Chapter 238: Sun Dongping’s Major Hidden Trouble!
Sun Dongping was just a temporary battalion commander, still a long way from becoming the formal battalion commander.
He was already playing power games!
Just because his ambitions conflicted with Chen Jun, from the moment he learned Chen Jun had entered battalion headquarters, his mind was filled with nothing but how to bring Chen Jun down.
This mentality wasn’t just terribly flawed; at the very least, it lacked the necessary experience.
It wasn’t the steady psychological quality that a mature combined arms battalion commander should possess.
If Sun Dongping couldn’t quickly change his mentality, his journey as battalion commander would likely be extremely short; he might not even last two months.
After the combined arms battalion passed the final assessment, there would still be an evaluation to confirm the formal battalion commander.
If he performed very poorly in the third stage, even if the final assessment passed, the battalion commander position would be given to someone more suitable.
Sun Dongping perhaps realized this point; the higher-ups needed to see the battalion commander’s performance in the third stage to determine if he qualified to become the formal battalion commander.
That was why he was so eager to squeeze out Chen Jun and seize sole power.
Only with absolute right to speak could he fully showcase himself,
While Chen Jun, whom Sun Dongping regarded as the greatest threat, was not as restless and impetuous as Sun Dongping.
Chen Jun had lived three lifetimes and seen everything; the salt he had eaten was more than the rice Sun Dongping had eaten. His mentality was as steady as an old dog.
Sun Dongping defeating Li Fugui to become battalion commander was indeed no small challenge for Chen Jun and would inevitably affect the third stage training.
But Chen Jun wasn’t afraid of challenges; he was afraid of no one challenging him.
Challenges gave him more passion!
Moreover, Sun Dongping was just the pilot combined arms battalion commander; his current status was at best a temporary battalion commander, who could annoy Chen Jun for only a short time.
Chen Jun didn’t take him seriously at all; he was just a passerby in life.
So Chen Jun didn’t specifically seek out people to scheme against Sun Dongping because of him, nor did he have Sun Dongping’s idea of bringing someone down.
Chen Jun personally had no such thoughts, but that didn’t mean others could swallow this insult.
The internal feast organized by Regiment Commander Wang at noon was essentially to congratulate Chen Jun and Gao Cheng on their dual promotions. Regiment Commander Wang had specifically hinted and reminded Chen Jun.
The gist was that Sun Dongping was no pushover and to be careful in the upcoming work.
At the same time, he advised Chen Jun to prioritize the big picture and absolutely not have strong conflicts with Sun Dongping, so as not to affect the combined arms battalion’s final establishment.
No matter what.
First pass the combined arms battalion’s assessment and formally establish the establishment.
After that.
Then they could do whatever, as long as they didn’t poke a hole in the sky.
Because it was Seventh Hundred and Second Regiment’s internal feast, the parachuted battalion leaders were not invited, so Regiment Commander Wang’s hints were even more direct.
Chen Jun understood Regiment Commander Wang’s meaning and gave a simple response that put Regiment Commander Wang at ease.
“Regiment Commander, rest assured. I’m just a staff officer, not the battalion commander. I’ll mind my own business and won’t meddle in things that aren’t my concern.”
Chen Jun said this with a smile on his face. Everyone thought he was covering up his inner distress.
Even Regiment Commander Wang patted Chen Jun’s shoulder and said firmly, “Chen Jun, you rest assured too. Everyone sees your efforts. The grievances you’re suffering now, I won’t let go to waste.”
Regiment Commander Wang’s meaning was already very clear.
As long as the combined arms battalion’s establishment formally landed and became a nailed-down formal unit of 702 Regiment, then Old Wang would back Chen Jun up.
In reality, Chen Jun’s inner thoughts at this moment were completely opposite to what they thought.
He was already prepared to watch the show!
Based on Chen Jun’s understanding of Seventh Hundred and Second Regiment, as well as his own prestige and status in Seventh Hundred and Second Regiment, dealing with a greenhorn like Sun Dongping, he knew he didn’t even need to make a move.
At that time, he just needed to watch from the sidelines, and all the troubles would resolve themselves.
Why was Chen Jun so confident and calm? The reason wasn’t complicated; the position his smiling eyes were looking at was the answer.
Compared to Regiment Commander Wang prioritizing the big picture, the moods of the other battalion and company cadres from Seventh Hundred and Second Regiment present were completely different.
Despite the varied emotions in each person’s eyes, they all highlighted one core—
The peach of the combined arms battalion.
Wasn’t so easy to pick.
Even becoming the pilot combined arms battalion commander, if you couldn’t win over the crowd and get everyone to cooperate positively, the work wouldn’t unfold easily.
Especially in a unit with a fierce atmosphere, at this late nineties time point.
Exclusion of outsiders was particularly severe!
If not for Regiment Commander Wang wanting to wait for formal establishment and not wanting to lead a fallout with Sun Dongping now, he had clearly stated for everyone to hold back and must cooperate with the new battalion commander’s work, not wanting any trouble.
It was equivalent to Regiment Commander Wang holding down the situation!
Otherwise, these cadres from Seventh Hundred and Second Regiment would have long jumped out to squeeze out Sun Dongping.
And even with Regiment Commander Wang stepping forward to hold down the situation, these cadres couldn’t do anything openly, but behind the scenes was another story.
Sun Dongping, who had always been studying in military academy or training abroad.
He fundamentally didn’t understand what grassroots meant, let alone how to manage grassroots units. It wasn’t as simple as he thought; bigger power didn’t mean things would get done.
If you couldn’t make the people below convinced, unfolding work was extremely difficult.
What’s more, he was this kind of parachuted battalion commander who showed extreme dominance upon arrival, with no intention of building good relations with those below, almost offending the entire Seventh Hundred and Second Regiment.
Even if the combined arms battalion was quite independent, it was still part of Seventh Hundred and Second Regiment.
The most needed basic force composing the combined arms battalion were all drawn from Seventh Hundred and Second Regiment; four of the five company commanders came from Seventh Hundred and Second Regiment.
A combined arms battalion made up of a bunch surnamed Wang—could one surnamed Sun really lead it?
Sun Dongping was very confident.
Chen Jun smiled without speaking.
What the answer would be would soon be revealed.
……
Chen Jun becoming company commander and formally taking charge of Steel Seventh Company was great joyful event for the entire Steel Seventh Company.
When the news reached Steel Seventh Company, everyone in Steel Seventh Company was so excited they jumped up; the atmosphere in the company was even thicker than during New Year.
Tuo Yonggang, who had come straight for Chen Jun, and the group of more than twenty lieutenant-grade officers, were also happy for Chen Jun.
Tuo Yonggang bluntly said, “With Deputy Company Commander Chen—no, Company Commander Chen’s strength, doing company commander is only natural; it’s even a bit underutilizing his talent.
In my view, the combined arms battalion commander position is the most suitable place for him.”
The others in the same dormitory, hearing this, even knowing Chen Jun’s seniority made it impossible to become battalion commander, didn’t stop them from one by one expressing agreement.
When Chen Jun and Gao Cheng returned to the company, they received the highest-spec welcome ceremony.
The company warriors swarmed up like welcoming triumphant heroes, lifting the two up and playing toss-high.
Chen Jun and Gao Cheng felt the warriors’ heartfelt joy and excitement for them.
Both felt doubly warm in their hearts.
Their mood at this moment was unprecedentedly happy, several times happier than when they heard the appointment document in the regiment.
To receive recognition from all warriors.
For a leading cadre, this was the highest honor.
In great moods, Chen Jun and Gao Cheng completely let loose at the company feast that evening, taking all comers.
The two were toasted by the entire company warriors, one cup each adding up to over 100 cups.
Converted to beer, that was twenty or thirty bottles.
Gao Cheng was knocked out halfway, staggering and nearly falling under the table, so he hurriedly called the communicator to send him back to rest.
He thereby withdrew from the battlefield, leaving only Chen Jun.
The warriors’ enthusiasm was truly too intense; there was no deliberate intent to get him drunk, purely wanting to drink a cup with Chen Jun. Being able to drink with a company commander like Chen Jun made them feel proud from the heart.
Every warrior thought this way; Chen Jun didn’t want to disappoint the warriors who supported him.
So for the warriors’ toasts, Chen Jun held out from start to finish, downing over 100 cups of beer, running to the toilet twice to fit it all in.
Otherwise, the amount of these 30-odd bottles of beer, no matter how big the stomach, couldn’t hold it.
But that said.
Chen Jun’s alcohol tolerance was truly strong.
So much beer down, besides feeling stuffed, he really wasn’t drunk; his mind was still very clear, all in all about 60% drunk.
After two toilet trips, his combat effectiveness was still full, stunning the warriors.
With Tuo Yonggang, who loved stirring trouble, deliberately hyping it up, the slightly tipsy warriors got a bit carried away.
They started a new round of besieging Chen Jun, wanting to knock down their new company commander.
Chen Jun wasn’t scared, taking all comers.
He even deliberately guided the warriors not to forget the newly joined special operations platoon; it was a rare opportunity, must arrange them well.
With Chen Jun’s influence in the company, his instigating words were particularly effective.
Originally, because the special operations platoon were all officers, Seventh Company’s warriors felt somewhat constrained and hadn’t integrated them into the collective.
Taking Chen Jun’s opportunity, half the warriors shifted targets.
They started bombarding the special operations platoon crowd.
Tuo Yonggang had just come to join the fun, but unexpectedly got pulled in by one sentence from Chen Jun, instantly trapped in the warriors’ sea.
Under cup after cup of toasts, he soon got dead drunk, not knowing when he passed out under the table.
And taking this mutual toasting opportunity, the special operations platoon also broke down the barrier between officers and warriors amid cup after cup of beer, formally fusing into one whole.
Seeing the special operations platoon and Seventh Company warriors hooking shoulders and chatting happily.
Chen Jun showed a gratified smile!
This was the scene he most wanted to see, this was the comradeship in Steel Seventh Company of his ideals, this was the no-abandon no-give-up brotherly bond he wanted.
However.
With Steel Seventh Company internally, borrowing Chen Jun and Gao Cheng’s promotions, thoroughly eliminating grudges and twisting into one rope.
The combined arms battalion’s chaos……
Had only just begun!
All cadres for the second stage were in place, coordinated personnel from other regiments confirmed, the combined arms battalion formation’s third stage started as scheduled.
When time reached June 27th morning, the combined arms battalion formally began moving into the new base.
Besides personnel coordinated from other regiments, the five companies drawn from Seventh Hundred and Second Regiment all assembled fully on the large parade ground outside battalion headquarters.
The several hundred-strong team wasn’t large, but at this moment exuded solemnity and gravity.
From every warrior’s face could be seen the excitement almost bursting from every pore, and infinite anticipation for the upcoming military career.
To show importance to the pilot combined arms battalion, the military region also sent people down to participate in the move-in ceremony.
But leading the ceremony was T Division Division Commander, bringing a group of division-level leading cadres, plus Seventh Hundred and Second Regiment’s regiment commander and others.
Besides that, some guests.
Regiment cadres from other regiments, coming to witness the combined arms battalion’s move-in.
Just from battalion level, having such a massive hosting team wasn’t just unique nationally, at least.
And after Division Commander and other leaders spoke, it entered the core link—
Combined arms battalion formally moving in!
The first unit to move in was, unsurprisingly, the combined arms battalion headquarters.
Battalion Commander Sun Dongping, Political Instructor Ma Tianxiang, Deputy Battalion Commander Gao Cheng, Chief Staff Officer Man Guangzhi—the four battalion party committee squad leaders entered first.
Operations Staff Officer Chen Jun and other staff followed closely in the second batch to move into the camp.
Next were the companies entering.
As the core backbone of the combined arms battalion, Steel Seventh Company, since Company Commander Chen Jun representing headquarters had already moved in, was led by Political Instructor Hong Xingguo.
Having Steel Seventh Company as the company representative to move in first was completely fine.
Other companies were convinced, no objections.
Only the special operations platoon’s camp area wasn’t built yet, so temporarily squeezing with the other three platoons; related special operations training could only be postponed.
Also starting from this move-in day, Steel Seventh Company’s designation would temporarily change to Special Reconnaissance Company.
Next to enter was Red Third Company.
As Seventh Hundred and Second Regiment’s core main force company, its combat effectiveness was beyond doubt, fully qualified to become the combined arms battalion’s armored company.
Because Red Third Company was moving in as a whole, company headquarters personnel basically unchanged.
Just needed within the next three days, once excellent non-commissioned officers selected from other regiments arrived to supplement, it could become complete.
By then.
Red Third Company would also have its unique honor— the entire army’s only all-non-commissioned officer armored company.
Red Third Company’s designation, like Steel Seventh Company, would temporarily change to Armored Company starting this day, until assessment passed for formal new designation issuance.
Next, the third to enter was the new unit, the Electronic Reconnaissance Company that had come down as a whole not long ago.
No need to say more about this company.
From top to bottom almost all new, only the political instructor was from original Sixth Company.
Electronic Reconnaissance Company was also currently the group army’s only pure officer grassroots company, accurately speaking, a future pure officer company.
Because the current Electronic Reconnaissance Company were all cadets, all fresh grads just pulled from military academy.
This group of cadets had trained half a year in military region training camp, then stayed four or five months after coming down to Sixth Company, adding up to nearly a year now.
If no accidents.
By July 1st formal training start day, Electronic Reconnaissance Company’s cadets would collectively change to officer uniforms, becoming a standard officer grassroots company.
The fourth to enter was Artillery Air Defense Company.
This company had relatively fewer people, currently less than half establishment, just the basic framework set up.
Remaining personnel still needed supplementing.
Company headquarters was still original Seventh Hundred and Second Regiment’s Tenth Company, still everyone’s old acquaintances.
Last to enter was Engineer Support Company.
Company headquarters still composed of Seventh Hundred and Second Regiment people, company commander was original Seventh Hundred and Second Regiment Logistics Support Company company commander, political instructor dispatched from division.
As the combined arms battalion company with the most establishment numbers, Chen Jun’s submitted plan had as high as
Now moving in was the fewest among the five companies, warriors adding up to less than thirty; even including company headquarters just over forty.
Move-in rate barely over 20%!
It wasn’t that Seventh Hundred and Second Regiment didn’t want more people; really no more logistics non-commissioned officers available.
Seventh Hundred and Second Regiment originally had only one logistics company; full count non-commissioned officers less than twenty; even all transferred to combined arms battalion wouldn’t be enough.
Even these over twenty non-commissioned officers now participating in move-in were drawn from other companies.
For example, Red Third Company’s Grassland Fifth Squad; of its four non-commissioned officers, three were drawn to join combined arms battalion, not following to join armored company.
If it were original drama’s Grassland Fifth Squad, Old Ma, Xue Lin, and Old Wei definitely wouldn’t qualify.
No qualification to join combined arms battalion!
But after the last confrontation exercise, Old Ma and the other two performed outstandingly in the exercise and earned merits; now they had transformed into excellent non-commissioned officers.
They not only qualified to join combined arms battalion, but would even become backbone of the fuel squad.
Old Ma doing fuel squad squad leader had no problem at all.
After combined arms battalion’s five companies moved into the new base, the move-in ceremony formally entered its finale, just waiting for July 1st Party Founding Day’s third stage launch.
In these three days before July 1st arrived, each company needed to complete organizing the new camp.
After July 1st.
Composite training would fully unfold!
