Chapter 1303 Graduation Assignment

After the conferment ceremony, the brand-new epaulets on his chest were still warm, and the excitement in his blood had not yet subsided.

The newly awarded cadets, led by their respective captains and instructors, marched back to the teaching building from the parade ground in formation that was still straight but with noticeably lighter steps.

Along the way, suppressed whispers of discussion sprouted like spring grass in the gaps between the lines.

"Old Wang, you've been promoted to colonel! You're really something!"

"Your lieutenant colonel isn't bad either! You'll have to treat us to a meal later!"

"What's the point of inviting guests? We don't even know where the guests will be distributed yet..."

...

Joy, reflection, and speculation about the future intertwined among the officers, both young and no longer young.

The instructors, who were known for their strictness and intolerance of any noise in the ranks, were unusually silent at this moment, even with a hint of understanding in their eyes, allowing these subtle sounds to briefly linger in the ranks.

They had also been through this stage, and they knew all too well the surging emotions in the trainees' hearts that were enough to overwhelm any sense of discipline.

However, when the students of the Joint Operations Command Department stepped into that familiar large classroom, all the whispers were abruptly cut off as if by an invisible gate.

Department Head—Major General Luo Ziyan—was already standing on the podium.

He held a document in his hand that wasn't thick, yet felt incredibly heavy.

His square face, which rarely showed a smile, appeared even more solemn at this moment. His gaze behind his glasses calmly swept over the students who filed in and quickly found their seats and sat up straight.

The joy of graduation that had just filled the air was instantly replaced by a more realistic and urgent sense of solemnity.

Everyone unconsciously straightened their backs, held their breath, and fixed their eyes on the document in Director Luo's hand.

If the conferment of ranks just now was a summary and commendation of their studies over the past six months, a visible "leadership" based on their achievements, then the graduation assignments to be announced next will truly determine the starting point of the next stage of their military careers, and may even subtly influence their development trajectory for the next few years or even decades.

Being assigned to a good unit, such as the four renowned heavy-armored combined arms groups in the Central Plains Theater, means having the most advanced equipment, battle-hardened soldiers, and numerous combat missions and opportunities for real combat.

There, honor and military merit seemed to hang right on the battlefield. As long as you had the ability and were willing to fight, they were almost within your grasp. The path to promotion was naturally wide and bright, and your future was promising.

But if you're unlucky, you might be assigned to a "bad" unit, such as a remote logistics warehouse, a fixed transportation unit, or a newly formed garrison...

Their equipment may be a generation behind, and the quality and fighting spirit of their soldiers are far inferior to those of the main force. They rarely have any decent combat missions throughout the year.

Once you go to that kind of place, it likely means sitting on the sidelines, slowly climbing the ranks by working your way up, watching your former classmates achieve great successes and rise through the ranks. Just thinking about it sends chills down your spine.

Although this is nominally a "graduation internship assignment," it is not a permanent position.

But those in the military understand what an "internship" means—it's a golden period for integrating into a new unit, showcasing abilities, and building connections.

He was assigned to the main force, performed outstandingly, and naturally stayed on after his internship ended.

But what if you're assigned to a peripheral logistics department and want to be transferred to a front-line combat unit?

That would be no less difficult than a new battle, and when that time comes, you'll be left with no one to turn to for help.

The thought that their fate might be decided by the few words that Director Luo was about to utter made the air in the classroom seem to freeze, with only the faint sound of the wind coming from outside the window remaining.

The piece of paper in the department head's hand was, in the eyes of all the students in the Joint Operations Command Department, no less than the Book of Life and Death of the King of Hell; one stroke and their future was decided.

In this almost suffocatingly heavy atmosphere, only Gu Yun, sitting in the middle and back rows, remained relatively calm.

He has a clear understanding of himself: his overall grades are in the middle range within the department, not outstanding, but certainly not at the bottom either.

Based on the general principles of this allocation, no matter how the allocation is rotated, it's unlikely that purely logistical and technical positions like warehousing and transportation will fall to someone like me, a student majoring in command.

Even if we take a step back and say something like that... his mind flashed back to his older brother's always calm and composed face.

That unspoken yet real relationship was like a hidden trump card, giving him an indescribable confidence that others lacked.

Of course, he didn't expect his brother to give him special treatment and put him directly into the most core position, but at least, he should be guaranteed a relatively fair place where he could make the most of his strengths.

Amidst the classroom's palpable trepidation, anticipation, and anxiety, and Gu Yun's own quiet contemplation, Director Luo, adjusting his glasses, refrained from further pleasantries and, in his characteristically calm and emotionless voice, began to read out the first name:

"Zhang Haifeng, Joint Operations Command Department, Advanced Studies Division, ranked first in comprehensive evaluation."

Director Luo turned his gaze to the senior colonel who was nearly forty years old and was the first to be awarded a rank by Gu Chengyuan, and announced in a calm tone, "After organizational research and decision, he is appointed as the deputy brigade commander of the 11th Combined Arms Brigade of the 1st Group Army."

"Wow—"

Although it was expected that a higher ranking would lead to a better place, the air in the classroom was still instantly ignited when the words "Deputy Brigade Commander of the 11th Combined Arms Brigade of the 1st Group Army" were truly uttered.

That was the undisputed ace of the "Imperial Guard," the spearhead of countless major battles, and one of the elite field forces closest to the core of the war zone!

The deputy brigade commander is a key position in the brigade's core command structure.

Colonel Zhang Haifeng stood up abruptly. Despite his best efforts to control himself, the flush on his face and the slight gleam in his eyes betrayed the turmoil raging within him.

He straightened his back, his voice slightly strained with excitement: "I will resolutely obey the organization's assignment! Thank you for the organization's trust!"

Snap snap snap snap snap ————

The applause was more enthusiastic and sincere than ever before, and it was also mixed with more indescribable envy.

The colonels sitting next to him patted him hard on the back, their smiles conveying the sentiment of "If we become rich and powerful, let's not forget each other."