"The Red Plate Reflects the Original Aspiration (On the Road to Strengthening the Army: Entering the Heroic Long March Unit)"

From crossing swamps to decisive training grounds, the "Red First Company" of the 83rd Group Army——

Reflecting the original intention in the "Red Plate" (On the Road to Strengthening the Army · Entering the Heroic Long March Company)

The soldiers of the "Red First Company" charge up the heights.

The company soldiers are conducting log lifting training, honing their courage and spirit.

The company is organizing a mobilization oath before stationed training. All images in this edition are taken by Qiao Zifeng.

In the vast fields, rivers crisscross. Looking up, the expansive and magnificent Dayanqiao Wetland in northwest Sichuan captivates the heart.

It is still this wetland. In 1935, the Red Army set foot on this land, leaving behind a page of hardship and heroism. That year, the predecessor unit of the "Red First Company" of the 83rd Group Army witnessed history.

Not long ago, Wu Shuai, the 54th political instructor of the "Red First Company," traveled thousands of miles to trace his roots and stepped onto this land once again. "It's hard to imagine how much hardship our predecessors endured to cross this deadly swamp without seeing it with my own eyes," Wu Shuai sighed.

The "Red First Company" has a glorious history. It emerged from the flames of the Autumn Harvest Uprising, and during the "Sanwan Reorganization," it established the first party branch at the company level in the entire army, pioneering the concept of "building the branch at the company level," and is hailed as "the birthplace of military spirit."

What supports a unit to march forward towards victory? With a desire to enter the spiritual world of revolutionary predecessors, Wu Shuai embarked on a journey to "retrace the Long March."

"The 'Red Plate' holds not just a meal of coarse grains, but also the sincerity of unity."

The first stop of the root-seeking journey was Sichuan Huili.

"When the Red Army arrived, the people smiled..." In a farmer's courtyard in Tiexing Village, Huili, the elderly Chen Haiqing, over eighty years old, sang the folk song passed down through generations.

"They were good people; although they suffered, they did not take anything from the common people." Chen Haiqing said emotionally that when the Red Army passed through, they did not disturb the people or take their benefits, and in their spare time, they helped the villagers carry water and chop firewood, truly caring for the impoverished.

Hearing this, Wu Shuai's eyes lit up.

Huili holds special significance in the history of the "Red First Company." Sitting in the courtyard, Wu Shuai recounted the story of the company's heirloom "Red Plate"——

In May 1935, the "Red First Company" rested in Huili with the troops. Comrade Mao Zedong heard that the "Red First Company," which established the first company party branch that year, was stationed nearby, so he came to visit the soldiers. At mealtime, the cook used a confiscated red enamel plate to serve a plate of boiled pumpkin.

Seeing that the soldiers were stable in thought and high in combat enthusiasm, Comrade Mao Zedong said that the plate was red and taken from the enemy, which was very good. You must carry the revolution through under the leadership of the party branch.

These words greatly encouraged the soldiers of the company. From that time on, the "Red Plate" accompanied the "Red First Company" in battles north and south.

"This 'Red Plate' witnessed the glorious years of the soldiers' 'revolutionary ideals are higher than the sky.' It gave birth to the company spirit of 'listening to the party's command, unity among officers and soldiers, and hard work,' inspiring generations of 'Red First Company' soldiers to forge ahead," Wu Shuai said passionately.

Later, the company entered the grasslands with the main force of the regiment, suffering non-combat attrition of over half. The Red Army faced four difficulties when crossing the grasslands: difficulty in traveling, with shallow areas up to the knees and deep areas over the head; difficulty in food, with only grass roots and tree bark to eat after the dry rations were finished; difficulty in keeping warm, as the weather in the grasslands changed three times a day; and difficulty in camping, as they had to sleep back-to-back to avoid sinking.

Faced with harsh natural conditions, the soldiers of the "Red First Company," relying on firm ideals and unyielding will, repeatedly broke through dangers and defeated strong enemies.

At that time, there was an unwritten rule in the company: during marches, party members and cadres walked at the front; if there was no food, party members and cadres would try unfamiliar wild grasses first; at night, party members and cadres took turns on night watch. Party members and cadres led in everything, a tradition that continues to this day.

Listening to these stories, Chen Haiqing excitedly held Wu Shuai's hand: "You must not forget your roots; always listen to the party and follow the party."

A few short sentences struck a chord. Wu Shuai said, "The principles that even the elderly understand, as inheritors of the Red Army company, we must be steadfast in our loyalty to the party and unwavering in our commitment."

More than 90 years have passed, and the "Red Plate" has been battered and scarred during its long journey, but the spirit it carries never fades.

"Standing on the land of Huili, with the wind blowing through the streets, I seem to see that the small 'Red Plate' holds not just a meal of coarse grains, but also the sincerity of unity and the faith to remain true to our original intention even in desperate situations," Wu Shuai said.

Recently, the company held a story meeting titled "The Long March Spirit in My Heart," using military language to tell stories of how the soldiers inherit fine traditions.

On the podium, soldier Liu Yang's sharing resonated with the soldiers——the outdoor training work is complex and heavy, and the company’s party members and cadres take the lead on the front lines, eagerly doing the dirty and tiring work, fighting side by side, and completing the training ground renovation tasks ahead of schedule. "Party members leading the way and unity among all is a vivid embodiment of the great Long March spirit," Liu Yang said.

Today, the "Red Plate" has long been replaced by divided plates, and the red rice and pumpkin soup on the table have turned into five dishes and a soup, but the spirit of unity and shared hardship among the soldiers has never been interrupted. New recruits must eat red rice and pumpkin soup for their first meal in the company; every time a major task is executed, the story of the "Red Plate" is used for mobilization.

"The best way to promote tradition is to let it enter the soldiers' hearts and be put into practice." Wu Shuai introduced that the company continues its fine traditions, guiding soldiers to strengthen their faith and beliefs, and to strive forward under the leadership of the party branch.

"Coming to the heroic company, the heroic deeds in textbooks resonate more vividly."

Across the long river of history, the flame of tradition continues. The stories of revolutionary predecessors always nourish the soldiers of the "Red First Company," and the company spirit gradually integrates into the blood of generations of soldiers.

New recruit Dai Zhifei, a college student, made a firm resolution when he first arrived at the historically rich "Red First Company": if he was going to do it, he had to make a name for himself and could not disappoint the party organization's training.

With the foundation he had laid, Dai Zhifei successfully obtained the opportunity for college student soldiers to be promoted. His comrades believed he would come out on top, but the first pre-exam doused him with cold water. The pressure of selection and the expectations of his comrades weighed heavily on him.

"Can I do it?" During that time, Dai Zhifei fell into self-doubt and became taciturn. Wu Shuai noticed his thoughts and took the opportunity to talk to him, bringing him to the company history museum.

"This is a jar of soil I brought back from Dayanqiao Wetland. More than 90 years ago, the Red Army predecessors pulled out grass roots and ate from this soil." Wu Shuai did not preach but shared the sights and experiences from his root-seeking journey. "Faced with difficulties and dangers, the Red Army soldiers relied on their tenacious will to cross snow-capped mountains and grasslands, forging a bright path."

"In school, the stories of the Long March were familiar. Now, coming to the heroic company, the heroic deeds in textbooks resonate more vividly. Our predecessors ventured into danger, and we must also continue to walk the Long March of today." The instructor's words were like a beam of light, illuminating Dai Zhifei's heart.

Dai Zhifei perked up. He shed his mental burdens and prepared diligently step by step. In June of this year, he fulfilled his dream of entering a military academy with the top score in the entire brigade. The night before reporting to the academy, Dai Zhifei visited the company history museum again and solemnly saluted the "Red Plate," which carries the historical imprint of the company: "No matter where I go, the 'Red Plate' will always be my source of strength."

The light of faith illuminates the soldiers' journey forward. Inspired by the company spirit, Xu Silin's growth story is equally moving.

In July last year, the company was equipped with new equipment, and all the soldiers felt invigorated, but Corporal Xu Silin frowned. The new equipment had a high degree of information integration, and its operating principles, systems, and mechanical structures were completely different from the old equipment, making it particularly difficult for him to learn.

Predecessors were trapped in desperate situations, relying on grass roots and muddy water to find their way out of the vast grasslands; now, facing this little difficulty, should I just stop? Xu Silin made up his mind to tackle this tough challenge.

During that time, Xu Silin spent his days repeatedly practicing operations on the training ground and worked late into the night until one or two in the morning studying the principles of the equipment, developing thick calluses on his fingers. Now, Xu Silin has mastered the training methods and tactics for the new equipment and has repeatedly won first place in competitions for operating the new equipment.

Xu Silin said, "The strength to move forward comes from the nourishment of tradition; the soldiers of the 'Red First Company' are always at the forefront, forever the inheritors of the new era Red Army."

For the soldiers of the "Red First Company," red is the base color of loyalty and victory, as well as the essence of hard work.

Behind the dormitory building of the "Red First Company," there is a "savings box" made from old wooden boards, where soldiers often put leftover materials.

In the brigade's repair shop, there is also an "electronic savings box." Before the old equipment is stored, the brigade establishes a common spare parts database to achieve precise calls and effectively save funds.

"Now, the conditions in the army are indeed getting better and better." The brigade's financial assistant said, "Good days are not for squandering. While guarding the 'thick family foundation,' we must also be willing to live 'tight days.'"

The company regularly carries out activities of "hard work and achieving success in positions." Sergeant Miao Hui repeatedly researched and developed the "night shooting target display system" and "laser simulation calibration method," improving the night shooting accuracy and significantly reducing training costs.

In April last year, Zhang Weiwei, the party branch secretary of Sanwan Village in Yongxin County, Jiangxi, was invited to the military camp to eat "Red Army food" with the soldiers. He emotionally said, "It still tastes the same, still the same group of people!"

"There are still more challenges waiting for us to overcome in the future; we must keep moving forward."

The spirit of tradition is everlasting.

In the new era and new journey, the soldiers of the "Red First Company" accelerate the transformation of military training, honing their skills to fight and win, and continue to write new chapters of victory for the heroic troops.

Recently, a live tactical exercise broke out in the heart of Weibei. The roar of armored vehicles and swirling dust filled the air as the company quickly occupied deep positions according to the planned strategy, preparing to launch the next round of attacks. At that moment, the higher-ups suddenly issued a combat order: to flank the blue army within half an hour from the high ground.

At this time, the company had already been in combat for four consecutive hours, and to rush five kilometers fully armed within half an hour was undoubtedly a severe test. "In the face of difficulties, there is a company; in front of the company, there are no difficulties!" Company commander Li Yanfei decisively led all party members to form a strike team and set off immediately.

The mountain roads were rugged, and thorns intertwined. Li Yanfei led the way, completely ignoring the pain of his skin being scratched. In the dense forest, the team moved quickly like a camouflage dragon, penetrating behind enemy lines within the scheduled time and successfully completing the mission.

"Daring to fight and being flexible, the soldiers of the company are truly outstanding!" The evaluators couldn't help but give a thumbs up.

In the "Red First Company," the soldiers share a common trait: whenever there is a task, their eyes shine, and they are full of energy.

"Aiming to build the company and practicing to surpass the company." In August this year, the entire brigade launched a mass training competition, and the "Red First Company" became the target for everyone to catch up with. In the face of the test, the soldiers of the company showed no slack, with only one thought in their minds: we can only win, not lose!

Before the competition, Li Yanfei took out the "Hundred Victories" battle flag and led the oath: "On the Long March, we bravely take the lead; now that the challenge is imminent, we will also strive for first place."

As the competition began, the 400-meter obstacle race was exceptionally fierce. Soldier Nan Chunzhen unexpectedly fell, his knee hitting the ground hard, and a sharp pain instantly surged.

"I cannot disgrace the company; I must fall at the finish line!" He gritted his teeth, struggled to get up, and despite the excruciating pain, he chased after his opponents and ultimately surpassed them to win the race.

In that competition, the "Red First Company" won six first places and broke two records. With this spirit of striving for first place, the company has successfully completed many major training tasks over the years.

From the fearless bravery of the Long March era to the pioneering transformation of the new era, in the eyes of the soldiers of the "Red First Company," "being able to win battles" is the loudest answer to loyalty to the party.

Recently, the company went to a training ground in northern Henan to participate in a vehicle crew competition. Everyone knew that standing on the same starting line, this competition was a comprehensive test of the combat effectiveness of the new equipment.

"If we are going to compete, we must take first place!" To familiarize themselves with coordination in the shortest time, everyone spent all day on the training ground, staying in the closed vehicle cabin for three to four hours at a time, their camouflage uniforms wet and dry, dry and wet again, with a layer of white salt frost forming on their backs, and fingers bandaged to continue practicing.

On the day of the competition, a sandstorm suddenly hit the venue, visibility dropped sharply, and many vehicle crews "suffered defeat" because of this. Relying on their solid coordination skills, the vehicle commander remained calm in the face of danger, flexibly handled emergencies, the driver controlled the speed steadily through bumpy sections, and the gunner quickly captured the target and decisively fired, ultimately winning first place by a large margin.

"Winning the competition is just the first step of the long journey. There are still more challenges waiting for us to overcome; we must keep moving forward," Li Yanfei sighed.

In the face of relocating thousands of miles, the soldiers of the company move in unison without a second word, packing their bags and setting off; in disaster relief, party members and key personnel are the first to volunteer, always standing at the forefront of danger; during equipment transformation, the company actively takes on pilot tasks, with soldiers unafraid of difficulties, working day and night, charging at the forefront of combat effectiveness construction...

The soldiers of the "Red First Company" carry the "Red Plate" on their backs and in their hearts, always bravely taking the lead, daring to shoulder heavy burdens, and successfully completing tasks time and again.

In the company history museum of the "Red First Company," there is a "Company Honor Roll" that has been recorded since 1951.

Due to the passage of time, some of the writing has become blurred, but this sentence in the booklet remains prominent——

"This 'Red Plate' has been through long battles and marches; its enamel has chipped away, and there is a hole in the bottom, but its color is still red."

(Written by Ma Yongsheng and Xu Zhen)