After holding the funeral for the fallen comrades, Zhao Yan received another First-Class Merit Citation.
At the same time, his rank was promoted from Second Lieutenant to Captain.
It was a huge leap forward, but also because his performance in the Raya Country operation was too remarkable.
Without him, the hostages couldn't have been rescued, and the Xia national authorities would have faced international criticism, and it could have escalated into international conflict, making the problem much bigger.
Moreover, the Military Region had other plans for him, so they directly promoted him to officer rank to facilitate his new duties.
This was also Zhao Yan's third First-Class Merit Citation, which he felt was the most significant one.
Because accompanying this citation were the two comrades lost from Team B during the last Raya Country operation.
For the first time, Zhao Yan gained a profound appreciation for the military spirit of Xia.
He felt proud wearing the military uniform.
Three days later, the Military Region leadership summoned Zhao Yan and asked him to form a new special forces unit.
Zhao Yan immediately refused, because all his skills were from cheating, so how could he teach them to others?
But others didn't know that, and the superiors became displeased, feigning anger: "You little comrade, you can't bear to share your knowledge, can you?"
"Reporting to the superior! No! It's mainly because I have innate talents," Zhao Yan stuttered.
The superior chuckled after hearing this: "Little Li, we don't expect you to turn everyone into a superhuman like yourself, even one-tenth of your ability would be enough."
It had come to this point, so what else could Zhao Yan say? He could only reluctantly agree.
Worst case, after the exchange period ends, he could spend some of the points he earned this time at the mall to buy the most powerful special forces training secrets.
Then hand them over to Li Fei and have him train the troops accordingly, considering it as repaying the motherland - he was just that patriotic!
Moreover, even an ordinary person knows to wish for the prosperity and strength of the motherland. If he didn't have the ability, so be it, but since he did now, he should do what he could to help.
To reduce casualties among special forces during missions.
To make the nation's soldiers the strongest in the world!
With a strong motherland, they as the motherland's sons would also rise in status.
Hearing Zhao Yan's agreement, the superior laughed heartily and directly handed him a stack of files.
Telling him these were all the outstanding new and veteran soldiers across the entire Military Region, for him to select freely.
Whoever he wanted, he could get them.
Zhao Yan took the files back to review them slowly.
Unexpectedly, he saw the files of Wang Dali, Liu Xiaojun, and Zhang Teng inside.
The new recruits were nearing the end of their training, and the three ranked at the top in all subjects across the entire army's new recruits.
He was a cheater with cheat codes.
These three were the true geniuses.
Zhao Yan decided to meet them, and after assembling his team, the exchange period would be about over too.
As for Li Fei... he decided to loan some high-interest points to Li Fei to buy beginner enhancement drugs.
That way, Li Fei wouldn't become a complete weakling due to the sudden change, and with the special forces training methods Zhao Yan would purchase, Li Fei could become a qualified special forces instructor.
And the points for purchasing the training methods could be included in Li Fei's loan too ;)
With compound interest, it would be better if Li Fei could never pay back the loan.
Then he would have to sell himself to repay the debt and become Zhao Yan's underling.
Zhao Yan felt wonderful, the future looked promising.
But he didn't know that his uncle Chen Han was already one step ahead, having taken his business first.
Li Fei had already fallen deep into the loan trap.
...
152nd Division, 3rd Regiment, 2nd Recruit Company Headquarters.
The 2nd Recruit Company Commander was looking over the recruits' training results in each subject, barely containing his smile.
Although Zhao Yan had left, they still had Wang Dali, Liu Xiaojun, and Zhang Teng!
Their 3rd Regiment had gained three new tiger generals!
"Reporting in!" A voice called from the door.
The Company Commander didn't look up: "Come in."
After waiting a while without anyone speaking, he raised his head in puzzlement, eyes widening instantly: "Li Fei?! How are you back here!"
"Reporting to the Commander! Squad 7 Deputy Li Fei reporting for duty!" Zhao Yan smiled and saluted.
The Company Commander stood up, his voice dripping with sarcasm as he looked at Zhao Yan: "You little brat, this quickly and you're already at my level."
No one in the entire army had been promoted faster than him.
"Not bad," Zhao Yan casually replied.
The Company Commander laughed mockingly: "Starting to show off again, what are you here for? Visiting your hometown?"
"Don't you miss me? Heartless bastard, who was it that treated me like a treasure back then? Didn't expect that after I left for just a bit, you've forgotten me already," Zhao Yan feigned grievance.
The Company Commander shuddered: "Get lost! Be normal, what use is missing you? Let me tell you, after you left, our company got three more outstanding ones."
He showed a smug smile.
"Zhang Teng, Liu Xiaojun, Wang Dali," Zhao Yan also smiled and said the three names.
The smile gradually faded from the Company Commander's face as he sensed the gravity of the situation: "How did you know? Tell me, what are you really back here for?"
He still remembered the look on Battalion Commander Wu Tian's face when he and Luo Siming asked for Li Fei back then.
It was precisely the same as now.
Uncannily similar!
"Mainly because I missed you guys..."
The Company Commander cut him off: "Stop, just tell me the secondary reason."
"Ahem, the secondary reason is, I'm here to take those three away," Zhao Yan said sheepishly.
Just as expected, the Company Commander's vision went dark, his face twitched, and his mouth trembled: "You guys... you can't just take every single sheep while fleecing, can you!"
It wasn't easy for their 3rd Regiment, was it? Four top recruits appeared, and all were taken away. Moreover, this was the first time that the one who left came back to take the remaining three.
"Can't help it, who told you this sheep has more wool?" Zhao Yan sighed sympathetically.
The Company Commander said: "Leave one! At least leave us one! Otherwise I'll raise hell with the Military Region!"
"Well... Old Commander, this is the authority given to me by the Military Region," Zhao Yan replied with an embarrassed smile.
The Company Commander: "..."
Seeing Zhao Yan's expression, he felt like dragging out the Italian cannon right now and blasting him to death.
...
Half an hour later, Wang Dali, Liu Xiaojun, and Zhang Teng were brought by the Company Commander to wait outside his office, confused.
"You guys go in," the Company Commander said.
Wang Dali asked with a dazed look: "Commander, who's inside? Aren't you coming in with us?"
"When I tell you to go in, just go in. Why so many questions?" The Company Commander kicked Wang Dali's butt with his foot.
Then he walked away with a dark expression.
Liu Xiaojun and the other two looked at each other, unsure what had gotten into their Company Commander.
"Reporting!" The three called out at the door.
From their position, they could see an officer with a Captain's rank inside, looking down at a file, but they couldn't make out his face clearly.
"Come in," the Captain said without looking up.
After entering, the three stood at attention, eyes front.