Chapter 262: Excellent Model, Rewarding Merit

Here, I will represent the Division and focus on commending the Special Third Regiment's Mechanized Infantry Sixth Company!

Below the stage, the soldiers of the Sixth Company all straightened their chests, sat upright with stiff backs, and their eyes shone brightly.

On stage, Division Chief of Staff Xiong Yao, holding the microphone, continued to speak loudly.

In this special period, your company upholds military duties and strictly guards the bottom line!

Through self-inspection and self-correction, you eliminate safety hazards, strictly prevent any leaks, and have set a good example for the Special Third Regiment!

This sense of vigilance in times of peace, constant alarm, preparing for danger, and doing preventive work in advance aligns with the new era's military code of self-discipline and strict troop discipline!

Moreover, the Division knows that your company began half a year ago to independently improve the military theory education of grassroots soldiers, and has achieved good results!

Your company, by setting an example, after completing training, carries out quality education work, comprehensively improving soldier quality, worthy of other units' praise and learning!

When these words were spoken, all the other regiment commanders present showed looks of surprise.

Originally, it was thought that this commendation meeting was only related to security and confidentiality work.

But unexpectedly, the Special Third Regiment had secretly carried out many small moves behind the scenes, already achieved results, and attracted the Division's attention.

Well done, Wang Zhongxi, you've hidden it deep enough—half a year has passed and we haven't even gotten a hint of news!

I didn't expect you, with your thick eyebrows and big eyes, to secretly study hard behind everyone's back!

No wonder the Special Third Regiment has been praised so often lately; they quietly pulled off a big move without a sound!

Knowing that the other regiment commanders were unhappy, Wang Zhongxi kept a straight face on the outside, but inside he was overjoyed.

Among the many regiment-level cadres in the Division, Wang Zhongxi's Special Third Regiment is not considered the strongest.

Nowadays, relying on the Sixth Company's lead, the entire regiment's work proceeds smoothly, and overall quality is rising steadily.

Fortunately, last year when new recruits joined the company, he adjusted the personnel structure.

Otherwise, the Seventh Company would dominate alone, leaving no competitiveness for other units.

And these two measures are both related to Lu Yang; he is both the initiator and a core participant.

It was not in vain that during the regiment department's re-examination, Wang Zhongxi spared no effort to retain personnel, and also gave Lu Yang a pen with special significance as encouragement.

This kid Lu Yang is capable, values loyalty, and has a strong sense of collective; especially after being promoted early to non-commissioned officer and taking the acting platoon leader post, he has advanced all the way.

He helped Ma Qing'an improve company building, discipline management, and ideological quality, getting better and better; as regiment commander, he's also achieving merit while lying back!

The Division Commander also spoke into the microphone at this time: 'Soldiers, besides valuing physical fitness, military skills, theoretical knowledge, and political thought education, are equally important.'

'The twenty-first century is an era of rapid technological development and swift popularization of information; while we soldiers, in the final struggle, compete in culture!'

'Serving in the military is like studying in class; the teacher teaches the same content, some people crazily drill exercises after class, while others go home only knowing how to play games and read novels!'

'Those who want to stay in the army, take exams, get promoted, or enter military academy, listen up; now is the time to strive hard and forge ahead!'

'The unit fears not that you don't want to study or improve, but that you laze about unwilling to move, and that you struggle with illiteracy!'

'Here, the Special Third Regiment has set a good example for us, and the Mechanized Infantry Sixth Company has established a fine model for everyone!'

After the words fell, Xiong Yao gave a glance to Wang Zhongxi and Ma Qing'an sitting in the first platoon, and others.

The four of them stood up, straightened their uniforms, and marched onto the stage with high spirits.

Xiong Yao loudly announced: 'After study by the Division Headquarters, it is decided to award the Special Third Regiment the certificate of honor for Safety Model Unit!'

'Award the Mechanized Infantry Sixth Company the certificate of honor for Excellent New Thought Benchmark Company!'

'Hope all units and soldiers learn from them!'

Papapap!

Applause thundered, deafening!

The propaganda staff and conference recording personnel, who had prepared early on both sides, went crazy taking photos with long and short guns.

Ma Qing'an and He Zhen Tao stood on stage, enjoying the myriad honors, their eyes almost blinded by the flashlights, yet their smiles were so rich they couldn't melt away.

What does it mean to raise one's eyebrows and exhale!

What does it mean to be glorious radiance!

What does it mean to be an excellent model!

The Sixth Company soldiers below the stage, sharing in this honor, felt an inner excitement beyond words.

At this moment, the hardships, suffering, and sweat of past training; the late-night studying and done test papers, all became worthwhile.

Lu Yang: 'Not a single theory lecture was attended in vain; not a single test paper was corrected in vain!'

Kang Changyi: 'Taking the lashings without complaint, not being hated is mediocrity!'

Zhang Jiaheng: 'My earnest supervision when I served as military police is surely greatly related; this honor of the Special Third Regiment's Mechanized Infantry Sixth Company absolutely includes my contribution!'

Watching the regiment commander and company commander descend the stage with their honor certificates, Lu Yang and the three others also felt their hearts stir involuntarily.

As expected, right after them, those three were called by name and walked up to the stage.

When all the gazes below focused on them, Zhou Kaidong's ears turned red from nervousness.

Previously calm and composed, Kang Changyi now also became stiff-limbed and his face turned pale.

Because standing before him was his maternal uncle who had beaten him since childhood, making him fear him like a tiger.

On the contrary, Lu Yang appeared the most calm and relaxed, and among the three was the one who could let go the most, with no psychological pressure.

Xiong Yao merely briefly explained the process of the three successfully capturing the spy, without going into much detail about the spy's identity or the evidence obtained.

Because the case is still under investigation, many things are not convenient to disclose.

However, the Chief of Staff Xiong Yao's saying 'pull out the radish and bring up the mud' drew Lu Yang's attention.

It seems the earlier rumors were not baseless; the things behind these two foreign spies are not only hugely influential, but may even have resolved some potential hidden dangers for the unit.

'The unit will never shortchange a soldier who has courage, strategy, and guts!'

'Therefore, I, representing the Division, will reward you three according to merit!'

'Kang Changyi!'

"I'm here!"

Kang Changyi's voice cracked outright.

He didn't know whether it was from being too nervous or from being unable to hold his urine.

His appearance caused the Division Commander and the Division Political Commissar on the stage to wear a half‑smile, half‑grimace.

Obviously, they knew the kinship between Kang Changyi and Xiong Yao, and understood that the kid was afraid of his uncle.

Xiong Yao, seeing his pathetic look, suppressed the urge to kick him and shouted, "In view of your performance during the spy capture, you are awarded a commendation."

"Huh?"

Kang Changyi drooped his face and asked, "Why only a commendation?"

Xiong Yao glared at him fiercely, and only then did he salute and thank, "Thank you, chief."

Using the certificate as a pretext, Xiong Yao stepped closer, lowered his voice, and coldly said, "After this, don't leave; wait for me at the doorway!"

"......"

Kang Changyi was terrified, his calves beginning to tremble.

Hearing that, it sounded to him just like when a teacher used to say, "Don't leave after school, come to the office for a moment."

Then Xiong Yao approached Zhou Kaidong: "Zhou Kaidong, your performance was also outstanding; even though you can't swim, you dared to jump into a six‑seven‑meter‑deep river to rescue someone—your courage is commendable!"

Zhou Kaidong mustered his courage and replied, "Reporting, chief, this is what I should do!"

Xiong Yao smiled, "Originally you were already on the demobilization list, but in your subsequent training life you showed no slack at all, demanding strict standards. You upheld a soldier's duty, possessing the courage and responsibility of a Longguo soldier, becoming a benchmark for new‑era soldiers."

"A good soldier like you, if you don't continue to serve the unit, would be a huge loss to both the unit and the country..."