In the name of supernatural powers

Chapter 208 Dealing with people is also a form of self-cultivation
March 20th.

Lu Zhao has already spoken with almost all the soldiers in the Mobile Battalion who do not meet the requirements for continued service and obtained their consent.

Lu Zhao promised to provide resources to warriors who were close to reaching the third rank after breaking through the third level, but only gave them a one-year extension.

For soldiers whose deployment was far off, Lu Zhao recommended they go to Ant Ridge.

A regimental-level unit can accommodate them, and besides, Fangchenggang City is about to become a directly administered municipality, so the border defense corps may need to continue to expand.

Zhang Like might not be able to keep things under control then; a stronger officer will be needed to take charge.

Training them ourselves would take a lot of time; it's better to just get them from the special operations forces.

Looking around, all you see are battle-hardened Tier 2 warriors, and some of them even have extensive experience in managing and training troops.

Most were unwilling to take up the post at Ant Ridge, preferring to remain in Cangwu. Even knowing Lu Zhao had connections, sending him to a small place to guard the frontier was a gamble, and ultimately only Ruan Yifei went.

Lu Zhao understood this and wasn't in a hurry.

One person from the Mobile Battalion and one or two more from other battalions would be enough. Sending dozens of people over would probably be unacceptable from headquarters.

There were also some who absolutely wanted to stay, but Lu Zhao could only express his regret.

No matter how many merits they have made, what experiences they have, how passionate they are about the fight against terrorism, or how hard they work, those who are not qualified must leave.

Life development is simpler compared to ancient times, but the vast majority of people still cannot reach the third level.

With limited resources, 80% of people can advance to the first rank, 40% can reach the second rank, and 10% can reach the third rank.

Even in special counter-terrorism units, only ten out of a hundred Tier 2 members can advance to Tier 3.

Not to mention that these people have survived countless dangerous missions, and if the mortality rate is taken into account, the chances of reaching the third tier are even lower.

This algorithm applies to the entire federation because ordinary households make up the majority.

Even the Brahmins in small towns couldn't afford to support the three tiers.

How could one obtain so many life-sustaining supplements without risking one's life for the Federation? Most powerful individuals climb to the top in this way.

That afternoon, Lu Zhao met with Cao Yang for the third time.

This time, Cao Yang's momentum was noticeably weaker than before.

His gaze toward Lu Zhao also turned very unfriendly.

No one would be happy to see their team in such a state.

Lu Zhao asked, "Captain Cao, are you ready to cooperate with the persuasion mission now?"

Cao Yang sneered, "Didn't you divide my people? Why are you asking this now?"

He had witnessed the changes during this period; the atmosphere in the entire mobile brigade had gone from harmonious to cold.

Although we're not at the point of deep-seated hatred, we're not as close as we used to be.

Cao Yang rose through the ranks from the Mobile Brigade, and seeing his familiar brigade transformed like this made him very uncomfortable.

But there was nothing they could do, because Lu Zhaocai was the detachment leader, while he was just a junior officer under the other side.

Lu Zhao shook his head and said, "We have only obtained the opinions of most people so far. The specific transfer process will have to wait until June. There will definitely be some steps in the process that require Captain Cao's cooperation."

"You've made a mess of my team, and you still want my help?"

Cao Yang retorted, then raised his voice and said, "No way!"

Lu Zhao frowned slightly, his tone becoming stern: "Watch your words. The special operations force is not your private army."

I've been very patient; I let him off the hook the first two times.

On the one hand, we had to consider the impact; we couldn't just get rid of the battalion commander right away, as that might provoke a rebellious attitude among the soldiers.

On the other hand, Cao Yang is a military academy graduate, an outstanding officer, a powerful Earthly Fiend Sequence Divine Power, and has three second-class merits and eight third-class merits.

Although he did not receive a first-class merit award, he can still be considered to have made outstanding contributions.

Because of the different environment, the assessment criteria for the Federal First-Class Merit are different from those in the previous life. One must have a huge impact on the Federation to be awarded it.

The reason why that group of people at Ant Ridge were awarded first-class merit was not because they killed a lot of monsters, but because they were willing to die to protect the people.

It inspired the military and civilians and had a profound impact.

A second-class merit is comparable to a first-class merit in the past, and it also requires a lot of hard work to earn.

Lu Zhao didn't let personal feelings interfere with his duties; he thought Cao Yang was a good soldier.

In retrospect, he was just a good soldier.

Based on that one sentence, Cao Yang could definitely be disciplined.

"This is the last time I'm asking you, do you want to cooperate with the work?"

Cao Yang snorted coldly.

Lu Zhao waited a moment, and seeing that he did not reply, he calmed down and said, "You should go back first."

"Yes."

Cao Yang stood at attention, saluted, and turned to leave the office.

Comrade Xiao Wei said indignantly, "This Captain Cao is really lawless. He has contradicted you time and time again. I think a warning is too lenient."

Lu Zhao showed no anger and asked, "Xiao Wei, are there many people like Cao Yang in the special operations force? I want to hear the truth."

Comrade Xiao Wei replied, "Uh... there are very few people as outstanding as Captain Cao."

To say that it was insubordination would be an exaggeration, as Cao Yang did follow basic rules, but there was indeed a tendency to obey orders but not proclamations.

This situation is not uncommon; the continuous enhancement of individual power inevitably exacerbates the uncontrollability of individuals.

Lu Zhao said, "It seems that simply persuading people to quit is not enough."

Comrade Xiaowei looked puzzled.

What could be more drastic than persuading someone to withdraw? You can't exactly send them to a military court, can you?
Lu Zhao picked up the landline on the table, dialed the number of the Special Countermeasures Team, and quickly contacted Tu Bin.

He briefly explained the situation, and immediately you could hear the angry voice on the other end of the phone.

"Bastards! They've gone too far, they really think the army is their own. His name is Cao Yang, right? I'll dismiss him tomorrow, kick him out of the special operations unit, and issue a public reprimand throughout the entire army!"

Lu Zhao said, "Chief, I don't think this is enough."

Tu Bin asked, "What, do you want to send him to a military court? That's impossible. He just made a mistake, not committed a crime."

"No, what I mean is that dealing with him alone is not enough; it's only treating the symptoms, not the root cause." Lu Zhao countered, "Chief Tu, I have a question: Is Cao Yang an isolated case, or is it a widespread problem?"

After a moment of silence on the other end of the phone, Tu Bin did not answer.

Because there is no way to answer that.

He hoped it was an isolated case, but in reality, it was a common occurrence.

Any violent organization primarily composed of superhumans inevitably faces the problem of not being able to maintain absolute control over its personnel.

Soldiers of the first rank and below are at most physically stronger than ordinary people, but in essence they are not much different from ordinary people, so they can obey orders without question.

However, the word "extraordinary" only becomes substantial starting from the second level.

For example, a Tier 1 superhuman suffering from arterial bleeding will die without emergency bandaging or special abilities. A Tier 2 superhuman, however, can stop the bleeding in a few breaths.

When a person's perceived fatal flaw becomes ineffective, their perception will change accordingly.

If Tu Bin admits it, then it becomes a leadership issue for him, which could become a reason for him to be attacked.

"Xiao Lu, this matter is complicated, but at least strength will not come before power."

But problems will inevitably arise someday.

Now that strength and prestige are linked, warriors will follow those who are stronger, which is not a good situation.

Thinking this to himself, Lu Zhao said, "Chief Tu, I want to correct the problem of the Ninth Detachment's work style."

He needs the support of the brigade headquarters, not just in matters of persuading people to leave.

Tu Bin asked, "What do you plan to do?"

Lu Zhao replied, "Establish new rules and regulations, and use more comprehensive and detailed rules and regulations to constrain the soldiers. Our current rules and regulations focus too much on results."

He then began to recount his discoveries from this period to Tu Bin.

In the twenty days since taking office, Lu Zhao has frequently visited the company units, not simply to make his presence felt, but more to gain a deeper understanding of the company's dynamics.

Many problems cannot be discovered without on-site investigation.

Then Lu Zhao discovered a problem: the special counter-terrorism unit focused on results and neglected procedures.

For example, in the operation to suppress the black market drug thugs, Lu Zhao required each class to write a detailed operation report. After reviewing the reports, he discovered that some people were completely disregarding operational guidelines.

For example, upon discovering enemy traces, the first reaction is not to report it, but to try to kill them, sometimes even resulting in a situation where one person pursues the enemy alone.

After successfully killing him, the team surprisingly did not criticize or punish him.

Lu Zhao's personal criticism also drew dissatisfaction from many soldiers.

This demonstrates that in the long course of counter-terrorism operations, this has become a routine practice for special counter-terrorism forces: as long as the enemy can be killed, some wrongdoings can be forgiven.

If we want to establish new rules, we need the support of the General Team.

After listening to Lu Zhao's brief explanation, Tu Bin couldn't help but sigh.

This kid is truly a talent.

To gain such a deep understanding of the special operations forces in just twenty days demonstrates that their observation skills, work attitude, and execution capabilities far surpass those of ordinary people.

He advised, "Xiao Lu, this kind of trend has been going on for a long time, and I'm afraid you'll run into trouble. Doing a good job doesn't necessarily mean you'll be rewarded, and if the soldiers below you cause a commotion, you might be criticized and punished."

The problem with the Extraordinary Soldiers is not just a problem for the Special Countermeasures Forces, but a problem for the entire Federation.

The fact that it remains unresolved indicates that it has some positive effects, but also that it is extremely difficult to resolve.

Even if they do a good job, it will only change the atmosphere of the Ninth Detachment.

Lu Zhao replied firmly, "Sir, I want to give it a try. Someone has to start."

"..."

Tu Bin pondered for a moment.

This matter could be big or small, but its impact should not extend beyond the Ninth Detachment.

"Then go ahead and do it. I'll make an exception for you."

"Thank you, Uncle Tu."

Lu Zhao sincerely thanked him.

This matter could be a big deal or a small deal. It won't benefit Tu Bin, and he will also have to take responsibility for the problems that arise.

The other party was completely helping me and giving me a chance.

This opportunity will be a valuable learning experience for him, and it may come in handy if he faces brigade-level or even army-level units in the future.

Even if it might backfire and result in punishment, Lu Zhao was determined to try.

In his spiritual practice, he strives for perfection, even surpassing his master, doing everything to the extreme.

This is also part of cultivation, equivalent to the current practice of opening up all the meridians.

Even if it succeeds, it won't bring much benefit at this stage, but it will continue indefinitely and bring immeasurable gains in the future.

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March 21st.

Due to personal conduct issues, Cao Yang was demoted by order of the brigade headquarters, from the original commander of the mobile battalion to the commander of the first special operations squadron of the mobile battalion.

The former First Company Commander was promoted to Guard Company Commander.

Lu Zhao read it aloud at a cadre meeting, and all the officers looked astonished, including Cao Yang himself.

They considered that if Cao Yang continued to work with Lu Zhao like this, he would most likely face disciplinary action. To put it bluntly, Cao Yang was disobeying the orders of the headquarters and going against policy.

Demotion would be too severe.

Ignoring everyone's expressions, Lu Zhao said, "I think the position of captain of the mobile brigade should be temporarily taken over by the deputy captain, Fan Zhenghong. Let's vote now."

Li He and Yu Fusheng exchanged a glance, then raised their hands and said, "Agreed."

Disagreeing is useless; this is an order from the brigade headquarters.

Cao Yang stood there stunned for a long time, only coming back to his senses after the meeting ended.

The news caused quite a stir in the detachment, but because the mobile brigade was already somewhat fragmented, it didn't cause too much of a commotion.

This, on the contrary, made many people who were about to be persuaded to quit lose their sense of luck.

But soon everyone's attention was drawn back to the new regulations.

Lu Zhao added a new rule to the operational guidelines.

Any violation of operational guidelines will not be recorded as merit, and will be investigated afterward, with punishment imposed as appropriate.

Originally, according to the special operations forces' practice, punishment and commendation depended entirely on the outcome. However, with this new rule, only the process matters, and the result is unimportant.

In response, many soldiers, including sergeants and field officers, filed appeals.

Lu Zhaotong retaliated.

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March 23rd.

The investigation into the black market supplement case has been completely halted. It was limited to a single district, and without further evidence, it is difficult to expand the investigation further.

Zhou Wanhua invited Lu Zhao out to dinner, and also invited Gu Yun.

Midway through the meal, the case came up in conversation.

Zhou Wanhua sighed, "The case is basically at a standstill now. Only one chief official in the supply and marketing system of the South Railway District has been investigated. There has been no response from the winery."

"Brother Lu, can you do something extraordinary and force the case to move forward?"

Lu Zhao said speechlessly, "Do you think my father is the Federal Chief Executive?"

"Aren't you backed by the Daozheng Bureau?"

While picking at her food, Gu Yun asked, "Can't we follow the trail and investigate further?"

"No, the trail has gone cold. We can't follow the clues blindly. If we can investigate indefinitely just because we have suspicions, that would be terrifying."

Zhou Wanhua explained to the researcher, "Moreover, this case was supervised by the deputy director in charge, so the level wasn't actually that high. The fact that the Daozheng Bureau was backing them up was entirely because of Brother Lu."

Gu Yun asked curiously, "Ah Zhao, what exactly is your background? How come you can get the Daozheng Bureau to back you up?"

Lu Zhao replied, "My family used to be farmers. Any public official who performs their duties receives federal support."

"He's chanting sutras for me again."

Gu Yun rolled her eyes and said, "If you can't investigate upwards, why not investigate downwards?"

Zhou Wanhua spread his hands and said, "Going further down the line would be too broad, and we simply wouldn't know where to begin. For example, the vehicles they use for transporting goods and the companies they operate under are all fictitious; once investigated, they're all out of service."

Gu Yun said, "Then we need to investigate the consumption channels of these high-end supplements. It's impossible to use them all for speculation, after all, these things have an expiration date."

"The samples you provided are high-grade supplements with a purity of T6, which can be used directly as medicine or as beauty and physiotherapy products."

Lu Zhao and Zhou Wanhua visibly paused in breathing.

This involves their knowledge gaps. They can understand medicines, but what are beauty and physiotherapy products?
Zhou Wanhua quickly pressed on, "Do people really use such precious supplements as beauty products?"

"Of course, rich people use it this way."

Gu Yun complained, "They not only use them, but they can also get the Divine Power Academy to research them for them. When I was at the Divine Power Academy in Chang'an, I was in charge of making these kinds of things for them. You have no idea how wasteful they are; the utilization rate is only 2%-5%."

"I was curious before about how they got so many high-end life supplements, but now I know it's become an industry chain."

The speaker has no intention, the listener has the heart.

Countless fragmented pieces of information were pieced together in Zhou Wanhua's mind, and a blurry line began to form.

Often, what's missing is just a direction.

The next moment, Zhou Wanhua suddenly stood up.

"I have something to attend to, so I'll be leaving now."

After saying that, he left the restaurant in a great hurry.

At 6 p.m. that day, Lu Zhao finished work, took out his phone and saw two missed calls, both from his junior classmate Lin.

The fact that he could call two in a row suggests he must have something on his mind.

Lu Zhao dialed the number back, and the call was quickly answered. A somewhat resentful voice came through the phone.

"Senior, it seems like it's been a month since we last met. If the police hadn't kept ignoring me, I would have thought you'd been arrested for soliciting prostitution."

Lu Zhao replied calmly, "Under the Federal Public Security Administration Law, soliciting prostitution is generally punishable by up to fifteen days of detention. I've actually been out for five days already."

(End of this chapter)