Chapter 227: Cleverly Overcoming 701st Regiment’s Deliberate Obstruction!
The Seventh Hundred and Second Regiment established a special working group, with a Deputy Regiment Commander responsible for leading the team to negotiate matters with various regimental units, indicating a sufficiently high level of importance.
The division therefore did not send its own personnel to accompany the working group to the 701st Regiment for negotiations.
They merely had the division’s duty room contact the 701st Regiment to notify them that the personnel coordination for the working group’s arrival was underway, and to prepare for appropriate reception arrangements.
The Seventh Hundred and Second Regiment was forming a new establishment for a combined arms battalion, a matter that had been widely and excitedly discussed throughout the entire Group Army.
It was arguably the biggest news of the year for the entire Group Army!
As for Division T, there was even less to say.
The subordinate main regiments and various logistics units, it was certainly false to say they weren’t envious, and beyond envy, each unit also felt quite distressed.
This was because the division had transmitted the Military Region’s document to all units a week prior.
It required cooperation with the Military Region’s demands and coordination of personnel to the 702nd Regiment.
Every regiment had its most excellent elite companies, and the elite soldiers supported these companies in earning honors, primarily through various assessments like competitions.
In a competitive model like martial arts competitions and assessments, individual ability was essentially greater than the collective.
A few outstanding elite soldiers could prop up an entire company.
In other words…
Each company actually had only a few elite soldiers; the majority were ordinary soldiers of average capability, forming the fundamental base of the entire company.
The company’s performance evaluations, martial arts competitions, and so on, were all won by the elite soldiers.
The value of elite soldiers within a company was so high, and cultivating an elite soldier was not easy, requiring not only sweat but also talent and luck.
Therefore, it was impossible to guarantee which soldier could be cultivated into an excellent Soldier King.
Now, the Seventh Hundred and Second Regiment…
Not only were they expected to hand over soldiers they had cultivated, but they were also asked for their most outstanding non-commissioned officer backbone.
They were taking away all the “hopes” they had painstakingly cultivated.
Under such circumstances, if the chief officers of each company and the regimental commanders above them could still be in a good mood and actively cooperate, it would be a miracle.
So.
Even though the division had notified them by telephone in advance, and the 701st Regiment had no choice but to obey orders and receive them, they still didn’t give the working group a warm welcome.
Despite knowing it was a working group led by a Deputy Regiment Commander, they only sent a junior officer from the Political Department’s Organization Section to receive them.
This was clearly an act of provocation.
They had pushed the principle of pretending to obey but disobeying to its absolute limit.
Whether in society or in the military, the most basic aspect of reception etiquette is the equality of status and rank; the level of guest arriving should be met with a reception of the same level.
If the guest was of a special status requiring attention, a person of one or two higher ranks might even be sent to receive them.
Yet, the 701st Regiment sent a Captain, a junior officer, to receive a Lieutenant Colonel from a Deputy Regiment Level working group; the discrepancy in rank was several major levels.
At most, such a reception was suitable for company-level units.
By using such a condescending tactic, they had completely discarded reception etiquette, making it clear they were saying, “You are not welcome here at all.”
“Is this how you, the 701st Regiment, treat guests? Aren’t you afraid of being laughed at?”
Zhou Huimin, the leader of the working group, saw no welcoming party, no reception committee, and no leader of equivalent rank, only a solitary junior officer. His face immediately fell, and he struggled to suppress his anger, almost erupting in an expletive on the spot.
If they hadn’t been in a position of needing to ask for favors, he would have turned around and left immediately.
The junior officer receiving them was extremely apprehensive, not daring to face the wrath of a Deputy Regiment Level cadre.
He didn’t even know how to respond.
As a cadre in the regiment’s headquarters, he was certainly knowledgeable about reception etiquette and understood that such a reception was inappropriate.
However, this was a direct arrangement from the Regiment Commander, and he had no right to refuse.
Being insignificant and powerless, he was in a difficult position, not daring to offend either side.
All he could do was remain silent and take the scolding!
“To brazenly come here to poach our people, if this were our Seventh Hundred and Second Regiment, our Regiment Commander would probably be even more direct, not even letting you enter the Regiment Headquarters’ gate.”
Chen Jun had long anticipated such a situation, and his emotions remained unchanged.
Furthermore, blaming the junior officer who was made to take the fall was meaningless; in fact, if it escalated, it would only create an impression of the higher-ranking official bullying the subordinate.
However, speaking of which.
Zhou Huimin represented the Seventh Hundred and Second Regiment when he was out, so he naturally had to show presence and authority and absolutely could not tolerate this situation as if he hadn’t seen it.
This required someone to step forward and break this deadlock.
Chen Jun glanced at the deputy team leader, Tang Guozhong, and saw that he also looked furious, showing no intention of de-escalating, and seemed ready to cause trouble.
This was not a good thing.
If a scene were to break out at the 701st Regiment Headquarters, it would indeed embarrass the 701st Regiment Commander and secure the treatment and standing they deserved.
Moreover, if they were to push further and report it to higher authorities, they could even get the division to issue a warning to the 701st Regiment.
But doing so would completely sour relations between the two sides, making future work progression more difficult.
Chen Jun knew deeply that his purpose for this trip was to get things done, not to come and pick a fight; getting the job done was the priority, so he had to step forward as a mediator.
“Hello, are you Officer Liu? I am Commissioner Chen from the working group.”
Chen Jun stepped forward, saluted and shook hands with Officer Liu, then said with a smile, “We just came from the division, and after such a long journey with this large group, we’re all quite tired.
How about arranging for us to rest and have a meal first?
While we’re eating, your Regiment Commander should be back by then. You can then report to us and arrange a place for us to discuss matters, and we can all sit down and talk properly. What do you think?”
Chen Jun spoke politely and comfortably, and also provided a perfect way for Officer Liu to save face.
Officer Liu, who was already at a loss for what to do, was now unsure how to proceed. Seeing Chen Jun’s arrangement, he immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
He repeatedly nodded and said, “Okay, okay, I’ll take you to the mess hall right away, instruct the kitchen to prepare food for you, and then I’ll go report to the Regiment Commander.
Come, esteemed leaders of the working group, this way, I’ll take you to eat first.”
The discerning eye needed to get by in the regiment is beyond doubt. Officer Liu, following Chen Jun’s lead, walked ahead, guiding the working group to the canteen.
The working group’s were given a cold reception, and everyone was in a very bad mood.
As expected, since Chen Jun spoke, they could only endure it.
However, when everyone was led into the canteen, Officer Liu organized the cookhouse staff to bring out the dishes. The working group, who were already seething with anger, suddenly turned ashen-faced.
Within the troops, there is a system for reception meals. Although it’s not lavish with fish and meat or Moutai, they basically prepare a few stir-fried dishes.
As soon as guests from their territory arrived, a special meal was prepared to entertain them.
The welcome meal sent up by the 701st Regiment was surprisingly a large enamel bowl for each person, with white rice at the bottom and three dishes on top.
A soup was also placed in a small bowl, completing the three dishes and one soup.
The working group took whoever they could, giving each person a share, and the portions were quite generous, piling the bowls high.
Is this a reception meal??
Serving dishes from a large pot for a reception meal is one thing, but at least put them in a few bowls and place them in the center of the table to make them look better.
As a result, you served everyone a bowl of rice and dishes, just like the warriors serving meals.
It’s piled so high, as if they’ve never eaten before.
Isn’t this deliberately embarrassing people?
Even though he had mentally prepared himself and knew Chen Jun would be deliberately made difficult, seeing this comical scene, he really didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
“The regimental commander of that 701st Regiment certainly holds a lot of resentment. Now that he’s caught an opportunity, he won’t rest until he’s vented all his anger.”
Chen Jun smiled wryly in secret.
Recalling his own powerful rise and obtaining the qualification to reform the Steel Seventh Company, it was by stepping on the 701st Regiment and the Division Direct Reconnaissance Battalion in the Grand Competition that he rose to prominence, meaning they had also helped him.
Now let them vent for a bit, and this will be considered repaying the kindness from back then, completely leveling the playing field between us.
Chen Jun dispelled his inner dissatisfaction and decided to finish this last task. He explained to everyone, “We are here to get people. It’s also a good experience to try out the food quality of the 701st Regiment soldiers beforehand.”
“I think after this extraordinary lunch, the extremely busy Regiment Commander of the 701st Regiment should have time to sit down and talk about important matters with us.”
Chen Jun intentionally spoke loudly, knowing that someone would definitely pass the message along.
While speaking, he also winked at the members of the working group.
Zhou Huimin and Tang Guozhong caught Chen Jun’s eye and knew Chen Jun must have had an idea. Out of respect for Chen Jun, they didn’t react on the spot.
He forcibly suppressed the part of his inner thoughts and ate lunch with Chen Jun.
Chen Jun’s speculation was very correct.
Indeed, someone was secretly observing the working group and collected all the information, and immediately reported it to the commander of the 701st Regiment.
And the Regiment Commander of the 701st Regiment repeatedly made things difficult, and it was truly to vent their frustration.
Back then, during the martial arts competition, he was crushed by the Seventh Hundred and Second Regiment, which made him lose face in front of Regiment Commander Wang. Now they actually come to his regiment to demand people.
If they cooperate and give all the people, then he will have no face to put anywhere.
In the troops, the value of money is not great. Wearing a military uniform all day, luxury clothing and such, also has no meaning.
This allows the leading cadres in the troops, in addition to the improvement of their own troops’ combat effectiveness.
The most important thing is one’s own face.
You can be without money, but you cannot lose face.
While Regiment Commander Yang vented his personal emotions, he also genuinely did not want to escalate the situation and truly agitate the Working Group.
So he had people watching him the entire time, afraid he’d go too far and crash.
The main focus is to be difficult, not to mess things up.
97 Overall, he is still very rational.
And the words Chen Jun spoke in the canteen actually contained several layers of deep meaning, the most obvious hint of which had already been given to the regiment commander of the Seventh Hundred and Second Regiment.
My meaning is that I have already held back twice. I suggest you quit while you’re ahead and don’t push things too far.
The messenger relayed the message to Regiment Commander Yang of the 701st Regiment. He instantly understood the meaning of Chen Jun’s words, and his expression changed slightly.
If it were any other captain, they would dare to threaten a distinguished regiment commander like him.
Regiment Commander Yang wouldn’t pay any attention.
Even replying with one word is elevating the captain.
However, Chen Jun was an exception.
Not to mention Chen Jun’s all-round development in morality, intelligence, and physique, his personal ability can be called an eight-sided fighter, and in the martial arts competition, he broke the all-army record that no one had been able to break for decades.
These shining points of Chen Jun himself were enough to make Regiment Commander Yang admire and like him.
The only regret is that they aren’t people from my own regiment!
Chen Jun responded to the all-army’s modernized military reform, now officially leading the establishment of the combined arms battalion, gaining strong support from the Group Army higher command.
This is enough to prove that Captain Chen Jun can no longer be evaluated solely by his military rank.
That’s a “red person” with a military region background!
When someone reaches the standard of a Military Region-level notable, what they say is completely different from an ordinary person, and to some extent, it is enough to influence a regiment commander.
To be honest…
Even if it meant offending the regiment commander of another regiment, Regiment Commander Yang did not want to offend “the demon” Chen Jun.
114 Therefore, facing the implication and warning in Chen Jun’s words, the double act of making things difficult was already the bottom line, and Regiment Commander Yang really had to weigh it carefully.
Perhaps because of the two consecutive difficult situations, the working group did not come out to cause trouble, which was enough face for him, and his anger should have subsided.
Or perhaps they were afraid of Chen Jun’s influence and didn’t want to offend the prodigy whose future was destined to be limitless.
Less than three minutes after Chen Jun and the others had started eating, Regiment Commander Yang appeared in the canteen, greeting them with a smile.
Upon meeting, he proactively apologized and said, “Oh dear, I am truly sorry. There’s too much work lately; I’m so busy my feet can’t touch the ground.
As soon as I heard the working group from Seven Zero Two Regiment had arrived, I immediately hurried back.
“To apologize for the inadequate reception, I have prepared a lavish dinner tonight. I will punish myself with three drinks at that time, and I hope everyone can be more forgiving.”
With Regiment Commander Wang having said all that, and as the saying goes, one doesn’t hit a smiling face.
Deputy Regiment Commander Zhou Huimin, who was originally furious, felt most of his anger dissipate. Moreover, considering the work, he decided not to haggle over trifles.
With a similarly forced smile, he said, “Regiment Commander Yang, we’ve disturbed you. Have you eaten? Please sit down and join us?”
“Okay!”
Regiment Commander Yang readily agreed and said to Officer Liu, who had followed him: “Officer Liu, go and get one for me. The same as everyone else’s will be fine.”
“Okay, Regiment Commander.”
Officer Liu did not speak further and nodded before running towards the cookhouse.
It wasn’t officially mealtime yet, so although the cookhouse’s dishes were prepared, they weren’t brought out and were still kept in the back kitchen.
“Our regiment headquarters uniformly eats from large communal pots. We don’t have special meals for cadres on a regular basis. Please forgive any shortcomings in this meal.”
Regiment Commander Yang specifically said these words, with the purpose of making the two incidents of finding fault seem reasonable and justifiable.
The working group heard Deputy Regiment Commander Yang voluntarily offer an explanation. Although the reasons for his explanation could not withstand scrutiny, it at least provided everyone with a statement.
Upholding friendly cooperation and needing to ask for help, he did not continue to dwell on it.
133 The matter ends here.
134 The “old grudges” between the two sides were officially settled.
135 The only remaining purpose of the working group’s visit is for both sides to consult and coordinate, and to discuss a plan that is satisfactory to both parties.
After a simple lunch of large-pot dishes, the working group of nine people followed Regiment Commander Yang to the 701st Regiment’s senior meeting room.
