Commissar Cain leaned across the table and handed Kastin a data-slate. She took it and began to read, with Major Brocklaw looking over her shoulder.
"We can start reorganizing this Regiment at the squad level, starting this morning. Each squad will be made up of roughly equal numbers of Soldiers from the two original Regiments."
Upon hearing Commissar Cain's words, Major Brocklaw snapped, his outcry barely a second less unladylike than Kastin's shriek.
"That's outrageous! No! My men will never agree!"
"Yes! My men won't accept it either!" Kastin nodded in agreement.
Commissar Cain glanced back at Li Feng, who shrugged. After all, the first step to getting them to cooperate was to unite them against the Political Commissar.
Commissar Cain leaned back in his chair:
"This isn't up to you. This ship is heading into a potential war zone. We might be in combat within hours of arrival, and once the fighting starts, they will have to rely on their comrades next to them, no matter who they are. I don't want my men dying due to distrust of their fellow Soldiers. So, they must train and work together until they become a true Imperial Guard Legion, not a bunch of uneducated juvenile delinquents. After this, they will fight the Emperor's enemies together, and I expect them to win. Understood?"
Kastin's jaw tightened, and she gritted her teeth, saying, "Completely understood, Political Commissar... I will start reviewing the organizational charts."
At this moment, Li Feng, who was serving rice in the back, added, "Colonel Kastin, I think you'd best do this with Major Brocklaw's help. The two of you should be able to select a fire team that can at least shoot at the enemy with their weapons instead of each other."
Major Brocklaw nodded at this point: "Of course... of course... Colonel Bruce Lee. I'd be happy to help."
Although Li Feng heard that the tone was still not quite right, it was at least literally acceptable. This was a start. However, they certainly wouldn't like Commissar Cain's next step:
"What I'm going to say next is the designation of the new Regiment number."
Commissar Cain expected an outburst of anger, but the three officers in front of him just looked blankly at the Political Commissar. Li Feng guessed they still couldn't quite believe what Commissar Cain had just said.
"The current Regiment numbers only emphasize the differences between the former 301st and 296th Regiments. We need a new Regiment number, ladies and gentlemen, a single banner under which we can stand firmly united as loyal servants of the Emperor and march to the battlefield."
When Commissar Cain finished this stimulating speech, Li Feng momentarily thought they would agree without a word, but of course, it was Sura (the future's first female General of the Imperium) who first expressed opposition.
"You can't just abolish the 296th Regiment!" she almost screamed, "Our glory in battle dates back centuries!"
"Oh, really?" Major Brocklaw was clearly amused again: "Hahaha! If you call suppressing riots fighting... our 301st Regiment has fought Orks, Eldar, and Tyranids!"
Sura's voice rose another octave:
"Oh, wow~, were there Tyranids on Korania? Huh? I must have been too busy knitting sweaters, I didn't see them, did I?"
Just as the two were about to argue again, Kastin shouted once more:
"Both of you, shut up!"
Kastin's voice was low but firm, and her two subordinates were intimidated into silence.
Since she had spoken, Commissar Cain didn't need to maintain order himself. However, Li Feng was still a little surprised. Now it seemed that Colonel Kastin had the potential to be a good Commander.
"Let's hear what the Political Commissar has to say first, then raise objections."
Commissar Cain and Li Feng both smiled. Good heavens, you're still going to object, aren't you?
Commissar Cain was so exasperated he laughed, then sat back in his chair with a sigh:
"Thank you, Colonel. What I want to do is make the day of the merger the new founding day. I reported this to the Expeditionary Force General Headquarters. Commander Li Feng, my good friend, had the Navigator contact the Imperial Munitorum, and he personally designated your new number: 'Valhalla 597th Regiment'."
"Two hundred ninety-six plus three hundred one, I understand." Kastin also nodded admiringly, "Truly worthy of the hero of frax."
Brocklaw also nodded: "This also preserves the identity of the old Regiments, a very clever approach, truly a friend of the emperor! This way, we can also have a fresh start!"
Hearing the two start praising Li Feng, Commissar Cain helplessly glanced at Li Feng again, then took a breath and said:
"I... I've always thought so too."
The foolish Sura still insisted: "But this is too shameless! You can't just wipe out an entire Regiment!"
Hearing Sura's words, Yugen, who was brewing tea in the bar area next to Li Feng, handed Li Feng a rolling pin: "Colonel, if you're going to hit someone, use this."
He gently explained to Sura: "The Commissariat grants its servants a very wide discretion, and Li Feng is a friend of the emperor. How we exercise these rights is based purely on judgment, and sometimes on the Political Commissar's personality. For example, not every Political Commissar can resist the temptation to suppress dissent through mass executions."
Li Feng knew this was absolutely true, but few Political Commissars would go so far as to randomly execute one out of every ten Soldiers to motivate the others.
But there were indeed such people, though rarely was a Regiment's morale so low as to require such extreme measures, but this Regiment was, and they knew it.
They were just lucky to be assigned the heroic Commissar Cain, not some demonic psychopath. When Li Feng and Commissar Cain were on Kofia, they had met one or two Political Commissars from other Regiments. Li Feng could only say that such people wouldn't live long, especially after the fighting started, with bullet holes in their backs.
Commissar Cain continued to smile, indicating that he didn't mean it: "If you find the new designation unacceptable, Li Feng told me that '48th Penal Regiment' is also an option."
Sura flinched. If you want to open a window and the other side objects, you just need to act like you're going to tear down the roof. 'Valhalla 597th Regiment' was better than '48th Penal Regiment'.
Kastin gave a nervous laugh, unsure how serious Commissar Cain was: "I think 597th Regiment is good."
Commissar Cain: "Major Brocklaw?"
Major Brocklaw slowly nodded, trying to accept the idea: "A very excellent compromise. There might be complaints in the ranks, but our Regiment truly needs a new beginning, and this is it."
"Thanks to the Emperor."
Kastin also agreed, and the two senior officers exchanged glances with newfound respect, which was also a good sign.
Only the foolish Sura still looked glum. Major Brocklaw noticed this and looked into her eyes:
"Cheer up, Lieutenant, our next founding day is... two hundred fifty-eight days away."
Commissar Cain nodded: "You have almost eight months to cultivate some brand new traditions."
At this moment, Li Feng also called them over to eat. Li Feng handed the three officers several small bowls used for rice, and they were immediately stunned, because in the center of the bottom of each bowl was an imprint of '597th Regiment'.
Li Feng explained: "I had the Quartermaster Corps make these. Your canteens, mess kits, armbands, and dog tags will be delivered by the Quartermaster in a few days."
The three looked at Li Feng at this moment, was this the power of the Quartermaster Corps boss?
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