1978: A Literary Giant Who Began His Military Service

Chapter 15 The magazine called.

Liu Jiaju and the editor-in-chief finished discussing the manuscript.

After revising the manuscript for two or three days, almost working through the night, I was about to call Zhou Xu to come and revise it.

The magazine *PLA Literature and Art* is currently managed and sponsored by the Publicity Department of the General Political Department of the Chinese People's Liberation Army. Since the Publicity Department is a ministerial-level unit, the *PLA Literature and Art* magazine is also at the vice-ministerial level.

And look at one of the editors, Wang Chuanhong, who is a deputy section chief, while the editor-in-chief is also at the level of section chief or deputy minister...

Although it's an office job.

At that time, the General Political Department was not a simple civilian position.

Therefore, they have the phone numbers of the vast majority of grassroots units in the military.

After searching through Zhou Xu's information, I found out he was from the third platoon of the recruit company at the xx camp of the Wuhan Military Region...

It is indeed very easy for a military-level civilian unit to transfer away a common soldier.

"Beep beep..."

Inside the office of the new recruit company of the Wuhan Military Region at this time.

The person who answered the phone was naturally their unit's clerk, Zhao Xin. Clerk Zhao Xin's work had been rather busy lately, and he was leisurely looking at the novels that had recently been sent to him.

Hearing the phone ring, he immediately went to answer it. The person on the other end spoke slowly:

"Hello, this is the editorial office of the PLA Literature and Art magazine!"

Why would you call that small company of PLA Literature and Art?
Even if a literary magazine within the military wanted to interview someone, the call should have come from the Victory Cultural Troupe!

"Hello, this is the recruit training company of the Wuhan Military Region..."

Upon hearing this, Liu Jiaju nodded, his voice carrying the unique authority of a veteran leader: "It's like this, a comrade from your company named Zhou Xu submitted a short story to our magazine! It's called 'Changjin Lake'! After careful review, our magazine has approved it!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xin immediately understood who this Zhou Xu was.
Zhou Xu only became famous in their recruit training company in the last two weeks!

A junior reporter at the regimental level even wrote a report praising Zhou Xu's outstanding performance, highlighting his exceptional achievements among the new recruits.

However, the clerk did not expect that this new recruit, in addition to being full of martial virtue, also had artistic talent.
"Oh! His name is Zhou Xu? Is he the Zhou Xu from Lichuan, Hubei?" Zhao Xin confirmed Zhou Xu's place of origin, afraid that he had mistaken him for someone else.

When submitting a novel, due to regional support, you are usually required to state your place of origin. Zhou Xu stated his place of origin in his submission.

Liu Jiaju flipped through the messages and replied, "It's Zhou Xu from Lichuan, Hubei. It seems to be Comrade Zhou Xu from your company. I called to discuss the details of the manuscript with him, hoping to transfer him to the editorial department to revise it!"

"The company should still be training. Wait for me for half an hour, and I'll call Comrade Zhou Xu over!"

"Ok!"

Zhao Xin hung up the phone!

At that moment, he had only one thought: grades! An outstanding and excellent grade was right before his eyes!
Zhou Xu's achievements are the result of his own hard work.

It's almost the end of November, and December is just around the corner. Wuhan is getting cold very quickly!
However, except for the coldest months of January and February, it doesn't snow in Wuhan at other times.

In the company, training will not end unless there is heavy snow or torrential rain. Zhou Xu, who has been here for more than a month, is gradually getting used to the current training.

He originally didn't want to stand out, but after receiving a third-class merit, it seemed impossible for him to blend into the crowd.

Today's training is a marching exercise.

Once a month, there is a short-distance march, 20-30 kilometers long, simulating a field march. Participants are required to carry personal equipment such as bedding, water bottles, dry rations, and firearms, and train their "weighted marching ability" and "field orientation".

However, the recruit training unit couldn't possibly do that much, especially since it had only been a month, so they only did a simple five-kilometer march.

Zhou Xu, carrying a backpack, ran in the lead, followed closely by Zhou Youcai. However, Squad Leader Li kept up with the two of them with ease.

"One, two, three! One kilometer to go! We'll eat after we finish! Go, go!"

Zhou Xu gritted his teeth, drenched in sweat!
I thought to myself: I need to revise the manuscript! I need to revise the manuscript!! When will this exhausting training end? Is my novel really going to disappear without a trace?

The more he complained in his heart, the faster he ran.

faster and faster.

Zhou Youcai complained, "Damn, when did this kid become so good? He never knew how to run when he was a kid!"

Li Jin chimed in, "Have you ever heard of the Ren and Du meridians? A soldier only needs a small, shining moment to start as an excellent soldier, and the rest of the time he'll gradually shine without any special training! Zhou Xu is a born king of soldiers!"

Zhou Youcai was completely bewildered. Really?

But the more this happened, the more he wanted to catch up with Zhou Xu and chase after him.

"Whoosh whoosh whoosh!" Zhou Xu heard the sound of wind breaking.

He ran a short loop around the mountains near their camp, and the five-kilometer distance was almost up. He then sprinted towards the camp.

at last!

Once inside the gate, he threw his backpack down and plopped down on the floor.

At this point, the squad leader wouldn't reprimand them for not assembling. After all, they had already run five kilometers, and who was in the mood to stand and be scolded? They were just greenhorns.

As soon as he entered the gate, Company Commander Song glanced at the loosely organized new recruit company behind him and said with a smile, "This is your first marching exercise, and you've come in first place. Excellent result! You deserve praise!"

"..."

Until all the new recruits returned to their company.

The clerk over there finally found the recruit company and rushed over here!
"Hey! Old Song! You guys are here!" Zhao Xin's chubby body panted after taking only a few steps, after all, even a clerk doesn't need training.

Company Commander Song looked over and asked, "Zhao Wenshu, why are you in such a hurry? Is there something urgent you want to tell us?"

Zhao Xin breathed a slight sigh of relief, but was still out of breath. He slowly said, "It's like this... Comrade Zhou Xu submitted a novel to the 'PLA Literature and Art' magazine, and it's been accepted. They've asked Comrade Zhou Xu to go over there now to revise the manuscript!"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Xu, who had been slumped on the ground, instantly felt refreshed, stood up, and was even able to jump around energetically!

"what?"

"The magazine called and asked me to pass on a message! Come over here first..." Zhao Xin tried to pull Zhou Xu away, but first looked at Company Commander Song: "What do you think...?"

Company Commander Song didn't hear clearly: "The People's Liberation Army Literature and Art, is that the magazine run by the Propaganda Department?"

"Yes, yes!" Zhao Xin nodded repeatedly. That was the top magazine in the army! It was a head taller than any other magazine.

It's a magazine published by the General Political Department's Propaganda Department!

Company Commander Song still didn't understand and asked, "Xiao Zhou, did you really submit the article?"

Zhou Xu said embarrassedly, "When I was at home last time, I saw the magazine's call for submissions. It said that the starting price was three yuan per thousand words, so I wrote an article hoping to improve my family's situation!"

I thought to myself: My real purpose is to revise the manuscript!

Writing novels is now considered a special skill! A special branch of the military... literary creators! Before the civilian reform, they were all awarded ranks and could become leaders!

The clerk looked at Company Commander Song and said, "They're urging us quite urgently, saying they'll come over to answer the phone in an hour!" Since Company Commander Song wouldn't let him go, he couldn't just drag Zhou Xu away!

Company Commander Song considered for a moment and said, "I didn't expect you to have this talent. I'll go with you and take a look!"

Company Commander Song called out, "Li Jin! Li Jin!"

Squad Leader Li rushed over and asked, "What's wrong, Company Commander?"

"You check on the training progress for me first, I'll go with the clerk to take a look!"

Li Jin didn't see the situation clearly, but since the clerk was rushing over so urgently, it must be something important!

"Yes, sir!"

The clerk walked in front, and Zhou Xu followed behind Company Commander Song. To be honest, Zhou Xu was a little embarrassed. Song had just awarded him a third-class merit, and now he had been transferred to revise manuscripts...

We arrived at the clerk's office.

Zhao Xin didn't care about any of the other things; he just needed to complete his task of making the call. What level was the other party?
Those are all civilian ministerial-level positions. If they need someone, would a grassroots unit like theirs refuse? That's just nonsense.

However, no matter how reluctant Company Commander Song was, he had to part with it.

The three sat down, and the clerk poured tea for the other two: "You two drink first, I'll go make a phone call."

Zhou Xu was exhausted from training and was in a state of high excitement. He was thirsty, so he picked up the cup and started gulping down water.

Company Commander Song waited leisurely, wanting to see what was going on!

The clerk was pressing the telephone button. Decades ago, they used those hand-cranked telephones that the Japanese used, but now they've been replaced by push-button landlines.

"Ahem... The call went through... Zhou Xu, come and answer the phone!"

Zhou Xu hurried over.

The old-fashioned telephones these days have very long and messy cords... and a lot of static: "Hello, I'm Zhou Xu from Lichuan, Hubei! Also the author of 'The Battle at Lake Changjin'!!!"

(End of this chapter)