Chapter 314: The Blue Force Battalion Commander Turns Out To Be Him?
The Capital Military Region had two units participating in the confrontation. Senior Colonel Kang Ming, the person in charge sent by the war zone to lead the team, placed all his hopes on the Steel Seventh Battalion.
The previous twelve combined arms battalions had all failed to achieve victory, and the senior colonel did not believe that the Capital Military Region’s combined arms battalions could succeed.
Only a combined arms battalion fighting against a combined arms battalion offered a slim chance.
Moreover, from its origins as the Steel Seventh Company, the Steel Seventh Battalion had participated in various large and small exercises and confrontations, remaining undefeated to this day.
In terms of win rate alone, it was no worse than the First Blue Army Brigade.
So Senior Colonel Kang Ming made special arrangements, having the Steel Seventh Battalion take the field as the last unit, taking advantage of the opportunity to be at Zhu Rihe. During the period when the combined arms battalions were participating in the confrontation, the Steel Seventh Battalion familiarized itself with the training ground as much as possible.
They also looked for chances to go out and scout, gathering some intelligence on the First Blue Army Brigade in advance.
Chen Jun, Gao Cheng, and other senior leaders of the Seventh Company all thought Senior Colonel Kang Ming’s arrangements were excellent, so they began secretly making their own plans.
Unfortunately, the idea was good.
But the actual execution yielded no results.
Because the Zhu Rihe Base was already highly informatized, with all kinds of electronic equipment at international standards, including surveillance and security devices.
During the three days the Steel Seventh Battalion waited for the competition, they were confined to the designated area and not allowed out, with all living supplies delivered by the base logistics.
Gao Cheng’s applications to go out were all rejected, on the grounds that it was a military restricted area not allowing entry or exit for sightseeing.
Chen Jun secretly arranged several waves of people to try sneaking out to scout the situation and figure out the exact configuration of the First Blue Army Brigade’s combined arms battalion.
But as soon as they stepped out of the designated area, base guards would drive over.
They couldn’t get out during the day, and the same at night.
Even deliberately avoiding areas with cameras and infrared sensors, they would still be precisely intercepted by guards not far out.
Gao Cheng did not understand high technology well and lacked the vision and knowledge of later generations.
This left him puzzled by his own cognition!
Man Guangzhi, who came from the Military Research Institute, had some insights and knowledge about recent military technological research and development.
“I heard about it when I was still in school—some research institute was developing ground sensing devices that detect vibrations transmitted through the ground to precisely lock onto enemy positions and calculate the size of objects via data. I suspect Zhu Rihe has something like that.”
“Yes, Old Man is right. I’ve heard of it too—it seems to be called a distributed vibration sensing system. In the future, it will be deployed on a large scale and become one of the main battlefield reconnaissance and early warning devices.”
With Man Guangzhi mentioning the vibration sensing device, followed by Chen Jun’s further explanation.
Gao Cheng, Ma Tianxiang, and the others widened their eyes, amazed by this magical equipment, and had to marvel at how rapidly technology was advancing.
The Zhu Rihe Base had a lot of high-tech equipment, most of which had already been upgraded to electronic informatization.
As the core area near the base headquarters, visible systems included various infrared detection, camera surveillance, remote electronic monitoring, and more.
Playing tricks on the invisible ground was absolutely possible.
Seeing that the Zhu Rihe Base was armed to the teeth, there was simply no way to sneak out.
Chen Jun and the battalion headquarters leaders, including the senior leaders, could only give up their thoughts of going out early to scout and honestly wait in the designated area for the exercise to begin.
The waiting time was hard to endure.
Especially in this situation where they had arrived at the exercise site, separated from the opponent by just “one wall.”
Fortunately, the Zhu Rihe directing staff were somewhat humane. The six days of waiting in the designated area were not just idling; they could conduct related routine training.
As long as they submitted training requests to the directing staff, someone would come to escort them to a dedicated training ground.
Then, under the supervision of referees sent by the directing staff, they would conduct related training in the specified area to maintain the troops’ training feel and momentum.
“Even training requires someone to watch over us—this is stricter than guarding prisoners. This Blue Army unit… must have something they don’t want seen?”
Gao Cheng disliked this method very much and couldn’t help grumbling.
“Old Gao, be content. With the Blue Army hiding things like this, afraid we’ll get intelligence, it’s already good they let you out for training. Otherwise, locking us in for six days would leave us no recourse.”
Chen Jun thought more openly and comforted Gao Cheng.
Anyway, Chen Jun had absolute confidence in victory. If they couldn’t scout ahead, so be it—it wouldn’t affect the final result, just delay knowing by a few days.
Seeing Chen Jun with no worries at all, Gao Cheng’s mentality was influenced and became more open-minded.
And just like that…
Three days passed quickly.
The Capital Military Region’s combined arms battalion participating in the confrontation finished against the heavy combined arms battalion. The result was as expected, with no miracle occurring.
They also lost to the Blue Army!
Gao Cheng had originally thought that once the troops came down, being from the same war zone, he could go over to inquire and gather some Blue Army intelligence.
The combined arms battalion had just finished fighting the Blue Army, so they must have plenty of Blue Army intelligence.
However, it was as if the directing staff had anticipated it. After the confrontation ended, the Blue Army troops came off the field and were directly taken to another designated area.
Gao Cheng couldn’t even see a shadow of them, let alone go chat and probe for intelligence.
“Secrecy this tight—truly ruthless.”
Gao Cheng was genuinely convinced this time and had to admire the “deeply calculating” nature of the people at Zhu Rihe.
Fortunately, he hadn’t held high hopes anyway. Not getting intelligence didn’t affect his mood, and the Steel Seventh Battalion was used to this kind of blockade.
However.
In this state of complete abandonment, there was unexpectedly another gain.
As the person in charge of the Capital Military Region’s participating troops, Kang Ming could move freely between the two units. Late one night, he sneaked into the Steel Seventh Battalion’s camp.
He specifically called out Chen Jun and the others, giving everyone a little unexpected surprise.
Through personally inquiring with the combined arms battalion, Kang Ming learned that this time the Blue Army’s heavy combined arms battalion, like the Steel Seventh Battalion, had attack helicopters.
And more than two main battle tank companies, plus one heavy artillery company and one electronic warfare company.
No information on the remaining other units.
“Just from these exposed units, why do they seem so familiar?” Gao Cheng said in surprise.
“This isn’t just familiar—don’t be too familiar, okay? Helicopters plus information company, and heavy tanks—this is just a copy of our Steel Seventh Battalion?” Man Guangzhi said with a wry smile.
“Good grief, stealing so openly? At least give us a heads-up.” Ma Tianxiang said speechlessly.
“There are many ways to form combined arms battalions—mountainous terrain combined arms battalion, heavy combined arms battalion, medium combined arms battalion, etc., formed according to combat needs. But tanks plus helicopters—that’s uniquely our Steel Seventh Battalion.”
Chen Jun was amused by the news and couldn’t help teasing with a mischievous grin: “Just don’t know if they also put together a special operations platoon, haha.”
The all-officer grassroots special operations platoon was the first in army history for the Steel Seventh Battalion.
If the First Blue Army Brigade had copied that too.
That would really be laughable.
…
As for how exactly the Capital Military Region’s Red Army unit lost to the Blue Army combined arms battalion, and what unique tactics the Blue Army used.
Senior Colonel Kang Ming did not find out.
First, it involved secrets not allowed to be leaked outward.
Second, the Capital Military Region’s combined arms battalion had only encountered information on these few companies during their run, failing to even breach the Blue Army’s second defense line before being utterly crushed, without forcing out any Blue Army tactics.
Besides this intelligence on branch of service composition, the most explosive news was none other than that the commanding battalion commander of the Blue Army combined arms battalion was an old friend of the Steel Seventh Battalion.
That’s right.
It was Sun Dongping, the former acting battalion commander of the Steel Seventh Battalion who had been disgracefully driven away.
“It’s actually our returnee from overseas studies—truly a big surprise for me.”
Recalling how Sun Dongping had boasted when leaving that he would make Chen Jun know what a real combined arms battalion was, and now he had truly become the opponent. If they beat him down again, Chen Jun was really curious how he would stay defiant.
“Pretty tough means—driven away by us, yet didn’t retire home, and could still become battalion commander here, even leading a main force battalion.”
Gao Cheng was very surprised, then disdainfully said: “If it were anyone else, it might be hard to say, but if it’s him, then we’re definitely steady in this confrontation.
We drove him away back then, and now we can win him the same way.”
Gao Cheng, who had originally been uneasy, became fully confident upon learning it was Sun Dongping.
“Old Gao, don’t be careless.”
Ma Tianxiang’s personality was relatively steady. Frowning seriously, he said: “Battalion Commander Sun may lack in other areas, but he is excellent at leading troops in combat.
Back then, he earned the acting battalion commander position through his strength.
Now as Blue Army battalion commander at Zhu Rihe, he achieved eighteen consecutive victories before, and now another twelve wins, enough to prove his extremely strong ability in leading troops in combat.
I think we must take this seriously, or this battle will be extremely difficult.”
Ma Tianxiang’s analysis was spot on. Although Sun Dongping was too individualistic and fond of grand achievements, lacking in soldier training ability.
But in leading troops in combat, he did have real skills.
Leading troops in battle and leading troops in training…
Are not the same thing.
Leading troops in battle relies on strategy and tactics, as well as emergency response in various combat situations; leading troops in training emphasizes overall planning and execution ability.
Poor training doesn’t necessarily mean poor combat performance; the two are not that absolute.
“The instructor is right—absolutely cannot underestimate the enemy. The next three days are crucial. Everyone, go down and intensify training, boost morale and maintain momentum, striving to take him down 100%.”
Although Chen Jun was deputy battalion commander in the Steel Seventh Battalion, he often acted more like the battalion commander, and his words carried more weight than Gao Cheng’s.
The small ripples originally stirred by learning it was the old friend Sun Dongping.
With Chen Jun’s words, completely returned to calm.
…
News of the Capital Military Region combined arms battalion finishing the confrontation and losing again quickly spread throughout the entire army.
Next, it was the Steel Seventh Battalion’s turn to take the field—the last unit of the seven military regions, the hope of finally defeating the First Blue Army Brigade.
The entire army’s attention to the outcome of this battle reached an unprecedented height.
Even the production squad feeding pigs was discussing it.
If the final result was Blue Army victory, then the First Blue Army Brigade would thoroughly cement its “king” status, becoming the goal and direction for the entire army to strive toward.
If the Steel Seventh Battalion could win this battle, even though the Zhu Rihe Base would not change and would remain undisputed as the entire army’s whetstone.
The Steel Seventh Battalion would become famous, the undisputed number one Red Army battalion in the entire army.
Echoing the First Blue Army Brigade from afar.
Becoming the brilliant twin stars of informatization reform.
The outside world knew the huge value of this battle, and as officers and warriors of the Steel Seventh Battalion, they knew even more its significance to them.
Both sides undefeated in debut—whoever wins becomes the strongest king.
The Steel Seventh Battalion’s fighting spirit surged like a volcanic eruption.
Three days later.
The First Blue Army Brigade combined arms battalion finished resting. Amid the anticipation of over a million officers and soldiers across the entire army, they officially began the confrontation exercise with the Steel Seventh Battalion.
In this peak showdown between masters, who would the deer fall to in the end.
The answer would soon be revealed!
As the Steel Seventh Battalion was guided to the training ground and entered the position belonging to the Red Army, the directing staff officially began docking with the Steel Seventh Battalion.
The rules and details of this exercise were finally told to Chen Jun and the battalion headquarters team.
To maximize restoration of the real battlefield and highlight the characteristics of informatized combined arms unit combat, this confrontation adopted an unplanned autonomous confrontation mode.
In other words…
Everything in this confrontation was unknown.
Neither the Red nor Blue sides knew where the other was, their troop deployments, firepower configurations, or position locations.
The only confirmed and known information consisted of two practically useless pieces.
First, both sides were confirmed on the battlefield, with starting points 100 kilometers apart, and no restrictions on specific deployments.
Second, the Red Army was the attacking side, the Blue Army the defending side.
The Red side would win by finding the Blue side’s main position, breaking through the layers of defense lines deployed by the Blue Army, and seizing the flag on the main position.
The Blue side would win by holding the main position for two days without letting the military flag be taken.
Aside from these two pieces of information, all other information was unknown, requiring both sides to find ways to scout and acquire it on the battlefield.
Unplanned meant more freedom, but also more uncontrollability.
It tested the commanders’ and warriors’ on-site performance abilities even more.
For the Red Army arriving for the first time, it was destined to become a brutal encounter battle, naturally at a disadvantage from the start.
First, the Blue Army knew the Red Army’s unit configuration, but the Red Army did not know the Blue Army’s.
The Blue Army could deploy in advance targeting the Red Army’s configuration, with more time to study targeted tactics, while the Red Army could not do the same.
Second, the Blue Army was extremely familiar with the terrain here and knew it like the back of their hand.
As the defending side, they could leverage this advantage to select the best terrain here as the defense zone, and find key checkpoint terrains they most wanted to create traps and ambushes for the Red Army troops.
And so on—there were many advantages.
The Blue Army could beat the Red Army units coming here one by one so badly—not denying their advanced tactical system and unit configurations.
But this information asymmetry definitely played no small role.
