Chapter 1217 Fish of Yuehu Lake

Lieutenant General Shao Gang, the deputy commander, is a member of the Standing Committee known for his strictness and somewhat conservative approach. He had always held reservations about "non-traditional" units like the Special Operations Brigade.

At this moment, he pursed his lips, his fingers unconsciously tapping the table, and looked at Jia San Niu with a deep gaze, asking in a low voice:

"Deputy Commander Jia, are you sure... the battle report is accurate? The casualty ratio of the Special Operations Brigade... is indeed as described?"

"Reporting to Deputy Commander Shao!" Jia Sanniu straightened his body, his tone resolute:

"The data has been repeatedly verified and is absolutely accurate! I saw it with my own eyes, the soldiers of the Special Operations Brigade... they... they often didn't even have the concept of 'serious injury'."

"Many soldiers fought to the last moment, dying on the way to the charge or at the target point! Deputy Brigade Commander Bato himself was seriously wounded multiple times, and he survived only because of his strong vitality!"

Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Wu Bin's eyes were also filled with complex emotions at this moment. He slowly spoke:

"In the past... we may have focused more on their combat effectiveness and inhuman appearance."

"Now it seems that they possess a fighting spirit and willingness to sacrifice that is no less than, and perhaps even far surpasses, that of our most elite soldiers. This... is a true iron army!"

Air Force Commander Lieutenant General Zhou Tianyi also remarked, "Yes, I used to think they were a group of... well, special weapons."

"But now it seems that they have a sense of honor, discipline, and above all, a loyalty that transcends life and death. They truly risked their lives to complete the mission!"

Lieutenant General Li Weimin, Director of the Joint Political Work Department, nodded solemnly and took the initiative to propose:

"Judging from the results, the 1st Special Operations Brigade is indeed a tough and resilient force capable of fighting and winning tough battles. Perhaps we can consider awarding it an honorary title after the war to commend its fearless and dauntless fighting spirit!"

...

Inside the meeting room, the vague sense of alienation that had previously lingered—viewing the Special Operations Brigade as "outcasts" or "tools"—quietly vanished at that moment.

Instead, there is a heartfelt respect and recognition for our powerful colleagues and heroic comrades.

Gu Chengyuan, seated at the head of the table, took in the changes in the expressions of the Standing Committee members. He understood what was going on, but said nothing.

This shift in mindset needs to be catalyzed by facts, which is more powerful than any verbal preaching.

He spoke in a deep voice to Jia Sanniu, and to everyone else in particular:

"The sacrifices made by the Special Operations Brigade were immense and heroic!"

"Their achievements must be remembered, and their injuries and deaths must be properly handled and compensated."

"Tell Wang Tiefeng that in the upcoming battles, we need to pay more attention to tactical application and reduce unnecessary losses. What we need is a sharp sword that can fight continuously, not a disposable consumable!"

"Yes, sir!" Jia Sanniu solemnly replied.

He knew that from this moment on, the status of the 1st Special Operations Brigade in the hearts of the core leadership of the theater had undergone a fundamental change.

They are no longer monstrous weapons, but a heroic force in the Central Plains Theater, renowned for its merits and worthy of everyone's respect!

...

After the two-hour meeting, Gu Chengyuan returned to his office looking slightly tired. He sat down in his large office chair and rubbed his throbbing temples.

Even with her superhuman physique, she is finding it hard to cope with the intense workload she is currently undertaking.

His daily schedule is now almost completely packed. Apart from essential eating, drinking, and using the restroom, he's either handling official business or in meetings. Even a minor emergency can require him to work overtime until midnight...

I can handle the physical strain, but mental exhaustion is unavoidable...

To this day, he has forgotten when was the last time he leisurely lay by Yuehu Lake, enjoying the breeze and sunshine.

"Speaking of which, Shao Gang has had people collect a lot of attractive but non-aggressive mutant fish fry and release them into Yue Lake some time ago, hasn't that been going on?"

I wonder how old he'll be... what he'll look like...

In the office, Gu Chengyuan greedily savored this rare moment of tranquility, feeling languid all over, as if every pore had relaxed...

The bodyguard, Pu Guangqiang, quietly brought over a cup of freshly brewed hot tea, the delicate aroma of which slightly dispelled his fatigue.

Gu Chengyuan had just picked up the teacup, the warm porcelain not yet touching his lips—

dong dong dong.

There was a gentle knock on the office door.

"Go in." Gu Chengyuan's voice carried a hint of barely perceptible disappointment.

The door was pushed open, and Senior Colonel Zhou Guihong, the director of the Secretariat, walked in briskly, her face showing her usual respect, but her eyes seemed to hold an unusual solemnity.

He saw the teacup in Gu Chengyuan's hand, paused slightly, and seemed to hesitate whether to disturb the leader's brief rest.

"What is it, Gui Hong?" Gu Chengyuan gently placed the teacup back on the table, looked up at him, and his gaze had returned to its usual sharpness and composure.

He knew that unless it was something important, Zhou Guihong wouldn't come to report immediately after he finished an important meeting.

Zhou Guihong stepped forward, stood ramrod straight, and reported in a clear and steady voice:

"Reporting to the commander, we have just received a message from Commander Du Yuming of the Jinling Military Sub-district, which has been confirmed by the Eastern Theater Command. There are results regarding the mission to find the families of Du Wenyuan and Yang Zhendong."

Gu Chengyuan's eyebrows twitched almost imperceptibly, and he sat up slightly straighter.

This matter concerns Cheng Yun, as well as his decision after careful consideration, which he naturally remembers.

"speak."

"Yes!"

Zhou Guihong continued, "According to information provided by the Eastern Theater Command, the core members of the Du and Yang families have all been located and are currently in the 'Lin'an Gathering Area' under the control of the Eastern Theater Command."

"Du Wenyuan, former Vice Governor of Zhejiang Province, is currently the Deputy Director of the Lin'an Agglomeration Area Construction Committee, with the rank of Second-Level Inspector. Most of his family members have settled in Lin'an with him, and their situation is relatively stable."

"Yang Zhendong, former vice president of Jiangdong Chamber of Commerce and chairman of Yang Group, is currently the captain of the 4th Material Collection and Production Brigade in Lin'an Gathering Area, with a technical management rank equivalent to a regimental commander. His family has secured a place in the logistics system of the gathering area by virtue of their organizational and management capabilities, and is mainly responsible for material collection and small-scale production."

Zhou Guihong succinctly summarized the current situation of both families.

"After confirming the target, the Eastern Theater Command has personally intervened, with Lieutenant General Zhou Wei, Director of the Joint Political Work Department, taking the highest level of protection measures for the Du and Yang families and their immediate family members, and providing them with generous treatment."

"After receiving the news, Commander Du Yuming of the Jinling Military Sub-district has also urgently dispatched Captain Du Wu to lead a crack team to Lin'an by transport plane. They are expected to arrive soon to strengthen security and await your further instructions."

After reporting, Zhou Guihong stood quietly, awaiting instructions from her superior.

Gu Chengyuan listened quietly, his expression remaining largely unchanged, though his gaze was somewhat profound.

The person has been found, and it seems that he is not doing the worst in the Eastern Theater Command system, but he is not doing well either. He has only managed to protect the core of his family.

This is much better than the worst-case scenario he had anticipated, which would require performing a "second-level" task.

This also confirms the correctness of his previous change of instructions—instead of taking preventative measures and carrying out a cold-blooded purge, it is better to go with the flow and show kindness, which can both reassure his younger brother's heart and transform this potential relationship into a more solid bond.

"understood."

Gu Chengyuan pondered for a moment, then slowly spoke, his voice steady: "Report back to Du Yuming and the Eastern War Zone that the mission was completed very well. Tell them to ensure the absolute safety of the Du and Yang families and to treat them with courtesy befitting their status."

He paused, then added, "The specific method and time of their repatriation are yet to be determined. Let them stay in the Eastern Theater Command and await further instructions."

"Yes, sir!" Zhou Guihong meticulously wrote down the instructions, then softly asked for further instructions:

"Sir, should we inform Major Gu Chengyun of this news?"

Gu Chengyuan picked up the cup of tea that he hadn't drunk yet, gently blew on the tea leaves floating on the surface, and the rising steam blurred his vision for a moment.

"No need for now."

He said calmly, his tone carrying the consideration of an elder brother:

"Cheng Yun is still at military academy, so let him focus on completing his current studies. I'll discuss the next steps after I've thought things through."

"Understood." Zhou Guihong understood, said no more, saluted, and quietly left the office.

The door closed gently, and the office returned to silence.

Gu Chengyuan sat alone in the chair, his fingertips unconsciously stroking the warm teacup, his gaze fixed on the faint outline of the mountains in the distance outside the window.

The Du family, the Yang family...

The two families that became connected to him through his younger brother's marriage are now finally emerging from the fog to reveal their true forms.

He needs to carefully strike a balance in how to properly accommodate them, showing care without giving them unrealistic ambitions or causing unnecessary trouble for the carrier.

This may be another delicate game of chess concerning "family affairs" that he needs to skillfully manage, in addition to this tense battle.

He took a small sip of the now slightly cooled tea, his eyes gleaming with contemplation.

...