Chapter 1302 Conferment of Ranks!
"The conferment ceremony is officially beginning!!" Lieutenant General Huang Weimin's booming voice pressed the solemn transition button on the bustling parade ground.
The fervent shouts quickly subsided, replaced by a more solemn and expectant silence.
All eyes were focused on the podium and the officers standing in front of each class, holding red trays and waiting in formation.
The first step was the awarding of ranks to students enrolled through the general admissions program.
According to the regulations, considering the current dire wartime conditions, all graduating soldiers who are promoted to officer cadets will be uniformly awarded the rank of captain, marking their formal transition from core soldiers to junior commanding officers.
However, military academy rules have always rewarded excellence—those who excel in theory, practical skills, and discipline within six months and are selected as "outstanding students" will be exceptionally awarded the rank of major!
"Infantry Command Platoon 1, Ho Chi Minh!"
"Here!" A loud reply rang out, and Hu Zhiming, whose physique was even more robust than it had been six months ago, felt all the blood rush to his head.
He took a deep breath, straightened his chest, and marched in perfect unison toward the department head at the front of his class—an army colonel with gray hair and piercing eyes.
The colonel's gaze lingered for a moment on his young and determined face, his eyes revealing undisguised approval.
He solemnly picked up a pair of major's shoulder insignia with two bars and one star from the red velvet tray held by the officer beside him.
"Comrade Ho Chi Minh, based on your outstanding performance and excellent grades during your time at the academy, and after evaluation by the Fuxing Military Academy and approval by the Theater Command Cadre Department, you are hereby awarded the rank of Major in the Army! We hope you will keep your mission in mind and create even greater glories!"
"Yes! Thank you for your training! I swear to live up to your mission!" Hu Zhiming's voice was loud and clear, even with a slight, barely perceptible tremor.
He bowed slightly, feeling the heavy shoulder insignia, a symbol of his actual rank as a colonel, being carefully and firmly pinned to his shoulder.
The cool metal pin pierced through the fabric, yet brought a surge of heat that instantly spread throughout the body.
This is not just a simple promotion; it is the highest recognition of his nearly life-risking efforts over the past six months, and a passport to a wider world!
At this moment, besides being excited, he also longed for the chance to return to Chongyi settlement and shout to his father, "Dad, look! Your good-for-nothing son who only knew how to play games and go to bars is now a major!!"
...
Similar scenes were playing out simultaneously in front of other classes.
Most cadets received the "one bar and three stars" badge representing a captain, while a handful of top students in each class received the major's epaulettes amidst the envious and admiring gazes of their classmates.
The air was filled with the scent of leather, metal, and brand-new wool fabric, a blend of youthful passion and the weight of glory.
Next came the conferment of ranks to officers in the Advanced Studies Department.
The rules here are clearer—all trainees will be promoted one rank from their original rank as an affirmation and incentive for their advanced training, but the promotion will go up to the rank of colonel. Senior colonel and above are not included in this general transfer.
Thus, the lieutenant colonels took over the two bars and three stars from the colonels, and the colonels took over the two bars and four stars from the senior colonels.
In the high-ranking officer area of the venue, dark golden light shimmered and reflected each other, silently announcing the completion of a large-scale knowledge upgrade and command enhancement.
Finally, the climax of the entire ceremony arrived—Chairman Gu Chengyuan, the supreme commander of the war zone, personally conferred ranks upon the most outstanding representatives selected from the two categories of trainees.
"Please welcome outstanding student representatives to the stage!" The ceremony host's voice was clear and powerful.
Swish!Swish!Swish!
Six figures, dressed in crisp military uniforms, ran forward from the front of different formations with perfectly synchronized steps, stopped below the rostrum, turned around, and faced the steps.
Then, at the command of the officer in charge, the six men simultaneously turned to the center of the platform and stood in a row.
"salute--!"
Six arms rose with lightning speed, freezing in a standard military salute.
Gu Chengyuan walked forward from the center of the stage to the row of students. His gaze slowly swept over them from left to right, and his heart couldn't help but stir.
These six individuals are the cream of the crop from the "Revival Phase I" team, and a microcosm of the future pillars of the Central Plains Theater.
The first person on the far left is the representative of the Advanced Studies Department, an army officer of about forty years old with a resolute and composed face.
His brows bore the marks of rich combat command experience and the vicissitudes of time, yet his eyes burned with a flame even brighter, tempered by systematic theory.
Gu Chengyuan took a pair of shoulder insignia representing a senior colonel from the sandalwood tray held by the ceremonial officer beside him and walked up to the middle-aged officer.
The middle-aged officer immediately bowed slightly, his posture respectful and excited.
Gu Chengyuan didn't say anything, but steadily and solemnly pinned the new insignia on him and patted his strong arm hard.
Everything is understood without words—this is an affirmation and entrustment of the veteran to further his studies and reach new heights.
The second was an air force colonel in his early thirties, with a sharp and capable demeanor. He came from the advanced staff officer training program and had a keen eye, clearly a top performer in air combat command and joint planning. Gu Chengyuan pinned the rank insignia of a senior colonel on him.
The third and fourth places are held by a naval lieutenant colonel and an army technical lieutenant colonel, respectively, both of whom were awarded the rank of colonel.
Gu Chengyuan exchanged brief glances with each person, nodding slightly to convey silent expectations.
Then he came to the fifth person—an army cadet from the general recruitment department, about twenty-five or twenty-six years old, who was selected because of his outstanding performance. Gu Chengyuan personally pinned the major's insignia on him. The young officer was so excited that his face turned red and his arm trembled slightly as he saluted.
Finally, Gu Chengyuan stood in front of the sixth and youngest representative—Zhang Jingyu.
Looking at the young face he had seen six months ago, now even more resolute and confident, a clear look of surprise flashed in Gu Chengyuan's eyes, which then turned into a deeper sense of satisfaction and a smile.
Fate and hard work can sometimes be quite wondrous.
"Greetings, Commander!" Zhang Jingyu tried his best to control his voice, but a hint of excitement still leaked out at the end.
He felt like he was dreaming. Six months ago he was wearing a school badge, and six months later he was wearing an insignia, and the person was the same person, Chairman Gu!
This is more than just the treatment a novel's protagonist receives; it's an unparalleled honor that even his ancestors wouldn't dare dream of!
Gu Chengyuan didn't immediately pick up the epaulettes. Instead, he looked at him and spoke gently, his voice not loud, but loud enough for those nearby to hear clearly:
"Zhang Jingyu, I remember you. In just six months, you went from one bar to one star. With your hard work and achievements, you have once again stood before me."
"Reporting, Commander! The cadets dare not let you down or the honor of the school badge!" Zhang Jingyu shouted almost instinctively, his eyes instantly welling up with tears.
"Very good." Gu Chengyuan nodded, his smile widening.
He picked up the major's epaulettes from the tray. They were no different from the ones he had given to other outstanding students in the general admissions department before, but this action carried a completely different weight in the hearts of the two men.
He stepped forward and carefully put it on Zhang Jingyu.
At such close range, Zhang Jingyu could smell the faint, refreshing scent emanating from his superior, and could clearly see the encouragement and profound expectations in his eyes. His hands were steady and strong, firmly holding the insignia in place.
After putting on the gift, Gu Chengyuan did not immediately step back. Instead, just like he had done six months ago, he raised his hand again and patted Zhang Jingyu's shoulder forcefully.
This time, the intensity seems to be even greater.
"Major." Gu Chengyuan looked at him, his tone solemn:
"The responsibility is heavier now! Don't forget what I said when you entered the school, and don't let down the epaulets you wear today. The future is in your hands."
"Yes, sir! We swear to repay this victory with our lives!"
At this moment, Zhang Jingyu felt as if his blood was burning and every cell in his body was screaming!
The glory and entrustment he receives at this moment are enough to support him in facing any difficulties and obstacles in the future, enabling him to unleash a hundred times more courage and wisdom!
After the conferment of ranks was completed, Gu Chengyuan returned to his original position. The six student representatives saluted again, then turned around and ran back to their respective formations with high spirits and upright posture.
The sunlight shone on the new starlight on their shoulders, and also on the thousands of passionate hearts on and off the playground.
The trainees of "Revival Phase I" have completed their final tempering and coronation.
Now, the sword is ready, waiting to be drawn and pointed at the vast battlefield of civilization's revival, a battlefield full of challenges and hopes!
