Rebirth in the Dragon Kingdom: The Strongest Blade

Chapter 61 Revisiting My Alma Mater

At the main gate of the National Defense University, the sentry saw the approaching military vehicle, checked its identification, and then stood at attention and saluted.

Lin Zhe sat in the passenger seat, looking out at the familiar campus. The sycamore-lined avenue, the training ground, the teaching buildings… everything seemed the same, yet everything also seemed different. Six years ago, he graduated from here as a student; six years later, he returned as a senior colonel.

"Colonel Lin, you seem to know this place quite well?" Gao Cheng noticed Lin Zhe's gaze as he drove.

"I studied here," Lin Zhe replied simply.

Gao Cheng was stunned for a moment, then realized that Lin Zhe was a graduate of the National University of Defense Technology.

The car stopped in front of the administration building. Several people were already standing there, led by a white-haired lieutenant general—Yang Zhenguo, the president of the National Defense University. Beside him were several university leaders, including major generals and senior colonels, all heads of various departments and faculties within the university.

Lin Zhe got out of the car, and Gao Cheng followed closely behind.

"Principal Yang." Lin Zhe stood at attention and saluted.

Yang Zhenguo returned the salute, his gaze lingering for a second on the senior colonel's rank on Lin Zhe's shoulder, a complex expression flashing in his eyes. He had just been transferred from the Central Military Commission last year, knew some of the inside story, and understood the weight of the rank on the young man's shoulders.

"Colonel Lin, welcome back to your alma mater." Yang Zhenguo extended his hand. "We received a notice from the Central Military Commission saying that you are here to select people to form a new unit, and we fully support you."

"Thank you, Principal." Lin Zhe shook hands and then saluted the other school leaders one by one.

The group entered the administration building and went to the conference room. After a brief exchange of pleasantries, they got down to business.

"Principal Yang, the reason I'm here is to select a group of high-caliber talents from the recent graduates," Lin Zhe said bluntly. "The Central Military Commission requires the formation of a new type of special operations force with high academic qualifications, advanced technology, and strong combat capabilities. The National Defense University is the highest institution of learning in the entire military, and its students are the most qualified."

Yang Zhenguo nodded: "I understand. In fact, the atmosphere at the school has changed since the war on the southwestern border. Before, many students wanted to go to research institutes or government agencies after graduation, but now..." He paused, "more than half of the graduates are voluntarily applying to front-line combat units, especially special forces. They say they want to become those four masked heroes in the news."

Lin Zhe's eyes flickered slightly. Those four masked "heroes" were him and Longya.

"This is a good thing," Lin Zhe said. "Modern warfare requires not only courage and physical strength, but also knowledge and technology. A force that can use high-tech equipment, understands electronic warfare, and understands psychological warfare is several times or even dozens of times more powerful than a traditional force."

"That's right," a major general in charge of teaching chimed in. "Many of our school's courses actually cover these topics—military psychology, electronic warfare, drone applications, battlefield informationization... But in the past, most students went to technical positions after completing these courses, and very few went to the front lines."

"So I'm here this time to break this deadlock." Lin Zhe stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the students training on the field outside. "I want them to understand that the knowledge they learn is not only for use in the laboratory and office, but also for use on the battlefield and on the front lines."

Yang Zhenguo and the other school leaders exchanged glances, all seeing agreement in each other's eyes.

"We've already done a preliminary screening," Yang Zhenguo said. "Each department recommended eighty recent graduates, all of whom are academically excellent, physically fit, and politically reliable. They're all waiting in the training hall now."

"Eighty people?" Lin Zhe thought for a moment. "That's enough. I only need ten to fifteen people."

"The selection process will be very competitive," said a senior colonel. "These kids are all very talented; won't it be discouraging if they don't make the cut?"

"War doesn't show mercy just because someone is outstanding." Lin Zhe turned around, his tone calm but firm. "What I need are people who can survive and fight in the most brutal environments, not hothouse flowers. Strict selection is a responsibility to them, and also a responsibility to the mission ahead."

That makes sense, and no one disagrees.

"Shall we go now?" Yang Zhenguo asked.

"it is good."

The group left the administration building and headed towards the comprehensive training hall. Along the way, the students they encountered all stood at attention and saluted, but their eyes couldn't help but linger on Lin Zhe—such a young senior colonel was a rare sight even in a place like the National Defense University, where generals gathered.

Inside the training hall, eighty graduates stood in formation. Dressed in uniform, they stood tall and straight, their eyes reflecting both the naiveté of students and the fortitude of soldiers.

When Principal Yang Zhenguo walked in with a group of people, the students immediately stood at attention and all looked over. But when they saw the young man walking next to the principal, many of them were stunned.

Too young. They look at most two or three years older than them, but... a senior colonel?

A bespectacled boy standing in the front row couldn't help but whisper to the student next to him, "Am I seeing things? That's a senior colonel?"

"You're not mistaken..." The classmate was also dumbfounded. "And... I feel like I've seen him somewhere before..."

"It's Professor Lin!" a girl in the back row suddenly remembered, her voice trembling with excitement. "The one on the bulletin board! Professor Lin, who completed his studies in a year and broke seven records!"

A small commotion broke out in the ranks. Lin Zhe was a legend at the National Defense University; although he only stayed for a year before graduating, his name and photo remained prominently displayed on the list of outstanding graduates. Only, he was still a lieutenant in the photo, but now he was a senior colonel…

Yang Zhenguo walked to the front of the line and cleared his throat: "Students, at ease."

With a "whoosh," the movements were synchronized.

"Let me introduce you all." Yang Zhenguo stepped aside. "This is Colonel Lin Zhe, the head of the preparatory group for the Special Operations Brigade of the Jinghua Military Region. He's here today to select members from among you to form a brand-new special operations force."

He paused, then looked at Lin Zhe: "Colonel Lin, why don't you say a few words?"

Lin Zhe walked to the front of the line, his gaze sweeping over the eighty young faces. He could see the curiosity, the expectation, and even some of the doubt in their eyes—doubts about why he, so young, was qualified to be a senior colonel, and why he was in charge of selecting people.

He offered no explanation, nor did he need one.

"My name is Lin Zhe, a graduate of the National University of Defense Technology." Lin Zhe began, his voice not loud, but clearly reaching everyone's ears, "Six years ago, I stood here just like you, waiting for my job assignment after graduation."

The line quieted down.

"Six years later, I stand here, bearing the rank of Senior Colonel," Lin Zhe continued. "Many people might wonder, 'Why? Is it because of connections? Does he have a powerful background?'"

He paused for a moment: "I can tell you that I have received many first-class merits in these six years, and I can't remember the second-class merits. I have been injured eleven times, three of which nearly cost me my life. Every star on my shoulder was earned with my life; every medal on my chest was forged in blood and fire."

The training hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. The students stared wide-eyed, their breathing almost subdued.

With each word he spoke, the students' eyes lit up a little more.

"I can do all this not because I can scale walls, not because I have superpowers," Lin Zhe raised his voice, "but because I understand technology—I can use drones for reconnaissance, I can use computers to hack into enemy systems, and I can use electronic devices to interfere with communications. It's because I understand tactics—I know when to fight, when to retreat, and how to achieve the greatest results with the least cost. It's because we understand psychology—we know how to instill fear in the enemy and how to break their morale."

He walked to the middle of the group and looked at these young people: "And these are precisely the things you learned in university. Military psychology, electronic warfare, information warfare, drone applications... every course you took wasn't just theoretical; they are all powerful tools on the future battlefield!"

The students clenched their fists, their eyes burning with intensity.

"But now, I have a question for you." Lin Zhe paused, emphasizing each word, "Is all this knowledge you've learned only for writing reports in the office, for conducting research in the lab, or... for use on the real battlefield, on the front lines, for defending the country?"

"Report!" the boy in the first row suddenly shouted, "Sir, we want to go to the front lines!"

"Yes! We want to go!"

"Please give us a chance, sir!"

Shouts rose and fell, igniting the passion of the young people.

Lin Zhe raised his hand, signaling for silence: "Wanting to go isn't just talk. There will be selection training coming up. It'll be tough, so tough you might break down; it'll be tiring, so tiring you might want to give up; it'll be dangerous, so dangerous... you really might die."

He looked around at everyone: "Now, does anyone want to quit?"

No one moved. In those eighty pairs of eyes, there was only unwavering resolve.

"Alright." Lin Zhe nodded. "Since no one has withdrawn, let me tell you—the upcoming selection process will not be lenient just because you are top students from the National Defense University. On the contrary, I will hold you to the strictest standards. Because what you will be facing in the future is the most ferocious enemy in the world, and the most brutal battlefield."

He looked at Gao Cheng: "Captain Gao."

"arrive!"

"Take them to the military region and arrange their accommodation. The selection will officially begin at six o'clock tomorrow morning."

"yes!"

Gao Cheng walked to the front of the group and began organizing the students to board the bus. Eighty people walked out of the training hall in an orderly manner, their eyes filled with anticipation and fighting spirit.

Yang Zhenguo walked up to Lin Zhe and said with emotion, "Colonel Lin, your words have ignited the hearts of these children."

"They were like a pile of dry tinder, I just lit a fire," Lin Zhe said. "Principal, thank you for your support."

"Of course." Yang Zhenguo patted him on the shoulder. "By the way, Old Chen heard you're back and asked me to tell you to visit him when you have time. He's at the usual place."

Old Chen, Chen Qingshan. Lin Zhe's master of Hunyuan Gong, and also the elder he respected most during his time at the National Defense University.

"I'm on my way," Lin Zhe said.

After bidding farewell to the school leaders, Lin Zhe walked alone into the depths of the campus. There, he found a quiet courtyard, the residential area for retired professors.