Han Yu had just walked out of the cafeteria when Adviser Wu and other officers below the rank of colonel followed suit.

A major observer from the National Defense University looked at him with a teasing smile and said, "Salted Fish, if Cosco and Zhonghai knew you held them in such high regard, they would definitely be very grateful to you."

"Yes, if your suggestions are adopted by the superior, the CEOs of Cosco and Zhonghai will surely invite you to a meal."

This was creating trouble for them for no reason.

How could Han Yu not catch the implication of his colleagues' words? He replied confidently, "Both companies are state-owned enterprises. They should naturally make greater contributions to national defense construction!"

He wasn't a staff member of Cosco and Zhonghai; he had nothing to fear.

Adviser Wu thought for a moment, then couldn't help but laugh and said, "I don't know if the higher-ups at Cosco and Zhonghai would thank you, but our Fleet Commander certainly would."

"The Fleet Commander would thank me? What a joke."

"Salted Fish, Xiao Wu isn't joking with you. By requisitioning ships and personnel from Cosco and Zhonghai and expanding the Marine Corps, you're considering everything for the East Sea Fleet, so the Fleet Commander will certainly thank you."

Just as the major observer finished speaking, a major from the Nanjing Military Region patted Han Yu on the arm and said, "Buddy, you've spoken exactly what the Fleet Commander wanted to say. Think about it. Why did the Fleet Commander suggest sea transport for troops? Didn't he know our army gets seasick?"

Han Yu asked in surprise, "Director Liu, are you saying..."

Director Liu laughed and said, "The navy wants to show how clueless our army is through this, or better, to make the superior realize the importance of expanding the Marine Corps."

Adviser Wu hurriedly said, "Director Liu, our navy isn't as... as..."

"As what? Xiao Wu, don't pretend to be naive. We've long seen through your little scheme."

"Keep your voice down. Aren't you afraid the commanders will hear?"

"Let's go, let's go smoke a cigarette."

"There's a patrol outside!"

"We can walk a bit farther."

Just as everyone walked out of the camp area, the Major Generals came out too, leaving only the generals inside.

We thought the generals would come out soon, but unexpectedly the large meeting was followed by smaller meetings, dragging on until nightfall.

The cafeteria was occupied by the commanders, and the meal time was thus delayed.

Just when Han Yu's stomach was rumbling and he was considering going to the temporary station of the 402nd Regiment to bum a meal, the commanders started walking out of the cafeteria in single file, accompanied by Captain Shen as they got into their cars.

"Salted Fish, Salted Fish!"

"Present."

There were no streetlights at the entrance, only car lights.

Han Yu didn't know who was calling and ran over to see that it was the commander from the Nanjing Military Region.

"Good day, Commander. Do you have any instructions?"

"You've got some skills, kid. You say you don't understand, but you actually understand everything."

Normally, Han Yu might feel nervous meeting the Big Commander. But it wasn't a normal time now; there were too many commanders on the island to count.

Moreover, reserve officers aren't active-duty officers; Han Yu really had nothing to fear. He couldn't help but laughingly ask, "Commander, are you praising me or criticizing me?"

"Both praise and criticism." The commander lit a cigarette and pretended to be serious, "You've already come, and even served as an observer, yet didn't even dare to attend a meeting. Is there such a reserve officer like you? No wonder your Provincial Military District has made you a model for reserve officers!"

"Commander, today's meeting was too important; they were reporting military secrets, so it wasn't appropriate for me to go in."

"You're afraid of being enlisted!"

"No..."

"Truly no or falsely no?"

Han Yu dared not lie any further. Knowing this commander had the power to actually pull him into active duty, he hurriedly put on a pitiful look, "Commander, my family's situation is somewhat special, not to mention I'm almost thirty, and... and I'm already working just like a soldier."

Even if this kid wanted to enlist, he'd probably just join the Navy.

The Military Region Commander hadn't considered forcing Han Yu into active duty. Looking around, he said meaningfully, "The suggestion of forming a reserve transport unit relying on Cosco and Zhonghai is excellent; I just gave your Captain Shen a suggestion."

Han Yu couldn't resist asking, "What suggestion?"

"If the suggestion is accepted by the higher-ups, a preliminary team may be formed first, and I suggested that you participate in the formation of the reserve transport unit. Binjiang isn't far from the East Sea, so in the future, you might have to make more trips to the East Sea. I'll put in a good word for you at the East Sea Defense Zone."

What did the commander's words mean?

The navy has the general rank East Sea Base, and forming a maritime transport reserve regiment might be in the works, which can entirely revolve around the East Sea Base. Why involve the East Sea Defense Zone in its formation?

As Han Yu was perplexed, the commander tossed his cigarette butt at the car door and asked, "By the way, I happen to have two bottles of liquor. Do you want to come over and drink a few glasses?"

"Thank you, Commander, but I don't drink!"

"Hahaha."

"Commander, you're teasing me."

"Who dares to drink alcohol during the exercise? Even if there's alcohol, you won't get a sip. But once you go back, you should work on your drinking capacity. Always being a 'one-shot drunk' is embarrassing for our Military Region!"

"..."

Last year at the army-wide flood rescue commendation meeting, I got drunk every time I drank. It's quite embarrassing, and Han Yu was momentarily speechless.

The Commander patted his arm again and laughed, "Let's go, make sure to observe carefully."

Han Yu hurriedly replied, "Yes, goodbye, Commander."

The Nanjing Military Region Commander had just left, and Vice Commander Yu from the East Sea Base quickly approached, calling Han Yu to the side and saying with a smile, "Your report earlier was good, the Fleet Commander is very pleased."

"Vice Commander Yu, does this mean what I thought of was something the Fleet Commander had already considered?"

"But the same words from different people have different effects."

Vice Commander Yu glanced behind him and whispered, "Even a Reserve Officer like you can see so many shortcomings, showing how severe the issues are. If nothing unexpected happens, the higher-ups will definitely take notice."

Han Yu realized, asking with a mixed expression, "Vice Commander Yu, are you saying that just like our basic units, the fleet cries poverty to the higher-ups whenever there's a chance?"

"Isn't that obvious? Nothing can be accomplished without funding, so of course, whenever there's a chance, you have to fight for it with the higher-ups."

"I see, so those words this afternoon were just using my mouth to speak them?"

"Did it make you uncomfortable?"

"No, it's an honor for me."

"That's more like it."

Opportunities can really change a person's destiny.

Take the 'junior' in front of us as an example, although he's just a Full Department Level official locally and a Reserve Major in the military system without real power, he made tremendous contributions during the flood rescue. Not only did he meet big leaders like Vice President L, but he also left a striking impression among the top commanders in the military.

Even though he doesn't want to join the military, those big commanders were not displeased, and instead, his impression grew stronger. Because it means he merely wants to contribute to national defense construction without other motives.

That's why, Captain Meng of the 402 Army and other commanders from the Guangzhou Military Region who fought against the floods together with him, regard him as a friend across generations, and even the Nanjing Military Region Commander treats him differently.

In other words, befriending him comes with no pressure, as there's no need to worry about him asking you for favors someday.

Even if he needs your help, it would only be about public matters, not personal affairs.

Vice Commander Yu felt a bit envious of this 'junior,' muttering while walking down the hill, "If the higher-ups agree to establish several reserve transport regiments with Cosco and Zhonghai, there wouldn't be a need to deploy so many fishing boats in future exercises."

"Will the higher-ups agree?"

"It shouldn't be a big issue."

"What about expanding the Marine Corps?"

"The state of seasickness among officers on fishing boats this time was noticeable to the higher-ups. I think expanding the Marine Corps shouldn't be a big issue either."

"That's great."

"Let's stop talking about these things, let me tell you some good news."

"What good news?" Han Yu asked eagerly.

Vice Commander Yu paused, overlooking the sea and said, "I know you are here physically, but your heart is always on your anti-smuggling boat. The Command Center announced at noon, your 825 vessel excellently completed the alert task and is on its way back for rest. Though it won't come here, it's heading to the Xiamen Maritime Bureau dock."

"What about the 823 vessel?"

"The 823 vessel is executing an alert task in the north, but I don't know the exact time for its return for rest."

Han Yu pondered, "Considering the time, the 823 vessel should return soon."

Vice Commander Yu curiously asked, "How do you know?"

"The 823 and 825 vessels are small in tonnage, designed for a self-sustaining period of only 7 days. Even before delivery, I had already worked with engineers from both shipyards to study how to modify them, and just as they were received, they were tasked with coordinating maritime alert duties outside the exercise area."

Han Yu paused before continuing, "Due to insufficient self-sustaining capability, I had crammed the vessels with supplies when departing from Qingdao, leaving hardly any room for the crew to move in the cabin. It's already very difficult that they've managed to persist at sea for over ten days, it's imaginable that food and especially freshwater had been rationed these past few days."

This guy indeed thinks ahead of any potential difficulties in whatever he does.

It's said that last year during the flood rescue at Beihu, he not only brought a fueling station but also a floating waterworks. Thanks to his thorough preparation and grand arrangement, the big leaders were deeply impressed by him.

Vice Commander Yu nodded, recalling, and couldn't help but smile, asking, "Salted Fish, aren't you curious about what specific tasks the 825 vessel performed and what achievements it made these days?"

"I am curious, I just don't know who to ask."

"Strong generals naturally command competent soldiers; your subordinates are all very competent. The US Army dispatched a warship to the vicinity of a missile impact point at sea, hoping to salvage the warhead to research and analyze our missile technology, even assessing the precision of this Second Artillery missile. The 825 vessel was ordered to engage, circling for two days and nights until our ships arrived there and retrieved the warhead before returning."

Han Yu asked with delight, "Does this mean the 825 vessel made a great contribution?"

Vice Commander Yu smiled and affirmed, "Yes, it made a great contribution, but it wasn't just the 825 vessel negotiating with the US warship. There was also a Marine Supervision ship, it was a joint operation with Marine Supervision."