Chapter 89: The Temptation Of Becoming Battalion Commander Early
Chen Jun came down from the martial arts competition venue, quite satisfied with his result, but not extremely satisfied.
Because he felt there was still room for progress!
Little did he know that in less than a minute on stage, the various tough strengths he displayed had already conquered everyone in the audience.
Even competitors felt strongly unwilling deep down, but had to be convinced in this project.
His own people were even more so.
As soon as Chen Jun returned to Seventh Company’s spectator area, he was immediately surrounded by Wu Liu Yi, Cheng Cai, and others who were so excited their faces were flushed red, eyes full of admiration.
One after another, chattering away.
All full of admiration for Chen Jun.
A project they had no hope for resulted in the biggest reversal, not only taking first place, but dominating with a huge time score gap—this feeling was simply too exhilarating.
Even though two more people hadn’t competed yet, whether they did or not was no longer important.
Chen Jun’s result could no longer be surpassed by anyone.
Except himself!
Just as Wu Liu Yi and the others hadn’t fully expressed their excitement, Du Ziteng arrived with the regiment commander’s order.
The regiment commander personally inviting him to lunch was a rare opportunity for a first lieutenant.
It would be of great help to building the combined arms company.
Chen Jun gladly accepted the invitation and followed Du Ziteng toward the grandstand, leaving Wu Liu Yi, Cheng Cai, and the others with eyes full of envy.
“Let’s go, hurry back and tell the company commander this good news.”
After seeing Chen Jun off, Wu Liu Yi thought that company commander Gao Cheng didn’t know yet that Chen Jun had won this project, so he immediately led people rushing back to the barracks area.
A few minutes later.
Wu Liu Yi was so overly excited and thrilled that he led the others charging straight into the cadre tent, instantly packing it full.
At this moment, Gao Cheng was hunched over the desk studying, looking at the later projects for areas to optimize and recover the points lost in the 200m rapid movement shooting.
Seeing Wu Liu Yi and the others barge in, he frowned and scolded: “What is it, Liu Yi? What’s this about? So restless, is the sky falling? Huh?”
They were still so excited after losing the rapid fire, so Gao Cheng naturally had no good temper.
“C-company commander.”
Wu Liu Yi had run too hard, caught his breath after a few gasps, and excitedly reported the good news to Gao Cheng: “We won, we won.”
“Won? Won what?”
Gao Cheng was baffled, truly hadn’t caught on.
Because Gao Cheng had never thought from start to finish that Steel Seventh Company had a chance to win the 200m rapid movement shooting, so he couldn’t follow Wu Liu Yi’s train of thought.
“Rapid fire won, 29 seconds, Platoon Leader Chen 29 seconds, broke our division’s record.”
“Third Company’s 43 seconds is nothing, our Platoon Leader Chen only took 29 seconds.”
Wu Liu Yi and Xie Chong were very excited, speaking with brows dancing and vivid expressions.
As soon as the two finished speaking.
“Pa da~”
Upon hearing this, Gao Cheng’s whole body jolted fiercely, struck dumb like by lightning, eyes widening bigger and bigger, the pen in his hand dropping to the ground.
This surprise was truly too surprising, really giving Gao Cheng a big scare.
It felt as unreal as a dream.
A few seconds later.
Gao Cheng twisted his thigh hard, the pain confirming he wasn’t dreaming, ecstasy immediately sweeping through his whole body, filling every cell.
“Ah, missed it, missed the good show, I knew Platoon Leader Chen could definitely do it.”
Gao Cheng slapped his thigh in deep regret, not forgetting to praise Chen Jun after the fact, eagerly wanting to see the great meritorious official, craning his neck to look back but not seeing him.
He bellowed loudly: “Where’s Chen Jun? Where’s Steel Seventh Company’s most excellent platoon leader?”
“Company commander, Platoon Leader Chen hasn’t come back. He broke two records in a row, the regiment commander was overjoyed and invited him to have lunch together.” Cheng Cai excitedly replied.
“The regiment commander invited him? Oh no!”
Gao Cheng lived up to being the one who understood Regiment Commander Wang best; hearing this, he knew it was bad—the regiment commander must have taken a liking to Chen Jun and wanted to poach him.
Gao Cheng never actively poached people, but he didn’t like others poaching his talent either.
Especially an unparalleled good seedling like Platoon Leader Chen!
The thought of Chen Jun agreeing to the regiment commander’s recruitment and definitely transferring to regiment headquarters to work, both sides willing, then even if he Gao Cheng turned the sky upside down, it would be useless.
He was instantly anxious!
He couldn’t stay even a second longer, grabbed his hat, and rushed out of the tent.
“What’s going on? What’s wrong with the company commander?”
Wu Liu Yi, Cheng Cai, and the others hadn’t reached that level, didn’t know Gao Cheng was facing a talent poaching crisis, looked at each other in bewilderment, completely clueless.
Normally, if the company commander wanted to see the regiment commander, he definitely had to submit a report application in advance.
But Gao Cheng, as a top connections guy, in his urgency forgot everything, didn’t notify or care, and headed straight to the field canteen where they were eating.
It wasn’t mealtime yet, and the huge outdoor canteen had only two tables occupied.
At a glance.
Among the two tables under the sunshade waiting for meals, the one with the leader seated was the regiment commander, in the middle was this competition’s “supernova” Chen Jun, and next to Chen Jun was surprisingly the regiment political commissar.
To be sandwiched in the middle at the dinner table, enjoying the “left and right embrace” of the two regiment chief officers.
Probably only Chen Jun could have that!
At the same time, it fully reflected from the side that in the troops, strength determines everything; an excellent soldier with real strength is very popular in the army.
If it’s a military genius beyond the norm, it would even attract the senior leader’s favor.
No doubt about it.
Chen Jun was a military genius, and a top-tier one at that.
All the regiment leaders wanted to recruit Chen Jun, even more expecting him to shine on the division grand competition stage and fight a comeback battle for 702 Regiment.
Contending in the venue, vying for division-level honors.
So their attitudes toward Chen Jun were all very enthusiastic, the table chatting very harmoniously and lively.
As a result, the first sentence Gao Cheng heard upon arriving made his heart suddenly tighten, sensing a strong crisis, his steps involuntarily quickening a bit.
“Platoon Leader Chen, your ability is very strong; staying at the grassroots is really underutilizing your talent. Do you have any thoughts about transferring to regiment headquarters to work? Headquarters is short on staff officers right now; I think this position is very suitable for you.”
The chief of staff, who had harbored this idea for a long time, enthusiastically extended the olive branch with the regiment commander’s tacit approval.
Although there’s a saying in the army that staff officers without ‘chief’ don’t even make a sound when farting, by troop convention, regiment staff officers are at least on par with company commanders.
Chen Jun had only been a platoon leader for a few months; if he could enter headquarters as a first lieutenant staff officer, that would be equivalent to jumping two levels.
Doing three years as a staff officer at headquarters, then going down to grassroots would start at least as deputy battalion commander.
If he had merits and awards on top, going down as battalion commander would be a breeze.
In other words…
As long as Chen Jun agreed to take the position at regiment headquarters, the time it would originally take him to rise at most to company commander could let him skip two levels to battalion commander.
This temptation was really huge.
As a second-generation military, Gao Cheng understood these things well and knew even better how important it was to become company commander a few years early versus late in one’s military career.
Under the great wave of modernization reform, even being a year younger was a huge advantage.
Let alone saving several years.
Afraid Chen Jun couldn’t hold back and agree, Gao Cheng shouted from four or five meters away: “Leaders, our Steel Seventh Company’s soldier performed well and earned the regiment leaders’ favor—this is a huge good thing.
I as company commander arrived late, which is really improper. I admit my mistake, I repent, I self-penalize with three cups to atone.”
People are forced into it!!
Gao Cheng, who usually didn’t understand social graces, couldn’t spit out a few good words, even sometimes stammering and not speaking smoothly.
At the moment when Chen Jun was about to be poached, his emotional intelligence exploded in an instant.
Using self-penalizing three cups to atone instead of interrupting, he smoothly overcame the awkwardness of arriving uninvited, seamlessly blending into the atmosphere.
The operation was maxed out!
“Gao Cheng, your nose is really sharp; you smelled the scent and came running, and you arrived just in time—you really know how to pick the moment.”
Regiment Commander Wang laughed upon seeing Gao Cheng.
Having watched Gao Cheng grow up from bare-bottomed, as soon as Gao Cheng pursed his butt, he knew what Gao Cheng was up to—just came to protect his own.
