The person Wang Xuexin wanted arrived a week later.
The reason why it takes a week is because the headquarters held a three-day "big competition" specifically for this purpose.
This is a competition initiated by the headquarters, and for reasons of confidentiality, they did not say what troops were formed.
But the more mysterious the soldiers became, the more curious they became, so soldiers from all regions, guerrillas and even ordinary people rushed to Dahuai Village to compete.
As a result, more than 5,000 people came to participate in this competition.
For this reason, the chief of staff also had a discussion with Wang Xuexin.
"Comrade Wang Xuexin!" the chief of staff asked: "What are the requirements for this mountain combat force you want to form? You can first mention it to us for easy selection, or you can come to Dahuai Village to select the people yourself!"
Wang Xuexin also wanted to choose it by himself, but Luotuoling was not close to Dahuai Village, and it took a day to go back and forth. Moreover, he and Sun Erwei had to continue discussing the details of equipment development and could not leave for a while, so he could only
Let the chief of staff help you choose.
"It is required to be familiar with the terrain of Zhongtiao Mountain!" Wang Xuexin said: "But this can be considered as appropriate. If you are not familiar with it, it is no big problem, but at least you can find points according to the map and can read."
This is very important for mountain troops.
This is determined by the complexity of mountainous terrain. Troops often need to split up in mountainous areas, and may even be scattered. If you can’t read the map or understand the information left by your teammates, or you don’t have a strong sense of direction, how many steps can you walk?
If you circle around, you will get lost and fall behind... No matter how good your skills are, you will not be able to use them.
So the first batch to be eliminated are people who can't read pictures and find some illiterate people.
This surprised the chief of staff. He thought that Wang Xuexin's first requirement should be to find someone with good marksmanship or good physical strength. Mountain combat troops are not all about running around in the mountains with guns on their shoulders. Of course, they must be strong.
Unexpectedly, Wang Xuexin’s first request was to read a map and learn to read.
At this time, at least half of the more than 5,000 contestants have been eliminated, because those who came to participate are all good players from each army.
But the selection criteria for these experts do not include map reading and literacy.
This prompted the chief of staff to urgently add a group of personnel. Otherwise, if the selection continues like this, not even 100 people will be selected among the more than 5,000 people.
"The second is the ability to survive in the mountains!" Wang Xuexin said: "For example, being able to hunt, identify wild vegetables, mushrooms, find water sources, etc.!"
Hearing this, the chief of staff couldn't help but secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
The Eighth Route Army is not as good as others. If they are ranked second in outdoor survival ability, no one dares to say that they are first. Some even climbed snow-capped mountains and crossed grasslands and walked through the Long March. I am not bragging. Many people survive in the wild for ten and a half days without food.
It's a piece of cake for a month.
"The last thing is strong learning ability!" Wang Xuexin said: "It requires being able to quickly master the use of various equipment!"
This is determined by the fact that the mountain troops will fully use Yingjiang equipment, and even the grenades may need to be replaced... Sun Erwei believes that since it needs to be replaced, it must be replaced clearly, so as to determine what problems will occur with Yingjiang equipment on the battlefield.
There is nothing wrong with this. Yingjiang's equipment is in any case more advanced than that of the Eighth Route Army.
The problem is that the battlefields that mountain troops have to face are relatively complex. They will inevitably suffer captures and losses. Long-term operations in mountains are likely to force soldiers to use 38 caps or even other equipment. This requires quick mastery of these equipment.
Use of equipment.
"That's all?" asked the chief of staff.
"That's all!" Wang Xuexin nodded.
In fact, it is not that Wang Xuexin has no requirements for physical fitness and marksmanship, but those who can participate in the martial arts competition will not be far behind in these aspects.
At the same time, the mountain troops will be equipped with the M1 semi-automatic rifle. The difference between this rifle and the bolt-action rifle is quite big. The combat habits and marksmanship will basically need to be changed. The old habits may restrict its development.
For example, some older veterans' muscles have been severely solidified into conditioned reflexes. After firing a bullet, they will feel uncomfortable all over without pulling the bolt. Their tactical movements are also accustomed to shooting in different places, and they cannot change it.
This is not what Wang Xuexin wants to see.
The M1 rifle can continuously pull the trigger and fire eight bullets in a row. Three riflemen can suppress an enemy machine gunner by taking turns to fire... It may seem like a waste of bullets to shoot like this, but if you think about it from the perspective of fire suppression, three riflemen can
A rifleman can accurately suppress the enemy's machine gun fire, which will definitely save more ammunition than a machine gun completing this task.
Therefore, Wang Xuexin actually prefers recruits who have strong learning ability, quick reaction speed, no physical injuries and a certain cultural foundation.
The chief of staff was Mao Xiongna, a commander who had returned from studying abroad. Of course he understood the implications of Wang Xuexin's requirements.
However, the chief of staff felt a little strange. After he put down the phone, he said to the chief: "This little Northeastern has an unusual brain. He seems to be more educated than us!"
"What do you mean?" The chief was a little confused after hearing this.
"The soldiers he picked..." the chief of staff handed the requirements written down in his notebook to the leader: "Look at this condition, someone who hasn't studied for a few years can't say something like this, right? For example, learning ability... or a head start?
This is the first time you recruit troops like this!"
The leader took the notebook and looked at it, and then he laughed happily: "This is the right way to select troops! If we only select those who are good at marksmanship and can fight, the level will be low! A modern army should have
Troops that are educated and capable of learning, otherwise problems will easily arise!"
What the chief said is correct.
This is actually not uncommon in the Eighth Route Army. Many soldiers who were born in farmers have been doing simple but repetitive farm work all their lives. Their muscles and even their thinking have become rigid. Even if they are fed with bullets, it is difficult to temper them.
Become a sharpshooter.
But if you are a student soldier who comes out of school, your mind has been developed and your learning ability has been honed since childhood, even if you don't know anything at the beginning, you will soon grow into a qualified soldier after basic training.
Only such warriors have greater room for improvement and greater potential.
The chief of staff said with confusion: "It's not surprising that we know this, but Xiao Dongbei...how does he know this?"
"What's so strange about this!" The chief handed the notebook back to the chief of staff and said, "Xiao Dongbei grew up in the Japanese arsenal. He has been learning this and that since he was a child, and he learns everything quickly. This may be what he is talking about.
Bar!"
The chief of staff said "Oh" and then nodded.
Secretly, maybe Xiao Dongbei would say this not because he is literate, but because he has learned a lot and knows about "learning ability".