Special Forces: At the beginning, An Ran pulled him to get his certificate.

Chapter 1389 Establishing the Intelligence Headquarters

"The strongest counter-terrorism team in Yan Kingdom: Snow Wolf Special Forces."

Fan Tianlei, standing to the side, was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, and then an expression of barely suppressed excitement appeared on his face.

His heart was in turmoil; following Chen Jun was indeed the right choice.

In his memory, finding a suitable soldier in the past was a very complicated process, requiring all sorts of methods, and even earned him the slightly sarcastic nickname "the sinkhole".

But now, following Chen Jun, they can go wherever they want, and all parties give them the green light, allowing them to freely choose personnel and resources. This contrast makes him deeply realize Chen Jun's high status and influence in the military.

Indeed, Chen Jun, the legendary figure revered as the "Father of Special Forces," shines like a brilliant star within the entire Yan Kingdom's military system.

He was not only the "Father of Special Forces," but also the chief weapons designer, chief instructor of the three armed forces, and so on.

Each of these titles represents a pinnacle that countless soldiers strive for their entire lives but can never reach. For the commanders of the five military regions, sending their best soldiers to Chen Jun's command was an unparalleled honor. In their eyes, once a soldier was chosen by Chen Jun, he seemed to possess a special aura, meaning that the soldier would have the opportunity to showcase himself on a higher platform and achieve extraordinary growth.

And so, Chen Jun embarked on a long and meaningful journey.

Like an envoy carrying a mission, he tirelessly traveled between various military regions. Wherever he went, he meticulously selected the most outstanding talents with his keen eye and professional judgment. Along the way, he traversed almost the entire vast and beautiful land of Yan.

After nearly half a month of travel, he reappeared in the mysterious lava base.

At this point, the lava base had become a gathering place for elites.

Two hundred and fifty elite members from military regions across the country stood neatly in formation within the base. They came from different branches of the armed forces and possessed their own unique skills and expertise.

These geniuses from different fields came together like a collection of sharp blades combined into a complete and powerful lineup, exuding a chilling aura.

With steady steps, Chen Jun's sharp gaze slowly swept over the members he had personally selected. Then, he turned to Lao Fan beside him and said in a calm yet trusting tone, "Everyone is here. I'm handing them over to you. Now, it's up to you to see how you perform."

"Don't worry, Commander, I will do my best to prove to you whether I am qualified to be this instructor." Fan Tianlei straightened his back, like an ancient pine tree, his tone firm and unwavering.

His eyes shone with burning determination and fighting spirit as he swore to Chen Jun that he would live up to his mission.

"Okay!" Chen Jun responded briefly and decisively, handing over the personnel to Lao Fan. He himself had already planned his next move. Although the military hadn't put pressure on him regarding time, Chen Jun knew that in the current volatile international situation, time was life, and efficiency was victory. He hoped everything could proceed as quickly as possible, racing against time to advance all tasks for the security and development of Yan Country.

With China's growing prominence on the international stage, the international environment has undergone tremendous changes. The past policy of tolerance and concession has gradually lost its effectiveness in today's complex and volatile situation. To truly enhance national self-confidence and completely eradicate the mentality of worshipping foreign things, China must possess unshakeable hard power and the ability to quickly respond to various crises and challenges.

In Chen Jun's view, a nation's status and dignity can never be obtained through mere tolerance, but rather through strong military power and outstanding strategic wisdom, by fighting and striving for it on the battlefield and on the international stage.

“The elite team members are all set, but the intelligence department isn’t established yet. Headquarters needs someone to oversee it, and An Ran can only set up a branch in Donghai City. Who should I contact?” Chen Jun muttered to himself as he paced down the base’s corridor. The intelligence department is undoubtedly a crucial link in the overall military strategic layout. It’s like the eyes and ears of the army, able to anticipate enemy movements and provide key information support for operational decisions. He had previously agreed to let An Ran work, but considering she needed to care for her child, she could only stay in Donghai City to open the intelligence branch.

As a result, the headquarters urgently needed to find several capable people to take charge of its intelligence work.

After a moment of contemplation, Chen Jun revealed a mysterious yet confident smile.

“‘Sinkhole’ can be used to scam others if used well. It seems that he hasn’t repaid the favor because he helped me a few times. This time, I will repay it all at once. And Company Commander You Junda can also be brought back to the front lines…” Chen Jun already had a clear candidate in mind. He decisively gave the order and said in a loud voice, “Xu Zhengyang, prepare the helicopter and fly to the Donghai City Public Security Bureau.”

"Yes, sir!" Xu Zhengyang quickly and decisively accepted the order and left, his movements clean and efficient, demonstrating the competence of a soldier.

Two hours later, Chen Jun's helicopter, like a soaring eagle, landed steadily at Donghai City Airport. He then boarded a black military vehicle and sped directly to the Donghai City Public Security Bureau. Upon arrival, he went straight to Lao Wen's office.

"Sir, Director Wen and Deputy Director You had an emergency and just left." The police officer at the door saluted and reported as soon as he saw Chen Jun.

"That's alright, I'll just wait here." Chen Jun remained calm, showing no sign of impatience. He found a seat and, while waiting, continued to delve into the other aspects of the department's establishment. In his mind, a grand blueprint unfolded, with every detail meticulously planned.

Not long after, Old Wen's distinctive loud voice came from outside, filled with anxiety and seriousness: "Old You, this case is not simple. The intelligence is very important. You are an expert in this area. Hurry up. I don't trust anyone else to handle it."

Then came the calm and firm voice of the old company commander You Junda: "Don't worry, I'll start the plan right away."

"Yes, the sooner the better!" Old Wen's urging voice carried a hint of helplessness and worry.

The two discussed the case as they walked towards the reception room. When they entered and were pleasantly surprised to find Chen Jun sitting upright inside waiting for them, their expressions instantly changed from serious to overjoyed.

"General Chen, why have you come in person..." Old Wen was overjoyed, his voice trembling with excitement. He hurried over, almost losing his shoes in his haste. In his heart, every appearance of General Chen was like a timely rain, always bringing unexpected surprises and opportunities. The nickname "Sinkhole" had gradually faded from memory as he worked hard and grew. The Old Wen of today was no longer the "Sinkhole" who caused everyone laugh and cry, the one who did nothing productive. Recently, he had achieved several great feats through his wisdom and courage, receiving public praise from the provincial department head; his career was booming.

In short, when Lao Wen saw Chen Jun, he was like a child seeing a long-awaited gift, excited as if he had been injected with adrenaline. His appearance was just like a young person eagerly rushing into a bustling nightclub, full of energy and anticipation.

"General Chen, you're always so elusive, I couldn't get in touch with you at all. Why did you suddenly come to see me? You should have told us beforehand so we could have made arrangements to properly receive you!" Old Wen said with a beaming smile, his tone full of enthusiasm and respect. As he spoke, he gently adjusted his collar, trying to make himself look more presentable.

“Chen Jun…” Upon seeing Chen Jun, the old company commander of the border defense force, You Junda’s eyes instantly welled up with tears of emotion. In his heart, Chen Jun was not only a general with outstanding military achievements, but also the soldier he was most proud of. This bond between teacher and student, and comradeship in arms, had only grown stronger with the passage of time.

The next moment, he solemnly saluted Chen Jun and shouted in a loud voice, "Commander!"

Seeing this, Chen Jun quickly pushed aside Lao Wen, strode over to his old company commander, and embraced him tightly. His eyes were filled with deep affection as he said, "It's alright, you're my old company commander, there's no need to be so polite. There are no outsiders here, and no disciplinary constraints. I've said it before, I'll always be your soldier, and that will never change."

“No, no, no, I’m a soldier by training, and I know all too well that a strict hierarchy is the guarantee of discipline. You are the best soldier I, You Junda, have trained, and that’s enough. But a commander is still a commander, and that’s a different matter.” You Junda’s attitude was firm, though his tone was kind and warm, his insistence on the hierarchy was unequivocal. In his view, the military’s hierarchy was the cornerstone of military discipline and must be strictly observed.

It's clear that You Junda places great importance on the hierarchical concept among soldiers, which differs from the more casual attitude of Kang Tuan. If it were Kang Tuan, he might have warmly embraced Chen Jun upon hearing such friendly words, without being so bound by rank.

Since the old company commander insisted, Chen Jun couldn't very well refuse his principle. So, the two stood ramrod straight, their postures as upright as pine trees, and solemnly saluted each other. This salute expressed not only their deep friendship but also the dignity and discipline of soldiers.

Watching this scene, Old Wen felt the atmosphere was a bit too serious and reserved, so he couldn't help but cough to break the silence. He smiled and said, "We're all on the same side. Anyway, it's not like we've never dealt with each other before. Why be so polite?" With that, Old Wen quickly went to the coffee table and personally brewed tea. His movements were practiced as he carefully handed cups of fragrant tea to Chen Jun and You Junda.

Chen Jun took the teacup, took a small sip, and said with a smile, "It's been a long time. From what you were saying just now, is there some case you can't solve?"

Upon hearing this, Old Wen, who had been so cheerful just moments before, instantly wilted like a frostbitten eggplant. His smile vanished, replaced by a furrowed brow and a look of utter helplessness. He sighed heavily and said, "It's a real headache. We've taken on a case, but we have so little intelligence, and the criminals are incredibly cunning; they haven't left a single clue. I've had people tracking them for half a month, but there's still no progress. The higher-ups are pressing us hard!"

"General Chen, you don't know, the people tracking us are on 24-hour shifts, eating, drinking, and even relieving themselves in the car, but we still haven't found any clues. It's really worrying." Old Wen became more and more agitated as he spoke, his voice carrying a hint of anger and helplessness.

“Originally, I didn’t want to use your old company commander as an ace, but I really had no choice but to ask him to take action.” Old Wen emphasized the difficulty of the case and You Junda’s rich experience and importance in intelligence work.

Yu Junda, who was standing next to him, chimed in, "It's really a tough case. Even the provincial department can't handle it themselves, so they assigned it to Donghai City. It's a real headache. This case involves a wide range of areas, and the criminals' methods are very covert. We haven't found a breakthrough yet."

"Isn't it because you've been performing so well lately that you've caught the attention of the provincial department, which is why they assigned these difficult cases to you?" Chen Jun rarely praised them. His eyes were full of recognition and encouragement, hoping to give the two of them some confidence.

Upon hearing this, Old Wen, who had been frowning, suddenly felt as if he had eaten a sweet candy. He was quite pleased and laughed heartily. In his heart, he might not have felt much from other people's praise, but Chen Jun was a truly important person who had never praised him before. Today was unprecedented, so how could he not be overjoyed?

"General Chen, your words have boosted my confidence considerably, haha. By the way, did you come to see me about some cooperation?" Old Wen asked with a smile. In his memory, General Chen rarely showed up on his own initiative; whenever he did, it was always for something important and difficult. Last time, he had asked Chen for help and successfully secured a donation from a wealthy family, resolving some of the army's supply problems.

"I do have something to discuss with you." Chen Jun's expression turned serious, and his eyes revealed a sense of mission and responsibility.

"What is it?" This time, Lao Wen and You Junda asked almost simultaneously, their eyes filled with curiosity and anticipation.

"Close the door!" Chen Jun said briefly and forcefully.

You Junda immediately understood and quickly went to close the door. The room fell silent, and a mysterious atmosphere quietly filled the air. Old Wen then approached Chen Jun mysteriously, his eyes gleaming with curiosity and anticipation, and asked in a low voice, "Is there some important operation?" For a general to personally come to discuss something with them, it must be something significant; they were all filled with curiosity and tension.

"Here's the thing, I'm currently setting up a secret department, and I thought of you two, so I came to ask if you'd be interested in joining." Chen Jun looked at them sincerely, his eyes filled with expectation and trust.

"Holy crap..." The two exchanged a glance, seeing a flickering flame in each other's eyes—a light brimming with excitement and anticipation. This was an invitation from the highest-ranking official; for them, this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, how could their hearts not race with excitement?

"Which department?" Old Wen asked eagerly, leaning forward slightly, afraid of missing a single word.

Chen Jun's expression grew increasingly serious as he spoke slowly and deliberately: "This is SSS-level top secret. Do not leak it out. It's called the National Strategic Security Department, primarily responsible for covertly dealing with foreign enemy agents. Its specific functions are numerous and cannot be explained in detail here. This department's mission is extremely challenging, requiring it to address various complex international situations and potential threats. We must safeguard national security from the shadows and protect the stable development of Yan. However, it can be said that this department's power is no less than that of the National Security Department. If Director Wen is willing to come, he can serve as an intelligence chief at headquarters. You will be responsible for collecting, analyzing, and transmitting various important intelligence, providing crucial support for our operations."

Old Wen had long yearned to leave Donghai City, hoping to advance his career in the provincial government, but he hadn't received any offers from above. Now, he was surprised to hear Chen Jun inviting him to head a department. The National Security Bureau, independent of the judiciary, is a crucial department playing a vital role in safeguarding national sovereignty and security. And this security department Chen Jun created possesses power even exceeding that of the National Security Bureau—undoubtedly an institution with immense power and a significant mission!

"My God, what did I just hear? This is the most exciting invitation I've ever received in my life! General Chen, are you sure you want to invite me? My God, you truly are my guiding light, my mentor, and my benefactor in the workplace!" Old Wen was so excited that he was incoherent, with tears of excitement glistening in his eyes.