Chapter 411: So-called Willpower Training
Whether that phone call truly ended things for good, Su Tao wasn’t sure.
But she really did her best—if she said anything more, they wouldn’t even be able to stay friends. Love is like that sometimes. You either love someone or you don’t—there’s no reason, and you can’t easily change it.
At dawn the next day, Su Tao led her team to welcome the three-thousand-strong reinforcement army and research team arriving from Changjing.
The convoy, with searchlights beaming, stretched across the horizon as it rolled toward Taoyang.
Seeing this grand welcome, Commander Dang Weiran’s dissatisfaction eased slightly.
Originally, Dang Weiran had a promising career in Changjing. He was on the verge of being promoted to Major General when he was abruptly sent to Taoyang to be a mere regimental commander.
For days, he couldn’t accept it—tossing and turning at night, wondering if he had offended someone who wanted to ruin his future.
Even though Taoyang was rising in prominence and often praised by the President, it still couldn’t compare to the well-established capital of Changjing with its vast promotion opportunities!
The sense of loss was overwhelming. Even as he stood at Taoyang’s gate, Dang Weiran still couldn’t accept it. He was already planning how to get himself transferred back to Changjing as soon as possible.
Sharing his sentiments was Dr. Lin Xing from the research team.
Lin Xing had worked hard to secure a place at the most prestigious research institute with his breakthrough on the “usability of mutant nuclei.”
But before he could enjoy his achievement, he was sent to a small base like Taoyang.
However, he handled it better than Dang Weiran. If his research on zombie serums or vaccines succeeded, he could return to Changjing with the prestigious title of “Father of the Zombie Vaccine,” ensuring his status would skyrocket.
As for Taoyang’s existing research team? He didn’t even take them seriously.
If Changjing’s top-tier researchers couldn’t solve the problem, how could a backwater team like Taoyang’s stand a chance?
Out of the three thousand arrivals, only the soldiers—bound by their duty—accepted their new post without complaint. But the senior officers and elite researchers all secretly hoped to return to Changjing sooner rather than later.
Unaware of these hidden agendas, Su Tao was simply thrilled to have more talent on board. She immediately had her team arrange accommodations and introduce the newcomers to the base’s environment.
As they entered the base, the warm air caught Dang Weiran off guard.
He quickly masked his surprise, but internally he was skeptical. The rumors about Taoyang’s advanced protective shield were true—it maintained a comfortable climate even in winter.
In Changjing, they were lucky to have four hours of heating each night.
If only Changjing could enjoy this luxury.
Still, a little warmth wouldn’t sway his determination to return. In his view, this comfort weakened the soldiers’ fighting spirit.
The more he saw, the more convinced he was—he couldn’t stay in Taoyang.
And the young base leader? She could practically be his daughter. How reliable could she be?
That night, as he lay on a bed that adjusted its height and even massaged his back, Dang Weiran felt a mix of shock and outrage.
Real soldiers should sleep on hard beds!
He had endured nights in the wilderness as a young soldier—what was this pampered nonsense?
Enraged, he ordered his subordinates off the beds, forcing them to sleep on the floor.
The soldiers cursed him silently but followed orders.
They had been thrilled to finally experience a clean, high-tech dorm with warm beds—only to be scolded and deprived of it.
As if that wasn’t enough, when the housekeeping staff came by to collect their dirty laundry for washing and repairs, Dang Weiran snapped.
He forbade his soldiers from using the washing machines, insisting they wash their clothes by hand with cold water to “harden their willpower.”
So, in the middle of the night, the exhausted soldiers found themselves scrubbing their uniforms outdoors.
When Su Tao heard about this, her excitement vanished. She frowned and asked Shi Zijin:
“Is this how you all train soldiers? This just feels like unnecessary hardship. My philosophy is: if you’re already working hard in combat, why not let the soldiers rest properly when they can? And making them hand-wash clothes—how does that improve their skills? If we have machines, why not use them?”
Shi Zijin agreed. “I think like you. But Dang Weiran has his own beliefs. He thinks soldiers should toughen up in every aspect of life. It’s effective in the short term, but it’s not sustainable for long-term readiness.”
Su Tao rubbed her temples. “He’s too extreme. But since he’s in charge of the troops, I can’t interfere too much—otherwise, it’ll seem like I’m sidelining the Changjing leadership.”
Shi Zijin thought for a moment. “Honestly, I doubt he’ll stay long. He’s probably already plotting how to get back to Changjing.”
Su Tao blinked, then laughed. “Ah, so he looks down on Taoyang, huh? I get it—coming from a massive base like Changjing to this ‘backwater’ must feel like a demotion. Fine, let him do as he pleases. But I’ll bet when it’s time to eat, they won’t be so eager to refuse our hospitality!”
Smirking, she invited Chef Qin from Panliu mountain to prepare a feast.
Thanks to Taoyang’s thriving livestock program, the base had an abundance of fresh meat—chicken, duck, and even pork, beef, and lamb through external trade.
That day, the mess hall served a lavish buffet: five meat dishes, five vegetable dishes, egg soup, and an array of fresh fruit from Wu Zhen’s farm.
Not to mention snacks and beverages—everything was free and unlimited.
When the soldiers entered and saw the spread, they practically drooled.
One young soldier, eyes brimming with tears, whispered to his older comrade:
“Bro… have you ever seen food like this? It smells so good. Coming to Taoyang was worth it—I could die happy now.”
“Don’t talk nonsense!” his comrade scolded. “We’re part of Taoyang now. Boss Su treats us well. Stay alive and enjoy it!”
Despite their eagerness, the soldiers maintained discipline, queuing for food.
Just as they were about to dig in, Dang Weiran stormed into the mess hall, his face dark with fury.
“I want to see who dares to eat!” he roared.
