The temporary camp area for the troops participating in the exercise is quite far from the beach, requiring a ride in an open jeep to get there. Passing a hillside, many engineers are busy building a viewing platform.

The viewing platform looks somewhat like a stadium, arranged in tiers.

Looking back, it's clear that the platform is well-positioned, allowing a full view of the entire beach.

Han Yu curiously asked, "Commander, will you sit up there during the formal exercise to observe?"

"Don't keep calling me commander; people will laugh if they hear," Captain Meng smiled and pointed towards the platform. "That's where the officers sit; I don't have the qualification to go there."

"Will the Big Commander come?"

"You'll find out tomorrow."

It can be imagined that the place is for an Admiral, even a Vice Admiral here isn't considered a big officer, let alone a Lieutenant General. Han Yu realized this and didn't ask further.

The camp area of the 402nd Army is under the hillside, about two kilometers from the viewing platform.

There are rows of temporary tents, sentinels are on duty outside the camp area, and traffic is directed at the entrance to the camp area.

Judging from the number of tents, the soldiers coming to the island to participate in the exercise are not many, roughly one regiment based on a rough estimate.

However, the morale of these soldiers is much better than those transported by the Binjiang Civilian Transport Team. It's expected, as the 402nd Army is a frontline unit tasked with operations towards Taiwan, and their base is not far from the shore, having surely organized amphibious training many times before.

Following Captain Meng into the tent, several computers were seen, with staff busy in front of them. In the center of the tent was a sand table, filled with little red flags.

"Captain, is this the C4I, the automated command system for the troops?"

"It's just a showpiece!"

Captain Meng took off his hat, invited Han Yu to sit, and bluntly said, "Going to war isn't like inviting someone for dinner; it relies on soldiers' dedication. Using computers as the core to collect and transmit information, automate processing and ensure equipment support to command troops isn't practical!"

Han Yu didn't expect him to say this and didn't know how to respond for a moment.

Captain Meng didn't treat Han Yu as an outsider, taking out a cigarette while continuing, "It's not that I don't believe in this C4I, it's mainly that our equipment and conditions are what they are; implementing this isn't realistic in the short term, but not setting up some computers for show isn't feasible either."

For troops to achieve modernization, it relies not just on technological equipment but also on high-quality and highly-educated soldiers.

Han Yu wasn't clear about how the officers were, but as a former Military Minister of Linghai Development Zone, he knew current soldiers' education levels had somewhat improved from before, but were still mainly high school level, with few college-educated soldiers; how to achieve modernization?

The automated system requires even higher educational standards.

This reserve Major, who obtained a bachelor's degree through self-study exams, still doesn't understand computers, let alone soldiers who hadn't even touched a computer before enlisting.

Thinking of these, Han Yu chuckled bitterly, "Looks like I've been misled by 'Breakthrough'."

"While 'Breakthrough' was well-made, the modern military technology in the show can be described as art derived from life but elevated above life," Captain Meng smiled slightly and spoke seriously, "Salted Fish, did you receive any notices from superiors?"

"Apart from the notice for me to come ashore, there's a notice for me to attend a meeting on the supply ship at East Sea Base at 9 PM."

"Do you know what meeting the Navy wants you to attend?"

"I guess it's to assign the upcoming tasks."

"You don't know, but I do."

"Commander, how do you know?"

Captain Meng smiled, raising his head as Chief of Staff Jiang explained while holding a cup, "When I was inquiring about the 'Red Saber Battalion,' I came across Captain Fang from the Navy responsible for troop transport and logistic support, who said your task was completed."

Han Yu asked in surprise, "My task was completed!"

"Precisely, your troops are to be taken over."

"What do you mean?"

"Though termed an exercise, it's actually a drill, and we practice before practicing." Chief of Staff Jiang took a small sip of water and patiently explained, "The troops participating in the drill will rest tonight, familiarize themselves with their respective landing sites tomorrow morning, and organize training on the beach according to the exercise plan.

Starting the day after tomorrow, embark the troops for combat drills, make a round at sea, and conduct beach landing combat training. The Air Force, Navy, Second Artillery, and Navy Aviation will also participate. The Air Force's task is heavy; it needs to collaborate with Navy Aviation to secure air supremacy, organize bombers and attack aircraft to cover the landing, and organize paratroopers for parachuting."

Captain Meng smiled and added, "Your old boss, the 105th Army, will also come, but certainly not the 404th Division."

The 404th Division is a new recruit training division; new recruits surely can't participate in such joint drills.

Han Yu was pondering if Vice Army Commander Lu would come, Chief of Staff Jiang continued, "The Navy's focus is on the perimeter, organizing surface vessels and submarines to cover the landing. On our side, it's mainly landing ships, supply ships, and participating civilian vessels.

In short, practical training days are needed; first train individually, then jointly, coordinate, coordinate, and coordinate more until the troops form a mutual understanding, followed by organizing the true exercise."

Han Yu roughly understood.

The ongoing so-called joint military exercise is actually taking this opportunity to organize various troops for joint amphibious combat training, practicing the coordination ability between troops.

Deploying so many troops, training daily on an island very close to Taiwan, the training itself carries a strong deterrent, as the Taiwan independence forces don't know if these many liberation army troops will take the chance to strike.

Once training reaches a certain level, truly organizing the military exercise is like a "performance showcase," allowing superiors to evaluate the real combat training results.

"Chief of Staff, since the next step is to conduct a beach landing exercise and organize the troops to board the ships, my task is not complete. I brought fifty-five fishing boats!"

"You're not the Civilian Transport Team Captain."

Chief of Staff Jiang put down his cup and looked at him with a smile, saying, "Captain Fang from the Navy said that the fishing boats participating in the drill need to be regrouped. The supply and rescue boats you brought also need to be incorporated into the logistics support fleet, and even the power boats you brought have to be incorporated into the landing craft unit."

Han Yu realized that Chief of Staff Jiang was not joking because this was the arrangement from the beginning. The reason he could be the Branch Captain of the Binjiang Branch and lead the team to participate in the exercise was due to Secretary Lu and Commander Wang of the Military District's strong recommendation to the Provincial Military District. Otherwise, he would be executing guard duty on the 825 boat right now.

The superior adopted the suggestion from the Provincial Military District, likely considering that mobilizing the Civilian Militia Reserve Force was not easy.

Now that they were in place, everything needed to be close to actual combat, and it was normal for the superior to decide on regrouping, after all, the Navy's fleet has always been managed this way.

Han Yu, enlightened by this, asked with a wry smile, "Am I done here? Can I pack my bag and go back?"

"Don't worry, now that you're here, the superior can't let a hero of the flood go back."

Chief of Staff Jiang smiled and continued, "From the sound of it, that Captain Fang from the Navy values you highly and knows you well. He recommended you to the directing team and intends to have you be an Observer."

"Let me be an Observer? What can I observe?"

"An Observer is somewhat like a judge. Which unit performs well depends on a word from the Observer. Salted Fish, we were comrades in arms, clawing and crawling together. If the superior asks you to observe our army, remember to say a few good words for us."

"It wasn't just clawing and crawling together; we can say we shared life and death, a friendship sealed by risk!" Captain Meng extinguished his cigarette, looking at Han Yu with a faint smile.

"Are you kidding me? How am I qualified to be an Observer!"

"The world works in mysterious ways; we can bet whether you'll take office tomorrow." Captain Meng paused, then pointed toward the stands with a deep meaning, "Salted Fish, not only are you qualified to be an Observer, but you might also even qualify to sit on the stands behind the Big Commander to watch our exercise."

"Captain, your joke is too much. If you don't have the qualification to sit on the stands, I certainly don't."

"Observers are qualified, really."

The brought troops were 'dismantled,' 'subordinates' and boats were taken over. He thought he might be 'unemployed' and was wondering whether to ask the superior where the 825 boat was, see if he could find a way to get a boat to send him over to join up with colleagues when unexpectedly from the Navy side came the plan to make him an Observer.

Chief of Staff Jiang was a vice-army-level leader, who, by convention, would soon become a General. Han Yu didn't think Chief of Staff Jiang was joking and felt everything was unreal, just then the phone in the tent rang.

A member of the Operations Staff quickly answered it, whispered a few sentences, then covered the phone and turned around saying, "Chief of Staff, comrades from the Navy's logistics team are asking if Comrade Han Yu is with us."

"Yes, what's up?"

"The head of the Navy logistics team asked Comrade Han Yu to go over immediately."

"Salted Fish, did you hear that? We weren't joking with you, kid."

"Captain, Chief of Staff, I'll head over then."

"I'll arrange a car to send you over."

"Thank you, Captain. Thank you, Chief of Staff."

...

Plans are always disrupted by changes.

Han Yu hurried to the Navy Logistics Command Center tent set up on the beach by car, unexpectedly finding Director Feng's old subordinate—Vice Commander Yu from the East Sea Base also there.

"Greetings, Commander. Han Yu from Binjiang Civilian Reserve Team reporting, awaiting instructions!"

"In Binjiang, only the Military District Commander can simultaneously manage both the Civilian Soldiers and the Reserve Forces. You, as Branch Captain, are temporary, and your mission is complete once you deliver the personnel here."

Vice Commander Yu patted his arm, turned around, and introduced: "Salted Fish, this is Captain Fang. You may not know him, but he knows you."

"Greetings, Commander, you know me?"

"Your troops targeted me with anti-aircraft guns for over ten minutes. I was in a transport plane without any weapons to retaliate. How could I not know you?" Captain Fang came over and handed him a set of aerial photographs.

Han Yu took the photographs and suddenly realized the issue, asking with a bitter face, "Commander, you were on that plane yesterday afternoon?"

"Who else but me?"

Captain Fang laughed heartily, then changed his tone: "Don't be nervous, I don't mean to criticize you; you're a competent commander. During the transport of personnel, you considered all possible situations and took all measures possible with existing conditions.

I reported to the directing team, which did not believe it at first until they saw the aerial photographs and asked the Observers accompanying your operation if it was true. Well done, and you did not let our Navy Reserve Force down. With superior approval, from now on, you're no longer the Branch Captain of the Binjiang Civilian Reserve Team, but an Observer for the Exercise Command Center's Observation Team."

"Commander, I've never been a soldier; I don't understand military affairs, let alone operations. I can't be an Observer."

"But you understand Reserve Force building. You've not only led an Anti-flood Model Battalion, but now you're leading our Navy's first Reserve Force. We need talents like you. The superior hopes you can observe the Civilian Militia Reserve Force participating in the exercise from the perspective of Reserve Officers and provide valuable insights on how to better build the Civilian Militia Reserve Force and make it more combat-ready."

Observing the Reserve Force is still manageable work.

Han Yu didn't dare to be ungrateful and quickly said, "Yes!"

"Time is of the essence. I'll arrange for people to accompany you back on the landing craft. Hurry to hand over the work with the Rescue Boat Team, the Linghai Reserve Camp, and the Binjiang Civilian Reserve Team. Try to report to the Observation Team before 10 o'clock."