Chapter 232 Humble Advice and Promotion

Once Cheng Xiaoqing said this, the hall went silent for a moment.

Bai Junyi looked at Chen Mu with concern and encouragement in his eyes, while Huo Chao still stood with his arms crossed, his expression complex, wondering what he was thinking.

Chen Mu was silent for a moment, his heart stirred slightly.

Although a Squad Leader was only a low-level military officer in the Demon Hunting Division, he was already the head of a team, in charge of about ten Demon Suppressing Soldiers, responsible for the deployment and safety of team members during specific missions; his authority, resource allocation capabilities, and even the channels for obtaining merit were incomparable to an ordinary Demon Hunting Soldier.

More importantly, leading a team alone meant more autonomy, perhaps making it easier to choose targets and more efficiently... plunder Lifespan.

But he quickly suppressed the agitation in his heart. Promotion was certainly a good thing, but he understood the principle that the tallest tree in the forest is the first to be blown down by the wind. This position required not only formidable strength but also prestige, experience, and even certain interpersonal skills.

He had been in the Prefecture for less than two months. Although he had made military contributions, his Foundation was not stable, and his connections were not wide. Old soldiers like Lu Dachuan and Feng Qing in his team might be convinced by him, but what about the other teams? What about those colleagues with deeper qualifications who had also made contributions but failed to be promoted?

Moreover, there were arrogant people like Qin Zheng and Jiang Yuheng from Team A.

Rising to power suddenly would surely make him a target for everyone.

Thinking of this, Chen Mu bowed slightly, his tone sincere with an appropriate amount of refusal.

"Banner Master, Chief-Lieutenant, thank you for your kindness. Chen Mu is deeply grateful. However, this subordinate has joined the Division for less than two months, my Foundation is shallow, and my experience is far inferior to my colleagues. Although I had minor merits in the two missions, it was truly thanks to Flag-bearer Cheng's planning, Deputy General Bai's command, the desperate fighting of my comrades side by side, and the timely assistance of Lord Chu of the Jade Bell Guard that I was lucky enough to succeed."

"This subordinate humbly believes that if I am promoted suddenly at this time, I fear it will be difficult to convince others, and it will also make Chen Mu feel uneasy. It would be better to let this subordinate gain more experience for a while longer; when my qualifications are slightly deeper, it will not be too late to consider it."

Chen Mu's words both explained his own shortcomings, attributed all the credit to the command of his superiors and the cooperation of his colleagues, and brought up the Jade Bell Guard, putting his posture quite low.

Hearing this, Bai Junyi looked at Chen Mu with a bit more appreciation in his eyes.

Not taking credit, not acting rashly; this kind of composure was truly rare among young people.

There was no displeasure on Cheng Xiaoqing's face. He waved his hand, interrupting Chen Mu.

"I understand your concerns. Qualifications and popularity are indeed issues, but precisely because of that, a public and fair assessment is needed to silence the public criticism. Therefore, the assessment in half a month is your opportunity to prove your ability. At that time, all colleagues in the Division can serve as witnesses."

He paused, lowered his voice, and his words carried a deeper meaning.

"As for whether you can quickly gain the recognition of your colleagues, Chen Mu, this matter itself is one of the tests of a Squad Leader's ability. A Squad Leader, if he cannot even convince the brothers in his own team, how can he lead troops? How can he make decisions on the battlefield?"

"Hmph, your strength has been fully displayed in Youxu Valley, but that is not enough. You need to let more people see that not only can you fight, but you also have the talent for command, can gather people's hearts, and can lead your brothers to win battles and survive."

Huo Chao also interjected at this moment.

"Chen Mu, the Banner Master said is the truth."

"In the Demon Suppression Division, especially in the Demon Hunting Division where we lick blood from the blade, strength is the ultimate hard truth. If you have strength, you have the qualifications to stand up. Those problems that prove your qualifications need to be solved by yourself. Cowering in the back will never solve problems. Whether you can sit firmly in this position ultimately depends on yourself."

Cheng Xiaoqing leaned back slightly, his tone unquestionable.

"This matter is settled, no need to discuss it further. In these half a month, besides preparing for the assessment, you must also interact more with other brothers in the Division. Team C currently has heavy casualties and needs reconstruction urgently. If you are promoted, you will likely need to draw personnel from various teams to form a new team or take over the remnants. How to integrate them as quickly as possible is a problem you must face. Alright, go down and prepare."

The two of them sang in harmony, settling the matter just like that, and Chen Mu knew there was no room for negotiation.

Cheng Xiaoqing and Huo Chao's attitude was very clear: they gave the opportunity, but all the pressure and challenges were thrown to him as well.

They valued his potential and combat power and were willing to break the rules to give him a stage, but the stage might be covered in thorns, requiring him to flatten them himself.

This was fair, or rather, this was the consistent style of the Demon Suppression Division: resources and positions were tilted towards those with ability, but you must prove that you deserve it and can withstand the waves that follow.

"This subordinate... obeys!"

Chen Mu said no more, cupped his fists, and accepted the order. The trace of hesitation in his eyes had long since dissipated, replaced by a calm gaze.

Since he couldn't avoid it, he would meet it head-on. He did need the position of Squad Leader, and as for those possible troubles...

He would just block soldiers with shields and cover water with earth. In the face of absolute strength, many so-called troubles might not be so troublesome.

Just as he walked out of the council hall, Chen Mu was blinded by the sunlight. Bai Junyi followed him out and walked side by side with him.

"A lot of pressure?"

Bai Junyi said in a low voice, his steps slightly unsteady.

"A bit unexpected, but acceptable."

Chen Mu answered truthfully.

Bai Junyi smiled and patted Chen Mu's shoulder.

"The Banner Master and Chief-Lieutenant Huo value you. The Demon Hunting Division is currently suffering from a lack of successors, and Thousand-Household Liao has taken away a large number of elites such as Qin Zheng. The Division urgently needs fresh blood who can hold the fort and fight tough battles. They want to drive you in like a nail as quickly as possible and secure it."

After saying this, he paused and looked at Chen Mu, his eyes full of seriousness.

"However, what they said is also the truth. Being a Squad Leader is not just about being able to fight, especially since what you might take over is..."

"Hmm, in short, in these half a month, besides preparing for the assessment content, it is best to also feel out the bottom line of each team, and see which brothers might be transferred or are willing to work with you. I will speak for Lu Dachuan and Feng Qing, but they still need time to recover from their injuries. It is hardest to gather the hearts of a new team."

"Thank you for your guidance, Deputy General Bai."

Chen Mu thanked him sincerely. Bai Junyi was giving him the most practical advice as someone who had been through it.

"Just call me Junyi. Now we are peers."

Bai Junyi waved his hand and then said with a serious expression.

"The assessment content is usually divided into two parts: civil and military. The civil exam is mostly about strategic essays, examining insights into demon habits, terrain utilization, battlefield command, casualty handling, etc. The military exam is actual combat, which may be sparring with colleagues or simulating demon extermination missions."

"I am not worried about your martial arts, but you need to put more effort into the civil exam and the word 'convince'. There are some old soldiers in the Division whose abilities may not be top-notch, but they have seniority and complicated relationships, so they may not be easy to deal with."

Chen Mu nodded, keeping these in mind one by one.

He was not too afraid of the civil exam. Although the original owner came from a humble background, he had studied in a private school for a few years and could read and write without hindrance. Coupled with his Transmigration, his knowledge and thinking were different. With the System instilling a large amount of profound understanding of the essence of power from various martial arts, combined with several actual combat experiences, it was not difficult to write something insightful.

The difficulty was indeed in the people.