Chapter 1057: Can’t afford to lose

The long street was bustling with people, but they consciously made way for Ren Xiaosu and Zhang Jinglin to lead to the Fort 178 Memorial Bell.

Everyone knew the custom that the first thing the Major General did when he entered the city was to pay homage to the pioneers who had died fighting for Fortress 178.

Zhang Jinglin looked at the residents on both sides of that street as he walked, and he suddenly asked Ren Xiaosu, “Do you now know why we fought for Fortress 178?”

“Almost know,” Ren Xiaosu smiled, “It’s just that I haven’t figured out how to guard them and how to be the master of this northwest.”

Zhang Jinglin laughed, “I was just like you in the beginning, ah, when the old commander said that he would let me take over the 178th fortress my mind was confused, thinking that I was just a medic ah, how did I become the commander of the Northwest Army?”

“What happened afterward?” Ren Xiaosu was curious.

“Then he put me in the confinement room, and then told me that I was the commander, and that I was the only one who could lead everyone to live, and that if I didn’t agree to it, I would be locked up for the rest of the time,” Zhang Jinglin recalled, “He also enlightened me, and it was said that he wasn’t very prepared when his last commander asked him to take over. As a result, he agreed after being hung up and beaten.”

Ren Xiaosu was stunned, how did each and every one of these 178 Fortress Commanders have such a tortuous path to assuming their positions?

Seeing his surprise, Zhang Jinglin smiled and continued, “It’s strange to say that none of the commanders of this 178th Fortress were willing at first, it was the old commanders who forced the next one into submission like rogues, speaking of which, I’m considered to be the gentlest incumbent commander to the next one, how is it, are you moved?”

“Mr. Zhang, you haven’t changed at all,” Ren Xiaosu lamented.

When he was at the market town academy, Zhang Jinglin would grow his own vegetables in the yard, and would dabble in cigarettes, and although he was a decent person, he was never depressing to get along with.

Ren Xiaosu curiously said, “But why did you have to choose a candidate that you would not have wanted to be a commander, there should be many capable people.”

“What the old commander told me is that one must choose someone who does not have this commander position in his eyes, because the commander of Fort 178 does not need ambition or a desire for power,” Zhang Jinglin explained.

“Why?” Ren Xiaosu was surprised.

“Because the duty of the 178 Fortress is to guard, its commander must not have the mind to open up new territories,” Zhang Jinglin said seriously, “The meaning of our existence is the people beside us, if one day this chariot starts to start for one’s own desires, then the 178 Fortress will start the countdown to its demise. If this chariot ever starts up for one’s own desires, then the countdown to Fort 178’s demise begins. Of course, this method of choice isn’t always right, but that’s how it’s always been done anyway, and I’m making the choice this way, so it’s not my fault if it’s wrong, the old commander told me to do it.”

“Wait, why are you suddenly starting to dump on me?!” Ren Xiaosu was confused.

“But having said that, you must do a good job as well,” Zhang Jinglin seriously explained, “Of course, you’re doing a good job now, I’ve been keeping an eye on the 144th Barrier side, and I was worried that you’re too young to be able to run a barrier well, but it turns out that I found myself to be overly concerned. ”

Zhang Jinglin continued, “Using the contracting system to turn on everyone’s enthusiasm for opening up the barriers, this is considered the right medicine for the entire Northwest, and I must admit that you’re much stronger than when I first took over.”

Ren Xiaosu curiously said, “What was it like when Mr. Zhang first took over Fortress 178?”

“I only had the 178 Fortress at that time, yet just that one fortress kept me busy, today someone said that we need to raise armaments and expand the troop establishment, tomorrow someone else said that we don’t have enough food, anyway, day after day, just these political affairs are like fighting a war,” Zhang Jinglin lamented, “At that time, there were also the The Zong clan was secretly messing around, and many problems arose within the 178th Fortress, but fortunately they were all resolved, or else I really wouldn’t have had the face to go down and see the old commander. However, after experiencing these things I have also concluded that no one is born suitable to be a commander, and that one will naturally progress after reaching that position, and that pressure will make one grow.”

Although Zhang Jinglin spoke easily, Ren Xiaosu knew that it must have been very difficult for Zhang Jinglin at that time.

Zhang Jinglin continued, “Now that you have your squad, there are many talents in politics, and militarily there is even a commanding genius like P5092, so I am also more at ease. What I’m more interested in now, instead, is that Daxing Northwest 2.0 plan of yours, do you have any clue about version 3.0 now?”

1.0 was to abduct highly refined talents, such as Wang Yun, P5092, Ji Zi’an, etc.

2.0 was to cast a wide net, abducting a large number of refugees to support the construction of the Northwest, clearing land for farming and replenishing skilled talents.

This time 2.0 is still very surprising, because those refugees are not all displaced persons, a large number of them are fire and Kong’s skilled workers, engineers, university professors and other highly educated professionals, these people even some people hold a patent program, which is very strong for the Northwest’s technological replenishment.

For example, one of the scientists was one of the project leaders of the miniature pacemaker, for example, and there was another scientist who was the project leader of the disposable endoscope.

Although these talents were not obviously of great help to the war, a power could not always think about war, comprehensive development was the proper thing to do.

Only those who truly cared about the development of a power would understand how important these talents were.

To say that Zhou Chimeyang was also really stupid, the other party only felt that the refugees were a burden, but did not think that there was also wealth hidden in these refugees.

Therefore, Zhang Jinglin will praise the 2.0 version of Daxing Northwest, this abduction of refugees really brought a huge surprise to the Northwest.

As for the 3.0 ……

Ren Xiaosu shook his head and smiled bitterly, “There’s no clue about the 3.0 plan yet.”

“It’s fine, there’s no rush,” Zhang Jinglin said with a smile, “The days are still long.”

At this moment, the two had already walked up to the Memorial Bell, the massive bronze bell hanging above the square, with eleven tall stone monuments scattered on the square, recording the eleven wars that Fortress 178 had experienced.

Behind the two of them, there were densely packed 178 Fortress people standing, all of them silently looking at Zhang Jinglin and Ren Xiaosu’s backs on the square.

Zhang Jinglin said, ”Beneath this monument is buried the roster of pioneers who died in all the wars, totaling 279,281 killed in action. Eleven wars have left Fortress 178 riddled with holes, but we have won every single one. Asu, there’s really not much I have to teach you as the current commander, but there’s only one thing you must remember, although victory and defeat are commonplace, Fortress 178 cannot afford to lose, look behind you at all those people who are looking at you with anticipation, you should understand that Fortress 178 cannot afford to lose.”

Behind them were millions and millions of Northwesterners, who indeed could not afford to lose.

Everyone said that a person should be brave enough to accept defeat, it was nothing to fail, the most important thing was whether you had the courage to get up.

But the Northwest Army was different, they had to use courage, determination, wisdom, and even their lives to ensure the ultimate victory in every war.