Source: People's Liberation Army Daily client · China Military Number
Some roads, some people, will be given a different meaning because of special and unique time nodes.
In the early morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year, the laughter of the Chinese New Year's Eve still echoed in the ears. The reporter followed the officers and men of the Yimu River Defense Company located at the top of the "chicken crown" of the motherland and embarked on the road of the first patrol in the new spring.
The company was stationed deep in the Daxing'an Mountains, where snow fell for up to seven months a year and there were no patrol roads within its jurisdiction. According to the custom, every winter, officers and soldiers will open up a passage for patrolling and material supply on the boundary river in the form of an "ice road", but this winter, the Erguna River has not been completely frozen for a long time, and forcibly "breaking the ice road" will face a huge safety hazard.
Officers and soldiers plowed the steep hillside. Taken on February 1, 2022. Xinhua News Agency.
The clock was pointing to 7:30 in the morning, and it was just after dawn. The morning sun reflects the picturesque snowy fields on the banks of the Erguna River.
But the romantic snow scene in front of him, Ma Zequn has no time to taste. As the leader of the "first shift of the New Year", the young company commander's eyes were always paying attention to the surrounding situation, and there was a kind of "tension and concentration that can only be found on the battlefield" in his eyes.
At minus 39 °C, the cold wind was biting, and the reporter started the "journey" with this patrol team in the long snowy field of the Boundary River. The moment he stepped into the snow, the reporter couldn't help but stumble forward. Looking down, the snow had reached the ankle. Every time you lift your feet, you have to pull your legs out of the snow hard to take the next step. Even if there is a small road in front of the comrades-in-arms, it is still very difficult to walk.
Walking along the snow-capped boundary river, the lightness of the snowflakes under your feet will make people feel the weight of responsibility on their shoulders in an instant.
Officers and men on patrol went to the intended observation site. Taken on February 1, 2022. Xinhua News Agency.
A fierce wind blew through, and his face was like a knife cutting, and it was fiercely stinging. However, the pace of the officers and men did not hesitate at all. "On the battlefield, the wind and snow will not become gentle to anyone!" Ma Zequn said with a serious face.
Soon, the reporters walking in the patrol could only hear their own accelerated heartbeat and rapid breathing. One foot deep, one foot shallow, the reporter, who was still shivering in the cold wind when he set out, had begun to sweat.
From the company to the duty station, the officers and men had to cross a small hill about 300 meters long and with an inclination of almost 60 degrees. On the hillside, the original uneven rocks are "paved" with layers of snow, and the soles of the feet are as smooth as "oil". Looking around, there is no object in the field of vision that can be climbed, which also means that if you are not careful, you are in danger of falling.
About fifty meters away, Peng Gaoji, a soldier who was walking in the forefront, stepped on the scattered dead branches under the snow, and his body fell uncontrollably down the hillside. Corporal Chang Long, who was walking behind him, was experienced in patrolling and hurriedly took a big step forward to hold Peng Gaoji against him. The rest of the officers and men also reacted quickly, discussing the use of belts as a traction and connecting with each other. Yi Xiaolong, a soldier who has been in the team for less than a year, also climbed this hillside for the first time, saying: "Even if the road is difficult, as long as everyone works together, they can be fearless." ”
Ma Zequn, commander of the Imu River Defense Company, gave mission orders at the observation site. Taken on February 1, 2022. Xinhua News Agency.
After many tests, the squad finally arrived at the scheduled duty point. Ma Zequn quickly judged the current situation and issued a task order. After receiving the order, the reserve group quickly occupied a favorable position to implement vigilance, closely monitored the dynamics in person, and the leader of the observation group, Chang Long, took out a telescope to observe the target and recorded relevant data.
In winter, the day on the Imu River is only seven or eight hours, and if night comes, night will add another "barrier" to the already precipitous road conditions. In order to ensure the safe completion of the task, after the observation, the officers and men immediately counted the equipment and embarked on the way back.
Along the way, the reporter was already breathless and his legs and feet were weak. Walking in the snow during the day is still so difficult, and the difficulty of marching at night is unimaginable: the low temperature of minus 30 to 40 degrees Celsius, the irresistible tiredness, such as the devouring of ink night... If we don't experience it for ourselves, it may be difficult for us to know how tenacious the will of this group of young warriors must be to resist the test of wind and snow, guarding the northern frontier of the motherland day and night.
The officers and men of the reserve group exercise vigilance. Taken on February 1, 2022. Xinhua News Agency.
On the way back, company commander Ma Zequn, as usual, led the team to "report" in front of the statue of the old company commander Du Hong martyr: "Old company commander, Happy New Year!" I came back with my brothers on duty. Rest assured, the officers and men of our Yimu River will always hold their positions in the battlefield and guard our national borders. ”
Ma Zequn, a company commander who returned from the patrol, led the officers and men to report in front of the tomb of du Hong, the old company commander. Taken on February 1, 2022. Xinhua News Agency.
Walking on this road, sometimes I feel bitter and lonely. Corporal Li Yan said: "But as long as you believe that the choices you make are valuable and meaningful, those bitternesses will become sweet." ”
(Produced by the People's Liberation Army Daily client and China Military)