nashuaworldcup Chapter 34 Promotion to Colonel
Chapter 34 Promotion to Colonel
The day before their departure, a special conferment ceremony was being held in the auditorium of the Southwest Military Region Headquarters.
The auditorium was packed. Not only were all members of the Hunter Blade Special Forces present, but also many representatives from the 127th Regiment—Regimental Commander Zhao Tiezhu, Reconnaissance Company Commander Lao Zhou, and several soldiers from the Eagle's Beak Cliff outpost. Commander Chen Jianfeng stood on the platform, flanked by several military region leaders.
Lin Zhe stood below the stage, his military uniform impeccably straight. He didn't know what was happening today; he had only been notified to attend the ceremony.
Chen Jianfeng walked to the microphone and cleared his throat: "Comrades, today we are holding a special conferment ceremony. The protagonist of the ceremony is someone you all know very well—Comrade Lin Zhe."
All eyes were on Lin Zhe.
"Comrade Lin Zhe joined the army before he was nineteen and is not yet twenty-three." Chen Jianfeng's voice was loud and clear. "In these few years, he has set many records: graduating from the National University of Defense Technology in one year, voluntarily applying to the most arduous border defense company, and personally earning three first-class merits; being transferred to the Hunter Blade Special Operations Team as deputy captain, leading the team to win first place in the entire army's skills competition; submitting multiple important technical reports, promoting the upgrading of our army's equipment; and compiling the training outline for the entire army's special forces, which received high praise from the Central Military Commission..."
He paused, looking at Lin Zhe below the stage: "In view of Comrade Lin Zhe's outstanding contributions, the Central Military Commission has decided, after deliberation, to award Comrade Lin Zhe one First-Class Merit, two Second-Class Merits, and four Third-Class Merits. He is also promoted to the rank of Colonel, an exceptional promotion!"
The auditorium was silent for a moment, then erupted in thunderous applause!
Colonel! A 23-year-old colonel! This is not just "exceptional," it's unprecedented!
Lin Zhe was stunned. He knew he would receive a reward, but he didn't expect it to be this significant—a direct promotion to colonel!
"Comrade Lin Zhe, please come up on stage." Chen Jianfeng beckoned.
Lin Zhe took a deep breath and walked onto the stage. Chen Jianfeng personally pinned the First-Class Merit Medal on him and replaced the Lieutenant Colonel's shoulder insignia with the new Colonel's shoulder insignia.
Two bars and three stars gleamed under the lights.
"Lin Zhe, this is what you deserve." Chen Jianfeng held his hand and said softly, "The Central Military Commission said that this is to make up for the previous rewards. The country remembers the contributions you have made to the army."
"Thank you, Commander! Thank you, organization!" Lin Zhe stood at attention and saluted, his voice slightly choked with emotion.
After the ceremony, Lin Zhe was surrounded by his comrades.
"Captain Lin, no, Colonel Lin! Congratulations!"
"A 23-year-old colonel, my God!"
"Brother Lin, you're amazing!"
Old Zhou squeezed through the crowd and patted Lin Zhe's shoulder forcefully: "Good lad! I knew you were destined for greatness! It hasn't been long, and you're already a colonel!"
Zhao Tiezhu also arrived: "Lin Zhe, you are the pride of our 127th Regiment! No matter how high you fly in the future, never forget this place!"
Lin Zhe responded to each of them, his heart filled with emotion. These comrades-in-arms and officers were the starting point of his military career and his eternal home.
That evening, the Hunter Blade Special Forces held a simple farewell party for Lin Zhe. There was no alcohol—combat troops are prohibited from drinking alcohol, only soft drinks. But the atmosphere was very warm.
"Team Leader Lin, you absolutely must pass the test!" Old Ma said, holding up his drink. "If you make it into a stronger team, our Hunter Blade team will be proud of you!"
"Yes! Captain Lin, you are the strongest!" the team members echoed.
Looking at his comrades-in-arms with whom he had spent so much time, Lin Zhe felt a pang of reluctance: "No matter where I am, Hunter Blade will always be my home. You must continue to work hard and carry on the Hunter Blade banner."
"yes!"
The next morning, Lin Zhe carried his simple luggage and walked towards the waiting military vehicle. All the members of the Hunter Blade team lined up to see him off, and Commander Chen Jianfeng also came.
"Lin Zhe, do your best when you get to Beijing." Chen Jianfeng patted him on the shoulder, "But don't put too much pressure on yourself. Even if you don't make it into 'Hidden Dragon,' you'll still be the youngest colonel in the entire army, with a bright future ahead of you."
"I understand, Commander." Lin Zhe saluted. "Thank you for your guidance and training over the years!"
"Go ahead," Chen Jianfeng replied.
As the car started, Lin Zhe turned around, looking at the camp getting further and further away, and at his comrades waving goodbye... his heart was filled with mixed emotions.
The Southwest Military Region, where he fought for four years. From there, he rose from a border guard to a special operations elite, from a lieutenant to a colonel.
Now, he is moving to a broader stage.
Meanwhile, at a secret base in Beijing.
Located deep underground, it takes nearly 100 meters to descend via a dedicated elevator to reach the base. The interior is brightly lit, and its facilities are so advanced they seem out of place in this era.
In a conference room, twelve people sat. The head of the table was a lieutenant general, in his fifties, with a dignified face and sharp eyes. He was the direct superior of "Hidden Dragon," codenamed "Dragon King."
Seated to the side was a major general in his forties, the captain of the "Hidden Dragon" squadron, codenamed "Dragon Head." The other ten men, ranging in age from twenty-five to thirty-five, and in ranks from major to colonel, were all active-duty members of the "Hidden Dragon" squadron.
On the large screen in front of them, Lin Zhe's information was being displayed.
From birth to enlistment, from border defense to special operations, from technological research to actual combat missions... everything is presented in great detail.
"Twenty-three years old, colonel." A lieutenant colonel in his thirties, codenamed "Dragon Fang," raised an eyebrow as he looked at the rank displayed on the screen. "One rank higher than me."
"They're capable." Another team member, codenamed "Dragon Claw," a 27-year-old major, shrugged. "Three first-class merits, a bunch of technical contributions, first place in the entire army competition... These achievements are top-notch even in our team."
Lieutenant General "Dragon King" began, "Everyone has seen the information. Comrade Lin Zhe's situation is special—he wasn't trained from a young age; he came to the field later in life. But his achievements are undeniable. The Central Military Commission's intention is to have him participate in the test to see if he's qualified to join 'Hidden Dragon.'"
Major General "Dragon Head" then asked, "What are everyone's thoughts on the test plan?"
"Dragon Fang" spoke first: "Regarding military skills, I've seen the exercise videos and mission reports, no problem. Hand-to-hand combat, shooting, tactical command... all top-notch. Especially the hand-to-hand combat, the style he used was quite interesting."
"Not to mention his cultural and linguistic abilities." A bespectacled female team member, codenamed "Dragon Eyes," a 28-year-old lieutenant colonel, adjusted her glasses. "He's fluent in English and Russian, and is currently learning French and Arabic. As for scientific and technological knowledge... his reports are admired by all the old experts in the General Armaments Department."
"The political background check was also fine," another team member said. "His family background is clean; his grandfather was a founding general, his father is a mayor, and his brother works in a ministry. He himself is loyal and reliable."
"And what about your weaknesses?" the dragon head asked.
A few seconds of silence followed. "Dragon Claw" spoke up: "It's probably vehicle driving. He understands it theoretically, but lacks practical experience. Tanks, airplanes, submarines... these all require extensive training."
"He also has overseas experience," Longya added. "Most of our missions are overseas, requiring us to adapt to different environments and cultures. He's never been abroad, so that's a blank area for him."
The Dragon King nodded: "Then design tests specifically for their weaknesses. Each person will be responsible for one area, comprehensively assessing their abilities."
"How should we divide the work?" the dragon head asked.
"Dragon Fang, you're in charge of hand-to-hand combat and shooting," the Dragon King assigned. "Dragon Claw, you're in charge of tactical command and teamwork. Dragon Eye, you're in charge of communication and intelligence analysis. The rest of you will be responsible for vehicle driving, wilderness survival, infiltration, and more..."
He paused for a moment, then said, "I'll take charge of the last item, the loyalty test."
"Yes!" everyone responded in unison.
"The test is scheduled for three days from now," the Dragon King said. "The location: the base training ground and a simulated environment. Remember, the test must be realistic, but safety must also be guaranteed. Lin Zhe is a key national talent; there can be no mistakes."
"clear!"
After the meeting, the Dragon Head kept the Dragon King behind: "Chief, do you think... Lin Zhe can pass?"
The Dragon King stared at Lin Zhe's photo on the screen, remaining silent for a moment. "To be honest, I don't know. In the thirty years since 'Hidden Dragon' was founded, only three people have joined after reaching adulthood. Each and every one of them is an unparalleled genius. Lin Zhe... he has that potential, but whether he can realize it depends on himself."
"If he passes, he'll be the youngest member of our team, and a colonel at that..." Dragon Head chuckled wryly. "What about those kids? Won't they be upset?"
"Strength speaks for itself," the Dragon King said calmly. "The rules of 'Hidden Dragon' are that the strongest goes first. If Lin Zhe can truly pass all the tests, it proves he has the ability. Dissatisfied? Beat him until he submits."
Dragon Head laughed: "That's true. Our team has never lacked troublemakers, nor has it lacked people to deal with them."
When Lin Zhe arrived in Beijing, it was already evening. He didn't report to the Central Military Commission; instead, he was taken directly to that secret base.
After a rigorous check, he descended in a private elevator. When the elevator doors opened, the sight before him was breathtaking—it was a completely underground world! Spacious corridors, bright lights, and all sorts of advanced equipment...
A young soldier approached: "Colonel Lin, please come with me. Your accommodations have been arranged."
Lin Zhe followed him through several passageways to a room. The room was small, but fully equipped with a bed, a desk, a bathroom, and even a small training area.
"The test starts the day after tomorrow," the soldier said. "You are free to move around and familiarize yourself with the environment for the next two days. You can walk freely inside the base, but you cannot go to areas marked 'No Entry.' Here is the base map and precautions."
He handed over a tablet computer.
"Thank you." Lin Zhe accepted it.
After the soldiers left, Lin Zhe tidied up briefly and then turned on his tablet. It contained a detailed introduction to the base, a general outline of the testing process, and some important notes.
He looked at it very carefully. This was the "Hidden Dragon" base, and every detail could determine the success or failure of the test.
That evening, Lin Zhe ate dinner in the base's canteen. The canteen wasn't crowded; besides the staff, there were only a few team members in training uniforms. They looked at Lin Zhe with curious eyes, but no one came up to speak to him.
Lin Zhe didn't initiate conversation. After quietly finishing his meal, he returned to his room. He took out his notebook and began planning his preparations for the next two days.
Vehicle driving is a weakness; I need to find a way to improve it. Although I can't actually drive it, I can simulate it in my mind...
In terms of language, we need to continue to strengthen our skills...
Tactical command requires reviewing classic battle examples...
Night fell, and the base grew quiet. Lin Zhe lay in bed, but couldn't fall asleep.
A 23-year-old colonel, the "Hidden Dragon" test, a brand new challenge...
In this life, he traveled faster and farther than he had anticipated.
But that's not enough. He wants to become the strongest soldier, to see a wider world, and to do more for this country.
Three days later, the test begins. He will prove with his abilities that he is qualified to be one of them.
Lin Zhe closed his eyes, adjusted his breathing, and began practicing Hunyuan Gong. The "qi" within his body flowed slowly, gradually calming him down.