Chapter 222: The Deputy Company Commander Even The Army Group Gives Face To!
Chen Jun returned with full pomp and circumstance, arriving via helicopter that landed directly on the Seventh Zero Two Parade Ground, eliciting waves of exclamations from the entire Regiment Headquarters.
They thought some Senior Leader had arrived!
Regiment Commander Wang, who had received prior notification and was already impatiently waiting, showed great respect to Chen Jun by personally rushing to the edge of the Parade Ground to greet him.
Upon meeting, he expressed warm concern, asking if Chen Jun had been bullied in A Brigade or the like.
He was simply like a palm treasure, afraid of him getting the slightest bump or bruise.
It was already late May, with summer approaching soon, and the weather gradually clearing up. Under the sunlight, the entire Parade Ground gleamed golden.
It looked just like welcoming Chen Jun home.
Regiment Commander Wang was a straightforward man by nature, and after the pleasantries, he got straight to the point.
He took Chen Jun to the regiment’s senior Meeting Room, gathering the Regimental Party Committee Squad Leader members, including the Political Commissar, Chief of Staff, Deputy Regiment Commander, and others, for a meeting.
The main topic of discussion was how to carry out the second stage of work for the Combined Arms Battalion based on the superior’s document.
The core of the second stage was “personnel”!
As the superior unit of the Combined Arms Battalion, Seventh Zero Two Regiment needed to fully cooperate with personnel placement and settlement, ensuring absolutely no mishaps.
It sounded very simple, but was actually extremely complex.
Because the personnel composition of the Combined Arms Battalion was not just drawn from their own regiment, but came from three directions, requiring efforts from all three.
The easiest to resolve first was “their own people.”
Units like Steel Seventh Company, Tank Company, and Electronic Warfare Company that were fully incorporated were all companies from Seventh Zero Two Regiment, and family was easy to deal with.
With just a word from Regiment Commander Wang, these companies could quickly move into the new base.
Next, not too difficult to handle—superficially just waiting to receive them, but actually requiring extra attention—”parachutists.”
Such as the Combined Arms Battalion’s Battalion Commander, Political Instructor, Deputy Battalion Commander, and a group of staff officers, etc.
Among them, except for a very few positions that the regiment could decide on, most positions were too “desirable” and would inevitably be parachutists.
These parachuted battalion leadership teams, though their personalities, tempers, abilities, etc., were all unknown, their backgrounds were certainly not ordinary.
How to properly arrange these “big shots” so they could quickly integrate with the troops.
That was the most troublesome matter!
Take the simplest example…
The companies drawn into the Combined Arms Battalion had company commanders who were all capable elite generals; becoming their boss was not that easy.
Without showing enough strength to suppress those below, there was no way to get the company commanders below to be convinced and cooperate with the work.
That was the characteristic of the army!
Only the strong could command respect!
Without the strength to conquer them, even if these company commanders thought the Battalion Commander was messing around, they might cooperate on the surface but play tricks behind the scenes.
The training work in the third stage would then become exceptionally difficult to advance.
Perhaps the superior leaders also realized that there would inevitably be conflicts between the local company officers and the parachuted battalion leadership team.
To ensure the first Battalion Commander of the Combined Arms Battalion could absolutely win the trust of the officers and soldiers below, avoiding such troubles later and preventing internal conflicts.
The Group Army made a special adjustment, explicitly stating in the issued document:
Since the Combined Arms Battalion was a Reinforced Battalion establishment, the Battalion Commander would be promoted to Deputy Regiment Level, Deputy Battalion Commander to Regiment Level, and other leadership positions accordingly.
In other words…
Whoever became the Combined Arms Battalion’s Battalion Commander would immediately be promoted one level.
Therefore, the appointment of the Pilot Combined Arms Battalion’s Battalion Commander position would adopt a competitive posting mechanism, that is, a more reasonable competition between local and parachuted candidates.
The Group Army would send a battalion-level officer to compete in strength with a Battalion Commander selected from within Seventh Zero Two Regiment.
It might be in the form of sand table simulation, or leading teams in confrontation.
It was not yet decided; it would depend on the situation at the time.
Let this local Battalion Commander from Seventh Zero Two Regiment have a strength showdown with the Group Army’s parachuted Battalion Commander, and the winner becomes the Combined Arms Battalion’s Battalion Commander.
Having the military chief officer Battalion Commander via competitive posting was essentially the Group Army making a concession to Seventh Zero Two Regiment.
Mainly to give face to Chen Jun!
After all, the core of the Combined Arms Battalion was Chen Jun, and Chen Jun was from Seventh Zero Two Regiment; the Group Army not forcing a Battalion Commander was completely giving face to Chen Jun.
The remaining Deputy Battalion Commander, Political Instructor, Deputy Political Instructor, Chief of Staff.
These would no longer be through competitive posting.
At that time, they would all be dispatched by Military Region leaders, with Seventh Zero Two Regiment handling reception and settlement to ensure smooth integration into the Combined Arms Battalion.
The remaining other staff officers were not yet decided; they would be arranged later based on actual situation.
The regiment could recommend, and Division Headquarters could also arrange.
If there really were no suitable staff officers, they could report to the Group Army then, and the Military Region would find a way to parachute more staff officers down.
Staff officers were needed in large numbers, so Military Advisory Groups had opportunities to participate, and the competition was relatively less intense.
（PS: Some readers say the Group Army and Military Region are written chaotically, even spraying that the author doesn’t understand and is writing nonsense—Group Army is Group Army, Military Region is Military Region.
Here’s a special explanation: this is not chaotic writing.
The agency location of the Group Army is called a Military Region, with the formal standard title being Second Class Military Region.
The higher affiliated unit is the Seven Military Regions, which are now the Five War Zones; there are many names, including First Class Military Region and Military Region.）
The Military Region, to get the Combined Arms Battalion leadership team right while also letting all parties have some “participation” and everyone get a share.
The arrangements for the leadership team were truly painstaking.
However.
Although selecting the leadership team was difficult, compared to the final wave of personnel placement, it was like comparing a small witch to a big one.
This wave involved going to all regiments in the division to draw non-commissioned officers to join the Combined Arms Battalion.
The All-NCO battalion had already been approved by the Group Army; the Combined Arms Battalion now needed a large number of non-commissioned officers, both from combat units and logistics units.
Although the Group Army had issued the document, requiring all of T Division to cooperate in forming the Combined Arms Battalion.
Overall average calculation.
Each company had to provide three to five non-commissioned officers.
But Chen Jun still had that previous concern: each regiment treasured their own elite soldiers and were reluctant to give up excellent non-commissioned officers.
In the end, to cope with the Group Army’s orders, they would send some rejects just to make up the numbers.
That would have an extremely adverse impact on the Combined Arms Battalion’s combat effectiveness formation, or even more seriously, lead to the pilot’s failure.
Don’t think Chen Jun was overthinking or making a fuss.
From A Brigade’s Tie Lu to Seventh Zero Two Regiment’s Regiment Commander Wang and Gao Cheng, their doting on their soldiers below was the most vivid evidence.
How to get the other regiments’ regiment commanders in T Division to cooperate in transferring excellent non-commissioned officers.
Regiment Commander Wang had always been troubled by this.
Therefore, when mentioning this matter, Regiment Commander Wang furrowed his brows into a “river” shape, emphasizing that they must find a way to tackle this tough nut.
After Regiment Commander Wang finished speaking, no one in the entire venue made a sound.
Because they had all served in the troops for half a lifetime and knew very well that no matter which regiment’s military and political chief officers, they treated their subordinates the same way.
That is, they wished to kick out all the poor and mediocre soldiers, and wished all the good and elite soldiers were their own.
To cooperate with forming the Combined Arms Battalion and obey orders by transferring all the best non-commissioned officer backbones to Seventh Zero Two Regiment—losing the best soldiers would inevitably reduce combat effectiveness.
When annual evaluations came, the results would be dismal, which was tantamount to cutting flesh from the regiment commander’s body.
Not to mention the current military reform chopping with broad axes—poor troops might be eliminated outright; everyone was on edge, not daring the slightest slackness.
And regiments competed with each other.
Which regiment commander would be such a “living Bodhisattva,” willing to cut their own flesh to paste onto Seventh Zero Two Regiment, making Seventh Zero Two awesome while they themselves went home stripped bare.
The Regimental Party Committee Squad Leader leaders present racked their brains but couldn’t think of anything.
Which regiment would do such a foolish thing!!
So they simply couldn’t think of a method to cut meat from other regiment commanders and could only shut up and choose silence is golden.
Seeing the venue’s atmosphere off, the Political Commissar even stood up to encourage everyone.
Speak freely, no concerns.
Even if wrong, no criticism!
Yet despite the Political Commissar’s reassurance like a placebo, everyone still stared wide-eyed, you looking at me, me at you, still no one speaking up.
It wasn’t that they didn’t want to speak; they really didn’t know where to start.
Seeing no one stepping up at this critical moment, turning collectively mute when facing difficulty, Regiment Commander Wang turned livid with anger but had no way to say anything.
Because as the top leader regiment commander, he too was clueless.
Not knowing where to begin!
Fortunately, as the regiment’s overall military advisor Chief of Staff, his professional instinct gave him sharper eyes, better at spotting “beauty.”
He noticed that when everyone was under immense pressure and expressions tense.
Because he was not a Regimental Party Committee Squad member, even with Regiment Commander Wang’s special invitation to attend, Chen Jun had no qualification to sit in the first row and could only sit in the back row; from beginning to end, he was very calm, even with a smile.
“How did I forget him? This kid is very shrewd; he could even poach talent from A Brigade, digging at other regiments’ foundations—that should be a piece of cake?”
Chief of Staff Yang was secretly delighted, feeling saved, and immediately spoke up: “Comrade Chen Jun, the Combined Arms Battalion plan was crafted by you single-handedly; you must know better than us what kind of talents are needed.
Moreover, your ability to get things done is recognized by all.
So I think, for this current difficult problem, perhaps only you can find a way to solve it, and I believe you absolutely have that ability.”
Chief of Staff Yang’s speech, a mix of praise and flattery, was truly impeccable.
The originally worried and unhappy Regimental Party Committee Squad, upon hearing Chief of Staff Yang’s words, suddenly had sudden enlightenment, one by one casting expectant gazes toward Chen Jun.
Seeing that the regiment’s people were unreliable, Regiment Commander Wang could only hope Chen Jun would carry the flag.
He also publicly stated: “Deputy Company Commander Chen, since everyone believes in you so much, stand up and say a few words—what do you think is the best way to handle it?”
“Leaders.”
As someone who had seen big scenes, Chen Jun had no idea what stage fright was.
He calmly stood up and said: “We’re all familiar with ‘love soldiers like sons’—every excellent elite soldier is treasured by their units.
Wanting to unconditionally poach them is a huge loss for them, so it’s definitely not that easy.
But if we change the concept, turn unconditional into conditional, turn huge loss into huge benefit.
Tell me, at that point, would other regiments still refuse?”
As soon as Chen Jun finished speaking, Deputy Regiment Commander Li immediately responded: “Of course not—who would refuse a huge benefit? Only a fool.”
“Right.”
The Deputy Political Commissar also chimed in: “As the saying goes, a slap and a sweet date can calm someone; if you give me a truckload of sweet dates.
Then I’ll speak bluntly—with this face of mine, even if you slap it swollen, I’d thank you.”
“Hahaha.”
The Deputy Political Commissar’s comparison was very vivid, making everyone burst into laughter.
The originally tense and oppressive atmosphere instantly became relaxed with this laugh; the crowd’s gazes toward Chen Jun were like seeing light in the darkness.
The Political Commissar eagerly said: “Unconditional to conditional—exactly how? Huge loss to huge benefit—how to transform it? Explain in detail.”
“Alright, Political Commissar.”
In front of the regiment’s top leaders, Chen Jun did not deliberately tease.
He then detailed his ideas and plan, including how to pull each regiment’s regiment commander into the routine, making them willingly send their most excellent soldiers.
Inside and out, in complete detail, not missing a word.
After hearing Chen Jun’s plan, all the Regimental Party Committee cadres present were full of admiration, all convinced by Chen Jun’s great wisdom.
They never expected the problem that stumped them all to be so easily handled by Chen Jun.
The reason for such certainty was just one point…
Chen Jun’s method was too brilliant!!
It was precisely because of Chen Jun’s display of great wisdom this time that his prestige and status in Seventh Zero Two Regiment reached a new height once again.
Chief of Staff Yang even joked on the spot that Chen Jun was absolutely qualified to be the Combined Arms Battalion Battalion Commander.
Everyone inwardly agreed, and on their mouths also cooperatively joked a few words.
Regiment Commander Wang even exaggerated more, saying Chen Jun would be underutilized as Combined Arms Battalion Battalion Commander; if he came to take his regiment commander position, he would definitely be more qualified than Wang Qing Rui.
Everyone erupted in laughter again upon hearing this, and the atmosphere became even more lively and joyful.
After all, the problem was solved, and without pressure, they were naturally happy.
However, everyone was just saying it verbally, equivalent to complimenting this genius Chen Jun, showing how much they valued him.
It was impossible to actually put the regiment-recommended Battalion Commander quota on Chen Jun.
Not that they didn’t want to.
But they couldn’t do that.
Without rules, nothing can be square.
The troops have their rules and systems; excellent talents can indeed receive special treatment, but this special treatment also has boundaries.
No matter how excellent a Deputy Company Commander was, it was impossible to jump straight to Deputy Regiment Level.
Chen Jun also knew this was impossible; the Combined Arms Battalion’s establishment level was too high—even Gao Cheng’s privileges couldn’t reach the Combined Arms Battalion Battalion Commander.
Even being promoted to Combined Arms Battalion Deputy Battalion Commander would probably require some “power of father.”
So he didn’t take it to heart.
After all, what Chen Jun pursued in this life was not to become how big an official through Combined Arms Tactics, but to ensure Steel Seventh Company had no more regrets from then on.
