Chapter 444: I Want Both People and Goods

Welcome, welcome!

Hou Yi returned to the regiment headquarters office building.

He stepped forward and extended his hand to the senior colonel from the general headquarters.

The two warmly shook hands, and then he had someone first take the leader to the small auditorium.

Turning around, Hou Yi warmly went up and grasped Zheng Chengfeng's hand: "Long time no see, old comrade—you look much younger than last time!"

Zheng Chengfeng also wore a full smile: "A good mindset makes you look young—unlike you, old squad leader, with all your daily labors, you look like an old man."

Hou Yi laughed heartily, saying you like to joke, then lowered his voice to ask: "What are you running here for?"

Zheng Chengfeng: "Of course I'm here to pick someone up."

Then I'll have you make a wasted trip.

How so?

I want this soldier.

You say you want it, you want it, but is it up to your unit to give?

Zheng Chengfeng wiped off his smile; the two's gazes collided in the air like sparks, and their tightly gripped hands grew even tighter.

Hou Yi snorted coldly: "I haven't settled the Maotai liquor matter with you yet—leave the person, and this is settled; I don't want to pursue it further."

Zheng Chengfeng chuckled: "Old squad leader, you're muddle-headed or just have a bad memory—you still like to reverse the blame and invert right and wrong, just like before. Clearly you had the surname Zhao come to set a trap for me, but I kicked him into a ditch."

I didn't come to cause you trouble, yet you're now pursuing me over this? Based on this, I must take the person away today!

Hou Yi angrily let go: "Zheng Chengfeng, don't be so selfish; Lu Yang is born for special operations—keeping him here will let him develop better."

Frankly, I've already talked to him; if he stays, I'll promote him to lieutenant, let him choose his post, and he'll be a key focus—he's already inclined.

Tell me, besides the Jiaolong, which unit in the Marine Corps could spend such a cost to cultivate him?

Zheng Chengfeng gasped in shock: "You're really willing to sink that much money?!"

His talent is worth this investment.

But don't forget, Lu Yang's file is still with me; as long as I disagree, I won't budge—even if he wants to stay, it's useless.

Is there no room for negotiation at all?

Huff, huff~

Zheng Chengfeng blew dust from his fingernails: "Then it depends on how much sincerity you have."

Hou Yi snorted coldly inside; he figured it out—this guy never really intended to bring the person back, just wanted to use Lu Yang to extort them.

No wonder he originally looked for him, saying he wanted to slip someone in to join the selection training together—it turns out everything was just to pave the way for now.

If that's the case, then the matter becomes much easier to handle.

As the Jiaolong, the amphibious spearhead, they have nothing else—just lots of money, lots of funding, lots of weapons.

As long as we can talk, everything is easy to say—it's just a matter of how much money.

How much do you want?

How much can you give?

Give me a number.

You go first?

Both sides are old foxes, with deeper schemes than the other; nobody wants to show their hand first.

After a stalemate, Hou Yi still took the initiative to break the deadlock, producing his own 'sincerity'.

Ten sets of replacement combat equipment, including the Type 95, low-light night vision goggles, thermal imaging, Ghillie suits, polarized sights, tactical helmets, and bulletproof vests—all are included.

That much equipment, placed in a regular unit, would be enough to strengthen a company's combat power; exchanging it for Lu Yang should be sufficient.

Zheng Chengfeng scoffed: "You want to trade a battle squad's discarded weapons for my sure-win dark horse stock? Hey, my troops have earned great merit, helped you solve a major trouble, and yet they're worth nothing?"

Hou Yi had indeed lowballed his offer on purpose to facilitate negotiations: "Then how much do you want?"

Zheng Chengfeng held up five fingers: "I want fifty sets!"

Dream on!

Hou Yi exploded in rage: "Do you even know what fifty sets of combat equipment means? You just spout it out—let alone I don't have that many, even if I did, they'd go first to our army's Class B units!"

At most fifteen sets!

Zheng Chengfeng said unhurriedly: "Forty sets, no less."

Hou Yi glowered: "Twenty—that's my limit; I can only give you that much, otherwise I can't explain it to the other units."

Zheng Chengfeng: "How about this—we each step back, I won't make it hard for you, twenty-five sets; if you accept, we talk; if not, we forget it."

The two haggled like vendors at a market for a good while; after hesitating a long time, Hou Yi finally squeezed out two words, displeased.

Deal!

You first transfer the file, and I'll send the equipment over later.

Zheng Chengfeng shook his head: "Let me take the equipment back first, I'll transfer the file later; also, Lu Yang's belongings are still with me—after it ends, let him first go with me to get his stuff, and by the way say a quick farewell to his old unit comrades."

You know this kid values feelings—he has to have a farewell meal and a send-off drink, right?

No way!

Hou Yi immediately sensed something wrong—this is a trick: "What if you take the stuff and don't send the person back? Then I'd lose both person and property!"

Zheng Chengfeng complained one after another: "Hey, old squad leader, we've known each other for years—don't you have any trust? How could I possibly do something like this? How about this—I'll write you a note or make an oath, either works."

Get lost!

Hou Yi pointed at him angrily: "Here, you have zero credibility!"

Zheng Chengfeng spread his hands: "So there's nothing to talk about?"

Hou Yi: "I've said it—transfer the file, I'll send the equipment right away; twenty-five sets of top-tier gear are enough to boost a regular battalion's combat power—this deal is absolutely no loss for you!"

Zheng Chengfeng pondered seriously, showing a troubled look: "But I want the person, I want the equipment—what do we do?"

Hou Yi stared for a full two seconds, then burst out cursing: "I've defiled your mother, I wish your whole family happiness!"

I've seen shameless people, but never this shameless!

You bring people here, give them free training for over two months, and now you want to take food and profit too?

Zheng Chengfeng wiped the spit from his face without anger: "The deal now is twenty-five sets, but later it won't be this price?"

"Get lost!" Hou Yi was about to explode with anger: "You come to my place to mooch, and you don't even see what kind of place this is? If it weren't for today being a good day, I'd have someone throw you out right now!"

Fine, I'll remember this. We'll see how it goes—don't come begging to me later.

Get lost, get lost, get lost—just seeing you makes me angry, same old behavior as before!