Every soldier in the guards' platoon was fully armed and equipped: a complete set of cotton clothes, cotton pants, and cotton boots; a locomotive cap; and a double-breasted military overcoat. They carried rifles over their shoulders, while two ammunition pouches, a multipurpose canteen, and a bayonet hung from the belts around their waists. Most importantly, every man also carried a quilt, with an entrenching tool fastened to the outside.
Each squad leader was also issued a monocular telescope. The Platoon Leader not only had a telescope, but also a compass for determining direction. For starting fires, every soldier was issued a hunting knife and flint to strike sparks.
As for Qu Bing's equipment, there was even more. He had a telescope, a compass, and even a map, as well as a portable military calcium carbide lamp for illumination, a document case for issuing orders, and his seals, command tokens, and other belongings—a whole pile of things. Naturally, he could not possibly carry them himself. Otherwise, what were Personal Guards for?
Following You Ye, the group set out toward several observation points beside the waterways. The soldiers maintained a formation on alert as they marched, every rifle held in hand instead of slung over the back. Everyone trudged through the snow, sinking deep with one step and shallow with the next. Their long rifles served perfectly well as walking sticks—of course, so long as they did not point the muzzles downward.
"Uncle You, where is this place?"
Walking through a low-lying river valley, Qu Bing looked around. Everything was a vast expanse of white. The river had already frozen solid, and another layer of snow covered it, making it impossible to tell where the river ended and the land began.
"This is the upper reaches of the two waterways in our