Staff Officer Zhao attempted to ease the tension, saying softly, "Commander, I know Li Yunlong’s recent actions have made you very angry, but there is no denying that it was the New 1st Regiment he leads that routed the Sakata Regiment and killed Sakata himself. I think we should acknowledge this military achievement."
The Commander frowned. After a moment of silence, he replied, "Do I not know of Li Yunlong’s merits? But that does not mean he can disregard orders at will. Look at his past records; he has earned as many commendations as he has disciplinary punishments. Every time he performs a meritorious deed, he manages to stir up trouble right afterward."
Staff Officer Zhao sighed inwardly, yet he persisted in defending Li Yunlong. "But Commander, you know that since he was transferred to the New 1st Regiment, the unit’s combat effectiveness has seen a qualitative leap. He hasn’t asked his superiors for a single bullet or shell, relying entirely on battlefield captures to upgrade their equipment. In the entire division, he is one of a kind. Such an officer is truly rare."
The Commander’s expression shifted slightly, and he asked in a low voice, "Has Li Yunlong given you some sort of favor that makes you speak up for him like this?"
Staff Officer Zhao answered firmly, "Commander, I have no personal motive whatsoever. If you must speak of favors, it is his contribution to the victory of the war and his contribution to increasing the team's strength."
The Commander took a deep breath, his tone softening. "I admit, the lad is a skilled fighter and easy to command in battle. But rules are rules. No matter how great his merits, if he violates orders, he must be punished. This is a matter of principle; it cannot change for anyone."
Seeing this, Staff Officer Zhao cautiously asked, "Then, how do you intend to deal with him?"
The Commander shook his head, seemingly undecided. "This matter still requires further consideration."
Staff Officer Zhao understood the Commander’s inner turmoil. After all, Li Yunlong was a character one could both love and hate. His performance on the battlefield was undoubtedly stellar, but such excellence was often accompanied by a challenge to the status quo.
The Commander stood up, walked to the window, and gazed at the distant mountains. His voice carried a hint of heaviness. "In times of war, every decision can affect the entire situation. Though Li Yunlong has his faults, he also has his unique value. Finding a balance between upholding discipline and utilizing his strengths is a problem I must now face."
The sun set, painting the horizon in evening clouds, and the silhouettes of the two officers lengthened before the window.
"How about having him go to Headquarters to feed the horses for a few days?" the Commander proposed tentatively.
Staff Officer Zhao replied, "He’s already been a stable boy. During the Long March, he was demoted from his position as regimental commander to do that."
The Commander pondered for a moment, then offered another suggestion: "Then let him go to the mess squad and carry the big pots."
Staff Officer Zhao sighed lightly. "He’s done that, too, when we were crossing the marshes."
The Commander couldn't help but laugh. "I really couldn't tell; this rascal is quite the jack-of-all-trades."
"Speaking of jacks-of-all-trades, Li Yunlong really does have a few top-tier men under his command: a master marksman, a master gunner, and a master grenade thrower. They truly played a decisive role in this battle," Staff Officer Zhao said, filled with admiration.
"Oh? In what way are they masters?" the Commander asked, surprised.
***
Meanwhile, Wang Diren remained quite dissatisfied with the performance of the current Drone. Since it was civilian-grade, many functions were incomplete. He would have to discuss an upgrade with the manufacturer later.
Upon returning to the office, his cousin, Wang Zhongyi, sounded a bit reproachful: "Where have you been these past two days? You didn't even say a word, and I couldn't find you whenever I called for meals."
"You don't need to worry about small things like meals. I'm used to being on my own abroad; I'm grown up enough to take care of myself, right? You know I have an overseas background; I met with several foreign clients these past two days. We might be able to close a couple of big deals."
"Are big deals that easy to close? Don't get scammed," his cousin said, clearly skeptical.
"Is the supply for our 'three major artifacts for migrant workers' sufficient?"
"Of course, it’s a hot-selling item."
"I might need to pull stock from the warehouse at any time. Is it easy for you to restock?"
"Very easy. Our inventory management system is quite intelligent. If we run low, it automatically places orders with manufacturers or agents. As long as it's in Yangcheng, it can arrive by the next day. We just need to settle the payments monthly."
"Also, can the Drone be upgraded? The client has some ideas. If they can be implemented, the volume might be quite large. I want to meet with the Drone manufacturer; set it up for me."
"The manufacturer is right here in Yangcheng. If nothing goes wrong, you can meet with him in the office tomorrow."
With a few words, the two arranged their work.
The next morning, the Drone manufacturer arrived as promised. It was a Manager Zhang. After some pleasantries, Wang Diren got straight to the point.
"My cousin told you, right? I have an overseas client who might require a large volume, but they have some ideas and requirements. See if you can meet them."
"Customer satisfaction is our pursuit," Manager Zhang said solemnly.
"Our client’s requirements for the Drone are becoming higher. They aren't satisfied with just basic filming functions. They want the Drone to be used for more precise operations, such as nail guns and welding guns during renovations. This requires very high precision and recoil control," Wang Diren emphasized.
Manager Zhang sipped his tea. He understood the technical difficulty, but it was also an opportunity. "We can develop a more advanced observation and aiming system while solving the recoil issue."
Wang Diren suggested, "The mounting rack also needs to be sturdier and more precise."
"Hmm, that’s a great concept," Manager Zhang said, a flicker of light in his eyes, though he soon frowned. "However, once the word 'gun' is mentioned, it makes people sensitive. How can we ensure the Drone won't be used for military purposes? It is, after all, a civilian machine."
Suddenly, Manager Zhang said confidently, "Technically, it's not a problem. We have military Drones ourselves; we can perform appropriate 'castration' on the tech so it meets civilian needs while circumventing military standards."
"I know this requires some technical adjustments, but it's not an impossible task. Nail guns and welding guns aren't actually firearms, after all. Even delivering express packages or takeout requires a scanner, right? Money is no object," Wang Diren said, seeing hope.
The conversation between the two gradually delved into the issue of Drone regulation. Manager Zhang pointed out that although it was technically feasible, they must have a reasonable explanation for the relevant regulatory departments.
"Since this is a civilian machine, it cannot be used for military purposes."
"Indeed, technology itself is innocent," Wang Diren said after a moment of reflection. "Just like selling a kitchen knife: even though some people might use it to do bad things, we can't say the knife itself is a murder weapon."
In the end, the two reached a preliminary cooperation agreement to jointly develop a quasi-military Drone that could satisfy civilian needs while bypassing military standards, finding a balance between technical upgrades and regulatory constraints.
In just three days, the improved Drone was ready. Manager Zhang was full of confidence: "We will bring unprecedented efficiency and precision to future construction and renovation work. We have pioneered a new era."
"Pleasure doing business," Wang Diren said, suppressing a laugh. You probably don't know that this construction project is called "the Japanese invaders' monument of heads."