Chapter 18: Field Promotion

  Ten minutes later, Li Jiankun was the first to jump off the helicopter. He simply identified Meng Yao standing among the soldiers and quickly ran to his front. Meng Yao didn't waste any words either, pointing at the numerous small mountain torrents rushing down everywhere, "See that? Your task now is to make these mountain torrents listen and all flow into the lake below, don't let those frightened people feel terrified anymore, it's a great achievement if you can do it."

  Li Jiankun glanced at the trembling crowd in the rain, as a top student of war zone defense at the National Defense University, he really understood Meng Yao's meaning. It was just building some diversion channels and reasonably arranging them without affecting the overall structure of the camp, which was simply a piece of cake. However, he looked at his limited number of soldiers with difficulty, this small number of people was not enough.

  At this time, Meng Yao finally smiled slightly and stepped forward to the front of the bandits, shouting loudly: "Zhang Pockmarked, where is Zhang Pockmarked?"

  A figure crept forward, trembling with fear.

  Meng Yao took a glance at him, but there was no scar on his face. "Zhang Pockmark, Zhang Head," Meng Yao called out his name with a smile, asking: "Tell me, what bad things have you done under Long Xiaotian's hands, and how many people are under your control?"

  Zhang Pizzi's eyelids didn't dare to lift, and he timidly explained in a low voice: "Return, return old master, no, return big man's words, the little people haven't done anything bad, originally under his hands managing a group of people, patrolling the mountain."

  One platoon, how many people are in a platoon? Meng Yao was stunned for a moment, recalling the military system of this era in his mind. According to the "Small Troop Training" after the "Special German Chapter" and "All German Camps", one army has left and right wings, with two infantry battalions and one artillery battalion on the left wing; three infantry battalions, one cavalry battalion, and an engineering battalion on the right wing. Under the town, there are cooperatives, brigades, regiments, teams, squads, and sheds, equivalent to the later divisions, brigades, regiments, battalions, and squads. Where did the platoon come from? Buying cakes, what is Cao Feibiao doing with airplanes? Let him pick some low-level heads to come back and manage the bandits again. How can he always pick those who are not in the mainstream? Is a platoon just a squad leader?

  Forget it, Meng Yao waved his hand and pointed at the pouring rain above, saying, "See that? You're not afraid of being washed away by the flood, are you? Now I'll give you a chance to make amends. If you do well, I'll consider helping you wipe out your record as a bandit. And from now on, you're no longer just in charge of one person, but all the people here. From today on, you're their leader."

  Zhang Pizong's eyes lit up instantly, and he carefully looked at Meng Yao. Suddenly, with a plop, he knelt on the ground, not caring about the rainwater and mud. He kept kowtowing while tearfully shouting: "Thank you, sir! No, thank you, great leader! I'll remember this, from now on I'll follow you, sir!"

  Meng Yao kicked him lightly and said seriously: "Get up, you have to remember what you just said. However, don't bow your head again in the future, we don't do that here."

  At this time, Li Jiankun led his men over and assigned them to Zhang Ou's leadership, with about 100 people in each team and 10 people in each group. The large school field, which was still noisy and crowded just now, suddenly only had more than 20 people left, standing alone in a daze. Meng Yao curiously watched them without saying much. Soon, everything was arranged, but Li Jiankun seemed to have forgotten about the twenty or so people, leading Zhang Ou back to Meng Yao's side.

  "Reporting to the squad leader, are there any further instructions?"

  Meng Yao shook his head, "That's it, everything in front of you is your only task." As he spoke, he also deliberately avoided looking at those who had been forgotten. So-called mountain people have their own wonderful plans, not even giving others this right, does that make sense?

  Zhang Chouzi suddenly looked at Meng Yao, puffed out his chest and stuck out his butt, but couldn't fart for half a day. Probably, this guy saw the respectful appearance of Cao Feibiao and Li Jiankun and wanted to learn from them too. Meng Yao smiled and turned around to say: "Did you suddenly remember that there's something else you haven't said?"

  Zhang Hezi was taken aback, and his big mouth subconsciously shouted out, "G-great leader, how did you know?"

  "Call me Commander Meng just like they do," Meng Yao ordered, "If what you say is valuable, I'll give you another merit point."

  Zhang Chao thought for a moment, then suddenly leaned in close, not noticing Zhuge Dun was still by his side. He stretched out his hand and pushed him away several steps. Meng You hastily signaled to Zhuge Dun, and only then did Zhang Chao say in a strange tone of voice, "R-report... In the commander's left wing room... there are also about twenty of the commander's female relatives."

  What's with the "great general" and "lady"? Meng Yao soon came to his senses, then glanced at Lu Tao beside him.

  Lu Tao immediately raised an eyebrow and gave him a knowing look.

  It seems that the commander had already made up his mind on the mountain. I reckon Long Xiao Tian thought he could write a couple of characters, so he dared to wear such a high hat. However, what to do with the women is still a problem.

  Meng Yao nodded unknowingly and waved his hand for Zhang Chaozi to leave.

  "Company Commander, Instructor, since there are no other instructions, I also need to convey the temporary resolution of the company party committee," Li Jiankun said, not daring to look at Meng Yao, but only keeping his eyes on Lu Tao. "Please have both commanding officers withdraw immediately, one by helicopter and one on foot, and return to the temporary headquarters."

  When Meng Yao heard that, he was furious. The head of the party committee in the camp was absent, what kind of meeting was this? It's a coup! Lu Tao smiled when he heard it and immediately said, "Okay, okay, anyway, there's nothing important going on, let's go back to the camp." He led the way towards the helicopter, saying with a hint of embarrassment, "I'm older than you by a few years, so I'll take advantage of that and sit in the plane. I'll leave the guards with you, you can walk back slowly."

  Looking at Lu Tao who had squeezed himself into the cabin ahead of time, Meng Yao could only shake his head.

  Two officials of the same rank cannot ride in the same plane, car or other vehicle. This is a strict rule set by later generations. It's easy to understand. But why does he always take risks and put himself in danger just because he's older? Meng Yao thought resentfully, then suddenly turned around and glared at Li Jiankun with a fierce expression: "I order you, complete the entire project within three days."

  Of course, this is impossible. He could only sulkily wave his hand at Zhuge Dan, "Let's go, lest we be chased away by them later."

  Li Jiankun suddenly grabbed Meng Yao and said with a smile: "Captain, since you've given me this errand, isn't there something a little better to reward this poor guy?" As he spoke, his hand reached into Meng Yao's pocket. Meng Yao patted his pocket but couldn't catch it, then laughed and said: "Oh, I remember now, I still have half a pack of Soft Chinese cigarettes, why don't you just take them all?"

  Li Jian Kun greedily sniffed the cigarette, and hastily picked one up, saying with a straight face, "Battalion Commander, I was actually called back for something. That Long Xiao Tian said he had an important matter that he must see you in person to discuss. Knowing you're at his hideout, he also told me to warn you to beware of the big water."

  "Is he being kind again?" Meng Yao glared at the cigarette in his hand, humming, "It's all foxes paying New Year's greetings to chickens - no good intentions."

  This scene was deeply etched in Zhang Chouzi's mind.

  There was a moment when his mind went blank. He couldn't help but want to shout, jump, and even recklessly grab someone and mutter to them. The people in front of him, why did they become more and more blurry as he looked at them? But one thing he understood clearly: if Meng Yao were replaced by Long Xiao Tian, even if he was beaten to death, he wouldn't dare be so reckless. Mountain god, what kind of group of people are these grandfathers?!

  Zhang Chouzi didn't know that in a few years, he would also start searching Meng Yao's pockets like Li Jiankun. However, by then, Meng Yao's pockets had long been replaced with large leather bags.