42: A warm New Year's Eve with Zhu Lin by your side!

Peng Lin was a man of his word.

He stood in place, quietly waiting for ten minutes.

After ten minutes, not a single one of the 3,000 soldiers of the Mengshi Composite Brigade retreated or left.

Immediately, Peng Lin looked at the remaining 10,000 men of the 163rd Division.

"By order of the Yangcheng Military Region, Xu Limao, the Deputy Division Commander of the 163rd Division, will temporarily serve as acting Division Commander."

"Effective immediately upon receiving this notice, the 163rd Division is to return to the 55th Field Army'sstation!"

Peng Lin relayed the order to the 163rd Division.

"Return to the 55th Field Army?"

Many in the 163rd Division felt as if struck by lightning upon receiving this order.

Many soldiers couldn't help but have red eyes on the spot.

If they hadn't come to participate in this selection and training, they would still have considered themselves the most outstanding Type A Division and elite in the entire military region.

But after coming into contact with the Mengshi Composite Brigade, witnessing and learning the tactics and fighting style of this fully modernized mechanized composite unit, they felt as if they had seen a new world.

Leaving now, they understood perfectly what kind of opportunity they were losing.

So much struggle and effort had turned into a bubble, and many were unwilling to accept it.

Many soldiers even stood still, lost in thought.

Beside them, the soldiers of the Mengshi Composite Brigade watched this scene, and their noses instantly tingled.

Those who were leaving were also comrades with whom they had shed blood and tears.

Parting ways like this was undoubtedly filled with reluctance.

Especially Sun Yi, their former Division Commander, who stepped forward to embrace and bid farewell to many soldiers.

His eyes were red as he looked at each familiar face.

His voice was hoarse as he called out each familiar name.

These were the soldiers he had once led, all elites.

Although these men did not pass the selection for the Mengshi Composite Brigade, in the eyes of their former Division Commander, these soldiers were still excellent.

Perhaps they were just not suitable for the new type of composite units.

However, their efforts should never be denied, nor should the fact that they are good soldiers, and certainly not the fact that they are still warriors who dare to fight and kill on the battlefield!

Peng Lin watched this scene, feeling extremely heavy-hearted.

"Comrades of the 163rd Division, I will apply to the military headquarters for a batch of new Sniper Grenades and Individual Thermobaric Weapons to be equipped to your elite unit!"

"This is not a farewell, just an assignment!"

"When we leave today, we will fight side by side on the battlefield again in the future!"

Peng Lin said to all the soldiers of the 163rd Division.

Disbanding an elite unit through selection like this was undoubtedly incredibly cruel.

This was the compensation Peng Lin made, doing his utmost.

Moreover, Peng Lin believed that after more than two months of training, the combat strength of the 163rd Division would definitely be stronger!

Besides the Mengshi Composite Brigade, they were definitely the unit most proficient in the new Sniper Grenades and Individual Thermobaric Weapons!

"A farewell today, we will fight side by side on the battlefield again in the future!"

"See you on the battlefield!"

The ten thousand soldiers of the 163rd Division assembled, saluted everyone, and departed.

It wasn't until the 163rd Division'sTeam disappeared into the distance that everyone slowly came back to their senses.

"Starting today, Z-8s, Sniper Grenades, Individual Thermobaric Weapons, 'sickle' suicide drones, Mengshi Protected Assault Vehicles, and Lynx All-Terrain Assault Vehicles will all be equipped to every battalion, company, and platoon of the Composite Brigade!"

"The Mengshi Composite Brigade will conduct combat training with live ammunition and equipment, with the battalion as the combat unit!"

"The next time we receive a military order, it will be to rush to the battlefield!"

Peng Lin said to everyone with a solemn expression.

The Mengshi Composite Brigade was destined to fight the most difficult and toughest battles!

Even at the start of the war, they might penetrate deep behind enemy lines, carrying out special operations!

So at this time, they absolutely could not be stingy with bullets and shells.

They must cherish every remaining day of training!

...After returning from the Mengshi Composite Brigade'sstation, Peng Lin began to inspect the production situation of the various sub-factories.

Currently, the first batch of Z-8s, "mengshi", Lynx, and other equipment produced has been prioritized and equipped to the Mengshi Composite Brigade.

However, in addition to this, the production scale of equipment such as Sniper Grenades, Individual Thermobaric Weapons, and "sickle" suicide drones was very large.

Besides meeting the needs of the Mengshi Composite Brigade, these equipments were also being produced overtime and supplied to other units.

Even as the New Year approached, the three sub-factories of the Changhe Weapon Industry Group had no rest at all.

The workers of the military factory, through newspapers and radios, had already felt the urgency of war, and they all chose to work overtime voluntarily.

However, regarding overtime, Peng Lin had already discussed with Factory Director Gu that workers must be given double wages as compensation.

Dedication also needs reward.

Only in this way can the enthusiasm of the workers be mobilized, and production tasks be completed with quality and quantity.

In addition, Peng Lin also took the lead, actively going to the front-line workshops to ensure the workers' production.

Under his leadership, the cadres of the Changhe Weapon Industry Group and its sub-factories actively served the daily needs of the front-line workers.

For example, some cadres helped in the cafeteria, ensuring that workers had hot and delicious meals when they got off work, no matter the time.

Other cadres took charge of and cared for the children of factory workers after school, allowing these children to eat hot meals and complete their homework even when both parents were at work.

Technical backbone personnel are only responsible for research and development!

Workers are only responsible for production!

All other difficulties in life must be handled and resolved by the factory cadres!

This was the factory ethos and rules proposed by Peng Lin.

In this way, although the workers and technical backbone personnel were also very tired and exhausted when they got off work every day, everyone's face was still smiling.

Because they only needed to focus on doing their job.

Other life troubles were handled by the factory.

Thus, after work, they could rest sufficiently.

During work, they actively engaged in their tasks.

Under this mode of operation, the production efficiency of the three sub-factories was surprisingly high.

Originally, according to the military order Peng Lin had issued, he had to produce 30 Z-8s before the New Year.

But now, the Changhe Helicopter Manufacturing Sub-factory had overfulfilled the task, producing and assembling 42 units.

In addition, to be on the safe side, every three Z-8s also had an average of one set of important spare parts such as engines, main rotors, and drive shafts.

This way, even in the event of major malfunctions on the battlefield, rapid repairs could be carried out.

Unbeknownst to them, five days had already passed since the Mengshi Composite Brigade entered a state of readiness.

In the blink of an eye, the date arrived at January 28th.

This day was when Zheng Gong visited the USA to make his final strategic arrangements.

At the same time, this day was also the traditional Lunar New Year.

Given the current situation, Peng Lin could not return to his hometown to celebrate the New Year with his family.

All he could do was write a letter to his hometown in advance.

Early that morning, although the workers were still at work, the older children in the factory led the younger ones in putting up Spring Festival couplets, bidding farewell to the old and ushering in the new.

In addition, the factory also prepared new clothes and lucky money for the children, and the atmosphere was joyous everywhere.

"Chief Designer Peng, someone is here to see you at the factory."

"It's a very pretty girl."

Peng Lin was inspecting the workshop when Old Wu, a worker, suddenly winked at him and said.

With a hint of doubt, Peng Lin walked out of the workshop and went outside.

Since it had snowed a few days ago, the weather outside the workshop was still very cold.

The north wind carried bits of snow, swirling in the corner of the wall, and un-melted icicles hung from the branches of the old locust tree.

Peng Lin looked over and saw a delicate face, flushed red from the cold wind, looking at him with surprise.

"Zhu Lin!"

He was somewhat surprised, never expecting Zhu Lin to come looking for him today.

"Are you cold!"

Peng Lin held her hands in his, breathing warm air onto them, and asked with a touch of concern.

"Not cold!"

Zhu Lin smiled, dimples appearing, and shook her head.

Then she took out a hand-knitted scarf and put it on Peng Lin.

"It fits well."

She looked him up and down, her smile even brighter.

"Today is a holiday, why did you come?"

Peng Lin asked, both worried and pleasantly surprised.

"I missed you."

"I knew you were busy, so of course I came to find you."

Zhu Lin did not hide her longing, looking at Peng Lin and saying openly.

Hearing this, Peng Lin simply pulled the silly girl into his arms.