Chapter 1309 The Four Major Army Groups

Night market in Xishui District, top floor of the Central Plains War Zone headquarters building.

The heavy door opened silently, and Gu Chengyuan stepped steadily into his commander's office. The bright lights in the outer room and the relatively soft warm light in the inner room divided the spacious space into different functional areas and atmospheres.

The air was filled with the scent of documents, fine tea, and a very faint trace of disinfectant, creating a tranquil and solemn atmosphere.

Pu Guangqiang, the guard who had been waiting by the door, stepped forward swiftly but silently, and with practiced and respectful movements, took the dark green casual coat that Gu Chengyuan had taken off, carefully smoothed it out, and hung it on the standing coat rack next to him.

The three stars on the epaulettes of the coat flashed and disappeared under the light.

Instead of heading towards the large, heavy desk piled high with documents, Gu Chengyuan strolled to a corner near the panoramic floor-to-ceiling window.

There were two newly replaced, comfortable dark brown leather armchairs and a small coffee table there, which was where he occasionally spent time alone or had informal conversations.

He sat down on one of the sofas, his body sinking slightly into the soft support, his gaze fixed on the window.

It was nearly morning, and the sunlight had completely dispelled the morning mist, streaming in through the specially made glass, illuminating the entire stream area clearly and vibrantly.

But at this moment, his gaze seemed unfocused; he simply stared quietly at the world he had helped reshape with his own hands, a rare touch of melancholy rising in his heart after the departure of his loved ones.

My younger brother, Cheng Yun, who used to follow me around since we were little, is now a lieutenant colonel and heading to the real front lines of bloodshed... Time really flies.

"Chief, tea." Pu Guangqiang appeared silently and gently placed a steaming white porcelain teacup on the coffee table next to Gu Chengyuan.

The tea soup was golden and clear, a type that Gu Chengyuan usually preferred, and the temperature was just right.

"Hmm." Gu Chengyuan responded, pulling his somewhat wandering thoughts back, picked up the teacup, brought it to his nose to gently inhale the elegant fragrance, and then took a small sip.

The warm liquid slid down his throat, as if soothing the lingering melancholy. He was Gu Chengyun's elder brother, but even more so, the backbone of millions of soldiers and civilians in the Central Plains War Zone.

Personal emotions, like the aroma of tea, should only be savored briefly and then suppressed in one's heart.

Almost at the same time he put down his teacup, there was a gentle knock on the office door.

"Go in." Gu Chengyuan's voice had returned to its usual calm and clear tone.

The door opened, and Senior Colonel Zhou Guihong, the head of the Secretariat, walked in.

He was still dressed in his crisp military uniform, holding a thin folder in his hand. His face showed his usual focus and a hint of fatigue from working all night, but his eyes behind his glasses were clear.

"Commander." Zhou Guihong stood about 1.5 meters away from the sofa.

"Sit down, Gui Hong." Gu Chengyuan gestured to the sofa opposite him, his tone casual: "What is it?"

Zhou Guihong sat down as instructed, her back still straight, opened the folder, and reported:

"Yes, sir. I am reporting to you that the second phase of enrollment for the Fuxing Military Academy has been basically completed, and the relevant lists and files are undergoing final review."

He paused for a moment, then gave specific figures: "The total number of students planned for this session is about 2500, slightly higher than the first session."

"Among them, the Active Duty Officer Advanced Training Program plans to recruit 300 people, with a six-month training period. It is mainly aimed at newly promoted or prospective brigade and regimental level command and staff officers from various group armies and military sub-districts, as well as some senior backbone personnel from technical branches."

"The general recruitment department plans to recruit 2200 people for a one-year course. The composition of the students will continue the proportion of the first batch, with the vast majority being outstanding soldiers and junior non-commissioned officers selected from various units. A small number of places will be reserved for ordinary survivors who have special skills or extremely high potential after strict screening."

"Currently, the first batch of recruited grassroots soldiers and some officers who are going to study nearby have been notified and have begun to gather at the night market from various places. It is expected that all the students will be in place in a week, and the opening ceremony can be officially held."

Upon hearing about the scale and progress, Gu Chengyuan's face showed a satisfied expression.

Fuxing Military Academy is his "talent melting pot". The success of the first phase has proven its value. The smooth expansion of the second phase means that this training system is on the right track and will continue to supply the theater with much-needed, systematically tempered command and technical personnel.

"Very good." He nodded, his tone turning serious and admonishing:

"Trainees gather at the night market from all over the country, so security along the way is of paramount importance!"

"Although the overall situation is stable now, the wilderness is not entirely peaceful. There may be sporadic zombies, roaming bandits, or even the spying of some unknown forces."

"We must coordinate with the internal security forces along the route, the armed forces in various gathering places, and even, if necessary, use the air force to conduct route patrols and provide rapid response support."

"We must ensure that every cadet arrives at the military academy safely and on time!"

He leaned forward slightly and emphasized, "The battlefield is dangerous; that's a soldier's destiny!"

"But the Fuxing Military Academy must be an 'ivory tower' that we build for future officers, a place of absolute safety for their studies!"

"You will personally oversee this matter, and make it one of the department's top priorities. I don't want to hear of any student getting into trouble on their way to school, understand?"

"Yes, sir! I will personally oversee the operation immediately, coordinate with all parties, and formulate the most stringent security escort plan to ensure absolute safety!" Zhou Guihong's expression hardened, she quickly jotted down the key points, and solemnly accepted the order.

He knew the weight of the words "absolute safety" in the minds of his superiors, as it concerned not only the individual students but also the prestige and cohesion of the military academy and even the theater of operations in the future.

After reporting on the military academy matters, Zhou Guihong, seeing the commander's expression, knew there was still time, so she proactively brought up the next important agenda item:

"Sir, also, as per your instructions, the materials for the special military meeting of the Theater Command Standing Committee have been prepared, and the meeting room has been arranged. The meeting was originally scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m., and there is still about half an hour before it starts. What do you think…?"

Half an hour left...

Gu Chengyuan raised his hand and rubbed his brow, which was a little tense from the early morning rush and emotional fluctuations.

The brief emotions of saying goodbye to my younger brother and the expectations for the new semester at military academy must quickly give way to the major decision that is about to take place, which may determine the next strategic direction of the theater of operations.

"I understand." He lowered his hand, his eyes now sharp and clear, as if the momentary melancholy had never existed.

"Put the materials on my desk first, and I'll go through them again. We'll go to the meeting room in ten minutes."

"Yes!" Zhou Guihong stood up, took out the summary of the military conference from the folder, gently placed it on the coffee table next to Gu Chengyuan, and then quietly left the office.

The door closed gently.

The office fell silent again, with only sunlight slowly moving across the floor.

Gu Chengyuan didn't immediately take the summary. He picked up his teacup again, drank the remaining warm tea in one gulp, then closed his eyes and leaned back on the sofa.

This half hour was the last brief moment he could be completely alone and contemplate, both today and perhaps for a long time to come.

The younger brother has gone far away, and the fledgling eagle has left the nest.

New trainees are about to gather, and the torch is about to be passed on.

Even more urgent is the selection of the commanders of the four heavy combined arms army groups, which will soon take place in the conference room!

He needed this moment of tranquility to calm his thoughts, focus his mind, and face the work ahead with the clearest and most determined attitude.

The sunlight silently fell upon his calm and profound face.