1978: A Literary Giant Who Began His Military Service

Chapter 27, "Changjin Lake," was published.

Zhou Xu had only been there a few days.

He slowly adapted to the studio environment, and it really was just like his dream of sleeping until he died and then going to work.

After all, nobody knows whether you're lazing in bed or writing in the morning, right?

No wonder these writers like to say that writing shouldn't be interrupted, and that inspiration is always a flash of insight! Isn't that essential for being lazy?
Of course, as the youngest creator, he wouldn't really be allowed to have it so easy.

When they weren't creating their own works, the other veteran writers were guiding the performing arts troupe.

However, he didn't have the opportunity to mentor the performing arts troupe, but he was required to write reports, such as press releases and internal news, since he had the best writing skills and was a young man...

……

time flies.

Not long after, on the tenth day since Zhou Xu returned.

That is, January 20th.

The People's Liberation Army Literature and Art Journal published it on time.

The status of "PLA Literature and Art" is very special. It belongs to internal propaganda, but it also needs external propaganda. It is published domestically and subscribed to within the military.

The Shengli Cultural Troupe's creative studio.

The army's deliveryman placed several magazines on the shelf in the creative writing studio. These were the monthly subscriptions to "PLA Literature and Art," intended for the studio's writers to study new ideas…

Lei Yuansheng got up early to go to work.

He picked up a magazine.

"I wonder who the lucky ones are today..."

I glanced at the book cover, and in the section for the novella, it clearly stated "Changjin Lake" by Zhou Xu!
He unexpectedly flipped it over again, immediately flipping it to the back.

Zhou Xu (Wuhan Military Region)
Tsk?
"It really is Zhou Xu from our department?" Lei Yuansheng was surprised.

He didn't ask too many questions a few days ago, thinking that Zhou Xu was just a writer who relied on his parents. He didn't expect that this kid was really talented!

What was published was not just a short story, but a novella of over 100,000 words!

"Old Gao, look! It's Zhou Xu!" Lei Yuansheng immediately took the magazine over to show Gao Yuanxing.

Gao Ruxing rubbed her eyes: "What are you looking at? Was his report today really that good?"

Lei Yuansheng shook his head. Gao Ruxing was in his fifties and sixties, so he was naturally calm and composed. As for Lei Yuansheng, he hurriedly said, "No...no, what I mean is, look at the new magazine 'PLA Literature and Art' that was released today. There is an article by Comrade Zhou Xu!"

Gao Ruxing immediately leaned over: "Wuhan Military Region? It really is him?"

There are hardly any people with the surname Zhou in this Wuhan Military Region's creative writing studio! If there were any talents like him, they would have been transferred from the grassroots level long ago.

Of course, the one who was transferred here was Zhou Xu.

"Tsk! I didn't ask last time, I thought his father was Zhou Zhigang!" Zhou Zhigang's surname is Zhou, and he works in the political department. Zhou Xu's surname is Zhou, and he was transferred to the creative studio by Zhou Zhigang when he was eighteen.

Even if this group of people doesn't indulge in fantasies, some of them can't help but gossip.

After all, what are the chances of such a coincidence in the world?

Now it seems that these people were just imagining things. It turns out that Zhou Xu wrote a novel and got in!
"Who told you to talk nonsense? If the director hears you later, don't you want to...?" Gao Ruxing frowned.

Lei Yuansheng coughed and said, "I couldn't help it, I couldn't stop my wild thoughts, but I really didn't expect him to have this ability!"

"I'm curious to see how good this young man's novels are!"

Zhou Xu revised "The Battle at Lake Changjin" himself, so the content was all written by him.
When I was three years younger than I am now, I got a cushy job as a recorder in the village brigade... I asked my father about his resume out of curiosity and learned about this past event that happened in the north.

……

To defend the country, the Central Military Commission decided to form the Chinese People's Volunteer Army and send it to the Korean battlefield. The Ninth Army Corps was one of the units that shouldered this heavy responsibility.

At this time, Wu Qianli, a volunteer army company commander who had just returned from the battlefield of the Liberation War, originally wanted to take the ashes of his brother Wu Baili, who had sacrificed his life, back to his hometown to reunite with his elderly parents and live a few peaceful days.

But an emergency conscription order shattered this peace. He knew that in the face of national interests, his personal family had to give way, so he resolutely said goodbye to his family, put on his uniform again, and embarked on his journey to Korea.

Wu Qianli's younger brother, Wu Wanli, was a rebellious young man who was mischievous in the village but full of passion and drive. He admired his older brother and longed to become a soldier to defend the country, just like his brother and his sacrificed elder brother. So he secretly followed the conscription team to join the army and, by a twist of fate, was also assigned to Wu Qianli's unit.

When Wu Wanli first entered the army, he was impetuous and naive as a young man. He was not used to the strict military discipline and often had minor conflicts with his comrades. However, under the guidance and influence of his older brother Wu Qianli, instructor Mei Sheng, veteran Lei Gong and others, he gradually shed his childishness and slowly understood the responsibility and mission of a soldier.

After arriving in Korea, the troops immediately began preparations for the Battle of Chosin Reservoir.

The Changjin Lake area is located in northeastern North Korea, where winters are exceptionally cold, with temperatures dropping as low as minus forty degrees Celsius. The wind howls and snow covers every inch of the land.

Most of the volunteer soldiers came from the south and had never experienced such extreme cold. Moreover, due to the difficulty in transporting supplies, many soldiers were wearing thin cotton-padded clothes and did not even have enough food, so they could only fill their stomachs with frozen potatoes.

The U.S. military is well-equipped, possessing advanced weapons, ample supplies, and strong air support. Their soldiers wear thick cold-weather suits, eat hot meals, and can move quickly using mechanized equipment.

Despite such disparities in conditions, the volunteer soldiers did not back down.

Wu Qianli led his company soldiers, working closely with other units, to lie in ambush, charge, and blockade in the icy and snowy conditions.

Mei Sheng had already retired from the army, but in order to participate in the battle, he resolutely gave up the opportunity to reunite with his family and rejoined the team, leading his soldiers to break through the blockade of the American army; Lei Gong, as a veteran in the company, was experienced and always rushed to the front to clear obstacles for his comrades. In the end, in order to cover the transfer of the troops, he drove a truck loaded with marker rounds toward the American position and died heroically.

Wu Wanli also grew rapidly in battle. He was no longer the mischievous boy, but became a brave warrior, fighting alongside his brother and using his weapons to fight against the enemy.

After many days of fierce fighting, the Chinese People's Volunteer Army soldiers, with their iron will and tenacious fighting spirit, finally defeated the elite US forces and won the Battle of Chosin Reservoir. This victory not only curbed the US offensive but also laid a solid foundation for the subsequent war situation.

……

When I saw that clip: "Seventh Reconnaissance Company, 157 men were expected, only one man is present!"

Lei Yuansheng couldn't stop wiping away his tears: "I never expected... I really never expected that Comrade Zhou Xu would have such talent. It's really, really well written..."

(End of this chapter)