In March 1977, as the commander of the 5th Company, I received an order to transfer the military training office. This order required me to go quickly to the regimental and divisional offices to go through the formalities, and then report to the army. At first, I was hesitant to transfer to a military agency. I was worried that I might encounter an unsuccessful challenge when I jumped to a high-level agency all at once. In my heart, I prefer to become a company commander at the grassroots level first and gain practical experience. I reported my thoughts to Chief of Staff Chai Rucheng, and he encouraged me to say that although grassroots experience is important, working in a military organ will be more conducive to my development. He believed that my many years of work experience in regimental organs and my experience as a company commander had laid a solid foundation for me. His encouragement increased my confidence and courage. So, on March 21, 1977, I left the 165th Regiment, where I had worked, lived and fought for 8 years, left the regiment commander and comrades-in-arms, bid farewell to my second hometown, Pingyuan Fort, and went to report to the military training office.
In the Military Training Department, I met Director Chen Jiafu for the first time. He bluntly told me that the commander of the 165th Regiment, Commander Wei, was reluctant to let me go, but the military organs were more able to display my talents than those in the regiment. He told me to adapt to the environment as soon as possible, familiarize myself with the situation, and show my abilities on a broader platform. The deputy director also had a similar conversation with me, inquired about my family situation, and briefed me on the characteristics and requirements of the work of the military organs. They stressed the need for staff officers in military institutions to be able to do their jobs independently and to exercise self-discipline in their daily lives. They encouraged me to settle into the role and get started as soon as possible. I quickly became acquainted with the other comrades in the department and integrated into this new work collective.
The colleagues in the military apparatus are remarkable. Director Chen was a veteran comrade who enlisted in the army in 1951, and Deputy Director Chen was a veteran comrade who enlisted in the army in 1961. The other staff officers also have rich military experience. Ma Wenzhong and Guo Heyi enlisted in the army in 1959 and 1961 respectively, while Liu Deshan, Ai Litao, Zhou Zude, Li Zhixiong, Xue Qingyun and Zhang Hongyun enlisted in the army from 1965 to 1971 respectively. In addition, there was also a soldier Fan Xinjiang who assisted in surveying and mapping and managing chores. We are stationed in the compound of the former Zhangye Prefectural Commission, and the working and living environment here is quite good.
In the military office, I also got acquainted with Commander Guo, who is a well-respected old commander. Commander Guo is a leader who is deeply loved by officers and soldiers, and he is strict with his subordinates, but he is considerate and caring. He once told me the story of how to treat soldiers during an exercise. He stressed that the company commander should care for the soldiers, especially to ensure their food. He mentioned his experience of improving the food for the soldiers when he was a company commander in the 163rd Regiment, and I was deeply touched by this meticulous care.
Commander Guo was a legendary figure who showed extraordinary courage and wisdom in the Sino-Japanese War and other wars. His story was circulated among officers and soldiers and was highly admired. I also participated in the writing of "The Triumphant Song of the Himalayas", which commemorates our combat experience in **. Over the past few decades, I have been deeply impressed by Commander Guo's affection for the army and his sense of responsibility for history.
In January 1998, when Commander Guo Shisheng passed away in Xi'an, Division Commander Zhu Jinlin and I were ordered to be transferred, but we still went to mourn him and attended his farewell ceremony. Commander Zhang Weisong wrote a couplet for him, summarizing Commander Guo's life. His passing makes us feel extremely sorry and missed.
During my days in the military, I learned a lot and got to know many excellent colleagues. This experience had a profound impact on my life and strengthened my determination to pursue a military career.