The Reunion Day of ten thousand families is a heavy responsibility

■ People's Liberation Army Daily reporter Mei Shixiong, Song Zixun, Liu Baorui

In the early morning of February 1, longitude 130° east, latitude 49° north, minus 38 ° C, wind force 8.

In the ice and snow, Sergeant Tang Hao and his comrades once again embarked on the wind and snow patrol road.

The place where a certain border defense company of the army in the northern theater where Tang Hao was stationed was sparsely populated, and only the endless snow field accompanied the officers and men.

Through the forest sea, stepping on the snow field, the team went all the way forward. "Everybody step hard and follow the team." Company commander Wang Wendong walked in the forefront, turning back from time to time to remind his comrades-in-arms to pay attention to safety under their feet.

The mountain road is steep and has a gradient of nearly 50 degrees. Officers and soldiers stepped on the thick snow, and every step forward was very difficult.

Under extremely cold conditions, the cotton hats of officers and men were covered with white frost, blending with the color of snow, and the cold wind blew their faces with pain.

"The nose seems to be frozen and it feels hard to breathe." Corporal Zhao Xinpeng gasped and gritted his teeth.

At a turn, the superior soldier He Wuqiang slipped and lost his center of gravity, and his body slid down the hillside...

At the critical moment, Wang Bin, the last instructor of the team, and Tong Ziwen, the sergeant in front of him, opened their arms and joined forces to hold He Wuqiang and defuse the dangerous situation.

"Forward! forward! Moving forward..." The officers and men sang military songs and cheered each other on.

Tang Hao has not returned home for the Spring Festival for 8 consecutive years. During the Spring Festival holiday, he fought on the wind and snow patrol road, and together with his comrades-in-arms, he guarded the peace and tranquility of the motherland's border.

"I am also homesick for the New Year and look forward to being reunited with my family." Tang Hao said frankly, "But I never regretted coming to the Border Pass Barracks, and I was very proud to think that my persistence had brought more people to reunite." ”

When the whole country was celebrating, the soldiers did not get out of the saddle. "It is our sacred duty to stand guard, put up a good post, and guard the border well for the motherland and the people, and the happiness and tranquility of the people is the common New Year's wish of all military personnel." Sergeant Zhang Hua said.

Jungle patrol to protect the reunion

■ Dong Haohao, Li Qing, reporter of the People's Liberation Army Daily, Duan Jiangshan

During the Spring Festival, a port in Xishuangbanna, Yunnan Province, exudes a festive atmosphere.

Not far away, in the mountain pass, the officers and men of the 7th Company of a border defense brigade of the Southern Theater Army stationed here were busier than usual.

Patrol detachments are ready to go. "During the Spring Festival, the number of people in border areas increased, the situation was complicated, and the stability of border defense faced more challenges." Wang Di, the leader of the patrol team and the platoon leader, inspected the patrol materials carried by him one by one, and from time to time instructed: "There are many ants on the road, everyone should pay more attention, bring more salt..."

Patrol vehicles carrying heavily armed patrol detachments drove deep into the dense forests of the mountains. Near the border line, officers and men got out of their cars and headed for the steep summit.

On the mountain road, a fellow villager hummed a Daixiang folk song and approached him. He waved a greeting to the patrol officers and men: "Happy New Year!" You've worked hard! ”

The officers and men on patrol responded enthusiastically. Fourth-class sergeant major Zhao Peng couldn't help but think of his parents, wives and children in his hometown, and his thoughts were endless: "A family is not round, put on a military uniform to guard the border pass for the motherland, our efforts are worth it." ”

At the end of the patrol path is a cliff with strange rocks. After a difficult climb, the officers and soldiers climbed over the cliff. While resting on the spot, He Keji, a private who participated in the patrol for the first time, took off his camouflage hat and wiped the sweat from his forehead, but found that there was blood on his hands.

"It was cut by a leaf." After the hygienist Li Hong examined, he carefully cleaned the wound and dressed the wound carefully. For patrol officers and men, mosquito bites, rock bumps, etc. are commonplace in patrols.

The patrol set off again. Marching rapidly, the officers and men reached the top of the mountain. Seeing the two large red characters of "China" carved on the marble boundary stele in the distance, He Keji was excited. While painting the boundary monument red, he said: "With my back to the motherland and guarding the boundary monument, at this moment I feel the pride of being a border guard." ”

Takahara shou shou practice loyalty

■ Yan Liang, special correspondent of the People's Liberation Army Daily, and Wu Jun, correspondent

"It's a clear morning, the whistle of the pigeons is accompanied by the sound of the wake-up call..." On the first day of the Chinese New Year, the first rays of the morning sun illuminated the 5592 observation post. This border post, at an altitude of 5,592 meters, shines in the morning light.

"Collection!" With the order of the sentry commander Wang Xu, the reporter followed a Border Patrol team of more than 10 people to quickly board the train and march towards the Qudeng Nyima Glacier at an altitude of more than 6,000 meters.

After 1 hour, the car stopped at the foot of the snow peak. "We have to climb over snow-capped mountains, cross cliffs caused by landslides in many places, and always be on the lookout for rolling stones and cracks in ice." Wang Xu said.

Soon after the patrol set off, the wind rolled snowflakes and flew all over the sky. The sleeves and necks of Wang Xu and his comrades-in-arms quickly burrowed into a lot of snow particles, first turning into water and then freezing into ice... The deep snow and steep slopes make every step of the way difficult.

The first time I stepped on the patrol road, the soldiers and horses were fresh everywhere. He struggled to overcome the discomfort caused by altitude sickness and kept up with the veterans.

"The boundary monument is in front!" Wang Xu encouraged everyone while observing the terrain. The team members followed Wang Xu and climbed up one by one.

The fierce wind rolled up the floating snow and whipped in the face, hurting like a knife. After 5 hours of arduous trekking, the patrol officers and men finally arrived at the predetermined point.

Successfully reaching the point, Ma Feng could not hide the excitement in his heart. After completing the scheduled task, the 4 soldiers unfurled a five-star red flag they carried with them, and Ma Feng and his comrades-in-arms clenched their right fists and reported to the motherland: "This is the Qudeng Nyima Glacier, there is me at the border, please rest assured that the motherland and the people!" ”

Source: China Military Network - People's Liberation Army Daily