In the name of supernatural powers

Chapter 151 Aftermath
Return to the border post.

Lu Zhao got out of the car, and the soldiers on duty at the gate saluted him.

He asked, "Has Captain Zhang returned?"

The soldier replied, "Report, Captain Zhang returned an hour ago."

When Lu Zhao entered the camp, the power supply had not yet been restored, and the entire camp was pitch black.

Only the administration building had lights on, and you could smell diesel fuel from afar.

As soon as he entered the first floor, a clerk came to greet him.

Lu Zhao instructed, "Go and summon all officers at the company commander level and above; I need to hold a meeting."

"Yes."

The civilian staff member jogged away.

Fifteen minutes later, the surviving officers from the border station gradually arrived at the conference room.

Everyone looked exhausted and wished they could just collapse and sleep. The flood control work over this period of time had left them mentally and physically drained.

Lu Zhaodao said, "I know everyone is already very tired, but there is still a lot of work for us to do. Hang in there for a few more days, and I promise everyone will get a promotion and a raise by the end of the year."

"We deserve the most credit for this border defense work, and everyone should be awarded a second-class merit afterwards. We cannot afford any problems in the follow-up work."

Upon hearing this, everyone perked up slightly.

Material rewards are the greatest motivator. If you've overcome so many difficulties, giving up now would mean all your efforts have been in vain.

The meeting had only one agenda item: how to resettle the affected people.

As a flood diversion area, Ant Ridge had one-third of its villages submerged, leaving at least 100,000 farmers homeless.

They were responsible for resettling and comforting the people, as well as for the subsequent reconstruction work.

Since they have the right to requisition grain from arable land, they have a responsibility to carry out post-disaster reconstruction.

Exhausted, everyone managed to come up with a resettlement plan.

The meeting was dissolved.

Lu Zhao kept Zhang Like behind and offered him a cigarette.

After they took a couple of puffs, he said, "I have some good news for you. Zhao De told me that our unit might be promoted to a regimental level."

"You did a great job in the flood control work this time. You can be promoted to lieutenant colonel at the end of the year, which will be perfect for taking over the work."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Like forced a stiff smile, no longer as excited as before.

He said, "That's good, I'm finally on the right track."

Lu Zhao asked, "Thinking about Liu Qiang?"

“Yes, and not entirely.” Zhang Like leaned against the window, gazing at the distant mountains and the overflowing river.

"To be honest, he's just a nephew. We only saw each other during holidays. How deep could our relationship be? You're closer to him than I am. Don't cry later."

Liu Qiang had followed Lu Zhao for nearly three years, serving him as his deputy. In terms of their relationship, Liu Qiang was indeed closer than Zhang Like.

Lu Zhao said, "Then why are you so sullen after your promotion?"

"I earned this promotion through sheer hard work, so it's not such a pleasant surprise."

Zhang Like asked, "In the Federation, you need merit to climb the ranks, and you have to work hard to get even one promotion. I'm wondering if I can make it to the end?"

"I do not know."

Lu Zhao shook his head. Zhang Like looked into his eyes, those phoenix eyes as firm as ever.

“I will keep going until I die. If you don’t want to do it anymore, I can arrange a relaxed and safe job for you.”

Zhang Like stubbed out his cigarette, exhaled the last puff of white smoke, and laughed, "Then I choose to walk to the end and accompany you on your journey."

Lu Zhao could sense that his friend seemed to have changed.

Gone is the carefree attitude of the past; now there's a sharper edge.

"Let's go, Chief Lu, it's time to get to work."

The two left the meeting room and joined the resettlement work for the residents.

On August 18th, under the command of the border station and with the assistance of the village's grain and farmers' association, temporary resettlement sites were set up in the Mayiling area within half a day.

That afternoon, relief supplies arrived, and the farmers were able to enjoy a hot meal.

Meanwhile, Lu Zhao once again led his team to the outpost to repair the damaged outpost and block the invading water beasts.

The battle on Tuen Mun Hill in the distance is still raging, though not as intense as before. The giant beast has vanished, but the monstrous beasts will still invade.

Zhuge Liang could solve major problems, but he couldn't protect everyone. Ordinary soldiers, though small in number, could form countless outposts, creating an impregnable Great Wall.

Extraordinary and powerful beings are like dams, standing at the forefront when floods come. But when cracks appear in the dam, the army is needed to repair them.

The Tuen Mun battle ended on August 19th.

The Ant Ridge outpost only encounters a handful of water monsters each day.

The outpost was also reconnected to the radio.
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Tuen Mun Military Town.

The female officer dragged her tired body to the assembly point, and other troops arrived one after another.

One-third of the soldiers in this Tuen Mun battle were conscripted from other places. The war is coming to an end, and they should return to their posts.

The soldiers walked very slowly, their uniforms were so worn that their original color was no longer visible, and there wasn't a single white spot on their bodies.

As people passed by her, countless pairs of eyes focused on her, their eyes flashing with admiration, worship, and respect.

Soldiers and officers hold a prestigious position in the army, and many aspire to achieve this.

She became a sergeant because her father had told her this story when she was a child, and repeatedly expressed his regret that she had failed the test and could not become a sergeant.

"Chief Li, Liu Wuhou is looking for you."

A soldier jogged over, and Li Dongxue nodded and followed him toward the command post.

Upon arriving at the command post, it was only a few hundred meters from the troop assembly point.

Upon entering the military green tent, only Liu Hanwen remained; the other military officers had already gone elsewhere to oversee their duties.

Nowadays, unless they need to be stationed in a major city, the military commanders of the Federation would rather split themselves in two to use their abilities.

Li Dongxue stood at attention and saluted, saying, "Reporting to the commander, Li Dongxue from the Second Company of the First Company of the Chishui Army is reporting for duty and requests instructions."

Liu Hanwen nodded in acknowledgment and asked, "Do you have any previous command experience?"

Li Dongxue shook her head and said, "I have been in the special operations force since I joined the army, and I have never served in a command position."

Liu Hanwen said, "There are still small groups of aquatic beasts outside Tuen Mun Island. I'm thinking of putting you in charge of them. What do you think?"

Li Dongxue looked somewhat bewildered and politely declined, saying, "Commander, I'm afraid I'm not up to the task. You should find someone else. This mission is over, and I need to go back and report."

"How will you know if you don't try? You can't be a soldier your whole life."

Liu Hanwen made his decision and said in an unyielding tone, "It's settled then. I'll inform Tang Zishan later."

He had seen Li Dongxue's resume. The man had only become a soldier and acquired the Five Thunder Divine Power a year ago, and had never held a command position before that.

As the only person in the Five Thunder Divine Power sequence, as long as Li Dongxue lives, she will inevitably become a top-tier martial marquis with Heavenly Gang Divine Power in the future.

According to the Federation's two-hundred-year-old tradition, all those who possessed the Five Thunder Divine Power in succession were Federation Marshals.

Liu Hanwen did not want the future Federal Marshal to be a reckless brute.

As a soldier, Li Dongxue could only stand at attention and salute: "Yes, sir."

Liu Hanwen comforted him, saying, "Commanding the work isn't actually difficult. You don't need to do many things yourself. Besides, you're from the South China Sea, so you can take advantage of the holiday to go back to your hometown and visit."

Upon hearing this, Li Dongxue thought of someone.

If she could meet him, she would slap that person to death.

As Li Dongxue left the tent, the troops outside began counting off.

"Report: The Third Battalion should have 550 men, but 409 men are present."

"The third battalion and the first company should have 100 men, but 90 men are present."

"The second company of the third battalion should have 120 men, but 82 men are present."

Li Dongxue remained unmoved upon hearing these casualty figures; she was already used to it.

The battle on Tuen Mun Island was not particularly fierce, as there was ample artillery support, preventing many monsters from climbing ashore.

Ant Ridge Outpost.

Lu Zhao reported the situation to the county-level public security department by phone.

"...Ant Ridge Border Station reinforced platoon, 62 people should be present, only one person is present."

(End of this chapter)