Chapter 524: Explanation? To Whom Should We Give an Explanation?

Report.

Come in, have a seat.

Xiong Yao pushed the door open and entered the brigade commander's office.

Zheng Chengfeng was by the coffee table, fiddling with the newly bought tea set.

A friend just gave me some aged pu-erh; try it.

It's pretty fragrant.

The tea cake is big; I broke it into several pieces. I have an empty tea box here—take some back later to try.

Then I won't stand on ceremony.

Xiong Yao didn't decline either; he and Zheng Chengfeng were classmates at the military academy, and their relationship is close.

Zheng Chengfeng set down his teacup and asked, "How's the training going over there with Lu Yang and the others? It's been almost a week—shouldn't they be coming back?"

Xiong Yao: "I came specifically to tell you this; the originally planned one-week training might need to be postponed by three or four days."

What obstacle did you run into?

In the wilderness survival segment, the regular troops' soldiers had no prior exposure; some are slow to get into it. So Lu Yang appropriately adjusted the training plan, extending the period.

This kid is actually quite conscientious and responsible; if it were some slack-assignment guy, he'd be eager to finish early.

Xiong Yao nodded in agreement: "Lu Yang being specially promoted and selected as a training instructor isn't without reason."

He reported via radio yesterday, saying overall progress is quite noticeable.

The soldiers' physical fitness, endurance, and agility have significantly improved; almost every soldier lost five to ten jin in a short time.

Zheng Chengfeng grunted: "With such high-intensity training for a week, limited food and water, not losing weight would be strange; what's condensed is the essence, what's shed is excess—job well done."

Xiong Yao continued: "Also, the troops stationed at the camp are intensively completing specialized training; I purposely visited beforehand, and each of them is picking it up quite quickly."

Basically, they can already reach the entry level of the Engineer Company; laying mines, breaching obstacles, setting simple tripwires—no big problem.

They're already the elite among veteran soldiers, having passed multiple rounds of selection to get here; their learning speed is relatively fast.

In future combat, each of these soldiers will be a jack-of-all-trades, able to fill any vacant position at a moment's notice.

Zheng Chengfeng was quite satisfied with that.

Based on soldiers' attributes, dividing them into different functions allows combat power to be maximized.

It must be said, Lu Yang indeed has a talent for leading and training troops; without systematic study, he can still make each step steady based on experience.

If he were sent back to the military academy for further study, after systematic training, what would he become?

"The first phase is over; when does he plan to start the second phase?"

"We'll launch it right after, but..."

Seeing Xiong Yao hesitate, Zheng Chengfeng looked up at him: "But what?"

Xiong Yao hesitated: "But I'm worried the second phase's intensity is too high; some might not cope. Also, we really don't need to give the Flood Dragon side a heads‑up—if they find out..."

Zheng Chengfeng wore an expression of indifference: "So they know—what can they do?"

"I think..."

"No need for you to think, nor me to think; handling this via procedure wastes time and effort, and by the time there's a result the yellow flowers might be cold; besides, the Flood Dragon side is rich and powerful—they might not care at all."

"That makes sense; let's do it that way."

Xiong Yao suddenly remembered: "By the way, there's another matter."

Zheng Chengfeng poured tea into his cup, asking offhand: "What's up?"

"The Night Tiger Reconnaissance Battalion was criticized in a brigade-wide bulletin on my way here."

"Just the brigade bulletin? I thought it was an army-wide bulletin."

Xiong Yao lowered his voice: "So far, the Second Brigade hasn't made a move; as the saying goes, a quiet kid is up to something—do you think they'll come looking for trouble?"

Zheng Chengfeng chuckled: "Heh, what does that have to do with us?"

Xiong Yao cleared his throat and leaned in: "This matter, after all, concerns Lu Yang..."

"Enough."

Zheng Chengfeng raised his hand: "There's no evidence showing this incident is linked to anyone in our brigade."

Xiong Yao hastily corrected himself: "Exactly, exactly, exactly! Military Police spot checks are just routine; the better the unit, the more it should lead by example."

"Those off‑the‑books aircraft and those contraband items weren't slipped in by outsiders; the bulletin's accusations aren't unjust at all."

Zheng Chengfeng gazed at the amber tea in his cup: "Superiors establishing the Third Brigade is essentially a warning and spur to the old units; I hope this teaches them a lesson."

"As for them coming to pick a fight, heh, let them come—I'll sit here and wait; who's afraid of whom..."

Outside came a noisy clamor, and then the door was kicked open with a bang.

Zheng Chengfeng was startled by the sudden commotion, his hand shaking a little, spilling tea all over the table.

Second Brigade Commander Feng Ming, leading people, stood at the door fuming like a debt collector, bringing a few subordinates charging in.

"Brigade Commander, they're forcing their way in with people; we really can't stop them..."

"It's none of your business—get out."

Zheng Chengfeng waved his hand, had the guards step back temporarily, then put on a fawning smile and went forward to meet them.

"Old brigade commander, what wind blew you here? Why didn't you call first?"

"Greetings, Second Brigade Commander."

Xiong Yao also rose and returned the salute.

He really hadn't expected Zheng Chengfeng's mouth to be so effective.

Just as he'd mentioned Feng Ming, the latter showed up with people ready to fight.

Looking at this posture, the visitors mean no good—it looks like they're coming to accuse us.

But this is after all the Third Brigade headquarters, their home turf, so Xiong Yao wasn't scared either.

Feng Ming let out a cold snort: "Calling you, afraid you'd run away!"

Zheng Chengfeng still chuckled: "How could it not be? I've been hoping you'd come. Your coming brings glory to my brigade, letting this shabby temple of mine shine!"

Feng Ming thoroughly disliked his smug look; back when this guy was under my command, he was just like this.

This made everyone misjudge, thinking Zheng Chengfeng was just a flatterer who rose by bootlicking, a deputy official with no real ability.

Yet who would have thought that after being transferred to brigade commander of the Third Brigade, he quietly pulled off a big move; he not only earned great merit, but also stabbed his old unit in the back, leaving them unable to show their faces.

"Come, come, come, drink tea, drink tea; just-unsealed pu'er, have a taste."

As the saying goes, you don't strike a smiling face; after sitting down, Feng Ming still drank a cup of tea.

The pu'er tea is mellow, bitter with a rich aftertaste; it's indeed a fine tea, but he had no mood to savor it carefully.

Feng Ming slammed the teacup down on the table and said bluntly: "Three things: first, hand over Lu Yang, we're taking him away; second, set out wine and formally apologize."

"Third, return all the stuff our brigade swindled through deceit—equipment, funds, and logistical supplies, fuel, beef and mutton, everything!"

Xiong Yao furrowed his brows, not expecting the other side to be so sharp; the three demands hit the vital point.

At this point it wasn't his turn to speak; the two brigade commanders faced off, so it was better to observe first.

Zheng Chengfeng's expression was somewhat awkward, also tinged with innocence and incomprehension: "Wait a minute, wait a minute, Old Feng, what's with this one-two-three, you're making me confused, what do you mean?"

Having just finished hemorrhoid surgery and been discharged, the Night Tiger Deputy Battalion Commander Huang Honghui spoke up first: "Brigade Commander Zheng, stop pretending; Lu Yang designed the retaliation, causing us to be reported and criticized, and he snatched away the interview report that originally belonged to us!"

"He's the mastermind behind this whole affair; we must call him out and give us an explanation!"

"An explanation, what explanation?"

Zheng Chengfeng lowered his head and wiped the water stain on the table with a tissue.

By the time he raised his head again, all the earlier flattery and politeness had vanished.

His expression was three parts mocking, seven parts arrogant, completely not putting the other side in his eyes...