and Xu Sanduo came, and he specially asked the cooks to prepare some vegetables and meat. He also called over the former company commander of the Third Company of the Red Army, planning to have hot pot together.

When Chen Jiang and Xu Sanduo saw the Third Company Commander, they immediately stood up and saluted, but he stopped them.

"Today, we're all brothers, regardless of rank or status! Understand?" The third company commander was busy gathering ingredients and putting things into the pot. "Come on, you two, help out too! Don't just stand there!"

It's called hot pot, but it's really just a big mixed stew. But that doesn't matter. The four of us sat down together, enjoying each other's company and drinking cola. It was a really nice feeling.

After eating five dishes, Xu Sanduo still couldn't help but ask, "Where did Squad Leader Shi Jin go? He's no longer in the Mechanized Infantry Company. We wrote to him, but he didn't reply."

He Hongtao and the third company commander exchanged a glance.
"He went to the armored vehicle testing brigade," the third company commander finally couldn't help but speak first.

"Huh? Where did he go?" Xu Sanduo looked at the Third Company Commander in disbelief, his eyes wide open.

He Hongtao smoothed things over, saying, "Third brother, don't you think his eyes look just like Seventh brother's back then?"

He patted Xu Sanduo on the shoulder and then put a piece of food on his plate. "Back then, your company commander, Gao Cheng, had a similar expression when he heard that Shi Jin submitted his demobilization report."

"Huh? He submitted a transfer application?" Chen Jiang had just heard that he was going to the armored vehicle testing brigade, how did it get related to transfer?
“Your squad leader, something happened to his family,” He Hongtao hurriedly explained. “His father was swindled out of 200,000 yuan, so the old man was devastated and thought about ending it all. As you all know, he is the only son in his family. With such a big change, how can he serve in the army with peace of mind?”

"So, he wants to transfer back home, partly to work and earn money to pay off his debts, and partly to go back and take care of his father in case he does something foolish."

(End of this chapter)