In the foggy early morning, He Xianping stood at the foot of the main peak of the old mountain, his gaze penetrating the blurred scene ahead. A solemn admonition from the division commander echoed in his ears: "If you have an accident, Vietnam will brag and kill the chief of staff of the PLA regiment." This sentence was like a bolt of lightning, stirring up layers of waves in He Xianping's heart. However, everything around him seems to be testing his resolve, and in the thick fog, there are not only unknown dangers, but also infinite desire for victory.
He Xianping knew very well that as the regimental chief of staff, his every action had a bearing on the morale and combat effectiveness of the entire unit. But on this battlefield, which is known as the most critical in the self-defense counterattack against Vietnam, every step must be careful, because this is not only the front line of the battle, but also the edge of life and death.
Laoshan Frontline: He Xianping's Return and Challenges
Early one morning in September 1986, He Xianping received a telegram from the troops, which was brief and urgent, summoning him to return to the army immediately to join the war. He immediately gathered his personal equipment and set out on the journey back to the unit without hesitation. After a long journey, He Xianping arrived at the Laoshan battlefield, which was the key area of the self-defense counterattack against Vietnam, and the main peak of Laoshan and the terrain near it constituted the main part of the battlefield.
He Xianping, who arrived at the front line, was faced with a tense and severe battlefield environment. With its steep terrain and strategic location, the main peak of Laoshan has become the key to the entire theater of operations. It not only carries the honor of the battlefield, but also faces the enemy's key attacks. In order to familiarize himself with the complex terrain and position deployment as soon as possible, He Xianping decided to personally inspect every corner.
He Xianping's arrival quickly attracted the attention of the command post of the troops. After a brief exchange, he took Staff Officer Wang to various positions to conduct on-the-spot inspections. The two of them followed a winding mountain road, through dense jungles, and approached the front line step by step. On the way, Ho Xianping emphasized the importance of field visits, believing that only by experiencing the complex environment of the battlefield can we formulate tactics and strategies more accurately.
The footprints of He Xianping and Staff Officer Wang covered every position and outpost in the main peak of Laoshan and its surroundings. From time to time, they paused to take detailed notes on the features of the terrain, the layout of their positions, and possible tactical points. At each new location, Ho would communicate with the local defenders and learn about their daily lives and fighting conditions. Despite the arduous process, He Xianping persevered, and he hoped that through his own efforts, he would be able to contribute to the combat readiness of the troops.
This kind of diligence day and night made him soon become a legendary figure in the mouth of the front-line officers and soldiers. They witnessed He Xianping's diligence, and their admiration for him also grew. However, such a high-intensity working state also aroused the attention and worry of the division commander. After a routine report, the division commander deliberately left He Xianping behind and solemnly expressed his worries to him over the phone.
On the other end of the phone, the voice of the division commander was both stern and full of concern. He noted that while Ho's courage and sense of responsibility are admirable, his personal safety is equally important. The division commander stressed that if an unfortunate incident occurred because of He Xianping's reckless behavior, it would give the enemy an opportunity to take advantage of it, not only to lose an excellent chief of staff, but also to give the enemy a spiritual encouragement. "I know that you are not afraid of death, but your life belongs not only to you personally, but also to the entire army, to our great motherland. The words of the division leader hit He Xianping's heart hard.
After the call ended, He Xianping stood in the command post, so silent that only a faint whistle could be heard from the distant position. The moonlight shines through the window, on the map, every route, every mark, is a witness to his footsteps. He understood that the division commander's worries were not unfounded, but were based on a deep understanding of the battlefield situation and a responsible attitude toward the safety of the lives of officers and men.
Improving Efficiency: Innovative Management Strategies
After He Xianping realized that relying only on maps and telephone communication was not enough, he decided to adopt a series of innovative management measures to make up for this shortcoming. He organized the personnel of the headquarters and organized them into working groups, each with specific tasks and objectives, which were ready to be assigned to various positions throughout the regiment to carry out field work.
These working groups not only include experts in tactical planning, communications and liaison, and logistical support, but also set up several special teams to be responsible for morale enhancement and battlefield psychological counseling to ensure that the morale of officers and men on the front line is maintained high in the difficult combat environment. He Xianping personally participated in the organization and assignment of the working groups, ensuring that each team could give full play to its expertise and complete its tasks efficiently.
The members of the working group went to the designated positions in batches with their mission letters and the necessary equipment. They went deep into every corner of the front line, ate and lived with the officers and men of the battle, and personally experienced the hardships of life on the battlefield. This kind of personal experience has enabled the personnel of the organs to have a deeper understanding of the actual situation on the front line, and has also made them closer to reality when making plans and decisions, which has effectively improved the quality of decision-making and the efficiency of the command headquarters.
With the arrival of the members of the working group, the officers and soldiers on the front line felt the care and support from the headquarters. They actively communicated with the members of the working group and raised many practical questions and suggestions. The members of the working group carefully took note of the immediate resolution of issues that could be solved, and on the other hand, brought back to command for in-depth discussion some of the issues that needed to be resolved or adjusted over the long term. This kind of two-way and in-depth communication has greatly enhanced the contact and trust between the officers and soldiers on the front line and the command headquarters.
Through the efforts of the working group, some long-standing problems of front-line officers and men have been resolved, such as the improvement of communications and liaison, the optimization and adjustment of material supplies, and the strengthening of battlefield medical services, which have greatly improved combat efficiency and the morale of soldiers. At the same time, the members of the working group also brought the heroic deeds and valuable experience of the officers and men on the front line back to the headquarters, so that the entire unit could learn and be inspired by them.
In addition, He Xianping also stressed the importance of logistical support and battlefield medical teams to ensure that front-line officers and soldiers receive full support in terms of material and medical support. Through field work, the teams gained a detailed understanding of the actual needs of the frontline and developed a more precise and efficient logistical support plan.
Problem solving: Focus on the real needs of soldiers
During a routine front-line inspection, the soldiers reported to him the poor hygiene conditions at the forward observation post, especially the problem of defecation, which became a major problem in their daily lives. Although this question may seem simple, it is directly related to the health and morale of soldiers. In the battlefield environment, this basic living condition is often overlooked, but He Xianping knows that only by solving the actual problems of soldiers can we ensure that they can devote themselves wholeheartedly to the battle.
He Xianping did not adopt the traditional method of issuing orders from the headquarters, but personally led a team composed of logistics and engineering personnel to go deep into the forward observation post for on-the-spot investigation. They investigated the terrain at the site, the distribution of water sources, and the exact number of soldiers used to ensure that the new defecation ditch met the actual needs and did not contaminate the water source or affect the surrounding environment.
Under the guidance of Ho Hin Ping, the engineering team quickly began construction and adopted a simple and practical design scheme. They chose to dig a deep trench at the appropriate location from the observation post, reinforcing the trench wall with surrounding soil and stones, and erecting improvised wooden planks above the trench as a tread to ensure safety when using it. In order to prevent rainwater from washing and the spread of odors, the ditch cover is also specially designed to maintain ventilation and avoid the direct entry of rainwater.
Although the work is not complicated, under the personal supervision of He Xianping, every detail is strived to be the best. After the completion of the project, He Xianping also organized an on-site demonstration and training to ensure that every soldier could use the newly built facilities correctly, and put forward specific requirements for maintenance and cleaning.
This initiative was widely praised by the soldiers on the front line. After solving the health problems that have plagued them for a long time, the soldiers feel that their living conditions have improved significantly, which not only improves their quality of life, but more importantly, strengthens their confidence and fighting morale in the face of difficult conditions. They witnessed first-hand a commander's deep concern for the lives of his soldiers, and this concern translated into a powerful drive and cohesion, which made the entire unit more united and more determined to face the battle.
Frontline Leader: Ho Hin Ping's Extraordinary Contribution
In the next six months, He Xianping's footsteps spread to almost every inch of land in the area of responsibility. On each departure, he carried the necessary maps and communications equipment to ensure that he could maintain contact with the command even in the most remote positions. His itinerary was usually well arranged, with plans to visit all the positions and posts assigned to him during the week, totaling more than 70 kilometers.
To ensure that every visit is effective, Ho often sets out before dawn and takes advantage of the cool mornings to walk longer distances. He walked through the jungle and over the mountains, whether it was hot or cold, sunny or rainy, he always insisted on this frequency and rhythm. This extraordinary diligence and tenacity have made him a legendary figure in the mouths of officers and soldiers on the front line.
Whenever He Xianping went to a position or outpost, he always first met with the soldiers who were serving there and asked them about their needs and suggestions. He checks the maintenance of weapons and equipment, keeps track of the progress of daily training, and personally participates in the training activities of the soldiers, providing tactical guidance and skills training from time to time. In the course of his field trips, He Xianping paid special attention to details that were easily overlooked, such as the camouflage of the position, whether the view from the observation post was clear, and whether the living conditions of the soldiers had improved.
This leadership style of He Xianping has greatly improved combat efficiency and morale. The soldiers witnessed the hands-on work of a senior commander and felt the care and support from their superiors, which greatly boosted their confidence and team cohesion. He Xianping's deep understanding of front-line conditions enabled him to be closer to reality in tactical planning and decision-making, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of the overall operation.
Under Ho's influence, closer ties were established between the command and the front. His actions have encouraged more commanders and cadres to take a similar approach, going to the front lines, communicating directly with soldiers, and solving problems together. This positive change from top to bottom enables the whole team to be more united and show strong combat effectiveness in the face of a complex and changeable battlefield environment.
- Pan Kaien.Return to the Historical Scene——The 35th Anniversary of the Self-Defense Counterattack War against Vietnam[J].Social Observation,2014(3):75-77