Australia 1671

Chapter 17: Military Soul

About forty minutes later, the lineup at the Army Military Academy finally reached Gan Sheng and Wang Zongyao.

After filling out the registration form, a young officer in a second lieutenant short-sleeve uniform called Gan Sheng to the first-floor classroom in the north teaching building, which was set up for interviews.

He pushed open the door and saw a middle-aged captain and a lieutenant officer sitting behind a desk, discussing something.

"…Captain Jiang, Captain Wu, here is his information form."

The second lieutenant stepped forward, handed the form to the middle-aged captain, then turned and left the classroom.

These two officers were none other than the former Minister of Armed Forces of Bohai Ship Group, Jiang Yi, and his deputy minister Wu Guojie, both retired from the army.

Jiang Yi wore a crisp army captain’s uniform, his crew cut emphasized the high temples, and his eyes were bright.

He placed the form on the table but didn’t look down; instead he stared at Gan Sheng, pointed to the chair opposite, and said calmly:

"…Sit down. Introduce yourself briefly, and then tell me why you want to join the army."

"Yes!"

Gan Sheng, who was a military enthusiast, immediately straightened up, responded crisply, then sat down decisively, placed both hands on his knees, and focused his gaze between Jiang Yi’s eyes and nose—he had heard that looking there gives an impression of seriousness and respect—then he delivered the self-introduction he had memorized in advance.

"…Greetings, commanders. My name is Gan Sheng. I am 25 years old and from Guigang, Guangxi.

I graduated in Computer Science from Tianjin University of Technology.

I have no refractive errors, I don’t smoke, and I have no criminal record.

Since childhood, I have loved knowledge related to the military.

I also enjoy physical training, and I participated in a marathon organized by the university, where I placed third.

The reason I applied to the Army Military Academy is because I hope that one day, as a general of the Republic, I will command thousands of soldiers and a flood of steel, defeat all enemies, and leave my name in the history books!

That is all!"

Jiang Yi and Wu Guojie exchanged looks, couldn’t help but laugh scornfully, and said:

"…Cut the bull! Flood of steel? If I really had a flood of steel, would I need you to command it?"

Gan Sheng scratched his head and offered an embarrassed smile:

"Well… that was metaphorical, metaphorical!"

"Enough! Don’t give me that smarmy smile!"

Jiang Yi’s expression suddenly sobered as he scrutinized Gan Sheng and asked:

"I can tell you prepared in advance… at least that’s better than those idiots who fumble and can’t spit out a word!

But that’s not why the army will accept you!

Let me ask you—

Are you afraid of dying?"

Gan Sheng paused—how could he answer that?

If he said he was afraid of dying… he’d be immediately disqualified; but if he said he wasn’t afraid, they might not believe him.

After a few seconds of hesitation, he lifted his head, gritted his teeth, and said:

"I… I… Of course I’m afraid of dying!

But I’m afraid of dying in vain! Dying anonymously!

If my death can benefit the country and future generations, and everyone remembers me, then that death… wouldn’t be so terrifying!"

"Hah! Who do you think you are? Still want to go down in history?"

Jiang Yi clearly disapproved of this answer.

He stood up, looked down at Gan Sheng, and said coldly:

"Let me tell you! If you die, you just die!

The posthumous honor! The eulogies! Those are for the living! They mean nothing to the dead!"

He suddenly patted Gan Sheng’s shoulder and his tone softened:

"…You’re young now, and you don’t understand how precious life is!

I’ll tell you the truth: our army will definitely go to war!

We’ll fight the Aboriginals in Australia, fight the European colonizers, and maybe even fight the Qing dynasty’s Banner troops!

With our current weapons—though more advanced—they still can’t guarantee zero casualties!

War isn’t playtime; people will die!

At critical moments, you might have to fill the gaps with human lives!

Being a soldier, fighting in a war—it’s not like sitting in command headquarters, moving war game pieces and giving orders!

As an officer, you need to steady your soldiers, and sometimes lead from the front…

Did you ever think you might be shot by a stray bullet, killed by an arrow, or have your head cut off by cavalry?

It’s not too late to regret now. But if you really join the army, discipline won’t tolerate deserters!

You’re a college graduate—you can find a safe job!

Don’t worry, I’ll tell them you failed the interview; I won’t let you lose face!"

Jiang Yi’s persuasion clearly was from Gan Sheng’s perspective, and Gan Sheng hesitated for a moment…

Did he really want to be a general that much?

But if he gave up just like that, he’d feel deeply unfulfilled…

Jiang Yi looked at the young man with a conflicted expression and waited quietly for his decision.

After more than ten seconds, Gan Sheng slowly raised his head and said seriously:

"…Sir! I don’t want to regret it later!

I want to join the army!

If I die, so be it! Dying on the battlefield is better than regretting in a sick bed!"

"Attaboy!"

Jiang Yi laughed heartily, patted his shoulder again, and said:

"Even if your physical exam fails, I still want you!"

Wu Guojie, who’d been observing, also smiled and said:

"You’re indeed a rare and promising recruit!"

"Heh heh!"

Realizing he’d passed, Gan Sheng thanked both and followed another second lieutenant to the equipment area at the south end of the field for a physical test.

After Gan Sheng left, Wu Guojie looked at the doorway, shook his head, and said to Jiang Yi:

"Old Jiang! You recruit people like special forces—that’s too inefficient. Of ten applicants, you can reject six. At this rate, can we recruit a hundred people in three days?"

Jiang Yi didn’t reply; he first took a few sips of water—his mouth was almost dry from all that talking.

After drinking, he sighed:

"Even if we don’t fill the quota, we must make the tough talk upfront!

My old commander once told me: besides advanced weapons, the most important thing in an army is the military soul—its conviction!

What is the military soul and conviction?

It’s the reason for fighting!

Now the state cannot be contacted; the main force is gone; only these 4,500 people are left.

What will our army fight for in the future?

For the Republic of Nanhua? Or that so-called Cabinet Committee?

Clearly that’s unrealistic in the short term!

Therefore we must make it clear to everyone who wants to join the army—and to those from the former armed forces—if you’re afraid of dying or you’re aimless, you can opt out. That’s human nature.

But for those who want to stay in the unit, we must require them to have some idealism, a spirit of dedication and sacrifice.

If not that, then at least strong ambition and sense of honor like that kid just now!

We can’t have too many people just coasting or goofing off!

If the army is full of those, then it simply can’t fight!"

Hearing Jiang Yi’s words, Wu Guojie paused with his water cup mid-air, then after a moment slowly nodded to his old partner:

"You’re right! This issue indeed deserves serious attention!

But to fundamentally solve it, the country itself must have some cohesion and centripetal force!

That takes time, and in the short term to build unit cohesion and military soul, we can only rely on internal propaganda.

Maybe we can start by publishing a military newspaper…"