From the 7th Steel Company to the Synthetic Division

Chief of Staff Shen has reached this level of position, and his idea of ​​combining tradition with innovation basically represents the thinking of his superiors.

Chen Jun actually agreed with Chief of Staff Shen's statement.

Taking too big a step can easily cause you to choke.

Everyone understands this principle.

Therefore, Chen Jun did not refute Chief of Staff Shen, and even nodded slightly in agreement. Naturally, the others would not say anything either.

Chief of Staff Shen was also satisfied with the reactions of the crowd; he appreciated mature and composed cadres.

That was about it for the conversation. Then he announced the final order: "The theater army has decided that the 7th Steel Brigade will not participate in the direct combat mission of the Chenghai Storm exercise this fall."

The exercise, involving the 908th Brigade and an amphibious armored brigade, will employ the traditional red-blue force-versus-force confrontation model.

"So what tasks do we have during this period?" Chen Jun asked, puzzled.

"The 7th Steel Brigade should make good use of this time to quickly familiarize itself with the use of the new equipment, complete the training mission, and form a mature combat force as soon as possible."

At this point, Chief of Staff Shen stood up and said as he walked out, "Alright, I should go too. Also, the expansion quota for the Seventh Steel Brigade has been approved. The standards haven't changed, but my suggestion is to have fewer but better candidates."

While focusing on highly educated personnel, we should also pay attention to soldiers with special talents.

Soldiers are the main force in battlefield combat. We should focus on highly educated and intelligent personnel, but at the same time, we should also pay attention to those with good physical fitness or special skills. Intelligence and physical strength are both indispensable.

"Intelligence and strength are both indispensable; you've hit the nail on the head," Gao Cheng praised.

"It's not bad to have a team of college graduates, but high quality and physical strength are often mutually exclusive. Carrying guns and heavy loads and crawling around requires a good physique. Without a strong physique, sufficient explosive power and endurance, one is not suitable for battlefield combat. Selecting unique professional talents is definitely an important part of the construction of combined arms units."

Chief of Staff Shen's words might not be so applicable to conventional troops, since the combat intensity of conventional troops is far less than that of combined arms brigades.

The statement that it can be placed in a combined arms brigade that is self-contained and can operate independently without the need for attached troops is indeed correct.

Even officers in command positions within a combined arms brigade need to have a sufficiently strong physique to maintain the energy needed to direct operations during high-intensity battles.

Otherwise, if the combined arms brigade is running around in mechanized movements, and the commander can't take it anymore and falls ill, then what's the point of doing it?

"Understood, Chief."

Chen Jun, Wang Qingrui, and others agreed with this statement and responded immediately.

After watching Chief of Staff Shen get into the car and leave, Chen Jun and his group, now only having their own men left, did not look cheerful; instead, they all frowned.

"We're not allowed to participate in the exercises, only training. I can't help but smell the scent of being shelved," Gao Cheng said with a self-deprecating laugh.

“I think it’s just a temporary retreat. After all, we did carry out Operation Alarm on a rather large scale, and it must have taken a lot of effort for the higher-ups to put it under control. Our opponents need time to gradually digest the impact we’ve had on them,” Chen Jun said, offering a different perspective.

"Chen Jun's guess is probably pretty accurate. Since the war zone tells us to be more cautious, let's be cautious then. Let's treat it as a rest and adjustment," Wang Qingrui said with a smile.

“Our training has just gotten on track and needs a period of stability,” Ma Tianxiang added.

"Just now, Chief of Staff Shen said before he left that our enrollment quota has been approved. I have a good idea, and I don't know if you agree with it," Chen Jun said earnestly.

"You're so bold as to dare to cause trouble, aren't you planning something again?" Wang Qingrui teased.

"No, that's just a normal thought."

Chen Jun shook his head speechlessly and said, "Selecting personnel from military academies or other grassroots units will definitely not keep up with our current pace."

I was thinking, why not take a shortcut? Why not just transfer some key personnel from those elite field units?

"..."

When Chen Jun said this, everyone was ashamed.

"Chief of Staff, only you would dare to think like that. The backbone of the elite troops is their lifeblood, and you actually want to poach them from the elite troops." Tian Baoguo said speechlessly.

“Recruiting people from elite units is very difficult, even with support from the theater command, it will probably be a lot of work.” Wang Qingrui couldn’t help but frown.

"What's there to be afraid of? How will you know if you don't try?"

Chen Jun, completely unconcerned, said with great interest, "Hong Yi from the 909th Brigade, I think he's quite good. How about we bring him over first?"

"Hong Yi? You mean the one who led a group of men and hid in Langshan for six days and seven nights without being exposed, and was finally lured out and captured by us?" Wang Qingrui recalled.

"Yes, that's him."

Chen Jun slapped his thigh and said, "He led more than 300 men to lie in ambush for six days and seven nights without us noticing. Just think how difficult that is? You can't do that without some serious skills."

“It’s true that Hong Yi is a talented person, but I’ve heard that he’s a troublemaker who’s difficult to lead,” Tian Baoguo said.

"Oh? Is that so?"

Gao Cheng was a notorious troublemaker back then, and he immediately became interested when he heard that there was someone like him.

“I heard from people in the 909th Brigade that Hong Yi is a very straightforward person. He speaks his mind directly without considering other people’s feelings. He often directly confronts Chu Zhangang in meetings, causing internal conflicts. I think…”

Tian Baoguo pondered with some concern, "If we transfer him here, will it cause a series of problems and affect our internal atmosphere?"

"If he has these problems, we really need to be careful when recruiting him," Ma Tianxiang also commented.

"Trouble? I'm not afraid of trouble at all. Hong Yi dared to go against Brigade Commander Chu Zhangang and he's still fine. What does that prove?" Chen Jun's lips curled up slightly.

"Old Chen, stop keeping everyone in suspense," Gao Cheng urged impatiently.

"This proves that Hong Yi is indeed quite capable. Every time he clashes with Chu Zhangang, he has a point, which is why Chu Zhangang can't do anything about him. And that's exactly the kind of talent we need," Chen Jun explained.

“I still think personality is very important. Our Seventh Steel Brigade has many talented people, and to be honest, we don’t need another one like him. We need to think twice before choosing him,” Ma Tianxiang said.

“I’ve heard that their deputy battalion commander, Peng Jihai, is also very capable and has a more stable personality. Choosing Peng Jihai is better than choosing Hong Yi,” Tian Baoguo also expressed his opinion.

As political officers of the Seventh Steel Company, their primary concern was undoubtedly the internal stability of the unit.

This is their core work!
Therefore, Political Commissar Tian Baoguo and Deputy Political Commissar Ma Tianxiang both valued personality, temperament, and character more, and were not very fond of the troublemaker Hong Yi.

However, from the perspective of a military officer, Chen Jun places the utmost emphasis on ability.

As for his overly assertive personality or being a troublemaker with strong abilities, Chen Jun didn't care at all, because he had absolute confidence in himself.

No matter how strong or capable the opponent is, they will all have to kneel before him. Therefore, Chen Jun insisted, "This Hong Yi is an extraordinary talent, and what is most commendable is that he also has a deep understanding of modern special forces combat theory, which is one of the few I have ever seen."

When I visited 909 Brigade before, I had a special conversation with him, and I am very certain of my judgment.

I really hope that talented people like Hong Yi can come to our Steel Seventh Brigade. With such talent joining us, we can definitely improve our training level.

At the same time, I firmly believe that only an information-based unit like the 7th Steel Brigade can allow Hong Yi to fully utilize his talents.

Chen Jun's influence in the Seventh Steel Brigade is undeniable. Seeing that Hong Yi is so highly regarded by Chen Jun, everyone has to reassess their situation.

"Chief of Staff, your judgment is indeed very sharp. I believe Hong Yi is indeed, as you say, a rare and insightful talent, but..."

Wang Qingrui first praised Chen Jun, but then suddenly changed the subject and said, "You can see that Hong Yi is a talented person, but can't Chu Zhangang see it too?"
The fact that Hong Yi has gone against him for so long without any consequences is enough to prove that Chu Zhangang approves of Hong Yi.

Even if you want Hong Yi, Chu Zhangang might not give it to you, especially at this critical juncture. We have already offended him, and Chu Zhangang hates us to the core.

You even want to poach his people to use against him later? How could he possibly agree to that?

Got it!

We spent half a day discussing it, but it was all for nothing.

"That's not necessarily true."

Chen Jun raised an eyebrow and analyzed, "If it's really as the political commissar said, I think Hong Yi himself is much more willing to leave than stay."

If I could sincerely invite Hong Yi, I think he would very likely come to our Steel Seventh Brigade.

As long as Hong Yi himself is willing to come to the 7th Steel Brigade, I will personally talk to Chief of Staff Shen and issue a transfer order directly from the war zone to the 909th Brigade. Even if Chu Zhangang is unwilling, he has no choice.

Moreover, by bringing over the troublemaker Hong Yi, I'm also helping Chu Zhangang out by getting rid of a troublemaker. Without someone constantly going against him, things will be easier for him, won't they?

"Chief of Staff, you yourself said he's a troublemaker, so why do we have to have him? Besides, you're making a far too simplistic decision about transferring people. He's a regimental-level officer; do you think he can be transferred so easily?" Tian Baoguo said speechlessly.

“Well, this matter is indeed not that simple. Even if Chu Zhangang agrees to release them, are you sure Hong Yi is willing to come?” Wang Qingrui was not very confident.

The more rebellious a person is, the stronger their personal opinions are, and it can be quite troublesome to transfer them.

“Hong Yi was captured by my men last time, and I think he was still quite resentful. He hasn’t taken revenge yet, so it will be quite difficult to recruit him now,” Gao Cheng said.

"This is just an idea of ​​mine. I want to give it a try. I don't care about the success or failure, I'll just give it a shot."

Chen Jun persisted in his opinion and analyzed for everyone again: "I have spoken with Hong Yi privately one-on-one, and I believe I understand him better than you do."

I think there's nothing wrong with his personality and thinking. The main conflict between him and Chu Zhangang lies in their combat concepts, philosophies, and working methods.

I talked with him for several hours and found that our combat philosophies were basically on the same page.

I'm certain that if Hong Yi came to the Seventh Steel Brigade, he definitely wouldn't cause any conflict with us. At most, we'd have a heated discussion, which is perfectly normal.

In short, Hong Yi is a rare talent, and I really don't want to let him go.

Besides, we are an information-based combined arms brigade, a professional adversary force built by the theater command. We not only need to be diverse in our tactics, but we must also be adept at subversion and defection.

Let's take Hong Yi as our first target and test our Seventh Steel Brigade's ability to subvert enemy lines behind enemy lines.

Chen Jun's final defection plan really caught everyone off guard; no one had expected that Chen Jun could have such a wild imagination.

Everyone was amused.

As a result, the previously somewhat somber atmosphere became much more relaxed.

"Chief of Staff, it has to be you! You're so clever and resourceful, always coming up with new ideas. Someone like me, an old man, really can't keep up," Wang Qingrui said with a smile and a shake of his head.

"Well, since the Chief of Staff insists on having Hong Yi and has this idea, we should definitely support him. However, we must think it through beforehand and report to the commander first. We absolutely cannot act recklessly on our own again," Tian Baoguo solemnly instructed.

"Of course, I'll go back and write a report now. Once Chief of Staff Shen agrees, I'll contact Hong Yi."

Chen Jun took this matter very seriously, and after speaking, he quickly walked towards the camp.

……

909th Brigade Camp Area.

Under Chen Jun's leadership, the Seventh Steel Brigade held lengthy discussions around Hong Yi and finally reached a consensus, officially beginning to implement the poaching plan.

The two commanding officers of the 909th Brigade, who were about to be poached, were discussing Hong Yi's situation at that moment.

"Hong Yi said he wanted to submit a transfer application, but you didn't agree to let him leave, did you?" Xu Xiaocun asked worriedly.

“Of course I disagree with him leaving,” Chu Zhangang said immediately.

"You didn't agree to his second low-altitude parachute training plan, and you didn't approve his demobilization report either. Lao Chu, what are you thinking?"

Xu Xiaocun's meaning was very clear.

So, if you're not going to let Hong Yi leave, you should at least give him some benefits, but you're neither giving him any benefits nor letting him go.

It's truly baffling.

"Hey~"

Chu Zhangang sighed and said, "I have opinions about Hong Yi and I don't approve of some of his behaviors and practices. There's no need to hide it."

I ran into Commander Chun at the military base a couple of days ago and we talked about him.

If he can’t stand being idle in the brigade right now, he can go to the military logistics department for a temporary placement. But he insists on doing low-altitude parachute training at this stage. Isn’t that putting me in a very difficult position?
What good would it do him if there were any injuries or fatalities during training?

The worst part isn't even that. I explicitly forbade him from skydiving training, but he's already started practicing on his own, completely ignoring orders from the brigade, you know that?

Hong Yi's disobedience to the brigade commander's orders is a matter that could be considered a big deal or a small one.

If the brigade commander doesn't report it to his superiors, there's nothing wrong; it's handled internally and no one knows. But if the brigade commander reports it to his superiors, then Hong Yi might have to leave in serious trouble.

However, Hong Yi had already applied for a transfer to civilian work, and reporting it to his superiors was exactly what he wanted.

This bug was really frustrating for Chu Zhangang. (End of Chapter)