714: Chapter 714 The Organization of an Army

Currently, although this Pioneer Army only integrates the original Homeland Security Force's Nineteenth Division, and the Border Security Army's 427th and 428th Divisions, totaling three divisions, its scale is still limited.

However, the significance of an "Army-level" establishment is far more than just the current number of troops; it represents the legal authority for expansion granted by the Empire.

As long as there is a strategic need, as long as logistics can keep up, and as long as the Military Department approves, this Independent Military Region Pioneer Army can expand step by step into ten divisions, dozens of divisions, or even hundreds or thousands of divisions in the future, becoming a massive military group guarding a region and deterring the entire domain.

This is no longer simply about leading troops into battle; it is about commanding an entire military region, holding significant military and political power, and becoming a high-ranking official directly under the Empire's central authority.

Moreover, the position of Vice Minister of the Ministry of Finance, which seemed the least significant, is not entirely useless either.

Even for an Independent Military Region, economic expenses would likely still be mostly covered by local units. By concurrently serving as Vice Minister of the Ministry of Finance, he could conveniently secure reasonable and legal funding for the military region's development.

He was well aware that this dual appointment was no longer a simple promotion; it was the Empire handing over both the financial and military power of the Lipugong Supercluster to him.

With both financial and military power concentrated in one person, and being independent of the local systems, this level of trust and weight was unprecedented among all the young generals in the Empire.

Even with a temperament as steady as his, he had to admit at this moment that this appointment had indeed exceeded all his expectations.

After calming his emotions, Li Yang quietly looked at the three words "Pioneer Army" on the appointment letter. His gaze darkened slightly, and a clear judgment instantly formed in his heart.

Pioneering...

These two words seemed ordinary, but they hid the deepest strategic intentions of the Empire's highest levels.

From the looks of it, the Empire was clearly preparing to use the Lipugong Supercluster as a core pivot to open a new front for interstellar expansion.

The Lipugong Supercluster was already located at the edge of the Xili Empire's territory, belonging to a typical border Star Domain with a very special geographical position.

The garrison forces of the Fade Galaxy Cluster and the Lulande Galaxy Cluster, which were included in the Independent Military Region this time, were at the very forefront of the Empire's encounter with unknown Star Domains. Like the previous Longlan Star Cluster, they endured constant harassment from extra-territorial Interstellar Pirates and threats from cosmic disasters year-round, making them a bona fide border frontline.

Now, the Empire had directly stripped the garrison forces of these two major border galaxies from the original Border Security Army system and placed them all under the jurisdiction of the newly established Independent Military Region Pioneer Army.

Coupled with the clear definition of "Pioneer," Li Yang could not think of any other intention from the Empire's high-level officials other than a determination to use this as a starting point to expand territory and open up new lands.

This was no longer a simple defense adjustment, but a national-level strategic layout.

Having realized this, Li Yang felt no pressure; instead, a surge of irrepressible excitement and anticipation welled up in his heart.

This was the establishment of an entire army!

It wasn't a makeshift garrison force or a local detachment controlled by others, but a regular army directly under the Imperial Military Department, with independent expansion authority and a pioneering mission. With such a force in his hands, the things he could do and the ambitions he could achieve were far broader than before when he was simply leading troops or handling administration.

Just as Li Yang was immersed in this excitement and vision, the door to the lounge was hurriedly pushed open.

He Dong rushed in with an urgent expression, his face still showing shock and doubt that he hadn't had time to calm, and his pace was several steps faster than usual.

Clearly, he had also just received an urgent notice from the Imperial Military Department and had rushed to find Li Yang to confirm the situation without even taking a breath.

"Division Commander Li! Division Commander Li! Something big has happened!"

He Dong approached, his voice carrying a hint of irrepressible excitement and astonishment.

"An urgent notice just came through the Military Department's direct channel. Our Nineteenth Division has officially withdrawn from the original establishment of the Imperial Homeland Security Force! The reorganization document says we've been assigned to a new unit called the Lipugong Supercluster Independent Military Region Pioneer Army!"

He stopped abruptly at this point, his gaze falling on the document on the light screen in front of Li Yang that hadn't been put away yet. His eyes suddenly lit up, and he instantly understood most of it.

He Dong took a deep breath, his tone filled with intense anticipation and probing as he lowered his voice to ask.

"Division Commander Li, is this... the latest official appointment issued by the Empire? Has your position been adjusted along with it?!"

As a trusted subordinate who had followed Li Yang for many years, He Dong realized almost immediately that this sudden establishment adjustment must be tightly bound to Li Yang's latest appointment.

From He Dong's years of experience following Li Yang, whenever the Empire carried out such large-scale troop movements across galaxies and systems, especially when pulling a main division out of its original establishment for reorganization, it was nine times out of ten to pave the way for Li Yang's new appointment.

It was like this when the Nineteenth Division was transferred to the Longlan Star Cluster the time before last, and when it was transferred to serve as the Inspection Team's Security Assurance Division last time. This sudden departure from the Homeland Security Force was certainly no exception.

Seeing He Dong's anxious and expectant look, Li Yang didn't keep him in suspense. His lips curled up slightly, revealing a somewhat mysterious and steady smile.

"See for yourself."

As he spoke, he lightly waved his hand, presenting the bright and clear light screen in front of him—displaying the official appointment letter that had just been issued, bearing the dual seals of the Supreme Political Council and the Military Department—fully before He Dong's eyes.

He Dong immediately held his breath, staring intently at the document from the beginning.

When he first saw "Vice Minister of the Ministry of Finance," he merely nodded slightly, thinking it fit Li Yang's usual pace of promotion.

But as he continued reading and his gaze swept over the sections on troop reorganization, the Independent Military Region, and the appointment of the commander, his expression gradually froze, and his breathing began to quicken.

He read through the entire appointment letter word by word, very seriously.

When he finished reading the last line, He Dong remained staring at the light screen, his mouth slightly agape and unable to close for a long time. His face was filled with unbelievable shock, and he was almost gasping for breath.

After a long while, he murmured to himself, stiffly repeating the three most critical pieces of information.

"Independent Military Region... Commander?"

"Directly under the Empire's jurisdiction, not controlled by local authorities?"

"And... and the establishment of an entire army?"

With each sentence he uttered, He Dong's shock deepened.

Commander, direct imperial jurisdiction, army-level establishment—any one of these three would be enough to cause a massive uproar.

Now, all of them were concentrated on Li Yang alone, and he was also concurrently serving in a powerful administrative post like Vice Minister of the Ministry of Finance.

He Dong stood there, his mind a total blank, completely at a loss for words. He could only stare blankly at the light screen, then at Li Yang, his face completely dazed by the massive surprise.