Pretending to be a genius starts with the civilization advancement assessment.

Chapter 84 Times Have Changed (Bonus Chapter)

The question raised by Li Zhenguo was one that the General Staff had already considered long ago.

Therefore, the person in charge of the General Staff only hesitated for a moment before answering clearly: "Sir, we have initially considered three aspects regarding the reward for Major Lin Yi."

"First, regarding rank and position rewards. In view of Major Lin Yi's irreplaceable and significant contributions to the 'Dawn Operation' and previous events, we recommend that he be promoted to lieutenant colonel."

"Secondly, material rewards. So far, he has acquired and handed over the highest-grade seven-colored crystal. Previously, Major Lin Yi also handed over the 'copying' manufacturing device, which is also an extremely important core instrument."

“We suggest that Lieutenant Colonel Lin Yi be given a copy of the list of micro and small energy source equipment blueprints that have been collected and can be identified and manufactured by the ‘photocopying’ manufacturing device. He can submit a manufacturing application according to his own needs, and, if resources permit, give priority to using the ‘photocopying’ manufacturing device to produce them.”

"Thirdly, regarding the awards for honor and recognition, we haven't been able to finalize that yet."

Upon hearing this, the head of the research institute frowned slightly and interjected, "Unable to confirm? Given Comrade Lin Yi's crucial role in turning the tide of the battle and securing victory, shouldn't he be awarded a first-class merit?"

He felt that this achievement deserved a first-class merit award.

The General Staff official looked somewhat helpless and explained, "We agree with your considerations. However, some comrades believe that the criteria for awarding a first-class merit citation are extremely stringent, which has led to considerable controversy."

He hesitated for a moment before continuing, "Some comrades believe that, according to the battle report sent back by Comrade Nie Chang, although Comrade Lin Yi suffered heavy losses, he himself... uh... in the report's own words, 'was not injured, not even a scratch,' and..."

He paused, then lowered his voice, "If we award them a first-class merit now, and they make new contributions in the future, the upward mobility of the commendation system will be squeezed. We need to consider the long term."

After listening, Li Zhenguo shook his head, tapped his fingers lightly on the table twice, and made a decision: "The evaluation of merits should be in accordance with regulations and based on facts. There is no need to deliberately suppress it. Comrade Lin Yi's role and contributions far exceed ordinary standards. I think he should be awarded a first-class merit."

"Times change, and we shouldn't use the same methods we use in peacetime during wartime."

He looked at the General Staff representative and said, "As for the future, aren't there still hero titles, honorary titles, and various medals of honor? As long as he continues to contribute to the country and the people, he will receive all the honors he deserves."

The head of the General Staff immediately nodded: "Yes, sir! We will prepare the materials according to the first-class merit award."

The head of the research institute glanced at him suspiciously, thinking to himself, "This guy answered so readily, could he have been waiting here all along? That's a good idea."

The more he thought about it, the more likely it seemed. He knew that, like the research institute he was in charge of, the General Staff Department always had some senior staff members who would voice all sorts of nonsense, which was extremely annoying.

With the issue of awards initially agreed upon, the head of the General Staff took the opportunity to raise another idea: "Sir, based on the training camp concept we just discussed, if it is ultimately decided to be established, and Lieutenant Colonel Lin Yi also expresses his approval, could we consider formally inviting Comrade Lin Yi to serve as the chief instructor of the training camp? His experience and knowledge will be an irreplaceable asset to the trainees."

Li Zhenguo nodded without hesitation: "Of course. If the training camp is established but this first person is not appointed as an instructor, wouldn't the training camp be a misnomer? After consulting his opinion, if it goes ahead, your General Staff will take the lead in implementing it."

At this moment, the communications officer next to him looked up and reported, "Sir, the communication link to the settlement in Helu City has been established. The other party has confirmed that the information has been received and is notifying Major Lin Yi to go to the communication point."

"Okay." Li Zhenguo sat up straight and waited for the call to begin.
-
The settlement in Helu City.

In the communications room, when the on-duty communications officer, Xiao Liu, first received the encrypted communication request from the highest command, he didn't pay much attention to it.

During this period, with Major Lin Yi present, the communication frequency between the settlement and the supreme command has increased significantly, and he has become somewhat accustomed to it.

However, when a clear instruction came from the encrypted channel—"Please contact Major Lin Yi immediately; Commander Li Zhenguo wishes to speak directly with him"—Xiao Liu's hand holding the receiver trembled violently, almost dropping it on the table. Commander Li Zhenguo?!

Did he personally request to speak with Major Lin?

He jolted awake, not daring to delay for a moment. He answered the microphone repeatedly, "Yes! Understood! Notify immediately!" while quickly grabbing the walkie-talkie on the internal line next to him and switching the channel directly to Zhang Weidong, the highest-ranking person in charge of the settlement.

At this moment, Zhang Weidong, along with several other senior managers of the settlement and the commanders of the various units that participated in the operation, were holding a simple yet warm welcome banquet for the triumphant soldiers in a small square that had been temporarily cleared.

Lin Yi was naturally seated at the main table, right next to Zhang Weidong.

The banquet was lively. Although everyone was tired, their faces were filled with the joy of victory. They all offered water instead of wine to express their respect to Lin Yi.

Lin Yi didn't stand on ceremony and responded from time to time, making the atmosphere at the table quite lively.

Just then, Zhang Weidong's walkie-talkie, which was clipped to his waist, beeped with an urgent call alert.

Zhang Weidong was chatting with an old acquaintance next to him when, without thinking much, he casually pressed the call button in public.

"This is Zhang Weidong, please speak."

His voice still carried the slight background noise of the banquet.

Then, the sound coming from the walkie-talkie instantly silenced the entire main table and even the nearby tables.

"Team Leader Zhang! Team Leader Zhang! This is the communications room. Urgent message from the Supreme Command! Commander Li Zhenguo wishes to speak with Major Lin Yi. Repeat, Commander Li Zhenguo wants to speak with Major Lin Yi!"

The sound was crystal clear, coming through the walkie-talkie's speaker.

In an instant, the once noisy banquet hall seemed to be muted.

Everyone who heard this, whether military officers or civilian administrators, stopped what they were doing and talking, and all eyes turned to the young man who had just raised his water glass and was still wearing a warm smile.

Zhang Weidong was stunned for a second, then reacted and his face immediately became extremely serious. He picked up the walkie-talkie and said in a deep voice, "Received! Inform the command center immediately that Major Lin is right next to me. We're going to the communications room right away and keeping the line open."

After saying that, he immediately stood up and quickly said to Lin Yi, "Major Lin, this is an emergency call from Chief Li Zhenguo."

Upon hearing this, Lin Yi showed little excitement; he simply nodded calmly, "Okay."

After speaking, he first gestured to the Thunder Tank Commander who had just invited him to have a drink, then drank the water in his glass in one gulp before putting down the glass and leaving his seat.

Zhang Weidong then said to everyone at the table, "Please have a seat," and immediately led Lin Yi away from the banquet hall under the watchful eyes of countless people, heading towards the communications room.

　Bonus chapter for the "Update Faster, Bro!" guild leader! Also, to summarize, the first day's first-day subscriptions reached 1680. Surpassing that with only half the number of favorites as my first book, that shows I've made great progress, haha!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)