Chapter 284: Promotion And Rank Advancement
If it were that easy for ordinary people to cross majors, there wouldn’t be such a thing as geniuses.
An ordinary doctor, without taking shortcuts or wasting time, would be around twenty-two when graduating with a five-year undergraduate degree. If pursuing a professional master’s, with effort they could also complete residency training; if pursuing an academic master’s, add another three years of residency, making them around twenty-eight by then.
Only after working a year can they take the exam for attending physician.
In other words, a doctor is truly usable only after turning thirty.
Even in an extreme situation like the apocalypse, setting aside systematized tutorials and compressing course time, a mature doctor can’t be trained in just one or two years.
And the results might not even be as good as Lin Xia.
If the civilization rupture brought by the apocalypse were that easy to bridge, it wouldn’t be called the apocalypse.
On this point, Su Huan’s cognition was deeper than everyone’s.
Without the vigorous vitality brought by evolution, humanity’s extinction would only be faster.
“Slowly fill the gaps in medical care. Normally, pay attention—whoever recommends medical talent first gets double salary this month.”
Su Huan ended this topic that had no conclusion for now.
Seeing the atmosphere was right, Shu Wei immediately took over and began presiding over the meeting.
“Tonight’s first matter is post-war rewards and punishments as well as personnel promotions. The list is already on the table, everyone has it. After reading, voice any objections directly. Free discussion, no speaking order.”
Because Su Huan disliked formalities, the dining car meetings had evolved from a ragtag few people to a ragtag dozens.
Everyone had long anticipated matters of promotions and rewards.
After every major battle, there would be a large batch of personnel vacancies, or institutional corrections and adjustments.
But the specific lists had always been decided unilaterally by the Train Conductor.
Only now, with more train personnel and doubled administrative affairs, had these things been put into paper documents.
“Eh?”
Deputy General Manager Deng suddenly let out a light huh, nudging his old partner the Factory Director with his elbow.
“You’re on it too.”
The Factory Director was the oldest among the old men, already over eighty, so daily affairs were mostly handled by the younger Deputy General Manager Deng. He had originally come just to go through the motions and fill a seat, but hearing his name on the list, he was immediately surprised and took the list to examine it closely.
Skipping a large section of Armed Corps soldiers’ military rank promotions, the Factory Director quickly found his name on the management scheduling list.
Research Group Deputy Purser.
Before he could be surprised, he noticed that Deputy General Manager Deng, always following his name, was gone, now appearing behind a laboratory department called General Energy Weapon.
“This is…”
The old man looked around at others in confusion, finding many faces showing surprise.
Everyone simultaneously looked toward the Train Conductor.
“Originally, Pursers weren’t divided into chief and deputy, but it still caused management troubles. Now readjusting.”
Su Huan tapped the bridge of his nose with his index finger.
Dividing Pursers into chief and deputy was Shu Wei’s proposal. The reason was simple: the train needed clear and strict hierarchy, or else scheduling issues with unclear authority would be too late to fix.
He found it very reasonable.
This time the Armed Corps suffered such heavy losses; besides the soldiers’ lack of combat experience and Black Kite Special Operations’ superior equipment, scheduling chaos bore main responsibility.
Shu Wei stood up to explain.
“The four groups and eight Purser system remains unchanged, but each group has only one Purser, the other as deputy position. Treatment equal, but in wartime, the Purser takes lead.”
“Let me restate the four groups’ Purser lists.”
“Logistics Group: Hu Shuo, Su Leiya.”
“Manufacturing Group: Wan Xing, Old Jiang.”
“Combat Group: Old San, Licking Rabbit.”
“Research Group: Xiao Zhao, Factory Director.”
“Among them, Su Leiya and Old Jiang’s positions pending, treatment remains unchanged.”
Hearing this string of names, whether newcomers or veterans, all had complex expressions.
Among them, Su Leiya, everyone had some contact with her—a Black Kite Tier 1 Evolver captured before Shu Wei.
Because she always followed Hu Shuo, plus the Logistics Group Purser position vacant, everyone had vaguely guessed, so not too surprised.
But Old Jiang’s name stunned quite a few.
Originally, Manufacturing Group’s two Pursers were Deputy General Manager Deng and Old Da; whether seniority or merit, both unshakable. The three brothers, due to founding merits, had seized three key positions. No one had thought Old Da could be replaced.
And by a newcomer who had never appeared at any train meetings.
“Who is Old Jiang?”
Someone suddenly asked.
A man in his thirties at the end raised his hand slightly.
Everyone looked over; the man appeared utterly ordinary, no exaggerated solid muscles, no unique aura, somewhat handsome, eyes slightly world-weary, perhaps able to fool a little girl in her early twenties…
But… who sitting here was truly ugly?
Even He Jie’s bear-like figure, once managing his expression, was a gentle and elegant handsome uncle.
The more evolutions, the better looking.
In other words, Old Jiang here was just an utterly ordinary middle-aged man.
Director Xu, seeing it was him, shot Professor Ma a “as expected” look.
Old Jiang was precisely the Black Kite personnel captured with Shu Wei on the water back then—a Tier 1 Collector, materials expert. After boarding, he’d been in Manufacturing Group handling material extraction work; as for results, no one really knew.
Perhaps only Hu Shuo knew a bit.
But the few old guys weren’t seeing ability.
There were six Black Kite members on the train total; counting Shu Wei made seven Evolvers.
Occupying nearly half of the Tier 1 Evolvers on the train.
Previously, due to Black Kite, Su Huan had kept them down, but that was temporary—impossible to waste seven mature combatants outright.
So they guessed after Shu Wei gained the Train Conductor’s trust, this batch of Black Kite personnel would gradually be activated.
But they hadn’t expected the Train Conductor to be so decisive, giving two key positions at once.
Counting Shu Wei the secretary, a new faction had emerged inside the train.
But this crisscrossing arrangement actually reassured the old guys.
From personnel setup, Hu Shuo was old Purser, seemingly alone, but grassroots management was mostly from their batch—like the cook managing the dining car, Old Liu managing maintenance, Lin Xia managing medical, etc.
Hu Shuo alone was a faction.
Then the three brothers; Huang Hai and them were close to Hu Shuo and He Jie, but actually counted separately.
They had no prior ties; only connected through the Train Conductor.
So they served as buffer between factions.
Professor Ma and Director Xu had students and subordinates throughout key train departments.
Now adding Black Kite and Licking Rabbit.
Seemingly chaotic, actually more stable.
Because everyone was Su Huan’s most direct confidants!
Every one was personally thwarted, plundered, captured, tricked… saved by Su Huan; each had deep bonds with him. So as long as he was around one day, no matter how many factions rose or fell in this force, he remained solid.
This was the control from building from nothing over a force.
Just arranging a few newcomers—small matter.
They cared more about what came next.
Seeing everyone silent on his arrangements, Su Huan nodded inwardly satisfied.
Looks like the Train Conductor’s words still carried weight on the train.
Shu Wei continued, “Next is Research Group internal transfers. Originally five laboratories, adding one General Energy Weapon laboratory. Person in charge: Deputy General Manager Deng; Old Da as laboratory Deputy Purser. Treatment equivalent to Deputy Purser.”
“Below is the laboratory management list.”
“General Energy Weapon: Deputy General Manager Deng, Old Da.”
“General Energy Communication: Professor Ma.”
“General Energy Evolution: Director Xu.”
“Electromagnetic Weapon: Ban Yunzhang.”
“Train Modification: Factory Director.”
“Among them, Ban Yunzhang’s treatment remains unchanged.”
Hearing his name again, old Factory Director immediately panicked, hurriedly saying, “Train Conductor, at my age, really…”
Su Huan chuckled lightly, “Research Group side is just a title; daily affairs Xiao Zhao can handle.”
Hearing this explanation, Factory Director realized it wasn’t much different from past work, and understood Su Huan wanted to use his age to cap the other old men, then sighed and agreed.
Because General Energy Weapon was new to many, a short explanation was inserted midway.
Su Huan hadn’t known much about General Energy Weapons in his previous life; evolved too late, weak combat profession, not even fully equipped with firearms, let alone high-end stuff like General Energy Weapons.
The most advanced personal weapon he’d seen was Qu Hang’s electromagnetic sniper rifle.
This time, from the big battle with Black Kite, they obtained Golden Kite’s “gun” activated by General Energy, discovering Black Kite had achieved certain results in General Energy Weapon research.
Plus Tan Yunxi delivered to the door, decisively starting the General Energy Weapon laboratory.
Su Huan had long seen Deputy General Manager Deng’s heart for making munitions; this fulfilled it fully. Old Da now made guns quite properly; moving him over might spark wonderful chemistry.
Anyway, ten sets of experimental General Energy Weapons obtained from Black Kite—let them research slowly.
Su Huan now was just casting a line whether there were dates or not; anyway, no work for him.
Here the meeting was two-thirds done; Qu Hang and Goat exited the cabin door, heading to the Armory Hall.
Waved at the few officers organizing soldiers, then entered the deputy 1 ready room carriage.
Compared to the light atmosphere in the dining car, here it was much more solemn.
He Jie severely injured, soldiers’ casualties two hundred—directly halting the Armed Corps’ rapid development momentum.
Train Conductor had been busy, said nothing to them.
The officers naturally couldn’t be happy.
Qu Hang had no habit of nonsense; scanning everyone, he said straightforwardly, “High-level transfers: Licking Rabbit assigned to Crew. Next, this promotion list: Tong Zizhan and Gao Yuan first merits—capturing enemy key personnel and Pan-Asian Alliance organization members who sabotaged the train. Tong Zizhan promotes two levels, granted Major rank; Gao Yuan one level, granted Lieutenant rank.”
Tong Zizhan pursed his lips, looking unhappy.
But currently everyone wore that deadpan expression, so not abrupt.
“Lu Xiao held the front line against enemy counterattack, buying us buffer time; promotes two levels, granted Captain rank. Miao Qi directly granted Second Lieutenant rank; Jiang Rong granted Lieutenant rank.”
Next came several adjustment plans.
Listening through, all rewards and promotions, no punishments—everyone inwardly relieved.
“Alright, dismissed. Give them a breather.”
In the Armory Hall, soldiers stood like rows of rifles planted in the ironwood floor, anxiously awaiting results.
Mongoose’s amber eyes had turned into one large and one small concentric circle.
Those familiar with her knew this state meant Mongoose was lost in thought.
She still hadn’t recovered from that night’s war.
Black night, rain, lightning…
Cannonballs’ roar, bullets rattling on metal fortifications echoed endlessly in her ears.
Perhaps in a glance back, comrades who joked and trained with her daily became a pile of minced meat. That young man who habitually called her Cat Sis was bisected by a long saber-wielding man; if not for Eighth Master acting in time, she’d likely be dead on the spot too.
‘It must hurt a lot…’
Qu Hang and others had announced the soldiers with excellent performance this battle and declared dismissal.
Mongoose standing dazed in place immediately drew several gazes.
“Mongoose!”
A light shout snapped Mongoose back.
Goat, looking at Mongoose’s perked ears, remarked with emotion, “You’re a Sergeant now.”
Mongoose reflexively thumped her left shoulder with right fist in salute.
“No need to be so tense; He Jie isn’t here anyway.”
Goat chuckled lightly at the rigid Mongoose. Among the new recruits, He Jie had been harshest on her but also most appreciative of the stubborn one, even having Goat and other officers give her extra training.
In other words, Mongoose was a soldier they collectively raised.
Seeing her now refined appearance, naturally emotional.
“Then… what about those who died?”
Mongoose asked unthinkingly.
Goat calmly said, “Those with families get pensions to their families; those without, dead is dead.”
“…No other way?”
“This is the best way.”
Mongoose’s beast-transformed cat ears gradually drooped.
She knew she might be nitpicking, but thinking of those once vividly beside her now gone forever gave her an indescribable melancholy—not sadness, but a numbing loss of sensation.
She felt such a self would drift ever farther from her original intent.
“Perhaps we can give them honors, some way to remember…”
“That’s for the living.” Goat cut her off bluntly. “Or to restrain the living. Not to mention we have no blood relations—even with blood ties, after a few generations, no one remembers them.”
Looking at the dejected Mongoose, Goat couldn’t help flicking her ear.
“What the living must do is live well. Don’t think about nonsense. While He Jie is still squatting in the medical carriage, promote quickly—we’re all looking forward to General Cat kicking the old dog’s ass hard!”
