Free Web NovelChapter 489: Chapter 392 Conversation
The assessment ended, and Fang Huai couldn’t remember how.
Anyway, Hu Peizhou didn’t let him continue with the assessment.
He stood there dazed, standing behind the leaders, his ears buzzing, looking at those two retreating figures, constantly thinking about one thing in his heart.
It seemed like his life had been purchased by the state.
There was definitely excitement.
To be chosen by the state required qualifications.
Since enlisting, he had always strived around the question of whether he was "worthy or not."
Deputy Squad Leader, Squad Leader, Party member...
Now, he had finally reached this step—promotion to an officer.
For a soldier, that’s called enduring.
On the path of military development, reaching the step of military officers and cadres means truly overcoming a hurdle.
From now on, he would have to care about the direction of his future; perhaps at some level, he would also need to understand how to maintain relationships with leaders and know whose side to stand on.
The troops are a microcosm of society; now, he had officially become a member of that society.
He didn’t plan to live under anyone’s protection. His uncle represented his capital for doing things, not a shortcut to promotion.
The path ahead could no longer be taken in leaps; every step he took would have to withstand scrutiny.
This was the first heavy burden he faced after feeling renewed inside.
He suddenly felt that completing the step of the Grand Martial Arts Competition was quite important, not just for the extra month or two of rank, but also to stand justified in the face of the honor of promotion.
"Comrade Fang Huai, we look forward to your performance! In October, I will commend your firefighters personally. I hope to hear the good news of you winning the championship!"
"Yes sir!"
Leader Liu left, but Vice Bureau Chief Yu stayed a bit longer.
Vice Bureau Chief Yu first called Hu Peizhou to the car, and soon after, Hu Peizhou called for Fang Huai to join them in the car.
Without Leader Liu, Vice Bureau Chief Yu changed his demeanor.
He became three notches more serious at the very least.
Of course, this was directed at Hu Peizhou.
But when Fang Huai opened the passenger door and carefully sat down, the seriousness radiated onto him as well.
The Vice Bureau Chief, with his hair parted in a 3-to-7 ratio, sat up close, his arms folded, eyes on the ceiling, pondering.
Seeing Fang Huai, Vice Bureau Chief Yu spoke directly:
"Little Fang, who is specifically responsible for this plan at the leadership level?"
Fang Huai shifted his body slightly to face the leader directly and said:
"Report, it’s our Deputy Regimental Commander, Zhang Zhongting."
Vice Bureau Chief Yu nodded and asked, "At the brigade level, what kind of support are you getting?"
Fang Huai pondered a moment and then replied, "It’s significant. Our Corps Captain is the nominal overall person in charge." ƒгeewёbnovel.com
Vice Bureau Chief Yu immediately said, "Then that means the issue with personnel has been resolved, right?"
Fang Huai pursed his lips.
"Personnel will be assured, but as you know, sir, this assurance leaves us no choice but to take whoever each detachment sends us.
We cannot guarantee that the personnel are suited for the specific posts, which also makes it harder to achieve results.
If this were a training class, in just half a year, we could produce a disaster rescue team of international caliber, without worrying about physical fitness, but for a regular Special Service Squadron, it might take over two years, just like our current Squadron, which is still at a very basic training stage."
Facing Vice Bureau Chief Yu, Fang Huai didn’t beat around the bush or play tricks, making no excuses about province-wide staffing shortages or deployment difficulties.
He was straightforward and serious.
With leaders of such a high level, any semblance of hoodwinking or joking could become a reason for disdain.
Regarding standards, he now also had a broader awareness.
Only by stepping out could he realize, where does the Second Squadron stand currently?
Excellent, but certainly not top-notch.
It’s not that there are many squadrons stronger than the Second Squadron right now, but if each brigade built a "Second Squadron" with this mindset, with the capabilities of some of the larger brigades, it would probably only take half a year of adjustment for ten or twenty squads stronger than the Second Squadron, perhaps even much stronger, to emerge nationwide.
Although firefighting regiments have fewer personnel compared to a standard regiment, usually just a few hundred people, at the brigade level, their manpower is surely no less than that of a full-fledged division, and in larger provinces, there are even twenty to thirty regiments. Could there be a shortage of elites?
After listening to him, Vice Bureau Chief Yu lifted a hand he had been holding and waved it, saying:
"You’ll get five personnel transfer quotas, no more, no less, but they aren’t for arbitrary transfers. The selection should aim at specific skills; you can’t just focus on the champions from the national competitions, and moreover, you must communicate well in advance and not go against individual will."
Fang Huai pondered for a moment and replied, "Understood."
Vice Bureau Chief Yu nodded and continued, "Regarding finances, the main support will be in infrastructural development; considering the material prices, Guizhou is slightly higher than Hunan, around twenty million each on average, with Guizhou possibly more by one or two million, more than the budget of the plan you’ve made. As for equipment, your brigade will have to supplement that. How much depends on your ability."
At the words "depends on your ability," Fang Huai couldn’t help but feel a bit squeamish inside.
Like leader, like soldier.
Hu Peizhou’s catchphrase, probably learned from Vice Bureau Chief Yu.
"...Yes."
"How much of the budget reaches your squadron after it’s allocated to the whole corps?"
This question... is quite blunt.
Fang Huai simply shook his head and sighed heavily before replying:
"I don’t know, for all I know, the corps could carve it all up for itself."
This time, Vice Bureau Chief Yu’s expression almost broke, his face twitched momentarily.
Hu Peizhou laughed: "You have a very deep understanding of your corps."
But Fang Huai said, "However, they would only borrow it. If they took ours, they would have to return it doubly eventually. The squadron’s development is definitely secured. The supporting funds from the corps will only be more than those from the bureau."
At this, Vice Bureau Chief Yu’s eyes widened.
His understanding of Fang Huai wasn’t profound; he didn’t know where Fang Huai got the audacity to say that. His intention had indeed been to casually glean some information from Fang Huai, yet for many matters, it was still necessary to coordinate directly with the Guizhou Brigade.
The original intention was not to let this key project he was preparing to build end up as a farce begging for funding.
The opening shot had to make an impact, becoming one of the three key initiatives of his imminent official appointment.
"Little Fang is capable."
Hu Peizhou hadn’t had the chance to explain Fang Huai’s family connections to Vice Bureau Chief Yu yet, and seeing this, he simply mentioned:
Fang Huai seemed to vaguely guess the leader’s concerns. After pondering for half a day, he said, "Commander, if you could approve my return to the squadron during my time at the Military Academy, I can guarantee that the squadron’s renovation work will achieve tangible results."
Before 2008, firefighters promoted from the ranks to Kunzhi were enrolled through higher vocational education dependent on the Langfang Armed Police Academy (China People’s Armed Police Academy). Beginning in August this year, the school leadership was switched to be directly under the management of the Ministry of Public Security’s Fire Department.
All school leaders were appointed by the Fire Department. Even he, who had missed the enrollment approval deadline, managed to get stuffed in. Therefore, getting special approval for leave on official duties naturally wouldn’t be a big issue.
Vice Bureau Chief Yu pondered and said, "You’re a soldier, and a new one at that. The study period for being promoted from the ranks is still important. The qualities required of an officer come through comprehensive training. Little Fang, you are talented. Don’t easily give up the opportunity to be nurtured."
Hearing this, Fang Huai rarely showed a bit of arrogance: "Leader, I have never given up any opportunity to learn. Besides, I have pretty good memory. I can assure you that I will pass the final assessment with more than satisfactory grades."
Hu Peizhou was the one who brought this plan to the leadership’s attention and was also the most aware of Fang Huai’s management skills. At such a critical juncture, sending him to the Military Academy would indeed be detrimental to the implementation of the plan.
Having heard Fang Huai’s initiative, he thought for a moment and said:
"Little Fang, you go ahead, I’ll talk to the leader."
Fang Huai looked at Vice Bureau Chief Yu and, noticing the leader’s slight nod, immediately said, "Thank you, Director."
After saying that, he got out of the car and walked away.
With one less person in the car, the air quieted down significantly.
"Little Fang, his uncle is the person in charge of this project, Zhang Zhongting. I heard he’s being promoted at the end of the year, moving directly from deputy commander of the provincial brigade to deputy corps captain."
"Oh..." Vice Bureau Chief Yu pondered and laughed:
"Then I was being meddlesome about the promotion."
Hu Peizhou shook his head: "He is a person with strong independence. His family has a big business, which he influenced... Huali Electric, they’re not short of money, yet he’s willing to contribute; he’s quite sincere."
Vice Bureau Chief Yu nodded, his gaze clearing up somewhat.
"That’s good, then he truly deserves my interest."
The next words from Hu Peizhou came with some hesitation.
"He... wants his uncle to come to visit you."
This time, Vice Bureau Chief Yu scratched his head and looked sideways: "What does that mean?"
Hu Peizhou suddenly felt a bit sheepish: "Just as it sounds... Little Fang seems to admire you a lot."
Vice Bureau Chief Yu laughed.
"What kind of thinking is that, small-minded? Really, can this be called sincerity? This country belongs to the Party."
"I don’t think he meant that. He just... has too many things he wants to do and hopes for support. I can understand that," Hu Peizhou said.
Hu Peizhou could make statements like these for Fang Huai because of a sympathy he felt within.
"You," Vice Bureau Chief Yu pointed at Hu Peizhou: "Don’t think that everyone else is deluded and only you are sober. Who isn’t working hard? The people you disapprove of are many times more professional than you, and even more grounded in reality. You need to learn to grip and unify existing strengths, to elevate your vision. Otherwise, as a Deputy Chief of Staff, your virtues do not match your position. I’ll give you two words: be cautious."
Having said that, Vice Bureau Chief Yu turned his head to look out the window.
Hu Peizhou was bemused: "That’s the exact same thing that kid told me not so long ago. Seems like he’s better at being an officer than I am."
Your vision isn’t that high after all, about the same as Little Fang’s.
Vice Bureau Chief Yu was momentarily caught off guard, but he wasn’t one to lose a verbal spar.
"If a young man can see there’s a problem with you, then you need to really reflect and correct it."
"Understood."
"If you understand, then you should merge with the dust and not voice your criticisms so openly. Keep them internal. The conflict you had in the corps meeting with Deputy Chief of Staff Liu, don’t let that happen again. You’re still inexperienced. When he becomes your superior, you’ll have to face the consequences. You’re both up for colonel, don’t expect me to always bail you out."
"That was a work conflict, not a personal dispute, Uncle, please be cautious."
