Chapter 339: Going Abroad? “oriental 2000” Strategic Exercise
Li Zexiang agreed to join Dajiang Innovation Technology, and there were many things to do next.
Chen Jun and Chen Zhenhua did not return to Magic City, but brought Li Zexiang to the company’s headquarters and began preparations for forming the R&D team.
Chen Jun’s R&D core was the small drone, so the R&D personnel had to focus on this direction.
Finding targeted talent was actually very difficult.
Fortunately, as a professor at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Li Zexiang had taught thousands of students, if not tens of thousands, and also knew technical talents from various circles.
In less than half a month, Li Zexiang assembled an eight-person team.
These people were all carefully selected by Li Zexiang; some were teachers from the school, some were his proud disciples, and others were pulled in through his connections.
Any one picked at random from them was a senior talent in the field of developing and researching small drones, with a certain status in the industry.
If not for Li Zexiang’s face, most of them would never have appeared here.
After all, Dajiang Innovation Technology was a new company, and the Chen Family Group behind it was not among the World Top 500, at most having some influence in its own field.
These people came for Li Zexiang’s face, and also because Dajiang Company’s salary was indeed generous enough.
So they finally agreed to join.
Being able to pull in so many experts in just half a month showed that to get the stepping stone to the Nobel Prize as soon as possible, Li Zexiang had really put in a lot of effort this time.
Already impatient!
Among the conditions Chen Jun proposed, it was clearly stated that to obtain graphene technology capable of impacting the Nobel Prize in Physics, the first-generation small drone must be developed.
This meant Li Zexiang could impact the Nobel Prize earlier the sooner he developed it.
Li Zexiang had gathered so many industry experts precisely to achieve the goal within one or two years.
Chen Jun saw through Li Zexiang’s intentions, and felt even more reassured; the greater Li Zexiang’s ambition for the Nobel Prize, the higher his work positivity would be.
Having the first-generation small drone out earlier would benefit both Li Zexiang and Chen Jun.
The R&D team’s personnel were already confirmed, and at this time Chen Zhenhua had left Shenzhen and returned to Magic City Group headquarters, putting all power in Chen Jun’s hands.
Dajiang Innovation Company’s first general manager was extremely flattering to Chen Jun, this young master.
When Chen Jun said one, he wouldn’t say two.
With absolute control over the new company, Chen Jun formally appointed Li Zexiang as the minister of the R&D department, with the entire eight-person R&D group under Li Zexiang’s responsibility.
And he gave the R&D group the highest standard, requiring all R&D demands to be satisfied as much as possible.
Funding if needed, supplies if needed.
Green light all the way!
When Li Zexiang organized the R&D group for a discussion meeting and listed all the required equipment and supplies, Chen Jun immediately had the procurement department handle it urgently.
Taking advantage of the gap while procuring materials and equipment, Chen Jun held meetings with the R&D team every day.
Mainly to discuss the design requirements for the small drone.
Chen Jun was building small drones for the troops, which would definitely differ from civilian small drones, requiring certain adjustments in design.
To design a drone that met the army’s demands, Chen Jun needed to organize everyone for discussions.
Before formally starting R&D on the small drone, Chen Jun first listed his own requirements and standards, had the R&D team record them in detail, and then develop based on his requirements.
Only then could the first released small drone possibly satisfy Chen Jun for deployment to the army.
After listing his requirements and standards, Chen Jun began utilizing his knowledge from later generations about various military small drones.
In the meeting, in the form of suggestions and opinions, he shared all the technical nodes he knew, small drone operation modes, and structures that could be adopted in design, etc.—knowledge points that later R&D teams had expended great effort to develop—and told them all to the R&D group led by Li Zexiang.
Although Chen Jun in his previous life was not a developer and didn’t know detailed drone design technology.
But since he had used mature-technology small drones, by describing that mature technology, he could help the R&D team avoid wrong paths as much as possible.
And for every step the R&D team avoided, success could come a day earlier.
This was extremely valuable!
Chen Jun’s time now was truly precious; the sooner the small drone came out, the more beneficial it was for him, allowing him to build an “invincible division” faster.
Li Zexiang and the senior talents he recruited, hearing Chen Jun’s various unique insights, with many knowledge points making even these industry insiders’ eyes light up, all curiously wondered about Chen Jun’s background.
So young yet knowing so much, with such an excellent family background.
It was truly enviable!
Chen Jun didn’t deliberately explain to everyone how he knew so much about small drone technology points, letting them guess wildly instead, which made him seem even more mysterious and more conducive to the research and development work.
By the time Chen Jun finished sharing basically everything he knew, more than a month had quietly passed.
In the blink of an eye.
Of the two months of family visit leave, only a little over a week remained.
After handling things in Shenzhen, Chen Jun chose to return to Magic City to spend more time with his parents and Old Master, since who knew when he’d return next.
Mother Chen and Old Master knew the parting was near and used every way to “please” Chen Jun.
Cherishing this rare family time.
When only the last two days remained, Chen Jun returned to the capital a day early.
After nearly two months of phone contact, Chen Jun and Liao Qiuxue chatted more and more congenially, with feelings already budding between them.
But they hadn’t broken that window paper yet; their chats were still at the good friend level.
Chen Jun returned to the capital a day early just to spend that day with Liao Qiuxue, accompany her to watch a movie, and stroll along the road curbs together.
Although not formally public as a couple, their actions were already equivalent to a couple’s.
Liao Qiuxue was sweet inside for Chen Jun coming specifically to find her and accompany her to watch a movie and shop, even though she didn’t say anything.
Due to her personality leaning toward a technical strong woman, she had been immersed in technology during school and never dated.
This unique emotion of being with Chen Jun, that sticky feeling special between men and women, was something Liao Qiuxue was experiencing for the first time in her life.
Somehow.
Liao Qiuxue quite liked this feeling, very much liked being with Chen Jun.
Unfortunately.
Even until late at night when they had to part, the two still hadn’t broken that window paper.
Liao Qiuxue was dating for the first time and completely clueless, and as a woman, her reserve made it hard to be too proactive, afraid Chen Jun would misunderstand her as an open woman.
And Chen Jun was because he would soon be working on the combined arms regiment, possibly with little free time for a long while.
Even whether he could continue calling Liao Qiuxue every day for half an hour of phone chit-chat like now, Chen Jun had no confidence.
In this situation.
Chen Jun felt it best not to break the window for now, keeping a layer of mystery between them; when unable to contact often, it could better maintain the relationship.
If they became a normal couple, it would affect forming the combined arms regiment next and possibly their feelings.
Effort without reward, messing up both sides.
So Chen Jun held back his inner flutter, acting on emotion but stopping at propriety; even with Liao Qiuxue’s eyes full of affection at parting, he didn’t say those words.
He just gave Liao Qiuxue a reassurance:
“Although my work will be very busy next, I will definitely make time to contact you. After this busy period, I will give you a surprise.”
Chen Jun’s words had several layers of meaning, both telling Liao Qiuxue his work would be busy next and if no contact, to please understand.
And giving her something to look forward to, what surprise Chen Jun would give her.
Liao Qiuxue’s response was even more straightforward; looking straight into Chen Jun’s eyes, she smiled and gave him three words: “I wait for you.”
These three words meant everything.
No need for more words.
…
The family visit trip had brought rich rewards, settling one and a half major matters.
Chen Jun was quite satisfied.
On the last day of the holiday, he rushed to the regiment to report, but upon arriving was notified that the regiment commander had an order for Chen Jun to go to the office immediately upon return.
“Leaving a notification for me to come find him immediately upon return, but not calling ahead to have me return, proves this is not a very urgent urgent matter—what could it be?”
Chen Jun thought of several things in his mind, first suspecting something wrong with Steel Seventh Battalion.
Steel Seventh Battalion’s overall framework was already fixed; even if there was a problem, solving it wouldn’t be quick and needed long-term planning.
This fit a not-so-urgent urgent matter.
But if it was just an internal Steel Seventh Battalion matter, it wouldn’t require the regiment commander to notify ahead; waiting a couple days after Chen Jun’s return would be fine.
So this possibility was low, and Chen Jun had to rule it out.
Next he thought if it was another exercise confrontation.
Steel Seventh Battalion was now the entire army’s first battalion, standing at the most conspicuous forefront, needing to withstand more wind and waves.
Being frequently required for confrontation exercises was already within Chen Jun’s expectations.
Plus, Steel Seventh Battalion had rested for two months, the troops overall adjusted, reaching peak in all aspects, indeed ready to “get to work.”
But after flipping Zhu Rihe Base, what domestic troops could match them?
Since none were opponents, why would Regiment Commander Wang be anxious?
Wasn’t this contradictory!
Chen Jun thought of a jumble of things, and before he could settle on a confirmed answer, he had arrived at Regiment Commander Wang’s office door.
“Knock knock knock.”
“Report.”
Chen Jun lightly knocked three times, then called out.
Entering a superior’s office required knocking and reporting; this was the most basic regulation.
“Come in!”
Regiment Commander Wang’s voice was loud, proving he was in a good mood.
Chen Jun noted this and felt he had a rough idea, pushed open the door, walked in, saluted and said: “Regiment Commander, I heard you were looking for me, so I came right away.”
Since he was very familiar with Regiment Commander Wang, Chen Jun wasn’t as constrained as others.
Without waiting for Regiment Commander Wang’s reply, he put his luggage aside, then picked up the teapot nearby, poured himself a cup of water.
And added some fresh hot water to Regiment Commander Wang’s enamel cup.
“This is a document from above, arrived the day before yesterday. Take it and sit over there to read it first, then come find me, and we’ll talk then.”
Regiment Commander Wang was used to Chen Jun acting freely in his office, picked up a document from the desk and handed it over.
“Alright, I’ll take a look first.”
Chen Jun took the document without dawdling, walked to the sofa behind, sat down, opened the document bag, took out the document, and read it unhurriedly.
Chen Jun’s reading speed was very fast; after finishing, his eyes were full of astonishment.
He looked up at Regiment Commander Wang in surprise: “East 2000 Strategic Exercise? We’re just sending one combined arms battalion from China to participate in Russia’s military exercise?
Or do we have other troops, and this is just part of it?”
“From what I know, it’s just one combined arms battalion; specifics on how to cooperate in the exercise are still unclear for now.” Regiment Commander Wang put down his pen, stood up, and walked toward the sofa area.
“We’re only sending one combined arms battalion? No wonder it’s not called China-Russia Strategic Exercise, but if it’s just one battalion, why have us participate at all?” Chen Jun was puzzled.
“These aren’t things for us to consider; that’s between the two countries’ higher-ups.”
Regiment Commander Wang sat opposite Chen Jun, his eyes showing obvious excitement as he said: “There are only two combined arms battalions domestically now, and the document from above has come down to our regiment, so Steel Seventh Battalion has a high chance of going.
I think you can start preparing ahead; even just cooperating with the Russian Army in an exercise is a rare and valuable opportunity.
Conducting confrontation exercises with foreign troops will surely elevate Steel Seventh Battalion’s strength further.”
What Regiment Commander Wang said were the overt benefits, the ones that could be openly stated; the hidden benefits were more than that.
Winning confrontations domestically was just winning; besides showing strength, there were no other attributes.
But abroad was different.
Once a unit stepped out of the national gate, it represented the overall image of a country’s army; good or bad performance directly affected international evaluation.
If Steel Seventh Battalion could seize this opportunity to participate in the Russian Army’s East 2000 Strategic Exercise.
And perform outstandingly, showcasing the excellent style of Chinese soldiers, their daring and fighting strength, earning high praise from the Russian Army.
Then upon return, honors would surely follow, elevating influence in the army further.
And as Steel Seventh Battalion’s direct superior regiment commander, not to mention gaining plenty of benefits and honors, at least face-wise it would be a full pot.
When facing other regiment commanders, that proud neck could stretch to a giraffe.
Of course.
This matter was also a double-edged sword.
Success brought rich rewards, failure terrifying punishment.
Chen Jun could guess with his toes that if the performance in this exercise was too poor, Steel Seventh Battalion from top to bottom would suffer.
It might even cause the nearly promising combined arms regiment to end up empty-handed.
