174: Chapter 173: Participating in the selection of the Top Ten People Who Moved China!

"Let me give you the lowdown first." Zhao Jianguo picked up his herbal tea, his fingertips tracing the rim of the cup. "Every major Military Region in the country has their eyes on this selection. Our Yuezhou Military Region, Southeast Military Region, Southwest Military Region, Beijing Military Region, Northwest Military Region... each Military Region has one recommendation slot, but in the end, only one person can stand on the podium."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the remaining lanterns in the ancestral hall square outside the window. "Do you think this is just about personal honor? You're wrong. This is an 'appearance' for the major Military Regions in front of the common people—to let the people of the whole country see exactly what kind of soldiers and what kind of soul our military possesses."

Li Wanjiang added from the side, "Just like four years ago, the bomb disposal expert recommended by the Southeast Military Region lost a leg while clearing mines at the border, yet he insisted on leading his soldiers to complete the mission. When he won the award, the entire nation was discussing the dedication of soldiers, and recruitment numbers rose by thirty percent during that period."

"That is the significance," Zhao Jianguo took over, his tone solemn. "You, Su Han, have only been in the service for five months, yet you've created the myth of 'Instinctive Shooting,' achieved godhood with nine championships in the All-Army Grand Competition, single-handedly cracked a kidnapping case, went in and out of a fire three times to save people, and now you've even developed the prototype of the Womens Special Operations Team... Your track record is solid and brilliant, but more importantly—"

He pointed to the military flag fluttering in the wind outside the ancestral hall. "You have a certain spirit about you, a spirit that the common people can understand. On the training ground, you're an iron-blooded instructor; when saving lives, you're a daredevil; and when facing the villagers, you're as simple as the boy next door... This kind of authenticity is more powerful than any propaganda."

Su Han fell silent.

He recalled his previous life when he was on missions abroad, and how the locals were unfamiliar with or even misunderstood Chinese soldiers.

Back then, he understood that a country's military not only needs to be able to win battles but also needs to make its own people trust and feel proud of it from the bottom of their hearts.

Inside the ancestral hall, Zhao Jianguo's voice continued, "As for why we arrange for a military representative every few sessions..."

He looked at the memorial tablets of the Su Family's ancestors on the altar in the hall. Many of those tablets were engraved with the word "Martyr." "Look at these ancestors of your Su Family. For over three hundred years, among the Su Family descendants who joined the military to serve the country, there have been at least eighty, if not a hundred. Why? Because a soldier's dedication is never an isolated thing."

"In times of peace, without the smoke of war, it's easy for the people to forget how their stable lives came to be."

His voice lowered. "The ones rushing to the front lines for flood relief are soldiers; the first to crawl into the ruins for earthquake relief are soldiers; the ones standing guard in the wind and snow along the border are still soldiers... These things shouldn't just exist in the news; someone needs to carve them into the public memory."

"'Touching China' is about making everyone remember that someone is carrying the burden for them." Zhao Jianguo looked at Su Han, his eyes as sharp as an eagle's. "And you, Su Han, are the most suitable candidate right now. In your story, there is the iron blood of a soldier, the heritage of a prestigious family, and even more so, a pure heart for the common people—these three combined are the most vivid 'Military Soul'."

Su Han's heart felt as though it had been struck by something.

"Of course," Zhao Jianguo's tone shifted, regaining a bit of a teasing quality, "if you don't end up being selected, don't be discouraged. As soldiers, we don't fight for medals, and we don't do things for awards. But if you are selected..."

He patted Su Han's shoulder with significant force. "You'd better speak well for me! Let the people of the whole country see that the soldiers of our Yuezhou Military Region can not only fight but can also explain clearly—exactly what this uniform means!"

Su Han stood up and gave Zhao Jianguo a standard military salute, his voice clear and bright: "Yes! I guarantee the mission will be completed!"

This time, there was not a hint of hesitation in his tone.

...

Because he still had military duties to attend to, Zhao Jianguo hurriedly left with his guards after finishing the core discussion with Su Han.

Only Su Han, Li Wanjiang, Wang Yuanchao, and several core members of the War Eagle Squad remained in the ancestral hall. The atmosphere was much more relaxed than before.

Li Wanjiang picked up the hot tea on the table, took a slow sip, and smiled at Su Han. "Commander Zhao has explained all the grand principles, so I'll tell you about the specific selection process. This matter looks glorious, but in reality, there's layer upon layer of screening, and there can't be even a hint of carelessness."

Su Han sat upright, adopting an attentive posture.

He was unfamiliar with this type of selection, so it wouldn't hurt to learn more about the details.

"The selection for the 'Ten Most Touching Figures of China' isn't something the military decides internally." Li Wanjiang held up a finger and began to explain in detail. "The entire process is divided into four steps, just like you Special Forces Soldiers executing a mission—one link after another, and it won't work if any link goes wrong."

"Step One: Recommendation and Nomination (October - November)"

"It's just the beginning of October now, which is the stage for recommendations and nominations from various units," Li Wanjiang explained. "Nationwide, candidates can be recommended from all walks of life—some are reported by grassroots units, some are discovered by the media, and some are even jointly nominated by the common people. Our Yuezhou Military Region has decided on you this time. The materials have already been organized and will be formally reported to Headquarters next week."

"This step may seem simple, but the competition is actually fierce. In our military system alone, there are over a dozen Military Regions and branches of service recommending candidates. Headquarters will first conduct a round of screening to select about 10 'candidates,' and nationwide, there will be 50 candidates in total. Only then can you be considered to have truly stepped through the threshold of the selection."

Houzi, listening from the side, clicked his tongue in wonder. "It's like an open audition? Wouldn't that be even more crowded than the preliminary rounds of the All-Army Grand Competition?"

Li Wanjiang nodded. "That's more or less what it means. But candidates recommended by the military have an advantage—their deeds often have more impact. Someone like you, Su Han, with the dual highlights of 'military merit + livelihood,' will be very prominent among the candidates."

"Step Two: Media Showcase and Public Voting (December)"

"Once you enter the 10-person candidate list, you reach the most crucial stage—the media showcase."

Li Wanjiang's tone became more serious. "CCTV will produce a special program, broadcasting a short feature film about one candidate's deeds every day. Major mainstream media and online platforms will also push the content simultaneously. At that time, viewers across the country will see your story."

He looked at Su Han. "The video of you saving people from the fire, the highlights of the Grand Competition, and your daily training might all be edited into the short film. This is both publicity and a public test—whether the people accept it or not depends on this moment."

"Public voting also takes place during this stage."

Li Wanjiang continued, "It happens both online and offline simultaneously. The voting results will serve as an important reference, but they aren't the only standard. After all, some true heroes might not be articulate, and their deeds might not be 'dramatic' enough, so the judges have to keep watch."

WangYuanchao interjected："This step shouldn't be much of a problem for Su Han. The live broadcast of the fire rescue last time already helped him accumulate a lot of popularity. Plus, with the fighter jet escort for the merit award ceremony and the clan ceremony this time, netizens have already pushed him to the top of the trending searches."

Su HanBut he frowned："If we win based on 'popularity,' wouldn't that deviate from the original intention of the selection?"