Chapter 187: Battalion Commander Wang Vs Railway Company Commander
Before A Battalion officially started public recruitment, it had always been a confidential unit.
Qi Huan couldn’t tell Chen Jun the name, but he knew A Battalion was about to recruit, and he was even more aware that with Chen Jun’s strength, the captain and battalion commander would both be tempted.
That’s why he left such an ambiguous sentence that sounded confusing.
Unfortunately, Chen Jun understood everything!
Chen Jun knew what Qi Huan meant as soon as he heard it, but in his lifetime, he only wanted to lead Steel Seventh Company forward, with the goal of the Seventh Heavy Armored Combined Arms Division.
He didn’t want to go to A Battalion anymore; he had done enough as a special forces soldier, destined not to become comrades with Qi Huan.
Of course
it’s not absolute.
The heavy armored division’s configuration requires a special forces battalion. If Qi Huan was willing to come follow him, Chen Jun would still welcome him with open arms.
Moreover, making A Battalion covetous yet unable to obtain it was very advantageous for Chen Jun.
He could use this point to achieve his own goals.
So Chen Jun didn’t expose Qi Huan, nor did he deliberately dig deeper and chase for answers. He pretended not to understand and deliberately replied straightforwardly: “Being opponents with you is quite interesting. I hope there are more opportunities.”
“See you later.”
Qi Huan smiled and said no more, seemingly convinced that Chen Jun couldn’t refuse.
He turned and left with his men.
Chen Jun then led the Steel Seventh Company members, who had packed up and assembled, trotting back to Steel Seventh Company Camp.
Just a mere six kilometers of mountain road.
For Steel Seventh Company, which had been comprehensively improved after Chen Jun’s reorganization and training, even a night march was just over half an hour.
Artillery Company was organized by their company commander, so Chen Jun’s side didn’t need to intervene.
Chen Jun led his men back to camp, while on the other side, Gao Cheng, who had been driving to pursue Yuan Lang, would meet up after the exercise ended.
Until the very last moment of the exercise’s end, Yuan Lang wasn’t caught by Gao Cheng.
Yuan Lang could have just left directly.
But during the exercise, Tie Lu specifically revealed to him that the reason Seventh Hundred and Second Regiment was different, making Old A unable to gain a big advantage in combat, was probably because of a first lieutenant named Chen Jun “making trouble.”
A first lieutenant actually changed the outcome of regiment-level combat, which truly shocked Yuan Lang. Out of curiosity, he wanted to meet this Chen Jun.
Best if they could chat a bit for a deeper understanding.
Seeing is believing.
Yuan Lang wanted to personally understand and figure out whether this first lieutenant deputy company commander named Chen Jun truly had that strength or was just show.
So Yuan Lang gave up leaving directly.
He chose to meet the pursuing Red Army and have this Red Army team take him to see Chen Jun.
And a cynical lieutenant colonel company commander and an arrogant competitive captain officer were destined to spark intense friction when they met.
“The exercise is over, no need to be so bitter and vengeful.”
Yuan Lang saw Gao Cheng staring fixedly at him and grinned: “Where is Seventh Company’s camp? Take me there.”
Yuan Lang had seen all the opponent information and recognized Gao Cheng at a glance.
So he directly asked Gao Cheng to lead the way.
Yuan Lang at least held a lieutenant colonel rank; having a captain officer lead the way was normally no problem.
Now that the exercise was over and back to normal, a mere captain company commander seeing a deputy regiment-level leader would definitely stand at attention and do whatever was ordered promptly.
If it were any of the other fifteen company commanders in Seventh Hundred and Second Regiment, none wouldn’t go handle it immediately.
Unfortunately.
Gao Cheng was precisely that exception.
Gao Cheng, who wasn’t even afraid of his own regiment commander, saw this Blue Army lieutenant colonel acting all high and mighty, getting out of the car and bossing him around.
Naturally, he showed no good expression and coldly retorted: “Oh, commanding me with the victor’s stance? If I didn’t hear wrong, your Blue Army didn’t win.
Moreover, the road ahead will soon end. If you give me at most five more minutes, you would definitely be my captive.”
Gao Cheng’s attitude surprised Yuan Lang, who then seemed to remember something and suddenly laughed: “Gao Cheng, Steel Seventh Company’s company commander.
If I’m not mistaken, the team that attacked my subordinates in the forest last night, the team that found Blue Army Command Post, and the large force that infiltrated from the left flank were all your Steel Seventh Company.
To be fair, your company does have some skills.
When we fought other companies in Seventh Hundred and Second Regiment, the combat loss ratio was easily over one to twenty-five; one could take out twenty-five, even thirty.
But fighting your Steel Seventh Company, the current battle record is 5 to
I admit, I lost, and lost thoroughly.
But I didn’t lose to Steel Seventh Company, nor to you Gao Cheng, but to Chen Jun who was truly commanding behind the scenes, multiplying your strength several times.
So, before leaving, I want to meet Chen Jun who defeated us, to see what kind of person he is.”
Yuan Lang’s words were very direct, giving Gao Cheng no face at all, stating that the one with real ability was Chen Jun, not you company commander Gao Cheng.
“Without my agreement, you won’t see him.”
Gao Cheng felt uncomfortable upon hearing this and immediately countered in his own way.
Implying to Yuan Lang.
Chen Jun is under my command, part of Steel Seventh Company; we are a steel-united whole. Your stratagem of alienation won’t work.
“I believe you have that ability, so can you help me with this favor?”
Yuan Lang was satirizing Gao Cheng one second, and the next, his tone did a one hundred eighty degree sharp turn, becoming a humble request lowering his status.
This effortless control of emotions left Gao Cheng truly a bit unable to react.
He stared blankly at Yuan Lang for several seconds before softening his tone slightly, staring at Yuan Lang and asking: “I want to know your background.”
“I’m Yuan Lang, a lieutenant colonel.”
Yuan Lang’s answer was very quick, with a hint of teasing, yet equivalent to not answering.
“I mean your background!”
Gao Cheng remained expressionless and reiterated: “I must know what kind of background my defeated subordinate has; that’s my right.”
Gao Cheng’s words carried some aggression, and Yuan Lang dropped his smile.
Expressionless, he said: “Remember the confidentiality regulations; don’t ask what you shouldn’t.”
“Don’t bullsh*t me with me. If it were really secret, would they let you run around everywhere? Would the higher-ups let you come out to confront us? There’s no such thing as secrecy. I even dare to boldly guess that it won’t be long before it’s made public.” Gao Cheng mercilessly exposed.
In fact, A Battalion special forces unit’s existence was indeed made public soon.
Seeing he couldn’t bluff this high cadre’s son, Yuan Lang guessed he probably already knew some, so he stopped mystifying.
He leaned close to Yuan Lang and said two words: “Old A.”
Yuan Lang hadn’t guessed wrong; Gao Cheng really did know about A Battalion. Back then, if he hadn’t been unwilling, he would already be an Old A now.
Hearing these two familiar yet strange words, Gao Cheng said no more.
He turned and walked to his off-road vehicle, saying back to Yuan Lang while walking: “Didn’t you want to see Chen Jun? Get in the car, follow me.”
“Ha, this Steel Seventh Company, each one is more interesting than the last.”
Yuan Lang looked at the arrogant Gao Cheng’s back, his mouth curling into a playful smile again, calling his Old A subordinates, and jumping into the nearby off-road vehicle.
…
Red Army Headquarters.
“This time when we go back, all battalion and company troops must thoroughly reflect.”
Regiment Commander Wang gathered the battalion commanders at the command post. At this moment after the exercise ended, he began summarizing and criticizing this confrontation exercise.
“We couldn’t attack effectively, couldn’t defend effectively. As the attacking side, we couldn’t even mount a proper offensive.
Instead, the Blue side, hum, with troops in absolute disadvantage, used their disadvantaged forces to strike from all sides, keeping us constantly on the defensive.
My heavy armored unit’s numerical advantage, firepower advantage, were completely not embodied. In the end, both sides’ combat loss ratio reached nine to one.
Seventh Hundred and Second Regiment from its establishment until now has never had such a high casualty rate.
If not for Steel Seventh Company’s ambush, and the sniper squad and air defense squad’s effective strikes, the combat loss ratio would have reached fifteen to one.
Moreover, achieving this draw this time, Steel Seventh Company made a great contribution; it could even be said that Steel Seventh Company turned the tide single-handedly.
Your other companies, especially armored infantry company, must learn from Steel Seventh Company…”
“Whir whir whir whir…”
With the sound of helicopter rotors, a helicopter descended from the air.
Shi Jin got off the helicopter first, followed closely by Cheng Cai, Wu Liu Yi, and others. The huge dust raised made them all very unaccustomed.
After all, it was their first time riding a helicopter; they really didn’t know the ropes.
Tie Lu, who came down last, was much more at ease and seemed very familiar with the place, heading straight to the command post large tent without needing guidance.
“Hello, leader.”
Red Army warriors encountered along the way all stood at attention, saluted, and greeted Tie Lu.
Their eyes also carried curiosity.
What was a Blue Army colonel in uniform doing coming to their Red Army Headquarters.
Under all sorts of curious gazes along the way, Tie Lu soon arrived outside the tent. Before entering, he deliberately stopped, smiling and asking: “You made a great contribution in this exercise; want to come in together?”
“No, no need, leader. We need to return to the company for assembly.” Shi Jin refused.
Though going in could show off, he knew his limits.
Not all show-offs could be done; Shi Jin’s personality didn’t like showing off either. Being able to complete the mission successfully already made him very happy.
“Ah, what a pity.”
Tie Lu sighed heavily, clearly showing regret in his eyes, then lifted the door curtain and strode in.
Cheng Cai thought Tie Lu was pitying them for missing the chance to show face in front of the regiment commander and was really tempted to go in.
He really wanted to go in!
If he could be praised face-to-face by the regiment commander, how awesome would that be.
The others basically thought the same, but the person in charge here was platoon leader Shi Jin. Since the platoon leader spoke, they could only follow back to camp.
No one thought that Tie Lu’s pity was for missing an Old A seedling.
Shi Jin’s calm and steady personality in handling affairs, plus his high execution capability for orders—if he were a few years younger, he would absolutely become an excellent Old A.
Unfortunately, Shi Jin was too old now; his body couldn’t withstand the hellish training.
That’s why Tie Lu sighed deeply in pity!
Before Tie Lu entered, the guard had already reported, so Regiment Commander Wang had ended the meeting early and sat at the conference table waiting.
Seeing Tie Lu come in from outside the door, Regiment Commander Wang smiled broadly: “You timed it pretty accurately. The exercise ended just as I was waiting for you, and it really did end, only the result… is different from what you wanted.”
Internally, Regiment Commander Wang definitely had to find problems, punish and scold as needed, to further improve the troops.
Externally, it was different.
Having drawn with the opposing Blue Army, he had to put on a stance.
“The outcome is indeed a bit unexpected, but for the whole exercise, victory or defeat isn’t important.”
Tie Lu went straight over and sat down, casually tossing his gloves on the table, picking up a cigarette from the table, lighting one and smoking.
Regiment Commander Wang didn’t act anxious like in the original drama, rushing to grab the lighter from Tie Lu.
Though Seventh Hundred and Second Regiment didn’t bring out the heavy armored unit advantage, it hadn’t lost to Blue Army Unit, and even gained a slight advantage in this exercise.
Regiment Commander Wang naturally didn’t need to be furious.
He just calmly sat there, smiling at Tie Lu, watching what trick he would play.
“You first deliberately used the command post as bait. After my Blue Army saw through it, you counterattacked back, which really caught me off guard. I fell for your trick, got delayed, and if I had seen through it earlier, you would have had no chance of winning.”
Tie Lu’s tone was very calm, yet revealed his unwillingness with the draw.
“You Blue Army can play dirty tricks, but my Red Army can’t use some brains? To deal with people like you, you have to not play by the rules.”
Regiment Commander Wang laughed.
His laugh carried some pride.
After all, this most dangerous place being the safest was the only tactic in the entire exercise not from Chen Jun, but personally led by him, Regiment Commander Wang.
His own tactic laid the foundation for the whole battle; the regiment commander naturally had the right to be proud.
“Dirty tricks? Hahaha.”
Tie Lu heard the term and laughed heartily, then questioned: “You say my Blue Army played dirty; aren’t the tricks you played dirty?”
“Any?”
Regiment Commander Wang played dumb and changed the subject: “I’ve always been curious how you monitored our radio communications.
I searched every corner nearby and didn’t find your listening equipment. How did you do it? Don’t tell me it’s some high technology again.
If it’s all relying on high technology suppression, your Blue Army doesn’t have much skill.”
“Hahaha.”
Tie Lu laughed again: “You definitely couldn’t find it, because it’s with my command post. You didn’t even find the command post, so how could you find it? And it’s been right in front of you the whole time.”
“In front of me? Don’t talk nonsense; I’m not blind.” Regiment Commander Wang shot back.
“Right here.”
Tie Lu raised his right hand, index finger pointing to the sky.
“In the sky? On the helicopter? No wonder I couldn’t find it on the ground; it was always up there. Having a helicopter is impressive, haha.”
Regiment Commander Wang laughed, with some sarcasm.
“Not just the helicopter.”
Tie Lu restrained his expression and said seriously: “Multi-functional integrated information system, paired with data terminal database, fully entering the informatized system.
It can not only operate through helicopter to intercept and monitor your radio communications, but also achieve all-around command.
I can precisely command every soldier, accurately strike your every node, grasping your every move in my hands.
And to achieve this suppressive power, it only requires a nine-person command post.”
“Nine people can command the entire army?”
Regiment Commander Wang was shocked by this answer, looking around his own regiment command post where various technicians together numbered over fifty.
Such a huge disparity between both sides made Regiment Commander Wang realize the true gap.
That heavy pressure made his mood heavy.
What others could do with nine people required over fifty for them; converted to war, the improvement it brought was enormous.
“Old buddy, victory or defeat isn’t important; that’s the true purpose of this exercise.”
Seeing Regiment Commander Wang realize the issue, Tie Lu immediately threw out the core of this exercise, letting Regiment Commander Wang understand the reason the higher-ups held it.
The era is progressing, technology is progressing, equipment is updating and iterating; the troops need reform.
That’s the key!!
Hearing Tie Lu’s words, and recalling Steel Seventh Company’s reorganized and synthesized force in this exercise, displaying combat effectiveness completely at odds with the entire Seventh Hundred and Second Regiment.
Equivalent to one company dragging a regiment along.
Regiment Commander Wang gained a deeper understanding of the urgency of military reform.
Thinking of the armored infantry regiment born from traditional tactics, destined to face reform and reorganization in the future, Regiment Commander Wang’s mood grew even worse.
He could only chain-smoke several cigarettes to calm his overly excited emotions.
Seeing Regiment Commander Wang awakened, and the thoughts from above conveyed, Tie Lu then switched to his personal demand.
“Your Seventh Hundred and Second Regiment’s playing style is too outdated; there’s no reason it should draw with us.
The reason for this outcome, I have reason to believe there’s a variable. If possible, Old Wang, introduce me to him, how about it?”
Tie Lu didn’t treat himself as an outsider at all, directly pointing out he wanted to meet the awesome person.
Regiment Commander Wang did want to hide Chen Jun, not let him be snatched away; good treasures make everyone’s eyes red—this reasoning Regiment Commander Wang understood well.
But he also knew that in the whole battle, the other troops’ playing style versus Steel Seventh Company’s was indeed too abrupt, like people from two worlds.
Forcing to hide it wasn’t a long-term solution.
Thinking Chen Jun had led the team deep into Blue Army’s heartland, probably still on the way back now.
So he went along: “Seeing him is no problem, but he hasn’t returned yet; I can’t call him to the regiment.
Next time, next time there’s a chance, I’ll definitely call him over to chat with you. That kid is slippery, has some cunning, but actually not much use.”
Regiment Commander Wang deliberately delayed time, even deliberately belittling Chen Jun.
The purpose was to muddle through.
“Not back yet? Oh, I get it. He led a company deep into our heartland; probably Artillery Company was led by him too. If that’s just cunning, then there are no smart people.”
Tie Lu wasn’t so easily fooled, directly exposing Regiment Commander Wang’s words, then said: “He’s not back, I can wait for him. I have plenty of time now, not in a hurry, as long as you don’t chase me away.”
With that, Tie Lu propped his leg on the table foot, crossing his legs leisurely to wait.
“You want to wait, wait then. I have lots of things to do; no time to keep you company here.”
Regiment Commander Wang had no way with the stubborn plaster either, couldn’t forcibly drive Tie Lu out, so could only continue stalling time until he lost patience.
