After Being Reborn, I became a firefighter again?

The exercise continued.

To put it more accurately, the exercise had just begun.

Zhang Zhongting had tackled the big issue and finally felt like getting out of the car to watch what was happening on the ground.

Of course, he wasn’t watching the soldiers, but the senior officers from various regiments who comprised the observation and evaluation group.

Elder Deng oversaw Central Deng, and Central Deng oversaw Little Deng.

"This funding isn’t all for you guys, so don’t get any wild ideas," Elder Deng warned Little Deng.

Leaning on a crutch, Little Deng chuckled, "You act as if I’m interested in that little bit of money. To me, that’s just pocket change. If the state allowed me to privately form the Second Squadron, I wouldn’t even bother looking at your money—it’s not enough to buy a plane anyway."

Elder Deng’s mouth twisted, "Aren’t you boasting a bit too much? How much money do you have, exactly? Buying a plane? How long would you need to save for that?"

Little Deng raised his hand and showed a "3."

Elder Deng glanced at him, "Three years? That’s not necessary, but... can your money last for three years? Color Ring has been around for several years now, and my ringtone only costs five now. When it first came out, it was six or eight. I don’t think it will last much longer."

Fang Huai laughed. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

"The money I earn in a year could easily buy three planes."

In fact, he thought it wasn’t enough. If he had more money, when the leadership mentioned going for investment solicitation, he could have intervened, "Leader, there’s no need for you to seek investments. My family is ready to invest in Guizhou, two hundred million. Let’s sit down and discuss the Straight 8."

Investing in Guizhou was a sure win; in its current destitute state, nobody would think it would be the province with the fastest GDP growth rate in the country over the next 15 years.

In 2007, it was just 280 billion; fifteen years later, in 2022, it reached 2.02 trillion, an increase of 7.21 times.

During the same period, the national GDP grew from 27 trillion to 121.02 trillion, an increase of 4.48 times.

"Hey, earn it before you talk. Also, don’t even think about taking money from home to subsidize the unit. Public is public, private is private. If you can’t tell what’s private, you might not be able to discern what’s public. Confusing private might just be foolish, but confusing public is a crime."

"I understand, but please, commander, provide us with some better equipment! In terms of public interests, the plan was proposed by our unit."

Despite saying he understood, Fang Huai’s eyes did not betray any agitation.

Even as nephew and uncle, they could not change each other. Fang Huai considered the Firefighting Career as his foundation. Being reborn, the greatest meaning lay here, and not even his relatives could understand him.

Similarly, he could not change his uncle.

"Hey, your unit’s plan? Talk about presenting your unit’s plan to the leaders when you are qualified," his uncle retorted.

Fang Huai glared in anger, "Crossing the river and demolishing the bridge! Too much!"

Zhang Zhongting smiled, just like he did when he walked across the new recruit group’s playground, extending two fingers in front of Fang Huai:

"The same old saying, if your heart is so small, your view of the sky will be limited to this small.""

Fang Huai brushed away Zhang Zhongting’s fingers with his hand, "Enough with the nonsense. Disaster response, major emergencies, those are the next steps for the national Firefighting forces. If we don’t put much effort into reform, and shy away from spending when necessary, no accomplishments can be made."

"Heh, your thoughts are too naive," Zhang Zhongting chuckled dryly:

"Your plan is too professional. It targets a specific group, primarily the Special Duty forces. Ordinary squadrons cannot achieve it.

Our country’s Firefighting forces are not like those abroad; they are an active duty system. A conscript’s two-year military service, from enlistment until being dispatched to the police, takes half a year. There simply isn’t enough time to support such extensive learning.

To become more professional, you need a much longer learning process. To achieve that ideal standard, one must dedicate half a lifetime to the Firefighting career. The active duty system is not capable of that."

Suddenly, Fang Huai felt as if he were debating with netizens about "Firefighting department transformation." The issue he had pondered since 2018 in his previous life surged into his mind.

Of course, he knew that transforming the firefighting department wasn’t really an issue of professionalism, but rather a response to the overarching trend of military reforms—the need to reduce the army was the most important reason.

He understood this.

However, to claim that the transition to a local Firefighting system was more professional and debate professionalism with him—he didn’t agree.

"I want to ask you, uncle, in which troops do conscripts significantly take on the responsibilities of a squad leader?

I’ll ask you another question. Aren’t conscripts the channel through which blood is supplied to the old soldiers?

The conscription period is essentially a process of talent screening, isn’t it? Why is it that transitioning troops to local forces is considered more professional?

Do you mean to say that a highly specialized force like the Rocket Army should also convert to local forces if they want to progress and reform?

The Firefighting forces have never been a place where talent is retained en masse. It’s too rigorous; the casualty rate is high. With an active duty system, one might feel that quiet dedication is appropriate. But to actually run a squad at the grassroots level, how many can endure? Once transformed to a local system, wouldn’t it still need to be managed like the active duty system?

Our country is a socialist nation, primarily seeking the collective interests of society. For Firefighting, the first requirement is dedication to the people, it’s a must! Not some kind of benevolent, moral choice like the Red Cross. Strictly speaking, it’s fundamentally different from Western firefighters!

Only with a conscription system can a reasonable mechanism to implement this mandate be maintained!

If local personnel refuse work, at worst they’ll be fired. As long as it doesn’t consist of the four elements of dereliction of duty, you shouldn’t punish them, because they are coming to work.

But if a soldier refuses to fight, they have to face a military court!

Moreover, the Firefighting forces are youthful, requiring physical strength that simply isn’t comparable to local entities. A firefighter in their forties or fifties, no matter how experienced, will they be frontline capable? Can they enter a fire scene?

Conversely, the military system is better at maintaining youthfulness!"

A soulful barrage of questions.

Zhang Zhongting, sensing some fire in Fang Huai’s words, frowned and said in puzzlement:

"The Rocket Army?"

Fang Huai realized he was getting carried away and quickly corrected himself, "Second Artillery! Second Artillery—handling rockets and missiles, that’s all."

Zhang Zhongting gave him a look, "Are they the same? The Second Artillery is a frontline military combat force and can only be an army. I’m discussing Firefighting reform and progress with you; don’t bring up other matters."

"But the Firefighting forces have a military spirit, too!" Fang Huai argued, then feeling he might touch on too many future issues if they continued, shifted the focus, "Let’s talk about professionalism!

Professionalism is guided expertise. Whether it’s military or civilian, it’s impossible to have everyone fully trained. Some will be professional, while others can be trained to become so. Yet others can work under professional guidance, accustomed to obeying commands and understanding how to cooperate with them.

Some are skilled technicians on construction sites; others are day laborers who know how to work with the technicians."

Some odd-job workers who learned the skills of technicians could also become technicians.

In fact, this has always been how we work.

During the conscripts’ selection period, we fostered autonomy in some, and obedience in others, with the autonomous guiding the obedient.

Those who had neither were discharged.

Our troops have some advantages over workers, namely training. Odd-job workers don’t have to figure things out on their own; we can teach them.

Our specialty is just to make sure that the relatively stable autonomous firefighters and the less stable obedient firefighters are more professional in both command and cooperation. Their specializations are different, and obedient firefighters cannot become commanders unless they reflect on their own and make efforts to enter the upward channel.

This, the active-duty system’s exam for studying and the reserve system’s exam for an assignment, is the same."

Zhang Zhongting slowly nodded his head, then chuckled,

"You’re too worked up. I was just saying that your plan lacks the conditions for implementation. Having both sides specialize is not easy to achieve. You have unique advantages."

Fang Huai curled his lip inwardly.

You seem like an internet warrior.

Questioning me again? I’ve given a plethora of reasons, and now you say I’m agitated.

Speechless, he said, "If a poor province can nurture a team like ours, aren’t the conditions already sky-high?"

Zhang Zhongting glared and retorted, "Aren’t the conditions of 60 elites high enough to reach the sky?"

"Wow, such grand talk of ’elites’." Fang Huai’s obstinacy flared up, "If you give our Squadron heroes like Gui Qiang, Lian Xu, Liu Shoulin, Tao Dongdong, Zhang Guihua, Wei Lijie, Wang Maofa, Li Chaotai, and She Wencang, I’ll shut up right away."

Heh.

Zhang Zhongting laughed.

He might not even remember some of these names, but just hearing a few of them was almost enough for him to guess—the top ten of this year’s Base spring Martial Arts Competition, including Fang Huai.

What’s the deal with this kid memorizing these names so clearly?

"I don’t want to listen to you daydreaming! We do have elites—next month, your Squadron will meet one.

Your role model in military service, who also rose through the ranks starting as a soldier, has even more years of service than your Instructor Cao. He’s not the best-tempered, even I’ve had clashes with him.

I was actually undecided between another candidate, but since your Squadron desperately craves an elite, I’ll have him assigned to you guys. Cooperate well."

After saying this, Zhang Zhongting walked away cheerfully.

Watching his retreating figure, Fang Huai was dumbstruck.

Damn, what are you trying to say, boss?

What’s this about "not the best-tempered, even you’ve had clashes with him"?

Damn, I wanted a Land Rover, but why do I get the feeling I’m getting a Roadblock—Rover?

You can’t just go changing models like that!... Leader!

Fang Huai suddenly realized that he’d offended not just his uncle but also a leader who could easily ruin them with a single word.

...I seem to have caused trouble for the Squadron.

"Regimental commander! Let’s talk this over, hey!"

Fang Huai immediately chased after Zhang Zhongting, waving like crazy as if running after a Public Bus.

But his damaged legs couldn’t keep up. Elder Deng got into the Command Car, closed the door, and left Little Deng standing there, looking lost.

Not far away, at the Base Logistics Support Group.

Two female soldiers who had already been rescued were cleaning their faces, standing inside the logistics circle and looking at Fang Huai not too far away.

"He... seems to have a good relationship with the leader... Did I just see him... scolding the leader?"

"Humph, Dan Dan, you’re clueless, aren’t you? (Whispered)... That’s Detachment Captain Zhang! That Fang guy, he’s his direct nephew, rumored to be this year’s top of the Base’s Grand Martial Arts Competition, just awarded First Class Merit!

He’s pretty impressive, but he’s really annoying! Look at my clothes! I finally get to wear them, and he got them all dirty! And the hair I washed this morning now stinks! Yun Weiwei and the others are still inside!"

"Oh? Oh... that’s impressive."

"Hey, Zhang Dan, I see stars in your eyes, don’t tell me you’re falling for him? He’s our enemy!"

"...Yeah, yeah, I get it, Sergeant Wu."

"Oh, which one are you into?"

A cheerful voice came from behind.

The two female soldiers turned around and Zhang Dan hastily said,

"Director Yang..."

Old Black’s face, sharp as ever, showed a smile,

"Dan Dan, you like that Fang Huai kid? He’s one of the soldiers under Uncle Yang! He’s a hot candidate for promotion in our Base! But, you’re planning to return to Tianjin Base, right? And it seems he has a close female classmate too! Here’s what you do, have your dad send me two pounds of good tea, and I’ll ask around for you!"

Hearing "hot candidate for promotion" and "has a close female classmate," Zhang Dan glanced at Fang Huai again, her heart surging with eagerness and impatience.

He’ll probably go to Kunzhi for his promotion, right?

Then, I’d be a fitting match.

Looking up, Zhang Dan saw the effortlessly pleasant Director Yang and shyly protested, "Director Yang, what are you saying~!"

"Tsk tsk tsk." Wu Yanan beside her shook her head repeatedly,

"That’s the end of that."

"All hope is gone..."

"Sergeant Wu~!"