Starting from the deputy company commander of the Soldier Assault Team

That year, the team's winter training camp lacked the complete temperature control and intelligent simulation system of later generations. Everything had to be done by measuring on foot, writing by pen, and being supervised by people. It was a real hardship and tough training.

After sorting through all the files, Zhang Anbang took out a stack of A4 military standard draft paper from the drawer and placed it on the table.

Then he took out blue-black ink, unscrewed the brushed silver fountain pen, and began to draw ink into it. Several words could still be clearly seen on the pen: "Outstanding Literary Creation Award".

Having made all the preparations, Zhang Anbang took a few sips of tea, turned on the desk lamp, and the previously dim office instantly brightened up.

The white light made the metal safe appear cold and hard, like a military green. Zhang Anbang stretched out his arms and stepped forward. Two thick volumes of kraft paper files were spread out on the table.

It was the complete set of training plans from the previous two winters that he had found, with the margins covered with handwritten annotations from previous years by the staff officers.

These are the reference materials he selected for writing this proposal. In 2004, when there were no computer templates or electronic documents, referring to old proposals from previous years was a routine operation.

The easiest and most common way to draft plans for stationing troops, exercises, and live-fire drills is to look through similar files from previous years and modify the framework. This wasn't something Zhang Anbang did alone; everyone did it.

Whether it's a section chief or a senior staff officer, they all rely on old files as a foundation when writing materials. When a newcomer arrives at the agency, the first thing the section chief tells them is to have the new staff officer retrieve the files from previous years as a learning template.

The learning content includes a complete set of plans, from the overall plan to the collaborative schedule, safety measures, daily training arrangements, summary reports, and problem logs—everything is within the scope of the learning.

This is what Zhang Anbang has been doing for the past two days since he reported to the training department.

He had written all sorts of plans when he was in the old A unit, whether it was for actual combat or exercises, or even new recruit training plans. But when he arrived at the new department, he still studied very hard.

His first stop has already been decided: the reconnaissance battalion. The battalion commander has already gone home on leave to visit his family. The current highest military officer is the deputy battalion commander, Gao Cheng. If he fails to do anything properly, he can't afford to lose face.

Zhang Anbang laid out the stack of A4 military-style draft paper he had just taken out, held the Hero fountain pen filled with blue-black ink between his fingertips, and began to write the plan.

The new plan is actually similar in structure to the directing plan, coordination plan, and safety plan of previous winter training, field exercises, and live-fire shooting exercises.

All he has to do is replace the time, troop strength, venue, and assessment indicators from previous years, and then modify the specific assessment standards to meet the new requirements for this year.

An hour passed quickly, and Zhang Anbang had already outlined the general framework. He put down his pen, picked up a military coordinate ruler and half a red and blue pencil lying horizontally on his desk, and began his work.

These two items are essential tools for staff officers when formulating plans, just like the steel guns in the hands of soldiers, used to outline the daily training schedule and troop organization.

Comparing the training plans with those of previous years, Zhang Anbang gradually adjusted the training indicators and movement routes, marking them with a red pencil in the blank spaces of the file.

Following the old plan's framework, the overall plan for the reconnaissance battalion's ten-day winter training was rewritten word by word.

After writing for another hour, Zhang Anbang took out a 1:5 paper topographic map from the cabinet and repeatedly checked the designated field training area for this year.

They continuously marked out dangerous terrain such as snow, ice slopes, ravines, and wind gaps in the training area.

In the quiet night, heavy blackout curtains were drawn along the windowsill, and a military-style internal telephone stood silently on the table. Only the scratching sound of a pen nib gliding across the paper could be heard.

Soon it was ten o'clock at night, and there was a knock on the door. Zhang Anbang didn't even look up, casually said "Come in" and continued to bury himself in drawing on the paper.

The office door opened, and clerk Zhao Zerui walked in with a cup of tea. "Deputy section chief, I made you a cup of tea. Have some to refresh yourself. This is tea that the section chief keeps in his office. Everyone says it tastes quite good."

Zhang Anbang finished drawing the last thick solid line on the outer edge, which was a solid line that closed the outermost circle of the entire winter field training map.

It also involves demarcating the boundaries for live-fire tactical training, controlling the entire area, isolating unrelated personnel, and establishing a safety blockade line for civilian roads.

This is also the last long line to finish the entire drawing assignment; only after this line is drawn can it be considered a complete attached drawing.

Zhang Anbang put down his pencil, looked up at the clerk who was keeping him company while he worked overtime, took the teacup, and said with a smile, "Clerk Zhao, thank you for your hard work. Since it's tea left by the section chief, I definitely have to try it."

"Haha, Deputy Section Chief, it's no trouble at all, it's what I should do. It's you, Deputy Section Chief, who's only been in office for two days and is already working overtime until this late. You're the one who's really working hard."

As Zhao Wenshu handed over the teacup, he glanced at several sheets of paper on the side of the table. Each sheet of paper had a huge red cross drawn across it, a cross that ran the entire length of the paper.

The paper also had two neat red characters written on it: "Invalid".

Looking at the few thin sheets of paper, Zhao Zerui knew that, based on his three or four years of experience in handling rejected drafts, there were no more than five sheets. It seemed that the deputy section chief's proposal was still far from satisfactory.

Based on his experience, writing a complete training plan, including a written manuscript and hand-drawn diagrams showing the complete field divisions, entry routes, live-fire restricted areas, and obstacle courses, would take at least eight hours.

It must be said that there were no interruptions during the eight hours. In this state of focused work all day, there were usually twenty or thirty drafts that were discarded, which piled up into a thick little stack.

Zhang Anbang finished the tea Zhao Wenshu had brewed in one gulp, and gave a thumbs up with great appreciation, "Zhao Wenshu, you're right, the section chief's tea is indeed very good."

He paused for a moment, then continued with a chuckle, "Never mind, I'll just call you Old Zhao. It feels more comfortable that way."

Zhao Zerui nodded and smiled, "Sure, Deputy Section Chief, calling me Old Zhao is fine."

"Okay, Lao Zhao, here are some drafts for you to work on. I just got here and I'm already making you work overtime with me. But it's okay, the proposal is finished. I'll treat you to drinks tomorrow."

As he spoke, Zhang Anbang put all the documents away and locked them in the safe.

"Okay, Deputy Section Chief, I'll get ready right away," Zhao Zerui replied casually. "Hey, Deputy Section Chief, what did you say? You've already finished the plan? So fast! I remember you only started writing it after dinner?"

As Zhang Anbang put the key to the safe into his pocket, he replied, "To be precise, this is not the end yet. We still need to wait for the section chief's approval and revise all the annotations before this plan can be considered finalized."