Chapter 51: Visiting the Military Region

"Military district camp?" Li Yousi asked.

"Yes. Would comrade Li Yousi be interested in coming along to take a look? You can also find some inspiration with me. I've noticed you haven't been writing much this month."

"Of course. If I go, do I need to report to the director first? Let's go take a look together!"

"I'll have someone send word. It's completely fine for the literary department to visit the camps for material gathering."

Li Yousi had been with the Zhanqi Song and Dance Troupe for over a year, but he had only ever visited the military district camp's auditorium for performances. As for "material gathering," he had never participated in it, having only been promoted a few months ago.

Chen Xiaotao led Li Yousi outside the propaganda section, where a car was waiting. After getting in, he instructed the comrade in the front:

"Let's go."

The engine roared to life, carrying the two away from the Zhanqi Song and Dance Troupe and toward the largest military camp in the entire Chengcheng Military District.

---

"Passed?"

Inside the propaganda section office, Director Wang shouted with a hint of excitement. "An order issued directly by a high-ranking commander?"

"It's going to *People's Literature*?"

"We're going to a guesthouse in Beiping to revise the novel? Someone has already arranged everything?"

The telephone on the other end crackled a few times, and after giving a rough outline of the arrangements, the line went dead.

After hanging up, Wang Hai left the office and hurried over to the creative writing room. He cast his usual routine glance at the doorway and finally his gaze stopped on that empty seat:

"Old He, where is Li Yousi? Hasn't he come to the creative room today?"

He Dehua shook his head. "Haven't seen him. I saw him once at breakfast, but I haven't laid eyes on him since I got back to the office."

"Then he might still be resting today."

Wang Hai turned around, intending to go straight to the dormitory to notify Li Yousi. Without his authorization, Li Yousi was not permitted to leave the troupe.

Just then, Zhang Jianjun at the entrance strode toward Wang Hai in two or three steps:

"Director Wang."

"Something the matter?"

"Teacher Li asked me to pass along a message. He and Teacher Chen Xiaotao went down to the camp together."

"Which camp?"

"Chengcheng Military District."

Upon hearing this, Wang Hai felt it was a bit far, and he suddenly let out a sigh. "Well then, I suppose I'll just have to wait until he gets back."

He Dehua couldn't help asking out of curiosity, "Why were you in such a rush to find him this morning? Is it urgent?"

Wang Hai smiled and replied, "Of course. The novel he submitted a little over a month ago reached the General Political and Cultural Department, and later it was seen by a high-ranking commander who gave his full support for Comrade Li Yousi to publish it."

---

Before long, leaving the urban area behind and winding around a few small hills, seeing almost no one around and very little smoke from cooking fires, the car entered the military district camp.

Looking from the outside, several sentries with loaded rifles stood at the armed entrance, checking identification papers before letting anyone pass.

Once inside the camp, one could hear the deafening chants from the training grounds: "One, two, three! One, two, three!" Though the shouts carried a distinct local Sichuan accent.

The car drove slowly inward.

On the sports ground, thousands upon thousands of soldiers were neatly arranged in rows, jogging in the morning light.

Chen Xiaotao remarked, "Look at this squadron, see how cleanly they run..."

"The two of us will head to the artillery unit first. Later, I'll go down to interview these comrades about their conditions."

Li Yousi nodded.

The jeep came to a halt in front of the command post. Chen Xiaotao hopped out and straightened his military cap.

Li Yousi followed closely behind.

Officer Wang of the artillery unit hurried forward to salute, his gaze sweeping over Li Yousi with a slight frown—he didn't recognize this person.

"This is Li Yousi, a creative writer from the song and dance troupe," Chen Xiaotao introduced. "He's here to gather material."

Hearing this, Officer Wang's eyes lit up, and he immediately handed over two cigarettes. "I've heard of him! We've seen promotions for him in the *Sichuan Daily* recently! Our Shu region has finally produced a great writer."

"Haha, Comrade Little Li is indeed talented." Chen Xiaotao accepted the cigarette.

Officer Wang then produced two steel helmets:

"The artillery position is currently conducting live-fire exercises, please be sure to follow me closely."

Li Yousi looked up curiously toward the horizon, where an artillery shell roared into the distance, leaving behind a trail of fire.

The period of fastest progress in domestic military technology was probably after the Gulf War, but even with the current lagging equipment, seeing it up close carried a tremendous impact for someone who had never witnessed it before.

They followed Officer Wang deeper inside.

The three walked and talked as they went. From time to time, soldiers would run past, finish saluting, and continue on their way.

Officer Wang asked, "Old Chen, why have you been coming so frequently these past few days?"

Chen Xiaotao replied, "I got some inspiration a few days ago and have been wanting to write it down. After walking through the camp these past few days, I feel like I'm finally about to write it."

"When you finish writing it, remember to bring the instrumental troupe to perform for us first."

"I'll definitely remember your camp first! You've been a tremendous help to me!"

After walking a full circle, Li Yousi felt as though he had gained a bit of enlightenment as well.

---

While the other two went off to comfort the troops, Li Yousi asked, "May I go to the dormitories to interview the soldiers?"

It was not unusual for military writers to visit the camps for material gathering; often they had to eat, live, and experience the atmosphere right alongside the soldiers. Writers valued authenticity above all else.

In the spring of 1979, Li Cunbao went to the Yunnan frontline combat troops and Guangxi participating troops as a writer, eating and living with frontline officers and soldiers for four months. Having heard and witnessed many tragic and moving stories, *Wreaths at the Foot of the Mountain* was born from those experiences.

Officer Wang considered this. "Um... they're over that way, but everyone is training right now. Why don't you go after lunch, right before the noon break?"

Li Yousi nodded.

At noon, they ate at the military district camp's mess hall.

True to form, the food was just as unappealing as the song and dance troupe's.

He borrowed Chen Xiaotao's camera, along with some paper and a pen! With the camera hanging around his neck and a pen clutched in his hand, who could possibly doubt that he was a writer with this appearance?

Assuming a serious demeanor, Li Yousi embarked on his journey alone. Officer Wang offered to find someone to assist him, but Li Yousi politely declined.

As for Chen Xiaotao, he and Officer Wang arranged to meet at the entrance of the command post before the afternoon session, and then they parted ways since their objectives were slightly different.

---

Arriving at the dormitories.

Much like the song and dance troupe, more than ten people shared a room. The smell of sweat could be smelled right outside the door, and fortunately it was winter; in summer, it would likely be much worse.

Li Yousi coughed lightly and knocked on the door.

A commotion of playful shoving echoed from inside.

After a moment.

The door was opened by a tall man—he looked nearly one meter eighty-five, truly like a giant in this era. "Hello."

Li Yousi held up his notebook. "I'm a writer from the song and dance troupe, named Li Yousi. I'd like to interview a few comrades here. Am I interrupting anything?"

He checked his watch; there was still half an hour before official noon break.

"Oh! Not at all, everyone's just chatting!"

"Then come on in, comrade."

Several people sized up the man before them. The song and dance troupe had quite a few creative writers, but the good thing was that these folks were generally better than inspectors—at the very least, most of them were easy to talk to and would even hand out cigarettes.

Speaking of handing out cigarettes...

Li Yousi pulled a pack of Peony cigarettes from his chest pocket. He didn't smoke himself, but holding his position meant he inevitably had to share them with others on a regular basis, so he always kept some on hand.