Chapter 310: Gao Cheng’s Joyful Event Approaching?
Chen Jun returned to battalion headquarters and headed straight for the battalion commander’s office. Upon reaching the entrance, he pushed the door open and walked right in.
Knocking? No such thing.
The relationship between Chen Jun and Gao Cheng had long surpassed the superior-subordinate level—not quite brothers, but better than brothers. They had few reservations with each other.
“Alright, that’s it for now. I have something going on here; we’ll chat later.”
Gao Cheng saw Chen Jun barge in suddenly, a flash of panic in his expression, and even a bit of embarrassment in his eyes. He hastily said a few words and hung up the phone.
“Old Gao, you… something’s off with you.”
Chen Jun was incredibly shrewd and experienced; he immediately saw there was something fish up.
Recalling the incident a few months ago at his home—Mother Gao eagerly trying to introduce Gao Cheng to someone, and it had indeed happened—then matching it with Gao Cheng’s current odd expression.
He didn’t even need to think much to guess the truth—
High probability they were dating!
“Off? What’s off? Hey, Old Chen, don’t mess around with me.”
Gao Cheng deliberately raised his voice a bit, as if to bolster his own courage, then quickly changed the subject: “I’ve got some good tea lately. Want to try it?”
“Tea? Absolutely have to drink it. Gossip? I’m equally interested, heh heh.”
Chen Jun grinned mischievously as he leaned in, blinked, and said solemnly: “Old Gao, you gotta step it up. I’m still waiting to drink the wedding wine.”
“Pfft~~”
Gao Cheng was drinking water to calm his nerves, but Chen Jun’s sudden bold remark startled him, causing him to spit out the water he’d just swallowed.
Chen Jun nimbly dodged the spray and continued grinning teasingly: “Old Gao, even if you’re thrilled, no need to get so excited, right? I know you’re eager, but no need to be that eager.”
“Go to hell.”
Gao Cheng was no match for Chen Jun verbally and ended up flushed red. He resorted to martial arts, kicking at Chen Jun.
“Whoa whoa whoa, someone’s getting mad. No need to go this far just for two wedding candies.”
Chen Jun kept pouring oil on the fire.
He just loved seeing Battalion Commander Gao, who was usually so cocky and arrogant in front of everyone, get teased until his face turned red as a monkey’s butt.
“Fine, fine, if you can’t outtalk me, can we drop it? Stop messing with me, you guy.”
Gao Cheng couldn’t handle Chen Jun and had no way to deal with him, so he changed the subject again: “I heard you were at the support company today? How was the inspection? Find any issues?”
Gao Cheng fired off three questions in a row, all serious work matters.
Chen Jun, having teased enough, smoothly followed the topic: “Basically all problems are solved. Some issues can’t be resolved yet.
For example…”
Chen Jun gave Gao Cheng a rough explanation of the support company matters. Since he’d still need to write a report for Battalion Commander Gao Cheng’s approval later, no need for too much detail now.
After hearing about the cookhouse’s central kitchen renovation, the maintenance platoon’s professional alignment, and more—even knowing Chen Jun was talented—Gao Cheng was utterly convinced and impressed.
“For now, only one problem remains: the support company has too many training work projects for the current company headquarters scale. It’s too taxing and can’t fully manage them. Battalion headquarters needs to find a way to solve it.”
Chen Jun had already covered the related matters earlier, so now raising the problem allowed Gao Cheng to understand immediately.
“One company commander and one deputy company commander managing five reinforced platoons—the workload is indeed huge. Short-term maybe manageable, but long-term absolutely unsustainable.”
Gao Cheng quickly judged and decisively decided: “Old Chen, do as you said. Immediately convene a battalion party committee meeting. We’ll discuss there and see the best way to solve it.”
With Battalion Commander Gao Cheng’s order, the party committee members soon gathered in the meeting room.
Chief Staff Officer Man Guangzhi and Political Instructor Ma Tianxiang hadn’t sat with Chen Jun for a meeting in a while. Before it started, everyone chatted briefly.
Especially Man Guangzhi and Chen Jun, who talked the most.
Chen Jun could be considered half his mentor, having taught him directly and indirectly a lot about combined arms units—knowledge unavailable outside.
This allowed Man Guangzhi, fresh out of military academy, to transform in a very short time.
From someone whose head was full of academy theory and knowledge, with zero understanding of grassroots units, he grew into a qualified chief staff officer.
As long as Man Guangzhi kept his current attitude of humbly seeking knowledge and studying diligently.
He was bound to become an excellent commander in the future!
With a freak like Chen Jun leading the way, Man Guangzhi’s future military career path would absolutely go higher and farther in this world.
The meeting was hosted by the party secretary, Political Instructor Ma Tianxiang, with Deputy Secretary Gao Cheng in charge.
“… Alright, that’s the general situation. Now everyone speak up—what’s the best way to solve it.”
Gao Cheng introduced the basics, then gestured for everyone present to speak freely and share views and suggestions on the matter.
The battalion party committee had only four people. Chen Jun and Gao Cheng had already discussed, so now just hear Man Guangzhi and Ma Tianxiang’s views.
“The support company establishment is indeed a bit large…”
Ma Tianxiang spoke first. As a political work background guy, he had plenty to say, rattling off a lot.
Boiled down, it was one point.
See if they could split the support company into two companies.
Group the cook platoon and supply platoon together, mainly responsible for the company’s supplies and food support—both supply-related.
Call this one the logistics company!
Group sanitation platoon, maintenance platoon, and engineer platoon together—these three are all repair-related, differing only in repairing people, vehicles, and terrain.
Keep this one as the original support company.
Splitting support company into two, each with over a hundred people, similar to regular companies—management issues would be gone.
Ma Tianxiang’s idea had some feasibility; he wasn’t just talking nonsense.
But there was a big problem—
Splitting off a company meant adding new establishment, which needed military region approval. Division couldn’t touch pilot unit establishment changes.
Never mind the complex approval process.
Steel Seventh Battalion already had eight companies; adding one now for trouble meant more additions later if other issues arose—once opened, couldn’t close the floodgates.
Superiors probably wouldn’t agree.
“My idea is this…”
Man Guangzhi spoke next, his plan completely different from Ma Tianxiang’s.
Man Guangzhi’s actions totaled two.
First, add another deputy company commander to support company. An extra deputy to share training tasks would greatly relieve pressure on the current company headquarters squad leader.
Two deputy company commanders might not fit regular companies, and superiors wouldn’t agree.
But Steel Seventh Battalion was a pilot battalion crossing the river by feeling stones—everything self-explored, with lots of autonomy in personnel setup.
An eight-company battalion was doable; compared to a two-deputy company commander setup, it seemed no big deal.
Second, pull the support company’s engineer platoon out independently, making it directly under battalion, commanded directly by the battalion commander.
Engineer platoon no longer under logistics company would lighten the load again.
This had another benefit.
Engineer platoon’s current tasks in Steel Seventh Battalion were basically building battalion command post and ensuring battalion headquarters water and electricity operations.
Making engineer platoon directly under battalion saved trips to support company headquarters every mission.
Man Guangzhi also got creative.
Since Chen Jun created armored special forces soldiers, why not extra-train the engineer platoon to also handle guard platoon duties.
Combined arms battalion’s headquarters guard work was originally support company’s responsibility anyway.
Engineer platoon learning an extra skill would strengthen their support strength, boosting the entire combined arms battalion’s combat effectiveness.
“Engineer guard platoon??”
Everyone combined with Man Guangzhi’s idea, and this odd branch of service popped into their minds.
Yet despite the strange name, it seemed to make some sense—might actually work.
Everyone knew the engineer platoon was pretty useless in Steel Seventh Battalion due to equipment limitations.
“Utilizing” waste made perfect sense.
“This idea is really bold and fits current needs perfectly. No wonder he’s the future First Blue Army Brigade brigade commander—this brain really works well.”
Chen Jun couldn’t help praising Man Guangzhi inwardly; he really liked this plan.
Because Man Guangzhi’s plan matched what Chen Jun thought for the first part—solving via adding a deputy company commander.
But Chen Jun only thought of the first, while Man Guangzhi thought of the second.
Turning engineer platoon directly under battalion and training them in guards—in Chen Jun’s view, that was the finishing touch.
Chen Jun favored Man Guangzhi’s plan; Gao Cheng, kindred spirit with Chen Jun, also liked it.
Gao Cheng couldn’t think of better, so he directly endorsed Man Guangzhi’s idea, saying they could try his method.
Battalion party committee only four people; three approved Man Guangzhi’s plan, so Ma Tianxiang’s was passed over.
Political Instructor Ma Tianxiang’s plan wasn’t selected, but he showed no emotion.
Because he could see…
Man Guangzhi’s plan was indeed superior.
Though Man Guangzhi’s plan was approved, it wasn’t copied 100%; details still needed polishing.
After the four discussed in detail, they finalized the specific plan.
Support company adds one deputy company commander position to share military affairs and reduce workload; meanwhile, move engineer company to battalion headquarters, with training and work under battalion responsibility.
But not a direct battalion unit—engineer platoon’s superior remains support company.
This arrangement is internal temporary transfer, no need to report to superiors for approval, avoiding unnecessary procedures.
Also draw two special forces soldiers from special operations platoon for guard work special training for engineer platoon.
Not up to professional guard platoon level.
At least grasp the basics.
…
With the meeting finalizing the execution plan, support company’s refinement work concluded. Now only Armored Infantry Third Company, Army Aviation Fourth Company, and Heavy Artillery Fifth Company remained.
Armored infantry company was a traditional combat unit, with its system honed over ten-plus years.
For such a fully mature combat unit, Chen Jun’s tour found basically no issues—just going through the motions.
Easiest company so far!
Chen Jun’s only instruction was one: don’t close doors to make a car—must train coordinately with other companies as much as possible.
Whether armored company, special reconnaissance company, or support company.
Must joint train as much as possible.
Make armored infantry company coordinate perfectly with every other company, becoming the perfect bonding agent between Steel Seventh Battalion’s companies.
After refining the “technically lowest” infantry company, Chen Jun went to the technically highest Army Aviation Company.
As core of Steel Seventh Battalion’s air-ground integration tactics, Chen Jun had sky-high expectations for Army Aviation Company, having prepped several tactical systems around it.
Whether striking local armor groups to become enemy tanks’ nightmare.
Or coordinating with special reconnaissance company for divine soldier descent via airdrop for precise enemy elimination, or rapid enemy rear reconnaissance.
With Army Aviation Company in hand, Steel Seventh Battalion’s combat effectiveness at least doubles.
Due to this demand, Chen Jun’s core requirement for Army Aviation Company was to absolutely bond as one with special operations platoon.
Require Army Aviation Company to unconditionally support special operations platoon in all parachuting training.
Also actively seek joint training with other companies. After intensive training ends, there’ll be specific integration training assessments.
If fail assessment then…
Chen Jun keeps the soldiers and helicopters, but pots the entire company headquarters above—send them back where they came from.
Mainly to ring the alarm bell, harshly deter Army Aviation Company’s officers.
Based on Chen Jun’s troop knowledge, pilots all have a sense of superiority. Without strict knocking, cooperation with other units wouldn’t be smooth.
Once company commander and political instructor fear losing Steel Seventh Battalion service chance, they’ll lead whole Army Aviation Company in active joint training.
Chen Jun saved Heavy Artillery Company for last—not some special arrangement.
Purely because Heavy Artillery Company was unique, tactically fairly general, lacking diverse changes like others.
Heavy Artillery Company was a rear great killer weapon—doesn’t strike easily, but when it does, kills the enemy.
Combat method very straightforward.
Simply put: hit where told, guard where told.
Chen Jun had nothing to change.
Like Information Company before, Chen Jun just went through motions, encouraged with some pep talk, urged warriors to train.
Combo done, he could walk away.
However.
Though Chen Jun had few words, no major overhauls or finger-pointing at Heavy Artillery Company—basically maintain status quo.
But seeing the newly added missile platoon, those imposing missile vehicles.
Chen Jun was quite anticipatory.
Anticipating in post-intensive training confrontation exercise, when enemy helicopters try trouble or enemy launches missile attack on us.
How much value missile platoon could play, whether becoming another Steel Seventh Battalion trump card.
