No One Disobeys

Zhang Xueming stood up, his posture ramrod straight, his expression unchanged.

"Reporting to the Marshal, when a general is in the field, they are not bound by the commander's orders."

Zhang Yuting was so choked by his words that he pointed at Zhang Xueming's nose and laughed in anger.

"Good! A fine 'when a general is in the field, they are not bound by the commander's orders'!"

"Originally, I intended for you to be the Commander-in-Chief of the New Second Group Army."

"Now it seems you want to reach the heavens in a single step?"

"No way!"

"I'll just give you a corps commander position and have you reflect on your actions!"

As soon as these words were spoken, many people present felt a jolt.

The Commander-in-Chief of a Group Army was a position second only to the Marshal, commanding several armies below.

Just for disobeying an order, he was demoted directly to corps commander?

This punishment was not light at all.

Just as the atmosphere reached its peak tension, Zhang Fuchen, sitting beside Zhang Yuting, quickly stood up to mediate.

He gave Zhang Xueming a meaningful look, his face beaming with a smile.

"Marshal, Xue Ming was thinking of the overall situation for the Feng Army. It's good for young people to have drive."

"Xue Ming, aren't you going to thank the Marshal quickly!"

Zhang Xueming understood his intention. He stepped forward and said loudly, "Thank you, Marshal! I will definitely..."

"I will definitely boost our Fengtian's industrial system. Within five years, I'll have our armaments factories building our own aircraft, our own cannons, our own..."

"Shut up!"

Zhang Yuting slammed the table, cutting him off directly.

"I'm making you a corps commander to lead troops into battle!"

"Not to have you fiddling with your beakers and test tubes all day!"

"If you dare to go off-topic again, you won't be corps commander either. Get back and manage your armaments factory!"

Zhang Yuting was puffing his beard and glaring, but anyone with eyes could see that there wasn't much real anger deep in his eyes.

He had scolded him, he had punished him, and the sweet dates still needed to be given.

He gestured with his chin towards Yang Yuting beside him.

Yang Yuting immediately understood, cleared his throat, stood up, opened the folder in his hand, and began to read the appointment in a completely emotionless tone.

"By order of the Marshal!"

"Hereby appointed, Zhang Xueming as the Corps Commander of the Fengtian Army's New First Army!"

"This army will include the New First Division, the New Second Division, the New Third Division, and its subordinate Artillery Brigade, Engineer Brigade, Quartermaster Brigade, Cavalry Brigade, Guard Brigade, and Communications Brigade, six mixed brigades in total."

"The entire army is at full strength, totaling thirty-five thousand men!"

As Yang Yuting's words fell, a collective gasp of cold air filled the conference room.

The eyes of all the generals were red.

The New First Army!

This wasn't an army!

This was the configuration of a small group army!

Three full divisions, plus six mixed brigades of technical branches!

Artillery, engineers, quartermasters, cavalry... this setup was outrageously luxurious!

What was even more critical was that everyone knew that the personnel of this New First Army were all elite veteran soldiers, carefully selected from over two hundred thousand Feng Army troops.

The weapons and equipment were all German-made, the latest equipment that Zhang Xueming had "bought" from the Germans.

From its inception, this unit was built to be the Feng Army's number one ace!

Before this, countless people had fought tooth and nail, desperately trying to get this position.

Although everyone knew that this position was 99% reserved for the Zhang family's Second Young Master, what if?

Now, the appointment was made, and the dust had settled.

There was envy and jealousy, but no one was defiant.

Even Guo Songling, who had always been strict in his military discipline and somewhat critical of such "nepotism," now just looked at Zhang Xueming silently, his expression complex.

He had to admit.

Looking at the entire Feng Army, apart from this audacious Second Young Master of the Zhang family, who could bring real money and advanced technology to the Feng Army.

There was truly no one else qualified, nor capable, of holding this position.

This New First Army could only reach its maximum potential in his hands.

Zhang Yuting let out a cold snort, pulling everyone's thoughts back.

Without even looking at Zhang Xueming, he picked up a thick manila folder from his side and casually tossed it at Zhang Xueming's feet.

"Take it!"

"These are the appointments for all officers of the New First Army, from battalion level and above. You handle it!"

"I've given you the authority and the men. If you screw up again, I'll deal with you!"

Zhang Yuting's voice was still stern, but the meaning behind his words made all the generals present gasp again.

Officer appointment authority!

This was an immense power!

The soul of a unit lay in its mid to high-level officers. The Marshal was handing over this power, completely, to Zhang Xueming?

This meant that the New First Army would thoroughly become Zhang Xueming's private army!

Zhang Xueming bent down, picked up the folder, patted the dust off it, his expression calm.

He didn't waste any words, simply giving Zhang Yuting a solemn military salute.

"Yes! Marshal!"

Seeing his composed demeanor, Zhang Yuting's anger inexplicably subsided quite a bit.

He waved his hand, signaling Zhang Xueming to stand to the side, then surveyed the room, his expression darkening.