After some time, Zhao Yi briefed Company Commander Wang Bin on the preliminary construction plan for the Special Forces training ground.
“Alright, any other questions?”
After speaking, Zhao Yi looked at Wang Bin.
“Instructor Zhao, the soldiers of our company are fully capable of handling the construction of these facilities, but…”
Wang Bin’s face showed a hint of difficulty: “There aren’t many troops stationed at Xiao Qingshan Training Base, and there aren’t many supplies stored in the various warehouses.”
Wang Bin wasn’t deliberately trying to shirk responsibility; it was simply the truth. Constructing the facilities required materials, otherwise they would be like clever housewives without rice to cook.
Just then, the roar of a truck came, and Zhao Yi’s lips curled slightly upward:
“Company Commander Wang, the problems you mentioned are not problems at all. The supplies I applied for have already arrived.”
“Have the soldiers rest for a bit. Once the supplies are in place, we’ll start the construction work.”
“Of course, I definitely won’t mistreat the soldiers of our company. During the period they are performing construction tasks at Xiao Qingshan Training Base, all their meals will be prepared according to Special Forces food standards.”
Zhao Yi said, He had applied for Class Four food standards for his Special Forces. In this era, only submarine crews, airmen, and other units performing arduous and heavy tasks could enjoy Class Four meals.
Of course, the difficulty of the tasks performed by the Special Forces also fully warranted Class Four meals.
Hearing Zhao Yi say this, Company Commander Wang Bin’s face also showed a hint of happiness:
“Instructor Zhao, rest assured, just for this month’s food, if any of the lads in the team dare to slack off and not work hard, I’ll be the first to make sure they pay!”
After giving instructions for the construction company, Zhao Yi turned to greet the military trucks that had driven into the training base.
The truck beds were covered with black tarps, bulging, indicating a significant amount of goods had been transported.
Just then, the window of the truck’s driver’s seat was rolled down, and a head poked out from inside:
“Zhao Yi!”
“Haha, it really is you! I thought it was someone with the same name.”
Seeing the person, Zhao Yi was first stunned, then a smile appeared on his face, and he shouted in a half-serious, half-joking tone:
“Xu Fatty, get down here! You don’t even salute when you see an officer, who are you being so chummy with?!”
The young soldier on the truck playfully pushed open the door and jumped down, rushing to Zhao Yi and giving him a big hug:
“You bastard, I was really afraid you’d been gloriously sacrificed on the southern battlefield!”
“What are you talking about? I won’t die even if you do! When the time comes, I’ll still go to your grave and eat your offerings.”
Zhao Yi bantered with the young soldier, who was not at all fat, in front of him.
The young soldier’s name was Xu Kunpeng, and he was a close friend who had lived in the same military compound as Zhao Yi and played with him from childhood.
Because his elders were soldiers, Xu Kunpeng naturally also joined the army.
“Hmph, bad things last a thousand years, right? Let’s not talk about that. I heard you’re going to set up some Special Forces now?”
Xu Kunpeng said, looking around stealthily. After confirming no one was around, he pulled out two chocolates from his inner jacket pocket and handed one to Zhao Yi.
In the 1988s, chocolate was definitely a rare item.
Although Xu Kunpeng’s family situation was not as good as Zhao Yi’s, it was not too far off.
Xu Kunpeng smiled and slung his arm around Zhao Yi’s shoulder, then sighed:
“Sigh, my old man has always hoped that I would make a name for myself in the army and bring him glory, but unfortunately, I’m not the type who can fight. Now I’ve been transferred to the 43rd Military Region’s Logistics Department to handle transportation.”
“Hey, but logistics has its advantages. Zhao Yi, if there are any material transport missions, I’ll deliver them to your Special Forces first!”
Zhao Yi and Xu Kunpeng chatted and reminisced for a while, then Xu Kunpeng prepared to get back into the truck and leave:
“I’m not chatting anymore, Zhao Yi. There’s a lot of material to be delivered to your side, and I still have to make a few more trips.”
Zhao Yi’s eyes moved, and he suddenly remembered something:
“Fatty, there’s something I need your help with?”
“Hey, why are we being so polite, brother? Just say it!”
“We have a company commander in our 43rd Military Region named Li Jianghe, from Dian Province. Can you help me find out where his family is currently living?”
“Li Jianghe? Your comrade?”
“Yes.”
“Gloriously sacrificed?”
“Yes.”
Hearing this, Xu Kunpeng’s expression immediately became serious:
“Okay, I’ll help you inquire, and I’ll let you know when I have news.”
Xu Kunpeng drove the military truck away, while Zhao Yi’s face showed a solemn expression.
Li Jianghe was the company commander of his reconnaissance company, and he had led the company with him to participate in the Southern War, ultimately sacrificing himself on the battlefield.
As a comrade, Zhao Yi wanted Li Jianghe’s soul to return to his hometown, and at the same time, see if his family had any difficulties and do his best to provide some help.
However, this era was not like the future, with widespread railway transportation and developed information networks. Company Commander Li Jianghe also came from a small village in the mountains of Dian Province, making it quite difficult to find people.
Even so, Zhao Yi would do his best to find Company Commander Li Jianghe’s family.
A few days later, with ample manpower and material support, the Special Forces training ground that Zhao Yi wanted was also built in a proper manner.
The logistics personnel and civilian staff that Zhao Yi requested from Yang Weiguo were also in place, maintaining the normal operation of the entire training base.
Everything was ready at Xiao Qingshan Training Base, all that was missing were the actual Special Forces soldiers to be stationed there.
In the training base office building, Zhao Yi, as the chief instructor, had a spacious single office here.
“These regimental commanders really don’t want to give me any good soldiers.”
Zhao Yi looked at the rosters of soldiers in front of him and couldn’t help but laugh in exasperation.
He was currently screening the list of Special Forces soldiers.
As a key project requested by the higher-ups and highly valued by the Military Region, the Southwest Military Region had allocated quotas to its various regiments, requiring them to compile information on their excellent soldiers and hand it over to Zhao Yi, the training officer, to select suitable candidates to become Special Forces soldiers.
However, talent is the most precious resource in any era.
Every year when new recruits were assigned to companies, the various regimental commanders would fight tooth and nail to select good soldier seedlings.
Once good soldier seedlings arrived at the regiment, the company commanders would scramble for them, leading to another fight.
After that, there was painstaking cultivation and training.
The regimental commanders certainly wouldn’t want to release such well-trained, elite soldiers.
But they also couldn’t disobey the Military Region’s orders.
So they reported the names of some ordinary soldiers, and even some unruly or cowardly soldiers, from their units.
Among the many soldiers in the Southwest Military Region who had won awards in Military Region competitions and all-army competitions, Zhao Yi didn’t see a single one on the list.
Just then, there was a knock on Zhao Yi’s office door:
“Report, Instructor Zhao, the construction task for the training ground has been fully completed!”
Immediately after, Zhao Yi heard the system’s voice:
【Ding! Main mission ‘Preliminary Construction of Special Forces Base’ has been completed!】
【Reward random Chief Instructor ability: Indomitable Drinker】
【Reward random Chief Instructor ability: Insightful Eyes】
【New mission released: Recruit at least five reserve soldiers for the Special Forces.】
Zhao Yi’s lips curved into a smile:
They won’t give him people, right? Then he would follow Mr. Lu Xun’s teachings, embrace “Take-ism,” and go to the various regiments himself to recruit people!