31: Chapter 31 The Leaders Have Arrived

Headquarters of the Huaxia A Group Army.

After returning, Division Commander Wang headed straight to the Army Commander to report without delay.

"Commander, this is the general situation regarding the [Soul Blade]."

Commander Leng looked over the report submitted by Division Commander Wang.

Wang Yi had written everything he saw and heard at the experimental base into the report in great detail.

"The Flying Dragon Squadron lasted less than 10 minutes?"

"Confirmed, without a doubt!"

"Actually, it was a complete thrashing. The radar couldn't even detect where the [Soul Blade] was!"

"Was this mecha warrior developed by Chu Ge?"

"Yes, and he is practically the father of the [Soul Blade]! You have no idea—at the base, his lectures are harsher than scolding his own son!"

"I recall the [Prism Tower] project and the controllable nuclear fusion technology—did those also come from him?"

Commander Leng asked hurriedly.

"Yes!"

"Hmm! This man can be called a peerless talent. And have you noticed? Any one of the projects he researches is a major contribution to the nation's arsenal, yet there isn't a single one related to individual infantry weapons. Or perhaps he simply disdains them?"

"I haven't really considered that," Wang Yi answered truthfully.

"Prepare a plane for tomorrow. I need to go to the base. Regardless of the man or whether we can snatch the [Soul Blade], I estimate that whatever little thing Academician Chu tosses out is enough to improve our capabilities by a huge margin!"

In truth, Commander Leng understood that he was hardly qualified to bargain for the man or the mecha.

He had other plans in mind.

The next day, at a military airport in the northwest, it was just past 6 o'clock.

Commander Leng, having just deplaned and not yet boarded his vehicle, saw a transport plane flying in from the distance.

"Why does this plane look familiar? Isn't this the private plane of Commander Liu from the Western Theater Command?"

As neighboring military regions, Commander Leng had dealt with Commander Liu quite often.

"Wait a moment."

The plane landed, and before anyone had exited, Commander Leng walked up to meet them.

"I knew my eyes weren't deceiving me. Old Liu, what wind blew you here?"

The Huaxia A Group Army was an experimental unit, roughly equivalent in level to other military regions.

"I wondered who it was! Isn't this Commander Leng? Hey, didn't your exercise end? Why are you still here?"

"Oh, I, uh, I'm just here to learn a few things. How about you? Old Liu?"

"Me? I'm also here to learn a few things!!!"

"Shall we go together then?"

"Sure, sure!"

Just as the two were about to leave, another transport plane flew in from the distance.

The two exchanged a glance.

"Should we wait?"

"Might as well."

"I wondered who it was! Isn't this Commander Wang from the Northern Theater Command!"

...

And so, our Commander Leng had not left the airport from 6 AM until 9 AM.

The group had grown from just him to eight people.

The commanders of all the military regions in Huaxia had gathered at the Northwest Weapons Experimental Base.

"I say, everyone, let's stop pretending. We're all soldiers, so let's just speak plainly."

Commander Leng, whose liver ached from frustration, said discontentedly.

"Exactly. Commander Leng's unit was at least the sparring unit. What about you lot?"

A dark-skinned man shouted, following Commander Leng's words.

"Hey, I say, Commander Meng, it's understandable for us in the Army or even the Air Force to come, but what business does a Navy Commander have joining in the fun?"

"Exactly!"

Everyone said in unison!

"Why can't I come? The first research achievement of Academician Chu was for our Navy!"

"As for that iron lump of a robot, I won't fight you for it. But when it comes to Chu Ge himself, I'll fight anyone who tries to snatch him!"

"Hey, he's like a rabbit—he'll bite you the moment he gets the chance!"

"Hahaha!"

These old friends and comrades, many of whom had even fought alongside each other, bickered and joked, but in the end, they embraced tightly!

With these pillars of strength in Huaxia, the nation is secure.

Meanwhile, Chu Ge was still struggling with proofreading data.

Dean Chen rushed over in a hurry.

"Chu Ge, quickly hand over your work to Li Gang. Many commanders have arrived!"

"Huh? Which commanders?"

Chu Ge asked Academician Chen as he walked out.

"Basically, all the commanders of Huaxia, big and small, have arrived. Why do I feel like we've been targeted by a pack of wolves?"

Academician Chen sighed.

"You mean the [Soul Blade]? Has the news spread this fast? Haha."

"I tell you... forget it, you blockhead."

"..."

Inside an office at the base.

The various commanders were still exchanging intelligence when Chu Ge suddenly walked in.

He quickly backed out; the people inside were those often seen on television.

Now, Chu Ge was nervous!

"Old Chen, dropping the ball at a critical moment. Who did he go to pick up at a time like this? Making me come over alone—what am I supposed to do here?" Chu Ge muttered to himself.

"Hey, you must be Little Chu, Chu Ge, right?"

Commander Leng, having sharp eyes, quickly stood up to ask.

Now, Chu Ge had no choice but to brace himself and go in.

"Greetings, Commanders! I am Chu Ge. I did not know you traveled so far to come here today. Please forgive my lack of hospitality!"

"Haha, our Academician Chu is nervous!"

"Hahaha."

Inside the room, the commanders laughed together.

"It's alright. Come, sit down. Are you afraid that us old fogies are going to eat you?"

"No, no..."

"Let me see who dares to eat our Academician Chu!"

Outside the door, a soldier who appeared refined yet revealed a sense of fortitude pushed the door open and entered.

Upon seeing the person who entered, the commanders in the room all straightened their backs and stood up in unison with a "snap."

"Greetings, Minister Long!"

The person who arrived was none other than Minister Long of the military.

"Hmm, what day is it today? Did you all arrange this beforehand?"

"Ah. Yes, yes, yes. The mecha warrior tests are just about finished, so we thought we'd come and pay our respects in advance!"

Commander Leng was the thick-skinned one, finishing his sentence without blushing or skipping a beat.

"Hmm, that does make sense. It fits your style—every time new equipment comes out, you all have to fight over it!"

"..."

"I say, Commander Meng, they are here to scout intelligence on the mecha, but what about you? You are a Navy Commander—are you planning to have our mecha warrior float on the sea with your warships?"

"Well, this, this, it's not impossible!"

"Hey, Meng Shichang, that's not what you said just now!"

Now, the other commanders wouldn't have it.

"Nonsense!"

Minister Long said with a stern face.

"Minister Long, also, the naval gun system that Academician Chu researched for our Navy has already been installed on our ships, right? As the Navy Commander, I should naturally come to express my gratitude, shouldn't I?"

Commander Meng, seeing which way the wind was blowing, quickly added.

"Hmm. That counts as a reason!"

Minister Long couldn't be bothered to deal with these old wily veterans and turned to walk toward Chu Ge.

He said kindly:

"You must be Chu Ge, right?"

"Reporting to Minister Long, it is I!"

Chu Ge immediately stood at attention and saluted!

Minister Long had been Chu Ge's idol during his student days. This old commander, who had once been on the battlefield, was the helmsman who had led the Huaxia military to continuous development and growth over the past twenty years.

By developing technology and respecting the incubation and introduction of scientific talent, the Huaxia military's new equipment and new technologies had advanced by leaps and bounds.

The Navy and Air Force, branches that were once weak in Huaxia, had leapt to become top-three powers in the world.