Chapter 461: If All Else Fails, Just Enroll in a Military Academy

"Speak up?"

"According to the donation amount ranking, the more you donate, the earlier your selection rank; if you need any specific troop type or specialist, I can record it in detail, so there won't be mistakes, and moreover…"

When those words were spoken, the previously chaotic conference room atmosphere instantly fell to a freezing point.

Everyone stared at Lu Yang with hostile gazes, and a few even with threatening looks.

Lu Yang's proposal directly shattered their chance to "win big with a little."

Originally they only needed to pay a small, painless price to bring back the good soldiers they wanted, but now it's become an auction mode, meaning they have to incur higher costs.

For these people, not picking up stray money when they go out is already a loss; splitting a cent in half to spend is the norm.

Facing former senior leaders, they naturally save wherever possible and just put on a show.

"I oppose!"

"I also oppose!"

"What a rotten idea, it's literally objectifying our soldiers!"

"Exactly, I still advocate using the previous method; at worst we can even things out privately, as long as it's roughly the same, right?"

Facing the collective opposition, Zheng Chengfeng gave Lu Yang a meaning‑laden look: "But I think he makes a good point, could you continue?"

Lu Yang nodded: "As everyone knows, the higher‑ups are preparing to form the Marine Corps Third Brigade, and the startup funding gap is huge. The birth of this new unit is essentially to alleviate the workload pressure on the First Brigade and the Second Brigade."

"So from a macro development perspective, I believe the First Brigade and the Second Brigade have both responsibility and obligation to contribute."

"After all, they're all part of the Southern Theater Navy, all part of the Marine Corps family, all contributing to Navy construction."

"Well said!"

Zheng Chengfeng led the applause, and although others were reluctant, they could only join in with sparse clapping.

The older generation's tactics work at any time; first put on the high hat before speaking.

Although there is no explicit regulation forcing them to provide assistance.

But as brother units, mutual help is the norm.

In a few particular battalions, training often exceeds the allocated ammunition, the upward request takes too long, and they end up borrowing from neighboring units.

Or a unit wants to hold joint training, needing extra funding, but the higher‑ups have tight budgets and can't give much help, so they have to turn to brother units for "crowdfunding."

Moreover, everyone clearly knows what the Third Brigade's construction implies, and that soon it will become one of the Marine Corps' three driving forces.

Although everyone is thinking of "free riding," hoping to win big with a little; upon careful consideration, adding a modest price is acceptable.

But while they were planning to lower the auction price, then offer some surplus, idle supplies, and soon‑to‑be‑retired weapons to exchange for quality troops and boost their unit's combat power, Lu Yang's words instantly crushed their hopes.

"Chief, to eliminate malicious low‑price market disruption, I think we should set a baseline?"

"What do you mean?"

"Special resource funding must not be below fifty thousand yuan; weapons, equipment and accompanying ammunition must at least reach a Platoon, training apparatus must be ninety percent new, fuel and Logistics supplies must also …"

After Lu Yang listed all the rules, everyone present turned ashen, and several fists were clenched, creaking.

"Where did this kid come from, his mouth is really impertinent!"

"Damn it, once his lips start flapping, how much will we lose?"

"I originally thought we'd just take a small loss, but now it looks like we'll take a big loss!"

"It's more than a big loss, it's a massive hemorrhage; they even want assault boats and kayaks—how can they even say that?"

Seeing the murmurs below, Zheng Chengfeng also stepped forward to refute Lu Yang, publicly questioning the reasonableness of his proposal.

Lu Yang finally dropped the ultimate bomb: "Chief, you've misunderstood; what I said earlier isn't a gratuitous donation. If the roles were reversed, I wouldn't be willing either; it pains me."

"Then what do you mean?"

"A one‑year deadline, double repayment; two years, triple. If we can't repay, then it depends on the situation—after negotiation, repay with items of equal value, and we must write an IOU."

"What are you saying?!"

Zheng Chengfeng, with his beard bristling and eyes bulging, pounded the table as if he were about to devour someone.

He immediately berated Lu Yang savagely, calling his idea rotten and a complete mess.

This time, however, the people below all changed expression, a joy bubbling that seemed about to overflow.

One investment, two returns.

They can also pre‑select quality troops, boosting their own unit's combat power.

Most importantly, they can earn a good reputation for proactively supporting the Third Brigade's construction and development.

My goodness, where can we find such a good thing? Not even a lantern would help locate it!

But everyone kept watching each other; no one spoke up first.

Until a deputy battalion major finally spoke up, and the scene instantly erupted with a polar‑reversed enthusiasm.

"Chief, chief, we can allocate some of this quarter's budget; I'll put up sixty thousand! I want two fast runners, two artillery specialists, plus a sniper—preferably the kind that have won awards in competitions!"

"Next week we'll receive a batch of brand‑new training equipment, including standard single and double bars, wire mesh, and new gear for training sea‑borne anti‑vertigo; plus three drums of diesel, five basic ammunition packs, and ten boxes of grenades!"

"Kayaks—we even have two spare kayaks in the Warehouse, plus engines; just install them and they run! The climbing gear is swapped out, but its wear level still allows four or five years of use! We also need two Platoon Leaders for reconnaissance, plus a seasoned assault squad!"

"Our battalion can field three assault boats, with a dedicated budget of one‑hundred‑fifty thousand; the Warehouse holds eight hundred kilograms of frozen beef and lamb. I want elite troops from the forward unit—any type: heavy‑duty, iron‑bones, fast‑legged… any class, ten, no, at least fifteen, as long as they're from the second or third phase onward…"

Everyone argued, faces flushed, as if injected with chicken blood.

A few competitions became so fierce that they even threw shoes at each other, nearly staging an all‑out melee.

Watching the chaotic scene, even the ever‑knowledgeable Zheng Chengfeng was left gaping in astonishment.

On one hand, he didn't expect that these guys, who constantly begged him for funds in meetings, claiming everything was lacking, actually had such deep pockets.

On the other hand, the idea of a one‑year double repayment, two‑year triple return, was proposed by Lu Yang.

At first, he worried it might not work, because upon close thought, it didn't hold up to scrutiny.

But now it seems these guys have lost their minds, constantly raising their own prices, fearing any delay.

Lu Yang now forced himself to hold back excitement, his pen scribbling serpentine lines across the notebook.

This move was inspired by the 'Yuanbao Violent Thunder' incident; it has Zheng Chengfeng's reputation as backing, the Third Brigade's golden signboard, double profit as motivation, plus the privilege of first pick of quality troops.

Lu Yang really couldn't think of any reason for them to refuse such a huge boon.

Sure enough, anyone targeted by a setup will inevitably fall for it.

As for whether he can repay it in the future, Lu Yang had already planned an exit strategy.

The formation of the Quick Reaction Force hasn't been made public, and no one knows about it.

Externally, it's claimed to be support for the development of the Sea-Land Third Brigade, to fill the startup funding gap.

In an ideal scenario, if the Quick Reaction Force shows progress after three months, letting superiors see results, then more funding and equipment support will keep coming.

By then, paying back double won't be difficult; in fact, they might even refuse repayment, hoping to wait another year for a threefold return.

If the results aren't ideal, lukewarm; actually there's a way—land-to-sea transfers aren't just this batch, there will be more next year.

Then, one could use veteran soldiers or new recruits recruited by the Navy to offset debt; if that fails, the Sea Training Base could be 'leased' out for others to conduct training.

Finally, if the Quick Reaction Force fails to form and funds run out; the Third Brigade's construction projects also run into trouble, becoming a total mess, and creditors show up at the door—what then?

Lu Yang paused his pen, thinking: 'Sorry, if it really comes to that, I'm afraid I can only go to a military academy for further study!'