Military career: Starting with a recruitment letter

Chapter 242 Exceptional Promotion, No More Pretense?

9:40 a.m. on August 21.

Twenty minutes before the scheduled time for the debriefing meeting, cadres who had changed into clean clothes began to gather one after another at the entrance of the auditorium at the 184th Regiment's headquarters.

Chen Mo was also in the crowd.

Compared to other cadres, his conspicuous bag was much more eye-catching.

Not only is he young, but more importantly, he has two second-class merit awards, one third-class merit award, and one military region commendation on his left chest.

Under the sunlight, it shimmered with an extremely dazzling light.

In particular, the large first-class combat hero medal with the words "August 1st" hanging around his neck attracted the attention of a group of officers at the regimental, deputy division, and division levels.

This is a combat medal from peacetime.

According to the established standards, this level of recognition should be awarded at the Great Hall of the People in Kyoto, yet it was bestowed upon a young cadre.

"Who is this young comrade?"

"I don't know, but it seems to be someone from the Kyoto Military Region. He was being chased and beaten by Old Wang from the 61st Division a while ago, but he couldn't catch up."

"Fuck, shut up!"

Wang Songhe passed by with a face as black as the bottom of a pot.

The two staff officers who had started to discuss the matter quickly shut their mouths, staring at each other without saying a word.

It's not because I'm afraid of Lao Wang.

Instead of being the "little comrade" they were referring to, he was surrounded by quite a few big shots.

The principal of Shicheng Army Academy, Yuan Shansong, the chief of staff of the 63rd Army, Qin Quan'an, the vice principal, and seven or eight department heads were present.

It's already rare for academics to participate in a military region's debriefing meeting, let alone such a large group of them.

It looks truly amazing.

Wang Songhe wasn't very familiar with the people at the Army Academy, and since the Jincheng Military Region had its own Army Academy, he didn't join in the fun.

9 points.

Attendees began to enter the venue one after another.

All the communication equipment previously used by the directorate has been removed, leaving only a few large screens, which are set up as listening positions for the seven major military regions and the other five military regions via video link.

There were two military exercises prior to this year's military parade.

One was a military exercise in the Northwest, led by two group armies under the Jincheng Military Region, with the aim of testing the results of the second phase of mechanization transformation.

However, it is said that after the exercise, not all units will return before the parade, and they will be uniformly equipped with live ammunition to ensure the safety of the parade.

One is a military exercise in southern Guangdong, led by the Yangcheng Military Region and the Jinling Military Region, which will begin next month, in September.

The objective is self-evident; it is primarily deterrence.

Therefore, this debriefing meeting was of a very high standard, basically encompassing all senior officers of the main combat divisions and regiments of the entire army.

Inside the auditorium.

The military flags hanging on the wall looked particularly solemn.

The group of senior officers who entered the auditorium also had serious expressions. They sat upright on both sides according to their army group affiliation.

Chen Mo belonged to the Kyoto Military Region. He sat in the middle of the auditorium with the leaders of the Army Academy, the 7th Air Division of Kyoto, and other cadres, including people from the Army Academy.

Before a conference of this caliber is held, no one would be so foolish as to gossip; everyone sits up straight.

There was a colleague nearby responsible for connecting the video links with other military regions.

It's ten o'clock sharp.

The doors were pushed open from the outside, and Di Huitang, Deputy Chief of the General Staff, strode into the auditorium first.

Behind them, Fu Hongyi, commander-in-chief of the Kyoto Military Region, Pang Haifeng, commander-in-chief of the Jincheng Military Region, as well as the political commissars, chiefs of staff, logistics department and political department leaders of the two military regions entered the venue one after another.

The attendees sitting below adjusted their posture slightly as the person presiding over the meeting entered.

Each of them stood tall and proud, looking straight ahead.

Di Huitang, the Chief of Staff, sat in the center, picked up the exercise data on the table, and adjusted the angle of the microphone.

After glancing at the audience, he went straight to the point and announced the results.

"Comrades, the results of this year's Revival 1999 exercise were very good, which fully demonstrates that there was no obvious slackness in any unit over the past year."

"Now, I will announce a set of data."

"During this exercise, the average speed of road maneuvering of the two army groups increased by 25.4% compared to previous exercises."

"The use of new engineering machinery has increased the hoisting efficiency of various railways by 17%, with an average of one flat-seat military train being loaded every 30 minutes, achieving excellent results as required by the latest training syllabus."

"The deployment of surface-to-air tactical missile battalions has increased the air defense efficiency of division-level units by 31% and the coordination efficiency of air-ground joint operations by 70%."

"With 94GHz fixed reconnaissance radar, vehicle-mounted radar, satellite and other air-to-ground, air-to-space multi-dimensional reconnaissance modes, it can basically achieve all-weather air situation detection."

"The efficiency of drone-based reconnaissance coverage has increased by 100% compared to before."

"In the Second, Fourth, and Ninth Operational Zones, during the armored battles against special forces and the night tank battles, all units used Type 96 tanks to advance at top speed, with regimental-level land groups deploying, which was 14% more efficient than the previous Type 88 tanks."

"In terms of overall firepower, the Type 96 tank has a rate of fire 0.71 times faster than the Type 88 tank per unit time. Rocket launcher crews replace field howitzer battalions, increasing the speed, scale, and effectiveness of firepower attacks by 16%, 21%, and 33%, respectively."

Di Huitang's voice echoed throughout the entire auditorium.

Everyone, whether attending the meeting or sitting in the video conference, listened attentively.

This reflects the combat effectiveness after the transformation and will also serve as the standard for other major military regions to follow.

The data revealed little by little in the combat data is data obtained from large-scale exercises, and the entire military must use it as a benchmark.

Requirements for revising subsequent training outlines.

After all, it's impossible for every military region to conduct something of this scale.

In debriefings of large-scale exercises like this, the most important thing is not who wins or loses, nor the success or failure of tactical details.

Detailed tactical debriefings are the responsibility of each army group.

The General Staff doesn't care about your trivial matters. If there are tactical problems, you should reflect on them yourself. If you don't perform well, it's always a problem with your mindset.

If you want to gain headquarters' approval and apply for more assistance, then straighten your mindset and fight well.

Put the results on the table before discussing anything else.

In general, all headquarters wants is data.

The second phase of mechanization transformation is, relatively speaking, equivalent to a war under a new combat system.

In recent years, the field army has undergone large-scale reductions and extensive equipment replacements. The transformation involves not only armored forces, but also all branches of the armed forces, including artillery, engineers, communications, reconnaissance, and electronic warfare.

The data on this aspect alone took almost half an hour to read out.

After finishing his speech, Di Huitang rudely tossed aside the data in his hand and swept his imposing gaze around the room.

Everyone in the meeting, including Chen Mo, felt a chill run down their spines. After the good things were said, the bad things were bound to follow.

After all, overall good doesn't mean everything is good.

Di Huitang glanced at the crowd, picked up the water glass on the table, took a sip of tea, and then said, "Let me first remind everyone present, as well as the comrades from various military regions who are listening in, especially senior officers and some generals."

"This exercise has fully demonstrated the importance of reform and changes in the combat system."

I'll repeat myself: If you fall behind, you'll be vulnerable to attack!

“The past year has been a painful period, and we have had a very difficult time. The transformation has been talked about since the early 1990s, but many comrades still have a negative attitude.”

Speaking of which.

Di Huitang paused for a moment, but those sitting in the hall didn't seem to notice anything.

After all, those present had already proven with the exercise data that they hadn't done badly.

Since the conference mentioned "a few individuals," it must be referring to the people from the other five military regions who were sitting in front of their screens, staring wide-eyed at the meeting.

The Deputy Chief of the General Staff, with just a few casual words, made people from other military regions feel intensely suffocated, even through their screens.

If the person presiding over the meeting were the commander-in-chief of the Kyoto Military Region or the commander-in-chief of the Kinjo Military Region, the same effect would not be achieved.

Of course, despite their high rank, they were not really qualified to preside over such a large conference.

Before the establishment of a unified army command during the continental army era, the General Staff was the superior authority of all military regions.

"In the past year, some comrades have been incredibly resourceful."

"Please bypass the military region and go directly to the four headquarters!!"

"These comrades have also received advanced military education. Is it that their understanding is not keeping up? No! This is not a problem of understanding at all."

"It's about emphasizing enlightenment a thousand times over."

“You understand the principles better than anyone else, and you can articulate them better than anyone else, but you are unwilling to be the victims of the torrent.”

"When it comes to future prospects, some comrades want future prospects, and grassroots cadres and soldiers want them even more."

"Then let me ask you this: now that the data is out, what about the future of the field troops?"

Di Huitang questioned sharply, slamming his hand on the table with a loud "bang".

The above often only requires data, which is the advantage of data—as long as results are produced.

The General Staff can take decisive action to clear the way and crush all obstacles. Anyone who tries to plead for leniency is simply walking into a trap.

The focus must give way to the goal of "strengthening the military".

"Nobody's talking?"

Di Huitang turned his gaze to the screens on both sides of the auditorium and simply called out, "Come on, representative of the Yangcheng Military Region, stand up and say something."

On the other side of the big screen, a leader with two stars on his shoulders stood up.

"The entire Yangcheng Military Region has a general understanding of this."

Is it a matter of perception?

Di Huitang interrupted the other party's speech directly, showing absolutely no mercy.

Chen Mo turned his head and witnessed the Guangzhou representative's expression change drastically in an instant. This was purely a slip of the tongue.

Just now the General Staff said that it's not a matter of understanding, but of awareness. Although they didn't name names, they did name names, so isn't it obvious?
The difference between understanding and awareness is enormous.

If you say the wrong thing at the beginning, there's no point in saying anything more. The representative from Guangzhou stood there helplessly, head bowed, resigned to being the rooster that would kill the rest of the monkeys.

The course of events was unbiased.

Throughout the auditorium, Di Huitang's criticisms rang out, raining down on the other party like hailstones.

After scolding for a good minute or two, Di Huitang finally waved his hand and said, "Alright, sit down."

“Representative of Nanjing, come, stand up and say something.”

Both of these military regions will be the main force in the exercises in southern Guangdong next month, and they dare not be careless in the face of the reform issues.

The Nanjing representative learned from the lesson of the Guangzhou representative.

He stood up swiftly and said seriously, "We lack awareness."

"The vested interests touched the soul, which led to an unhealthy trend among some commanders. They became conservative in their thinking and negative in their emotions, which slowed down the progress of the work."

"There are several factors at play."

"First, the resettlement work was not done well enough and did not achieve a demonstration effect. Communication with local authorities was inadequate and untimely, and there was no effective feedback and survey channel after resettlement, which caused some comrades to feel abandoned."

"Second, the education of officers and some soldiers is not keeping up. Although it is talked about every day and every month, it is just a formality, which has caused some minor misunderstandings among officers and soldiers."

"Third, we failed to set a good example. The problem was not poverty but inequality. Some non-combat units, such as cultural and technical units, did not undergo major changes, which caused serious resentment at the grassroots level. They felt that all the combat units had been changed, while meaningless non-combat units were retained."

"Fourth, senior generals did not adhere to principles enough and continued to loosen restrictions, causing some units that should have been optimized and reorganized to be placed at the end, which further exacerbated the contradictions."

"fifth."

The sound of self-criticism echoed in the auditorium.

A person who can speak as a representative of the military region can basically cover all the reasons; without this ability, it would be impossible to reach that position.

The reason the General Staff organizes these events at such a conference is to ensure a smoother transition to the third phase of mechanization and to encourage active cooperation from the various military regions.

finally.

The representative from Jinling gave a resolute summary.

"On behalf of the military region leaders, the General Staff Headquarters, and higher-level leadership departments, I hereby declare that the Jinling Military Region will ensure the completion of its tasks, streamline its work, and solidify the foundation for the development of the armed forces during the third phase of its work."

"We firmly support and will earnestly fulfill the important task of reform."

"Okay, sit down."

Di Huitang nodded, neither agreeing nor disagreeing with the above statement; he was neither particularly satisfied nor disappointed.

The discussions on the mechanization transition have been largely completed.

Di Huitang turned his gaze toward Chen Mo's direction with this small gesture.

This caused everyone in the auditorium to turn their attention to the back of the middle row.

Those who were unaware of the situation suddenly saw a lieutenant appear on the scene, and they all stared with puzzled eyes, trying to ask the people around them.

Those in the know have already guessed that with the mechanization transformation finished, the next system to be introduced is information technology.

Di Huitang withdrew his gaze and took another sip of tea.

"The new combat system requires extensive and repeated testing to ensure military missions. Some comrades on site should know that we have invested seven years of effort in information technology experiments. The time invested in information technology is no less than that invested in mechanization."

"We have taken many detours and tried different paths, and finally concluded that the success of any system depends on a lack of talent."

"Talent in the field of transformation."

"In this 'Revival 1999' military exercise, the 47th and 21st Armies not only displayed their prowess, but also showcased a remarkable achievement in information technology experimentation."

"The experimental informationized battalion, which deployed a total of 1,050 personnel in this exercise, once wiped out a regiment of more than 3500 enemy troops within 48 hours on the battlefield."

"Next, please invite the battalion commander of the information technology team of the 7th Combat Zone and the division commander of the Blue Army to come up to the stage to give a detailed report on the battle."

Di Huitang finished speaking.

After a moment of surprise, the people present all raised their hands and applauded.

The information system is still in its early stages, and even the leader's tone unconsciously softened when mentioning these things.

Like a seedling that needs care.

Amid applause, Chen Mo and Wang Songhe, these two old rivals, stood up and strode towards the front of the stage.

Chen Mo walked past people with his head held high and chest puffed out, like a victorious rooster.

Old Wang's expression wasn't so pleasant. How could he be? If he went up there, he'd be used as a negative example.

The two men, one fat and one thin, one old and one young, stood three meters apart and saluted the several leaders on the stage!
The commander-in-chief of the Jincheng Military Region waved his hand first: "Commander Wang, there's no need to read the battle report. Just speak frankly as the commander about your feelings when facing an informationized force."

"Yes!"

Wang Songhe saluted again, then turned and glanced at Chen Mo before facing the crowd in the auditorium.

He glanced at it, not out of resentment, but because he remembered what this brat had once said: there are many units that have undergone mechanization, and many of them are very powerful.

Our advantage lies in our understanding of information technology.

After all, they've been beaten up and gained experience; how could they not understand?

Therefore, he has decided to shift his thinking towards information technology at such conferences.

Of course, this statement must have been approved by higher authorities, confirming that the General Staff will subsequently focus its development efforts on information technology.

Having made up his mind, Wang Songhe put away his speech, his tone slightly somber.

"Commander, fellow leaders and comrades, please introduce yourselves first."

"My name is Wang Songhe, and I am currently the commander of the 61st Motorized Infantry Division."

"Talking about reform and systems is a very big topic. From the early stage of motorization to mechanization, many units, including myself, have been reflecting on whether the new combat system can be deployed and used immediately."

"After the changes, how much combat strength will we have? How will the personnel be distributed and optimized? What will we do during the downtime?"

"This series of reasons means that some units can make bold changes, while others cannot. A change in one part can have far-reaching consequences, and the military cannot allow its combat effectiveness to suffer."

"It is true that a fierce army is forged in actual combat, but at the same time, reliability and stability must also be pursued. Therefore, military regions with heavy responsibilities will definitely prioritize actions that have not been tested before taking any action."

"Mechanization is the most obvious example. This exercise has determined the direction of mechanization. From the meeting just now, I have already sensed that our million officers and soldiers are willing to be pioneers in the third phase of transformation."

"But what I have to say is that the emergence of the new system is not without reason, and I need to catch up on my studies."

"Not only me, but the entire Jincheng Military Region needs to catch up, and the best teacher is information technology."

Wang Songhe took a deep breath and continued, "I have nothing to say about the combat report. Mechanized, motorized infantry, motorized vehicles—when faced with information technology, we don't even have the right to talk about losing."

"As the commander of a motorized infantry division, facing a battalion-level unit, I was driven to the division headquarters within 48 hours. This is my biggest feeling."

“When it comes to tutoring, we inevitably have to talk about the shortage of people. If possible, I request that Comrade Chen Mo be sent to support us.”

"Information technology reform is imperative!!"

"We all need to learn."

"Thank you everyone, that concludes my presentation."

After Wang Song finished speaking, he raised his hand and turned his body slightly to salute.

Then he stood there, looking down at his nose and his mind, without saying a word.

His remarks truly shocked everyone present.

A division commander, faced with the birth of a new system, disregarded all other factors and took the lead in firmly standing on the path of the new system.

That kind of courage alone is something that not everyone possesses.

Of course, some insiders immediately turned pale.

What the hell.

Hey Wang, how can you be so shameless?
Everyone knows that the Kyoto Military Region is about to announce the establishment of an informationized battalion and a dedicated sergeant academy.

As a result, before the Kyoto Military Region even made a statement, the Kinjo Military Region was already preparing to request personnel.
When Di Huitang from the General Staff heard the speech, he smiled but remained silent. The development of the new system and which military region it ultimately falls under is none of the General Staff's business.

As I always say, results are everything.

Just because he doesn't care doesn't mean others can tolerate it.

Fu Hongyi from the Kyoto Military Region glared fiercely at Pang Haifeng beside him.

Without a doubt, Wang Songhe's remarks on stage were instructed by the major military region.

Otherwise, how could people below freely express representative opinions?
That old scoundrel, openly snatching people in front of such a big event.

A high-ranking military region commander, in broad daylight and in full view of everyone, actually coveted someone else's person.

This practice is so heinous that it's inhumane and utterly outrageous.

"cough!"

Fu Hongyi feigned a cough, not even bothering to let Chen Mo speak, and said in a low voice, "Commander Wang is right, informatization is not a completely new topic."

"But it also needs to be refined through multiple experiments before it can be truly put into use on the battlefield."

"Based on the data from this experiment, I am making this statement on behalf of all units of the Kyoto Military District."

"A separate information technology battalion will be established soon, with Comrade Chen Mo serving as its commander."

"Due to the special nature of the experiment, I hereby announce that Comrade Chen Mo has been promoted exceptionally, from lieutenant to major."

"Below are a series of changes and measures made by the Kyoto Military District for the construction of informationized battalions."

Fu Hongyi then spoke.

The entire auditorium was filled with people, including other military personnel sitting next to the large screen.

They were all staring at each other, wide-eyed.

It's obvious to anyone that the two major military regions have started competing for talent in information technology.

No, is the new system really that amazing?
There's no need to stop pretending at a conference like this.

Should we state our position directly?
(End of this chapter)