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camel thorn grows in the heart

■yu ruizhe

the wind pulled the sand and slapped it heavily on my body. at this moment, the desolate gobi is filled with endless yellow sand.

"squad leader, how far is it?" soldier lu yixuan gasped and moved with difficulty. in the windy and sandy sky, a group of camouflage figures slowly moved forward following the ruts.

today is live firing day. the only way to the position was run over by caterpillar tracks, and the blue-white gravel turned into soft and fine sand. every step brought up clouds of dust. the hems of everyone's trousers were soaked in fine sand, turning a "gradient yellow" from dark to light from the boots up along the trouser legs. looking at the endless gravel road, lu yixuan was a little lost.

he recalled the scene when he first arrived at the training camp. along the way, the desert wind was tireless, and there were no rivers, lakes, or oasis villages or towns in the wilderness. a transport truck drove on the road, raising dust and covering the tarp. the setting sun shines through the carriage and onto the faces of these young people. lu yixuan looked outside the carriage curiously. there was not a tree or a cloud around, but bushes growing scattered on the gravel, dotting the gobi desert.

when we arrived at the training point, the stars were already scattered in the night sky. lu yixuan stepped on the gobi desert and looked at the scenery he had never seen before, feeling a little shocked. he has lived in shanghai since he was a child and has long been accustomed to the hustle and bustle of the metropolis. at this moment, suddenly facing such a clear and silent gobi starry sky, he felt as if he had never experienced such peace, and his whole body seemed to have transformed into a part of the gobi. under the dark blue sky, the stars are shining brightly, and the snow-capped mountains look even more pure.

under the starlight, snoring could be heard in every tent. the officers and soldiers who had been busy all day were already asleep. lu yixuan lay on the bed, unable to fall asleep for a long time.

his mind was drawn back to the day before he enlisted in the army. the wind was howling outside the bedroom window, and raindrops were hitting the glass window. he dreams of stepping into the gate of the military camp, putting on military uniform, and experiencing a life he has never had before.

the days after joining the army made him feel a little bitter and monotonous. there is no walking through jungles or ravines as imagined, but more of repeating trivial daily tasks. finally looking forward to field training, he looked forward to the days in the northwest gobi, where he would either hold a steel gun and gallop on the battlefield, or be fully armed and charge into battle. with full expectation, he fell asleep peacefully.

sand and dust are everywhere, the lights in the distance are dim, the wind carries the fine sand into the dark night, and the camel thorns silently take root in the sand and grow tenaciously.

lu yixuan did not expect that the first time he ran on the plateau, the surroundings would be surprisingly quiet. the sound of wind in my ears disappeared, and all the sounds on the plateau seemed to have disappeared. only my heart was beating violently, as if it would break free from my chest at any time. lu yixuan tried his best to breathe, his face was still red from holding back. the equipment on his body became heavier and heavier, his legs seemed to be filled with lead, and his physical discomfort reminded him every moment that this was the northwest plateau.

the rough wind and sand and the fierce sunshine constantly stir up waves in my heart. in this place closer to the sky, lu yixuan experienced the test from the plateau.

after a long time, dragging his exhausted body across the finish line, lu yixuan's eyesight went dark, and his body fell uncontrollably...

the afterglow of the setting sun falls on the vast land. facing the fading clouds on the horizon, monitor zhang tengyan and lu yixuan sat side by side. the squad leader turned around and took out a glass bottle from his arms. inside was a small camel thorn. it has stubbornly taken root in the gobi desert, but now it seems a little weak. the withered branches, slender rhizomes, and frail appearance make it difficult to associate it with the harsh gobi environment.

"this is the green of the gobi desert, the same green as us." lu yixuan looked at it carefully. the glass bottle reflected the sunlight in the distance, and this small camel thorn was also plated with gold.

"the camel thorn looks withered, but it actually contains vitality." the monitor told him that the camel thorn is not high, but its root system is strong. it absorbs water from the depths of the sand and works hard to wrap up the tiny green leaves. it is not afraid of sandstorms or drought. it is really not afraid of hardship or death...

"the sandstorm brings not only difficulties, but also hardships!" after saying that, the squad leader handed the glass bottle in his hand to lu yixuan. lu yixuan stared at the camel thorn and fell into deep thought.

"first, don't be afraid of hardship, and second, don't be afraid of death..." lu yixuan repeated softly word for word, and a familiar feeling rose in his heart. the first song he sang after joining the army, the first book he read, and the first education class he took were all inextricably linked to his old squad leader "wang jie." "don't be afraid of two things" is the embodiment of the revolutionary spirit and fighting will. over the years, it has inspired officers and soldiers to know their burdens and work hard to forge ahead.

at this moment, he seemed to understand the camel thorn. even if you are in the gobi desert, you must stand proudly; even if it is hot and cold, you must fight against the raging sand and wind and snow.

since then, the camel's thorn has taken root in lu yixuan's heart. with the help of his squad leader, he turned the pressure of training into motivation to surpass himself. if he has no experience, he will practice several times harder than others; even if it is a simple aim, he will practice it hundreds of times, just to be faster by one second and more accurate by one minute.

putting on his sand vest and sand leggings, lu yixuan started running in the gobi desert on the plateau. the camouflage uniform was soaked with sweat and was immediately dried by the hot sun. at the end of the day, the exposed areas of the skin are often sunburned and red, and when i rub them lightly in the shower, the sunburned areas feel burning pain.

every time when he could no longer hold on, lu yixuan would take out a glass bottle and look at the camel thorns in the bottle to encourage himself. with this tenacity to refuse to admit defeat, he gradually adapted to the plateau environment, and his training became more and more smooth. finally, he stood out among the same batch of private soldiers and was selected to perform live-fire shooting missions.

the boundless wilderness is covered with gauze, and the distant mountains remain with a faint dark outline. the yellow sand slowly dispersed and the vision became clear. lu yixuan looked down at the camel thorns under his feet, his eyes becoming more determined.

under the starlight, lu yixuan quickly adjusted the shooting parameters and performed various operations skillfully. as the commander gave the order, the war artillery roared and smoke filled the air. the shells pierced the sky and headed straight for the target. under the firelight, a camel thorn tree is taking root and growing...

(this article was published in the "long march supplement" edition of the "liberation army daily" on september 20, 2024, and the content has been deleted)

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editor: liu yan