Chapter 128: Chapter 124, Guarantee to Complete the Mission!
After having an extensive discussion with Wu Jiarong about the production of various technology industry lines that followed, Gu Hang then inspected the situation at the Abandoned Cave Society.
The former leader of the Abandoned Cave Society, who is now the head of the heavy industry base, Patel, didn’t even have time to meet him!
Of course, that was an exaggerated way to put it. If truth be told, what task could be more important than meeting with the Governor?
It wasn’t that Gu Hang didn’t let Patel come to see him. Instead, it was he who took the initiative to accompany Patel and observed their work situation.
They were indeed very busy.
Perbov had also changed into a set of military clothes and accompanied him on the side. The day before, following orders, this man led his company, escorting tens of thousands of citizens to the Abandoned Cave Society.
These tens of thousands were among those who were evacuated from Revival City before the storm disaster, the homeless. They were not reassigned by Osenia to return to the city for reconstruction but were instead directly brought, along with some of the food supplies taken from the city, by military escort, to Weixing City.
A small number of people were settled in the former Governor’s Camp, the main city of Weixing City, and poured into the light industries factories there. The textile mills, construction teams, tool assembly factories, cement plants, electric appliance factories in Weixing City, like a land parched for rain, welcomed in a lot of new labor.
Under comprehensive strategic planning, there was no shortage of business. The arrival of so many people meant a need for more housing, more raw materials for construction, more clothing, more basic electrical appliances such as water heaters and lights. And these items are in even shorter supply in the outer areas of Revival City that are under reconstruction, with more orders than could be filled.
The enhancement of productivity required more labor to be integrated into the system, and after they earned work points, or even ‘borrowed’ them with an advance on their pay, they needed to produce these goods themselves to meet their own demands.
Yet, even so, not everyone could stay in Weixing City.
The more important Waste Pit Industrial Zone, also under the administrative jurisdiction of Weixing City, could accommodate even more people.
The core alloy smelting industry has always been a big consumer of labor.
The central alloy plastic steel machine black box had never stopped, but many of the resulting production lines could only remain in the assembly stage, or even sit gathering dust in storage, simply because there were not enough hands to operate the machines.
The burgeoning metal processing factories, bulletproof insert production lines, automotive industry, military industry… the potential for employment seemed endless.
Most people who migrated from Revival City were settled near the residential areas adjacent to the industrial hub of the Waste Pit Zone in Weixing City.
The empty housing previously constructed here became temporary settlement spots. Homes initially meant for a single family might suddenly house twenty people.
Even so, space was still inadequate, considering the incoming population was several times larger than the entire original population of the Waste Pit Zone. In the end, temporary tents and huts had to be used for shelter, waiting for numerous construction crews to work at full capacity to build houses.
Moreover, not all these people could be put to work right away.
The Abandoned Cave Society industrial zone did have some low-end industries where individuals could be sent for short, pre-work training sessions, barely sufficient for them to manage. However, when it came to more delicate processing, vehicle assembly, and a series of jobs requiring a higher skill set from industrial workers, brief training was inadequate.
Fortunately, Gu Hang had previously implemented night school policies in the Abandoned Cave Society, which continued to have an effect.
Literacy and basic skills training were well underway. Now that so many more had arrived, they too were herded into it. Whether it’s herding a sheep or a flock… although this ‘flock’ was exceptionally large.
Nevertheless, the population of the wasteland had numerous issues, but there is one aspect that should not be underestimated. There might be many illiterate people, but many of them had useful skills. After all, wasteland society wasn’t primitive; most had seen guns, used guns, maintained guns; while many couldn’t recognize many words, they weren’t lacking in fix-it skills or craftsmanship.
In the past, these people simply lacked opportunity. Now that they had it, the cost of training them wouldn’t actually be too high.
“It won’t be long before these people are no longer a burden but the freshest blood for the continued development of our industry!” Patel proudly said to Gu Hang.
…
Gu Hang was fairly satisfied with the development of the Waste Pit Industrial Zone.
After all, things were on the right track. As time went by, the overall production capacity was set to grow exponentially.
The seeds that had been sown were now at the stage of taking root and sprouting.
With a satisfied mindset, Gu Hang spent the night in the Abandoned Cave Society and, early the next morning, he hurriedly boarded the helicopter to return to Revival City.
Joining him was Perbov.
He was to take part in today’s award ceremony.
Perbov was not the main event, but he had commanded 2nd Company and had stood out in several fights in Revival City. His troops were still carrying out tasks in the Waste Pit Zone and couldn’t rush back immediately, but as the commanding officer, he had to go back and bring his brothers the medals they deserved.
While on the same aircraft as Mr. Gu, Perbov was a little nervous.
Although he was quite familiar with him, he had never spent such a long time in a relatively private space with the Governor he respected and admired.
This made him somewhat uneasy.
He was usually quite open and talkative. But now, without any tasks at hand, he wasn’t sure what to say. Yet staying silent didn’t seem quite right either.
However, he soon had to stop worrying about the awkward atmosphere.
Gu Hang spoke, raising the topic of official business.
It was about some arrangements concerning his own duties going forward.
“Now, the command for the 1st Composite Brigade should be assumed by Yan Fangxu as brigade commander; and for the 2nd Infantry Division, it should be Tadeusz taking on the position of division commander, who will also double as the commissar for both units. This situation is definitely temporary and cannot be maintained for long.”
“Following that, once the troops are established and we move into routine training and combat operations, both men will still be pulled for unified coordination. Specific command and management of the troops will be handed over to others.”
“I have in mind that you should take on the role of brigade commander for the 1st Composite Brigade.”
Perbov seemed somewhat agitated at the moment.
It was not possible that he hadn’t thought about these things before.
After hearing about this round of military expansion, he had given it thought.
Aside from that guy Yan Fangxu, there shouldn’t be anyone else in the entire army more qualified and capable of holding this position.
Frankly, the only real competition were the battalions leaders brought into Revival City by the governor himself. He was the most senior, the most experienced, and had the most distinguished combat achievements among them.
But then, who knew if there might be a surprise?
After all, when it came to seniority, the differences were not significant; it was merely a matter of more than a month’s time difference, what seniority is there to speak of? He was just lucky to have had a head start.
Moreover, who knew if there might be some special circumstances?
After all, there was the example of Tadeusz. That kid also came from the Abandoned Cave Company, starting as a squad leader, and after a single battle, became a hero, even leaping to become a division commander and the head of the army’s political department.
His rise through the ranks was unmatched.
In fact, many privately felt envious.
To be honest, Tadeusz had only taken a risk with that particular void. Despite the void taking the lives of an interstellar warrior and a Battle Nun, marking certain death for any mere mortal that approached, he emerged victorious.
But some would not think that way. What Tadeusz could do, they could do as well; it was just a matter of not being there at the time or not running fast enough.
Otherwise, they would be the division commander now!
And whenever Perbov heard these kinds of rumors within his own troops, he would curse vehemently.
What’s the use of saying such things? When the time comes, the vast majority wouldn’t dare to move forward one step, afraid of being ordered to go on a suicide mission.
Not to mention having the capability to walk out of there.
Others might not have seen it, but had he not witnessed how fierce the interstellar warriors and Battle Nuns were? A task that took their lives was accomplished by Tadeusz, that was no small feat, and everyone had to acknowledge it.
Sarcastic comments deserved lashes.
And now, the words Mr. Gu had just mentioned—of course, they were true, would he deceive him?
He would soon officially become the third most important person in the army after Yan Fangxu and Tadeusz. In fact, when it came to actual authority, he was number one.
After all, the largest and strongest armed force was directly under his control.
Could he shoulder this responsibility?
Even after Tadeusz achieved a remarkable feat, people whispered behind his back. If he took on the brigade commander role, what would the other four battalion commanders think of their former peer becoming their supervisor?
Rattling his brain in the helicopter, Perbov’s mind was filled with many thoughts because of Mr. Gu’s words.
But these thoughts were also reeled back in because of Mr. Gu’s words, “However, our situation is always a bit special. It’s hard to talk about seniority; we’ve just come out of the struggle. To speak of ability, to speak of contribution, that’s what really convinces people. So, I plan to appoint you, but I cannot simply dictate it; that would make your future work difficult.”
Perbov listened intently, sensing the key point.
“After the award ceremony, you’ll immediately return to Weixing City. At that time, people from the recruiting division separated by Tadeusz will come back with you. I am temporarily authorizing you to recruit a batch of soldiers within Weixing City to fill up your battalion, including a large number of weapons and equipment. Even if they have not started mass production, I’ll arrange for you to get them from the research institute.”
“By then, your battalion will be reorganized into the first battalion of the 1st Composite Brigade, the first to complete comprehensive equipment. I want you to get your troops ready within half a month and then start operations centered on the Waste Pit Industrial Zone.”
“At that time, Yan Fangxu will give you a clear combat objective. Centered on the Waste Pit Zone, within a hundred kilometers, there should be approximately 7-10 survivor settlements of varying sizes. Give you another half a month, I want to see those settlements definitely flying the flag of the New Alliance and definitely submitting to the new order.”
Unable to stand, Perbov excitedly straightened up in his seat and saluted, “I understand! I promise to complete the mission!”
He was a bit excited!
He knew that Mr. Gu was giving him this opportunity to accumulate merits in advance, paving the way for his next step and facilitating his future work.
With this opportunity, he felt that if he failed to carry out Mr. Gu’s instructions, he honestly deserved to drown himself in a cesspit!