Chapter 224: Becoming The Real Battalion Commander Behind The Scenes??
Regiment Commander Wang’s final decision on the plan meant that the matter had come to a conclusion.
With the financial resources of the Seventh Hundred and Second Regiment, building a battalion base was out of the question, but building a company barracks area was no problem.
The living facilities for the Special Operations Platoon, plus various supporting training grounds, would at most be on the scale of a regular company.
The Engineer Company’s efficiency was extremely high. Once the regiment headquarters conveyed the decision to the Engineer Company commander, construction on the Special Operations Platoon barracks area began that afternoon.
And the Seventh Hundred and Second Regiment’s efficiency was even tighter than the Engineer Company’s.
That morning, they had held a meeting to set the tone for the second stage, formed a working group to handle all the work, and officially launched the second stage work advancement.
During lunch that afternoon, there was a small interlude where they confirmed the new construction plan for the Special Operations Platoon.
And just one short night had passed.
The next morning, the regiment headquarters issued a notification for all officers at company level and above in the entire regiment to gather at regiment headquarters for an all-regiment officers’ congress.
Apart from a few individuals, most people had no idea what was going on.
More than ten company commanders including Gao Cheng, more than ten political instructors including Hong Xingguo, and the battalion commanders, deputy battalion commanders, and political instructors from the three battalions.
Plus the officers from various regiment headquarters units, there were several dozen officers at company level and above.
They arrived at the venue one after another, looking confused. Since the main leader, Regiment Commander Wang, hadn’t arrived yet, everyone grew curious and began chatting and whispering in discussion.
“What’s this all about? Everyone’s here, quite the spectacle.”
“Indeed, it’s been a long time since we’ve been this fully assembled, almost half a year, right?”
“I heard the new base is already built. Could it be that the Combined Arms Battalion is officially moving in? They notified us to come for coordination?”
“I heard Deputy Company Commander Chen from Seventh Company is back. Could it be… he brought back some news?”
“Old Seven, even though your company’s deputy company commander is rarely seen, with great abilities, he’s still one of your company people. You must have some internal news. Can you share with everyone?”
“Share what? Old Chen is back, but he hasn’t returned to the company yet. He’s been staying at regiment headquarters, practically becoming Regiment Commander Wang’s attendant. I haven’t even spoken to him. What internal news?”
……
“Attention!”
Amid the buzz of discussion, a command brought the entire audience to immediate silence.
As everyone rose from their seats, standing at attention with eyes forward, a sound of hurried footsteps came from behind.
Regiment Commander Wang, the political commissar, deputy regiment commander, and deputy political commissar, along with other regiment leaders, entered through the door and walked down the central aisle straight to the grandstand at the front.
Among this group of pure colonels, Chen Jun, the one mao three, stood out conspicuously.
Normally, with Chen Jun’s military rank and position, he had no right to sit on the grandstand—not even on the outermost seat.
Rules had to be followed everywhere.
At most, sitting in the front row below would be the absolute best treatment possible.
But now his identity had changed to Commissioner Chen. As the special commissioner for the second stage of Combined Arms Battalion formation, his status had immediately risen a major step.
He had absolute qualification for any meeting related to the Combined Arms Battalion.
The crowd of company and battalion cadres watched Chen Jun in the procession follow the regiment leaders onto the grandstand and take the outermost seat on the right.
Their eyes were full of envy.
But there was no jealousy.
Because Chen Jun’s strength had already conquered them, they couldn’t muster the courage to feel jealous; they just envied why they didn’t have Chen Jun’s brain.
If they had a brain like Chen Jun’s, their military career path would be worry-free.
Unfortunately, brains weren’t something you could envy and obtain.
“Be seated.”
Once the group was in position on the grandstand, Regiment Commander Wang removed his hat and placed it to the right front of the table, then took his seat first.
Whoosh~
The several dozen company and battalion officer cadres below sat down in perfect unison.
Even the sound of friction was singular!
The only army in the world that could truly achieve perfect unison in all actions like speech, conduct, and demeanor was China’s one and only.
“Lately, the regiment has a lot of work, and everyone’s time is precious, so I won’t beat around the bush and will try to save time.”
Regiment Commander Wang spoke in standard Mandarin with a Wuhan accent, with a simple opening remark.
He then got straight to the point: “Today, I’ve called together all company and battalion level officers for the regiment-wide officers’ congress for one thing only.”
Regiment Commander Wang held up one index finger.
“The superior has issued a document to our regiment regarding the position of Combined Arms Battalion commander. It is neither directly appointed and dispatched by the superior military region nor selected from within our regiment.
Instead, it adopts a competitive selection system that is unprecedented and unfamiliar to you and me.
The Group Army will send down a candidate to compete with the candidate selected by our Seventh Hundred and Second Regiment. The winner will take the post.
Therefore, the agenda of this congress is to select a suitable Combined Arms Battalion commander candidate.”
As soon as Regiment Commander Wang finished speaking, the previously silent meeting venue immediately became noisy, with everyone unable to suppress their emotions.
This news was too shocking!
Grassroots companies are usually appointed by superiors. Not to mention a battalion commander—even regiment commanders and division commanders are the same, all by a single appointment order from above.
Whoever they say takes the position, takes it.
The only room for maneuver is before the appointment order is issued: those who want the position go run connections, and if the connections are strong enough, they can compete.
Now, for the Combined Arms Battalion commander position, they’ve actually introduced the competitive selection system.
It was the first time the assembled company and battalion cadres had seen such a thing.
This was quite common in society, especially in workplaces, but in the army, especially grassroots army units, it was truly rare.
“What?? Fair competition??”
Everyone got excited upon hearing this, especially the battalion commanders and deputy battalion commanders.
Because they all had hope!
The first Combined Arms Battalion formed in the entire army—regardless of whether it ultimately passed assessment or was formally incorporated—this title alone would ensure a worry-free second half of life.
If it passed assessment.
That would be even more remarkable, with general’s stars no longer a dream.
The regiment’s battalion commanders and deputy battalion commanders had basically given up all hope.
With the Group Army level personally leading the formation, many people above would eye this piece of meat, most with strong backgrounds.
The regiment’s few battalion commanders and deputy battalion commanders’ connections and backgrounds simply weren’t enough.
They knew they couldn’t compete for it.
But now, with Regiment Commander Wang announcing competitive selection, it meant that even without any background, as long as one had strength, there was a chance to become Combined Arms Battalion commander.
Topping China’s first Combined Arms Battalion commander would pave a broad, bright military career path.
It was from this moment.
The battalion commanders and deputy battalion commanders who had just been chatting and laughing together, calling each other Old Li and Old Huang, now looked at each other differently.
Even if their faces still smiled, in their hearts, they regarded each other as opponents.
Especially Second Battalion Commander Li Fuguo!!
As the direct superior unit of Steel Seventh Company, any excellent performance by Steel Seventh Company in the regiment allowed Second Battalion Commander to get a share.
He could righteously say, our Second Battalion’s Steel Seventh Company is just that strong.
Even though Steel Seventh Company’s battle record had nothing to do with Second Battalion Commander, the fact that Steel Seventh Company was Second Battalion’s company was indisputable.
Not to mention, after Steel Seventh Company was reorganized into Combined Arms Company, it was equivalent to being under Second Battalion Commander.
If his battalion’s Combined Arms Company now expanded into Combined Arms Battalion, and Li Fuguo, as Second Battalion Commander who had witnessed it all from start to finish.
Couldn’t secure the battalion commander position, it would be like a cooked duck flying away from his mouth.
That would indeed be a bit embarrassing to talk about!
So…
Whether for his own face, to prove his strength, or more importantly for his future, to board this rocket ship.
Second Battalion Commander didn’t want to miss this opportunity and wanted to give it his all.
So after hearing Regiment Commander Wang’s words, Second Battalion Commander Li Fuguo was so excited his fingers trembled, and his gaze grew firmer with time.
As undercurrents surged in the venue, the political commissar followed up with some remarks.
Regiment Commander Wang had basically just announced the superior’s order, while the political commissar’s words were more explicit in purpose, solemnly emphasizing the importance of this battalion commander competition.
As the saying goes:
Keep the fat water in the field!
As one of the chief officers of Seventh Hundred and Second Regiment, the political commissar naturally hoped his own people could step up and keep the battalion commander position in the regiment.
After all, from Combined Arms Company to Combined Arms Battalion, it was all internal effort by Seventh Hundred and Second Regiment.
Without relying on any external forces.
Having nurtured such a big fat melon with great difficulty, if someone parachuted in from outside took it, it would indeed be hard for Seventh Hundred and Second to accept.
And the political commissar was like the caring old mother in this big family, fussing over the children.
He treated Seventh Hundred and Second Regiment as his own family and naturally wanted to secure benefits for the kids, not let outsiders pick the fat melon.
But as a political officer, he couldn’t say it too directly.
The troops are one family; no forming camps.
So the political commissar could only encourage this group of Seventh Hundred and Second Regiment backbones in a tactful way to actively participate in this selection.
They must take this matter seriously and go all out to complete the superior’s task.
The political commissar’s words were very effective. After his encouragement, several deputy battalion commanders who had lacked confidence now felt a strong drive.
All thinking to take a shot.
Worst case, throw caution to the wind.
And Regiment Commander Wang’s next words completely ignited this mood, making every battalion commander and deputy battalion commander rub their fists.
Because Regiment Commander Wang publicly announced the regiment’s candidate selection method.
The regiment wouldn’t specify candidate quotas, meaning no insider dealings; it would be voluntary registration, open to all at deputy battalion level and above.
By 5 p.m. today, anyone interested could come to regiment headquarters to nominate themselves.
At exactly 3 p.m. tomorrow afternoon, they would hold another regiment officers’ congress, gathering everyone at the venue for secret ballot voting.
And the vote counting would be done publicly at the venue, with the highest vote-getter elected as candidate.
Emphasizing…
Everything in the regiment is family, all open and transparent.
However, though said that way, everyone actually smelled something.
The reason it wasn’t immediate registration and secret voting today wasn’t lack of time, but deliberate arrangement.
This could be seen as Regiment Commander Wang’s little scheme, also giving those interested time to “find a method”.
As for what method.
In summary, eight words—
Each shows their own magic.
The battalion commanders and deputy battalion commanders who understood Regiment Commander Wang’s intent suddenly felt their minds fire up and began mentally drafting preliminary plans ahead of time.
To the point that they had no mind to listen to what Regiment Commander Wang said afterward.
Their thoughts had already flown away!
And the later words weren’t important anyway—just some arrangements and reminders in advance about the work each company needed to do for the second stage of Combined Arms Battalion formation.
Once Regiment Commander Wang announced the meeting adjourned, those interested immediately sprang into action.
The three battalion commanders goes without saying.
They wouldn’t let go of their base, and worried others might snatch precious votes, so they immediately gathered their battalion cadres and took them all away under the guise of lunch.
Take Second Battalion Commander Li Fuguo as an example; his first target was Gao Cheng.
Of course.
He actually most wanted to get Chen Jun.
Chen Jun’s influence was huge; he could sway a large group.
But after the meeting on the grandstand, Chen Jun was personally called away by Regiment Commander Wang, probably to handle other matters.
He couldn’t compete with Regiment Commander Wang for people, so he settled for Seventh Hundred and Second Regiment’s second-most influential figure, Gao Cheng.
Gao Cheng was closest to Chen Jun and could talk to him.
Then, claiming it was lunchtime and Second Battalion cadres hadn’t gathered for a meal in a while, they could head to the regiment canteen for a casual lunch.
He called all of Second Battalion’s other company commanders and political instructors, forming a big group.
As everyone exited the venue door onto the parade ground outside, they split into three major groups, exactly one per battalion.
However.
This was only surface appearance.
Don’t forget each battalion had two deputy battalion commanders; they couldn’t openly compete with their own battalion commander now, but many deputy battalion commanders actually had ideas too.
And with secret ballot voting this time, there was huge room for maneuver.
It was already predictable that after this lunch, once everyone dispersed back to their companies, the real “free-for-all” would begin.
The afternoon and evening time slots were destined to keep Seventh Hundred and Second Regiment restless today.
Whether deputy battalion commanders secretly pulling people behind their battalion commander’s back or going to other battalions to pull, as long as the methods worked, they were good methods.
Secret voting offended no one; no one knew who you voted for.
See.
Even Regiment Commander Wang was pulling out all stops!
After lunch with Regiment Commander Wang, Chen Jun chatted about how to confront the Group Army paratroopers after the regiment’s Combined Arms Battalion candidate selection ended.
Regiment Commander Wang didn’t say it explicitly, but the implication was clear.
He hoped that after the candidate emerged, Chen Jun would help as much as he could to keep the Combined Arms Battalion commander position in family hands.
And he particularly pointed out.
Everyone in the regiment knew each other inside out; no matter who became Combined Arms Battalion commander, subsequent work would be easier to carry out, as family was easier to talk to.
If an outsider became battalion commander, being complete strangers, the results were uncertain.
Moreover, if it was a parachuted battalion commander, with background at Group Army higher command, the tone would likely be higher, with stronger desire to perform.
Eager to showcase his own style and ability on this frontline stage.
To let superior leaders know that sending him as Combined Arms Battalion commander was the wisest choice, granting more opportunities and resources.
And to perform more, he’d definitely need more right to speak, more decision-making power.
Then Chen Jun’s words might not carry weight.
If one of their own became battalion commander, it would be the opposite.
Everyone in Seventh Hundred and Second Regiment from top to bottom knew the Combined Arms Battalion was Chen Jun’s heartfelt creation, and its future development and direction would inevitably be steered by Chen Jun.
The battalion commander, bluntly put, was just a “figurehead”; who held it didn’t really matter.
The battalion commander wouldn’t always want to override Chen Jun.
So rather than let an outsider be battalion commander—unknown personality and ability, leading to uncoordinated work or even mishaps.
Better to pick their own “pure figurehead” to place there as battalion commander.
Everything else decided by Chen Jun.
Let Chen Jun comfortably be the “battalion commander behind the scenes,” like leading Combined Arms Company before, taking Combined Arms Battalion to continue soaring, onto higher and greater stages.
