Chapter 1010 Is this Commander Gu?
Gu Chengyuan's timing was extremely accurate. He had just exchanged a few words with the Standing Committee members downstairs when the familiar roar of rotors came from the sky in the direction of the north gate, like a foreshadowed drumbeat.
Teng teng teng teng——!
After confirming that the convoy had safely entered the core area, the two Z-10 helicopters suddenly raised their noses and made an extremely sharp vertical climb turn, drawing a huge, powerful "V"-shaped track on the blue sky.
This action was certainly not a show of skill, but was to avoid disturbing the head of the war zone, so they chose to bypass the core area of the solemn office building from a distance.
'coming! ’
The sound of the attack helicopter returning was the signal. In the small square, everyone's eyes were instantly focused on the direction of the north gate, and the atmosphere became tense.
"Report to the Commander!" A staff officer stepped forward quickly, his voice clear and powerful:
"Confirmed by the North Gate of the Headquarters, the Western Theater Command delegation's convoy has passed the core area security check and is expected to arrive at Yuehu Square in three minutes!"
The moment the words fell, apart from Gu Chengyuan and several other members of the War Zone Standing Committee who remained dignified and composed, the dozens of accompanying cadres from the Central Plains War Zone who were lined up behind them began to put on their final military appearances almost as a conditioned reflex.
Straightening the military cap, smoothing the collar, checking the discipline buttons, adjusting the angle of the ribbon... every subtle movement reveals solemnity and tension.
This is a historic high-level meeting, any imperfection may be magnified, and the heavy sense of responsibility makes the air almost frozen.
Buzz...Buzz...Buzz...!
Soon, as the low, powerful, metallic roar of the diesel engine came from far away, everyone's attention was drawn to the corner of the road. At this moment, a long torrent of armed steel was quickly emerging and heading towards Yuehu Square.
However, as the convoy approached the headquarters building, a highly tactical and ritualistic "stripping" procedure was initiated simultaneously:
The two leading ZBL-09 wheeled infantry fighting vehicles did not enter the core of the square, but accurately separated from the main convoy, one on the left and one on the right, like spread-out steel wings, and parked steadily at the designated guard positions on both sides of the square entrance.
The muzzle of the 30mm machine gun drooped slightly, but the engine roared on, maintaining the highest level of tactical alert.
Following closely behind, the two ZTL-11 wheeled armored assault vehicles at the end of the convoy also broke away simultaneously. The huge vehicles drove towards the preset position behind the square with the momentum of crushing everything.
The 105mm turret slowly rotated and finally locked onto the rear, forming an indestructible rear barrier. It stopped steadily, and the engine roar turned into a low standby mode.
Next came the Mengshi 3 anti-terrorist assault vehicle responsible for clearing the way and communication, and the matte black Mengshi command armored vehicle. They also neatly separated from the main sequence and drove to the parking area on the side of the square. The communication mast on the roof was slowly lowered, and the red and blue warning lights went out.
In the end, only the two Mengshi 3 armored assault vehicles (long-axis command and escort type) in digital jungle camouflage, like the most loyal shadows, still stuck to the core Coaster minibus, maintaining a strict escort formation, and accompanied it into the square.
When the core of the convoy finally drove into the spacious Yuehu Square in front of the government building—
The huge convoy that was so majestic and tightly guarded by the steel torrent just a second ago now only had a modified Coaster minibus closely protected by two armored escort vehicles!
This sudden "separation" made the members of the Western Theater Delegation in the carriage feel a strong sense of disappointment in an instant!
One moment, he felt the reassurance of being at the center of absolute power. The next, the massive armored cluster retreated like a tide, leaving only his lone Coaster exposed in the empty square, right in front of the red government building that symbolized the highest authority in the Zhongzhou War Zone...
In an instant, an indescribable sense of emptiness and subtle pressure quietly filled the carriage...
——
With a slight sound of pneumatic braking, the Coaster stopped steadily in front of the welcoming square about ten meters away from the Zhongzhou war zone.
Inside the carriage, Lieutenant General Zou Yuan, Deputy Commander of the Western Theater Command, Lieutenant General Zhang Shouzheng, Director of the Joint Political Work Department, and core members of the delegation finally saw clearly through the large bulletproof windows the "Zhongzhou Theater Command" standing solemnly in front of the red office building!
Just one glance at the officers' uniforms in deep navy blue, pine green, and sky blue is enough to make anyone's heart beat faster!
The star general shines!
As far as the eye can see, the twinkling golden stars on the epaulettes almost converge into a dazzling sea of stars!
Lieutenant generals, major generals, colonels... generals of different military branches and ranks, like stars surrounding the moon, tightly gathered around the tall figure in the dark green uniform of the Army General in the core position.
In an instant, the invisible, majestic aura and absolute majesty formed by many high-ranking generals suddenly came towards him as if it were real!
In this situation, Zou Yuan and Zhang Shouzheng took a deep breath at the same time. The originally faint conversation sounds in the car disappeared instantly, leaving only slightly heavy breathing.
The two of them exchanged a quick glance, each seeing solemnity and determination in the other's eyes. Without needing words, they understood with incredible clarity:
Outside the car door in front of them, what greeted them were not only the generals of the Central Plains Theater, but also a critical moment that would determine the future fate of hundreds of thousands of officers and soldiers and tens of millions of survivors in the Western Theater!
The weight of this trip is immense! We cannot afford even the slightest slackness, and we cannot afford even the slightest mistake!
Thinking of this, the two men straightened their backs, adjusted their already meticulous collars and epaulettes for the last time, and put all their thoughts and pressure aside. Only the determination and calmness of a desperate struggle remained in their eyes.
Success or failure depends on this!
...
Afterwards, under the guidance of Lieutenant General Chen Haitao, Commander of the Central Theater Command Navy, Lieutenant General Zou Yuan, Deputy Commander of the Western Theater Command, and Lieutenant General Zhang Shouzheng, Director of the Joint Political Work Department, were the first to step down the steps of the Coaster.
As soon as they got off the car, their eyes were like the most sophisticated radar, instantly scanning the "sea of stars" in front of them composed of dark navy blue, pine green, and sky blue military uniforms.
His sight penetrated the crowd precisely and locked onto the core position - the figure wearing the dark green Army General's uniform and carrying three huge gold stars on his shoulders!
Found it! The commander of the Zhongzhou Theater!
However, the moment their eyes focused on that face, time seemed to be pinched by an invisible force and suddenly froze!
Lieutenant General Zou Yuan's footsteps suddenly stopped, as if he was nailed to the spot. The professional smile on his face instantly froze, and his pupils shrank sharply in one ten-thousandth of a second, as if he had seen a scene more incredible than a million zombies besieging a city!
He subconsciously opened his mouth slightly, and an extremely short, almost inaudible gasp came from his throat, "Ugh--", and all the blood seemed to rush to the top of his head at this moment and then froze in an instant!
Lieutenant General Zhang Shouzheng, standing next to him, reacted almost simultaneously! His eyes, which had seen the world and should have been as calm as the abyss, were now glaring like bells!
The wrinkles at the corners of his eyes instantly tightened and deepened in extreme shock! The knuckles of his hand holding the briefcase turned white from the sudden force, and the leather of the briefcase groaned slightly under the heavy burden.
His brain completely shut down at this moment, leaving only one absurd, wildly roaring thought repeatedly colliding with him:
'impossible!!'
"This...this face?!"
In the center of the crowd, the admiral who was surrounded by stars...
Epaulettes, three gold stars, that’s right!
Location, absolutely central, that's right!
but…
That face!!
It was clearly an extremely young, handsome and imposing face!
His features are strong yet unsculpted by time, his eyes deep yet still carry the sharp undertones of youth! His skin is firm, his jawline is clean and sharp, and he exudes a vibrant energy and strength like the rising sun!
In his early twenties?!
This can't possibly be over 25!!!
An extremely absurd, almost dizzying feeling hit the nerves of Lieutenant Generals Zou Yuan and Zhang Shouzheng like a tsunami!
They have fought for half their lives, crawled out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood, and endured countless hardships before reaching their current position.
They had seen too many brilliant young officers and too many descendants of generals who were rapidly promoted, but they had never thought about it, nor dared to believe it.
He is in charge of the prosperous and powerful Zhongzhou war zone, which has terrifying military force and logistics, and is the supreme commander who makes hundreds of thousands of troops obey his orders!
The top leaders in power in the Western theater were forced to humble themselves and eagerly seek cooperation!
Could it be... could it be such a young, heart-shakingly young... young man?!
The impact of this enormous cognitive gap in this situation was undoubtedly greater than any artillery fire on the battlefield! This was no longer simply a case of "young and promising"; it completely overturned the entire logic of power, qualifications, and ability that they had built up over decades of military careers!
Zou Yuan felt as if his heart was being gripped tightly by an icy hand, then suddenly released, pounding so wildly it threatened to burst out of his chest! Zhang Shouzheng, on the other hand, felt an intense dryness in his mouth, his Adam's apple rolling up and down with difficulty as he tried to regain his shattered consciousness.
The two of them just stood by the Coaster's door, like two statues under a petrification spell, their bodies stiff, their eyes dull, their faces filled with extreme shock that could not be concealed or understood!
That loss of composure seemed particularly abrupt and...glaring in the solemn and dignified welcoming occasion.
"Cough cough~"
It was not until Chen Haitao coughed lightly as a reminder that the two of them woke up as if from an absurd nightmare. They forced themselves to suppress the turbulent waves in their hearts and tried to squeeze out an extremely unnatural, even a little distorted "calm" expression.
But deep down in their hearts, the fear and huge waves caused by Gu Chengyuan's excessive youth had already shattered all their previous assumptions and confidence!
.....
