From the 7th Steel Company to the Synthetic Division

Chapter 543 was shocked by Meng Meng!
Veterans who are now in their 40s are all veterans who experienced the Sino-Vietnamese War, and at the very least, they came from that era.

The soldiers trained during times of real war are the most formidable.

Even if they didn't go to the battlefield, they trained like crazy.

Veterans who have experienced this special era will have a deeper bond with each other, so they will try their best to help each other in life.

This veteran, Lao Zhang, led everyone to drive taxis, which can be considered as finding a way out for his comrades.

Wang Kezheng also held Lao Zhang in high esteem.

"I've heard that the military is developing very rapidly and undergoing tremendous changes. We all want to go back and see it, but unfortunately we haven't had the chance yet."

Old Zhang looked at Wang Kezheng expectantly, his affection for his old unit overflowing.

"Old Zhang, after this battle is over, I'd like you all to go back and have a good look around." Wang Kezheng was very obliging and readily agreed.

"Great, great, that's wonderful! I'll thank the commander on behalf of the other comrades." Old Zhang said excitedly, expressing his gratitude repeatedly.

"Don't call me 'commander,' it's too formal. We're all comrades-in-arms, brothers. When you retire, just follow the local rules. I prefer you to call me Old Wang."

Wang Kezheng corrected Lao Zhang's form of address, showing great respect for the group of veterans, before continuing, "I called you here mainly because I have this idea."

I'd like to set up a secret command post in Chenghai City in advance. This command post will utilize surveillance cameras at various intersections and around the municipal government building as monitoring points. I'd like to ask if you have any ideas on this.

Wang Kezheng wanted the help of the veterans of the 708th Brigade, and these veterans did indeed have a solution.

Especially Lao Zhang, who drives a taxi, travels all over the city every day and knows every corner of Chenghai City like the back of his hand.

So he immediately replied, "Which places have surveillance cameras, and how big is the monitoring range? We taxi drivers dare to say we're number one, nobody dares to say we're number two."

However, obtaining the surveillance footage requires coordination with the traffic police department.

Old Zhang could only provide the location of the cameras and information on various aspects of urban traffic, which was difficult for him as a taxi driver.

Fortunately, he didn't need to worry about this; Wang Kezheng had already found the right person.

"Old Zhang, I can handle the technical issues, so you don't need to worry about it. Just help us rent a few larger apartments near the traffic management bureau, and another one across from the municipal government," Old Li instructed.

“Leave this to me. One of my old comrades from the 708th Brigade works at a real estate agency. He’ll definitely be able to handle it,” Old Zhang said.

"Wow, this is incredible! Our 708th Brigade is really flourishing everywhere!" Wang Kezheng said happily.

“The army remains, but the soldiers come and go. You stay in the army as a commander, while a large number of soldiers and demobilized officers can only go to all directions. In the past few decades, there have been tens of thousands of soldiers in our 708th Brigade. That’s no small number,” Old Zhang sighed.

"Well, according to incomplete statistics, there are more than 300 people in various industries in Chenghai City. If you want to get anything done in Chenghai, as long as you say you are from the 708th Brigade, you will be able to get things done."

Old Huang, who hadn't spoken until now, excitedly chimed in.

"If the brothers in Chenghai City find out that the current brigade commander of the 708th Brigade has arrived, things will get really interesting," Old Zhang said excitedly.

There are more than 300 people working in the city, even if some are away on business trips, temporarily not in the city, or unable to leave their jobs.

As soon as they hear that the current brigade commander of the 708th Brigade is coming, they will definitely try their best to come and get together.

A gathering of two or three hundred people, that must be incredibly lively.

"Oh no, this is not the time to make a fuss," Wang Kezheng quickly advised.

It's not that Wang Kezheng doesn't like crowds, it's just that it's inconvenient.

Old Zhang understood, smiled, and didn't press the matter further.

"Old Zhang, could you help me find one or two more large logistics companies, mainly for handling large items? And could you also talk to two large enterprises about renting warehouses and docks?" Wang Kezheng asked.

"Give me three days to get everything done."

Old Zhang is truly a man of character; he agreed on the spot without any pretense.

"This is what real reserves are like."

Seeing Lao Zhan's confidence and straightforwardness, Wang Kezheng grinned and laughed heartily.

Everyone burst into laughter.

"The 909th Brigade is the 708th Brigade's opponent this time, right? I was on my way to run some errands today and I even passed by the gate of the 909th Brigade," Old Huang said.

"The 909th Brigade and the Chenghai defense line must be thoroughly investigated. No detail should be overlooked. However, we don't need to pay too much attention to the 909th Brigade. I estimate that our real opponent this time will be the 7th Steel Brigade," Wang Kezheng instructed.

"That's unlikely. Chu Zhangang is a local strongman; he has an absolute advantage," Old Li disagreed.

"Chu Zhangang is indeed capable and has ideas, and he also has some tactical skills. It's just that his impetuousness over the years has made him lose a lot of his sharpness."

Wang Kezheng knew Chu Zhangang better than anyone else. After a precise analysis, he said with hope, "Fortunately, he has now come to his senses, and I also hope that he can win this battle."

He said at the meeting that he didn't have enough time, and I could basically guess that he was referring to the current state of the 909th Brigade, which couldn't be changed in a short time.

Although Wang Kezheng has a bit of a temper and is a bit impatient, his personal abilities are beyond doubt.

Chu Zhangang was completely analyzed by him.

The 909th Brigade has indeed woken up a bit late. There is definitely not enough time left to completely change the mindset and speed of the troops.

Wang Kezheng naturally didn't have much hope for the 909th Brigade, which hadn't been fully reformed.

The 7th Steel Brigade was his real rival!
……

Another day has passed.

Chen Jun's investigation is ongoing, and new interviewees have been summoned to headquarters.

The two investigators, Wang Hu and Xiahou Lan, who had spoken with Chen Jun the previous day, found no usable "evidence" and had no way to deal with him.

In order to find evidence to prove Chen Jun's wrongdoing, veteran reporter Sun Zhu was specially invited this time.

This was a "tough guy" who was specially called in. The two investigators believed that after talking with Sun Zhu, Chen Jun would definitely be in deep trouble.

It should be noted that Sun Zhu had long ago specifically criticized the Steel Seventh Brigade in an internal report, calling it a group of unruly thugs and hooligans, while highly praising the 909th Brigade and Chu Zhangang. His stance can be said to be very clear.

Bringing in someone who harbors strong resentment towards the 7th Steel Brigade, especially towards Chen Jun, for a talk would inevitably lead to various attacks against Chen Jun. Both investigators shared this view.

So when Sun Zhu sat down across the conference table, the colonel in charge of the investigation was exceptionally polite, and said very courteously as soon as he opened his mouth: "I'm sorry to bother Director Sun Zhu. We often read your articles, and we are very happy to have the opportunity to meet you today."

From the very beginning, they showered him with compliments, a stark contrast to their attitude when interviewing Chen Jun and Wang Hu.

"No need to be so polite," Sun Zhu said politely.

"We are entrusted by Team Leader Tan to ask you some questions."

Before asking the questions, the senior colonel specifically mentioned Team Leader Tan, and then continued by asking: "We know that you were one of the first senior military reporters to write internal reports to higher-level leaders reflecting on the construction of a professional opposing force, and you are a senior military reporter with a certain influence."

"At the same time, you were also a participant in this Operation Warrior combat exercise. We'd like to hear your thoughts on the exercise, and we also want to know about what happened before and after you were abducted."

After hearing the colonel's words, Sun Zhu did not immediately launch into a long and eloquent critique of Chen Jun, as the colonel had expected.

Instead, he opened the bag he had brought with a serious expression and took out a thick document.

Sun Zhu pushed the document from the table in front of the colonel before speaking: "This is the second document I'm preparing to submit, an internal report on the issue of a professionalized opposing team."

Since you invited me to this meeting, I know what you want to hear, so I printed out a copy and sent it to you.

This internal report contains my independent insights into the development of our military's professional opposing force, as well as my detailed report on Operation Warrior and an analysis of the exercise process.

At the same time, it also includes my own renewed understanding and reflections on the professionalized opposing team experiment. After you've read it, I won't need to say anything more.

The colonel's expression changed drastically upon hearing Sun Zhu's words, because the tone of his words sounded rather off.

It was clearly not what he wanted.

To ease the awkwardness between them, the colonel deliberately flipped through the document casually a few times and said, "This document you gave us is so thick, we can't possibly read it all at once."

"So, could you briefly summarize your thoughts and conclusions? Then we can consider it a discussion."

Sun Zhu laughed when he heard the colonel's words, and bluntly mocked, "You guys are quite good at fooling people."

The colonel looked embarrassed and could only cover it up with a smile.

"Ok."

Sun Zhu sighed and said, "I believe you are just doing your job, so I won't make things difficult for you. Let's just summarize it according to your request."

Simply put, my personal understanding of the 7th Steel Brigade, this professional opposing force, has changed drastically over time; it's been a complete 180-degree turn.

"A 180-degree turn?! Such a big change?"

Sun Zhu's words were like a bombshell, stunning the colonel and lieutenant colonel on the other side.

This shock was ten times greater than yesterday's hearing Xiahou Lan and Wang Hu's high praise and recognition of the Steel Seventh Brigade.

The original intention of inviting Sun Zhu was to hear him criticize Chen Jun, but unexpectedly, another person who boasted and bragged was invited instead.

How can this not make one question the meaning of life!
"Yes, that's a huge change, and a disruptive one at that."

Seeing the shock on the faces of the two people in front of him, Sun Zhu felt a strange sense of satisfaction. He continued, "The first internal report completely denies the formation and existence of this professional blue team. I do not approve of them at all."

The second internal report strongly supports the successful practices of this unit and its positive role in the reform of our army.

Two internal reports, both written by the same person, showed a radical shift from outright opposition to full support—it's unbelievable, it's miraculous.

Hearing Sun Zhu's heartfelt words, even the senior colonel and lieutenant colonel, who had previously held prejudices against him, were deeply moved.

At the same time, the prejudice that had always been in my heart began to waver violently.

"Perhaps, we are the ones who are wrong?"

The question popped into the minds of the senior colonel and lieutenant colonel, but they did not interrupt Sun Zhu. Instead, they treated it with an even more serious attitude.

"As a military journalist trained by the Party for many years, I must speak with my conscience and be responsible to the army and the Party."

However, what I feel deeply guilty about is that in my first internal report, due to insufficient interviews and biased viewpoints, it had some negative impact on the development of a professional opposing force.

After experiencing the Warrior Operation exercise with the 7th Steel Brigade, I heard, saw, came into contact with, and personally experienced everything.

It forced me to deny myself, overturn myself, and recognize my mistakes.

At the end of the exercise, I asked the experts in the expert group, and they all told me with deep feeling that the appearance of the 7th Steel Brigade made them feel and see that the People's Liberation Army has taken substantial steps in modernization.

Therefore, I want to speak out, to speak for the development of our military's professional opposing force, to speak well of it, and to speak the truth. This is the purpose of my second internal report.

Sun Zhu has indeed changed the most, and his words are sincere and heartfelt.

After listening to the conversation, the senior colonel and lieutenant colonel sitting opposite him were also strongly stimulated and realized that they were the same person with the biased views that Sun Zhu had mentioned back then.

A change in mindset will be directly reflected in external emotions.

He laughed heartily, his face showing seven parts gratitude and three parts guilt, and said, "Director Sun Zhu, your point of view is very important to the conclusion of our conversation. Thank you for your cooperation."

"You're welcome. I'll be going now if there's nothing else."

Sun Zhu stood up and saluted. The senior colonel and the lieutenant colonel also stood up and saluted to see him off. Just as Sun Zhu reached the door, he suddenly stopped and suggested, "I know you are investigating Chief of Staff Chen. I want to say one last thing: he is a true hero. Don't let heroes be disheartened."

After saying that, Sun Zhu pulled the door open and walked out, but his last words resonated like a booming bell, echoing in the minds of the colonel and lieutenant colonel.

Don't let those who have made great contributions feel disheartened!
These words were incredibly impactful and truly thought-provoking.

After a dozen or so breaths, the senior colonel finally came to his senses and seemed to have made a decision. He looked at the lieutenant colonel seriously and said, "Let's not talk about the others. Let's invite Chief of Staff Chen Jun up again."

"Ok."

The lieutenant colonel nodded, picked up the phone, and made the notification; his attitude had clearly changed.

From the very first time Chen Jun was brought up for the talk, both men were clearly prejudiced, and their questions were leading questions, as if they wanted to convince Chen Jun that he was wrong.

Although the two of them haven't said it out loud, their inner thoughts have clearly become those of the next Sun Zhu.

(End of this chapter)