Most of the enlisted soldiers in the unit were from local Taiwanese families. Ashan seized this opportunity, often chatting with the soldiers in Taiwanese, which unknowingly helped strengthen the bond between officers and soldiers. However, when it came to leading his men, Ashan was firm in enforcing discipline, rewarding hard-working soldiers and showing no leniency towards the unruly ones.
One enlisted soldier in the company came from a family that owned a construction business and had graduated from high school. He had a habit of flattering his superiors and bullying the soldiers from rural areas. Thinking himself clever, he would often try to slack off.
During a field exercise, this sly soldier was caught playing cards in the trench. Seizing the moment when the soldier wasn’t paying attention, Ashan quietly took his rifle. The soldier was terrified, as a soldier’s rifle is considered their second life, especially during a field exercise where losing a weapon is as serious as in actual combat.
Ashan threatened to report him under military law, and the soldier immediately begged for forgiveness. After a severe scolding, Ashan made him write a letter of repentance, warning that any future offenses would lead to military prosecution. From then on, this soldier never dared to slack off again.
Ashan showed great care towards the more humble soldiers, especially those from rural areas. When they were feeling down, he would offer advice and comfort, often helping them write letters home. It was common for soldiers to get injured while constructing fortifications, and Ashan would personally tend to their wounds, earning him the affection and respect of his fellow soldiers. They all grew to really “Ga-Yi” (Taiwanese "like") their platoon leader, Ashan.
One day, Ashan was ordered to return to the camp headquarters to receive new recruits. While the recruits were lined up for roll call, Ashan called out "Wang Huotu" three times before a sturdy, simple-looking guy responded with, "Here." Wait—wasn't that Ah-Tu? How did he end up in the military? Perhaps he wasn’t as "stupid" as everyone thought!
After the roll call, Ashan approached Wang Huotu and asked if he recognized him. The recruit tilted his head, furrowed his brow, and studied the platoon leader for a while before shaking his head and saying, "Sorry, sir, I don't know you."
Ashan laughed, took off his cap, and spoke to Ah-Tu in Taiwanese, "Ah-Tu! I’m Ashan from Sanxia! Don’t you remember?"
Ah-Tu looked puzzled and embarrassed. Ashan continued, "Ah-Mei, Dachuan, you, and I used to play together when we were kids. Do you remember?"
Suddenly, it clicked for Ah-Tu, as if waking from a long dream. "Ashan, you're that Ashan!" From that moment, Platoon Leader Ashan became Ah-Tu’s biggest source of support in military life.
在部隊中大多數的充員戰士都是本省籍子弟。阿三捉住了這個機會，經常用台語與這些戰士們閒聊，無形中也增進了官兵間的感情。不過阿三帶兵還是賞罰分明，對於頑皮不馴的兵絕不放鬆，對於老實苦幹的兵卻是愛護有加。
連上有位充員戰士，家裏是開營造廠的，也唸到了高中畢業。平時就愛奉承長官及欺侮其他鄉下來的弟兄。又自恃有小聰明，常常打混摸魚。
在一次戰地演習時，這位油條兵居然在戰壕裏玩樸克牌。阿三趁他不注意時，把他的步槍給摸走了。這一下可把他嚇壞了，因為槍是軍人的第二生命，在戰地演習視同作戰，把槍弄丟這事可大條了！
阿三嚇唬他要依軍法處理，只見他頻頻求饒。阿三對他嚴加斥責後要他寫一份悔過書，言明再犯絕對送軍法審判，從此這位老兄再也不敢耍油條了。
對於一些鄉下來的孩子，阿三常在他們情緒不好的時候給予開導與安慰，也常幫他們寫家書。構工時難免會受傷，阿三也常為受傷的弟兄敷藥裹傷，所以連上弟兄都非常 “嘎意” (台語 “喜歡”) 這位排長阿三。
有天阿三奉命回到營部去領新兵。就在新兵列隊接受點名的時候，阿三連叫了三聲「王火土」，才見得一個粗壯的傻小子答「有」。咦？這不就是阿土嗎？他怎麼會來當兵呢？也許還沒有「笨」到不能當兵吧！
在點完名解散後，阿三趨前問王火土認不認識自己。這傻小子歪個頭，皺著眉，打量跟前的這位排長好一會兒，然後搖搖頭說：「報告長官，沒有認識啦！」
阿三笑著脫下帽來，用台語對阿土說：「阿土啊！哇係三峽的那個阿三啦！你嘸記得嗎？」
阿土還是愣在那裏，一臉不好意思的樣子。阿三接著說：「阿美、大川、你和哇細漢時倒頂剃頭，Ａ記妹？(台語「你和我小時候一起作伴出去玩，記得嗎？」)」
阿土好似大夢初醒一樣，「阿三，你就是 "嘿例" (那個) 阿三！」於是阿三排長變成阿土在軍中生活最大的依靠。
