It's better to conquer them than to command the steel torrent

Chapter 210 (Chapter 205) | The Dilemma of Choice
“Good. Exercise experience is more valuable than training experience, and combat experience is more valuable than exercise experience. With the guidance of our instructors, we no longer need to worry about the troops' training being divorced from reality.” Huang Chen responded first, which can be said to be very respectful.

“Everyone has heard of the division commander’s abilities. Since the General Staff and the Chief of Staff have arranged for you, Brother Shang, to lead the 8th Mechanized Infantry Division, we will naturally obey unconditionally and cooperate fully,” Zhang Anyuan added.

Zhang Anyuan's words sounded very friendly, but they actually had a deeper meaning.

The implication is that we are not made of clay, nor do we blindly obey orders like sheep. Rather, we are impressed by your deeds, Mr. Shang, and will temporarily believe that you do have some skills.

Shang Ke didn't care and didn't take it to heart.

As a key part of the Great Unified Federation's military reorganization plan, the Twentieth Division plan ensured that no soldier or officer was mediocre, and even new recruits were assigned to the group with the best overall qualities.

Can I keep these people in check?

Although Shang Ke was initially very confident, he still had some concerns. However, after dealing with him, he immediately felt at ease.

Wherever there are people, there is a social hierarchy. Seniority naturally has its advantages. However, the military is a completely violent organization, always ready to undergo life-or-death tests. Showy skills and empty talk are not appreciated; real ability and intelligence are valued more.

On his second day in office, or rather, his first day in office, Shang Ke began to tour the area with great enthusiasm.

Judging from yesterday's "surprise inspection" of the division's directly subordinate units, the 8th Mechanized Infantry Division, despite its short establishment time, is fully qualified in terms of basic skills.

To ensure this was not an isolated incident, he spent two days conducting spot checks on key combat units, gaining a general understanding of the overall situation.

Immediately afterwards, he began to prepare a comprehensive training plan.

Little did they know that in just two days, the incident at the Baima Town military post had rapidly escalated.

First, Shang's report startled the Jiangsu-Zhejiang Military Region, and then it was relayed all the way up to the General Headquarters, almost reaching the ears of the President.

Director-General of the Military Affairs Department, Li Miaocheng, ordered a thorough investigation, and the Military Law Department also confirmed the case.

The military region headquarters dared not delay and hastily formed a special investigation team. While interrogating the suspect, professional accountants carefully checked the sealed account books.

When Kong Quan's mother learned of this, she was both shocked and furious. She hurriedly begged the Kong family to find a way to mediate, but...

The special investigation team quickly completed the initial investigation. Thanks to the help of the second type of soldiers, the cross-examination was very efficient, because lying really would get you beaten up!
Based on the suspect's confession, targeted screening was conducted, and the relevant ledgers and records of the military oil depot were quickly thoroughly investigated.

You don't know until you investigate, and what you find is shocking. The case is already infuriating even before it's fully resolved.

Led by Kong Quan, seven people conspired to resell large quantities of military supplies over the past two years, including more than ten categories of goods such as tires, engine oil, gasoline, gears, batteries, leather boots, and medicines.

For example, they might use excuses like "high water content" or "deterioration due to prolonged storage" to process normal gasoline, then resell it to private buyers for profit.

From a local perspective, this can only be described as a routine resale case, but if we delve deeper, it becomes much more complicated.

How did Kong Quan get transferred to the position of oil depot manager? What is the network of relationships among the related suspects? A chain of in-depth investigations may uncover even more big fish!

The special investigation team was presented with a choice: conduct a superficial investigation, only scratching the surface, or follow the clues and investigate thoroughly all the way through.

This problem has nothing to do with Mr. Shang, but he naturally believes that the more thorough the self-examination and self-correction, the better. The longer it is delayed, the greater the harm. It is better than a major case suddenly being exposed when the battle is in full swing.

He mentioned this to his wife on the phone. Jian Keqiu immediately noticed something amiss and pressed him for details: "Surname Kong? With some power? The family behind the forced acquisition of my father's property last year is also surnamed Kong."

Shang Ke's gaze sharpened, and he said in a deep voice, "Hiss... I remember now too."

"Could these be from the same company?"

"It's hard to say across the whole country, but if we're limited to the Jiangsu and Zhejiang region, there probably won't be another one like it."

Shang Ke carefully recalled the information and reorganized his thoughts, then told his wife in detail what he had found out about Kong Quan's family background, asking her to verify it with her father.

Jian Keqiu agreed.

An hour later she called back, her tone clearly tinged with satisfaction, and said, "I checked, it's definitely this place."

Oh? It really is?
I can't believe my eyes! It's like we've run into each other on a narrow road. Just watch as I, Shang, hammer another coffin nail into the Kong family's coffin!

"Good." Shang Ke chuckled and commented, "If you hold your tail too high and become arrogant, it will be hard to change. In the current context, if you don't restrain yourself, you're doomed."

On the other end of the phone, Jian Keqiu asked uncertainly, "Maybe this family has connections and can avoid being held accountable? If they are really investigated, will they be dealt with?"

When asked about his wife's suspicions, Shang Ke simply said four words: "It was bound to happen sooner or later."

Judging from several policies in recent years, it is not difficult to see that this president and his team are full of courage and have considerable determination and skill to accomplish great things.

The most important matters of state are sacrifice and war; this has been a profound truth for thousands of years.

Moreover, the unstable period of power transition has long passed, and with power firmly in hand, Shank believes that the President will ruthlessly make any inappropriate decisions.

He then asked his wife to compile the evidence documents, providing a complete record of the events surrounding the forced seizure of the Jian family's chemical plant last year, which would then be presented as evidence in court.

While he was making preparations, the instigator was also struggling.

The Kong family ancestors were among the local gentry in Suzhou as early as the Shunzhi era. They witnessed the famous "Temple Crying Case" and can be considered as participants in this major historical event.

Years later, when the army of the founding fathers of the Great Unified Federation marched north, the Kong family seized the opportunity to join them, contributing both money and effort, and cheering them on. It can be said that they chose the right side at that time.

In short, they have developed to the point that they are now among the most powerful families in the Jiangsu and Zhejiang region. They may not be ranked highly in terms of power and wealth alone, but their family background is extraordinary, so no matter what, the Kong family members can always find a good job.

If we were to draw a vivid analogy, the Kong family would be to the current unified federation what a declining noble earldom was during the reign of Emperor Chenghua of the Ming Dynasty.

Kong Yingxu, the head of the Kong family, was a frustrated middle-aged man. In his youth, he had been working hard in his career, but unfortunately, he had little success. Disheartened, he simply turned to worldly affairs and became obsessed with delicious food and beautiful women.

"...It's so unlucky to run into such a meticulous guy. That guy should have been shot dead in a foreign land!" he complained with great annoyance.

"Then... what should we do about Koizumi? He's been taken away for days." A middle-aged woman, sobbing, asked worriedly.

(End of this chapter)