Chapter Fifty-One

  Two hours later, I saw that everyone had arrived and announced the start of the meeting. I read out the telegram to everyone, and after finishing reading it, everyone's face showed excitement and they talked to each other excitedly. Pang Weiguo laughed loudly and said: "Haha, I've also become a deputy commander, haha!"

  Lao Xing also said with some emotion: "Since I came to the 53rd Regiment, I've been rising like a sesame seed bursting into bloom! Now I'm also Deputy Commander, it's something I couldn't have imagined when I first arrived!"

  Lao Cheng said with a bitter face: "How did I end up changing careers again? Doing political work! Deputy director of the Political Department?!"

  Lao Lan said disdainfully, "You're just pretending to be unhappy, aren't you? You're clearly thrilled, but still putting on a long face?! Lao Cheng, if you don't take the job, who will?! Or are you going to decline?"

  Lao Cheng glared with both eyes and said: "Who says I'm not suitable for this? I'm saying that being a deputy director is not bad! How about you, are you jealous?"

  Lao Lan said in a bad temper: "Do I envy you? I'm also the deputy chief of staff of the military region!"

  I watched everyone's happy faces, and I didn't say a word, smiling at them. Old Han saw me like this and said: "We haven't congratulated the commander yet! Haha!" "Yes, yes." "Congratulations, Commander!"...

  Old Wu corrected him: "What battalion commander? Now it's a regimental commander. It's a regimental commander!" "Ah, right, right"

  I stood up and said, "Alright, alright, everyone stop for a moment, I have two words to say." After hearing this, everyone gradually quieted down, looking at me and listening to my speech. I cleared my throat and said, "Comrades, this is the trust of the Party, the Chairman, and the Military Commission in us, it is an affirmation of our abilities and achievements. We have today because of the collective efforts of our entire 7th Army, including Comrade Davier, Yeluo and others. Of course, I also want to congratulate them. Comrade Davier, you are now the commander of the 107th Army of Longwei Country, congratulations!" Davier smiled and repeatedly said, "It is the trust of the organization."

  I then turned to Delyatitsyn and said: "Comrade Delyatitsyn, you are now the commander of the Internal Affairs Department of the Western Oblast, congratulations!"

  Diluoye stood up and said in broken Longwei dialect: "This is an appointment by Officer Tang, I am willing to die for Officer Tang."

  I hastily said: "Not for me, but for the country, for the people!"

  Diluoye listened and said: "Yes, whatever Officer Tang says is what it is!"

  I smiled wryly and shook my head, gesturing to Dieluo to sit down. I continued, "Now we have a 7-day preparation period. In a few days, Zhang Zhengwei, Xu Siyuan, and Zhou Canmou will arrive. We must work hard to show them the military appearance of our 7th Army."

  Lao Wu and Yang Zhi looked at each other, shook their heads and didn't say a word. I didn't notice it either, and continued to speak: "The Military Commission has given us a clear task, which is to consolidate the results and let the people of Xizang Province live a stable and happy life as soon as possible. The specific arrangements will be discussed and implemented after the military region is established. That's all I have to say. Now it's up to Vice Political Commissar Cheng to add a few words."

  Lao Cheng stood up and said: "I have nothing to say, Commander Tang has said what needs to be said. I just want to say one thing, that is to take good care of the soldiers, work hard, for the country, for honor, fight!"

  Then comes Lao Lan...

  I think we've all said enough, let's adjourn the meeting. I had just returned to my office when Old Wu and Yang Zhi arrived. Seeing them, I was taken aback and asked: "What's going on? Is there some new development?" After speaking, I hastily called for Chase to brew tea and invited them to sit down. As soon as they sat down, Old Wu began to speak: "Commander Tang, I'd like to offer a few opinions about you."

  "I was slightly surprised and asked: 'About my opinion?'"

  "Yes."

  I said: "Uh, you go ahead and say it."

  Old Wu said calmly: "What I mean is that there's a bit of a problem with your style."

  I exclaimed in surprise: "Is there something wrong with my style?!"

  "Yes, it's warlord style."

  "I said: 'What are you talking about? I don't have any warlord tendencies!'"

  Yang Zhi said at this time: "Commander, you also haven't noticed your own situation. Your speech and actions now indeed have a certain warlord style, just like what was said in the meeting earlier, things like 'my 7th army', 'let them take a look', these clearly carry personalistic ideological colors. I had wanted to remind you before, but now that you are the military region commander, speaking without reserve will brew up big disasters."

  I said: "Is this also a problem? Isn't the 7th Army everyone's, all officers and soldiers?"

  "It doesn't mean that, it means you can't say 'I', 'my', this carries the idea of mountain stronghold-ism, and will make the Military Commission think you're forming a clique or a small collective."

  I'm getting frustrated: "That's not what I meant at all."

  Yang Zhi said: "You didn't mean it, but your words and actions in the 53rd Regiment, 201st Division, and 7th Corps have left a deep impression on you. Whenever something goes wrong, the soldiers below are used to solving problems with their fists. Now, the whole army is popularizing the use of duels to solve problems. Even if there are small conflicts between soldiers, they will also use duels. Whoever has the harder fist is right. Last time, even Vice Chairman Lin said that our 7th Corps is a proud and fierce general after seeing us!"

  I was stunned, Wu Jianguo said with a wry smile: "Not only the soldiers below, but also the old Xing of the 201st division, a group of old party members and cadres over 45 years old, all of whom were originally division-level and regimental-level cadres. They have principles, right? Even they are now under your influence, not fighting in the command post, but liking to shout charge with their shirts off. I say two sentences to him, what does he say? He says that it should be like the military commander, having blood nature, this can lead to good soldiers! I also know a bit about their thoughts, they all want to show off and gain prestige." I was speechless after listening, just quietly listening to him. He continued: "The old Chengs have been with you for the shortest time, but now they are all on the same boat as you. What do you usually say? What's the point of saying 'one honor is shared by all, one loss is shared by all'? The problem is that they are on the same boat as you, and they are all rising up with you, how can they not listen to you? Who doesn't want to be promoted? It can be said that you are now the big boss in the 7th Army."

  Yang Zhi continued, "Even Davier and Deliot are like this, willing to die for their superiors! Whatever the superior says is what it is! You listen, Commander!"

  Old Wu said with a bit of bitterness: "Do you know when I realized the severity of this situation?"

  I shook my head, Old Wu said: "It was just now, I was happy for myself to be promoted at the meeting, and I thought it was great to follow you, able to stand out! TMD even I was infected and assimilated by you." Yang Zhi also nodded beside him.

  I opened my mouth wide and was stunned, thoroughly stunned.