Chapter 48: Entry into the Artillery Division Part 2
This time, two people were required to each prepare a Hunan dish, "Hongjiang Blood Pancake Duck."
Zheng Sanfu immediately started cooking.
He planned to add water during the process to let Zhou Lin win.
Unexpectedly, after Zhou Lin took the stage, he said, "I concede."
The colonel hosting the competition said, "Why give up? If you win, you can advance to the next round, earn one or even two hundred yuan, and achieve a higher military rank. Think about it."
Zhou Lin replied, "Zheng Sanfu and I are brothers. His victory is my victory."
Zhou Lin's words received applause from many officers present.
Military camaraderie emphasizes facing life and death together. Loyalty is what soldiers value the most.
Zhou Lin's performance impressed many officers.
A lieutenant colonel stood up and asked, "I heard you shattered Baldy's hand bones with a single punch. How much force does your punch have?"
Zhou Lin replied, "I haven't tested it, but it should be over 200 kilograms."
Hiss!
Many people in the audience gasped.
This was exactly what Zhou Lin wanted.
Entering the Artillery Division, he wasn't there to be a chef. While being a chef is good, it doesn't expose him to useful things. Zhou Lin needed to be a soldier in the Artillery Division, more useful than being a chef.
A major said, "My heavyweight operator can only have 100 kilograms of force. You claim to have over 200 kilograms? Isn't that impressive?"
The colonel who spoke first said, "Let's find out. Bring ten 122mm practice shells."
The weight of shells increases with caliber. A 122mm artillery shell weighs about 30 kilograms, a 150mm shell about 50 kilograms, a 203mm shell about 100 kilograms, and a 280mm naval gun shell about 300 kilograms. The German Dora railway gun could launch shells weighing 5 to 8 tons.
Practice shells weigh the same as real shells.
A soldier brought a metal basket.
The metal basket could hold eight shells.
After the practice shells were loaded, Zhou Lin approached the basket.
With both hands gripping the basket's edge, he exerted force, slowly lifting the basket.
Not very high, only about one meter.
However, it frightened many people.
The lieutenant colonel, wide-eyed in amazement, took a moment to say, "Being able to lift 240 kilograms, your punching impact must exceed 260 kilograms. You're truly impressive."
The colonel loudly said, "Zhou Mu, don't be a chef. Come here, I'll make you a second lieutenant."
Another colonel said, "Why go to him? I can also make him a second lieutenant."
At this moment, a colonel stood up, "Zhou Mu, come to my side. I'll give you the rank of lieutenant. Zheng Sanfu, come over too, I'll make him a second lieutenant."
Zhou Lin saw Zheng Dafu standing beside that colonel, nodding at him.
Zhou Lin said, "Yes, sir, I'll come to your side. My brother will also join you."
A newly joined person immediately received the rank of lieutenant. Other commanders didn't have the courage.
In the end, Zhou Lin and Zheng Sanfu followed the colonel of Zheng Dafu.
At the Second Division's headquarters, Zheng Dafu said to Zhou Lin, "Our commander admires you."
Zhou Lin asked, "Big brother, aren't you in the Division Guard Company?"
"Yes! I came out with the division commander. Later, I became the guard for the deputy division commander. Our deputy division commander used to be the commander of the Second Division."
That's how it was.
The Second Division's commander was surnamed Zhou, named Zhou Weiguo.
He looked at Zhou Lin and said, "Zhou Mu, our families were connected five hundred years ago."
Zhou Lin said, "Commander, not the division commander, thank you for taking us in."
Zhou Weiguo waved his hand, "You are Big Fu's brothers. If you go to other divisions, you'll be bullied. I have the authority to help you."
"Thank you, Commander!" Zheng Dafu saluted.
Zhou Lin and Zheng Sanfu remained still. They were newcomers and didn't understand military matters.
Commander Zhou said, "Zheng Sanfu, you go to the canteen. Everything in the canteen is under your command."
"Thank you, Commander!" Zheng Sanfu bowed.
"Zhou Mu, stay at the division headquarters and run errands. When you're familiar with the artillery unit's procedures and workflow, I'll assign you specific tasks. By the way, can you drink alcohol?"
Zheng Sanfu pointed at Zhou Lin, "He can drink."
Commander Zhou looked at Zhou Lin, "How much can you drink?"
Zheng Sanfu said, "I've seen him drink. There was an incident where guests caused trouble. They insisted that our inn's landlady drink with them. After she got drunk, he took on all of them after drinking two bottles of white wine."
Zhou Dafu stared at Zhou Lin like he was seeing a monster.
Commander Zhou said, "Whether it's a mule or a horse, tonight will reveal it. Sanfu, tonight you'll be in charge of the kitchen. Our Second Division's canteen is cooking."
Zheng Sanfu indeed liked being a chef.
With the orders, he got busy.
Zhou Lin also went to help. After two hours of busyness, a table of dishes was prepared.
Eight large bowls of dishes, a big pot of soup.
At six o'clock, people arrived.
The division commander, deputy division commander, chief of staff, and three company commanders.
A total of six people, and finally, Dafu and Zhou Lin were brought up, making it eight.
Once Zhou Lin was at the table, he immediately became the target of everyone.
Perhaps the division commander had informed them, so the company commanders started causing trouble first.
Zhou Lin drank a bottle of white wine and took down three company commanders.
Later, the deputy division commander and chief of staff felt they had an opportunity.
Zhou Lin drank another bottle of white wine, probably getting drunk. So, the deputy division commander and chief of staff pressured Zhou Lin to drink.
Zhou Lin had no choice but to accompany them. After drinking almost a bottle, the deputy division commander and chief of staff were "honored."
Zheng Dafu looked at Commander Zhou.
Commander Zhou said, "He's your brother; you can't be worse than your brother."
Helplessly, Zheng Dafu and Zhou Lin drank, and soon they both slumped under the table.
Commander Zhou was cunning; he knew even if he went up, it wouldn't help. He would end up lying down himself.
So, he said, "Today ends here."
After saying that, he ran away and called the guards to come and drag people back.
The guard company's commander waited outside for over an hour and witnessed Zhou Lin's bravery.
Upon entering, the guard company commander gave Zhou Lin a thumbs up, "Brother, in the Artillery Division, no one dares to drink with you."
This statement was not exaggerated at all.
The next day, when Zhou Lin arrived at the division headquarters, people pointed and talked.
"It's this guy, who knocked down the company commanders and even the deputy division commander and chief of staff."
"Not only that! After knocking down the deputy division commander and chief of staff, he also knocked down Zheng Dafu."
"Zheng Dafu also knocked down? Didn't he drink half a catty?!"
"Half a catty of alcohol is nothing; Zhou Shuangmu had at least two."
"Impressive! When the whole division gathers for a year-end dinner, let Zhou Mu handle it. He'll wipe them all out!"
"Exactly! When Zhou Mu goes up, let him slaughter them all!"
(End of this chapter)