Chapter 9: The Expertise of Outdoor Enthusiasts

Chapter 9: The Professionalism of Outdoor Hikers

(1)

In just a few minutes of interaction, Guan Shan quickly figured out who was who among them. Through this brief exchange, he also gathered some basic information about them, then arranged for them to be divided into three groups to assist the medical team with the preparations for relocation.

From the outset, Guan Shan never expected this group to engage in combat. His primary thought was to find more able-bodied young men to improve the efficiency of the medical station’s relocation preparations.

As for asking who was good at climbing mountains and trees, that was to prepare for traveling on mountain paths and at night. Having these individuals present would help prevent the wounded, nurses, and county party leaders from falling behind or suffering sprains or injuries in emergencies.

Although the orders did not specify this, Guan Shan was confident that Li Yunlong and Zhao Gang would arrange support troops along the relocation route.

Nevertheless, considering the importance of the mission and the value of the personnel, Guan Shan thought that proactively requesting weapons and securing a squad from the county magistrate for added protection was certainly a prudent precaution.

Although his previous career was in a major internet artificial intelligence company, Guan Shan had thoroughly studied the book *How the People’s Liberation Army Wins*—from grassroots to mid-level management training, from deconstructing basic logic to organizational system design.

Not just in the internet giants, even small service enterprises like restaurants and barbershops—though they hadn’t systematically studied the PLA—still maintained basic routines like morning exercises and meetings.

This was in their DNA.

(2)

County Magistrate Wang pointed to a man in his early thirties and introduced, “This is Lü Hongtu, a senior county official and also a special high-ranking cadre!”

“Hello, Secretary Lü! My name is Guan Shan!” Guan Shan saluted and shook Secretary Lü’s outstretched hand.

“Comrade Guan Shan, how is it? Your legs are moving quite swiftly now, aren’t they?” Secretary Lü chuckled warmly, patting Guan Shan’s hand.

Magistrate Wang also chimed in, “I just heard from Medic Liu. Comrade Guan Shan, we’re learning from you!”

“Secretary Lü, Magistrate Wang, please don’t be so polite! In front of you veteran revolutionaries, I’m just a green recruit!” Guan Shan was humble and cautious, not daring to show off.

“Hahaha! Comrade Guan Shan, you have quite the sense of humor!” Magistrate Wang laughed, covering his mouth, then continued introducing: “Comrade Guan Shan, this is Zhang Ping, deputy head of our county’s special committee security section and also deputy squad leader of our guard squad. This time, he’s brought five soldiers from the guard squad to join our team.”

“Hello, Squad Leader Zhang!” Guan Shan stood at attention and saluted, noticing that Zhang Ping was walking with a slight limp.

“Hello, Guan Shan! I was also with our independent regiment before. I injured my leg in the battle at Lijia Po and was reassigned to the local area,” Zhang Ping returned the salute, patting his thigh to explain.

Guan Shan puffed out his chest, raised his head, and saluted loudly, “Learning from a hero!”

“No need for formalities!” Zhang Ping quickly pulled down Guan Shan’s hand from the salute, shook it twice, and asked, “Guan Shan, which year did you enlist? Are you a clerk sent from the brigade headquarters?”

“Reporting, Squad Leader, I’m not sent from the brigade headquarters. I was recently transferred from the 1st Battalion to the regimental headquarters to serve as Communications Officer for Commander Li,” Guan Shan did not mention that he had only enlisted three or four months ago.

After a brief introduction and some small talk, Guan Shan didn’t manage to fully remember all thirteen county and special committee staff members relocating with Secretary Lü and Magistrate Wang. He only noted that apart from Magistrate Wang, there was a young woman named Ge Sang, who was a propaganda officer.

The medical station was relatively simple: besides Medic Liu, Nurse Zhang, and three military wives serving as nurses, two locals familiar with mountain paths were each leading a mule. The mules carried not only Squad Leaders Qin and Hu but also a significant amount of medicine, medical supplies, and surgical instruments.

(3)

“Our relocation target is Linjiaji, to the northwest,” Guan Shan said, sketching roughly on the ground with a twig. “On the map, from Zhang Village to Linjiaji is just over twenty li of mountain road, but there are two sections that are extremely treacherous. In winter, when snow and ice cover the paths, traveling there is very dangerous—especially at night. We basically can’t consider moving after dark; it must be during the day, and with utmost caution.”

“Wow! No wonder Commander Li chose and assigned you!” Zhang Ping praised. “You’re very thorough! Looks like our reconnaissance was well done in advance!”

Guan Shan actually knew this wasn’t the case.

Li Yunlong and Zhao Gang had instructed that the team take the mountain trail northwest toward Linjiaji, where the famous Zhao State chancellor, Lin Xiangru, was said to have once lived in seclusion.

Thanks to Lin Xiangru’s fame, Guan Shan was able to recall memories from a previous life.

When he had come to Shanxi for targeted poverty alleviation, he had surveyed almost every natural village within several dozen li, collecting detailed data. Through comprehensive data analysis, teams of agricultural and environmental science experts were able to obtain reliable information to plan systematically and thoroughly.

Without these data and materials, Guan Shan would never have dared to boldly volunteer to take charge of the escort for Magistrate Wang relying only on the primitive hand-drawn map hanging on the regiment headquarters’ wall.

“Our commander and political commissar require us to set off before dark and arrive by noon tomorrow,” Guan Shan explained his plan. “Here’s what I propose—let’s discuss it together…”

“This stretch of road is relatively easy, so we’ll rest here to replenish food and water. I’ve already arranged for one group to set out first. They will scout the area, maintain watch, and find a cave to light a fire. I estimate it should take us about three hours…”

Medic Liu and Nurse Zhang nodded repeatedly in agreement.

“We’ll rest for about an hour, then continue for roughly two more hours to this spot, rest until dawn, and again send one group ahead. If conditions allow, we’ll gather dry wood and leaves there to keep the cave warm with a fire…”

“The plan is very thorough. Looking at this arrangement, compared to our previous relocations, it’s simply incomparable!” Nurse Zhang was deeply moved. The plan clearly sounded very reasonable.

“That’s right! The leaders have thought of everything! We have no objections!” Secretary Lü was the first to express approval.

Leaders? Guan Shan was about to respond politely, but suddenly sensed something was amiss.

Did Secretary Lü think that all this detailed route planning was decided by the commander and political commissar?

That was absurd—they couldn’t possibly manage such minutiae!

But Guan Shan saw no need to explain; that would seem like boasting or seeking credit.

He noticed someone looking at him and turned to see Magistrate Wang giving a meaningful smile.

Welcome to keep this story, and thank you for your recommendations!

(End of chapter)