*Didn't Brother Lu hand over the whole flood-defense plan, personnel roster, inventory sheets, and all those documents to you before he left yesterday?*
Liu Qiang nearly rolled his eyes. Forcing down the urge to retort, he replied, "Reporting to Platoon Leader Liang: deployments and preparations are currently underway. A three-shift, twenty-four-hour watch has been arranged for major river channels and key subterranean river junctions, expected to be in place by the fifteenth.
"The dedicated emergency communication lines to the local police station, the water bureau, and the three downstream townships will undergo their first test call this afternoon. The emergency evacuation routes and signs for temporary shelters were all completely updated last year."
His answer was clear and thorough, not giving Liang Fei the slightest opening to nitpick.
Just as Lü Jinshan had anticipated, under Lu Zhao's arrangements, it was difficult for major problems to arise in the flood-control work.
At this stage, the plan was already locked in; as long as it was followed, even a dog in charge couldn't mess it up.
Liang Fei listened, his brow furrowing slightly, seemingly not entirely satisfied with Lu Zhao's work.
"Hmm... sounds like everything's been arranged, but there are a few places that ought to be supplemented."
Drawing out his words, he tilted his chin up slightly and said, "When we do our work, we can't just stick rigidly to routine. We have to adapt to local conditions and know how to adjust on the fly. Look, hasn't the rain already started?
"Shouldn't we... hmm... add a few temporary observation posts? Or step up the patrol frequency a bit? Let higher-ups see the initiative of our reinforced platoon!"
Liu Qiang couldn't help looking at him as though he were an idiot.
All the designated sentry posts were established based on past years of experience, and the workload was already intense enough without arbitrarily ramping up the patrol frequency on the fly.
Liu Qiang took a deep breath, trying hard to make his voice sound less sarcastic. "Platoon Leader Liang, the current plan was set by Officer Lu, and we don't have the spare hands to add more personnel."
Liang Fei's face stiffened. Feeling his authority questioned, his tone hardened. "If you don't have enough men, can't you requisition transfers from other companies? As I see it, your thinking is just conservative—you lack drive!"
Liu Qiang was young after all, and his temper flared. "Our station only has a thousand men managing such a huge area. The Mobile Company and Support Company are also busy preparing their flood-control operations, and they have to coordinate rotations with us."
Seeing the confrontation about to escalate, Liang Fei knew there was nothing to be gained from arguing with Liu Qiang. Even if he wanted to make an example of someone, he couldn't pick on Zhang Like's nephew.
He said, "Bring me the detailed duty roster."
Liu Qiang was only a soldier in the end, so he could only acknowledge the order and bury his head in his work.
Liang Fei then inspected the reinforced platoon's offices and checked in on each squad leader. These men weren't as rash as Liu Qiang; at least they maintained a facade of amiability.
At noon, Liang Fei took the initiative to inspect the front lines of the flood-defense work and offer guidance, altering several observation posts in the process.
For example, shifting a certain observation post fifty meters to the right.
Even when someone warned him it was too close to the river channel and would be submerged once the water rose, Liang Fei paid no heed.
Instead, he scolded, "If it gets flooded, can't you run? You don't have a shred of subjective initiative."
After thrashing about like this for half a day, Liang Fei had meddled with nearly every part of the flood-control work. But as soon as he left, the frontline soldiers carried on according to the original plan as usual.
This was true not only for the reinforced platoon, but also for both the Mobile and Support Companies.
***
On June 7, flood-defense preparations proceeded at a feverish pace.
At the same time, all junior officers were summoned to cast their ballots for the annual excellence evaluation.
Because the border defense station was relatively small and had no large auditorium, collective events like this were held in the mess hall, the station's largest open space.
Everyone lined up in a long queue to hand their ballots directly to Lü Jinshan.
And Lü Jinshan was required to read out the results on the spot.
While personnel appointments were decided entirely by higher authorities, most other matters relied on self-governance. This was the result of restructuring a decade ago, designed to ensure that frontline units could function autonomously when the next Cataclysm struck.
The factor of extraordinary power played a role as well, requiring—
"One vote for Liang Fei."
"Three votes for Mo Kun."
Lü Jinshan took Zhang Like's ballot. Seeing the name "Lu Zhao" written on it, his brow furrowed slightly; he already sensed something was amiss.
He called out, "Three votes for Lu Zhao."
A field officer's vote was worth three, while the station chief's was worth five. With only thirty people in the entire border defense station eligible to vote, in theory he only needed to win over ten people and secure the support of two field officers to gain an absolute advantage.
In the past, Zhang Like would not have clashed with Lü Jinshan openly, because apart from the annual excellence evaluation, other affairs remained completely under Lü Jinshan's control.
The second officer stepped forward and handed in his ballot.
"Four votes for Lu Zhao."
What followed was a straight run of votes for Lu Zhao. By the time all the company officers had finished voting, Lu Zhao had already reached twenty-three votes.
Of the border defense station's junior officers, twenty were company commanders and platoon leaders; few were assigned to logistics or administrative roles.
In the end, only Lü Jinshan remained. He looked at Liang Fei's fourteen votes, then at Mo Kun's six votes.
The atmosphere turned eerie as all eyes fixed on him.
Their gazes were no longer filled with past deference, holding only scrutiny and probing intent.
Lü Jinshan cast his votes for Lu Zhao and announced, "With twenty-eight votes, Lu Zhao is elected this year's Outstanding Officer."
Everyone was taken aback, and even Lu Zhao was surprised.
Then Lu Zhao quickly realized that Lü Jinshan was taking a step back to advance. Voting for anyone else would still result in defeat, but voting for him at least preserved his authority as station chief.
At ten o'clock, the voting concluded, and everyone returned to their posts.
The door to Lü Jinshan's office remained tightly shut, with the faint sound of objects being smashed leaking out.
***
On June 8, Platoon Leader Liang did not come into work.
It was not until the ninth, a week later, that Liang Fei went down to inspect the front lines once again to demonstrate leadership concern.
In high spirits, he arrived at the sentry posts he had personally "adjusted and optimized" a few days prior, eager to see how well his orders had been implemented.
Arriving at the scene, Liang Fei's expression gradually darkened.
Seeing their direct superior arrive in person, the soldiers of the reinforced platoon gave a ragged salute.
"Liu Qiang!"
Liang Fei's eyes locked onto Liu Qiang in the crowd.
"Speak! What's the meaning of this?"
Liu Qiang answered, "Sir, we had no extra time to set up new sentry posts, and the location you chose might get flooded when the water rises."
Livid with rage, Liang Fei roared, "Post construction started three days ago! How could you not have enough time?!"
Liu Qiang and the five soldiers present kept their heads lowered, as though they hadn't heard a word.
No matter how Liang Fei shouted, they paid him no mind. The reinforced platoon had merely misinterpreted Platoon Leader Liang's orders, resulting in a slight deviation in execution, but they hadn't stepped outside the bounds of the flood-defense operation.
Liang Fei cursed for quite some time, but not a single person acknowledged him.
"This is insubordination! I'm going to report you! I'll have every last one of you replaced!"
Chapter 40