It was supposed to be a casual game, but the Long March dungeon brought tears to everyone's eye

"The state has issued an order: the border is in dire need of attention!" The regimental commander took two heavy breaths.

"No matter where your home is, you're all turning north today, understand?!"

Squad Leader Shi, his eyes red, answered at the top of his lungs.

"clear!"

The soldiers in the carriage shouted out in response.

"clear!"

The loudspeaker quickly fell silent, and the carriage followed suit.

No one asked why it kept going.

The peaceful days they had been waiting for for over a decade were now just outside the car window.

But when the order came, they had to continue heading north.

Leaning against the carriage, Kuang Ge finally understood why Luo Laozei had put them into such an early timeline.

This is the 40th Army, which had just finished the Hainan Island Campaign.

They fought their way from the snowy mountains and black waters to the ends of the earth, the smell of gunpowder still lingering on their bodies. They should have returned to their base to rest, and gone home to see their parents, wives, and children.

When the military train arrived in Zhengzhou, the doors did not open.

It won't open when it gets to Beijing.

Even if we reach Shanhaiguan, it still won't open.

Once the order was given, they were led all the way to the northeast to prepare to fight against the combined forces of the most powerful foreign powers in the world at that time.

They didn't even have a break.

Many people can't even pass by their own front door.

Suppressed sobs suddenly rose from the corner.

A young soldier, about fifteen or sixteen years old, had his head down, his shoulders trembling.

He was too young; he could laugh with the veterans just now, but now that he heard they were going to drive all the way to the border, he couldn't hold back his tears.

Squad Leader Shi turned his head and was about to speak when a water bottle was handed to the young soldier.

The old squad leader sat down next to the young soldier at some point.

He unscrewed the kettle, held the spout to the young soldier's hand, and patted his thin back twice.

"Have a drink of water."

The young soldier looked up and hastily wiped his face.

"I...I didn't cry."

"I know, you've got sand in your eyes."

The old squad leader moved the water bottle forward a little.

He lowered his voice only after the young soldier had drunk some water.

"There's nothing shameful about being afraid."

"Wipe away your tears, and when you get there, stick close to the veterans in your platoon. Don't wander off."

The young soldier nodded vigorously, and the old squad leader then patted him on the back reassuringly.

"Let's go and beat the enemy on the other side to a pulp."

"The sooner the war ends, the sooner you can go home."

Standing a few steps away, Squad Leader Shi stared blankly at the old squad leader.

The gesture of handing him water, the force of the pats on his back, and the words "Stay close to the veteran, don't wander off" all reminded him of when he first joined the army.

Back then, he was young and afraid.

His old squad leader handed him half a pot of warm water and then stood in front of him.

Later, the old squad leader never returned in order to cover their escape.

Squad Leader Shi rubbed his eyes, and when he looked at the old squad leader again, his eyes had changed.

First, she was gentle, then she cleaned the blisters, wiped the wound, and tied a bandage. Her technique was more steady than that of many medics.

Now another small class has arrived. Their posture, eyes, and movements befitting new recruits don't look like they've just joined the army at all.

Squad Leader Shi carefully looked back and forth between the old squad leader and Ruan Ruan.

He originally thought he had only found one treasure, but now, including the kindergarten class... he's found two treasures!

However, whether he should change the way he calls him "Little Class" is a question that has left Squad Leader Shi deep in thought.

……

The military train journey took a total of seven days and seven nights.

After the regimental commander's broadcast that time, the carriage was quiet for several days.

The soldiers stopped talking about going home, and no one guessed where the troops would stop.

Just as a gust of mountain wind blew in through the cracks in the wooden planks, several soldiers leaning against the side of the carriage simultaneously looked up.

The scenery outside has changed.

The plains that once stretched to the horizon have receded behind us, and undulating mountain shadows are gradually appearing to the north.

The Great Wall, broken and intermittent, lies on the foothills of the Yanshan Mountains, and the outline of the tall fortress can still be seen in the distance.

A soldier from Northeast China approached the crack in the wood, glanced at it, grabbed the plank, and shouted excitedly.

"The First Pass Under Heaven! Shanhaiguan! We're home!"

All the soldiers from Northeast China in the carriage stood up.

"Where? Make way for me!"

"It really is Shanhaiguan Pass! We've really arrived in Northeast China!"

A dozen or so people crowded around the gaps in the wooden planks and the vents, some crying and some laughing excitedly.

Even though they all knew that Shanhaiguan would not be the stop, let alone the way home.

But once you get past this hurdle, you'll reach Northeast China.

Even if they can't go home, they should at least get off the bus and catch their breath when they arrive in Andong, and set foot on the land of Northeast China.

This little bit of hope was enough to make them happy.

Looking at the group of veterans who were both crying and laughing, Kuang Ge felt a little relieved, and then nudged Hawkeye on the shoulder.

"Hawkeye, we're already at the northeastern border."

"Do you think we'll run into that stingy old Zheng this time?"

Eagle Eye looked out from behind the wooden plank, a slight, mocking smile playing on his lips.

"If he were still alive, he'd probably be waiting for you on some kind of line."

Crazy Brother was taken aback. "What are you waiting for me for?"

"Wait until you return the meat." Hawkeye stabbed with his knife.

Kuang Ge was unconvinced and immediately glared at him.

"I ate that braised pork belly dish a long time ago!"

Hawkeye hummed in agreement.

"But we've never made a proper version of our sweet and sour pork."

Kuang Ge was speechless.

If I had to say, the sweet and sour pork was a decent return on my investment, though it was a slightly lower-budget version.

……

1950 7 Month 26 Day.

With a long whistle, the military train pulled into its final destination, Andong.

After the train door was smashed open, the soldiers, who had been cooped up for seven days, jumped out of the carriage one after another.

Whistles and commands echoed across the platform as companies and platoons assembled according to their unit numbers.

As soon as the third squad lined up, the old squad leader stood on the outermost side of the line, blocking the wind from reaching Ruan Ruan and the others.

Hawkeye lagged behind Softie by three steps.

His gaze lingered on the clock tower, the station roof, and the water tower in the distance before finally following the crowd to the platform exit.

Squad Leader Shi stood a few steps away and saw all of these actions.

The position chosen by the small group is just right to keep an eye on the outside of the third group.

The places Eagle Eye was looking at were all high points around the station.

If there really is a gunman hiding up there, he would probably be the first person in the third squad to discover it.

Squad Leader Shi's brows furrowed deeper and deeper; this kind of habit couldn't be taught in just two days.

The first thing his veterans, who had fought their way from Northeast China to Jiangnan, did after getting off the train was to find their unit and recognize its number; they wouldn't go through the entire station first.

After all, this is usually the job of scouts or sharpshooters.

Xiao Ban and Ruan Ruan are already two treasures.

Could it be that this Hawkeye is also one?

After thinking about this, Squad Leader Shi looked at Brother Kuang again.

Crazy Brother was craning his neck, looking around like a curious child.

He even grabbed a veteran from Northeast China next to him and asked Anton where he could get meat.

Squad Leader Shi glanced at Kuang Ge twice and shook his head.

Well, he does look like a new recruit.

Let alone finding another treasure.

It's good enough if Xiao Kuang can just follow orders and not act recklessly just because he's big!

Just as everyone had settled down, the company commander arrived with the quartermaster.

The quartermaster was carrying a stack of tan military uniforms with no markings on them.

The company commander stood in front of the troops and immediately gave a death order.

"Everyone, take off your PLA Type 50 uniforms and put on North Korean People's Army uniforms!"

"Hand over all cap badges, insignia, and anything bearing our military insignia. Not a single item is allowed to be left behind!"