送战马

这天，红七军十九师师长龚鹤村接到命令－邓政委有请！

That day, the commander of the Seventh Red Army's 19th division, Gong Hecun, received an order: Political Commissar Deng had a request!

龚师长的心里翻腾开了。邓政委突然找我有什么事呢？他不禁想到了前些天攻打柳州的那场战设。

Commander Gong started searching his conscience. What happened to make Commissar Deng is suddenly come looking for me? He could not help thinking about the assault on Liuzhou during the last few days.

那时，邓小平认为红七军建军不久，力量比较薄弱，不赞成功打柳州。而龚师长等一部分人却反对邓小平的意见。结果，在柳州开战之后，红七军遇到了强敌，牺牲了许多战士。谁不知道邓小平最爱兵！红七军这支部队是广西父老一个一个送来参军的，是一声口令训练出来的。他们中的每一个人仿佛都是邓小平的亲人...

At that time, Deng Xiaoping thought the Seventh Red Army was not developed enough and rather weak, and he decided not to join the attack on Liuzhou. Commander Gong belonged to a group of people opposed to Deng Xiaoping's decision. Consequently, after the battle started at Liuzhou, the Seventh Red Army encountered strong enemy resistance and sacrificed many soldiers. Who wouldn't know Deng Xiaoping loves the troops! The people of Guangxi had joined the Seventh Red Army one by one, and it would immediately follow any order. They were all like relatives of Deng Xiaoping...

龚师长心想，现在红七军虽然放弃了攻打柳州，但邓政委会不会因为这件事儿埋怨我呢？而且过去有好几次我都和他唱对台戏，现在大家都拥护他，他又是我的上级，他会不会为难我呀？

Commander Gong thought to himself, although the Seventh Red Army now has abandoned the attack on Liuzhou, would Commissar Deng be angry at me because of this? And I have rarely seen eye to eye with him in the past, now everyone is supporting him, and he is my superior, will he cause trouble for me?

龚师长不敢再多想了，迅速来到了政委办公室门前。他按了按脑口，想平静下来，没想到心里却像有只小兔子，忐忑不安。

Commander Gong didn't dare to think more of this, and quickly went to outside the office of the political commisar. He pressed his chest, trying to calm down, he felt as if a small rabbit was in his heart and completely restless.

这时，邓小平已经迎了出来，面带笑容地说：“龚师长，金州是险地，我们要从这里马上转移才好。你有经验，带十九师给咱们打个头阵吧！”

At this time, Deng Xiaoping had come out to greet him, and he said smilingly: "Commander Gong, Jinzhou is a dangerous place, we must relocate from here immediately. You are experienced, bring nineteen divisions and lead the way for us."

“这...”龚师长几乎不相信自己的耳朵。邓政委怎么会重用我呢？

"This..." Commander Gong almost couldn't believe his ears. Why would Commissar Deng use me for something important like this?

“这是上级的决定。”邓小平和气地说，“其实我们俩只是在有些事情上意见不太一致，但都是为了革命，我知道你是位好同志！”

"This is a decision from above." Deng Xiaoping said amiably. "We just have different opinions on some matters, but since it's all for the revolution, I know you are a good comrade!"

龚师长底下了头。

Commander Gong lowered his head.

接受了政委的命令之后，他正要离开，邓小平忽然问：“哎，你的战马呢？”

After having received the order of the political commisar, he was about to depart, when Deng Xiaoping suddenly asked: "Hey, what about your horse?"

“师长的战马前几天作战的被打死了，还没有找到新的。”龚师长的警卫员脱口而出。

"The commander's previous horse was killed during the last days of battle, we have not found a new one yet" Commander Gong's bodyguard blurted out.

龚师长回过头瞪了警卫员一眼，怪他多嘴。

Commander Gong turned his head and stared at the body guard, blaming him for saying too much.

邓小平微微一笑说：“大将作战怎能没有战马呢？龚师长，我这匹马你先牵去骑吧！”

Deng Xiaoping smiled and said: "How can a general go to battle without a horse? Commander Gong, you should take my horse here."

“不，不，不！”龚师长连连摆手，“还是政委留着骑吧！”

"No, no, no!" Commander Gong kept waving his hands. "It should remain for you to ride!"

龚师长知道，这匹战马跟随邓政委转战南北，上战场，过险滩，日行百里，好多次使邓政委化险为夷，邓政委可喜欢它呢。而邓政委对他这位“老伙伴”，他像对孩子一样，从来不舍得鞭打一下，闲暇的时候他还会到马厩里亲自给马喂草料。今天，邓政委提出要把马送给自己，这让他怎么敢接受呢？

Commander Gong knew that this horse has followed Commissar Deng in battles south and north, at the battleground, crossing dangerous shoals, going a hundred li each day, and helping him out of danger, so Commissar Deng really loves it. And Commissar Deng treats this "old pal" as a child, and he has never whipped it. When he has time to spare, he goes to the barn to feed it himself. Today, Commissar Deng suggested that I should take this horse, how would I dare to accept it?

“莫客气!”邓小平说，“我这些天下连队，用不着战马，你当开路先锋没有战马可不行。我的马脚力好，听使唤，你就骑去！”

"Don't worry about it," Deng Xiaoping said, "these days I will be with the company, and I have no use for a horse, but that you would open the way for us without a horse won't do. My horse has strong legs, listens to commands, you should ride it!"

龚师长还是一个劲儿摇头，“这不行！这不行！”

Commander Gong is still shaking his head violently, "This won't do! This won't do!"

邓小平拉过缰绳，拍拍心爱的战马，把缰绳送到龚师长的手中，说：“接着吧，这点儿小事还要我下命令吗？以后找到合适的战马，再把马还给我也行嘛！”

Deng Xiaoping pulled the reins, patting his beloved horse, and gave the reins to Commander Gong, saying: "Take it, should I have to give you an order for something this minor? When you have found a suitable horse, return this horse to me and it will be fine."

龚师长动了动嘴唇，不再说什么了。他接过缰绳，跨上马背，双眼注视着邓政委，手举到帽檐边给他行了一个标准的军礼。

Commander Gong moved his lips but did not say anything. He received the reins, straddled the horse. He looked at Commissar Deng with his eyes, and raised his hand to the brim of his hat to give him a proper salute.

战马“嘚嘚”地远去了。到了街巷拐弯处，龚师长一回头，看见邓政委还站在门外，向他挥手。龚师长感到有一股暖流正在他的胸中流过...

With a "de-de" the horse went into the distance. When they were about to turn a corner of the lane, Commander Gong looked back, and saw Commissar Deng still standing outside the gates, waving at him. Commander Gong felt a warm current flowing through his chest.

Vocabulary

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