Chapter 125 A Military Situation of Utter Urgency! What will you use to take responsibility?!
"What?!"
"What did you say! Say it again!"
"The Long March 9... is surrounded?!"
It was as if a thunderbolt had been dropped into Conference Room One, causing an instant uproar!
Everyone stood up abruptly, their faces filled with shock and disbelief.
The previously deathly still and heavy atmosphere was replaced by a huge panic and chaos.
Commander Liao snatched the thin telegram from the staff officer's hand, his eyes, which had weathered countless storms, fixed intently on it.
Every word on the telegram felt like a red-hot branding iron, numbing his palms.
Collision with a submarine of unknown nationality!
The sonar system has completely failed!
The hull was severely damaged!
Two US destroyers are approaching at high speed!
Each message was like a heavy punch, slamming into everyone's hearts, almost suffocating them.
"You bastard!"
Commander Liao slammed his hand on the table, the thick mahogany conference table emitting a painful thud.
His bloodshot eyes suddenly turned to the other end of the conference table, to the ashen-faced figure who was swaying precariously.
"Wang Gu!"
Commander Liao's voice wasn't loud, but it sounded like it was being squeezed out from between his teeth, carrying an icy chill.
"This is what you call 'stable and reliable'?!"
"This is what you meant by 'absolutely foolproof'?!"
"The lives of the dozens of officers and soldiers on the Long March 9 rocket, our brothers, our children, are hanging by a thread!"
"Wang Gu! I'm asking you! What makes you think you can take responsibility?!"
Every word is piercing to the heart!
Wang Gu's body swayed violently, his lips trembled but he couldn't utter a single word.
His face, usually known for its rigidity and majesty, was now completely drained of color, leaving only a deathly pallor.
He's finished.
He knew he was completely finished.
It wasn't because of Qin Lie, nor because of Liu Zhenyun, but because of this telegram from the East China Sea, written in blood and shame.
Reality delivered the loudest and cruelest slap in his face.
The so-called "Wang Family Army" behind him were now completely silent, each one with their head down, wishing they could disappear into the ground.
They didn't even dare to look Qin Lie in the eye.
The young man stood there, his crisp military uniform resembling a javelin piercing the sky.
His face showed no joy of victory, only a heavy sorrow and repression, like the impending storm.
Everyone knew he had won.
In a way that none of them could have imagined.
"Immediately connect to the East China Sea Fleet command!"
Commander Liao suppressed his anger and began issuing a series of orders that were frighteningly calm.
"Order the Air Force to immediately dispatch reconnaissance aircraft to keep a close watch on those two Arleigh Burke-class destroyers!"
"Order the fleet closest to the incident area to approach the Changzheng-9 at all costs!"
"Notify the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that our submarine, which is conducting a routine patrol in our territorial waters, has been maliciously rammed by a submarine of unknown nationality. We reserve the right to take all necessary measures!"
"besides……"
Commander Liao's gaze fell on Qin Lie again.
"Qin Lie!"
"Here!" Qin Lie straightened up abruptly, his voice booming like a bell.
"Your 'Deep Sea Lance' sonar system upgrade plan," Commander Liao picked up the document on the table and held it high, "is to be implemented immediately!"
"I'm giving you top authority! Give me the manpower, the money! All departments will cooperate unconditionally!"
"One month! I only need one month! I want to equip at least half of our submarines with new 'ears' and 'eyes'!"
"Can it be done?"
Qin Lie's blood ignited completely at that moment.
He looked into Commander Liao's bloodshot yet incredibly determined eyes, and into his colleagues in the conference room who had begun to look up from their shock and fear, their eyes gradually hardening.
He knew that he would personally initiate an unprecedented transformation.
He shouted out his answer with all his might.
"Mission accomplished!"
The meeting concluded in a solemn yet stirring atmosphere.
Wang Gu was immediately suspended from his duties and placed under investigation.
When he was led away from the conference room by two guards, he seemed to have no bones removed, and was as limp as a lump of mud.
Qin Lie was surrounded by a group of people in the center.
Those who had opposed or questioned him before now surrounded him, their faces filled with remorse and admiration.
"Deputy Division Commander Qin, we were confused before..."
"Yes, Deputy Division Commander Qin, we apologize to you!"
Deputy Commander Liu Zhenyun walked over and patted Qin Lie heavily on the shoulder, his usually fiery face filled with complex emotions.
"Good lad, you've taught the entire navy a lesson today!"
However, the real shock was yet to come.
Just as Qin Lie was about to leave the conference room and get back to his busy work, Commander Liao's secretary hurried over.
"Deputy Division Commander Qin, Commander Liao requests your presence."
In Commander Liao's simple yet imposing office, the highest-ranking leader of the military region personally poured Qin Lie a cup of hot tea.
"Qin Lie," Commander Liao said, his voice tinged with weariness but filled with more relief.
"The situation today is dangerous, but it has also served as a wake-up call for many people."
"There is opportunity in crisis," that's the idea.
"Following an emergency meeting just now, the military region's Party Committee decided, in view of your outstanding contributions to the modernization of naval equipment and the arduous tasks you will soon undertake..."
Commander Liao paused, his gaze becoming exceptionally sharp.
"We have decided to promote you to the position of Deputy Minister of the General Armaments Department of the Navy, and confer upon you the rank of Rear Admiral! Effective immediately!"
boom!
It was as if another thunderclap resounded in Qin Lie's mind!
Deputy Minister of the General Armaments Department of the Navy!
Major General!
This...this is no longer a simple promotion!
This is a rocket-like leap! It's going directly from the leadership of a tactical execution unit to the core of the entire navy's equipment strategic planning!
He's only in his early thirties!
"What? Are you scared?" Commander Liao smiled slightly, a rare occurrence, as he looked at the man's shocked expression.
"This position is not an honor, it's a burden! It's a burden that places the future of our navy for the next twenty years on your shoulders!"
"You dare to take this, kid!"
Qin Lie snapped back to reality. Looking at the old general before him who valued the country and the army more than his own life, an indescribable surge of pride welled up in his chest.
He snapped to attention again and gave a perfectly standard military salute.
His voice trembled slightly with excitement, yet it was as firm as steel.
"Please rest assured, sir! Qin Lie swears to fulfill his mission, even unto death!"
...
It was already late at night.
Qin Lie dragged his tired but excited body back to the Qin family compound.
Pushing open the courtyard gate, the living room lights were still on.
Jiang Wu sat on the sofa, neither reading nor doing anything, just sitting quietly as if waiting for him.
She looked up when she heard the door open.
Their eyes met.
There wasn't a single greeting or a single word.
But Qin Lie saw everything in her clear, watery eyes.
I saw worry, I saw concern, and I also saw... a calm understanding.
He knew everything that happened today; even if he didn't say it, she had already guessed it.
This woman is always like this, as if she can see through everything.
He strode over without saying a word, and simply pulled her into a tight, tight embrace.
It was as if he wanted to meld her into his very bones.
Today, he is a general who has turned the tide and is about to change the history of the navy.
At this moment, in her arms, he was just a man who needed warmth and support.
Jiang Wu didn't ask about the result, but simply reached out and gently patted his broad and sturdy back again and again.
"I'm back."
She said softly.
"Yes, I'm back."
Qin Lie buried his face in the crook of her neck, inhaling the faint, comforting fragrance emanating from her body, his voice hoarse.
The night outside the window was cool and still.
Warmth and affection emanate from inside the window.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com