190: College understanding

After all, even the Imperial Guard Division Headquarters had awarded Li Yang a medal.

As for Coens and Neil, who fought alongside Li Yang, they naturally also received corresponding medals.

However, compared to the medal Li Yang received, their medals were one rank lower, a Personal Third Class Merit.

But for Coens and Neil, this was already a huge gain.

Especially Neil, whose eyes were filled with unconcealed excitement the moment he received the medal.

Although he had also received Personal Third Class Merits, and even a Second Class Merit, during his service career.

But he knew in his heart that, under the current circumstances, with this Personal Third Class Merit medal, as long as no major mistakes occurred in subsequent work, promotion to a General Officer position should be a sure thing.

Looked at this way, the value of this Personal Third Class Merit was not comparable to an ordinary Personal Third Class Merit.

As soon as Li Yang disembarked, his gaze swept across the crowd, and he keenly caught sight of the familiar figures of Coens and Neil.

They stood not far away, their eyes filled with anticipation and joy, clearly having waited for a long time.

“Inspector Li, we really must thank you properly for what happened last time!”

Before Li Yang could even speak, Neil eagerly stepped forward, his face full of fervor and his tone brimming with gratitude.

Li Yang looked at Neil’s sincere expression and understood that they must have also received commendations from the Empire.

“Not at all, this is clearly the result of our combined efforts; I merely did my part.”

Li Yang responded sincerely, a humble smile on his face.

“Let’s not keep standing here chatting. Come, come, let’s go back first and talk there.”

Coens laughed and smoothed things over from the side, his eyes full of warmth.

Everyone chatted and laughed along the way, and soon arrived at Li Yang’s office.

As soon as they entered the door, Coens quickly said,

“Inspector Li, during your absence, I specifically hired someone to clean your office. It’s been tidied up spotless every day, hoping you’d be comfortable using it as soon as you returned.”

Seeing this, Li Yang quickly said,

“You’ve gone to too much trouble, Speaker Coenes. I appreciate the thought, but unfortunately, I won’t be staying for too long this time.”

As soon as Li Yang said this, Coens and Neil instantly looked puzzled, exchanging glances, their eyes filled with confusion.

What’s going on? Is there another urgent mission? He just returned from one mission, and now he has to leave again?

Li Yang looked at the questions written all over their faces, smiled slightly, and fully disclosed his plan to go to the Imperial Supreme Military Academy for advanced studies.

“Advanced studies? Oh my goodness, Inspector Li, congratulations!”

Upon hearing this, Neil’s eyes immediately flashed with envy, and he exclaimed in admiration.

“You don’t know, the spots for advanced studies at the Imperial Supreme Military Academy are rarer than priceless treasures. So many people are desperate to get in, and I can’t believe you managed to secure one. This is truly a tremendous stroke of luck!”

“Oh? It seems Division Commander Neal is quite knowledgeable about this academy?”

Li Yang looked at Neil’s emotional expression, and a hint of curiosity arose in his heart.

Neil sighed slightly, a hint of unconcealed regret flashing in his eyes, and slowly said,

“Alas, when I was first promoted to colonel back then, I was constantly thinking about getting a spot for advanced studies at the Imperial Supreme Military Academy. You don’t know, as long as you could get that spot and successfully complete your studies there, promotion to General Officer was practically a certainty, with a success rate of nearly one hundred percent.

It’s just a pity, ultimately, I lacked in my own abilities and didn’t have strong enough connections, so I could only watch helplessly as that precious spot passed me by.”

Listening to Neil’s words, Li Yang understood perfectly. He knew that with Neil’s abilities, it wasn’t that he was truly lacking; the key was indeed a deficiency in connections.

Seeing that Li Yang didn’t seem to know much about the Imperial Supreme Military Academy, Neil immediately became excited, as if he had found a good opportunity to confide, and quickly began to recount everything he knew.

“Let me put it this way, Inspector Li, the Imperial Supreme Military Academy is divided into two completely different branches. One is the Reserve Officer Branch, specially established to cultivate future military talents, primarily providing systematic training for those who have not yet officially entered the ranks of Imperial Military Officer but have great potential as reservists.

The other is the Officer Cadre Advanced Studies Branch, specifically designed for those who have already become Imperial Military Officers in the army to pursue further advanced studies. For in-service Imperial Military Officers like us, if we can get in to study, it’s truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

Neil gestured as he spoke, his expression growing increasingly excited.

“These two branches, whether in their teaching systems, faculty, or management regulations, are vastly different, but one thing they have in common is that as long as you successfully enter the academy and smoothly complete your studies and graduate, your future rank promotion in the army will increase by at least one major segment.”

At this point, Neil’s eyes lit up, his excitement evident.

After all, the “major segment” he spoke of was not a conventional promotion like from lieutenant colonel to colonel in the ordinary sense, but a qualitative leap from a Field Grade Officer directly to a General Officer.

From this, it’s not hard to imagine how valuable the opportunity for advanced studies at the Imperial Supreme Military Academy is, and how great an allure it holds for every Imperial Military Officer eager to advance further in his military career.

Even if those reserve Imperial Military Officers successfully graduate, although they initially start as company-grade officers, they will at least start at the colonel rank in the future.

“So that’s how it is. If what you say is true, it seems that after my advanced studies, I might really be able to smoothly advance to colonel rank, haha.”

Li Yang said with a relaxed smile, half-jokingly, his words conveying both anticipation for future studies and a hint of teasing.

“With Inspector Li’s ability and skill, a mere colonel rank would hardly be his endpoint; promotion to General Officer is absolutely not impossible, haha.”

Coens also laughed along, his tone full of affirmation and praise for Li Yang, his smile sincere and warm.

“By the way, Inspector Li, since you’re going to the Imperial Supreme Military Academy for advanced studies, how will the Inspector position be arranged afterwards? After all, you know that advanced studies don’t last a short time; it’s at least a year, and in some special cases, one might even stay at the academy for decades or even centuries—though, of course, such situations are relatively rare.”

Neil seemed to suddenly remember something important, his expression becoming serious, and he quickly said.

In the Empire’s system, the importance of the Inspector position is somewhat subtle.

To say it’s unimportant would be incorrect, as the Inspector bears crucial responsibilities such as supervision and review, playing an indispensable role in the stability and order of his assigned area.

Yet, to say it’s important, in some relatively stable areas with fewer affairs, his daily work doesn’t seem so prominent.

The specific level of importance largely depends on the actual situation of the jurisdiction.