Chapter 38: System Lottery! Chu Yunfei, Master of Both Pen and Sword!

If the Chengyun Base is left undermanned, then the enemy forces could very well advance right up to the city gates! It was precisely out of this consideration that Jiang Bai decided to station Kong Jie at the Chengyun Base. As long as Kong Jie wasn’t a fool, by setting up several firepower positions around the stronghold, no matter how fiercely the enemy attacked, they would only be marching to their deaths! In this way, Kong Jie would not only hold the base and deter the enemy from harboring any wild ambitions, but he could also serve as a reserve force, sending reinforcements to embattled frontlines as needed.

Kong Jie affirmed this arrangement without hesitation: “Commander Jiang, rest assured! I may not be as skilled as Li Yunlong when it comes to attack, but I have my own way with defense! As long as I’m here, no enemy, no matter who they are, will set foot in this place!” Jiang Bai nodded in satisfaction. “Good, that’s the spirit of a true man of Northwestern Shanxi!”

Kong Jie, overjoyed, stepped to one side. Nearby, Ding Wei asked urgently, “Commander Jiang, what about me? What’s my next mission?” Only then did Jiang Bai turn, his gaze falling on Ding Wei. The data on Ding Wei’s abilities was clear before him:

Officer Name: Ding Wei
Current Rank: Second-class Expert (requires 1900% more experience to advance)
Current Command: New First Regiment (3,000 men)
Maximum Command Capacity: 3,000/100,000
Loyalty: 1000%
Officer Abilities:
Strategic Master: When executing offensive strategies, increases unit attack power by 20%; during retreats, reduces casualties by 30%.
Strategic Advisor: In prolonged engagements, daily reconnaissance of enemy weaknesses increases the chance of a decisive blow by 5%.
Expert in Environmental Utilization: When launching surprise attacks on enemy reinforcements, if outnumbered, increases own defensive power by 15%; if superior in numbers, increases attack power by 15%.

“A peerless general! Ding Wei, you’re a born military genius!” Even someone as composed as Jiang Bai couldn’t help but praise Ding Wei’s abilities—his attributes were simply outstanding. From a strategic perspective, with his innate military insight, Ding Wei might not be the most decorated soldier, but he would be the one most capable of preserving his troops. This meant that, as time passed, Ding Wei’s units would accumulate more veterans, and their fighting power would only grow!

On the strategic level, thanks to his profound vision, Ding Wei was wholly qualified to serve as a senior staff officer in the army! What did a daily 5% increase in the chance of a decisive strike mean? Even with abysmal luck, within twenty days at most, Ding Wei would always find a way to defeat the enemy. This alone was enough to make Jiang Bai see him in a new light. Right now, Jiang Bai had no shortage of brave warriors and artillery support—but what he truly lacked was a high-level strategist with Ding Wei’s far-reaching perspective.

In the original story, it was precisely due to Ding Wei’s foresight that he was the first among the senior commanders to point out the potential threat. At this moment, Jiang Bai laid a solemn hand on Ding Wei’s shoulder and proposed, “Ding Wei, I have two choices for you. One, you become the commander of the Seventh Reinforced Division and take on frontline command. Two, you’re directly appointed as deputy chief of staff of the Seventh Reinforced Division. The choice is yours—decide.”

The entire room was stunned! Everyone stared wide-eyed at Jiang Bai in disbelief. None of them had expected Jiang Bai to offer Ding Wei such a critical position—profound shock! What did it mean to be a frontline commander? It meant that Ding Wei would have the authority to command Li Yunlong, Chu Yunfei, and Kong Jie directly in battle! In fact, if Ding Wei led Li Yunlong, Chu Yunfei, and Kong Jie independently, Jiang Bai would instantly lose two-thirds of his elite force! It was as if Jiang Bai hadn’t just handed Ding Wei the keys to his house, but had opened the safe in front of him and said, “Everything inside is at your disposal!” He was entrusting virtually all his assets to Ding Wei’s management.

As for the position of deputy chief of staff, that spoke for itself. Yet, for Ding Wei, it was as if his military career had reached its peak from the very beginning! How could those around him not be filled with both envy and jealousy? It was simply inconceivable—how much trust would it take for Jiang Bai to make such an offer? It was truly astonishing!

Chu Yunfei, witnessing all this, spoke with deep admiration, “Bold in judgment, decisive in action—Commander Jiang’s vision and courage are extraordinary!” Beside him, Kong Jie echoed with a tone full of envy, “My heavens, Ding Wei has really gone from a chicken to a phoenix this time!”

Ding Wei was still dazed, but Li Yunlong shouted, “Hell’s bells, Ding Wei, if you don’t take it, I swear I’ll stick green onions in a pig’s nose and pretend I’m an elephant to seize that post myself!” Kong Jie added, “That’s right, old Ding, hurry up and decide! Stop dawdling!” With those words, all eyes focused on Ding Wei.

Under everyone’s scrutiny, Ding Wei’s expression shifted several times before he finally spoke slowly, “To tell the truth, Commander Jiang, I never expected such favor from you.” At this, Li Yunlong, Chu Yunfei, and Kong Jie all burst into good-natured laughter, certain that Ding Wei would accept.

But Ding Wei’s next words froze their smiles in an instant. Standing tall, he replied with a wry smile, “Commander Jiang, please allow me to decline this appointment.” The room was once more thrown into shock!

“What’s going on, old Ding? Have you really started thinking you’re some big shot? How could you just refuse such a rare opportunity?” “Brother Ding Wei, do you have some concerns?” Amidst the commotion, Kong Jie was dumbfounded. Hurrying to Ding Wei’s side, he pressed anxiously, “What’s the matter with you? Is it that you don’t want to be deputy chief of staff, or you don’t want to be frontline commander? Speak clearly!”

Ding Wei took a deep breath and said, “To be honest, I don’t want either position.” The atmosphere instantly exploded—everyone looked at Ding Wei as if he were an alien. No one had expected Ding Wei to refuse so directly! On a small scale, it was a self-destructive move for his career; on a larger scale, it bordered on open defiance of his superiors. If it were a more hot-tempered commander, this might have ended with a knife drawn on the spot!

Kong Jie realized the gravity of the situation and nearly shouted word by word, “Brother Ding, have you lost your mind? Is this something you can just blurt out? Take it back, quickly!” Already conflicted, Ding Wei was further agitated by Kong Jie’s probing. His temper flared, and he shoved Kong Jie aside, raising his voice: “Take back what? A man’s word is his bond—even if I were on horseback, I wouldn’t turn back. I know exactly what I’m doing!”