Chapter 447: Survival of the Fittest, Difficult Choices (Extended Update)

"Yes, yes, it's me, I'm the Chief of Staff of Jiao Long."

"Chief of Staff comrade, it looks like the root of the problem has been found?"

"......"

The colonel put away the recorder and said sternly, "Next, we need to talk privately. I hope you can explain thoroughly how your staff formulates plans and evaluates safety coefficients."

Zhao Haishen cursed that he couldn't just slam his head into the wall.

Everyone else is fine, and I'm the only one standing up to take the blame?

He glared at Lu Yang in anger, while Lu Yang simply turned his head aside and didn't look at him at all.

Good kid, you're ruthless, I'll remember you; you could have just said a couple of kind words to give him a hand, but you chose to press his head into a shit pit!

But he didn't know that holding grudges is one of Lu Yang's great strengths; if he has a grudge, he usually settles it on the spot.

Whether it's Lan Li or Zhao Haishen, he treats them equally.

If Zhao Haishen hadn't intentionally disgusted him back then, interrupting his vbss training at the "Shipyard", not arranging anyone to deliberately isolate him, letting him join regular training, and not feeding him those dry, empty promises…

Anyway, it doesn't matter; Lu Yang is about to leave, and he isn't at all afraid that this sly and cunning Chief of Staff will come after him for settlement.

"Really leaving?"

"That's too sudden?"

"Lu brother, could you stay a few more days?"

Facing Xu Ce and the others, whose faces were full of reluctant pleas, Lu Yang joked.

"Stay for what, stay to wait for that sly and cunning Chief of Staff to settle scores with me?"

"Then when you have time later, be sure to come see us often."

"You guys are so strict, I can't get in, so you should come see me instead."

"Then you, take good care; when there's a holiday we'll come see you!"

"Hmm."

Lu Yang got into Zheng Chengfeng's car.

Through the car window, he waved goodbye to Xu Ce and the others.

Lu Yang waved at Lao Mao, "Comrade Mao Xiaotiao, see you later!"

Lao Mao was so angry he could only say, "......"

Lu Yang stuck his head out the window and shouted loudly at the sturdy man beside him, "Bai Longwang, next time we meet, we might be opponents; be careful, don't let me smash you!"

Bai Yuan lifted the corner of his mouth and said with a smile, "When you go back, teach what you learned here to more people, bring out more excellent soldiers like you for the Navy; work hard, I'll be waiting for you to defeat me!"

"It's a promise!"

Lu Yang extended one hand and made an OK gesture.

Until the car slowly drove away and the OK gesture vanished from sight, everyone still remained where they stood.

Tu Hongwei rubbed his face with his hand and said, "Strange, why do I feel so uneasy? We've only known each other for two and a half months, yet it feels like we've been together for two and a half years."

Xu Ce's eyes were warm as he patted his shoulder, "Calm down, some people are naturally charismatic, making others want to get close; I feel the same."

Jiang Dahai sighed, "Actually, to be honest, Lu brother returning to lead troops has more development prospects than staying; his upbeat and optimistic personality can inspire more people, and in the future he'll definitely cultivate a very excellent team."

"Actually, I'm looking forward to meeting you on the training field later; that love‑hate, almost‑enemy feeling gives me goosebumps and I can't stop wanting more."

"Hahaha, I thought I was the only one feeling this way, turns out everyone is."

"Let's go, we should head back to training; what are we practicing today, Comrade Mao Xiaotiao?"

Lao Mao, furious, tried to grab Tu Hongwei by the collar, but he dodged.

"Yo yo yo, Little Mao is getting anxious, Little Mao is getting anxious~"

"You damn it, keep teasing me, I won't die from training you!"

"You naughty one, Mao Xiaotiao, you naughty one, Mao Xiaotiao~"

At the same time, as Lu Yang left the Jiao Long Base, he turned back to glance at the troop transport vehicle behind him, his face full of disbelief.

"Chief, you really brought thirty‑five full‑set combat suits; these are enough to boost a regular battalion's combat power, you're amazing!"

"Hahaha, my trick of getting a wolf for free, does it work well?"

"It's more than a free wolf; they got it with a mouthful, and they still got the short end; if you ask me, you shouldn't be a colonel, you should be a general!"

"Hahahahaha, I think so too......"

Zheng Chengfeng laughed like a blooming flower, his facial muscles hurting from the smile.

"Alright, alright, let's stop this and get to business."

"In a moment I'll take you to the Sea Training Base to reunite with your comrades."

"Right now they're conducting assessments over there, and I plan to have you join in as well."

"Huh?" Lu Yang opened his mouth wide, "I also have to join, I thought once I took part in the Jiao Long assessment it was enough."

Zheng Chengfeng smiled, "First, participating in the Sea Training Base assessment comes with rewards."

"What rewards?"

"Here you go."

Zheng Chengfeng fished a pair of shoulder boards from his pocket and tossed them to him.

Seeing the one‑stripe three‑star captain rank on them, Lu Yang was overjoyed.

"This reward is so generous, I must take it!"

"Hehe, what they can give, we can also afford; your ability and level have been certified by authoritative bodies, you deserve this rank."

Zheng Chengfeng glanced at him from the corner of his eye, "How about it, like I said, there's a chance to be promoted to senior officer within three years, I'm not joking. Currently, only the Navy has such development opportunities and broad prospects."

"Going forward, massive resources will be poured into the Navy, fully building a maritime defense system and strengthening sea‑air forces."

Lu Yang nodded vigorously, "Really the right place, hehe!"

Zheng Chengfeng continued, "Second, sending you back isn't like having you join the assessment with everyone else; that would be too unfair to the others. So I want you to return as an assessment instructor."

"An instructor?"

Lu Yang, with a stunned expression, said, "How can that work? Then I'd have to personally eliminate my own comrades?"

Zheng Chengfeng stared ahead with deep eyes, offering no answer: "If you find it unreasonable, you can return the captain's rank to me and stand aside as a spectator."

"But I must tell you, even without you, someone else will take on this job."

"You may think this is cruel and guilt‑inducing, but it will become the norm later."

"Transferring you from the Army isn't for retirement; it's to select the best among the best—whether donkey or horse, we pull them out for a run."

"How the selection is made is up to you; if you don't want to be the villain, someone else will take that role. In the future you'll repeatedly face this, and survival of the fittest is the key to the unit's development."

Lu Yang stared at the captain's shoulder insignia in his hand, clenched it tightly; after a long silence, he finally made his choice......