Chapter 228: 701st Regiment Goes Wild With Joy!
The 702nd Regiment really attached great importance to this personnel coordination. Not only did the Regiment Commander attend the negotiation meeting, but the Political Commissar, Deputy Regiment Commander, Chief of Staff, and others also arrived at the meeting room one after another.
The Regimental Party Committee was basically all there!
Both sides sat separately on either side of the long conference table, with the 702nd Regiment’s working group on the left and the 701st Regiment on the right, forming a face-to-face discussion setup.
“Alright, everyone’s here, so let’s get started.”
With Regiment Commander Yang of the 701st Regiment’s opening remarks, the negotiation meeting officially began.
The first to speak was Regiment Commander Yang, who stated on behalf of the 701st Regiment: “Everyone knows who I am, so no need for long-winded introductions. Let’s get straight to the point.
This year, the troops are undergoing informatization reform, which has a huge impact in all aspects.
Our regiment has already undergone reduction in size to cooperate with military reform, and the personnel in each company and battalion unit are already very tight. The new recruits who have been supplemented also need training to form combat effectiveness.
Now the division is asking us to provide people, and quite a number at that.
Given our regiment’s current situation, isn’t that just carving meat from us? The mid-year competition is coming up soon—what will our regiment do then?
So, it’s not that we’re not cooperating with the superior order; it’s really putting us in a difficult position.”
Regiment Commander Yang used standard rhetoric, employing a pitiful approach as the reason for refusal.
As soon as Regiment Commander Yang finished speaking, the Chief of Staff of the 701st Regiment immediately followed up as if pre-arranged, cooperating by saying: “The 702nd Regiment wants to form a combined arms battalion—this is indeed a great thing.
Your regiment’s previous combined arms company performed brilliantly in the exercise. I believe with your abilities, you can definitely make the combined arms battalion work.
But our regiment can’t compare to yours. Forget about new establishment—even advancing basic work is quite difficult.
Non-commissioned officers are the backbone of every company. Now with military reform compressing non-commissioned officer quotas, the number of non-commissioned officers in each company is far less than before.
If we follow the requirements in the order, won’t that cripple our grassroots companies below?”
The Chief of Staff described it even more miserably than Regiment Commander Yang, even using the term “cripple,” as if announcing to the world that the 701st Regiment would disband without this batch of non-commissioned officers.
“Chief of Staff Xing, look at what you’re saying.”
Deputy Regiment Commander Zhou Huimin smiled and retorted: “The military region made this arrangement, so there will definitely be compensation for you later, right?
Moreover, this is the entire army’s first combined arms battalion. For your regiment’s warriors to participate would be a tremendous opportunity for them.”
Opportunity?
The cadres of the 701st Regiment exchanged glances, their expressions carrying a hint of mockery.
As if to say: “Tremendous opportunity so what? They’ll be part of your 702nd Regiment by then— what does it have to do with our 701st Regiment?”
“Yeah, once the combined arms battalion is formed, you’ll get credit for it. When writing the report, we’ll definitely include your regiment.”
Seeing that the people from the 701st Regiment weren’t speaking, Deputy Team Leader Tang Guozhong started painting a pie.
This did have some appeal. The people from the 701st Regiment felt a slight temptation, but only slight—not enough to influence their decision.
Just a few lines in the report in exchange for dozens of elites from their regiment.
What kind of easy business is that in the world??
“I think, how about this.”
The Political Commissar of the 701st Regiment stood up and proposed: “Our regiment’s situation is really not optimistic, so please understand us more. How about we meet halfway.
We’ll send people to you on a regimental basis. Our regiment has a total of seventeen companies in logistics and combat units. According to the military region’s order, I’ll give you eighty-five non-commissioned officers.
I guarantee that at least half of them will be elite soldiers from each company.
This way, you leave us some seeds so our 701st Regiment can maintain normal operation, and you can complete your personnel supplementation.
What do you think?”
The 701st Regiment Political Commissar’s compromise plan was indeed very sincere—agreeing to provide half elites. From the 701st Regiment’s perspective, it was doing the utmost in benevolence and righteousness.
Even Team Leader Zhou Huimin nodded inwardly upon hearing this plan.
As long as it wasn’t the division direct reconnaissance battalion, which could draw blood from the entire division with overall levels far higher than grassroots companies and a relatively high proportion of elite soldiers.
The number of elite soldiers in other grassroots companies was actually countable on one hand.
Basically hard to exceed double digits.
The 701st Regiment Political Commissar agreed to provide half elites, with the rest made up of older non-commissioned officers, those with average ability, or those whose abilities had seriously declined and were just waiting for their contracts to expire—this was already extremely sincere.
After all, the 702nd Regiment was doing a no-cost business, not needing to pay any price at all.
The 701st Regiment was taking a pure loss!
Before coming here, the other members of the working group knew this trip would be very difficult, so they never thought they could complete the mission smoothly—they were even worried about making the trip in vain.
Therefore, they were all quite satisfied with the 701st Regiment Political Commissar’s proposal.
Getting half was better than nothing.
The Regiment Commander, Political Commissar, and others from the 701st Regiment saw the joy in the eyes of the working group and thought the plan was very attractive, likely to be agreed upon, so their corners of the mouths also lifted.
Regiment Commander Yang also knew that since there was an order from above, their regiment definitely had to cooperate to complete the mission—outright refusal was impossible.
So cutting the quota in half was the limit they could accept.
However, just as both sides were getting affectionate and about to proceed with further negotiations.
Chen Jun stood up!
“Hello everyone, I’m Special Commissioner Chen Jun from the working group, specifically responsible for this personnel supplementation work. To be honest, I don’t agree with the plan you’ve proposed—it’s just perfunctory.”
Chen Jun suddenly spoke up at this moment, and even stood up specifically, refuting the Political Commissar’s proposal in a serious and unquestionable tone.
Not giving any face at all—it was truly unexpected.
The atmosphere in the entire venue changed abruptly!
Before setting out, the working group members already knew what Chen Jun’s plan was, but whether it would work, they had no confidence at all.
After all, they had never used this method, and it very much tested Chen Jun’s eloquence.
The people from the 701st Regiment, who had thought the plan was promising and were smiling, had their faces collapse upon hearing Chen Jun’s words.
If not for Chen Jun’s special status, he wouldn’t even have the right to speak in this venue.
Chen Jun didn’t care about the 701st Regiment people’s sour faces. From the moment he proposed forming the all-NCO battalion, he decided he must do things to the utmost perfection.
He absolutely would not muddle through!
Sending half “old, weak, sick, and disabled” to the combined arms battalion—what kind of thing was that? With their physical fitness and abilities, could they withstand the third stage of training?
If they couldn’t withstand the training, they would become baggage, affecting the formation of the entire battalion’s combat effectiveness.
Chen Jun absolutely would not allow such a thing.
So Chen Jun ignored the displeasure of the 701st Regiment crowd and said directly in a tough tone: “The combined arms battalion is the new establishment with the greatest development potential in the context of information warfare, and it may even become the mainstream of the entire army.
Our regiment, as the first to form a combined arms battalion, is essentially crossing the river by feeling the stones—it’s very difficult and we could slip and capsize at any time.
Only by leaving enough margin for error can we ensure the greatest success rate.
That’s why we require every warrior to be an elite soldier with excellent qualities.
If it’s a warrior whose abilities can’t keep up, it’s meaningless to the combined arms battalion and could even become burdensome, affecting the formation of combat effectiveness.
So, does this so-called compromise plan of stuffing a bunch of trash soldiers over here make any sense?”
Trash soldier is not a good term in the troops. The 701st Regiment cadres’ faces turned even darker upon hearing Chen Jun’s description.
The Chief of Staff even scolded on the spot: “Commissioner Chen, your wording is very inappropriate. Every soldier in our 701st Regiment is excellent—how did they become unusable trash soldiers in your mouth?
Since you think our soldiers are trash soldiers, why bother coming to our regiment for people?”
The 701st Regiment crowd strongly agreed with the Chief of Staff’s words, and their looks toward Chen Jun weren’t good. If Chen Jun couldn’t provide a reasonable explanation, this meeting was doomed not to end well today.
Even Zhou Huimin, Tang Guozhong, and the others felt Chen Jun’s words were a bit abrupt and not suitable for this occasion.
Chen Jun, who instantly became the target of all, showed no panic at all even under the gaze of more than a dozen pairs of eyes.
He hadn’t vented enough yet.
He continued to pour oil on the fire.
“The combined arms battalion I’m building is a top-spec combat unit that can go head-to-head even against special forces.
And every warrior in the basic setup of the current combined arms battalion is an elite soldier who has undergone layers of tests.
In the confrontation exercise organized by the Group Army, they withstood the fierce Blue Army attack and ultimately fought to a draw with the opponent—that’s the most powerful proof.
As for your so-called excellent warriors, they were hung up and beaten by the Blue Army in confrontations, with combat loss ratios of twenty or even thirty to one—do you really think they’re excellent?
If they come to my combined arms battalion for a few years, won’t they still be trash soldiers dragging their feet? Huh?”
Chen Jun’s words were devastating, each one stabbing at the 701st Regiment’s sore spots, leaving them furious but unable to refute.
Because what Chen Jun said was the fact.
In last year’s baseline confrontation exercise with the Blue Army, the 701st Regiment also fought A Company, and the final result was utterly disastrous.
Enemy-us combat loss ratio of one to thirty-three—it was embarrassingly hot-faced just saying it.
So humiliating!!
And the basic team Chen Jun assembled for the combined arms battalion did fight to a draw with the Blue Army—that was verifiable real battle record.
With this battle record in hand, Chen Jun had the qualification to point at the 701st Regiment’s nose and say it.
Zhou Huimin and the others, who had been very worried, saw Chen Jun single-handedly facing the entire 701st Regiment Party Committee leadership, verbally blasting them on their home turf, and the opponents not daring to retort a single word.
They felt an immense secret thrill!
Every pore relaxed!
The unpleasantness accumulated from the two snubs suffered on the way here, the depression that couldn’t be vented—this was completely gone now.
Chen Jun really understood “PUA.”
To make the other side accept his conditions, he first had to stomp them into the ground, making them feel like total wastes—that was best.
Then give them a little benefit, and they would treat him like a treasure.
Chen Jun first blasted all the 701st Regiment people, making them deeply realize the gap with the 702nd Regiment and extinguishing all their pride.
This step was now smoothly completed. Next was the sweet date phase.
So at the moment when the entire 701st Regiment crowd had green faces, itching to pounce and bite Chen Jun, Chen Jun began painting a pie for them.
And it was a super big fragrant pie that was so aromatic, heavenly, and tempting that one couldn’t stop.
“All you present are experienced and knowledgeable, so you surely understand even better than me, under the big background of informatization reform, what direction the army will take next, and what kind of army can adapt to the future battlefield.
Even if you don’t understand, no problem—I’ll tell you clearly here.
The First Group Army’s division-to-brigade reform pilot, I’m sure you’ve all seen it in the military report—that’s a major signal released by military reform.
What does division-to-brigade reform mean? It means that on the informatized battlefield, for more efficient command, the traditional division-regiment-battalion will become brigade-battalion two levels.
The battalion level will become the core combat point and gradually develop into an independent combat unit.
With the intermediate regimental-level units canceled, the brigade level directly commands the various battalion-level combat units below, which will inevitably require higher standards for battalion level.
And the combined arms battalion I’m leading the creation of can perfectly connect with this core combat point.
Once the combined arms battalion I’m leading is formed and can complete the supporting battalion-level combined arms tactics, it will be a major milestone for our army.
If you’re unwilling to provide elite soldiers to cooperate, I can only say it’s short-sighted.
Don’t you see how great the value of the combined arms battalion is? Haven’t you thought that the combined arms battalion the 702nd Regiment is building today might greatly help you in the future someday? Huh?”
Chen Jun spoke this very seriously, almost in a tone of criticism.
A captain pointing at a group of regimental cadres’ noses and scolding them at a regimental-level meeting venue, and none of those regimental cadres daring to stand up and fight back.
This sounds impossible, yet it truly happened in this meeting room.
Zhou Huimin and the other eight working group members saw this scene and were truly shocked beyond words, their admiration for Chen Jun indescribable.
Too fucking awesome!
Scolding a regiment commander and political commissar for being short-sighted—even Deputy Regiment Commander Zhou Huimin wouldn’t dare.
But Chen Jun, this captain.
He not only dared, he did it right to their faces.
And the reason no one from the 701st Regiment Party Committee leadership stood up to retort or scold Chen Jun was because his words were too shocking.
It was like thunder striking their brains, booming, making their entire minds clear.
Yeah!!!
The value of the combined arms battalion was so huge—no matter what the 701st Regiment’s military reform would be like in the future, at least one thing was 100% certain.
That was, once the 702nd Regiment’s combined arms battalion succeeded, it would definitely be promoted on a larger scale.
As the saying goes:
Those near the water get the moon first.
Their 701st Regiment was a brother unit—as long as they built good relations now, when promotion happened, they would definitely be the first to reap the benefits.
Such a good thing right in front of them, yet they were still refusing.
It really was short-sighted.
So even being scolded to their faces by Chen Jun, they felt no anger, only guilt—they hadn’t thought of something so simple.
Just as the 701st Regiment leaders were scolded awake by Chen Jun, their ugly expressions starting to change rapidly.
Chen Jun dropped an even bigger bomb!!
“The combined arms battalion was pushed forward by me single-handedly—I’m sure everyone knows that, and I still have some right to speak in it.
I can guarantee you here, and I’ll proactively report to the Group Army later.
As long as you actively cooperate in coordinating personnel, I’ll definitely give you returns afterward. I’ve thought of the way—I’ll call it sharing fortune together.”
Returns? Sharing fortune together??
The leaders in the 701st Regiment’s eyes lit up upon hearing this.
“Yes, I absolutely won’t let you lose out.”
Chen Jun raised his tone and announced publicly: “As long as the combined arms battalion can pass assessment and be implemented, and the military region expands the scale for pilot promotion.
At that time, I can return half of the personnel your regiment coordinated over to you, letting them become the foundation for your regiment to form a combined arms battalion.
When our 702nd Regiment has a combined arms battalion, you won’t need to envy at all.
Because you will also have a combined arms battalion belonging to your 701st Regiment!”
Boom~~
A loud bang!
Chen Jun’s news was truly explosive.
The 701st Regiment crowd, who never dreamed pie would fall from the sky, were directly smashed grinning by the big pie Chen Jun dropped.
Now sending a batch to the 702nd Regiment’s combined arms battalion, and after success, returning half the personnel.
At first glance, it seems like a half loss.
However, the half returned would have become trained combined arms battalion warriors—ready-to-use treasures.
Just throw over two pieces of iron, and get back a sharp precious sword.
This deal…
Was insanely profitable!
How could the 701st Regiment’s cadres not beam with joy!
