Chapter 377: Xiong Yao: Being Chief of Staff Is Hard!

Division Commander?

Y‑you, how did you crawl out of that vehicle?

Division HQ, in front of the administration building.

Xiong Yao watched Division Commander Luo crawl out of the Iveco that handled logistics procurement, two cabbage leaves still hanging from his head, his face full of confusion.

Luo brushed the dirt off himself, tossed the cabbage leaves back onto the vehicle, and with a helpless wave said, "Never mind, let's go up and talk."

In the Division Commander's office, Luo shut the door, then went to the window and stared outside for a while, even pulling the curtains down like a thief.

Xiong Yao's face turned odd: "Division Commander, the Navy folks haven't given up; they're still watching you, right?"

Division Commander Luo plopped down, let out a heavy sigh: "It started with occasional visits, now they're stationed around the military district compound 24 hours a day; I can't even step outside without being entangled."

"I have an important meeting later that I must attend; I can't skip it today. So I had Zhang pretend to be me and stay in the compound, while I slipped onto a logistics supply vehicle and snuck into the Division HQ to handle work first."

Xiong Yao was left both laughing and crying at his maneuver.

A dignified Division‑level officer forced into such a predicament.

Can't leave his home, can't return to Division HQ, forced to work from home; even stepping out feels like meeting a spy.

And the root of all this is a mere kid.

The South Sea Fleet's regard for Lu Yang far exceeds Xiong Yao's imagination.

Xiong Yao asked, "Didn't the Group Army already make contact? The Special Third Regiment's reorganization project has started; they should be letting go by now. Why are they pressing even harder?"

Division Commander Luo took off his hat and tossed it aside, dandruff fluttering everywhere: "Who knows what's going on? It should just be a Lieutenant Platoon Leader, not this much. I even voluntarily stepped back, agreeing to let them pick someone from the Division Zhencha Daitui."

"In the end they still refused, insisting on this soldier Lu Yang; even the Group Army chief's call didn't work, they keep staring."

"But if this continues, it will affect the Division's upcoming work," Xiong Yao reminded.

"Sigh, so I'm just hiding in a pile of cabbages, huh?"

Division Commander Luo massaged his temples, feeling his head was twice its size.

He originally thought that promoting Lu Yang early, marking him as a key Division talent, would give the Navy some leverage, so he could voluntarily give him up.

But he didn't expect those guys to be like hyenas starved ten days to half a month, smelling a meat bun and refusing to let go.

Initially they would show up at the Division HQ every few days to block him; later they blocked the compound, then his doorstep; now it's a two‑front blockade—any time his face appears, that Navy Colonel Zheng shows up instantly.

Although Zheng Chengfeng's rank is only Colonel, as the headquarters‑appointed Army project leader supporting Navy construction, his authority is considerable.

After all, he wields the "imperial sword" of "comprehensively improving national defense construction"; his actions represent the South Sea Fleet headquarters and fulfill the tasks assigned by the military headquarters.

Thus, facing that guy, Division Commander Luo only dares to be soft, never hard.

If he provokes him, Zheng Chengfeng could write a report praising the Division Zhencha Daitui, lauding them as more suited to Navy construction needs.

The next day, orders might come down to reorganize the Division Zhencha Daitui as part of the forces supporting maritime defense.

Though the odds aren't high and it's a bit self‑scaring, Luo doesn't dare gamble.

Losing the Special Third Regiment already hurts him; if the Reconnaissance Brigade's ace is also pulled out…

The Division's combat power would be severely reduced, possibly relegating it to a bottom‑ranked unit within the Group Army or even the entire warzone.

Division Commander Luo looked at Xiong Yao: "Come up with a plan? I don't want to let him go, but I can't offend the Navy; ideally a win‑win that leaves a good reputation."

Xiong Yao: "......"

Is this really giving me a hard time?

If I had that ability, I'd already be Deputy Division Commander!

But faced with the Division Commander's unreasonable request, he can only rack his brains.

After a moment's hesitation, Xiong Yao offered: "Division Commander, I think constantly hiding isn't the solution; we should proactively talk to them. The Navy values Lu Yang mainly for his first‑class merit, his ability to unite the team, and his future potential."

"These criteria together leave no second candidate besides him, but broken apart they're much easier to find."

Division Commander Luo raised an eyebrow: "Specifically, elaborate?"

Xiong Yao: "The instructor of the 4th Company, 203rd Regiment, once earned a first‑class merit in the Group Army professional skills competition."

"Veteran Cheng Jun, a fifth‑phase alumnus of the Special Third Regiment, was transferred two days ago to the 441 Regiment Ninth Company as Director of Affairs; he not only holds the Division's five‑kilometer competition record and has a second‑class merit, but also served as Lu Yang's squad leader in the Sixth Company."

"His abilities are solid, fundamentals strong, and his team‑uniting skill is undeniable."

"Together they equal one Lu Yang; we have a first‑class merit and a team‑uniting person, the latter even linked to Lu Yang."

Division Commander Luo thought carefully and asked, "What about future potential? Strengthening maritime defense is the next major strategic goal of national defense construction, far more important than the first two."

"If we can't solve it, the Navy won't accept our exchange terms."

"This must be resolved quickly; the longer it drags, the messier. Moreover, if opportunists spread rumors that I don't support Navy construction, it becomes serious."

The higher the position, the colder; the higher he is, the more cautious he must be.

He wants the person; the price, he doesn't want to give; the reputation, he also wants.

Thus, he must devise a perfectly balanced solution.

The trouble is tossed back to Xiong Yao like a ball; as the Division's Chief of Staff, his pressure is immense.

But to protect his own interests, the Division's future, and to fill the gap left by the Special Third Regiment's transfer, the soldier Lu Yang must stay.

Xiong Yao furrowed his brow, after much inner conflict finally decided, "If nothing works, I'll reluctantly sacrifice and pick the most promising soldier from the Zhencha Daitui for them; that should work, right?"

Division Commander Luo, looking skeptical, asked, "Which one?"

Xiong Yao: "Lan Li."

"......"

After a half‑minute of silence, Division Commander Luo asked a question.

"Xiong Yao, as Chief of Staff, what else can you do?"

"Huh?"

"That kid offends people the moment he opens his mouth; are you trying to solve the problem or widen the conflict?"

Division Commander Luo suggested, "How about this: you give Lan Li a drug to make him mute, or seal his mouth with tape; perhaps they'll accept him, considering he's a top graduate from an elite university."

Xiong Yao was quite embarrassed: "Division Commander, that's going a bit too far; that kid, aside from low EQ and harsh words, is still pretty good in other aspects. In my view, his talent and potential are on par with Lu Yang's."

Division Commander Luo didn't object either.

Speaking solely of professional ability and military quality, these two kids are indeed evenly matched.

When it comes to academic credentials, Lan Li, being a top scorer in the college entrance exam and a student from Peking or Tsinghua University, is also extremely impressive.

But these can only fool laypeople; anyone who actually deals with these two will immediately feel like they've been swindled.

"I'm worried that if we gloss over it for now, later the Navy will discover the goods don't match and come demanding returns and refunds."

"Oh, it won't happen; running back and forth is too much trouble; besides, Zheng Chengfeng and the others still need to rush back to the Navy to report, and the training items at the Sea Training Base also need his supervision."

Xiong Yao said firmly: "At worst, we'll draw up a written agreement stating that goods are non-returnable once they leave; besides, trading three for one obviously profits them and loses us."

"But we're sister units, both supporting national defense construction, so let's just take a little loss."

Division Commander Luo thought it made sense, after all he couldn't come up with a better solution.

He urged Xiong Yao to make the call now; such matters shouldn't be delayed.

Settling it early would spare him from constantly hiding and worrying all day.

Soon, the call on the other end went through; after Xiong Yao politely raised the request to talk face-to-face, less than five minutes later the office door was knocked on by Zheng Chengfeng......