Dawn had just broken and the mist had not yet completely lifted. In the silence of Yunnan, an abrupt telephone rang in the barracks of the 94th Regiment of the 11th Army, breaking the silence of the morning. The instructor of the company and Zixing sat at the table, staring solemnly at the worn photograph in his hand, in which the man was smiling and looking carefree. It is in stark contrast to the heavy atmosphere around me. He gently put down the photo and took a deep breath, as if preparing for the day ahead.
Just as he was about to go out, the horn of an emergency assembly suddenly sounded in the camp. An ominous premonition welled up in his mind that something might be happening on the border. He Zixing quickly put on his hat, sorted out his equipment, and led his team to the designated assembly point. What they will face may be an unexpected battle.
1. The combat readiness work of the 2nd Garrison Division in the early days of its establishment
In December 1985, the establishment of the 2nd Garrison Division marked the birth of a completely new military force. At this critical period, Colonel Liu Zhijun, as director of the division's political department, faced the primary task of ensuring that this unit could quickly complete its combat readiness deployment and ensure the safety and stability of the border defense line. He decided to personally visit all the companies, positions and posts under the division, which was a huge and difficult task, since the border line was 848 kilometers long and involved a number of geographically complex and strategically important areas.
Director Liu's operation began at the headquarters of the division, where he rode in a military vehicle through rugged mountain roads and incomplete passages. On the way, he stopped from time to time to check the map and terrain, and discussed the route and timing with the accompanying staff. They first reached a company in the far north, where the military facilities were relatively rudimentary and the soldiers held their posts in harsh conditions. Colonel Liu Zhijun inspected the company's equipment and material reserves in detail, inquired about the soldiers' living conditions and training, and listened carefully to the company commander's report on border security.
At each position and outpost, Director Liu would go deep into the sentry's post to understand the details of the sentry's duty and what he observed. In particular, he stressed the importance of vigilance and discipline, checked the operation of communication equipment, and instructed soldiers on how to respond to possible emergencies. At key points along the border, such as the junction of rivers and mountains, he spends more time making sure that all strategic deployments are optimized to effectively monitor and defend against any potential threats.
During the trip, Director Liu did not forget to strengthen political work, and he would hold a symposium for soldiers to emphasize the country's border defense policy and the responsibilities of the army. Through these discussions, the soldiers not only learned the importance of their work, but also felt the care and support of the division headquarters. Director Liu also paid special attention to the living conditions of the soldiers, and he asked the logistics department to ensure the smooth flow of supply lines and improve the food and lodging conditions of the officers and men.
In addition, Colonel Yoo Ji-jun left his footprints at every important point in the border line. Whether it was a mountain outpost or a riverside defense line, he personally inspected it, discussed defensive strategies with front-line soldiers, and understood the actual needs and voices of front-line soldiers. This direct communication greatly enhanced the soldiers' awareness of the mission and their trust in the leadership.
2. The geographical location of the 4th Garrison Regiment and its strategic importance
Reading the records of Liu Zhijun's visit to the 4th Garrison Regiment, you will find that there is a hole in the sky, and the 4th Garrison Regiment is stationed in Hekou County, Yunnan Province, which bears unique military responsibilities due to its geographical location. The Nanxi River and the Red River meet here, forming a key international border. This location is not only the lowest point in Yunnan Province, but also an important waterway into Vietnam, making the region of particular strategic importance.
Due to the sensitivity of the border line, the task of garrisoning the 4th regiment was extremely difficult. The regimental headquarters was located in a small town surrounded by a river valley, surrounded by various military installations. The main complex of the regimental headquarters is located on a small high ground, from which the confluence of the Nanxi and Red rivers can be monitored, ensuring that any suspicious activity can be quickly detected and dealt with.
The 4th Garrison Regiment is equipped with advanced surveillance equipment, which is installed at key monitoring points, such as the nearby heights where rivers meet, as well as a number of specially set up observation posts. These technical means have greatly enhanced the regiment's surveillance capability and enabled officers and men to monitor the dynamics of the border line 24 hours a day.
The soldiers in the unit are spread across multiple squads and posts, each with a clear mission area and responsibilities. These squads rotate throughout the year to maintain alertness and responsiveness among officers and soldiers. On important holidays or special circumstances, the 4th Garrison Regiment will also send additional patrol teams to strengthen border patrols and control.
The 4th Garrison Regiment is not only responsible for surveillance and patrolling, but also needs to deal with various incidents that may occur along the border, including smuggling, smuggling and other transnational crimes. In order to effectively deal with these complex situations, the regimental headquarters has set up an intelligence analysis room, which is responsible for collecting and analyzing all kinds of intelligence information along the border. This unit works closely with other military and civilian intelligence agencies to ensure timely information sharing and efficient execution of response strategies.
In order to strengthen the actual combat capability of the troops, the 4th Garrison Regiment also regularly conducts various tactical training and exercises, including night combat training, rapid response drills, and emergency evacuation exercises. These trainings are designed to improve soldiers' combat skills and teamwork skills, ensuring that they can respond quickly and effectively to a variety of situations in real combat.
In addition, the 4th Garrison Regiment also attaches great importance to relations with the local community, and often organizes officers and soldiers to participate in community service and auxiliary activities of the local government. These activities not only enhanced the integration of the military and the people, but also enhanced the goodwill and support of the local residents for the army, and created a good social environment for maintaining border security.
3. The infrastructure and cultural life of the 4th Garrison Regiment
Inside the battalion headquarters of the 4th Garrison Regiment, there is a simple but fully functional small auditorium, which is not only a place for daily cultural entertainment and assembly of officers and soldiers, but also carries many important cultural and historical activities. Although the structure of the building is not complicated, the interior facilities are complete, including an audience area that can accommodate three or four hundred people and a stage with simple equipment. Although the walls of the auditorium are only cement walls with white paint, they are clean and tidy enough to meet the needs of various gatherings and performances.
In the early 1980s, it was one of the filming locations for the movie "Garland Under the Mountain". The film team chose this location because it truly reflects the living environment of the border guards, adding to the realism and immersion of the film. During the filming, the director and actors worked closely with the officers and soldiers of the 4th Garrison Regiment to complete the filming of key scenes of the film. The interior of the auditorium was temporarily transformed into an important scene in the film, and the set designers used the existing facilities and a few simple props to create a realistic war backdrop.
During filming, the auditorium was often crowded with officers and soldiers from the regimental headquarters and surrounding units, who were both extras and spectators of the film. During these filming days, the auditorium became a small film production base. On the premise of not affecting the daily training of the army, the director team worked closely with the army commander to ensure the smooth progress of the filming. The filming of the film not only provided a new way of entertainment and learning for the officers and men, but also gave them a deeper understanding and interest in film art.
The filming of "Garland Under the Mountain" left a deep impression on the officers and soldiers. The film shows the real scene of the 1979 self-defense and counter-attack war, and it tells the heroic and sacrificial spirit of Chinese soldiers through the perspective of war. Watching the making of a movie in a place as full of military atmosphere as the auditorium makes this feeling of heroism even more deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. In the process of watching the filming, the officers and men empathized with the plot in the movie and felt a stronger sense of loyalty to the country and the nation.
Fourth, the social impact of "Garland Under the Mountain".
The movie "Garland Under the Mountain" touched the emotions of countless audiences with its realistic war depiction and profound character portrayal. Through careful scripting and clever conception by the director, the film successfully transports the audience into that turbulent era and experiences the lives and sacrifices of those warriors.
One of the highlights of the film is its plot based on real events, which not only adds to the authenticity of the story, but also allows the audience to feel the cruelty of war and the bravery of the soldiers more immersively. One of the most influential episodes is an IOU about a martyr. The martyr borrowed money for personal reasons during his lifetime, and this debt haunted him even on the battlefield. This detail reveals that even though the soldiers sacrificed their lives for the country, they could not get rid of the ordinary troubles and responsibilities of daily life, making the characters more three-dimensional and realistic.
The prototype of the plot came from an instructor and Zixing of the 6th Company of the 94th Regiment of the 11th Army at that time, who was called "a model instructor of heroic dedication" by later generations. He Zixing's experience is particularly striking, as he borrowed money due to family difficulties during his lifetime, and his sense of personal responsibility remained unrelieved despite being on the battlefield. The image of the instructor in the film deeply touched the audience, not only because of his bravery, but also because of his ordinary and real side.
The film also depicts in detail the interaction between He Zixing and his comrades-in-arms and his performance in battle. He has always been brave and fearless on the front lines, but in private, he has also tried to solve his own debt problems in the hope of easing the burden on his family. This dual loyalty to the fate of the individual and the responsibility of the state constitutes one of the profound themes of the film.
The film not only shows the cruelty and complexity of war, but also shows the humanity of the soldiers in the face of adversity. This presentation greatly enriches the audience's understanding of the war and its effects. The audience is filled with respect for these real historical figures as they see the humanity and sense of responsibility of the soldiers in extreme circumstances.
The success of "Garland Under the Mountain" lies not only in its artistic expression, but also in how it makes the viewer think about war, heroism, and the moral choices of ordinary people in extraordinary times. The screening of a film is not just a simple movie-watching experience, but a profound social education and historical re-enactment.
Garland Under the Mountain