70: Chapter 70: Exceptional Promotion to Captain! Heading to Falcon Special Operations Base!

The morning sunlight spilled through the window of the Regimental Commander's office. Wang Tiejun stood before the window with his hands behind his back, his brow furrowed.

"Report!" Su Han's resonant voice came from outside the door.

"Enter." Wang Tiejun turned around, his gaze piercing as he stared at Su Han, who pushed the door and entered.

Su Han stood ramrod straight and gave a standard military salute. "Regimental Commander, you were looking for me?"

Wang Tiejun pointed to the chair opposite him. "Sit."

After Su Han sat down, Wang Tiejun took a document out of a drawer and gently pushed it toward Su Han. "Take a look at this first."

Su Han looked down and saw the words "Order Regarding the Exceptional Promotion of Comrade Su Han" printed strikingly on the cover.

"Regimental Commander, this..."

Wang Tiejun waved his hand. "Talk after you've finished reading."

Su Han flipped open the document, and the very first page caused his pupils to constrict slightly—

"By the decision of the Military Region Party Committee, Private Comrade Su Han is exceptionally promoted to the rank of Captain and appointed as an instructor for the Special Operations Teaching and Research Office..."

"Captain?" Su Han looked up abruptly. "Regimental Commander, isn't this against the rules? Usually, promotions start at Second Lieutenant, don't they?"

The corners of Wang Tiejun's mouth curled up slightly. "What? You think the rank is too high?"

"No..."

"Then stop talking nonsense." Wang Tiejun tapped on the table. "One first-class merit, two Third-Class Merits, plus your performance in the All-Army Grand Competition—promoting directly from Private to Captain is rare, but it's not without precedent."

He stood up and walked over to Su Han. "Now, tell me about what happened during your leave. What's this about 'over a dozen bad guys' that the little girl mentioned?"

Su Han took a deep breath and gave a concise report on his trip to Yuezhou, focusing on the kidnappers' armament and criminal acts while deliberately downplaying the combat details.

After listening, Wang Tiejun's brow furrowed even tighter. "One person against fifteen armed kidnappers? Su Han, do you know the consequences of falsely reporting military achievements?"

"Regimental Commander, I have the case records from the Yuezhou Public Security Bureau and the endorsement of the Military Region Command."

Su Han said calmly, "If necessary, I can ask Staff Officer Wang Zhigang to testify."

Wang Tiejun stared at Su Han for a few seconds before suddenly bursting into laughter. "Good lad! I really didn't misjudge you!"

He took an exquisite box out of the safe and solemnly handed it to Su Han. "These are your new shoulder boards. From today on, you are a Captain."

Su Han took the box, feeling its weight was much heavier than he had imagined.

"However..." Wang Tiejun's tone shifted. "Your position as 'Instructor of the Special Operations Teaching and Research Office' is a bit special."

Su Han's heart stirred. "Regimental Commander, what do you mean?"

"It means you don't need to report to the military academy." Wang Tiejun revealed a meaningful smile. "Deputy Commander Zhao personally selected you to be responsible for forming a brand-new special operations unit; you already know this yourself. Pack your things and head to Falcon in the next couple of days. Their preparations should be just about finished by now."

"Yes!" Su Han stood up and saluted.

————

At the 7th Company training ground, the soldiers were practicing combat techniques.

"Did you hear? Brother Han was called to the office by the Regimental Commander!" Wang Hao muttered while doing push-ups.

Zhao Xiaohu wiped away his sweat. "It's definitely because Xiao Budian let something slip last night."

"You guys think Brother Han really took down over a dozen kidnappers by himself?" another soldier leaned in. "Isn't that too exaggerated?"

Liu Yong walked over and kicked the soldier in the butt. "Focus on training! Any more gossip and you're doing an extra hundred push-ups!"

Just then, a military jeep drove onto the training ground. The door opened, and Su Han stepped out.

Everyone's eyes focused simultaneously on Su Han's shoulders—those gleaming Captain's shoulder boards!

"Holy crap!" Wang Hao blurted out a curse in shock.

Liu Yong was also dumbfounded. "Su Han... you... this is..."

Su Han smiled slightly and gave a standard military salute. "Reporting to Squad Leader, I have just been exceptionally promoted and appointed as a Captain."

The entire 7th Company instantly erupted into a frenzy.

"Directly from Private to Captain?!"

"Brother Han is awesome!"

"Is he on a freaking rocket ship?"

Liu Yong snapped out of it and quickly returned the salute. "Cap... Captain Su, congratulations!"

Su Han waved his hand. "Squad Leader, just call me Su Han in private."

Wang Hao rushed forward and cautiously touched Su Han's shoulder boards. "Brother Han... no, Captain Su! You've set an all-army record!"

Zhao Xiaohu suddenly thought of something, and his expression changed. "Wait, now that Brother Han has been promoted, is he about to leave?"

The training ground instantly fell silent.

Xiao Budian ran over, and seeing Su Han's shoulder boards, her eyes lit up. "Great-grandfather got a promotion?"

She mimicked the adults and gave a proper salute. "Hello, Chief!"

The soldiers burst into laughter, and the sadness of parting was significantly diluted.

Liu Yong sighed and patted Su Han's shoulder. "Even though I knew we couldn't keep you, I didn't expect it to be this fast..."

"Squad Leader, I will always be a man of the 7th Company," Su Han said earnestly.

"Alright, enough with the sentimentality," Liu Yong joked with a laugh. "Before you go, give these rascals some more guidance."

Su Han nodded and turned to the soldiers of the 7th Company. "For the last three days, I'll train with you!"

"Hoo!" The soldiers cheered in unison.

Xiao Budian also excitedly waved her little fists. "Great-grandfather is the best!"

————

7th Company Training Ground—

"Again! Faster! The enemy on the battlefield won't give you a second chance!"

Su Han stood in the center of the training ground, his voice steady and powerful.

Under his guidance, the soldiers of the 7th Company were conducting high-intensity tactical drills.

"Wang Hao! Your tactical movements are too stiff! Remember, your body should flow like water; don't give the enemy a fixed target!"

"Yes!" Wang Hao gritted his teeth and responded. Sweat dripped from his forehead, but his gaze was exceptionally focused.

Su Han walked up to Zhao Xiaohu and suddenly performed a leg sweep. Caught off guard, Zhao Xiaohu almost fell.

"Reaction is too slow!" Su Han frowned. "On the battlefield, the enemy won't tell you in advance that they're going to attack!"

Zhao Xiaohu rubbed his numbed leg and said with a bitter smile, "Brother Han, isn't that a bit too ruthless..."

"Ruthless?" Su Han smiled faintly. "A real enemy will be even more ruthless."

He turned to face everyone. "Next, I will teach you an improved set of close-quarters combat techniques. Watch closely!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Su Han's figure flashed. His movements were lightning-fast, his punches fierce, and every move targeted a vital point.

The soldiers watched, dumbfounded.

"Is... is this Military Boxing?" Liu Yong asked in shock.

"It incorporates the essence of the Su Family Fist Technique." Su Han finished his stance, his breathing steady. "When dealing with a physically stronger enemy, technique is more important than strength."

————

The next day, at the shooting range—

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Three consecutive shots completely pierced through the bullseye.

Su Han lowered his gun and looked at Wang Hao beside him. "Did you see clearly?"

Wang Hao swallowed. "I... I saw it clearly, but my hands can't keep up..."

"Shooting isn't about brute force," Su Han said calmly. "Breathing, heartbeat, and muscle coordination—none can be missing."

He walked behind Zhao Xiaohu and gently pressed his shoulder. "Relax, don't be nervous. The gun is an extension of your body."

Zhao Xiaohu took a deep breath and pulled the trigger—

Bang!

A nine!

"I... I hit it?!" Zhao Xiaohu was so excited he almost jumped up.

Su Han smiled slightly. "Remember this feeling. Keep practicing."

Xiao Budian ran over and tugged on Su Han's sleeve. "Great-grandfather, I want to learn too!"

Su Han rubbed her little head. "When you grow up a bit more."

"Hmph! Xiao Budian is already very powerful!" She put her hands on her hips defiantly.

Everyone burst into laughter.

————

The third day, at the physical training ground—

Under the scorching sun, the soldiers of the 7th Company were conducting a weighted cross-country run.

Su Han ran at the front of the group with steady steps, as if the weight on his back didn't exist.

"Hold on! Last five hundred meters!"

Wang Hao was panting heavily, his face pale, but his gaze remained determined.

"Hao-zi, don't fall behind!" Zhao Xiaohu encouraged from the side.

"Don't... don't worry! I can still do it!"

Finally, the entire unit crossed the finish line, collapsing to the ground one by one, gasing for air.

————

Early morning, at the entrance of the 7th Company barracks.

The jeep was ready, with Su Han's luggage and Xiao Budian's backpack already inside.

The soldiers of the 7th Company were lined up neatly, looking at Su Han with complex emotions.

"Attention! Salute!" Liu Yong shouted loudly.

Swoosh! Everyone saluted in unison.

Su Han returned the salute, his gaze firm.

"Su Han, the 7th Company will always be your home!" Liu Yong's voice was slightly choked up.

"Brother Han! Come back and visit often when you have time!" Wang Hao shouted with reddened eyes.

"Xiao Budian, remember to miss us!" Zhao Xiaohu waved at Xiao Budian.

Holding her teddy bear, Xiao Budian said in a childish voice, "Goodbye, Uncles! Xiao Budian will miss you!"

Su Han smiled slightly, turned to pick up Xiao Budian, and walked toward the jeep.

The car door closed, and the engine started.

The soldiers of the 7th Company stood in place, watching the vehicle slowly drive away until it disappeared at the end of their vision.

"Let's go, back to training." Liu Yong took a deep breath and turned toward the training ground.

The others followed in silence.

————

Inside the jeep—

Xiao Budian leaned against the window, watching the scenery retreat rapidly, and asked softly, "Great-grandfather, where are we going?"

Su Han stroked her head, the corners of his mouth turning up slightly.

"To a place... that's even more interesting."

...

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