Chapter 61: Never Abandon! Never Give Up!
Steel Seventh Company is a unit with a history of several decades, known as the honorable division of the Fierce Tiger of Steel.
From its establishment until now, every warrior of Steel Seventh Company has had their own exclusive number, representing their mark in Steel Seventh Company.
These six new recruits joining Seventh Company will also have their exclusive numbers.
They will be personally awarded by the Company Commander in a grand manner at the Company Entry Ceremony.
When all warriors of Seventh Company had changed into service uniforms and, led by the Squad Leader, assembled on the large parade ground by squad.
Company Commander Gao Cheng and Political Instructor Hong Xingguo were already formally dressed on the stage waiting.
The two Platoon Leaders were also in position, standing beside them.
Seventh Company currently has vacancies in the deputy political instructor and deputy company commander positions; the company cadre currently consists of only five people, and for some reason, one Platoon Leader is still missing.
Chen Jun noticed that one Platoon Leader was missing; he seemed to think of something, and the corners of his mouth involuntarily turned up.
The others didn’t notice this detail and all arrived in front of the company duty warrior led by the Squad Leader, with First Squad lining up neatly in a row.
“Align to the right, eyes front, count off…”
The company duty warrior skillfully organized the troops, then turned to salute and report: “Report to Company Commander Comrade, Seventh Company all personnel assembly complete, should arrive 77 people, actually arrived 75 people, two on guard duty, await orders.”
“At ease!”
Gao Cheng’s expression was serious; after returning the salute, he gave the command.
“Yes!”
The company duty warrior saluted again, turned to the troops to give the at ease command, then walked to the rightmost position of the first row of the drill with goose step.
“Attention.”
Gao Cheng’s voice was already very loud when he spoke; after the troops snapped to attention uniformly, he shouted: “All of you, give me some spirit, chest out head up, even if bullets are coming at you, you still have to stand straight for me.”
His exceptionally serious expression matched with stern words.
Gao Cheng instantly heightened the atmosphere.
The expressions on all the warriors’ faces changed, their gazes fixed straight ahead, the troops becoming exceptionally solemn, no one daring to zone out at this moment.
“Our Steel Seventh Company, from its birth until now, has already gone through fifty-seven years…”
Gao Cheng roared loudly to the troops with a resounding and powerful voice: “In these past fifty-seven years, a total of 4940 people have joined Steel Seventh Company.
This company, for which 1104 martyrs sacrificed their lives for the country, will welcome seven new bloods today.
Please remember, after the Company Entry Ceremony is completed, from that moment on, it means you have become a member of Steel Seventh Company, this blood-bathed vanguard, the armored Fierce Tiger…”
Gao Cheng spoke without any techniques, purely from the heart with genuine emotion.
But these purely emotional words possessed extraordinary penetrating power, like a sharp sword piercing into every warrior’s heart.
Influencing everyone’s emotions, making the entire parade ground incomparably solemn.
In this occasion thick with infectious power that couldn’t be dissolved, whether Steel Seventh Company’s veteran soldiers or the new recruits about to become members of Steel Seventh Company, their emotions were all drawn by Gao Cheng.
Everyone’s faces were full of heaviness, as if feeling the martyrs’ greatness.
Chen Jun had experienced it once in his previous life; experiencing it again in this life still moved him deeply, and it also let him catch the hint in Gao Cheng’s words.
This batch of assigned new recruits was only six, but Gao Cheng said Steel Seventh Company would welcome seven fresh bloods.
Plus, there was one less Platoon Leader on stage, and the Third Platoon Leader, who had already been in Seventh Company for two and a half years, did not appear at this Company Entry Ceremony.
That extra person…
Chen Jun had already guessed it!!
“Worthily the Seventh Princess with background; when handling matters, it’s lightning fast. Looks like Jin Dashan’s casual nonsense really hit the mark.”
Thinking that he could end his probation half a year early, Chen Jun was indeed very happy inside.
The new recruit company wasn’t trained in vain; effort brings reward.
Gao Cheng himself was also infected by the atmosphere, his tone becoming even more high-pitched as he said: “Some companies are proud because of a certain combat hero; some companies are proud because they produced a general.
But Steel Seventh Company’s pride is different; our pride is the most sacred kind.
In the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea over forty years ago, Steel Seventh Company was almost wiped out and its designation canceled, with only three young warriors, protected by the whole company, surviving nine deaths and one life to return.
Returning with them was also the shared last wish of 107 martyrs.
This last wish was…”
Gao Cheng raised his tone again: “To rebuild Steel Seventh Company on these three young men with an average age under seventeen who survived nine deaths and one life.
Steel Seventh Company rebuilt from the martyrs’ last wish lets the martyrs live forever together with us.
As Steel Seventh Company warriors living between the martyrs’ hopes and honors, inheriting their steel-like willpower, we must always remember those sacrificed martyrs.
Every one of you must deeply remember that Steel Seventh Company is a troops forged from honor and fresh blood.
This Steel Seventh Company reforged with the martyrs’ fresh blood absolutely cannot tolerate any coward; it only needs true men with guts who dare to fight and charge.
You all must also always remember for me.
Back then, the 107 sacrificed martyrs did not abandon or give up; even fighting until only three were left, they still had to reforge Steel Seventh Company.
Therefore!!
You later generations joining Steel Seventh Company must bear in mind the martyrs’ excellent style, and engrave in your bones the company soul that we Steel Seventh Company must etch into our bones—
Never abandon! Never give up!”
As Gao Cheng shouted these six words representing the company soul with a hoarse, exhausted voice at the top of his lungs, everyone on the field was shocked.
Chen Jun, infected by these six words, couldn’t help but take the lead and shout loudly: “Never abandon! Never give up!”
With Chen Jun’s shout, whether veteran soldiers or new recruits, at this moment they reached consensus and shouted in unison.
“Never abandon! Never give up!”
“Never abandon! Never give up!”
“Never abandon! Never give up!”
Everyone shouted the slogan three times in a row, roaring out the pride emanating from their boiling hot blood, roaring out their respect and admiration for the martyrs.
Feeling the martyrs’ honor baptism, the new recruits all gained a strong sense of belonging.
This is home!!
Even Cheng Cai, who in the original drama was callous and unrighteous toward Seventh Company and ultimately the only one to abandon Seventh Company, after shouting the slogan three times.
These six words, with a depth not present in the original drama, were imprinted in Cheng Cai’s mind at this moment.
Company Commander Gao Cheng, with a strong sense of mission, spoke of Steel Seventh Company’s origins and history, deeply shocking everyone and giving the new recruits a sense of belonging.
Next, it was Political Instructor Hong Xingguo’s turn to take the stage, followed by giving everyone a thought education lesson.
Unlike Gao Cheng who emphasized company history and mission, Hong Xingguo focused more on psychological guidance, letting the new recruits have a better mentality to join the Steel Seventh Company big family.
He rambled on for a few minutes.
The veteran soldiers got bored and felt nothing, but the new recruits’ mentalities changed greatly.
The smiling Political Instructor Hong Xingguo made the new recruits feel very approachable and kind, finally emerging from the high pressure of the stern-faced Company Commander.
