Chapter 510: I

"Wait a moment, wait a moment!"

Xiong Yao felt his mind a bit tangled: "Let me think it over, let me think… you, aren't you going to punish Lu Yang and the others?"

Zheng Chengfeng, his face full of question marks, said: "They achieved such a great feat, why should I punish them, what reason is there to punish?"

"But the procedure isn't in accordance with the rules, right?"

"As long as the result is correct, that's fine; I don't care whether the procedure is proper!"

"......"

Zheng Chengfeng seemed to understand, and the two of them were about to go their separate ways.

He thought Xiong Yao had come over specifically to steal the credit, but actually he wanted to help shoulder the blame.

Zheng Chengfeng was speechless: "In your mind, am I that heartless? Because of such a trivial matter, you would draw the line here?"

Xiong Yao was a bit embarrassed: "I'm not… I'm just afraid you'd be too rigid, afraid you'd act muddled?"

Zheng Chengfeng: "Rules are dead, people are alive; some matters require immediate decisive action. Suppose Lu Yang really reports it, would you dare agree? You wouldn't."

"Would I dare? I'm afraid I don't have that courage. We have to consider, wrestle, weigh, and balance many aspects."

"Why is it like this? Because we are leaders, we are heads, we must look after the overall situation."

Xiong Yao nodded in agreement; the more he considered, the more concerns he had, and the less he dared to take that step.

Lu Yang is not a random person; on the contrary, he is extremely meticulous in his work.

Since he chose this way, it shows he must be confident.

He has his own judgment and observation, so he can act decisively.

Zheng Chengfeng stood up, poured him a cup of tea, and said: "That reminds me of something; back when I was young, I served as a Company Commander of reconnaissance, and together with anti‑drug police we carried out a mission to chase a drug dealer."

"At that time a female drug dealer escaped past the boundary marker, and on the other side she used the most vicious words to mock us, even saying she remembered our faces and would avenge her fallen comrades when the chance came."

"A few anti‑drug officers were on site, their anger made their lungs feel like they would explode, but regulations forced them to stay put, letting the other side provoke…"

"And then?" Xiong Yao pressed.

"Then." Zheng Chengfeng laughed: "I lifted my gun and went up, shooting her knees twice; like dragging a dead dog, I hauled her back directly."

"I still can't forget her gaze, that fear, desperation, terror, as if she were saying: How dare you, how could you come here?"

"When the mission ended, I thought I'd be punished; I even drafted the opening of a self‑criticism report."

"In the end, what awaited me was a Second-Class Collective Merit medal and a Major's rank."

Xiong Yao couldn't help but laugh: "No wonder you think it's no big deal; turns out you were never a compliant person, why have I never heard you mention this before?"

Zheng Chengfeng wiggled his fingers: "That's called flexible adaptation; anyone who's truly been on a battlefield knows the situation changes in an instant, a second's delay yields a different outcome."

"If I hadn't gone over then and captured that female drug dealer, the aftermath might have seen more border anti‑drug officers fall victim to retaliation."

"At that moment I thought, even if the higher‑ups wanted to punish me, strip my uniform, I'd accept it; because I was doing the right thing, punishing evil and promoting good."

"Lu Yang's case is actually the same principle; I've looked into the specifics, and there really is no proper solution."

"I also consulted people; the so‑called using an explosion to cancel an explosion stays theoretical; nobody can predict the result, it might even increase lethality and damage."

Xiong Yao said meaningfully: "No wonder you can be a Brigade Commander, can get ahead of me; you have more vision, you live more clearly. So, how will the higher‑ups reward this incident?"

"The Second-Class Collective Merit is definitely secured, and Lu Yang may have additional rewards."

Zheng Chengfeng, smiling, crossed his legs: "The municipal bureau will even come specially to deliver a banner, the provincial department leaders will pick a day to come express thanks, the bomb‑disposal unit hopes to invite Lu Yang as their bomb‑disposal consultant."

"The municipal SWAT bomb‑disposal team also wants to invite Lu Yang over to teach bomb‑disposal techniques."

Xiong Yao slapped his thigh, regretfully said: "Before coming, I just criticized Lu Yang, said pretty harsh things and even punished him to write a self‑criticism; does he resent me? Oh dear, this whole mess… I'm really not a good head!"

Zheng Chengfeng laughed heartily: "It's fine, it's fine, that kid Lu Yang doesn't hold grudges, he won't take it to heart; later when you go back, on the way buy some food and drink, and don't let anyone write a self‑criticism."

"Mm‑hh."

"The Third Brigade has been barely two months since its formation, and already received such a great gift."

Zheng Chengfeng sighed: "This is not only the Quick Reaction Force's first honor, but also the brigade's first honor; its significance is huge; it's also the loudest response to those who doubted us, who looked down on us!"

Xiong Yao, smiling: "Everything is hard at the start; once the first step is taken, future honors and commendations will only increase."

For the Navy, Xiong Yao and Lu Yang are both newcomers.

Although it's only a Second-Class Collective Merit, it can greatly boost everyone's confidence.

It helps this team stand straighter, root deeper, and march more steadily.

"The Navy and the land forces are such a small area, this news will probably spread quickly; I'm afraid someone will be unable to sleep."

"Hahaha, I think so too."

"Dong dong dong."

Back at the company headquarters, Xiong Yao walked in smiling, pushing the door.

He even politely knocked, as if afraid to disturb Lu Yang inside.

"Chief of Staff, hello."

Lu Yang stood up and saluted.

Xiong Yao placed the thing he was holding on the table, a KFC family bucket.

When Kang Changyi was young, after giving him a beating that made him cry, they'd buy a hamburger as a symbolic consolation.

After consoling, they'd beat him again; that kid had no grudges, and after the beating he forgot.

"You haven't eaten yet, right? I bought this especially for you."

"Chief of Staff, what's this…"

"Lu Yang, about those earlier words, don't take them to heart; the head made a mistake blaming you; although the process isn't commendable, the action is worthy of praise, this is your reward."

"Did they get one? They also contributed, right?"

"Yes, of course; you all brought glory to the unit, so there are rewards."

Xiong Yao laughed: "I just went to the brigade headquarters; the Brigade Commander said the Commander personally called to commend you; the municipal bureau, provincial department, bomb‑disposal unit's thank‑you calls kept coming, saying they'll even come to deliver a banner."

These were, in fact, all within Lu Yang's expectations.

When making a choice, one must indeed bear certain risk.

But after the matter is satisfactorily completed, this merit will certainly be earned.

As for whether merits and faults offset each other or each is accounted separately, it all depends on the attitude of the superiors.

Lu Yang is still quite familiar with Zheng Chengfeng, and they get along well; thus, he is confident that the Brigade Commander will definitely not blame him.

The reason is simple: if doing good deeds, doing the right thing, requires paying a price, then who would dare to selflessly devote to the unit without reservation, and sacrifice unreservedly for the country?

Lu Yang also wasn't polite; although he had just eaten, he still craved the family bucket.

He first took a piece, handed it to Xiong Yao, and gained the Chief of Staff's pleased, approving look.

Compared to Lu Yang, his own good-for-nothing nephew is simply far behind.

However, he still needs to go comfort him; otherwise that kid will definitely feel uneasy.