Win People Over with Virtue

"I want to transfer back to Ninth Squad."

Jiang Peng got straight to the point, afraid Fang Huai would not give him a chance to speak.

Only when Fang Huai saw Jiang Peng up close did he notice the inconspicuous bruise on his face, and he could not help smiling.

Instead of cursing him out right away, he teased him first.

"Old Pan beat you up, and now you finally realize how good Ninth Squad was? Did you think just anyone would let you talk back twice? Got wrecked, didn't you?"

Fang Huai took a blind guess.

Yesterday, while the entire regiment was bathing, the regimental commander had arranged for someone to secretly film the veterans physically punishing recruits. During the meeting, all the squad leaders had been chewed out by the regimental commander, and some had even been disciplined. How could those squad leaders possibly be happy about that?

When Old Pan returned to Eighth Squad, he definitely would not have spared them a scolding. Jiang Peng probably could not take the verbal abuse, talked back to Old Pan twice, and got beaten.

It was not an unfounded guess. From what Fang Huai had heard the recruits discussing in the corridor earlier, this had definitely happened many times throughout the New Recruit Regiment last night.

And Jiang Peng could not report someone a second time so soon.

He had just switched squads, then reported his new squad leader too? The Chief of Staff definitely would not give a damn about him anymore.

Then he saw how harmonious Ninth Squad was and regretted it.

Jiang Peng was somewhat surprised after hearing Fang Huai's words.

Before he could explain himself, Fang Huai had already guessed everything so clearly.

He wanted to argue a little, but realized there was no point. He could only soften his tone and say,

"I know Hao Chengbin thinks highly of you. If he agrees, then when my uncle comes to visit me, I'll help put in a good word for him."

Fang Huai gave him a half-smile. "Why didn't you say that to Old Pan? I heard these past couple days that he often takes leave to go out, and it seems he has a house in Guiyang. He probably wants to transfer over here even more, right?

"Tell him about your uncle's connections and ask him to look after you. Wouldn't that be more appropriate?"

Jiang Peng's eyes immediately filled with anger. "I did! He didn't believe me! He even mocked me!"

Fang Huai laughed too.

I wouldn't have believed him either.

Ruining things was easy; getting things done was hard.

Transferring a soldier between detachments was no simple matter. Both detachments had to agree, and there had to be a reason.

For his uncle to pull that off from his position would take a great deal of effort, unless he was practically Jiang Peng's father.

Besides, Old Pan was a veteran who had spent nearly ten years in the corps. Who did not have a few leaders they knew well? Why would he ask a recruit to help him handle something like this?

Even if it could not be done, he would still become a laughingstock.

Seeing that Fang Huai had not refused outright, Jiang Peng thought there was still hope and continued, "Can't you just pass the message along?"

Fang Huai had heard enough for amusement and waved him off. "You're dreaming! Han Yong is great, and we all like him. Besides, if I run errands for you, where are you planning to transfer me?" Fang Huai joked.

"You..." Jiang Peng was instantly speechless.

"You want..."

Fang Huai raised his hand again to cut him off.

"Forget it. Talk back less, stop thinking about all that nonsense, and you'll live longer. Also, call him Squad Leader Hao, not by his name. You're in the military now. I advise you to show this place a little more respect."

With that, he turned and left without waiting for an answer.

This guy... If you called him worldly, he still did not understand how the world worked.

Fang Huai had a grudge against him, yet he still dared ask Fang Huai for help. Was he not afraid Fang Huai would report him?

Even if both squad leaders agreed, the order to transfer squads had come from the Chief of Staff. Who would dare transfer him back?

And even if Fang Huai really helped him, judging from the whole process of his "plan," Fang Huai would have to risk angering the squad leader by speaking up for him and bear the biggest share of the risk...

Yet Jiang Peng had not even prepared any benefit for him?

Of course, even if he had, Fang Huai would have disdained it. It would only have given Fang Huai another reason to mock him.

Fang Huai returned to Ninth Squad's area and continued teaching them how to fold blankets. Yue Tao and the others immediately crowded around him.

"What did he want with you?"

Fang Huai waved a hand. "Nothing. He just asked whether I was going to participate in the Regulations Competition. He was probably trying to scout us out! Eighth Squad probably wants to compete with us! Like I'd tell him?

"You all study hard! Beat them!"

Fang Huai seriously made up an excuse, while also taking the chance to encourage everyone.

Who would have thought that as soon as they heard this, everyone got a headache.

Zhao Bing was the first to pat Fang Huai on the shoulder. "Then we definitely can't lose! We're all cheering for you, Squad Leader Fang!"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah! Assistant Squad Leader, go for it! Defeat them! We really can't do this stuff!"

Amidst a chorus of complaints about Eighth Squad, everyone in Ninth Squad pretended to be dead and continued straightening their blankets.

Fang Huai could only smile bitterly. These guys were fine when it came to Physical Training, but memorizing regulations? Even if you fed them brain supplements, they would still struggle.

"Squad Leader, I can memorize them! I got good grades in high school!" Han Yong unexpectedly spoke up.

Fang Huai knew this kid was smart, but also lazy. Yet he was actually willing to memorize regulations. He was being so sensible it made Fang Huai feel sorry for him.

"Sure. If you can take part in the competition, the squad leader will definitely be happy." Fang Huai smiled and encouraged him.

Han Yong nodded. He became much more serious about arranging his blanket, though he was obviously dawdling.

Fang Huai knew he had something to say, so he slowly taught him.

By the time even the slowest pair, Sun Lianhai and Liu Yue, had entered the dormitory, only Fang Huai and Han Yong remained in the corridor. Fang Huai patted him on the shoulder and said,

"Don't overthink it."

Han Yong turned around and, unusually serious, asked, "How does he plan to get rid of me?"

"His family has some connections. Minor ones. Definitely not as powerful as yours, but this isn't about connections." Fang Huai smiled.

Han Yong was somewhat surprised. "How did you know my family has connections?"

Fang Huai did not say anything.

If I didn't bait you a little, how could I possibly know?

Seeing his expression, Han Yong was somewhat helpless and said, "My family... knows people in the provincial corps, but I can't call home right now either... Can you help me?"

Fang Huai shook his head, his tone serious. "Don't become the same kind of person as him. It's annoying.

"Your family sent you here to be a soldier. They definitely did not send you here just to lose weight. Some habits need to change.

"And where do you think this is? Does he think he can come whenever he wants and leave whenever he says so?

"With the kind of connections your family has, there's no need to use an anti-aircraft gun to swat a mosquito.

"He can't transfer you.

"Don't imitate him. Instead of studying and training properly every day, all he does is dream."

Han Yong listened with raised eyebrows, shaking his head.

Fang Huai froze. "What, you still don't believe me?"

Han Yong shook his head. "No. It's just that you sound way too much like my dad."

Fang Huai's mouth twitched.

It seemed this kid had never lost a verbal fight since he was young.

Now that you put it that way, should I acknowledge you as my son or not?

Fang Huai still resisted the urge to become his father and sighed.

"If I had as much money as your dad, I'd never send my son here to become a soldier, even if you beat me to death."

During morning inspection, Hao Chengbin carefully checked every blanket. Rarely, he did not joke around, instead pointing out issues one by one.

The blankets of Han Yong, Yue Tao, and Peng Yingqirui were honorably judged as "blankets that would be thrown into the toilet next if they weren't properly arranged."

Even Fang Huai felt wronged on their behalf. They had probably worked on those blankets for over an hour, yet the squad leader talked as if they had been slacking off.

The key was that this was not easy to teach. It truly had to do with aesthetics and personality. They could only slowly figure it out themselves.

From Hao Chengbin's behavior, Fang Huai could tell that the pressure the regimental commander had put on them during yesterday's meeting must have been considerable.

Although Hao Chengbin had not vented his anger on them, he did not even have the mood to insult them a couple times or crack a joke.

Once the inspection was over, the wake-up bugle happened to sound. Hao Chengbin opened the door and took a look around, then came back and started giving orders.

"Today is the weekend. Use the time to properly memorize the materials!"

Fang Huai promptly took the opportunity to praise Han Yong.

"Squad Leader, Han Yong says his physical fitness isn't good, but he has a good memory. He's willing to memorize more and participate in the Regulations Competition!"

Hao Chengbin looked surprised. "Oh? Sure! Anyone else want to participate?"

"Me!" Fang Huai raised his hand.

Hao Chengbin waved him off and said as though it were obvious, "You're definitely participating. Anyone else? Be proactive! This is for the squad's honor!"

Fang Huai suddenly did not even want to spend Military Merit Points on regulations anymore.

Six Military Merit Points! What did he mean, "definitely participating"?

"Squad Leader... Doesn't each squad only have to send one person? We already have two people signed up, so we don't need any more, right?"

Hao Chengbin gave an experienced explanation.

"The more people who prepare, the better people we can choose to compete when the time comes, and the more likely we are to place! There are over eight hundred recruits. Do you really think rankings are that easy to get?

"If you compete, you can't just memorize the key materials issued by the company. You have to memorize the actual regulations manual!

"Of course, the punishments for issues at every level follow patterns! When the time comes, even if you don't know something, you can still guess some of them correctly!"

Everyone began flipping through the materials in their hands.

Yue Tao was astonished again. "Squad Leader! Look! Article 123 of the Interior Regulations says that after the afternoon rest signal sounds, everyone except personnel on duty must rest in bed, remain quiet, and not engage in other activities. The company duty officer must inspect the afternoon rest of all company personnel!

"We aren't following the regulations! Is there a punishment for that?"

As he spoke, he flipped through the pages everywhere, trying to find a punishment for not taking a nap.

But Hao Chengbin was not stumped. He sneered. "Want to follow the regulations? Fine. From now on, you can get up with me when the morning whistle blows, and you'll have half an hour to wash up and arrange your bedding.

"If you don't get it done properly, just watch what I do to you!

"You can sleep in bed at noon too, but you'll have to sleep with your blanket spread out, then fold it all over again when you get up!"

"No need, Squad Leader! I think recruits shouldn't take naps!" Yue Tao immediately shut his materials with an awkward grin.

What a joke. It took two hours every morning just to fold a single blanket, and the noon break was exactly two hours.

The timing fit perfectly.

Yue Tao backed down, but Hao Chengbin clasped his hands behind his back, looked at the recruits, and took the chance to lecture them.

"You probably have the same thoughts, don't you?

"But let me tell you! Regulations are standards that restrain soldiers, but there are exceptions!

"Before you become qualified soldiers, don't imagine you can adapt your lives to the minimum standards of the regulations!

"And compare yourselves against the regulations. How many clauses do you actually meet?

"Starting next week, there will be random inspections of military appearance and discipline! Problems found during inspections will result in points being deducted. When that happens, heh!

"I'll put a pair of nail clippers in the desk drawer later. Keep your clothes, hats, and insignia clean and neat!

"And since no one else has volunteered for the competition, then the whole squad will participate! Fang Huai will organize the memorization. I'll conduct spot checks tonight. Ten articles per person; for every question you fail to answer, three sets of ten!

"Since the regiment wants to strengthen ideological education, we'll combine ideological education with Physical Training!"

"Squad Leader... What are three sets of ten?"

Hao Chengbin smiled. "The military workout package: sit-ups, push-ups, and squats. Three sets of ten means ten of each!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the recruits all began groaning.

This was political and ideological education?

This was Confucius wearing a saber—winning people over with "virtue"!

Hao Chengbin naturally saw what everyone was thinking.

"Political education? A great man once said that politics comes out of the barrel of a gun!"

Fang Huai secretly shook his head as he listened.

Sigh, I thought Hao Chengbin, as a veteran, would at least accept new ideas a little faster.

Sure enough, three sentences revealed his true colors. Veterans were still used to believing that obedience came from the rod.

Hao Chengbin was about to lecture them some more when the door opened.

Wang Jian, looking worried, beckoned Hao Chengbin.

"Old Hao, come out for a moment. I need to tell you something!"