[El Gato]

When Deng Hong was 17, he led a company of Chinese soldiers into battle against the Vietnamese

A 17 year old company commander in the PLA? I don't think so. Unless of course the Vietnamese killed everybody above him the chain of command. He was probably commanding a squad sized rump of a company, assuming the whole deal isn't just a fabrication, like the phoney Vietnam vets we are stuck with. The PAVN (aka NVA) did kick the PLA's ass big time back then.

[marktwain]

But remember, Gato, he had political connections! Political connections are the most important thing in a totalitarian state! With the right polititcal connections, you can easily be a company commander at 17, with a very professional top sargent who used to be a Captain and wants to be a Major. Remember, the right i's have to be dotted and the right t's crossed.