Chapter 200: Join or Leave

A few people were chatting beside the training field for a while when they saw a large crowd walking over from not far away, with Li Chenming at the front.

"Wow, so many!" Wang Yueqin said, looking at the large crowd.

"Indeed, it's a bit too many." Chen Bo Jun beside them was somewhat dazed.

That's right; although there are about fifty commanders, each commander also has shipgirls under them, so the total number adds up to over a hundred, making it look very crowded.

After approaching, Li Chenming gestured for the crowd to stop and had them form a line. He then walked up to Qin Ge, and this time he first saluted Qin Ge directly before speaking.

"Reporting, Commander, the personnel applying to join our Grand Fleet have all gathered; please give instructions."

Hearing Li Chenming's stern words, Xu Fei smiled and said, "At ease."

"Yes!" Li Chenming replied loudly, then turned around, came before everyone, and shouted, "At ease!"

The others did not dare to be negligent; after correctly assuming the at‑ease posture, Qin Ge then walked over.

"Hello, everyone." Qin Ge said to the crowd, "First of all, I am very grateful that you have chosen to join our Grand Fleet, but you surely know that the initial quota for the Grand Fleet is limited, so we cannot accommodate everyone's choice, and this is one of the reasons I have gathered you here."

"Our Grand Fleet does not have the notion of eliminating the weak; being able to enter the Commander Academy is already something ordinary people cannot achieve, and if we now talk about eliminating the weak with you, it would indeed be harsh."

"However, because the quota is limited, I will still explain here the principles and plans of our Grand Fleet."

As Qin Ge's words fell, enthusiastic applause rose from below. He then raised his hand to press down, the applause gradually faded, and Qin Ge continued his speech.

"Our battle fleet was founded from the start to go to the front lines, to the most dangerous areas. This is our creed, this is our purpose, and this will never change."

"Therefore, our Grand Fleet needs warriors, needs fearless heroes, and even more needs commanders who possess both wisdom and courage and can survive in the most dangerous places."

"Thus, the most basic requirement for our fleet members is to have no ties and be able to go to the most dangerous areas."

Faced with Qin Ge's voice, the commanders below murmured in discussion. One person standing at the front raised his hand and said to Qin Ge, "Instructor Qin Ge, even the front‑line combat Grand Fleet has offices in the rear; why do you keep emphasizing the front lines? Are you not planning to set up offices in the rear?"

Qin Ge nodded at that person and said, "No, although our Grand Fleet has a certain transitional period, the ultimate goal is still to go to the front lines, so I will not concern myself with rear matters."

"If you harbor the thought that, although I have joined the front‑line combat Grand Fleet, I can also stay in the rear to handle other matters, you should dispel that idea early."

When Qin Ge finished saying that, the discussion below grew louder, and then several people raised their hands and said, "Sorry, Instructor Qin Ge, I might not be able to join your Grand Fleet."

Qin Ge laughed and shook his head, "It's fine; because of different divisions, someone must guard the coastal waters, but our Grand Fleet is not aimed at coastal defense."

"This is merely a difference in philosophy; I will not mock you or make things difficult for you. If you feel you do not meet the conditions I stated, you may leave on your own without needing to greet me."

"Thank you." Several people said it at once, then left the formation and walked away into the distance.

Seeing that the number of people was still relatively large, Qin Ge said to the crowd, "It seems you are all able to accept joining the front‑line combat unit, so I still have things to explain to you."

"Previously, on the stage of the competition, I also explained to everyone the importance of discipline for a team; therefore, in our Grand Fleet, orders must be carried out."

"Instructor Qin Ge, if an order is wrong, must we still carry it out?" At this moment, a commander below raised his hand and said.

Qin Ge nodded and said, "Yes, even if the order is wrong, it must be carried out resolutely."

"This…… since we already know the order is wrong, why should we still carry it out?" Many asked doubtfully.

Qin Ge explained, "Because obeying orders is the duty of soldiers, and if you had the right to question orders, then every time an order is issued, you would first have to consider whether the order is correct, whether it needs questioning, and how much time this would waste on urgent matters."

"Therefore, we need people who obey orders; once an order is given, we must put our full effort into carrying it out, without questioning or overthinking—this is the highest discipline of our Grand Fleet."

"This is really too demanding for some people, isn't it?"

"I can't do it."

"What if the order is wrong? Then we could die; I dare not gamble."

Meanwhile, amid this discussion, another group turned and left the formation, walking toward the direction they had come from, apparently having given up on joining the Grand Fleet.

Qin Ge watched those turning away without showing any emotion; having served in the former world academy, he naturally knew that obeying orders is a basic of a team.

And it is precisely because our nation's military possesses the qualities of obeying orders, following commands, being brave and tenacious, observing discipline strictly, and resolutely completing missions that our nation can stand among the world's strong powers.

Otherwise, inconsistent policies and orders issued from multiple gates would inevitably cause internal chaos, even self‑harm; such a situation on the battlefield is most taboo, so for the future of the Grand Fleet and to win victories later, obeying orders is the supreme principle.

After this wave of people left, Qin Ge looked at the originally huge formation, now reduced to less than half, yet he had no intention of stopping and instead said to everyone:

"I believe that among those present there are freshmen and sophomores; the sophomores are facing graduation, while the freshmen are facing the transition to sophomore year in the second half."

"If you join my Grand Fleet, regardless of whether you are freshmen or sophomores, you must participate in this October's Siren Tide. Moreover, as a unit of the Grand Fleet, you must also take part in our daily training tasks beforehand to ensure dual compliance of tactics and shipgirl proficiency."

"Ah! I only have one shipgirl now; if I have to take part in such a war, wouldn't that be going to my death?"

"This…… I'll think about it again."

The number in the formation continued to decrease...